Real Vintage...

Eva K {Mother Dear} has a nice woman that comes and cleans her house every other week. I have always thought this was funny because Mom lives alone and has a place for everything and every thing in it's place. 

A few months ago this nice woman brought my Mom more than a dozen quilt tops that were found in a trunk in the home of a relative that had passed away. The woman knew Mom liked quilts and she gave her the quilt tops, not knowing what to do with them.  Mom finished a couple of the quilts and gave them back.  {I wish I had pictures of those!}  Then  Mom let me look through the tops and choose a couple.  I finished one for myself, sending a check to my Mom for the woman.  The top I selected is a nice size for a table topper.
 

This top was hand pieced.  I am guessing the fabric is from the 30s, but I am no expert. 

I used a Moda Bella Solid for the binding and back, hoping it was sort of period appropriate.

I had Juna quilt it.  I know, some of you are cringing because I had this vintage top machine quilted, but after years in a trunk, this little quilt was just being begged to be used.

Isn't it sweet?

Finished Quilts...

I have managed to finish a few projects.  I know you've seen a couple of these as WIPS in the past, and now they are DONE!

Thursday night at my quilt small group, Juna {Super Quilter} gave me my Scrappity-Do-Dah quilt back all quilted and ready for binding.  Yesterday I finished the binding and today I took this picture.

Earlier in May, I finished my Chopsticks quilt.   I am ashamed to say I have had this little lovely folded up in a tote - and it shows in the picture.

Can you see the Juna's quilting?  She does all her quilting freehand!   I love the quilted circles on these pieced triangles.  Can you see it better here?

Also completed is my Summer 2011 Bow Tie Quilt Along.  Whew, just in time for summer 2012.

Again, this was folded and tucked away in the same bag!

 

Can you see the quilting?  Sew perfect!

Oh how I love this quilt!

I have spent the last week in my sewing room - therapy, some might say.  I can't wait to show you what I have in the works!

Another Book Finished...

On my trip home from Iowa, I began listening to another book, Crooked letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin.  I have been walking 5 miles every morning, allowing me to finish this book this morning.

Set in the small Mississippi town of Chabot, Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter tells the story of two boys turned men—Larry Ott and Silas Jones. On the surface, there seems to be nothing linking the two … but a long history binds the two together in ways that even they don’t fully understand.

As for the title... M, I, crooked letter, crooked letter, I, crooked letter, crooked letter, I, humpback, humpback, I.--How southern children are taught to spell Mississippi.
Crooked Letter, Crooked started slow for me but then left me looking for opportunies to listen to more.  Good books certainly make me eager for my morning walk.

More Books...

I made another trip to Iowa, this time I was solo, visiting my sister.   I downloaded a couple books onto my IPod, plugged it into my Smart car and I was off.  (Note to self:  Seven hours in a Smart car is not the most comfortable trip.}

On my way out I listened to The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes. 

This book begins with the story of a group of young English boys and their coming of age.  The book is narrated by Tony Webster, one of the boys.  In the second part of the book, Tony Webster is a retired divorced man in his mid-60s who, after receiving notice of an unexpected bequest, is pulled back into a "powerful recollection of strong emotions" from his past. This leads to a reassessment of the accuracy of his memories, a rueful realization of how much he'd gotten wrong, and a harsh re-evaluation of his passive approach to life.

In the first part of the book, I lost interest.  In fact, I almost didn't finish the book. But in the end, I enjoyed the book and it made me think.  We all have experiences in our life we reflect on... if you don't... lucky you.  A book like this makes me scrutinize choices I’ve made, people I’ve known, and secrets I’ve kept.  Perhaps it’s best not to dwell too much but certainly at any age you can learn from the past.

First Summer Read...

Over the holiday weekend we traveled to Iowa.  As we left the house for the 6 hour drive I grabbed a book.  Some time ago I purchased The Weight of Silence and I thought it would be an appropriate read.  The book is written by Dubuque, Iowa {where my skinnysister lives} author Heather Gudenkauf.  It is, in fact, her first book and it takes place in Iowa.

The Weight of Silence chronicles a day in the lives of two families who wake to find their little girls missing without a trace.  The reader learns what transpires through the alternating perspective of six lives impacted by the events. The book has good character development and touches on small town life, childhood friendship, first loves, and alcoholism and its effect on a family.

I found the book to be a page turner, although not dramatically suspenseful.  I thought it made a good summer read.

Any suggestions as to what I should read next?  I walked 5.32 miles with my friend Carolyn today.  I need to load a book on my IPod and get back into my walking schedule.  

A Fresh New Look...

I needed a change.  I have been so busy lately my little blog has been neglected.  Next week, I will blog for real... promise.

Happy Mother's Day...

adorable free printable from kikicreates