Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Healthy, Happy New Year ahead.  May you find Peace and all good things.  Safe travels.

Blessings
Sue🎅🎄🌟

Hello Everyone!

Just a quick note to wish all of you a very Healthy, Safe and Blessed Thanksgiving.  May you spend as much time as possible with those you love. 

I am also taking this opportunity to invite you to stop by my Etsy Shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/BasketOfBlessings

Blessings to you and yours

Sue

Greetings Everyone...hope this finds you and yours well.

A few pics to share.  Recent acquisitions.

 Above, sweet little pillow handmade by Saskia of tales from the birdhut http://www.saskiavanherwaarden.com/

 Above, Peace Pin from Liz of I'm Going to Texas

http://imgoingtotexas.blogspot.com/

Two plates purchased in antique shop somewhere in Indiana.  

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope to be more wordy soon.  Blessings from me to you.  Sue

Happy Fourth of July!  May you and yours be blessed with good health, safe travels and warm memories!

Hi Everyone...

Thank you, again, for stopping by.  So behind on blogging, pics, replies to comments!

Here are some photos of a Kathy Tracy quilt which has been in progress for some months.  The quilt top is done.  Faux pas, boo boos, coping strips...but, that is ok!  I am trying to embrace "Let It Go!" Don't worry, I am not about to start singing...

Kathy Tracy Quilt pattern "Scrappy Star Quilt," from her book "Remembering Adelia."

Have a blessed day!

Hi Everyone,

Been remiss in blogging for some time.  Road trip.  Will be sharing some photos and info along the way.  While it is a privilege to travel, there is no place like home.

Here are some photos of the lilacs and surviving tulips in our yard.

A note of thanks to all who stop by to read and comment on my blog.  So nice to visit with all of you.  

Until next post, I bid you all a bounty of blessings!
Sue

Easter Blessings!

Just wanted to wish you all a very Blessed and Healthy Easter.  May you be safe in your travels.

Blessings, Sue

Happy Wednesday!

Hope all is well with you and yours.

I have temporarily abandoned my Story Cloth.  Like too many of these projects, I get off to a great start and find myself wandering off to another one or two or three.  Almost like a horse that takes off at the beginning of the race full gallop, only to find itself slowing down and veering off the track to eat an apple, carrot, or in my case, cheese and crackers.  

Neigh, neigh and whinny

Hello Everyone on Sunday, April 2nd

I am so behind on blogging, sewing, etc., etc...

Here is a sample of the quilt squares from Lena Mercantile.  Oh, my!

Firstly, these are not my typical choices for fabric.  A number of them are in very sorry findings.  Have you ever had something "speak" to you?  You pick it up, put it down, walk away from it...and, then, wind up buying it?  EEK!

Maybe its the softee in me?  There must be approximately 25 "squares" in the packet.  Distorted, stained, and, yet, at 5.00 for the packet, it found a home.

Maybe the appeal, aside from feeling "sorry" for these orphans, was the history.  All I know is that they came from an "estate" sale.  Who was the "soul" that put all these pieces together?  They are machine pieced.  Female, male, child, older person?  In the Midwest?

When I was young girl, perhaps early teens (?), I sewed myself a dress.  Very basic with set in sleeves and a zipper.  The hem on the dress was WAY TOO deep and noticeable.  Why I did not trim it off and sew a normal hem, who knows?!  My zipper was probably considered do-able, but, it did make the dress look homemade.  My Mom more than likely felt I did my best and she did not want to discourage me from future endeavors.  One family friend, who I called "Aunt" out of respect, pointed out my faux pas, not in a mean way, but, enough to make another relative sit up and take notice.  The latter relative, in defense (and later on between the two of us), remarked at the "homemadeness" of the critic's zipper in the dress she made!

So, there it is!  I want to "help" these "squares" morph from "awkward (not ugly) ducklings" into "swans."  After all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

For the meantime, the packet will be placed in stash, awaiting the epiphany,  Trumpets will be sounded.  Just a warning so that you don't think the clatter is the end of the earth...

Til next time, blessings to all.  I appreciate you stopping by and visiting.

Sue

Good Sunday Evening...

Hope all is well with you and yours.  Tonight, I will share the goodies found at Lena Mercantile and Quilters General Store from last week's road trip.

 
Top picture is Lena Mercantile, where, in the middle picture, is a pink and white checkered, linen tablecloth to be repurposed along the way, tiny Christmas themed fabric folded  to be used as a edging on quilts (Prairie Points) and a tiny hankie with two native girls on a teeter totter, all found at the Merc.  Also, a packet of quilt squares which the Proprietress acquired at an estate sale.  I must go through them to see what can be salvaged and repurposed.  Could not pass up a bargain.

The small quilt in the middle picture was a store sample from Quilters General.  A Kim Diehl pattern and fabric.

The third picture, fat quarters of lovely fabrics.

That's it for tonight.  Sending you blessings and all good thoughts.

Sue

Hi on Wednesday

Hope all is well with you and yours

Just a few snippets tonight.  Currently working on Kathy Tracy's Scrappy Star Quilt from her book titled "Remembering Adelia."

Below is one of the completed blocks which I posted recently

For Kathy Tracy's March Challenge https://sentimentalquilter.blogspot.com/2017/03/march-winds-and-pinwheels.html, I have been busy preparing the patches for "Scrappy Pinwheels."

Today, DH and I decided to take advantage of a sunshiney day.  Drove to a favorite spot about 100 miles from home.  A town called "Lena."  DH and I camp here at  a local state park and pay a visit to the "Lena Mercantile,"  while in that area.  The Mercantile is a charming collection of antiques, odds and ends and many pleasant finds.  The Proprietress, Ruth Maedge is a gem.  We have become friends over the years.  http://www.lenamercantile.com/

Just noticed that there appears to be a reflective pond in front of the Merc; its actually the roof our our car!

In my next post, I will include pictures of a few items I purchased there and also, a small quilt I purchased at another stop on the way to Lena.

It was a good day spent with my best friend.

Oh, found an unexpected and delicious place to have lunch between the quilt shop and Lena.  Its called "Dickey's BBQ."  https://www.dickeys.com/  DH and I first tasted the wonderful beef brisket sandwhiches in Texas on the long road trip in November and December of last year.  Yum!

Blessings sent your way!
Sue

Good Sunday Evening,

Just a little news this evening.

Here is the updated block for Kathy Tracy's Mystery Quilt https://sentimentalquilter.blogspot.com/ - Step 3.  A simple addition of framework.  This portion is not on Kathy's blog yet; however, it is on FB and Yahoo.

This afternoon, DH and I took a nice drive to have a late lunch at http://whitefencefarm-il.com/.  The location is about 30 miles from here.  We had delicious fried chicken and trimmings for our meal and apple pie a la mode for dessert.  There is also a petting zoo with sweet animals.

Sending love and blessings your way...Sue

Good Wednesday Morning.

As always, hope all is well with you.

Here is the updated version of the Kathy Tracy Mystery Quilt Block https://sentimentalquilter.blogspot.com/.  

The block comes together quickly - 

My story cloth is still in a state of flux.  I decided to perform a redoux for February.  I love hearts and how appropriate for this month.  So, here is a snippet:

Since I hand cut the hearts, they wind up in various sizes and shapes.  That's ok - as long as they are filled with love and compassion, that is what matters most.

  Sending you and yours blessings.  💓

Good Wednesday evening...

Hope you are all well.

Unfortunately, I am still behind on the story cloth (sigh).

I did complete the second block of the Scrappy Stars Quilt (Kathy Tracy pattern).

Must learn how to take better pictures!  The fabric next to the yellow is actually gray.

In my prior post, I mentioned that I had the chance to attend Kathy Tracy's book signing and trunk show at the Quilt Merchant quilt shop in Winfield IL http://journeyofaquiltlover.blogspot.com/
Kathy's quilts are simply lovely.

The Quilt Merchant is a great shop.  The Proprietress, Val is so sweet.

That's it for today.  Another project looming in the background is a quilt my MIL began back in the 1970's.  She handpieced the blocks (all 27 of them, so, 5 across, 5 top to bottom and 2 pillows).  This is a very large quilt.  With sashings, the blocks measure about 16.5 inches square.  I decided to use the quilt as you go method as its just way too huge for me to handle on my sewing machine.  I am hoping to get this project wrapped up in time for her birthday on March 20.  More to follow.

Good Sunday To All...

Hope all is well.  Here in IL, we have a blustery day.  Temps in the 40's, but, feels colder.

Last week, DH and I took a day trip to downtown Chicago via the train, approximately one hour each way.  Too frenetic to drive and park down there.  The day was spent at the Art Institute.  For a certain period of time during the months of January and February, admission is free during the week.  Good savings as admission is 22.00 each.

Many exhibits, of course and, despite the early arrival, time was limited as the Institute is huge.  Also, any exhibits in the lower level dictated going up and down staircases or elevators back and forth between floors as each section of the lower level is not connected to one another.  Seems strange.  Hopefully, one of these days, they will find a way (and revenue?) to make the entire lower level a more practical and accessible experience.

Here is just a glimpse of some of the Asian exhibits, Early Americas exhibits:

 
I attempted to photograph the signs to explain the exhibit.  Pardon the shoes.

The next pic is of one of the walls in the Institute.  Love the shell impressions!

My very favorite exhibit was the Doll House collection  There were more to be seen, but, I took pics of the ones that caught my eye the most.  The lighting was a bit scarce in there.  

In order to take in all the teeny, tiny details, you would have to spend hours there just to take it all in.  Can you imagine all the hours it took?  A definite labor of love.

In Wednesday's blog, there was mention of a possible update on the story cloth.  Although a few more background patches were prepared, the actual patches are still in progress.  Hopefully, this coming Wednesday.

Oh, by the way, I did attend Kathy Tracy's trunk show yesterday at the Quilt Merchant in Winfield, IL.  Will post about the event on Wednesday.

Til we meet again, blessings.