Joined: August 27, 09

At age 61 I've been sewing since I was a teenager and quilting since my mid 40's. I love taking classes even though I have not been able to take many since we moved from VA to IN 8 years ago.

To keep things fresh I always try a new technique each time I make a graduation quilt for one of my nephews or niece.

For the first graduation quit I did a two-color (navy and white) Burgoynne Surrounded quilt. I love that block and had wanted to try a two color quilt. I machine quilted it with lots of straight lines. It suited my eldest nephew to a T.

For the second graduation quilt I made a quilt in shades of green made of asymetrical stars of varying sizes. I machine quilted it with freehand stars and comet tails. That's my second nephew!

For the third graduation quilt I drew a pattern for a whole cloth quilt. The center is a violin and bow in a field of hanging diamonds. The curved border is done in an outline pattern of the curves. Quilted totally by hand. The quilt is totally silk: fabric, thread, and batt (you should all try touching silk batt!). My violinist niece was tickled pink.

Now I'm planning the fourth graduation quilt for a nephew who will be joining the Navy when he graduates. I've always wanted to try hand piecing and try a mariners compass. I've begun drafting a design for a mariners compass medallion. One idea I have is for an oval compass to be set in a field of blue. The oval could be surrounded by oecan waves blocks or drunkard's path blocks set in a wave pattern. Another idea is to tweak the pattern most of us have seen: circular compass surrounded by flying geese. I'm thinking of making the rest of the quilt merely background made in a water color style with many shades of blue, green, and gray. In any event, I'll draft at least two quarter scale patterns and color them with pencils to send to my nephew for aproval/ideas.

Another long-term quilt dream is to applique a Sunbonnet Sue through the year quilt just for me. I've been collecting 30's reproductions for years.

I have two Christmas quilts that need to be quilted. I'm hand quilting one and it is about half quilted. One is pinned, ready to be machine quilted. Way too many pieces in that one to be hand quilted.

I have yet another quilt in which the individual blocks have been made and quilted. The sashing is cut and layered and some has been quilted. That was another technique that I wanted to try. I'm balking at all the hand sewing that wil be required to finish the back when I'm done quilting and sewing the block fronts together. This is a sampler quilt completely from my stash.

I love to sew for my grandchildren, especially Halloween costumes.

Hubby and I spend time attending athletic events involving the grandchildren and the neighbor children. One of the neighbors is a senior starter in the local high school soccer team this year. One is a rising female tennis star. One is in middle school and playing soccer on a traveling team this year. Our grandson is still at the level of soccer where they play on half a field and are so cute to watch. He plays little league baseball as well.

We love to go to movies and local music events.

I love to read fiction and non-fiction and make good use of the library for all sorts of media.