Category Archives: Uncategorized

I was told years ago the way to identify a home economics teacher was that her shoes and purse matched and her bound buttonholes were perfect! Not that I was ashamed of my chosen career, but I made an effort to never have my shoes and purse match..and I hated bound buttonholes. ( I retiredContinue reading “Set the table..with placemats”

Recently I learned that the “minor” prophets in the Old Testament were not called minor because they were less important but because they were shorter writings than the big guys like Daniel. Thus, logically we have “minor” holidays–not less important than the big ones like Christmas and Halloween but shorter in duration! For some ofContinue reading “The “Minor” Holidays”

I treasure my family quilts from past generations. I collect 30’s and 40’s reproduction fabrics. Log cabin or four or nine patch blocks are classics. But a craft needs to keep experimenting with new ideas, methods and designs to thrive. Quilters need to break a few “rules” to remain interesting and fresh. True, most ofContinue reading “Less traditional? More contemporary?”

We all know the old adage “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade” but I prefer this version “when life gives you lemons get creative”. That is exactly what the daytime quilters did with ten hand embroidered blocks gifted to them. The blocks were well done in a beautiful color combination but there were onlyContinue reading “When life gives you…”

I am happy to live in Kansas with the four distinct seasons. Each season has something special about it… fresh tomatoes in summer, the sound and smell of dry leaves in fall, the first snow, daffodil buds in spring . Some of my friends decorate for every season–heck, every month. (I could wake up fromContinue reading “Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer”

Barn quilts have been around since the colonization of Pennsylvania. They were brought to the new world by Mennonite farmers. Originally they were “hex” signs hung on their barns to bring good luck and protection. But since the late 1990’s these colorful symbols have evolved into painted quilt blocks. This art form spread to MinnesotaContinue reading “Mini-Barn Quilts”

I really, really like Halloween. I allow myself to buy bags of candy–for the children who will come trick or treating, of course. And it is my “duty” to taste test every bag to be sure the candy mets my high standards for all those cute little witches and supermen that come to my door.Continue reading ““Ghosts and Goblins, Spooks galore–Scary witches at your door””

I have a family in Australia, they live on a huge farm/ranch in Queensland. They raise cattle, ride horses, and have six children. Actually–they are not family, but I have been following their blog and instagram account for years. I watched the first child go off to boarding school and graduate, saw photos of ChristmasContinue reading ““Bits and Bobs””

Every time I show a new quilt top to my husband, his standard reply – “Is that a little busy”. Huh? I have threaten to name several quilts “a little busy”. In his function vs. form engineer world “busy” means more than two colors! There is something special about a quilt using one color familyContinue reading ““Not too busy””