Seeing Red and Orange!

Do you use Shout Color Catchers? If you don't you might want to pick up a box the next time you are at the grocery store. Here's a perfect example of what magic they can do for you and the next quilt you wash......

See those two pink sheets laying on the quilt with only a bit of red here and there and a red binding. Well, I pre-washed that red fabric before using it.

Those two Color Catchers picked up that much excess red dye in the wash water and held onto it so it so the dye wasn't deposited somewhere else on the white background.I love red, but I only want to see it where I put it!

I also love orange. Look what I got to drive behind today on my way to town!

You don't see that every day, now do you!!

 Speaking of color, if you live near Kansas City, here's a fun way to spend the day on Saturday. Come see us, the weather man says it will be a beautiful day!

Janie Sue

Today, I want to show you a very special quilt....

The fabrics used to make "Janie Sue" are all from one line of fabric by Heather Bailey called Nicey Jane. There are lots of green leaves....

and sweet pink accents....

among the yellow and blue blooms.

The fun wonky blocks were made by the members of the Nittany Block Party,

an online quilting bee that I was a part of in 2010.

I procrastinated on putting the blocks all together for some silly reason. 

Each of the 12 members made two blocks using Nicey Jane fabric strips, that I mailed to them, coupled with some Kona white. There were few rules other than making liberated log cabins that would finish up at 12 inches square. I added a few more to make the collection into the thirty blocks needed to make a twin size quilt.

The backing is a favorite print from the fabric line called Church Flowers.

It reminds me of a vintage sheet. I decided that I wanted to use the tangerine print 

as a binding long after most stores were sold out. I was so tickled to find it patiently

waiting for me at the Sew to Speak Shoppe when I visited in September!

Originally, I had planned to just set the blocks together with white sashing.

That seemed a little too safe though, and I ended up inserting leftover Jane strips 

here and there  to add a little more color and wonkiness.

The quilting is an all over pantograph design quilted by Mindy Peterson,  a member of 
 The Blue Valley Quilter's Guild that I belong to. She did a fabulous job! 

I love how the design looks like custom quilting but at a more affordable price!

This little Janie Sue will have to grow a bit before she's ready for a "Big Girl" bed.

But when that day comes, I've got a quilt with her name on it!

Disclaimer: The reason it seems that I have been making a bunch of quilts lately (as some of you have observed) is that I've had a kick in the pants to finish up some of my UFO's to use in a trunk show and presentation next week

for the Des Moines Modern Quilt Guild. Deadlines are good for me!

Pumpkin Patch Fun!

You haven't really lived till you've visited a Pumpkin Patch with grandchildren!

What a bunch of fun...even though photographing the event is about as

easy as trying to herd cats!

Some Princesses cooperate fully...

 while others would rather play in the dirt!

 Sometimes, a little boy, who can't read, can have the best time

before his parent suddenly realizes why no other kids are doing the same thing....

And if he thinks that girls have cooties (cousins included), 

offering a disguise might help in the picture taking ....

either that, or just hang on to his hand!

Watching a cannon shoot pumpkins is a big attraction....

 as is the Pumpkin Chomping Dragon!

Everyone wants to watch that...even if it's a little bit scary!

The simple things in life truly are the best!

A merry heart doeth good like medicine, 

even when not everyone will look at the camera and smile!

I hope that you, too, are enjoying the blessings of autumn!

P.S. Ollie, we missed you, and hope that you feel better soon!

Love, 

Lolly

Sunday Something

"Do not be anxious about anything, 

but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,

present your requests to God. 

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:6, 7

Farmer's Wife Friday--Militia of Arguments

Last Friday, I asked for your input on my color selections so far with the sampler blocks in the FWQAL. Several of you gave me a thumbs up on what I've got so far but thought a bit more yellow might be good, along with maybe more blue. I listened and produced Honey's Choice with that color combo in mind. I want yellow to be an accent color so will continue to use restraint, however. I like this block and can see a whole scrappy quilt of pinwheels.

 Another suggestion that I've taken to heart is adding some black and white prints. I already had used a white/black dot and was surprised that I hadn't thought of this good idea on my own. Thanks, Sujata, for coming to my rescue. Someone liked my reds, but warned to be careful of letting them get too overpowering....so, no red today!! Thanks, everyone for your nice remarks and help with this project. Here's Temperance Tree without red, but using pink instead....lots of little triangles to line up in this baby!! I like the black and white.

The Wisconsin farmer's wife who authored this week's letter offered eight "shots" at why she would want her daughter to marry a farmer. I'm going to try to turn her bullets into B B's: One: Farmlands are safe investments. Two: Farms offer unparalleled enterprise. Three: Many farm families enjoy the latest conveniences, maybe even the newspaper! Four: No need to spend money on fresh produce and fresh air. Five: Daily exertion is good for the mind and body. Six: No need to be a walking fashion-plate. Seven: A farm wife can be her own money manager. And last but not least, Eight: Freedom from the entrapments of "vicious allurements" ..."the necessity of birth control is not so apparent". 
And there you have it!: Eight good reasons for rural living in the 1920's.

 My recent mention of autumn visiting us here in the Midwest has led to more than a few comments from readers who miss the change of seasons in their local, so I thought I might help bring a little color to you each Farmer's Wife Friday. This maple tree stands tall in my yard and is just beginning to turn orange at its top. Watch each Friday as the Creator does His magic!

 My orange mums are beginning to open too!

I hope that you have been watching Cindy's blocks grow each week. Her use of solids makes them look so different and, dare I say it, contemporary, than mine. Here, take a look!

An Autumn Finish!

Here in the midwest, it's beginning to look a lot like Autumn......

 I'm always inspired by the colors all around me in October,

 and this year is no exception!

 The Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, near my home,

 always has the cutest fall display,

perfect for family picture taking...

This year some creative genius made this adorable train from sticks and barrels!

 I took the liberty of adding a little decor of my own to the scene....

The colors in my Hope Valley kaleidoscope quilt blend so perfectly 

with the mums and pumpkins!

 Hope Valley has been in the works for a year now, and I am more than excited

to have it finished.  All of the fabrics are from Denyse Schmidt's Hope Valley line (thus the clever name!), except for the binding which is a Kaffe Fassett stripe. I made the blocks in a Quilt Along with Old Red Barn and Julie from Jaybird Quilts.

 I found the perfect chartreuse solid at Hancock's for the backing and paired it with the leftovers from the front.

 Angela Walters did the beautiful quilting. I told her to do anything that she wanted because I knew that I wouldn't be disappointed in any decision she made. She didn't let me down, quilting something different in every kaleidoscope block!

 Angela's echo stitching around the little hexies on the border remind me of chrysanthemums, reinforcing the autumnal quality of the quilt.

Now I have another reason to love Fall! 

KC Modern Quilt Show

The weather could not have been more perfect for the Modern Quilt Guild Quilt Show on Saturday...

I may be biased, but I think it was one of the most enjoyable quilt shows I've attended....beautiful weather, wonderful and creative quilts and lovely people to spend the day with! Since I know that most of you didn't get to attend, I thought you might enjoy some snapshots of the day. Enjoy!

 Held on the campus of the University of Missouri Kansas City, the sandstone buildings, pretty trees and grounds made for lovely backdrops....

It was a rough day for me.... It takes a lot of work to help watch over all that creativity..........But, someone had to do it, right!

 The university was celebrating their homecoming over the weekend also, so there was a steady stream of visitors all day....

 You may recognize a few of my babies flapping in the gentle breeze.....

 I didn't get pictures of all of the quilts, but, hopefully, you got a taste of the creative juices that are always flowing in the BEST Modern Quilt Guild around....right here in Kansas City!