Quilt, name tags and family trees

Here is a photo of my quilt. It's not the full quilt but you can see a good portion of it.

Since we are such a large family we make name tags every time, just so we know which branch you belong to as a lot of the kids look alike. In 2008 the theme was kites as we were in Lincoln City - home to the kite festival. Each branch of the original family has a color. People wrote in their own names and how ever they wanted to decorate it.

I also do up a family tree. Just so people can see all the branches.. This year I had the idea of making it three dimensional. I was going to string rope between the poles below and hang the kites off so they could blow in the wind. Well let me tell you there was not a flat space to be found in this park and it just didn't work. So we got the idea to string the robe around the covering and hang them from there. At the end of the line we put the family pole so they new who was who. Thanks to my brother and brother -in -law for putting put the string. Everyone loved it.

I don't have a photo of it but at the end of the far end of the covering - i tried to make flag bunting with the family name. It worked OK but i used construction paper so it didn't quite look like what i had in mind but it worked with the change of plans.

There will be another reunion in 2010 here in the Portland area.. and then in 2012 I will plan one for a Lincoln city weekend.

The reunion quilt

Here is a photo of my hand embroidery I did from my label to my family reunion quilt. I made up a poem that coordinated with the colors and what they represented in nature.

It went “Blue is for the waters of the rivers. Tan is for the sand. Purple is for the flowers. Yellow is for the sun. Green is for the trees.” Plus who contributed to it's making and who designed it.

The quilt was a signature quilt that I had everyone signs at the 2006 reunion. I had just prepared the blocks with off-white muslin and the corners of 3 different fabrics. I had all intentions of finishing it in 2007 but time just got away. You know how that is. In early 2008 I bought complimentary fabric for the borders and sashing. I wanted to get it done for the 2008 reunion in July. Of course I couldn’t get matching as I was so late but I went back to the same store I was at originally and was able to find some good matches. I was able to go to the Fabric Depot Outdoor Sale and found some good backing frabric for $2.00 a yard. I was excited about this quilt as I had designed it myself. I even made blocks with the family name Altenhofen. I had trouble designing the n’s but decided instead of doing the n part I would just machine on the negative spaces onto the square. It turned out great and just added to the homespun look that I was going for. The only bad part of this quilt that I will always remember is that I left it to the week before the 2008 reunion to put it together. y family helped me and we worked on it 20 hours in 3 days. We ended up tying it as I used a loftier batting. Currently it is folded up in my room and I don’t know what I am going to do with it.

Long time no see...

It’s been a while since I have posted. Dealing with the term, getting ready for graduation, a trip to the beach with the Faith Sisters and a trip to NY for 4 days has been keeping me busy.

I have picked up my hand project at work again. It was the 2008 block of the month by Suzi Gorman- Hearts Aflutter. . See above for one of the peaces. It is one of my first appliqué quilts. I am learning. I decided to do this project using a couple of Moda charm packs I had and other fabrics from my stash. It’s in the soft greens, blues, pinks and yellows. I love it. I am using Eleanor Burns idea of turn inside out appliqué for the hearts and fusing the other pieces down the a button hole stitch with heavier quilting thread I found at Joanne’s. I am getting faster at it and my sewing is improving with each block.

Well back to work. Have a wonderful Thursday. Almost the weekend! Yea!

Another thought!

Hello
Another name......

Orange Cherry
or
Cherry Orange...

Inspired abound listenting to podcasts..

Dottie

A new find..

I have found a new author I want to explore. Her name is Gladys Bagg Taber. She lived in a Farmhouse in New England named StillMeadow. There are a some excelent websites that you can find lists of her works. She is on Amazon and at my local libary. I am so excited to explore her writings.
http://www.gladystaber.org/
http://heartkeepercommonroom.blogspot.com/2006/04/gladys-taber-stillmeadow-primer.html
Till later....

Is a Fairy Tale LIfe a possiblity?

Do you believe in a Fairy Tale Life? I do. I think it is the same as believing in Santa Claus or in The Tooth Fairy. Yes we know that it’s not “true” all of the time but why can’t we make it the most enjoyable and magical we can make it. We had a conversation at work that made me think of it. A co-workers sister’s estranged husband is making overtures of coming back. My co-worker wants to give her option of how life is not a fairy tale and she shouldn’t believe him and should tell him that. For this lady – she was a late bloomer in the relationship department and still believes in the sweetness of love. I think it should be encouraged. Yes there is the chance that she might be hurt but can you look at everything with such a negative slant and automatically turn your head just because you view life and people in such a negative light? So I told my co-worker be supportive of your sister. Yes give your opinion but let her figure it out. I have been through a bad relationship myself, my family was pushed away, I was used and it took a while to come out it emotionally but it has not tarnished my belief of fairy tales.
I then took a small survey of my coworkers. Did they believe in a fairy tale life? None of them did. In fact they got a bit nasty about it. They said relationships take work. They are not always pretty. I swear they think I am naive about life and don’t know about the hardships of life. But then I look at their lives. They always have so much drama, so much anger. I don’t see any excitement for things, any passion.

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I wrote the above two paragraphs last week when I was in a “mood”. Lol. I was even arguing with a good friend about it and I don’t argue. Lol. On this Monday morning I still believe that your life can be a fairy tale. I thought about it a lot this weekend. I decided its how you look at life.
This weekend when I was clicking around the blogs I read I found evidence that other people do think like me. It was refreshing to know I am not alone. I am sure everyone has their own set of drama and problems they face but so many people or should I say women have said to them selves that they want find the good in things in life and enjoy them What hey want, especially in these days of economic uncertainty are the small pleasures that make their life more enjoyable. I think for some people they have always had this attitude but I think a big shift came around 9/11 and even more now.
For myself the small pleasures, was going to a quilt show and enjoying the quilt show of a woman from the guild. Sitting there watching her set up and get her notes ready – I was thrilled for her. What an honor. Due to some weird sleeping patterns this weekend (that’s another post lol ) I awoke at 4 on Sunday morning and couldn’t go back to sleep. I gave in and got up at 5. I ended up taking the time to do my taxes. Afterwards I crawled back into my nice soft bed and the windows opened just a bit to let in the cold morning air and snuggled in for a couple hours of sleep. That was bliss lying on the cloud of bedding with my quilts on top of me no deadlines, all my goals done for the day and I could do almost anything I wanted.
So to me life is full a bliss and there is nothing wrong with trying to live a fairy tale. I even say that sometime my prince will come on a white horse and sweep me away to a wonderful life.

A Wonderful Spring Sunday

Hello There,
It's Sunday. Spring term begins tommorow. My last term. Yah! I wish I had another week to feel beter.
I saw the photos from my brother's wedding. I need to go the gym. I need to lose weight. I was going to start today but my sleep schedule is screwed up and my head is heavy with cold. . I want to lose weight. I want to look good for graduation and I want to look good for New York. I have a cool dress I want to wear. I wonder if i would have looked better than I did. ONe thing is that my mom made me wear an outfit that in looking at the photo wasn't very nice. Even today my jeans are very tight. I have to give up that chocolate. Drink water.
Walk that extra distance from the car.
I will do it. I have it here as proof.
I want to ride my bike around town. I want to go on walks with Patrick and the kids. I don't want to collapse at any exercise. I need to make a plan. I have the exercise program laid out in a book. I know what i have to do. I don't use school as an excuse but it feels like i don't have the time to devote to it. This term. Three nights a week I leave at 7:30 and don't get home till 10. I leave work early and I have to make up the time. It's hard when when I get so tired. Plus i have the homework.
I know I will be so lost in July. What am I going to do with out the goal of school in front of me? I will have to make up another one. In some ways I can't wait but others the emptyness of it not being there will be a great loss.
I will focus on my creativity. That's what i will do. Look to see if i can get a new job that uses more of my schools.
Hope everyone has a wonderful last week of March. How will it go out?
WE will have to see.
Dottie

AN IDEA....

THE GOLDEN TULIP! A NEW NAME FOR A BLOG OR SOMETHING..

Pleasure to my eye - Part 3

Another wonderful artist is Kate Greenway. There is something about her that I love. I could imagine myself in the world she draws.

Pleasure to my eye - Part 2

Another woman's drawing I love is Tasha Tudor. I love her work. I love her corgis. I think i first found her Christmas book and then I read about her in Victoria. Here are two of her works.

Pleasure to my eye - Part 1

I don't remember when i was introduced to Carl Larsson (1853-1919) but i have loved his work ever sense. I can remember pouring over the book i got at the library. Alicia at Posy Get's Cosy does a wonderful job at showing you his excellent artwork.