Old Churn Dash Quilt Top

I am really fond of this old quilt top. I bought a box of quilting "stuff" at a sale well over 20 years ago. In the box I found 2 finished tops, an unfinished top and many blocks. I don't even remember now where that sale was located. These Churn Dash Blocks appear to be made of a variety of fabric. I have been told it is mostly feed sack material and 50's fabric with maybe a few pieces that might have been early 60's.

I have been working on repairing it and getting it ready for quilting. It may not be the most perfectly constructed quilt top but it is has history that I wish I knew more about. Someone put a lot of work into making this old top.....who knows, there may be blocks made from fabric salvaged from old family clothing....or scraps from making a new dress.

Anyway, I can't wait to see what it looks like when it is all quilted and bound.

I had no idea 20 some years ago how much I would come to value the old "stuff" in the box, but I am sure glad I bought it!!

Where The Cats At #2

I really did not think I would have another post about where I have found the cat again so soon, but here it is!! I keep my sewing machine in the spare bedroom and as I went in there Saturday morning I found the cat up on these boxes on top of the dresser!! Never seen her there before!

Well, no telling where I'll find her next!! My Red Head DIL is always telling me, "you know, when your not home she is probably all over the kitchen table"! Their cat is perfect....he doesn't get up on things like Dodie does....yeah, right!! But you know what? I always wipe the kitchen table down before eating.....mmmm.

Where The Cats At

Back in the fall of 2007 our family went through a trying time. I decided it would be a good idea to get a cat. That way when the grand kids came to our house they would have something new to take their minds off the troubles of a divorce that they did not want or understand. Yes, a cat would be the answer and would help provide a distraction and comfort. When she was still a kitten the kids did play with her some. Today when the kids or anyone for that matter comes to the door the cat shoots down the hallway and hides under the bed. If the kids are here for a while she will eventually come out and sit where they can gently pet her, but if it gets too rowdy, under the bed she scoots. Where is the cat? That has become a very common sentence in this house. Whenever we open the closet doors she likes to sneak in. When we open the door to leave the house she likes to sneak out. You get the picture. So, often Poppy Joe or I will holler ....where is the cat at? I am surprised at times where the cats at. I think quilters and cats are common. On different blogs I have seen pictures of cats on sewing tables supervising the creativity that is going on. Cats on top of fabric also is common. There is hardly ever a time when a new piece of fabric leaves the dryer and hits the ironing board that it is not initiated into this house by a cat sniff or is sat upon. Here is a picture of "where the cats at" her name is Goldie but she is most often referred to as Dodie. The two youngest grand kids could not say Goldie very well and at first that is all they called her....Dodie. I keep quilting block projects in pizza boxes and had just earlier in the day moved two to the sewing table. Later when looking around this is where I found her.

She does not like the red eye light on the camera and will get miffed and move when I try taking her picture.

Forward to 2010 if you will. I believe the kids enjoy the cat...even love the cat.

We love our cat. Yep, I said love the cat. When all is said and done though, I believe it has been Gramma Peggy that the cat brings distraction and comfort to when going through rough patches.

When the Napping Quilter hits the bed it is usually only a matter of minutes before Dodie comes flying down the hallway and lands on the bed and curls up on the throw at her feet.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

This rocking chair is a place I spend a little time when it is not too hot or too cold and I want just a little sunshine on my face. Other times it's the rocking chair in the house. Too often though it is my bed. I have CFS. It is an invisible disease. I have lived with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia for many years. It was March of 1992 when I first became ill. Months past and I was diagnosed with CFS, later the Fibro was added to the list. Lately CFS has taken more of my days under it's rule than I care to count.

I don't talk about it much because I live with it everyday and whats to say....I feel like calling it a new name today. CFS > CAN'T FUNCTION, SORRY!! Below I am posting something I recently read that I think explains it in a nutshell.

___Good days, bad days, and invisibility____

An invisible illness is one that isn't readily apparent to the people who don't have it. Two factors contribute to a disease's invisibility.

NO OBVIOUS SIGNS......Sufferers don't use a wheelchair or crutches, don't exhibit hideous rashes or scarring, and generally don't "look sick."

SYMPTOMS GO UNDERGROUND.......Due to the illness, sufferers often can't leave the house. When they do, it's on a relatively good day, when they're feeling better. The friends and family who see them on those good days assume, wrongly that the sick person always looks and functions that well.

That pretty much says how it is...yep it does.

Painter's Tape

I was getting my quilts bagged up to go to a quilt show and the quilt I was getting ready to quilt is already on the table. I forgot I had taken this picture...wish I had taken it without all the piles on top of it. If you look closely you can see where I have ran strips of blue painter's tape across the area I wanted to quilt. I removed them as I went along then ran the strips across the other direction. I think it worked real well. No marking and guessing, just follow the tape and rip it off.

I think it turned out pretty good for my first try at quilting using this method.