The Sunflowers are blooming!

It's hard to believe it's almost August....one of the hottest months here in Florida. But, the sunflowers are blooming and so much fun to see. The first quilt I ever designed was inspired by two things...my great aunt, Robena, who was affectionately called "Auntie Bean" and sunflowers I saw growing along a fence down the road from me. The quilt was named "Auntie Bean's Stalks". Ever since then I've planted my own skyscraper sunflowers...the pictures you see above are along my fence. And, along side the quilt hanging over our fence as well, is our bloodhound, Skeeter. He was just a gangly puppy then. Now, he's retired from the sheriff's office.

Mockingbirds vs Mocking Birds

Here it is Sunday and time for the game to end....Mockingbirds (all together) is a type of bird. Now, a mocking bird is a bird that mocks what it hears. Mockingbirds are typically gray/white with beautiful tails....but in my world of primitive and the quilt I am creating, the birds are different colors and have hardly any tails.....(artistic license taken here!). I wanted to make sure that IF I named a quilt "Mocking Birds" that people would not confuse the "type" of bird and think I was crazy because of the colors/shapes I used. So, I see that you understood what I meant and I can name the quilt Mocking Birds.....ok, enough said on that. Everyone that participated will be receiving a free copy of "Mocking Birds" as a thank you.........as soon as it is printed. If I don't have your snail mail address, please be sure to write to me personally - piecemaker51@aol.com - so that I can mail you your copy. Thanks for playing along. I really appreciate it.

Mocking Birds is a pieced fabric wall hanging with wool applique in the middle border.

Question for you...........

I was thinking just yesterday that I might need your help! Who can tell me the difference between Mockingbirds and Mocking Birds? There could be a prize involved for the correct answer. If there is more than one correct answer, then there will be a drawing! It's Sunday, July 19th........so please let me know by Sunday, July 26th!!!!!

New Baby in the Family!

It was a beautiful day yesterday. Bright and early Sunday morning we received a call saying my nephew and his wife had their first baby......a boy, 6 lbs. 2 0z and 19 inches long. His name is Noah John Mudore. And, he's adorable................just ask his dad!


My Mom, just turned 86 last month. This is her 6th great grand child. She's almost blind now, but she couldn't wait to get little Noah in her arms.

And, of course, I had to have my turn as well since I'm his great aunt! All I could think about was how much I wished my sister, Sharron, could be here to love this little bundle of joy! Scott, my nephew looks so much like his mom and little Noah looks a lot like Scott.

Speaking of daddy.........he's so very proud of this little guy. Gee, can you tell? I think Scott's pretty proud of mom too.

Babies are just to much fun! My little Becca and Sarah will have another cousin to play with. Today, it was back to work on a pieced fabric and wool applique quilt.

Until nex time

If you are one to take classes, here's the perfect item for you........The picture above shows two different sizes of "pattern bags" The one on the left is for opened up patterns in the larger plastic bags and/or a book that has the pattern in it that you will be making. The one on the right is for the folded patterns. These will be patterns by the first of September.

And, how many sewing roll-ups does a body need? Well, I think one of each kind I see would make me happy.....While teaching at PMW it's fun to walk around and see all the fun stuff people keep their sewing notions in. I had a hard time deciding which one - well, perhaps several - I wanted to take with me that I have in my collection. I had the pattern club drawing coming up and wanted to make something for the winner (which I try to do every time there is one) so made these. I think I've given away 3 of these now. They are fun to make and take hardly no time at all. They will be patterns by the first of September. I will let everyone know.

Lol - sorry, trying to set up my I-phone to post messages and/or pictures if I'm out and about and see something wonderful you should see.....
So far I'm batting zero. But, I will keep trying..

Unregistered

New Projects

Summer days can be lazy days, but so far it's been a whirlwind of activity. Trying to keep up isn't always easy. So, I've decided that a person can only do what she can do and that has to be ok.

I'm working on new projects......a wall hanging which is both fabric and wool. Some fun stars that are a little different and with wool applique in the borders. It should be ready soon.

Fun small projects that are easy to make and that you must have more than one of.........either for yourself or as a give away. I really do love projects that are small and I can't think of a better gift, for a friend or relative, than something that is handmade.

Sewing roll-ups - now how many of those do you have? lol You mean you don't have a collection of these? (It reminds me of pin cushions.....my collection of those just keeps growing and growing as well)

Pattern bags - Oh, I think these are fun. I have two for me....a small and a large one, I've given some away.

Wool table rug........all coming soon!

I will share these with you as soon as the pictures have been taken. If you are in my pattern club you will be the first to see everything when it's ready. You can join by signing up on my website: http://www.primitivepiecesbylynda.com

Hope all of you have a great day.

Until next time,
Lynda

Little fishes...........

Being a gramma has been a great joy to me. Leaving Canada when I was only 3 1/2, I didn't have an opportunity to be close with any of my grand parents. Having my two little girls live so close to me has been such a joy. Rebecca, the older one will be 6 this December and little Sarah just turned 2 in May. I spent last Friday afternoon watching them take their swimming lessons. Sarah and Mommy (Chelsie) go in first in the younger class. I had the video camera and could hear her saying, "I want Gramma!" I might add, she did everything they asked her to do, but wasn't happy about it at all. (I'm not sure where she gets that stubborn streak) Becca's class was next and she's having a ball. She is the first to volunteer when asked to do something. Her class got rained out on Friday, so gramma will have to go back and video her class next week. You can tell it's such a chore for me.....lol

Gwendie....now I am unable to answer yours and Carol's comments from the last post. So, I've taken a step forward and a few back. I should have a partner and it would seem like we're dancin here. Carol, check out Sarah's build...who does she look like to you?

Oh dear, my first blip!

Just as I was getting the hang of this........ran into a blip! Go figure. My post of Primitives of the Midwest seemed to think I would be coming back to post more and so left lots of space between it and the end.......so, everyone thought they couldn't leave a comment. When I tried to fix that, it decided to play hard to get. Please scroll down a country mile and you can see where it is. I'm so very glad quilter's are patient people. I was told this had a learning curve to it! lol

So then, smack dab in the middle of the fixin part came the 4th of July holiday, so had to get ready for that. We had a delightful time here at our house. There were 13 of us gathering around the table to eat. We grilled hamburgers and hotdogs and everyone brought their favorite side dishes. You know how good that is. None of us went away hungry. We even had homemade icecream..........yum!


Hope your 4th was a big success. I really enjoyed all the fireworks.


Now the holidays are over and it's back to business. I hope to have more pictures to share from PMW. Just need a little cropping and downsizing and I'll be in business.


Oh, and I will probably just have to tell you about my little girls - they are taking swimming lessons. Gramma got to go see what they were up to last Friday.


Until next time,

Lynda

Primitives of the Midwest

By now you've heard that PMW has come and gone for 2009..it seems like it takes forever for it to get here and then poof, it's over. It was a wonderful week of seeing old friends, meeting new ones. No cooking, no cleaning - lots of shopping, sewing, and eating! A little wine too!


Jennifer Keltner from American Patchwork and Quilting was the opening night guest speaker. She's full of fun and showed some amazing quilts coming your way in all the magazines they publish. So, be on the look out. There's even one of mine that will be in the December issue of AP&Q.



She gave us all a badge to wear proudly for the entire week....we were not to be seen without it.......
There was so much going on during the week......pajama party, dinner out with friends, a group road trip to Greenwood to shop, eat and shop some more. Did I mention the fact that I shipped home 3 boxes of stuff? It arrived this morning!! How fun is that? Pizza party and some down time to just sew and/or enjoy all the history that surrounds Lee's Summit. We drove to Liberty and Independence and had the best time visiting the frontier museum, the railroad museum and I'll have pictures to share of that as well.




I taught 3 classes - two new quilts for spring and a wool table rug -


A two day class - The Gathering Baskets - a new spring quilt pattern

A one day class - Bull's Eye - new spring quilt pattern

A half day class - It's a Crock! (wool table rug)

Class picture of the Gathering Baskets class - Cathy, Linda, Lynda, Deborah and Linda (do you see a pattern there?)

There were just two in the bull's eye class and one had to leave because of a death in the family. The It's a Crock! class was the largest one.....it is a wool table mat.....it was fun to see everyone having a good time putting their's together. I will be teaching this as well at the Buggy Barn in August. If you are in that area I hope you'll come join the class.

I will be posting more pictures of the trip for you to see, plus there are some new patterns in the works. If you are not familiar with my website, I hope you'll take a look see...http://www.primitivepiecesbylynda.com ....the new patterns for spring are posted, there are e-patterns too. Join the mailing list and you'll be among the first to see any new patterns that are born.

Happy 4th of July.....be safe and have fun!

Hugs, Lynda

On your mark, get set......................

I have been heard saying - "No, I'm not going to do this!", "No, I don't have time", "why would anyone want to hear about my daily goings-on?" "I asked Sue Spargo in Missouri last week, "How do you possibly keep up with a blog?" and now, here I am. Well, almost! Please check back after I've caught my breath from PMW in Missouri. I'll be sharing that wonderful event with everyone soon.

Happy 4th of July!

Hugs, Lynda