Snow, Triangles and Dad Returns

It's a snowy, Friday morning here in Michigan. We've had more snow this year than in the past few years altogether, I think. Getting a little tired of dealing with it, but it sure is pretty!

I have had these triangles for the border of my "Dear Jane" quilt sitting on my desk for several weeks now, waiting to be scanned and posted.

The first picture is called "Phoenix." It didn't scan very well and looks all wacky, but it looks good in person.

The second pic is called "Olympic Torch." I forgot to add two tiny triangles on the bottom, but I think I will leave it as is. No sense in messing up a good thing. For those of you like my good friend Lorrie from work who might not know what a "Dear Jane" quilt is, there is a photo of the original quilt here. It seems like I write about it every time I post, but when you see the original, you'll know why. The original quilt was made in 1863 by Jane A. Stickle.

Dad comes home from Scottsdale on Saturday. I've missed him a lot. I don't have to teach Saturday morning, so I'm hoping to get in some quality sewing time. More later!

Bits and Pieces of Monday

Yesterday was my birthday. Hurray for me? There comes a point when celebrating an extra year is not as exciting as it once was. The number creeps higher and higher... putting you further and further into the "OLD Zone." My mom's favorite expression over the past 15 some years of her life was, "Caron, don't ever get old. It's hell." Well, considering the alternative, I'll take another year.

I have a lot of people ask me how to get started setting up a blog. It's really very simple, and there are many very informative sites that will walk you through the process. There is a great tutorial by Michael Hyatt , who is President and Chief Executive Officer of Thomas Nelson Publishers, the largest Christian publishing company in the world. Click here to get to that tutorial. Feel free to email me if you have questions or need help.

I participate in the Quilting Arts Forum online. We have a lot of fabric swaps, and my favorite is the Birthday Fat Quarter swap. In this swap, you sign up for a whole year. Every month, you mail the birthday gal(s) a fat quarter of quilting fabric in their requested colors/patterns. Then, when it is YOUR birthday, you get a whole collection of the kind of fabric you wanted. This year, I chose something that would get me out of my comfort zone. I usually work in muted colors, so I wanted something bright and geometric. And Baby, did I ever get it! I wouldn't normally choose the fabrics you see above, but WOW, I really like them! And I have some ideas already about how to put them in some quilts. I took the photo above on Sunday, when I opened all of my packages. Then yesterday, on my birthday, I got one more from Barb, who also lives in Michigan. Here's what Barb sent, from way over in the Ludington area. Hi Barb!

Well, I'm off to work. If you are staying home today, think of me while you quilt!

Two blocks, great weekend

I spent some time Saturday and Sunday sewing. It felt so good! Last week was extremely busy, and there wasn't much time for relaxation. My stress levels go up when I don't have a little time to myself to stitch, so I'm hoping this week goes more smoothly.

I had lunch with an old friend on Saturday as well. I hadn't seen Sue in probably 30 years, and we had a lot of catching up and picture-showing to do. We'll be getting together much more often, I'm sure! It was great to see her again!

Photo of Dean and Sammy

Sean, Kim, Jacob and baby Samantha surprised us with a visit yesterday for my birthday (which is today). We had a nice, long visit, dinner, and some good relaxing time together. Sammy slept most of the time, but was never set down except for a change or two. She woke up and was very alert before they left, with big open eyes looking all around. Dean's parents came over for a bit and got to see her for the first time. They said "She's a keeper." We agree. I asked Jacob if we should keep her, and he said yes. When I asked him if we should put her back in Mommy's tummy, he looked really puzzled, then said no, she wouldn't fit anymore.

This last little block is called "Four Clovers" and is block G-3 in the Dear Jane quilt.

The Artful Home

I love this website so much, I felt the compulsion to share it with you. The Artful Home is a collection of artists who produce some FANTASTIC art for your home. Everything from glassware to furniture to... QUILTS! My goal is to one day have quilts on their site for sale. Check out some of the prices of their wall quilts. Amazing.

Mohawk Trail and "While I Was Gone" by Sue Miller

I've been completing a few Dear Jane blocks lately, but on Sunday we went to Borders and I decided I hadn't read a good book in a long time. I picked up one called "While I Was Gone" by Sue Miller. What a GREAT book! I'm on page 133 already, and it's hard to put down. So, in searching online for the photo of the book to show you, I discovered that it's one of Oprah's book choices. If you haven't already read it, you might want to add it to your list. It's fantastic!

Yes, I have been sewing inbetween reading. Here's Mohawk Trail, G-2.

That should tide you over until my next post!

Happy Valentines Day to My Friends!

I received the cutest package in the mail today from Jen Claire of Bayou Quilts. It is a little sachet that she made with red hearts on the front and back. The front side has been machine stitched and beautifully colored so it has a two-tone effect. Here it is on my guest bed, surrounded with the pretty heart petals that were in the package. So adorable! I can't put my finger on the sachet scent, so I posted a comment on her blog to find out what she used. It's very earthy, which I LOVE. This gift was a P.I.F. (Pay It Forward).



I put a P.I.F. on my blog a long time ago asking for people to comment... the offer still stands. Place a comment under this post, and I will put your name in a drawing on Feb. 29th, and three people will receive a hand-made gift from me sometime this year. You won't know WHEN it will arrive, but it will, indeed, arrive. Be sure to include your contact info (an email or link to your own blog or website where I can find you) so I can send you your gift. There's a catch... you have to put a P.I.F. on your blog or website as well so you, too, can pay it forward.



Valentine's Day... the day of love. I thought I'd share my favorite wedding picture with you. It sits at the back of our wedding album, and it hardly ever gets seen. Here we are, circa November 15, 1975, which to Michigan people is the beginning of hunting season. Yes, we ticked off several hunters who were obliged to attend our wedding. This photo was taken LATE in the evening, and we were just about ready to leave for our honeymoon. Remember now, this was the 70's. Many years ago, and oh, but what I'd give for that figure back! Also, I mentioned earlier that I am making my granddaughter Samantha's Christening gown from my wedding dress. Here is the dress for your comparison when the gown is completed.

Speaking of sewing, my paternal grandmother's childhood photo is framed and looks over my computer desk. Edith Burton Covert. I adore this photo (sorry for the reflection of the lamp!). My grandma had a hard life. She lost her mother at a young age, and ended up raising her brothers and sisters. This photo was taken before that time. What a sweet child she must have been! My grandma never sewed. Not even a button! My grandpa worked at the Dort Carriage Factory in Flint, Michigan, doing upholstery work. If anything needed sewn in their home, grandpa did it! If I had a button loose, he'd have me come over to where he kept his sewing kit, and he'd fix it for me. Never mind that my mom was a great seamstress! He liked to do those kinds of things for me. Oh, AND give me chocolate cookies. He called me "Plugger," and to this day I love that nickname. It's a special gift from grandpa. Little girls love their grandpas. I can't wait for Dean to discover that about our precious Samantha!





Take a moment to remember all of your family. Remember those that you hold in a special place in your heart. (Hi Mike and Ryan E., Blanch, Debbie, Jerry, Dale.) Remember those in your past that you love. Even though they are gone, their memories live on in your heart. (Thinking of you Mom, Grandma and Grandpa Covert, Grandma and Grandpa Ryan, Dear friends Gail Wenk and Linby Plainer.)

Wishing everyone a very
Happy Valentines Day.

Quilted Northern - or something!

The first time I went out to dinner with my soon-to-be husband and his parents, we went to Zehnder's Restaurant in Frankenmuth, Michigan. Frankenmuth is the German town in Michigan that has all the chicken-serving restaurants, the huge Christmas store called Bronners, and the famous Beer Fest in Summer. Anyway, this photo of the cat leaving a trail of toilet paper - I can top it.

We went to Zehnders and had a marvelous dinner. Before dessert arrived, I had to use the restroom, and being female, of course, we travel in pairs. So my Mother-In-Law to be went with me. On our way out of the restroom, we were chatting and laughing, and ended up back at our table at the FAR end of the restaurant. So we had to walk through the whole entire building to sit down. As we neared our table, I heard a lot of laughter and turned around. Everyone was staring at me. Somehow, I had a long trail of TP attached to the heel of my shoe. It extended all the way to the bathroom, where it was still attached to the roll. OH MY GOSH! Talk about embarrassed!

This was almost 33 years ago, and it still makes me laugh. What great stories can YOU share? Click on COMMENT and share them with us!

An Applique Sort of Evening

I felt like doing some applique work last night, so I stitched on this little block, E-11, "Wagon Wheel." I'm really pleased with how it turned out! It's nice when your stitching doesn't fight you!

When I came home from work yesterday, it was snowing pretty hard. There was a beautiful cardinal outside my kitchen window eating at the birdfeeder. Alas, by the time I got out my camera, he was gone and other birds were feasting.

Shortly after Dean got home, he went to the sliding door at the back of the house to look out, and there were 3 deer wandering around our back yard. He had me come over to look, and then we spotted another 8 deer in the neighbor's yard. Sadly, one of the deer had an injured front left leg. She kept trying to walk, and they waited patiently for her before going down the hill to the creek. I don't know if she was hit by a car or had a broken leg, but it was very difficult for her to walk. We tried to get some photos, but the snow and the setting sun made it very difficult to get a good picture. I'll watch for her in the next few days and see if she's doing any better. I don't know what to do to get her some help. Breaks my heart to see an injured animal!

Quilting and the Flintstones

Remember the TV cartoon, "The Flintstones"? It was a favorite of mine when I was a little girl. I liked Barney. He was short, a follower, but he could have a temper when he wanted. This little block made me remember Pebbles Flintstone, Fred and Wilma's daughter. The Dear Jane block is called "Pebble's Protest," A-11.

Dean and I are cleaning house. I have 8 books on Ebay right now. Check them out at http://myworld.ebay.com/moseyonin . He is also listing a bunch of old comic books and instruments at http://myworld.ebay.com/moseyswoodworks .

I also have a partial bolt of Hunter Green solid 100% cotton fabric from about 15 years ago. It's still on the bolt, and I'm not sure how much is there, but there's a lot. If you are interested, contact me by email. My email address is caronmosey at gmail dot com.

A Sunday's Sewing

I had fun doing this little brown block today. It was pretty easy to paper piece, but the triangles are SO little! This is A-12, "Framed Fancy." Remember, the Dear Jane blocks are only 4.5 inches square, and this one has 33 pieces in it.

The triangle here goes on the bottom of the quilt when it is assembled. This one gave me fits. Didn't want to do anything I told it to do. I hate it when that happens!

I spent the morning doing a little cleaning in the basement, then some sewing. It was a nice, relaxing day. I need more of these!

A week or so ago, I was contacted by a childhood friend of mine. She lives in the area and still has family in Flushing, so we're going to get together soon. Turns out she quilts, too! How cool is that? Hi Sue! (waving at you from Flushing).

So beautiful in Michigan... and California...

I wish I had been able to go walking outside yesterday morning. It was so beautiful with our 11 inches of Mid-Michigan snow on the ground. Dean got out and shoveled and utilized his big, manly snowblower that I haven't used yet. This pic of the front of our house gives you a little peek at the depth of the snow. Everything was so crisp... the kind of morning that makes you just want to stand there and breathe in the clear, clean, cold air. But work called, and I made it in. Lots of people did not. I'm surprised how many people drive 45 minutes to over an hour to get there! The Saginaw people saw about 18 inches of snow! Yowza!

For a drastic opposite of the photo above. visit Debby's Journal Quilt blog. Ok, I change my mind. Forget the cold, crisp snow. I want to be HERE! Yes, you should click on the link and go check it out. Makes me want to be sitting on the pretty white bench looking at the birds.

If you are in Mid-Michigan like me, perhaps you have been to the The Quilter's Garden quilt shop that USED TO BE at 302 1/2 S. Leroy Fenton. Guess what? They have moved! Their new location is at 1364 N. Leroy, Fenton. Lots more room and better parking too! Just travel from their old location 1.3 mi. north on S. Leroy to the Fenton Towne Center plaza, on the right (east) side of N. Leroy. They are in the plaza at the opposite end from the new VG's Grocery Store. Cheap commercial plug for them. Didn't cost me a cent!

Am I the only one who is getting tired of the 2008 Presidential Election already? I know who I want to vote for, and it isn't a woman. Not sure I could take another 4 years of their family in the White House. That's it... my political rant for the month. I'll shut up now.

Time to sign off for the evening... Dean is home with a yummy pizza from our favorite pizza place. We're going to fill up on pizza and play chess, listen to some good music...

Yes, one CAN have fun without quilting. Sometimes. Maybe.

The Weather Outside is Frightful

I made it home from work safely last night, though driving was difficult. Roads were almost impassible, and it was near whiteout conditions driving in the Michigan snowstorm. You know it's bad when the local malls start closing! I was scheduled to teach for Ferris State University from 6-9, but I notified my students in the early afternoon that class was cancelled. Then less than two hours later, all the colleges in the area closed. Smart move! This morning, the reporters on tv are telling everyone that can possibly stay home to do so. I'm debating whether or not to go to work today. I should be there, but my job isn't a critical healthcare position, so I'm debating.

So, what better to do in these conditions than sew?!? I sewed the Dear Jane Block of the Week, K13-Brandon's Star. Quilting always relaxes me, and this was fun to make. I had to dig to the bottom of my "blue tub of fabric" to find this old print. I think this is one that I used on the back of the quilt I made for the Flushing Historical Society in the 1980's! The "Flushing Sesquicentennial Quilt" was made to celebrate our history, and local citizens paid $5-$10 each to sign their name on a brick. This money went to help pay for a brick walkway downtown in Riverbank Park. The quilt hangs in the museum, less than a mile from my house.

The photos you see here of the quilt are from a page in my first book, America's Pictorial Quilts published by the American Quilter's Society.

We Interrupt Your Weekend of Sewing...

To proudly present

Samantha Jane Mosey
Born 6:34 PM Feb. 2, 2008 (Ground Hog Day)
Weighing in at 7 lbs 2 oz, 19.5" long

Mom, Healthy Baby, Proud Father and Big Brother Jacob are all doing fine.
Grandparents are thrilled! Click on Samantha's name, above, to go see more pictures of her!

Proud Grammy,

On a Roll!

I've been a busy girl the past few days! I completed four more little Dear Jane blocks, and I'm so excited! That means I've done 26 blocks, 6 border triangles and 1 corner, for a whopping total of 512 pieces sewn. WoooooHooooo! One happy gal here, incase you couldn't tell.

• I also want to share a link with you that is non-quilt related, but certainly worth visiting. Barbara Carson is a sculptor who has some very amazing pieces on her website. Please check it out and be prepared to smile! Barbara lives near the University of Michigan, and is mother to Margaret (my son Loren's girlfriend).

Winter Wonderland

Mid-Michigan weather right now is beautiful… it looks like a Winter Wonderland, with heavy snow falling, sticking to the trees, fences, and everything else that it can find. Driving is horrible, though, and schools all around the area are closed. I’m sure lots of employed workers are staying home today. Stormie wanted me to stay home in the worst way today. She followed me from one end of the house to the other, everywhere I went she was only a foot or two away. I love it when she is a “Kling-on Kitty,” but alas, I headed to work.

I visited a great blog this morning and added it to my Google Reader . It’s called “Subversive Stitchers: Women Armed with Needles” . Lots of great things on this blog, written by a writer about quilting. She includes an interesting post on Karen McTavish of Duluth, Minnesota. You probably have heard about Karen and her “McTavishing” (long-arm machine quilting with tons of stippling). Karen is now stippled herself – her arm, anyway. Visit http://www.designerquilts.com/ and scroll to the very bottom to take a peek of her feathered arm!