This 'n That

Dear Friend,

Well January is moving on to fast for me and the weekends are busy. Marla and I made a day trip to Vernon and Springerville on Sunday to spend some time with Dad who was in the hospital. He looked better than I thought he would and is finally able to walk a little bit. Not sure how long he will have to be there and knowing how much he hates hospitals, I hope not too much longer.

We left here around 6 AM and watched a glorious sunrise. Then we were doubly blessed to catch the sunset on the way home. A 2 for one, can't beat it!














I have been busy sewing and hope soon to share another project with you.

In the meantime, I just saw that this book that has just be released and can't wait to get my hands on it, Tile Quilt Revival.




The quilt design is based on art tiles like this


















to make quilts that look like this















This is really a quilt revival-this antique quilt recently sold at auction of over $15,000







Now I know that I will never make a quilt that would bring any amount of money at an auction and I know that I may never even make a full size quilt using this technique, but to me the thrill of piecing quilts is learning new techniques and making quilts with variety. They may take longer to make but I will finish most of my projects someday.


So, if I am going to get the three projects completed that are setting next to my machine in the next couple of weeks, I had better get busy. Oh, yes, I have ordered the new book. My legacy to my children will be quilt books. I hope they learn how to sew soon.

I was pointed to this wonderful quote from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland for a reason. I need to let go of some of the things in my life that are holding me in one place and this really touched me.
"We look back to claim the embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learn what we need to learn and brought with us the best that we have experienced, then we look ahead and remember that faith is always pointed toward the future."

Thanks for listening.
Love, Jan

Update on a Ho-Hum Life

Dear friend,

I know you think I have forgotten you-I haven't. I have just been busy doing lots of things and accomplishing nothing. I finally finished piecing the Scrappy Star quilt, and now I need to put a back together for it and take it to Sue's to be quilted. I'm not sure where this one is going yet. I still need to decide before I make the label.

I started another quilt that's really fun but need to find more fabric so tomorrow after breakfast with Shirley, Lisa, Nikki and Nancy I am going to plow through my stash. This quilt is red, white and black. I may be forced to buy some fabrics for this one. Darn it, don't you just hate that! (Yes, that was tongue-in-cheek.)

Have you ever been to south-eastern Arizona? I have been to Nogales once and to Tombstone but I have always wanted to go to Patagonia-isn't that a great name! Mat is down there now working on a contract that finally came in. Hooray!!!! He has been sending me wonderful pictures via phone and this is one of them. I was so amazed at this beautiful sun (rise or set, I'm not sure.) I had just read a photography tutorial the other day about scene pictures needing to to tell a story-it needs a beginning, a middle and an end. Then I get this and there it is. I love getting pictures from him. It really makes my day.

Keep sending the pictures Mat. I love them.

I am trying to read a book called the Zookeepers Wife for book club. It is a true story about the underground Polish network and the amazing work they did to hide and rescue as many of the victims of the Nazi occupation of Poland during WWII. It is not easy to read as it talks about so much of the horrible things that were done to the Polish people and the Jews but I will finish this book by next week. The author, Diane Ackerman, is very knowledgable, and she did a tremondous amount of research for this book, but I sometimes think she has a need to share all of her knowledge whether it has anything to do with the story or not.

I guess I've told you about all there is for now. I promise to write soon.

Love Jan