Archive | July 2014

Some more wonderful quilts from….

the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.  These quilts were awe inspiring!!!  There were so many techniques used, some quilts were made from scraps and others were definitely pieced with a plan.

Amazing!

Amazing!

 

This quilt is made of silk!

This quilt is made of silk!

 

A variation of the Log Cabin Quilt

A variation of the Log Cabin Quilt

look how tiny these strips are

look how tiny these strips are

 

Grandmothers Fan - this was made of silk fabric also

Grandmothers Fan – this was made of silk fabric also

 

Another variation of a Log Cabin Quilt - uses the traditional red center square to represent the hearth.

Another variation of a Log Cabin Quilt – uses the traditional red center square to represent the hearth.

I truly enjoyed this exhibit and can’t even imagine making some of these quilts – some of the pieces were so tiny and the thought of them being pieced and quilted by hand is remarkable.

Some of these quilts were made to impress – others were made to keep warm.  No matter the end use they are all a form of expression and creativity that women used to brighten their days, and keep their loved one warm.  I am sure that some women made quilts out of necessity and others did it to show their sewing skills.  I make quilts because I have a wonderful sense of accomplishment when they are complete.  Quilting for me is a form of creative expression that has the wonderful end result of a tangible item that will hopefully outlive me.  My quilts show a bit of my personality – the colors I choose are an extension of who I am.  I tend to work with bright, happy colors or warm, cozy colors depending upon the end user of the quilt.  Every quilt that we make has a little bit of us in it.

The weekend in Boston was about family and for me that is what my quilting is about, sharing a part of me in my quilts.

Keep creating….

Be kind…

Faith

A Wonderful weekend…

in Boston.  A couple of weekends ago we loaded up the car, dropped Gracie off and the kennel and headed south to Beantown.  We were going to visit our daughter Elizabeth and spend the day wandering around Boston and seeing the Red Sox.

Our first stop was the Quincy Market – we went for a walk around the business district.  Had to get our steps in for the day.

Elizabeth and me in Quincy Market

Elizabeth and me in Quincy Market

Our next stop was the Museum of Fine Arts Boston to see the Pilgrim/Roy Collection of antique quilts.  The quilts were amazing!!!  I had a wonderful time looking at them and getting inspired once again to go home and make quilts.  Here are a few of my favorites from the collection.

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Four Poster quilt - this was made to fit a 4 poster bed.

Four Poster quilt – this was made to fit a 4 poster bed.

Baltimore Album

Baltimore Album

I love the half blocks on the sides - you almost never see this in quilts made today.

I love the half blocks on the sides – you almost never see this in quilts made today.

Star details

Star details

border - love it!

border – love it!

love the simplicity of the design and the amazing quilting.

love the simplicity of the design and the amazing quilting.

When you think about the fact that most of these quilts were made in the 1800’s – they were hand pieced, machine pieced and hand quilted.  There were no rotary cutters, none of the tools that we use today to make our quilts complete.  It was wonderful to be able to see these quilts in person.  They were displayed in a way that allowed you to really see the details and the workmanship of the quilts. We had a lovely light lunch at the museum and then continued our Boston fun.

We headed back to our hotel to relax for a bit before dinner and the game.  It was so nice to spend time with Elizabeth – we had a cocktail and a cheese and fruit platter and wonderful silly conversation.  I tried a Moscow Mule and I just might have to purchase some of these fun copper cups and have a Moscow Mule Party.

Moscow Mule

Moscow Mule

Dinner was early and Garrett – (Elizabeth’s boyfriend) joined us at Stephanie’s on Newbury.  We had a very nice dinner and then walked to the park.

Fenway Park

Fenway Park

The Red Sox won the game that evening- we had a wonderful time and then went back to our hotel for a nightcap and some more conversation.  Overall the day was relaxed, fun and exciting.  Boston is a wonderful city – it is easy to get around and it has always been one of my favorite places to spend a day.

We were up early the next morning so that we could pick Gracie up at the kennel.  Gracie was very happy to see us and to be home and Chuck and I were happy to be home as well.

I will post more pictures from the museum tomorrow – there are some more amazing quilt to see.

Have a nice day,

 

Be Kind…

Faith

 

 

My birthday card to my husband….

Today is my husband Chuck’s birthday. We have been married almost 29 years and they have been the most amazing years of my life.  When I think of the young woman that I was when I met him and the woman that I am now, the change is amazing.  Deep down inside I am the same person but we have had so many wonderful adventures over the 33 years that we have been together that we have grown together into a couple.

Here is a pictorial of our wonderful life together.

Our Big Day

Our Big Day

 

Chuck being Chuck - making us laugh

Chuck being Chuck – making us laugh

no caption needed

no caption needed!

 

Daddy and Charles

Daddy and Charles

 

Daddy & Elizabeth

Daddy & Elizabeth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

good hair days and bad

good hair days and bad

 

 

family weddings always the best

family weddings always the best

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25th Anniversary

25th Anniversary

Most of our fun involved family!

Dad and his wonderful children

Dad and his wonderful children

 

the loves of my life

the loves of my life

The whole clan

The whole clan

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So Happy Birthday Chuck, you are the love of my life and my best friend – I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us, I know it will be filled with love and family and fun.

 

Be Kind…

Faith