My two boys love to help me Quilt!!

My husband Jim and I have never been blessed with human children.  We have had a number of cats over the years.

The summer of 2006 we adopted Garfield.

People laugh when we say the Garfield follows Jim around in the yard like a dog.

He also thinks he helps me quilt.

Garfield likes bright colored quilts!!

This past summer we adopted Nermal.

Nermal's my little boy and he helps me write my blog and quilt!!

Nermal likes my batik Day and Night Quilts by Eleanor Burns http://www.quiltinaday.com/default.asp

With the help of my boys I make some beautiful quilts!!  But it also means I invest in lint rollers to remove cat hair along with my threads.

Totes, Purses and Overnight bags

In addition to quilts I have also been making some purses and totes.  And yes it's true they are not all Scarlet and Gray!!

Duffle Bag

This tote can carry many quilts and a Nermal

This Picnic Tote is from Tammy Tadd's pattern book A Tadd More http://www.tammytadddesigns.com/

I used a Moda Sent with Love charm pack by Deb Strain for this Trail Mix tote from http://www.thisandthatpatterns.com/

But I didn't like having to cut down the charms.

Then I found this pattern from http://www.marlousdesigns.com/

It's called The Cross Town Carry Maggie's Bag

I used a Scarlett and Gray charm pack and used some other fabrics from my stash for the braided handles and lining.  Once I started using up 6 inch squares and charm packs I couldn't stop!!

Snowman

This Leap Frog purse matched Terri's quilt, so I gave it to her for her 50th Birthday

Spring

I have gotten a number of compliments on these purses!!

They make up very quickly and would make a great gift!! 

Marti Michell Perfect Patchwork Templates

I recently took a class from Marti Michell http://www.frommarti.com/ at Lake Farm Parks http://www.lakemetroparks.com/programs/quilts2010.shtml, it was awesome!!  I had been using some of Marti's templates and wanted to meet her and learn some tips. 

I first used her Kaleido-Ruler, Small on this Scarlet and Gray Kaleidoscope Wall Hanging.

My next project used her Log Cabin ABC's book, Log Cabin Ruler and some of the Perfect Patchwork Templates.  I had seen a sample of this at The Glass Thimble in Columbus, Ohio http://www.glassthimble.com/



The next quilt was made using Marti's Rolling Star Strippity-Do-Dah Pattern  and templates.  I had purchased a Scarlet and Gray jelly roll from Calico Cupboard in Pataskala, Ohio http://www.calico-cupboard.com/ and these templates work perfectly.  You need a mechanical pencil for marking the pieces.

Buckeye Stars Keep Rolling

Now I'm working on a 12 inch sampler similar to Marti's below.

I have my center done.

Carpenter's Wheel

And some of the surrounding blocks.

Hidden Star                                              

Ohio Star                         

Martha Washington's Star

Bethlehem Star

Wild Goose

Sweet Sixteen

Pieced Star

Rosette                                  

Happy Easter

It's a beautiful Easter in Northeastern Ohio.  The sun is shining and the birds are chirping.

As Vice President of the Assumption Parish Council, I was volunteered to organize the 2010 Photo Directory.  So this weekend we started encouraging, ok, brow beating, church members into signing up to have their picture taken.  It's a great way to put names with faces and see the kids grow up.  Of course the rest of us don't age or change!!

This afternoon we will be having dinner at Mom's house.  It will be me, my husband Jim, Grandma Helen, mother Cindy, brother Don and nephew Chris.  Niece Samantha is visiting dad Denny and sister Dawn in central Florida!! 

Next weekend we will be visiting Jim's family.

Have a Happy and Holy Day.
Darlene