An Amazing Day

Today we went to the Heinz History Center for their Quilter's Weekend.

This years theme was "Quilts During Wartime".  

The marine memory/signature quilt I made for Paul-Michael was in the exhibit.

and a few of my quilts made with CW reprod. fabrics were displayed as well.

this picture is from home because every time I tried to get a picture someone was standing in the way....and then I got to talking and forgot....

Paul and I arrived and were able to catch the last half of Sue Reich's lecture on WW2  quilts.  It was so incredibly interesting and  moving; if you ever have an opportunity to hear her speak, don't miss it.  

She brought several of her quilts with her and to see them up close and personal, was almost too much for me.  To see how quilter's in that time dealt with their worry, grief etc in the same way that I did.  

The first three or four times I told the story of the making of my quilt was difficult, The first time my husband was standing by listening and he got choked up too and had to walk away.  But after a few times I was able to move through the emotions that I feel whenever I see this quilt (the memories are visceral, and come back in waves) and I was able to enjoy sharing this with others.  One couple came up to us and I asked the man if he was in the military. 

He was in the army. I smiled and said I could tell by his haircut! He has been deployed 3 times. He and his wife were very interested in my quilt story.  A little later I saw them walking away from it and could see in his face he was moved   Several members of my family came to see the quilts, not only mine but the many others as well. 

It was an amazing day.  

Life is Good.

I finally got some pictures

In no particular order.

close up of quilting -free-hand feather meander

  

back of Madeline

Evening Shadows-custom

"Irene" (formerly LCQA quilt)

Jelly roll quilt -stippled

back of Jelly roll Races quilt

Last night I started to load My Apple Orchard. I'm just going to do an all-over either stipple or maybe a double ribbon, but probably the stipple. 

I still have 6 big quilt tops that need quilting. They are all from  my 2010 block-a-day personal challenge.

Apple Orchard was the smallest at 73 x 93, which is why I picked it. 

I got a new laptop yesterday, have to take my computer for them to transfer what they can from it. I'm hoping for an easy transition from desktop to laptop-I did get a wireless mouse for it though.  I'm using Meg's laptop for this post and I'm ok w/it but I've been using it everyday for a month or more and I think I'm as good as I'm gonna get, I just like the mouse better.

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Our oldest son Paul is visiting with us. 

I'm not sure if I've shared in the past that he is a religious brother in the Oratory of St Philip Neri.  Last week he received his acceptance letter from Mount St. Mary's into the 2nd year of their pre-theology program.  In 5 years (by God's grace) he will be ordained.  We are excited for him as he takes this next step in discerning his vocation. 

My husband is excited also that Mt. St.Mary's is 10 minutes from Gettysburg, PA! 

Update

Molly and I are spending time together outside in the yard (she's a professional tennis ball retriever-I think)

If we're not outside we stay in the basement.... So I've got a lot of quilting done. 

LCQA --now named "Irene":

Jelly roll races:

Evening Shadows:

Schnibbles "Madeline":

Schnibbles Winter White is loaded now and 2/3's quilted

  Jelly roll races, I just stippled, Irene I did custom quilting on and will have better pictures after Molly leaves and I can find the time.... I quilted with an all-over feather meander on the others-just love using that!

I did sew the binding to my Jelly roll races top but am waiting now to see what the next step in the basement deconstruction/construction will be.  If I can't use my stuff downstairs, I'm figuring I can sew binding upstairs.

**some of you may see through this flimsy excuse to just avoid the dreaded binding process--basically you'd be correct **

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Our oldest son, Paul is here for the week (BIG SMILE). More news on that later.