Signs of spring

Really - this is a sign that it's between Christmas and New Year's Day. That's always when we get our first seed catalog. I guess that spring is on it's way - it is after the Winter Solstice - days are getting longer.

It was really hard to tell though as we got hit with the worst snowstorm in 20 years. On the way to town to pick up the grandkids I found a huge snowdrift around a corner at the top of a hill. It went clear across the road and was about 5 carlengths long. Thanks God - for cellphones and neighbors.

The cellphone enabled me to call AAA but the neighbor just happened to have a Bobcat. By the time he had me dug out of the drift he had icicles hanging from his mustache. Then he followed me home to make sure I got here. There are some really nice people in this neck of the woods. Pep and I stayed at home for a couple of days until the roads were cleared (even UPS couldn't get here) and planned our garden. Lots of peppers to keep us warm.

The "Cackle" catalog just came 2 days ago. Spring is on it's way.

But my chickens already knew that. They've been laying 12-13 eggs a day - in the midst of all the snow and REALLY COLD weather.

It's been really cold and gloomy here for almost a month but they knew it would get warm and sunny again. One of the things I love about having animals is that they're in touch with the earth cycles and what's really going on. I always felt better each evening after I gathered the eggs and made them cozy for the night. Warmer days are coming - it will be time to hatch babies soon.

Quiltwise, I've been working on blocks for the Mystery Quilt and, of course, I can't show you those. I want to get as much done as possible as everything comes to a halt when I get the new fabric line. I've also been working on drawing patterns so that when the next fabric ships I won't have quite so much to do. And of course, I can't show you that either.

I've also been working on some spring and summer Mini Rugs that I do with my punchneedle.

I can show you one of them. I'll try to find time in the next week or two to do a blog on

the process. I just love the look and feel of them.

Meanwhile, it's still cold but at least the sun is out. And my favorite rooster watches

his hens as they scratch in the garden.

Now taking preorders

Homespun Stars - 104"x 104"

Now taking presorders.

This is the Featured Fabric Quilt for 2010 and it's been keeping me busy. If you don't know about the Featured Fabric Quilt for each year, it is usually a fullsized quilt that we kit. It ships out in four sections to keep the cost down. Also so it's not so overwhelming and time consuming. You have 3 months on this one to get a large block, one border and corner star done. That seems a lot more manageable.

We don't ship the lst section until March but this is mainly done from the "Looking Back" Brannock/Patek fabric line so we need to take preorders in case we need to order more fabric. If you belonged to the club last year, you're automatically on the list for this year unless you cancel. If not, and you want to get on the list for this year, email Tara at info@janpatekquilts.com or call her at 816-632-7632. I'd hurry every chance I get, when Moda's out of fabric, they're out of fabric.

I haven't ever done a quilt I don't like but I really like this one. I can't wait to see it quilted and on my bed.

My heartfelt sympathy goes out to Laurie Simpson and Polly Minick on the loss of their brother. We pray that the Ultimate Healer be with them and the rest of his family at this time.

Happy 2010!

Happy 2010. Hope your New Year is full of family, friends, good food and of course -
quilts.

Today is the day I take down the tree and one thing always leads to another!

When the tree came down, I saw the curtain needed washing - and then so did the
window. And,

I just had to move the couch and chairs when sweeping up the needles. But I had an email asking me to give some ideas about quilting on and around applique on my blog so I decided to multi task. It always takes quite awhile for the pictures to upload and this blog needs to be full of pictures. So I'll upload and go sweep and upload and wash a window. Kind of a fun day! Then tonight I get to stop and sew.

Anyway - back to the quilting question. I do very little quilting myself - there just isn't time to do both applique and quilting. Since applique is my first love, that's mainly what I do. The little quilting I do is on small projects only and I use linen thread but I'll do another blog on that some day.

For the larger projects, I am very lucky to know a longarm quilter who does awesome custom quilting. Her name is Lori Kukuk and she is a gem. She has done all of my quilts for years now. To give you an idea of the different things she does with quilting my applique quilts I decided to use last year's Mystery Quilt - Cabin in the Pines.

I hope you can see the quilted heart in the door along with the quilted boards in the house and bricks in the chimney.

I think the pictures can give you some ideas about quilting in and around trees and

stars,

flowers, berries & leaves

beeskeps

and backgrounds.

I hope this helped and gave you some ideas. I thank Lori mentally every time I get a quilt from her. It is such a joy to sit and bind something she has quilted. As I bind I get to see all of her neat designs that have added so much to my quilt. Thanks again Lori. By the way, her email address is kukuk93@gmail.com if you want to get in touch with her.

On a totally different subject - while we were at Market last fall, Moda had all of the designers that were there interviewed and videotaped. It was really a lot of fun after we relaxed and decided we didn't care what we looked like on tape (I usually take pretty bad pictures).

They gave us a list of questions and we got to pick a few to answer. The tapes don't tell what the questions were but mine were: 1) oldest thing in the house 2) time you were in trouble 3) first thing you do in the morning 4) advice to quilters

If you get a chance, go to the Moda Home Page and watch the videos. They're really fun.

Hope your Christmas is full of family, food and of course, something to stitch.

Merry Christmas.

God Bless us - every one

I read Alma's blog this morning after my trip. I would like to urge all of us to join her in doing this. There are a lot of quilters and together we can make a difference.

Her words:

Today remember those less fortunate. I know the economy is bad for most of us. But think how a small amount of money given by a large group of people can add up to a lot. If we all pledge to donate all the change in our wallets to the Salvation Army today, it could really make a difference.

Let's do this!

God bless us - every one.

Almost ready - Merry Christmas to you and Yours

I've been grabbing a minute to read blogs at night before I fall into bed. I love reading the funny ones and the ones about the laid back Christmases - relaxing days Christmases - but not to be had here.



Christmas is a month long event for this household. With kids and grandkids living so near every weekend has something going on and most days of the week are filled with some quilting and some Christmas. One big weekend is the annual picking of the Christmas tree from the front pasture.



Jake and Pops go out and find a tree the right size and shape, cut it and trim the lower branches.




Then we brought it inside and the kids had hot chocolate and cookies. Meanwhile Pep and Jake got the tree in the stand and I put the lights on.
Usually I then slowly trim it but this year the kids drew lots of decorations so I only put up my antique balls and Eunice's (Pep's moms) angel. And of course they added lots of their decorations.
That was a day's work.



Last weekend we had our Christmas with Max and his 3. I made all of the little ones a small crayon tote using a pattern from Clothesline Quilts. Moda forgive me I got "Cars" and "Spongebob" fabrics to make the totes. I thought they were cute and the kids all love to color. My idea was to keep Cullen and Quinn's totes here so they could use them when we go to church. NOT! They played with them all afternoon, colored on the pads I put in them, read the book on "colors" I put in. They were definitely a hit . If I want ones to stay here for going to church, I'll make new ones.



Cullen is the "Cars" person - he was pretty easy to buy for this year. Quinn is the one with Mickey Mouse, Spongebob and Spiderman - a little more diverse. Aidan is pretty grown up at 7.



Kelly, Jake & Zoie will be here Christmas Eve and morning. Then Brian and Shannon and their 3 come Saturday.
A very full month - a very good month.
Meanwhile, I've been slowly but steadily working on the January wallhanging, Mini Quilt and the new Mystery Quilt. I have January's block ready to stitch. I'll take it with my tomorrow - no, it's today now - when I run down to Springfield to my brother's and pick up Zoie's Christmas puppy. Jim's a vet and he found us a Japanese Chin for her. I'll spend the night there while Pep says home and put's toys together. Then back to wrap and bake - and slow down some at night and early mornings to sit and stitch. God bless applique.
On New Year's Eve we stay at home and go to bed.
Merry Christmas and Happy Quilting to you all.

I forgot

to say - Quilter Kim, please email your shipping info to info@janpatekquilts.com and Tara will ship your kit right out. Sorry bout that.