Quilting Class

My friend Cathy asked if I'd like to take a quilting class with her. I have always wanted to learn to make quilts, so I am there. She has been before but I had never been. This is our classroom. It's at the local high school. As you can see there are quite a few women who attend. Most of them have been going for quite some time and they are good friends and everyone has a lot of fun talking about each others quilts and lots of other things to do with everyday life. They are a great group and it's always a pleasure being there.

This is Cathy. She is working on a quilt she started years ago while attending these classes.

Here are the quilt pieces she is making. Isn't it pretty? She says people come in there with beautiful fabrics and some come in with what she thinks are ugly ones. But in the end when all the pieces are put together.. the quilts are always beautiful! I am really excited to be here.

Here is my first square for my quilt. It's just a sample. It's far from perfect. It's the first one I made.. but I didn't have a pattern. I just made it myself, so it's a really off in places. I have made a more perfect pattern now and have just begun my first square for the quilt. We actually had a quilt on our bed with baskets like this but we lost it in the fire. I always loved that quilt so I'm trying to make one like it. Hopefully, it will turn out as nice as the one we had.



This lady has been using the "Long Arm" quilting machine for a couple of weeks now. Her name is Kathy/Cathy. I'm not sure how she spells it. We actually have several Kathy/Cathy's in our class. That just makes it more interesting. When your quilt squares are all done and sewn together, you put the batting in and spray some adhesive onto it to hold the layers together, then use the "Long Arm" to sew it together. You can always sew it by hand but the "Long Arm is so much easier and faster. You just kind of make your own swirly design. I don't know if you can see hers or not on the close up further down. Our teacher, Nikki, is on the left.

I really like this quilt. I think I will make one like it for my next quilt! Of course the one I'm working on now will probably take me years to make.. since I am just learning. But there are so many quilts I have seen there that I would love to make. But this one is definitely my favorite. The quilt was finished last night and here is the finished product, with a few close ups.

The petals are not sewn down so when you wash it, they ravel a little and curl a bit and it looks more 3D and shabby chic. I just think it's adorable! She is going to give this to her mother-in-law. She says she is worth every precious moment she has taken to make it. Isn't that awesome!?

Mom's 95th birthday

Sabbath was moms birthday. She wanted to sleep till noon.. so we let her. Nate came from Napa to celebrate with us. Micah and Bob were here too, of course. When mom got up we ate lunch. I always cook whatever the birthday person wants.. so she chose the following: BBQ fry chick, Spaghetti loaf, and succotash. She seemed to enjoy every bite.

Then I surprised her with a birthday cake made with Swiss chocolate cake with French vanilla pudding and bananas in the center. It was frosted with cool whip and topped with fresh picked (on Friday) strawberries. We topped that off with her candles, lit them,
and sang "Happy Birthday" to her.

She blew out the candles.

..and cut the cake and ate it. It was yummy!

We wish you all could have been here

Just when we finished eating our cake, Sam & Judi called. They had perfect timing. We all sat around the table with the speaker phone on and had a nice long talk. I don't know how long.. but it had to be at least an hour. Mom was worried about them having to pay for it.

Then we went into the family room so Mom could sit in the recliner. We don't have any furniture yet.. except beds. The neighbor saw how uncomfortable mom was and loaned us a recliner. We are using our patio furniture. I didn't get any pictures of that for you. I'll have to do that another time. We did get some money for some furniture on Friday so we will be able to get something before too long. Hopefully, we can find something we like quickly.

I will post pictures of the house for you later as well. We don't have anything to put our clothes and stuff in, so the house is riddled with boxes.

Mom opened her cards and read them. She got one from Frank, Marilyn, & Skylar, one from Sam & Judi, and one from Tammy. Joel & Sherry and Autumn & Michael had given her a card when we were in Lake Tahoe. They also gave Mom a lovely Lake Tahoe throw and lovely blue sweater, which she loves and has used quite a bit already. Sam & Judi sent some money so we could go out to eat Strawberry waffles, (Mom's favorite breakfast). We had some today and we have enough money left over to have them a few more times.. or get something for her to wear.



Then she opened her gift from us. A pink sweatpants outfit. She will enjoy it soon. It is already turning cold for her. We think it's perfect weather.. but she is cold natured.


Mom took a nap as did some of the rest of us, and later Bambi called and wished mom a happy birthday. And later Frank & Marilyn called. I don't know when I've seen her so happy. She was happy to make it 95 and thanked the Lord first thing Sabbath morning. She was happy for Nate being home and repeated that a lot. She loved her meal and cake. And there is not much that makes her happier than talking to family on the phone. She had a wonderful day. She said so herself. Thanks to all of you for making her birthday so special! She went to bed really happy.