Glory

Writing the post yesterday and adding the Army Chorus singing the Battle Hymn of the Republic threw off my template, so if you want to be blessed please go to You Tube and download. It was in the Rose Garden at the White House, very moving and full of conviction...
A couple mornings ago the midwest was awakened by an earthquake..I woke up to "something"...and did not realize what it was....my hub was in S. Ohio and busy in an Er there so he did not feel that quake, just the one he experiences almost very night as an RN...I do feel his pain!! seeing that I use to also practice...anyways, our son did feel it in town, it shook their bed and windows rattled...the after shock came around noon...
The rumbles of war heard round the world..was true in Julie Ward Howe's' day and still today...as the scripture shares, men only stop war long enough to sharpen their blades for another one coming...
As for news on my quilt shop, it will soon open!! I have all the shelves now back in N. Indiana. Gw brought 4 loads total to get it all back here...THANK YOU SWEET HUB!!!..you are totally amazing!...and I love you!!! my soul mate!
But, soon I will be talking of classes again, tips, and what is going on here at Old Glory Quilt Shoppe on Hawthorn Road Plymouth Indiana.....I am into Dear Jane now and it is so much fun to be doing a quilt that a Jane did during the civil war period..of course 250 fabric choices has got to have something to do with it!! haha over 5000 pieces in all...amazing!!!.... yes, wish me luck!!....you can take a peek at my progress at inthesewingbasket.blogspot.com......today I make the first block..and since I just found my cool blog I am 12 blocks behind!! as Pooh says...OH Dear! ME!!....I have a young grandy that loves Pooh!.
So, keep stopping by, leave a comment too, I would love to hear from you...let me know what you need!!! really!!! Quilted Blessings! Kari

You Go Girl!

I tried girls I really did!! I tried to post a new video on instruction but it just won't load..or so I thought..finally I decided to just post a couple vintage pictures that I like...so I opened up the page and here 2 of the videos had loaded, didn't fit the page but they were echoing themselves!! haha!! Yep, it is after midnight and I am all caught up on my blogs!..for now...tomorrow If I get a chance to practice my Dear Jane pieces I may post a bit of news on the inthesewingbasket.blogspot I have just for my Dear Jane project...so anyways!!! Hope you enjoy the pictures....I came home from the hospital in a 1949 Chevy or something that looked like that car but black....wrapped up warm in my Mothers' arms....lucky me! really!!....and then the sewing! Oh the sewing!!! started collecting buttons (which I don't have now ) when I was very young and hand sewing at 4 yrs old...
Plain and Simple! and remember it is only fabric girls!!!...Life is much more fragile!!! Love it and live it!!! Quilted Blessings!!!!

Lets' Not Forget!

The silouette speaks for itself. Honor our soldiers in your heart today. Realize THEIR sacrifice for our freedom. Be responsible as a personal citizen here.
Even as our first Commander George Washington led his men in the bitter and cold winter for us, our men in uniform are led today and deserve our prayers and respect.
Our oldest son served in the Army for over 11 years before his medical discharge due to injury to his back obtained by jumping out of aircraft with heavy gear on his back and then rucking to his destination with this gear that actually did "break his back". He still serves us in the government in the NSA. These men, our interpreter's, that serve in this way are all but forgotten, but they are disciplined men that are dedicated to complete the task and still protect this country just the same.
My husband served years ago in a war that was declared "unwinable", coming home to rotten eggs and garbage at their feet by this same country. The present war may be running longer than we in America want, but we should not forget that they are there, day after day, serving. Most of them want to be there, even those that were killed in Baghdad in a roadside bomb this weekend.
I am sorry if I sound like I am griping; I am not. Concern just floods over me when I hear more news about the price of gas than the health and hope of our soldiers in harms way. They are winning the war, just as we could have years ago in the "unwinable" one!!
Don't loose heart, sweet American! Believe in the living document that they have taken an oath to serve; our Constitution.
My son is going to receive a quilt called Old Glory from us this year. Please make a quilt to honor a soldier or soldiers' family that you may know or connect to some sewing effort for the soldier.
I thank you ahead for your efforts!
God Bless You today!! and as always, Quilting Blessings!!! Kari

Writings

Do you remember when you were a kid and you had to write sentences for class? We would sit there with our palm of our hand to the side of our face, unless you had just broken your collar bone by falling off the monkey bars, then you just had to think hard, ready to write that great thought down! I would look around the room at the other kids, some would be writing, some just wanting the moment to pass! As you see, I am an observer. My soul seems to look inside the eyes of others as I get older more and more. Maybe the training as a nurse helps me look at the whole person. There are many hurting souls out there that I would love to help. I am totally hoping that my quilt shop in my cabin (to open soon) will be a source of encouragement and even instruction to those that pass into our home..I won't give you a writing assignment and I would never pry into your personal affairs but I would offer you a muffin or hot cup of coffee as we gather and explore the "writing" of quilts together! My love since "forever"!!! Have a blessed day! Let my know how I can help you get started or finish that UFO in your stash! Quilted Blessings!! Kari

Make up your mind~!

Have you heard that comment before? Make up your mind!...wow! lets' see....hummm..yes, I have! We can all make the list!
Today I worked on my Prairie Claws Quilt pattern using my now favorite tool idol-- square in a square..I cut the fabric out..got the piles going!...now tomorrow is the big day! sew it together!!
This evening I spent time studying on my Fons' and Porter site; if you join there, you can watch the archive instruction videos as many times as you want to..it is great! they even included me in a decision and survey on picking out the next cover for the issue of their magazine! I am excited to see which one will be picked by them of the three choices they gave; I will give you a hint on what I picked out..blue..

I have always been in love with history.
When I was a kid, I would hop on my older sister (Judys) 24 inch bike ( I could not sit on the seat at age 4 when I started riding it and I continued to stand for many years before I sat on the seat!). I would head to the library when I was old enough to go uptown by myself. I headed to my favorite fiction and history section of the all quiet atmosphere and carefully choose my book (most probably an Alcott selection) and then found a chair at a table..There I would sit and get into the book before heading back home..I came from a big family and it was nice to sit in a quiet place once in awhile!...anyways!
I tried to pass that love of history onto our own kids as they were growing up ,and I think we did a pretty good job of getting them all hooked! Now, I am middle age and so wanting to do a Dear Jane Quilt.
I had heard of her a couple years ago but have not been able to start up for one reason or another, but tonight when I was "mama surfing" the web before my video study with f&p I found the coolest blog in Australia and in her list of folks who have written her there was a gal that was working on a Dear Jane Quilt! I immediately added both of their blogs to my tumblr site and was inspired to hit the road with Jane!!!...why not?! we grew up with "go Jane go" didn't we?, in Dick and Sally books! haha
Ok! so a little crazy has hit I know!!(maybe it was the Italian cooking competition I also watched while viewing the first video)!
I am so thankful for the sunshine that was glistening across our pond (that the rain has made into a threatening lake)..... And I see it is promised for tomorrow. sunshine that is!..and then we have to pray for no rain and snow for the next day! Will the weather please make up its' mind!!!
Oh, by the way!!! HAPPY SPRING!!!!
Ok, so One day at a time!! yes, an old song, but a true one for sure!!.....Hope you are dry and safe wherever you may roam!
(pause)
So, I have made up my mind for tomorrow, have you?.... Just call me Jane.
Quilted Blessings!!! Kari

Are You Ready For Some Tulips?

We are trully ready for some "tulips"! Lori and I planted some at the shop near the goldfish pond in the fall, GW said they were poking up their "heads". I celebrate Spring this year!!! (notice vintage tulip pattern at the top) :)!

I know St. Pats' Day passed us yesterday! Here in Northern Indiana, since we live near the "Irish" we have been educated in the true Irish celebration....then the areas Polish celebrate by cooking great sausage and dishes that came with them from the "old world"..the mix in South Bend is interesting. I found as a Hospice Nurse a few years ago, a unique combo and very family related. Large and close knit groups, but different ways of living, in some ways, different sections in the Mishawaka area that is connected to South Bend.
I took care of an old Irish woman who had gangrene in her leg but would not "doctor" it...so we were in her home alot, even protecting her at times, her neighborhood that she had been brought to as a bride had fallen to discouraged living and abandoned homes...she had married a soldier from the WW2 period of time in Europe and then moved to his "home town"....another patient was a prof. from Notre Dame, living in two different areas of the community, but needs all the same; support, caring, and continuing care.
I hope that our quilting business also meets some of these needs found in each one of us...we do care, we support when we can ,and we do continue to carry on, even though we are in two separate vicinities at this time.
I will continue to offer photos I find online or videos for you to watch. If you would like to sell some of your work online, try etsy.com . It is a very interesting site for us "sewers"!!
Happy St. Pats' Day, even a day late...here it is a celebration of a length of time! Quilted Blessings! Kari

Have you seen any Dandelions?

Dandelions? hummmm....Have you seen any pop up yet? not here in the "just now warming up" north!! But Lori is offering that class in her home..don't forget!! She has 5 coming this week..get in touch with her if you want to take it in Lebanon area...I will do mine when we actually have some in the grass....we figure it is every Moms' sweetest bouquet!! "Let the sunshine in, let the sunshine in..."! I thought the tote idea would be a good match for the quilt!! You go girls!!!... Quilted Blessings! Kari