High School Sweet Hearts

We are celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary today. Jack and I meet in High School and continued a long distance romance through college, with me here in California and Jack first in Oregon and then Chicago.

Here we are after a couple months dating. We went to grad night at Disneyland

We married the summer of our 22 birthdays. It is so much fun being married to my best friend and lover but I thank our Lord for the strength and trust in our marriage and our commitment to Christ that bonds us together.

August 23, 1969

Both our parents celebrated their 50th and my grandparents and greatgrandparents made it to their 50th so I hope that we can make it the 4th generation to be married 50 years+.

Mary Mannakee, row 1 ready

I've finished turning and basting the first row of 5 blocks and I'll start hand sewing.

Block 1-D

Block 1-E

A few asked me about the fact that I turned the edges first. The secret is that I used a glue stick, which helps with intricate curves and narrow edges. Look below to see shots of me using this technique. A friend took a class and shared the technique with our group. I used this applique technique in "IRIS and PEONIES",

Have any of you used this method? Would you like more information?

Mary Mannakee Started

I've cut, turned, placed and basted my first 3 blocks for the Mary Mannakee Quilt. I'm really mixing the reds and greens. I plan on appliquing the blocks on a upcoming trip.

Block 1-A

Block 1-B

Block 1-C

Ready for the Walk

Abby and I are almost finished. We put the borders on and sandwiched the quilt. I decided on wavy lines for the major part of the quilt and stippling between the shells in the border.

Abby will finish the binding and it will be ready for the raffle on Sept 11. Abby limits the tickets to walkers, volunteers, family and friends who come to the Walk. She feels they are the ones who have family affected by MS and will appreciate the theme of the quilt. Even with that, they made $900 last year.

There is still time to donate at the site at the top of my sidebar. Let's find a cure.

Prep for Mary Mannakee

My apologies to all my blogging friends. Sorry I haven't been keeping up. No excuses.

I finally got some fabric together for the Mary Mannakee antique quilt. I bought Kona cloth in off white for the background. From my stash and some scraps from a friend, I chose orange/reds and olive greens, not traditional but more my colors.

All the freezer paper patterns have been traced and cut out. I organized them in baggies by rows.


I started by cutting the largest pieces and tracking the repeats and balance on a grid chart. Now for the turning. Question? Would it be worth the investment in one of those small applique irons?

Join the Movement

Abby, my niece, and I are putting together a quilt to be raffled at the Walk for MS. Our deadline is August 20, giving her some time for the presale (It can bring in between $600-1000).

The Challenge Walk takes place all over California on September 11-13. Abby's best friend from High School has MS so she and 5 friends do the walk together, my long time friend from church/college group is now confined to a wheelchair, the wife of a teacher at my school was diagnosed, and the wife of Jack's colleague from work has MS. It seems like this disease affects so many circles of friends and family.

Please consider donating either here or with your own connection.

Let's beat this devastating disease.

It's Here

Just when I thought I'd have to call, my ordered pattern came from DAR. This quilt was appliqued by Mary Mannakee in 1850. Janet from Quiltsalot showed this pattern on her blog and challenged others to tackle this project and I like a challenge. Have no one or place in mind for this quilt but I think it will be fun to follow along with others: Cathy of Cabbage Quilts , Jan from Bemused, Kathi from Inspired by Antique Quilts and Juliann from lining up my stitches.

(Tell me if you are doing it too and I'll add you to the list.)

Pattern is from DAR Museum, Washington DC: http://www.dar.org/museum/shop.cfm