Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Coffee Grounds For My B-day!

Now who - who I ask - would be happy to get coffee grounds for a gift but a gardener?


I'd happened to mention to DH that I wished we had a Starbucks around so I could have the grounds for the garden.

He actually listened to the words that came out of my mouth? Since when?

I've got a bag of coffee grounds, (though not from Starbucks) and I'm a happy camper! :) Such ingenuity outta my hubby.


Sissy has gotten to wondering what we all look like, (all I have is an older pic, best I can do for now) so here ya go!




As I'm into the adding pics mood, here are some of a few quilts. I've made hundreds, but I think these are the only ones still in my house. The pics aren't all that great because I was grabbing anyone I knew that had a cam to take the pics, so they aren't in their best light.
This one won a ribbon at the state fair, I can't remember what. 2nd place maybe?

My son Steven's wedding quilt.

It's the Royal Star Of NY State.

My son Bob's wedding quilt.

Fussy cut Dresden Plate. Won a ribbon.

My daughter Tara's wedding quilt.

Cathedral Window. Won a ribbon. (Isn't it awful I don't remember what?)

Uh, notice the flower theme I've got going? Sheesh, even when I'm quilting I'm gardening!

Poor Desiree, I haven't finished her's yet, (hey, it's at the quilting stage!) but she's 15, so I think I have time. lol.

These are all hand quilted (and queen size?). I have this 'thing' about quilts - they must be hand quilted. I don't know what it is about this particular obsession, but if it's done by a machine, it just doesn't seem like a quilt to me, like a cheat or something. That's the one thing that bugs me about people being ripped of by thinking they're buying a true Amish quilt. These women don't do 3 things:

1. Use bright colors. (They use grays, browns, blacks etc. for their own quilts)

2. Machine quilt.

3. And never, ever make a perfect quilt. (A true Amish quilt will always have an intended defect, such as a block turned upside down, because they believe only God makes anything perfect, and to try and make something perfect would amount to trying to be like God)

I'm slowly working on another Cathedral Window like Tara's for me. It's really slow going. I hate ironing! And these suckers are the true meaning of all hand made - every stitch. There's no batting. The fabric is folded so each square is thick, and let me tell ya - these babies are heavy when they're done.

As for being a seamstress, why do people think the definition of the word is 'miracle worker'? lol. I swear, people think you can just flick a wrist and pull matching fabric and zippers right out of thin air! And NO, big holes in nylon can not just be magically mended, so stop bringing me your cigarette melted snow suits. :)

Anyway, Sissy, more than you wanted to know. And probably anyone else, too! :)

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3 comments:

Sissy said...

Hi, Tina! Glad to finally "see" you, girlfriend!
You are a very talented seamstress. I cannot imagine what it must take to create such beautiful quilts...?
Your kids are very lucky to have those!

Carol Michel said...

I'm impressed by your quilting. My sister guilts, but not me. I am fairly one dimensional... I just garden.

Tina said...

Sissy,
Hiya! Thanks for the compliment! The quilts are easier than you'd think - shhhh! :)Just takes practice and patience.

Carol,
Hey there!
Uh, since when is gardening one dimensional? And there is no such thing as 'just' gardening. lol.