State flowers

 This quilt was made from a quilt kit I bought from The Guildgrafter's Quilt Store a few years ago. The store went out of business before I noticed the kit was not complete.  I had to do some supplementing and rearranging but, in the end, I was very pleased with the result. The quilt was machine pieced but hand quilted.  I really enjoyed thinking about the states and their flowers as I worked on each square. It is a queen sized quilt and at this time I don't know what I want to do with it

Keeping Busy

I have been working on quilts. At this time I have one on the hoop, one on the frame and three waiting to be quilted. I will show them as I complete them. I have also been embroidering another set of pillowcases.  I like to do that in the evening when Hubby and I are together, he reads or watches TV while I do my needlework.

I also knitted a sweater for Jim's dog, Juan. It is a lousy knitting job, but it is for a dog.  I tried it on Mindy and she loves it. When I hold it up she runs to me to have me put it on and is disappointed when I take it off. I hope Juan likes it as much. 

Lions

This time of year the Lions have their Candy Cane Drive.  This year was a little different.  We didn't give out candy canes because of the pandemic. Fortunately the weather was mild and people were very generous. The Lions in our Lathrup Village Club also came out strong and filled every slot available for begging.  We stand outside of the Market Square store in Birmingham. Lion Paula and her family provided entertainment for donors.

 

A Blue Christmas

 I put up the Christmas tree all decorated in blue lights and blue ornaments. I figured it matched the mood, a blue Christmas without the kids. We will Zoom on Christmas eve but of course it's not he same as having them here. Since the quarantine began we have zoomed every Friday night. It really has helped me keep my spirits up and I really look forward to them. Gretel makes the arrangements.

Today my quilting buddy, Linda, dropped off a special gift.

Busy Ladies Book Club

  I am in a book club started by my daughter,  Gretel.  I am not sure how many members there are.  We meet on Zoom once a month. My other two daughters are in it as well as some of Gretel's coworkers and college friends. So far we read Radium Girls, by Kate Moore,  Ona out of Order  by Margarita Montimore, and The Book Lady of Troublesome Creek  by Kim Richardson. This month's book is The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich.  On my own I read Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance,  The Water Dancer by Ta-nehisi Coates and Girl Waits with Gun by Amy Stewart.  It has been good to do some reading. The Book Lady and the Water Dancer were by far the best.  I haven't started the Night Watchman yet.

Embroidered Pillowcases

 I really love embroidered pillowcases.  I think they belong on a bed with a quilt. I also enjoy doing the embroidery.  I like the variety of stitches required. I finished another set.

Placemats

 For the last few years I make placemats for the kids who eat at a table (That excludes Jim and Martha). At first I though these looked ugly but the kids encouraged me to finish them and I think they were wise. They were more time consuming than I had expected.

I also made clothes for the girls' American Girl dolls and Bitty Babies. The Black and white jumper was a Simplicity, Daisy Kingdom pattern. Think before you attempt another. Most of these patterns were passed down to me from my sister-in-law, Katherine, who is now in a nursing home.