Covid-19 Life: Quilts, Reading, and News

It has been dry in Michigan. We get a good rain then weeks of sunshine and dry weather. So watering the garden becomes a daily task. The bees are all over the flowers, and butterfly and Goldfinch come to the Zinnia.

I have the center of the Waterlily quilt hand appliqued and sewn together! I had to switch the background fabric for the blocks as my first choice did not provide enough contrast.

Somehow I have been busy and not getting in my reading! I have only a few reviews scheduled for the rest of August, but several books I should have read and reviewed.

And the galleys are still coming in...my own fault, of course.
New to my reading list:

• Day of Days by John Smolens is another on the 1927 school shooting in Bath, Michigan 
• Brood by Jackie Polzin, compared to Elizabeth Strout in the promo
• The Invisible Women by Erika Robuck, WWII historical fiction
• Nora by Nuala O'Connor, fiction about James Joyce's wife

And from Goodreads, a win

• The Darkest Evening by Ann Cleeves

I am writing a review for Marilynne Robinson's upcoming Gilead novel, Jack, and listening to an audiobook of her novel Lila. And reading Dr. Paula Byrnes The Real Jane Austen: a Life in Small Things.

A friend called me to help her identify a pile of vintage quilts. I donned my mask and went over.

Many were not in very good shape, like this turkey red single Irish Chain.

 Others were very appealing, like this Log Cabin.

 Then there was this stunner, another Log Cabin variation. The fabrics include wool, velvet, cotton, and rayons.

 The chintz backing was this wonderful paisley.

There were a number of scrap quilts, too. I love to look at the vintage fabrics.

How about that sashing fabric!

 Several were tied.

I bought a cement Shiba Inu statue. We are going to finally bury the ashes of our four Shibas, Kili, Kara, Suki, and Kamikaze. 

Sunny and Hazel had a quiet moment on the guest room bed where our son's partner's home office is situated. Hazel likes the Baby Cactus quilt I made!

Ellie had a broken tooth removed, poor girl! She is recovering nicely.

We had a beautiful cool day and invited our son and his girl and the grandpuppies over. They all had a grand time. We visited outdoors, wore masks except to eat. It was a risky thing to do, I know. But I can't go six months without seeing my family.

Sinclair Antiques

We visited a new antique mall in Clawson. Sinclair Antiques is right next to our local bakery/bread/pizza/sub/shop, Julian Brothers.  The building dates to 1947 when it was a Sinclair gas station.

There is a couch and tv in the lobby for spouses or kids who get bored! But who will get bored--there is something for everyone.

 This Erector set has it's original Hudson's label marked $50.

Bring TR home for $400

There is a 1915 bust of Teddy Roosevelt! If I had room I'd bring TR home with me! What a marvelous conversation piece he would be!

There was a lot of vintage clothing, including shoes and fancy Edwardian white shirts, dresses, and skirts.

And several quilts.

this wonderful quilt top was used behind a display 

$95 hand made quilt

$125 kit quilt Little Red Riding Hood

 

 And dolls.

 The owners are lovely people. Coffee and a plate of cookies were provided.

I will be back.

Aunt Carrie's Quilt & New Finds

My Aunt Pat Ramer had three of my Great-Aunt Carrie Ramer Bobb's postage stamp quilts, which my grandfather wrote about in an article for his hometown paper. One sadly met its end in a washing machine mishap. The other two were were coming unsewn and some fabrics had shredded. Aunt Pat took one quilt apart to repair it. And there it sat in her closet.

I brought the quilts home with me to see what I can do.

Aunt Carrie made the quilts in the 1960s with fabric scraps. 1" squares of fabric were sewn by hand into nine-patch units. Colors are repeated to make larger "x" patterns.

 Below is the top of the quilt Aunt Pat took apart. There are several more pieces as well.

Read my article on Aunt Carrie's quilt making and Chive Dumpling recipe at
http://theliteratequilter.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-quilts-and-chive-dumpling-recipe-of.html
See more about Aunt Carrie, including more of her quilts owned by Sidney Bobb at
http://theliteratequilter.blogspot.com/2012/09/our-heirloom-quilts.html

There and Back Again

This past weekend we went to Grand Rapids, MI and stayed with friends. My husband attended a seminar on self-publishing and my friend and I went to all of her favorite thrift and consignment shops. I found some great vintage fabric.

 I had to get this cotton towel.

On our way home on Sunday we stopped at the Williamston Antiques Market. I bought some vintage handkerchiefs.

There were quite a number of quilts, nothing uncommon or mint. They also had loads of glassware, china, and pottery.

 

How about a bathing costume? 

We stopped at the Tanger outlet mall near Howell where I found some cute fox oven mitts at the Corelle store. Shiba Inu owners like foxes because Shibas are so fox-like in appearance. So of course I bought a set!

Last stop was Ray's ice cream, a local store with it's own ice cream. I had Coconut with dark chocolate sauces. Yummy!

I received my order of Gatsby fabric. I had ran across this line while noodling around online last week. I have it in mind to make a Gatsby quilt. More on that later.