My granddaughter needed some large plastic storage bins and I knew I had a couple with very little in them. In the bottom of one I found this piece from July 17, 1996. That day was the beginning of the 24 hour rain of almost 17". (You can find info about it by searching "100 year rain in Aurora IL). I had taught a class 30 miles from home and pinned the pieces onto flannel after I showed the class how we were designing the Baker's Dozen Doubled from a Mary Ellen Hopkins book. I like the combination of fabrics and always intended to get it out and finish it. Luckily the yardage to match was in the box too. Now I need to unpin all of the pieces and press them and then start the design over on a double design wall.
My white cactus is on the stop shelf of a metal baker's rack by the west picture window. This is the second blooming. I didn't put my cacti outside the last 2 summers and they still are blooming fine. I guess it really isn't a necessary step. I don't have a back door on my house. I have a front door and a side garage door so I don't have a porch or deck on the back of the house for them.
Your Cactus plants have been such vibrant colours; never seen mine looking so good as yours. Also I've never put them outside before as I've always thought of them as an inside plant. Your Amaryllis last week was also really beautiful. I'm no good with 'tropical' style plants as my house is too cold. I was looking at your butterfly blocks and I preferred them with the colours in the corners haha, but maybe they wouldn't have looked right when they are all sewn together :)
The white cactus is so pretty. What kind of potting soil do you use?
I'll look forward to seeing the MEH quilt sewn up. Like Debbie, I will be taking a look through that book again. Somewhere, I have directions for a freebie, using two sizes of 4-patches. Her designs are always in style.
That is good you are passing on storage bins rather than your granddaughter buying some. I made myself a promise years ago, which I have kept, that if I need a storage bin I need to empty one I already have and not buy any more!
I know it will feel good to get another found WIP made into a top!
I am not familiar with Mary Ellen's quilts or books. I went back to school in 1996 for teacher certification, got it 2 years later, worked full time teaching, got my masters and had teenagers. I sort of missed anything else going on. I stopped quilting in 1990 and did not pick it up again until 2010. Would love to see the whole quilt, I could not find an example of it online.
What a memory you have ! And for that matter always have had. I remember you helping me out with a machine I bought from you many, many years ago that I could not remember what to do... So I called you and without hesitation you set me straight. (*._.*)
What fun it is to discover a piece started from years ago and your fabrics are timeless. And OMG... your white cactus blossom is so elegant !
Funny you should mention Mary Ellen Hopkins. When I first started quilting in the 90's I worked down the street from her shop "Crazy Ladies" in Santa Monica. The fabric there was so different from any I had seen before. Several years after that she spoke to my guild and was unbelievably funny. When she died I was saddened to see so little mention of it. It's good to see that her memory lives on.
That is a very old UFO! I have quite a few Works in Progress lying around, and I always say that I WILL eventually finish every single one of them. I sure hope, though, that I will not let any of them get anywhere near 20 years old! I’m pretty sure my oldest is around 12, so I better think about getting back to it - it hasn’t been anywhere near my radar screen until this very moment! - if I don’t want to eat my words! It sure is hard when there are so many new projects I’d so much rather start, though! Good for you for tackling this oldie! You’ll probably finish it in no time!
Your Cactus plants have been such vibrant colours; never seen mine looking so good as yours. Also I've never put them outside before as I've always thought of them as an inside plant. Your Amaryllis last week was also really beautiful. I'm no good with 'tropical' style plants as my house is too cold. I was looking at your butterfly blocks and I preferred them with the colours in the corners haha, but maybe they wouldn't have looked right when they are all sewn together :)
ReplyDeleteThis old project looks interesting! I always loved Mary Ellen's projects. I might need to dig around and see if I still have that book:)
ReplyDeleteThe white cactus is so pretty. What kind of potting soil do you use?
ReplyDeleteI'll look forward to seeing the MEH quilt sewn up. Like Debbie, I will be taking a look through that book again. Somewhere, I have directions for a freebie, using two sizes of 4-patches. Her designs are always in style.
Ah, so I am not the only one with projects that go back "a few years."
ReplyDeleteThat is good you are passing on storage bins rather than your granddaughter buying some. I made myself a promise years ago, which I have kept, that if I need a storage bin I need to empty one I already have and not buy any more!
ReplyDeleteI know it will feel good to get another found WIP made into a top!
I am not familiar with Mary Ellen's quilts or books. I went back to school in 1996 for teacher certification, got it 2 years later, worked full time teaching, got my masters and had teenagers. I sort of missed anything else going on. I stopped quilting in 1990 and did not pick it up again until 2010. Would love to see the whole quilt, I could not find an example of it online.
ReplyDeleteIt will be nice to finish your "old treasure", the fabrics look lovely!
ReplyDeletexx
How lucky for you that the additional fabric was still in the bin.
ReplyDeleteWhat a memory you have ! And for that matter always have had. I remember you helping me out with a machine I bought from you many, many years ago that I could not remember what to do... So I called you and without hesitation you set me straight. (*._.*)
ReplyDeleteWhat fun it is to discover a piece started from years ago and your fabrics are timeless. And OMG... your white cactus blossom is so elegant !
JJM
Funny you should mention Mary Ellen Hopkins. When I first started quilting in the 90's I worked down the street from her shop "Crazy Ladies" in Santa Monica. The fabric there was so different from any I had seen before. Several years after that she spoke to my guild and was unbelievably funny. When she died I was saddened to see so little mention of it. It's good to see that her memory lives on.
ReplyDeleteI have a quilt top that goes back to January 1996 - so I'm glad(?) to see that I'm not the only one with projects that old - ;))
ReplyDeleteI loved that umbrella fabric in your piece--I had some of that too, and it still shows up in the scraps now and then.
ReplyDeleteThat is a very old UFO! I have quite a few Works in Progress lying around, and I always say that I WILL eventually finish every single one of them. I sure hope, though, that I will not let any of them get anywhere near 20 years old! I’m pretty sure my oldest is around 12, so I better think about getting back to it - it hasn’t been anywhere near my radar screen until this very moment! - if I don’t want to eat my words!
ReplyDeleteIt sure is hard when there are so many new projects I’d so much rather start, though! Good for you for tackling this oldie! You’ll probably finish it in no time!