Friday, February 10, 2006


Coal mine quilt top done...

See? I do finish something, sometimes. Kinda. Still needs to be quilted, but the top is done. Surely that counts for something. This has to be the fastest- beginning to end- quilt I have ever done. Usually, I spend a good bit of time ruminating on what colors I'll use, then what pattern, then what size... none of that happened with this one. I just decided one afternoon that I was going to make a coal mine memorial quilt for the lost miners in Sago and that it was going to be a black and white/grey log cabin with a big patch of sky for the middle square. I got in my Jeep and went directly to the store where I bought all of the fabric at one time, I came home and had it cut out the next day and ta-da! There it is. Aside from the little hicccup where I had made 35 blocks originally when in, actuallity, I needed 36, the whole thing went together very smoothly. I like it. I really like it. If you stand back from it, the blue blocks look a little bit like a window pane. Go ahead, cross your eyes, you'll see it. It is a nice size. 72" square. From this point, I'm not sure what I'll do with it. That's a thought for another day.

Well, it's ladies' game night, here. Every month I say I'm not going to go, and yet, I almost always end up going. Darilyn would understand. I just want to stay home and quilt and watch a movie with my baby- maybe pop some popcorn and read a good book. Aren't I dull? But no, duty calls and I must try harder to be a good friend so I'll go. Maybe I'll take my camara and it'll be like you're all going, too! We eat and play cards until about midnight. It is a lot of fun. Keep telling myself that so I'll get it in gear and take that shower, make the enchiladas and hey! cinnamon rolls and go out into the cold to HAVE FUN. woo-hoo. Are you convinced yet, 'cause I ain't.

15 comments:

Kairle Oaks said...

Your quilt is such a nice tribute. How thoughtful!

Have fun at your game night, if you go. I'm trying to decide between watching the Olympic opening ceremonies or taking my DDs to a storytelling festival. Hmmmmm....
Kairle

Bonnie K. Hunter said...

You've been SEW busy!! Loved the tonya-style fabric mess..*hehe* and the pic of your son at the sewing machine! how do you get them to WANT to do that? My boys paper pieced with string blocks when they were young, but not now..no way Jose!

the log cabin turned out beautiful....I really like the fabrics in it!

Bonnie

dot said...

this quilt turned out really nice and I love your idea.

Pamela (Peni) Teel said...

The quilt brings tears to my eyes. How lovely!

And how to you fit that BIG BIG heart in that tiny body?

Love you so, Mom

Finn said...

Hey Nines, I love your latest creation. It's odd that it makes me sad, but somehow excited at the same time. Really neat idea, love the blue "sky" square..very knock your socks off!! COngratulations on all the accomplishments..evening out, rolls, kid sewing, happy baby, weighs a ton quilt..and marvelous mess on the sewing table..wheeew..did I get them all?? Oh ya...wonderful snow..*G*

Hunter said...

Nines, that is one of the prettiest quilt tops I've ever seen. I could stare at it for hours. Wow.

And the love behind it is even more beautiful.

Wow.
Darilyn

Tonya Ricucci said...

Nina, this quilt top is stunningly gorgeous. You did such an incredible job with picking out the colors and putting them together.

Darcie said...

Your Coal Miners Quilt is just gorgeous, Nines! You are so precious to share a quilt as a memorial. They will no doubt be awe-stricken with your kindness.

Hunter said...

I'm back looking at the quilt again. Dear Husband sends his compliments, too.

Just imagine me sitting here staring at your quilt. :)

Hugs.
Darilyn

YankeeQuilter said...

What a great stor behind your quilt. It came out great.

Also, love the fabric pile photo...I love to pull strips out of piles when I get going too!

Siobhan

Frances said...

Dear Nina,
sorry I have not left a comment before, hope Abe is much better and the green and pink zigzag is much more fun for wee lasses than the muted colours, what a beautiful bright warm quilt,
I like the Columbian dress, I have a small wall hanging like it, there was/is a shop where I used to live in the south of England that had lots in, Sue Reno of www.suereno.com has a wall hanging on the Sue Reno Collection page with a little info about them that was sent to her,
I read your blog Sunday 5th then your Mum’s and didn’t get to leave either of you a comment, I really enjoyed both your blogs, thank you both,
I would love to see your Tonya letters I did some for a small birthday lap quilt for my Mum last summer and I am still working my way through the alphabet, I love them and I love the way Tonya uses words in her quilts,
What a wonderful tribute to the coal mining families, I’m glad my father did not follow the family and become a miner it is such dangerous work, I love the sky square, what they see as they come out or go in, could you personalise it by writing the names of the miners who lost their life in some of the squares, I don’t know what pit machinery is used now but they used to use large wheels to wind the lift so a wheel quilting pattern would echo this, sorry I’m going on too much perhaps I should just shut up!
Thanks for your nice comments on my blog, best thoughts FrancES

Laurie Ann said...

I know what you mean. Sometimes I think I could just stay home and never go anywhere. I went to a move with a friend last night. I had said "No" to her so many times about going to the movie that I just felt like, to be a good friend, I should go. It was fun. But I had to force myself to go out the door!

Laura said...

Oh Nines I agree that staying home is the best! Your quilt is such a wonderful tribute. I love the colors. Our homes do sound a lot alike! We are west of Lafayette, about 5 miles from the state line.

Granny said...

The quilt turned out so pretty! I do love what that blue center does . . really "opens" it up! Congratulations on getting it done!

Judy L.

Quilts And Pieces said...

Wow Nina! That coal mine quilt is stunning! Those colors are so perfect together! And great fabrics. I love this!