Maybe you’ve been keeping up with all the rainy weather, storms, and flooding. Or maybe you’ve been ignoring the news. Or you are just possibly living on an island separated from all cares in the world. Whatever the case may be, I’ve some watery pics this week of the Missouri River out of its banks…. again.
Living in low-lying areas, bottoms as we refer to them here, one expects some flooding. But with these massive events you can’t help but to be in total awe of Mother Nature. There are so many affected this year that it boggles the mind. Our thoughts and prayers to all in these areas no matter which part of the world you’re in.
In the meantime, I hope you can enjoy the beauty found in the scenes captured by my daughter this past Tuesday afternoon.
First – The Door, and an alpaca quilt block. Daughter looks out for my best interests 🙂
And hoping this video will work.
Rocheport, Missouri June 4, 2019
Thursday Doors comes to you through Norm 2.0 every Thursday. We join him by adding our own set of doors each week. Please take a couple minutes to visit Norm and a few of the other participants for some wonderful door views from around the world.
I promised a reflection post per the survey so here I am–by the skin of my teeth. Another year of surviving the AtoZ Challenge is done. And I had both success and unfinished agenda for this year. Wanna see??
Here’s the completed blocks—-
I actually intend this to be flipped but oh well.
I took several weekends to finally decide on a layout. And this one above isn’t exactly what I’ll have in the end, but it’s close. I really struggled with indecision on this quilt top. I’m not usually so wishy washy but, hey, I’m a girl right?! I have the priviledge of being that way once in awhile. hehe So,all in all, I’m just happy the blocks were all sewn by the end of the challenge and I was never late on posting. Two out of three ain’t bad.
I’m happy to say I kept a list of links to visit regularly and most everyone I visited returned to view, like, or comment on my blog as well at least a time or two. I sincerely understand the time restraints for those of us who work fulltime and attempt these blog challenges. It’s a miracle we ‘survive’. Add to that, family, sick days, yard work, home repairs, and you have the stress level of a parent of triplets going through a divorce. That being said, I am so thankful for supportive people in my life. Number one is my dear husband who never bats an eye when I ask him for help during these challenges.
Other stuff I had in the ‘workbasket’ during the challenge and beyond this year include the following items.
Just needs binding and it’s finished.
The first item I worked on was this quilt top purchased on eBay by my husband. It was partially quilted so all I had to do was finish 3/4 of the hand quilting.It even came with the heart template to finish the marking. The sunbonnet girls represent 12 months of the year and were all hand appliqued. I have a special plan for this one. More on that in the future.
Crazy Anne #2 from KC Star patterns
This a project I found in a FaceBook marketplace purchase. I agreed to meet a lady to purchase a significant tub of fabric and notions. This was in the tub, wrinkled and bunched up and, I believe, missed completely by the seller. Lucky for me. It is going to be such a pretty quilt once I finish the quilting. Still in progress.
What’s this have to do with my Reflections post?? Well it is just my way of saying I haven’t totally focused on finishing that quilt top from the AtoZ. Sometimes you have to walk away from a project to make decisions on it. Definitely the case here. I will have it completed sometime during the AtoZ Roadtrip so please check back for updates.
Time to say a huge thank you to everyone involved in the 10th AtoZ Challenge, the hosts, and to the readers who peek in anonymously. You are all appreciated! Til next year….
The April A to Z Challenge is in its tenth year, I’ve now participated for 6 of those years, and this year will be my 3rd quilt theme. It’s my first quilt using only patterns from the Kansas City Star newspaper archives. Welcome to my blog!
Contrary Wife 1941 KC Star pattern from Star Quilts
This block is about color values. Dark vs. light. This next pic displays a vintage quilt made from the Contrary Wife block.
Vintage Contrary Wife quilt from Star Quilts
In incompatible wife would have been considered ‘contrary’. Other synonyms are vexing, annoying, unaccommodating, troublesome and the list can go on and on. I find it funny a woman with an opinion is put in this light while a man with an opinion is ‘Strong’, dead-set on, confident, …. you get the picture. Here’s a couple pics of the quilting process while I try to keep on track here.
I won’t get into the politics any further of this woman vs man topic but just know that opposites are complimentary and this block displays that very well. Especially in that vintage quilt. Love it!!
Contrary Wife complete
Did You Know?
During World War II, Lyudmila Pavlichenko, a Soviet sniper was considered so deadly that the Germans addressed her over loud speaker requesting her to defect. Would you have trusted this proposition? I’m thankful she stayed contrary to the opposing side.
Come back here Monday for another quilt block for the A to Z Challenge! Also be sure to visit the home of the A to Z here and see other entrants challenge posts. There are excellent writers participating every year with topics in whatever you’re interested in
The April A to Z Challenge is in its tenth year, I’ve now participated for 6 of those years, and this year will be my 3rd quilt theme. It’s my first quilt using only patterns from the Kansas City Star newspaper archives. Welcome to my blog!
Weather Vane In StarQuilts
1929 Weather Vane in StarQuilts
I love how it states “Makes a Striking Quilt”. Weather can be pretty striking in certain instances. Kansas City is smack dab in the middle of ‘Tornado Alley’. Well known for that. Some other weather extremes were, most recently, 17 inches of snow dumped mid-January followed by another few inches a week later with pounding winds to boot.
Weather Vane completed
I won’t go on a tangent about our Missouri weather any further. Everyone has extremes in the weather to some extent. So the weather vane in January 1929 might have been an unintentional foreshadowing of the stock market crash and the beginning of the Great Dust Bowl? I just find the irony in these things interesting. Do you?
DId You Know?
According to Weather Channel, Tornado Alley may be shifting east and it’s a mystery as to why. To read more on this phenomenon click here. One reason suspected is the drying of the Great Plains causing this shift. As for someone personally effected, I do believe there has been a shift.
Come back here Monday for another quilt block for the A to Z Challenge! Also be sure to visit the home of the A to Z here and see other entrants challenge posts. There are excellent writers participating every year with topics in whatever you’re interested in
The April A to Z Challenge is in its tenth year, I’ve now participated for 6 of those years, and this year will be my 3rd quilt theme. It’s my first quilt using only patterns from the Kansas City Star newspaper archives. Welcome to my blog!
Embroidered blocks by my mother
This project is separate from the Star blocks I’m creating but still fits into the Letter U because the recipients will be Unsuspecting. And I love surprises don’t you?!
Lap Quilt Top with 3 of mom’s blocks
She gave me an uneven number of blocks so it was up to me as to how to create with them. She gave me free reign. I’ll be using up mother’s blocks in this style in lap quilts. And maybe they’ll be ready by next Christmas??
Sunflower Block by Mom
Did You Know?
Sunflowers originated in the Americas in 1000 BC. In 1996 it was chosen as a symbol for peace and a world free of nuclear weapons. I think that makes it pretty special!
Come back here Monday for another quilt block for the A to Z Challenge! Also be sure to visit the home of the A to Z here and see other entrants challenge posts. There are excellent writers participating every year with topics in whatever you’re interested in
The April A to Z Challenge is in its tenth year, I’ve now participated for 6 of those years, and this year will be my 3rd quilt theme. It’s my first quilt using only patterns from the Kansas City Star newspaper archives. Welcome to my blog!
From KC Star Sampler book
Originally this 1942 block was pieced by Mrs. Matushek of RR3(that’s rural route 3 for you city folks) from Cuba, Missouri. It then measured 9 3/4 inches and in her quilt, she made ‘rows’ of chains in pastel shades. I am happy to say this one measured the size the book says, 12 inches (plus seam allowances).
I had doubts as to whether I wanted to tackle this one even though I’m not typically afraid of curved seams. But I just finished it Tuesday evening and I had fingers crossed that it would go smoothly. Thanks to the great instructions, I had no issues but once with a pucker that I had to rip a few stitches for and resew. Fully satisfied with my outcome even though I was in such a hurry. Naturally because of that hurry it could have done with some extra pinning. But this is a quilt block a day for April and I must move on.
Did You Know?
Cuba, Missouri, the home of the KC Star block contributor in 1942 is located on the historic Route 66 in southern Missouri. This highway was known as the Road to Opportunity back during the Great Depression as more than 200,000 people migrated via this road to California during the Dust Bowl days.
Come back here tomorrow for another quilt block for the A to Z Challenge! Also be sure to visit the home of the A to Z here and see other entrants challenge posts. There are excellent writers participating every year with topics in whatever you’re interested in
The April A to Z Challenge is in its tenth year, I’ve now participated for 6 of those years, and this year will be my 3rd quilt theme. It’s my first quilt using only patterns from the Kansas City Star newspaper archives. Welcome to my blog!
Vintage Old Maid’s Puzzle from Star Quilts
1928 Old’s Maid Puzzle as seen in KCStar
This is an old-time favorite for sure! Changing quilt color choices, block direction, or sashing can give you some variations with this one that make it a popular quilt choice. As you can see in the right hand photo, they recommend Pink, Blue and White.But the finished quilt on the right is in deep reds with gray and set on a white background. They are also set on point if you zoom in close and examine it.
My fabric choices
I went with the scrap bin in my decision-making. Hopefully I’m using enough variation in colors to create a nice end result. So far, most all my coloring used during this AtoZ quilt creation is in the blue and red shades with a little dash of yellow here and there.
Old Maid’s Puzzle completed
Proud moment when I actually got the stripes set in the way I wanted. I most likely would not go to so much effort in a whole quilt with this block to be perfectly honest. For me, quilting is to be kept stress free. As it should be 🙂
Did You Know?
I was perusing the news of 1928 and found it kind of funny that in this year, the first Home Pregnancy Test was introduced. And at the same time Lady Chatterley’s Lover is banned for being too explicit in the United States and England. For even more fun I’m going to name a few famous women born in 1928. None were Old Maids either. Anne Sexton (poet) –Shirley Temple (actress) — Etta James (singer) –Barbara Lang (actress/pin-up model)
Come back here tomorrow for another quilt block for the A to Z Challenge! Also be sure to visit the home of the A to Z here and see other entrants challenge posts. There are excellent writers participating every year with topics in whatever you’re interested in
The April A to Z Challenge is in its tenth year, I’ve now participated for 6 of those years, and this year will be my 3rd quilt theme. It’s my first quilt using only patterns from the Kansas City Star newspaper archives. Welcome to my blog!
Another signature block for this AtoZ quilt was just what I needed. You can’t have too much writing on a quilt when you want it to memorialize something. Just don’t ask me what I’ll be writing on the block at this particular moment. Time will tell. I have to say I like the ’56 version with the star points better than I do the redraft version on the left.
I decided to show some corrections I had to make. You can see in my layout photo on the right that I had it correct, but when sewing, I turned a couple sections wrong and ended up spending some time with my beloved seam ripper.
Name On Each Friendship complete
All’s well in the end result for this block. It even measured the correct 12 inches.
Did You Know?
The Star and Elvis spilled the beans on a young Elvis fan on May 25, 1956. According to the article, a teenager snuck out of the house to see him in concert. Being convinced she’d gotten by with it was short-lived however. Served to her on her breakfast plate the next morning was a copy of the Kansas City Star with her picture on the front page.
Come back here tomorrow for another quilt block for the A to Z Challenge! Also be sure to visit the home of the A to Z here and see other entrants challenge posts. There are excellent writers participating every year with topics in whatever you’re interested in
The April A to Z Challenge is in its tenth year, I’ve now participated for 6 of those years, and this year will be my 3rd quilt theme. It’s my first quilt using only patterns from the Kansas City Star newspaper archives. Welcome to my blog!
Vintage MIlky Way quilt from Star Quilts
Milky Way as in KC Star 1930
If you’re making a whole quilt of this block you may notice that you need to alternate the middle block or ‘star’ from lights to darks to get the desired results. But for this challenge, I needed only to create the one block.
Above you’ll see the yellow and white half-square triangle. In whole quilts that would need to alternate as a blue and white color scheme. (refer to quilt picture above)
Last Seam
Milky Way Layout
Essentially, you have a 9-patch block here. Sewn in 3 rows and finally attached with 2 long seams.
Milky Way Block Completed
Did You Know?
In keeping with the era of the 1930’s I’m sharing with you about an astronomer, Robert Julius Trumpler today. He revealed that the size of the Milky Way Galaxy was off. And give us the ‘real’ map of stars and clusters, a way was needed to get a view through that dust. The tool itself wasn’t invented until the 1950’s but, “Thank You!” Trumpler for paving the way!!
Come back here tomorrow for another quilt block for the A to Z Challenge! Also be sure to visit the home of the A to Z here and see other entrants challenge posts. There are excellent writers participating every year with topics in whatever you’re interested in
The April A to Z Challenge is in its tenth year, I’ve now participated for 6 of those years, and this year will be my 3rd quilt theme. It’s my first quilt using only patterns from the Kansas City Star newspaper archives. Welcome to my blog!
In 1930, the Kansas City Star said ‘green makes a pretty maple leaf quilt’ That may be, but the maple leaf’s splendor is the colorful display it makes in the fall. Everyone knows that right?? Well if not, look it up.
Half Square Triangles
The colors in this block won’t necessarily reflect the colorful scenes of a forest full of maple trees. But it is going to make a nice addition to the quilt top. Even if I did have to adjust nearly every solid colored square by trimming away 1/4 inch on 2 sides of them. I’m not complaining. But I have to say I never saw this coming when I planned a Kansas City Star quilt project. I wonder what the quilters of days past would have said about these measurement issues? Did they not make samplers??
Ok I am complaining.
Just a little adjusting goin’ on around here. If you sew quilts, you’ll see the number this block has played on me by not being correctly published. But it is the way of the A to Z right? Adjust your schedule, time, photos, etc. You get the idea. So maybe this is a life lesson for me. Let me continue to the end. It did work out ok, just shy of an inch.
Maple Leaf Block Completed
Measuring 11 inches, I present the Maple Leaf block. I will forever remember the trimming and holding my breath til the very end. I salute you quilt professionals out there.
Did You Know?
The Maple Leaf Rag, by Scott Joplin, was published in Sedalia, Missouri in 1899 by a local music store owner, Joh Stark. It became a classic model for ragtime tunes and Sedalians are pretty proud as it holds the annual Scott Joplin Festival each year during the first weekend of June.
Come back here tomorrow for another quilt block for the A to Z Challenge! Also be sure to visit the home of the A to Z here and see other entrants challenge posts. There are excellent writers participating every year with topics in whatever you’re interested in
