Scrappy Ohio Stars quilt finished!

 

This quilt was a joy to make start to finish.  I wrote about it here.  

Very scrappy "anything goes" Ohio Stars, sparked by Repro Quilt Lover's Instagram sew along last year.  

A few blocks made with Carol Younce's scraps: 

This stripe and the pink and white stripe are from  my Grandma Mary Lou's shirts: 

And some green pieces from David's Aunt Masako's stash here and there throughout. 

I was going for "summer".  Soft red, all of the colors of the rainbow, with plenty of glowy blue (oops, our first photos were upside down) -  

The backing is Liberty tana lawn, which David got for me in London during a business trip.   I love this backing, for this quilt. 

I used wool batting, and machine quilted it with Barb Vedder's great fan stencil.   

What I love about a scrappy, simple quilt like this, is that it is just begging to be used and loved, washed often, not treated too preciously.  

I always feel like my quilts aren't finished until they are used and loved.  I think that is what "wabi sabi" is all about: Loved objects that show the maker's hand, and the user's hand.   They gain more soul as the years progress. 

Summer is in full swing in North Carolina.  But we spent some time in Denver and San Francisco visiting family. 

The twins are growing like weeds! 

Gorgeous beach near San Francisco.  Freezing water but so fun. 

Outings - 

Noelle was also in town, on business, and visited Kaela at the salon: 

Backyard birthday party for little missy: 

Tommy and Camille made us a delicious Udon dinner on Sunday - 

And then back home in North Carolina, I was so happy to finish up this quilt! 

xo

Cynthia 

Scrappy Ohio Stars with Carol's pieces

I really got into the flow of making these scrappy Ohio Stars, something sparked by Taryn (Repro Quilt Lover) on Instagram.  I've incorporated a couple of my grandma's shirts, as well as fabric from David's Aunt Masako. 

And then on such a poignant note, my dear friend Tona's Mom (and Masako's dear friend), Carol Younce, passed away after a battle with breast cancer.  Carol was a prolific quilter and such a generous, smart, cheerful person.  Tona sent me a pieced star and a bunch of star pieces, with a note saying the pieces were found at Carol's sewing/ironing station.  

I immediately recognized that Carol must have been following along with Taryn's Instagram too! 

I don't know how to quite put this, but it seems I've reached an age where my peers' parents are starting to pass away.  My own Mom died in 1999, at age 55, when I was 35.  It was so rough (also cancer) and I still miss her, so so much.  I so wish I'd had more years with her.  But I had my Grandma for many years after that, and I have my step mother as well as many motherly figures over the years.  For my kids' sake, I hope I live into old age (what age is old??).  

Last month David and I went to San Francisco for a week.  We had a wonderful time.  

The bus system is easy, clean, convenient: 

Out and about with the girls: 

Snuggles and cuddles -  

Botanical Garden with Tommy and Camille - 

Camille is wearing her Grandma's jean skirt (from the 90's I'd guess?) - how cute is that?!  

Back on the homefront... just for fun, I made this easy sixteen-patch made with my bin of 3 1/2 inch squares, and blues from my stash.  It will be for donation.   

Very fun yellow "cat" backing - I got it long ago in Japan, for a song.  I can't remember why I bought it, but it enlivens this little quilt nicely.   I'm in a stash-busting mood. 

Speaking of stash, with David in Japan again for business this week, I've gotten out my stash of indigo (vintage and new) to contemplate another sashiko throw.  Contemplation quickly turns to piecing.  I just love this kind of improv piecing, and working with indigo.  I'm thinking of adding in some Liberty Tana Lawn as well.  Why not?  There are no rules. 

xo

Cynthia