Wooly Lady Wall Hanging

I finally finished a wool project. I absolutely LOVE the colors. There are three in the series. The next one will have a lime green background. I'm so eager to start the second one.

Summer

No doubt, summer has arrived in Elgin, IL.

Beautiful and Sad

We had three most gorgeous days weatherwise! The sun was shining, and only low 80 degrees. This is perfect for Chicagoland! The Governor was finally found guilty, we're now awaiting sentencing. Illinois will have two former Governors in prison.

On a really sad note: I had to go to a wake on Monday, then another one today. Our guild member Joyce Schultz lost her husband Ron to a heart attack. Such a shock. Joyce and her family (daughter Alyssa is in the guild also) are  in our thoughts and prayers. Our guild member Gail Myers (longtime member and past president) lost her husband Jim to cancer (I don't know the exact diagnosis, but it was very fast). He was still walking with the 'Be Healthy Bee' in March. They were only 71 and 72 years old. Also, my very good friend Mary Beth Clark lost her Dad this past weekend, he was such a wonderful man. Thoughts and prayers are with Mary Beth's family too.

John Illig - Bachelor of Arts Degree from Columbia College, Chicago

John and Casey. Sorry I didn't get a picture of you last night. Congratulations to both of you for your college degrees!

Dustin is visiting to check out John's workshop.

John's Graduation Party

We had such a fun party for John's graduation. We had 50 guests, I was trying to mingle, and talk to everybody, so not a lot of pictures. To my dismay, I apparently never took a picture of John, but the minute he gets home today I will do that!

We sort of had a reunion with some of our German friends. Dieter and I moved here from Germany in 1980, and we all worked together at a small company (Swiss/American), and you should have heard the stories that were told last night!

It was a great party, and: Congratulations to John for his College degree!!!!!!!! We're very proud of you!

Busy Day

We had a very busy day today. Franziska was visiting, and Dieter was cleaning up the yard to make it look nice for John's graduation party on Saturday. We're hoping that the weather cooperates and the workers come to finish the roof. That dumpster in the driveway does not look pretty!!!!!

I finished two quilts today. The burgundy/green wall hanging is so pretty, the colors are very soothing. I will post pictures of the second quilt after the customer picks it up on Friday.

A long day of workshops with Sharon Schamber tomorrow. I'm so excited! I have to get up early.

Publish Post

Two Very Different But Fun Quilts

It was a lot of fun working on those two quilts.

The first one is for a little girl. The grandma pieced the quilt with colorful fabrics (Tammy Tadd, Camelot Fabrics). I always like a new star pattern. She decided to have it quilted with  the 'Wild at Hearts' pantograph.

The snowflake quilt is for a son and his wife (newlyweds). They are so lucky to have a mother-in-law with so much talent. The snowflake blocks are appliqued. We decided to quilt it with the 'Flurry' pantograph.

Shed Needed a Fresh Coat of Paint

Dieter enjoyed  his Father's Day with a great lunch (Brats and Beer) with Dan, Fran and Luke, and John and Casey, and me! He also gave the shed a fresh coat of paint, look at that trim. Maybe it'll get a new roof too?  We'll get the flowers for the window tomorrow. It looks like the day lilies will be blooming soon, and those iris stalks have to be cut down before John's graduation party on Saturday.

Modern Lone Star Quilt

This is one gorgeous 'Contemporary' Lone Star Quilt! The black fabric brings out those vibrant colors!

Happy Father's Day!

Fun Day in Chi-Town

I didn't get much quilting done this week. I enjoyed a much needed day off, and went to downtown Chicago with friends Deb and Leanne, my daughter Franziska and Casey, John's girlfriend. We had a wonderful time, eating lunch at Ditka's, sitting outside, enjoying a bottle of Pinot Grigio, then checking out Leanne's daughter's new digs (she is starting Law School at DePaul in August), and then take the water taxi back to the train station. The weather was perfect, and on top of it all, we caught the EXPRESS train back to Geneva!

My Grandma Wilhelmina (Minnie) and my Grandpa Johann

I have been looking all over the house for the pair of little boots my Dad made for me when I was 3 years old (or so). I can't find them anywhere! I remember showing them to somebody; I hope they'll show up eventually.

But, instead I found this beautiful picture of my grandparents. Weren't they a handsome couple? My Grandma was from the Zurich area (Switzerland), and my Grandpa lived in a village in Germany, right on the Swiss border. I remember visiting his Family (cousins)  every year on All Saints Day. And my Dad would drive Grandma  to Switzerland, after he dropped us off, to visit her family. My Mom would stay home (probably enjoying a day all to herself) and clean the store and the house.

Sneak Preview

Here's a sneak preview of the next customer quilt!

Sparkling White and Blue Pinwheel Quilt

This was such a 'summery' quilt to work on. Sparkling white and teal/blue/orange fabrics. And my favorite pantograph 'Fantasia'. The backing was a Dr Seuss fabric! It is so much fun seeing all kinds of different quilts.

Is Summer Here?

It looks like summer is here. A little bit chilly though!

Jo Morton Wall Hanging

It's done! I'm not too happy with my quilting, but I do like this wall hanging.  I might enter it in the Batavia Quilt Show.

Jo Morton Eagle Wall Hanging from the 'Banner Day' Book

When I saw this quilt again

in Jo Morton's latest book, I decided to take out all the quilting I had done with the Bernina on this wall hanging a couple of years ago. I took it out, and started quilting it on the Millennium today. I'm not very happy with it. There will be a lot of 'unsewing' tomorrow. The piecing could also be a lot better. But, at least, it will be finished. One less UFO in the drawer.

My grandfather's pocket watch and cigarette case with his initials JB (Johann Blatter)

Gorgeous Kaffe quilt

What a fun quilt, pieced by Maria S. The colors are gorgeous!

Ok, this is the T-shirt quilt and the pantograph was Cascade

Halloween Quilt with Spider Web Pantograph