Sunrise Quilt Studio

I have been designing quilting patterns for use with computerized quilting machines as well as with hand-guided machines. This is one of my latest designs. Since I don't have a computerized machine myself, I design patterns that can be used with or without a computerized machine. This particular design is one that I have used with my longarm machine and looks really good in wholecloth quilts or in alternate blocks in pieced quilts. Feel free to download this design and use it in your own quilts.

In the evenings, I often sit on the sofa and knit or crochet while DH watches TV. Here are two projects I recently finished. This sweater fits a toddler and was crocheted using Softee Baby yarn by Bernat. The pattern was one of the free patterns on display at the shop. This sweater uses the same yarns and is crocheted in one piece. I used a pattern called "The World's Easiest Sweater". I had to tweak the pattern in order for it to fit my youngest DD.

This is a photo of a block in a quilt I finished for Sharon. The colors are soft green, pink, yellow, and cream.  It is a very refreshing, calming quilt and it was very much a pleasure to quilt. Thanks Sharon!

Two years ago, a friend at church passed away. A year later her husband also passed away and their daughter gifted the church some of her mother's quilting, sewing and crafting items. I was given these quilt blocks that her mother had made. While I was visiting the daughter this summer, she asked me look at the quilts her mother had made and show her which ones were the best to keep and pass on to family members. There were some beautiful, vintage quilts in the collection as well as some that were new but well made and destined to become heirlooms in the future. These 9 blocks will be made into a small quilt and cherished as a gift from a friend.

Back in September, my daughters and I took a nature hike to look at the changing colors of autumn. It was a bit early in the season, but some of the Sumac was turning red. Up against the green leaves, that red really pops. These bushes were in the yellow and orange stage for the most part. Now most of the trees are past their peak colors and I've missed getting out and taking more photos. Life does get busy at times.

My grandmother's chair is finally done! I finished the upholstery this past weekend after DH replaced the broken wire pieces in the seat for me. I like the texture in this fabric. I added piping to the back side of the chair - no photo of that. I'm debating on whether or not to add upholsterer's tacks to the back. I probably will since I have them on hand. I replaced the foam in the seat with 2 layers of "NuFoam" and added an additional layer of batting to give the seat more cushion. It's very comfortable now. Now to get around to reupholstering the other chair!

DD#1 and I took the day off today and took a field trip to the St. Louis Art Museum. The idea was to take time and do some sketching of the exhibits for art class. The museum is under construction right now and some of the exhibits are not on display. There were enough exhibits of paintings and artifacts to keep us busy for 3 hours, though. This is a photo of the lake from the front of the museum.   This is the hill that leads from the front of the museum to the lake. DH and I would sit on this hill the first year we were married and watch people fly kites. There was also an annual hot air balloon show that was launched here. About 30 years ago, DH and I lived across the highway from Forest Park where the St. Louis Zoo and the Art Museum are located. We were dirt poor, just married, and I was finishing up my last year in nursing school at the hospital across the highway from Forest Park. For fun and entertainment, we would spend hours at the St. Louis Zoo and the Art Museum s...