Happy Days Are Here Again.......

I guess I should say, HAPPIER days are coming around again....

Thanks again to all of you for your outpouring of love during my time of sorrow.

I will forever miss my Gracie Lu, but, I know life has to go on.

I haven't felt like I have lived the past few months, much less been able to do "quilty" things.

May 25th was our final reveal for our 2017 Spring Scrap Club project,
and I would like to share with you all the WONDERFUL time we all had.
My old photography buddy, Mike, agreed to help take photos of the event.  And, my other friend Mike helped hold the quilts up for show and share.

Before I share the photos, allow me to tell you all how absolutely honored I am to share a forum such as Scrap Club with the many talented quilt artists that come to the meetings.  I am humbled by their love and friendship.  We have all grown in our quilt making together.  These quilters are some of the best friends a guy like me could ever have and I appreciate each and every single one of them!  And, you all KNOW how proud I am of each one of them!  And I have to say....it felt so good to laugh and have fun again!

Our Spring project for Scrap Club hosted by Kevin the Quilter was "Rail Fence."  The choice of project was voted upon by the participants.  Wait until you see what they all came up with.  This was one of the largest reveals we have had yet!  HOORAY!

WARNING

This is a HUMONGOUS post.  If you don't want to look at it, you don't have to, but, after everything I have been through the past few months, it did my heart good to make a great photo filled post like this.  And, I love chronicling my life through my blog.

2017

Rail Fence Spring Session

Scrap Club Hosted by Kevin the Quilter

Cornerstone United Methodist Church

O'Fallon, Missouri

 Our evening began with a Cookie social.

Thanks to all of the quilters that made special cookies to bring!

 We all had so much fun visiting!

Signing in....

 I am a historian, and I like to keep track of who all attended.

 Special thanks to Sue and Clifdel.

Because of their efforts, we had a beautiful and spacious

sanctuary to hold our final reveal and reception in.

I made them each a little rail fence potholder.

 The beginning of our meeting.

Over 50 quilters and visitors attended!

 In appreciation for hosting our reveal, all of the quilters

joined their talents together to make this stunning

rail fence quilt to donate to

Cornerstone United Methodist Church.

We used the church's sanctuary colors as our color pallet.

The church will use or donate the quilt as they see fit.

Standing with me from left to right are:

Sue (piecer), Pastor Diane (received quilt for church), Me, Linda (piecer, and made binding),

Carolyn (donated batting, quilted quilt, and attached binding) and

Linda (made quilt label and attached it.)

These quilters helped out so much and I truly appreciate them

along with all of the quilters who donated blocks for the quilt.

(I also made them Rail Fence potholders, but, didn't get a pic! RATS!) 

 We had a small project swap for this session.

Rail Fence pillows were made.

The pillows were made entirely of scraps,

including the filling for each pillow!

We put the pillows on parade, complete with marching music!

Oh!!!!! This was so much fun!

These quilters can work it.....marching style!

It's ALL about having fun!!!!!!!

 This gal marched all the way from Seattle, Washington to be with us!

Her sister, Terry, in the background, invited her to stay and attend.

Thanks so much for coming and playing along!

 The winner by popular vote of the Pillow Parade 

was Clifdel!

Watch out....this gal can make an entrance!

And, here come the 

Small Rail Fence Projects.

(We used a loose interpretation of the Rail Fence
so therefore, not all quilts will be a traditional 
Rail Fence.)

These are small quilts, table toppers, and

wall hangings.

If the participant completed (complete meaning

quilted,bound, and labeled) their project

and brought it to the reveal, their name was

entered into a drawing for a $50 gift certificate to 

a local quilt shop provided by me.  And, this session,

another special prize was awarded by Darlyn of "Quilt My Quilt!"

Darlyn generously offered a $50 gift certificate for quilting

 to both the small and large projects!

Thank you SOOOOOOOO much Darlyn!

 Janet

 Vi

 Linda

Linda was one of my leading ladies, and helped me throughout this session so much.

Thanks Linda for all you do to help make Scrap Club happen!

(She received a Rail Fence potholder too.....no photo though.)

 Ree

(My friend Mike helping to hold the projects.)

 Sue

 Jeanne

 Clifdel

 Sue

 Susan

 LaDonna

 Diana

 Barb

 Barb was so inspired, she had 2 entries

and already had given a 3rd one away!

 Susan

 Roxann

 Annalee

 Linda

 Carolyn

Dixie

(She was unable to attend, but, sent her project.)

 And the winner of the drawing for small projects was Clifdel.

She won a $50 gift certificate to a local quilt shop donated by me

and a $50 gift certificate to "Quilt My Quilt" courtesy of Darlyn.

She certainly was thrilled!  Congrats Clifdel!

Here, Darlyn and I present Clifdel with her gift certificates.

Next are the

Large Rail Fence Projects.

These are quilts that measured at least 50" x 60".

Again, they had to be completed (quilted, bound, and labeled)

in order to be eligible for the prize drawing.

 Amy

(BTW, this was Amy's very first quilt......EVER! WOWOWOWOW!)

Congrats Amy!

 Carol

 Chris

 Katy

 Glenna

 Dar
Dar is my other leading lady that has helped with Scrap Club so much.
I truly appreciate her friendship and willingness to help out where she is needed.
(She got a Rail Fence potholder too......DOH! NO PIC!)

 Sharon

 Dot

 Sue

 Vi

 Terry

 Terry

 Katie

 Sharon

 Lynne

 Lee Etta

 Sue

 Karen

 Pat

 And the winner of the Large Projects drawing for a

 $100 gift certificate to a local quilt shop donated by me

and a $50 gift certificate from Darlyn of "Quilt My Quilt"

was Chris!  Congrats Chris!

Here she is pictured with Darlyn and me.

"Gracie Lu's Rail Fence"

Obviously, I did not place myself in the drawings,

rather, tried to lead by example and finish my quilt.

Here is my Rail Fence Project.

I named it in honor of my beloved Gracie Lu.

We did our pillow swap

"7-Up" style!

 It was hilarious to see who snatched who's pillow.

The guessing part was equally funny!

At the end of the evening, we discussed our next Scrap Club project.

Any guesses as to what that might be?

Hmmmm......

I think I will keep you readers guessing until my next post!

You all will get to participate along with us in our 

next session of

Scrap Club hosted by Kevin the Quilter.

Thanks for sharing in our fun reveal here in the "Show-Me" state!

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Thanks for reading to the end!

Happy Days Are Here Again!

Fondly,

Kevin the Quilter

In Memoriam

This is a post I never wanted to have to make.......

Gracie Lu

7/11/07 - 5/6/17

I had to let go of my beautiful baby Boston Terrier 2 weeks ago.

I am just now able to share this news with you all.

I am heartbroken.

I want to take this time to thank each and every one of you for all of the 

tremendous support you have given to me.  From calls, e-mails, texts, replying

to my previous blog entry, and Facebook messages.  

Your concern for Gracie Lu and me has been

overwhelming, and I appreciate it so very much.

If I haven't responded to you personally, please know

how much your comments have meant to me.

I am thankful to God for blessing me with Gracie Lu.

She taught me so much about life.......

.....to be happy

.....to savor the moments you are given
.......to take the road trip....it may take longer, but may be worth it

.....and most of all to love.

One of my quilting friends, Sharon, shared a thought with me that is so true.

Dogs are very much like God in the fact that

they can love unconditionally.

So true.

So very, very true.

Gracie Lu was my big, bumbling, bull in a china shop, clown of a dog.

She loved making people laugh, and brought such joy to 

everyone she came in contact with.

She was a Boston Terrier through and through....

extremely devoted to her family and home.....and you

better not act aggressive to her daddy or she would give you an earful.

She was like her daddy, and LOVED to eat!

But, most of all, she loved to love.

And, I definitely know she loved me as much as I loved her.

I'd like to share a few of my favorite photos of Gracie Lu.

I hope you enjoy them.

The day Gracie Lu came home.

Nap time with Daddy.

Gracie Lu LOVED nap time!

Growing up with big Sissy Sophia.

Gracie Lu is the one sitting up.

Gracie's first experience with snow!

Give her a tennis ball, and she would play all day!

(When she wasn't napping in between!)

Whatta ham!

She couldn't believe she won the 

Miss America Pageant here!

On Christmas morn, she KNEW

Santa had visited her because she and her sissy

were good girls!

What a loving little girl.

She would lean in for her kisses from Daddy.

See what I mean?

My sweet baby girl!

She could bury herself in the bed for naps.

If I didn't know where she was in the house, 

I could always find her buried under

the covers in the bed!

She also helped my friend Mike finish one of 

his marathons!

There will never be eyes like that again!

She loved talking to Mawmaw and Pawpaw on the phone.

Not to mention her Aunt Lisa, and cousins Hannah and Curtis.

She loved sitting on my lap.

And, usually made a great book or magazine holder.

One of her proudest moments was winning a 

Hallmark card contest with her sissy Sophia.

The inside of the card reads:

"Smile!  It's your birthday!"

I held her paw for the last time before we

had to say goodbye here on earth.

An interesting, and very consoling thing happened

the day Gracie Lu passed on.

The roses started to bloom here at the Quilt Cave.

The roses also bloomed at my Grandmother's house

the day my Grandma passed away many years ago.

A beautiful sign to me for 2 beautiful

beings that blessed my life.

I will get back to blogging now.

I am feeling better with each passing day.

And, I am going to host Scrap Club here on my blog starting in June.

Thank you all for understanding my blogging circumstances these past few months.

I am so thankful to have quilting friends and family like you from all over the world!

Thanks for being a part of my life!

Thanks for all of the encouragement!

Kevin the Quilter

Things fall apart........

I come to you today a broken man.......

Remember in my last post over a month ago where I said,

"ALL IS WELL!!!!!!

I promise you that....."

Well, evidently, all was NOT well.............

When I returned home from flying after I had posted that, I was dealt some overwhelming and sad news.

My beloved, precious Gracie Lu

was diagnosed with inoperable cancer.

She is only 9 years old.

I simply haven't been able to wrap my mind around this yet.

She was given only days to 4-6 weeks to live, and we are 

fast approaching week 6.

She has been so brave and strong throughout

her illness.

I am not looking for sympathy.

I know pet owners "get it."

I also know we have given her the best possible life

she could have ever had here on earth.

Having said that, I know this won't ever be able to replace

her humorous and bull-in-a-china shop-like spirit in this home.

I feel like I needed to share this with you all.

You all are my friends.

I thank those of you who have personally contacted me.

This is the reason I haven't been blogging.

Every moment when I am not having to fly

has been spent catering to this little baby of mine.

I would also like to apologize to the 

Hannibal Piecemakers Quilt Guild

for being unable to present to you all.

I certainly appreciate my contact Kathy and

understanding of the circumstances behind it.

I look forward to re-booking with you all.

And, AQS Paducah was out of the question this year as well.

Nothing perks Gracie Lu up like a car ride.

Especially when she gets to see other animals.

These horses have been great medicine for Gracie.

They always have a nice little conversation when I 

drive her by them.

Animals know!

Look at my baby's Bat Ears!

If you have a fur baby of your own.....

please enjoy them.

You never know when they may be taken away from you.

I have been able to quilt some.......

as you know, quilting is my therapy.

Gracie Lu enjoys sleeping on her bed in

her daddy's Quilt Cave.

Before Gracie Lu was diagnosed,

I signed up to participate in 

Humble Quilts 2017 Doll Swap

hosted by Lori.

I always look forward to this swap.

I received this beautiful little quilt from Sunny in New York.

As you all know, I have chickens and ducks here at the Quilt Cave.

I also acquired some turkeys, and now thanks to Sunny, I have geese!

I hope to share photos of the poultry here as soon as I can.

My swap partner I made a quilt for is Louise in Washington.

Sometimes our art is very personal.

The little quilt I made for Louise is extremely personal to me.

"Square in a Square"

from the book

Small and Scrappy

by Kathleen Tracy

I highly recommend Kathleen's book.

It is full of fun little projects perfect for this swap!

I primarily used blues in the front of this quilt.

For obvious reasons, I am feeling really blue

right now due to what Gracie Lu and my

family are going through.

The back is made of various red civil war scraps

because Louise said she likes red in quilts.

This also represents how MAD I am at the 

cancer that is taking Gracie Lu away from me!

I think the quilt is almost as pretty as my

GRACIE LU!

You can tell in this photo, she just isn't her

old self anymore......God bless her.

Always my beautiful baby girl though.

I'd like to thank the many personal blogging friends

I have that have contacted me, and checked

in on me and Gracie Lu.

Thanks to Randy of 

Barrister's Block for being so thoughtful.

You know I am going to make this when I am

up and at'em again.

It is perfect for the Quilt Cave!

And here is something else I have been working on

for a dear friend's upcoming arrival.

This was fun to create using the Mommy's

chosen color scheme for her nursery.

For those of you who have stuck with me through

thick and thin, please know how much I value you

and your friendship!  At this time I know you all will

understand I want to get through this illness with my

baby Gracie Lu.  I am a responsible pet owner, and, no,

I will not let her suffer.

Thanks for being a friend,

Fondly,

Kevin the Quilter