Wayback Wednesday: March 4, 2026

 

MEMORIES CALLING!

You know it wasn't that "the good ol' days" were so much better than now.  A lot of youngsters can't imagine the world without internet and social media.  At one point, Carol's grandkids found an old rotary phone in the basement.  They couldn't figure out how to use and were so enamored with it they begged to take it home (grandma let them).  There are a lot of youtube videos of kids trying to use a rotary phone.  I think this video is hilarious.  Anyway, here are some phone related memory memes to brighten your day!

Have a safe and happy day!

Storytime Stitches (A Different Version)

 

In 2021, I did a bunch of blog posts based on my program "Storytime Stitches".  Each post focused on quilts that were inspired by illustrations in children's books or othere things children used.  

The last year or so, I've been collecting a different kind of inspiration for Storytime Stitches.  The actual illustrations from children's books and other kids type ephemera are now the inspiration for a real quilt.  Over Christmas, I thought that my first one should be to make a quilt similar to the one below...possibly in 2026:

Actually the above is a card but I liked the quilt and I have some solid scraps that might work well in the design.

I was reminded of this when one of the ladies posted in an online group that she was looking for a quilt name for a textile she saw in a vintage children's book.  I need to get back to that idea as well and thought I might feature a few of these different quilts in upcoming blog posts.  I'll just call the image "today's inspiration" or something.

Do you collect quilt inspiration ideas as well?  I'd love to know what sparks your imagination!

Have a safe and happy day!

Lucky Check-In

 

Lucky woke up Thursday with a limp so he went to the vet on Friday.  Of course Lucky didn't limp at the vet.   But I had taken a video of him hopping around because I know dogs do that when they don't want to be at the vet.

He's doing much better and the vet suspects he had a minor soft tissue sprain or injury.  He was running around the day before...for the first time since the big snow and he probably overdid or improperly landed on his leg.  He's on anti-inflammatory pills and seems to be doing fine although he's still restricted for a few days.

We also need to wait another week for grooming.  He was supposed to go last Sunday but our groomer was ill and we need to reschedule.  This reminds me of Lucky right now:

Wishing you a safe and happy day!

21 Days Until Spring!

 

So the above meme made Brad and I laugh...because it's so true.  We had a mourning dove nest in our backyard.  We know that because we found eggs on the ground and looked up.  Turned out the nest resembled a toilet more than a safe bed.  😕

Lucky is going to the vet today.  We aren't sure what happened but he woke up limping yesterday.  I can only think of 2 things:  he broke a nail (one nail is shorter) or he hurt himself when he finally ran around the yard.  Anyway, the vet can get him in today so we are going even if he seems better.  Because you know with my luck, he will seem better and then be worse over the weekend when the vet is closed.

Other than that, I'm hoping to get back to some sewing if Lucky is well enough to do the stairs.  We'll see.

Have a safe and happy weekend!

Concentric Squares

 

It was the quilt that got away (well one of them).

Thirty years or more, I saw a quilt at a local flea market.  It was really graphic.  Concentric squares--each about 8 inches in wool fabric of orange and grey and a few other solids.  It was a real stunner and would have been wonderful as a wall hanging in a loft or modern house.  I didn't buy it at the time.  

The excuses:  I really don't like orange and the truth is, I could never hang it in my house because it's not modern and also, plaster walls don't accomodate heavy wall hangings.  It was also solid colors.  Remember back then, there was no modern quilt movement.  But...

I couldn't forget the quilt and when I returned to the flea market, it was gone.  I'm happy for whoever purchased it.  

But it also initiated a quest for a concentric square quilt.

I'm not talking about a log cabin quilt or a trip around the world.  Recently, I noticed on the Generations Quilt Shop that they had a concentric square pattern they called "Amish Squares".

Okay so duh--I should have thought of the quilt I had seen as possibly Amish.  So this week, I looked for "Amish Square" quilts.

Here's an antique one from Rocky Mountain Quilts.

Stella Rubin has one with a four patch center here.

Just Folk has a rayon one that they are selling as an African American Quilt.  You can see that one here.

Ultimately, I could make my own and maybe I will this year...just  not orange.

Do you have a quilt or pattern that got away and you regret?

Have a safe  and happy day!

Dodged a Blizzard

 

Hello!  Northeasterners, how much snow did you get?

We dodged a blizzard.

I'm praying for all the folks who got hammered with snow and especially those without power.  Our predictions were all over the place from .5 inches to 20 inches.  The snow amount seemed to change every hour with the predictions ending up at 10 to 20 inches.  4 inches of snow fell.  

The temperatures even crept above freezing and the snow melted from most hard surfaces and the fell off trees and bushes.

Still, the kids go off from school and plenty of businesses closed so a lot of people were here in the neighborhood.

I ended up hanging out with my mom for a while yesterday and walking Lucky a few times.

How are you faring?

Stay safe and warm!

28 Days until Spring!

 

The snow is melting.  We've had a week of temperatures above freezing and it's really helped reduce the depth of the snow.  Lucky could even make it to the upper yard yesterday and frolicked in the snow there for the first time in weeks.

Funny dog thing:  Tinkerbell the chihuahua that Lucky visits every day.  She always pretends she is angry at Lucky.  The first thing Lucky does when he visits is search the floor for any trace of dog food she may have left.  Nancy says she leaves a little piece or two of kibble every morning...an act she does not repeat with her evening meal.  The belief is that she leaves that for Lucky.  They both become upset if they don't get to see each other for a while.

I haven't done any sewing this week but that's because I was taking folks to doctors.  

Brad finally agreed to go the doctor for his costochondritis on Wednesay after two weeks of pain and spasms.  He's on 4 drugs now and I'm hoping it all works.  Thursdays seem to be the busiest day of the week.  Yesterday I took Dave to the hospital to have his feeding tube replaced.  He wasn't allowed to drive after the procedure so I chauffered him.

My brother Jim has some new developments.  The epidurals on his back are not really effective anymore.  The doctor wants to try a nerve burn now.  This coming Thursday I take him for one of two appointments required before that procedure.  The doctors need to know he will respond before they do it.  However, when talking to the nurse at Brad's appointment, she said she knew of a doctor that had the nerve burn and it really helped him.  Keeping fingers crossed!

I watched a video that I found really interesting.  You might too if you enjoy women's history and/or embroidery.

It is Sarah Homfray's post on Mary Linwood:  here.

I'm really hoping things slow down soon.  We'll see how it goes.

Have a safe and happy weekend!