DO YOU REMEMBER THE DRIVE-INS?

Here is a pictures of my brother Steve and me at one of our earliest experiences at the Drive-In.
The old station wagon had blankets in the back seat so when our parents got tired of us, they would put us to bed and tell us to go to sleep.

I wonder if my mom knew that it was HER fault that we grew up with this addiction to the Go West Drive In when were in high school? I dont think we always went to watch the movies. Many of our friends hung out at the Go West in Missoula Montana. It was a place to socialize, sneak beer and smoke. Ahhhh the memories!

My mom use to make me and my girlfriends take my baby brother to the drive in with us. She thought it was a good way to keep 17 year old girls out of trouble if we had the responsibility of a 3 year old. But guess what?  There was blankets in the back seat and when we got tired of Mikey, we would put him to bed and tell him to go to sleep! But you know.. thinking back... my mom was pretty smart. My friends would all leave the car to see what the boys were up to and I WAS THE ONE WHO STAYED IN THE CAR!!!

BLUE MOON RISING

BLUE MOON RISING

I have started my new series of Blue Moon art. I just love the full moon don't you?  This first piece is a sample/experimental piece. The size is 12"x10" Not sure where I'm going to go with it yet except I want to make it larger.
See the red coloring?  I was playing with some liquid comet to help me remove color out of some old worn out purple pants.  While I was bleaching "on purpose" I started to laugh at myself.  Heck..I bleach my clothes almost every time I clean my kitchen sink!

NEW BLANKIE FOR KAYLAN

KAYLAN LIKES SOFT THINGS!

 

 

Kaylan is almost 2 years old. I have not made as many quilts for Kaylan as I have for her sister Rylan. Rylan (3yrs) was my first grandchild. Llike any new grandma... I may have gone a little overboard. I might have had a couple little quilts done before she was even born.
 Rylan likes anything Grandma Dede makes her. She never showed a preference from one to another that I know of. And for the last year... as long as I make it a Princess theme....ALL IS GOOD!

The last trip I made to see my grandbabies, I found out that Kaylan is very attached to a special blanket. Its very fluffy, soft, light pink and has a satin binding.  She carries this blanket EVERYWHERE. She has to have to go to bed. She needs it when she sick. She needs it to go dancing at her auntie's wedding. She NEEDS her blanket. Her mommy told me that her blanket is starting to look like the Linus blanket in Charlie Brown stories. Its starting to get a little worn with all that love (and many washings) it receives.

This grandma is on a mission and had to make a blanket that her little sweetheart is going to LOVE that might help the transition when the original is to thread barren to use any longer.. 
Grandma's blanket is soft, its pink, it has a satin binding and its really fluffy because I USED MINKEE.

That stuff is a pain to cut because of the fluff floating everywhere.. I am still finding fluff in my studio and on my white bichon, Georgie after a month of vacuuming  BUT its all worth it because her mom told me that she opened the box, got out the blanket and snuggled right into it. 

MY MISSION IS COMPLETED AND GRANDMA DEDE IS HAPPY!

MY GRAND DAUGHTER THE CHEF

 This is Rylan and she LOVES to cook!

 

Rylan wasnt quite 3 years old when she and grandma were making this cake. How many little girls this age do you know that can crack an egg all by themselves?

Rylan lives to be in the kitchen making her "Happy Cakes."

She calls all cakes/cupcakes by this name.. I think it comes from

singing "Happy Birthday." I will never correct her title to the goodies she makes. It just so darn cute to be apart of her world. She is so happy in the kitchen.

I love making her special little aprons for her. She just smiles at the silly little things. But it makes grandma's heart just beam!

See Grandma..I do ALL by myself!

She loves to stir by hand. She loves to hold her mom's "new toy" while its "whirrrrrrrrrrrrrrring." I think she must have heard her mom calling the new mixer she got for Christmas her new toy so now Rylan calls it that too.

But the BEST part of baking is the TASTING!  aND who doesnt enjoy that part!

YUMMY FROSTING

And then we have Kaylan..Rylans sister who just turned 1years old the end of July.She is a baker in training. 

Are'nt the little bibs cute?

                                          So far... she has the tasting part down to a T.

I AM SO IN LOVE WITH MY LITTLE GIRLS. WHAT WOULD LIFE BE WITHOUT THE JOY OF GRANDCHILDREN?

MAIL ART POSTCARDS FOR QUILTER FRIENDS

I love making fiber postcards and sending them through the mail. The comments from some of the postal workers are wonderful. I invite all them to my sewing studio for a quick class. These were made for some "sewing sisters."

MY NAME SAKE

Kelly is having a baby girl. Kelly is my daughter-in-law's younger sister.I teased Kelly (on facebook) that no one names their baby girls Debbie anymore. I asked her, " What's wrong with Debbie? Old names are popular again."  She replied.."If I had a mother in law as nice as you are, I would consider naming my baby Debbie."

I did mention that I did this teasing on facebook right?

Well, my daughter-in-law, Annie saw it and commented, "Thanks for throwing me under the bus sis!"  Annie has given me 2 beautiful grand daughters who neither one is named Debbie....not even the mention of the "D" word in the middle name.  lol  

When Kelly's little darling was born she named her Cadence. But I made her a baby quilt anyway! I also threw in a little bib for Cadence to wear.  What do you all think?

Disclaimer......Since most of you dont know me.... I WAS teasing with Kelly. I WAS teasing with my Annie.
 They both know that I am just joking around so please dont think I was being a terrible person .

Posted by deb poole aka The Barefoot Quilter at 11:43 AM

WHERE HAS THE YEAR GONE?

I have been so bad about posting. Im sorry and I promise to be better NEXT year.  Its hard to believe its almost 2012?! So much happened this year and here are a few things for me to share.

       OUR LIFE IS BLESSED.

Paris for my birthday!  What a present uh?

We rented an apartment that over looked the Eiffel Tower. It lights up at night and it was so exciting to be sipping on real French wine, bought in a real French store and watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle.

We have moved back to Kentucky in October. We had a house built just for us. Another great gift! I have

2 ovens and a pantry that is bigger than the bathroom!

In our new house, the entire basement is my sewing studio. We have been in the house for two months now and I’m still arranging and rearranging trying to get all my “junk” in just the right places.

We don’t have a home land line… please call us on our cells..those numbers are still the same.

We have 3 beautiful grand daughters, Rylan Poole is 3. Kaylan Poole is 1 1/2. and Addyson Kropp is 1. The girls are 3 of our most precious gifts.

Dave and I went to Great Falls, Montana to visit our Poole kids, Jim and Annie over Thanksgiving. While there, we got to watch Kaylan really get the hang of walking. She is smiling all the time and looks so proud of herself.

Dave and I took the girls to see Happy Feet one afternoon.  The girls and I got settled in our chairs while Dave was getting the munchies we needed. Just as Dave was walking up to us, Rylan spots him… She gets the biggest smile on her face when she saw what he had in his arms ( a gigantic box of popcorn)… She squeals and yells out……… “ohhhhhhhhh PAPA!!  POPCORN! THANK YOU”   Everyone in the theater started chuckling and you should have seen the SMILE on Grandpa’s face. PRICELESS!

 We were greeted with open arms in Townsed, Montana by Annie’s family for Thanksgiving dinner. The gathering was large, noisy and incredible fun.  The McCarthy’s are a very loving family and we had a wonderful time. We are very blessed to have so many friends.

We are driving to Brittney and Mikes house in Arlington Heights, IL this weekend for a special party. Addy is turning 1.  We can’t wait to see how she does when everyone sings “Happy Birthday” and just how much frosting she gets all over her face.

Alex is doing really well at Northern Illinois University. He is a junior and he is living in a townhouse in Sycamore with a roommate this year instead of the dorms. He is discovering the joys of grocery shopping and cooking.  Taco Bell is just a block away so we know he isn’t starving to death.

Dave and I wish all our friends and family the happiest of holidays.

We love you all and hope you come to Kentucky to visit. You are always welcome at our home.

FancyThat by deb poole: My Mini Bee and Me

FancyThat by deb poole: My Mini Bee and Me

My Mini Bee and Me

 A circle is being made made in my life. We are moving out of Chicagoland and back to Kentucky in a few weeks and  I am leaving some wonderful woman here in Chicago that I met 11 years ago when we moved to Wheeling, Illinois from Burlington Kentucky.

I didn't know one soul when we moved here. I joined the NSQG (Northern Suburbs Quilting Guild) in hopes of making some friends. I have heard for years that quilters were great woman!  I didnt tell a soul that I DIDNT know how to quilt.                                                           I WAS GOING TO LEARN.!

During my second  NSQG's monthly meeting, I asked at the front desk if they knew anyone that lived by me hoping I could meet a new friends. It was my lucky nite... 2 woman over heard me and followed me through the vendors. I saw these two woman smiling at me.. I smiled back and said "hello."
They introduced themselves..."Hi, I'm Bev and this is Jean. We live by you and would love for you to join our mini bee."
I was so happy. I was going to make friends. It didnt matter to me that I didnt know what a mini bee was. All I knew that I was going to Jean's house the next week. (I didnt let them know that I didnt know how to quilt.. i had only made pot holders!)

Bevie (our Queen Bee)

Jeanie (my partner in crime)

I have belonged to my mini bee group for 10 years. I have loved looking forward to the companionship of  my woman friends the first Thursday and the second Saturday (and the 5th Saturday on some months).
These woman are a plethora of knowledge. There has been many times over quilting that we have solved the problems of the world. These woman have taught me to love the art of quilting as they were teaching me to quilt. They didnt care that I only made potholders.

Janet

Debbie

Mary

Carol has a New York accent

Diane

These wonderful woman have become my chosen sisters!

I love all of them and I am going to miss them and our

meetings on the first Thursday,

second Saturday and sometimes the 5th Saturday of every month.

My sisters had a going away lunch for me. It was a happy day 

and a sad day for me. We did a lot of visiting, eating , laughing,

eating some more and then they brought 

out the newest projects they were working on. 

I love show and tell. These ladies are so talented. 

Some day, I hope to be just like them!

Bev was showing her newest quilts and she asked me

  to read the label on a quilt that was all folded up.

As I looked at that label the tears started rolling. 

Look what my sisters made me!

"QUILTING DIVA."

I am very blessed to have such talented and giving woman in my life.

I was so lucky 10 years ago that none of them cared that I could only make

potholders when they asked me to join "their sisterhood ."

BAKING LESSONS FOR ALL

THE WOMAN IN OUR FAMILY LOVE BEING IN THE KITCHEN WITH EACH OTHER. ITS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO HAVE GREAT CONVERSATION AND SHARE OUR LOVE OF BEING TOGETHER.WE INCLUDE OUR CHILDREN YOUNG TO JOIN IN THE FUN IN THE KITCHEN.

.

HERE IS MY GRAND DAUGHTER RYLAN TEACHING "HER BABY" HOW TO MAKE COOKIES.
 (Grandma Dede made aprons for Rylan and her baby.)

 My grand daughters. Rylan is almost 3 and Kaylan just turned 1. Already they love to cook and bake. Rylan even BEGS to do the dishes. (Now I hope that part never changes!)

CUTE LITTLE BIBS

Look at these cute little bibs I have been making.

AND LOOK AT THE CUTE LITTLE GIRLS WEARING THEM!!!!

I HAD THE HONOR OF VISITING A VETRAN HOSPITAL

---

I WANT TO SHARE WITH MY FRIENDS AN AWESOME

 EXPERIENCE I HAD TODAY....

I HOPE YOU WILL TAKE THE TIME TO READ MY STORY.

TODAY 4 OF MY QUILTING FRIENDS AND I WENT TO THE HEINE'S VETERAN CENTER

TO DELIVER QUILTS AND SAY "THANK YOU." 

8 WOMEN WHO CALL THEMSELVES THE SCRAPPY LADIES MET TWICE A MONTH AND QUILTED. 

8 WOMAN MET TWICE A MONTH AND TALKED ABOUT A WAY TO TELL A VET "THANK YOU."
IT TOOK ONE YEAR FOR ME AND MY SISTER QUILTERS OF PLANNING,COLLECTING 

FABRIC AND QUILTING TO FINISH OUR GIFTS. 

ONLY 5 OUT OF THE 8 COULD MAKE IT ON THE DELIVERY DATE. I HAVE A LITTLE SAD 

PART IN MY HEART FOR THE 3 THAT COULDN'T MAKE IT. THEY MISSED OUT ON AN 

EXPERIENCE THAT I WILL NEVER FORGET. 

WE CARRIED INTO THE HOSPITAL 19 TWIN SIZE QUILTS. 

MOST OF THEM WERE RED, WHITE AND BLUE AND A FEW WERE MADE WITH JUST 

PRETTY COLORS. MOST OF THEM WERE A CHINESE COIN PATTERN BUT SOME WERE

MORE ELABORATE. ALL OF THEM WERE MADE WITH LOVING HANDS. ALL OF THEM 

WERE MADE WHILE WE SHARED OUR THOUGHTS ON OUR OWN FAMILY MEMBERS AND 

FRIENDS WHO ARE OR WHO WERE IN THE MILITARY. 

ALL 8 WOMAN KNOW HOW LUCKY WE ARE TO LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICAN
AND WE HOPED OUR GIFT OF A QUILT WILL EXPRESS A SMALL GRATITUDE 

OF OUR FEELINGS.
 
THE FLOOR OF THE HOSPITAL THAT WE VISITED HAD 19 VETS THAT WERE 

PATIENTS THIS DAY.A FEW OF THEM WERE OLDER GENTLEMEN.
ONE MAN TOLD US HE SERVED IN THE ARMY IN 1955.THERE WAS ONE WOMAN

WHO HAD JUST HAD SURGERY. ONE MAN HAD LOST HIS LOWER LEG, 

I DONT KNOW HOW AND I WAS AFRAID TO ASK.

4 QUILTS WERE LEFT OUTSIDE THE ROOMS FOR THE NURSES TO TAKE 

IN BECAUSE NO ONE WAS ALLOWED TO ENTER THE ROOMS.

WITH EVERY QUILT WE THANKED THESE HEROES FOR THEIR DEDICATION, 

THEIR HONOR, THEIR UNSELFISHNESS FOR KEEPING US SAFE.

THANK YOU FOR KEEPING US FREE. 

EVERY VET PUT OUT THEIR HAND TO SHAKE OR OPENED THEIR ARMS FOR A HUG. 

THE HUGS WERE MY FAVORITE! 

EVERYONE OF THESE VETERANS WERE SO TAKEN BACK BY THESE 5 WOMAN 

WHO WERE GIVING AWAY THE "BLANKETS".

THEY KEPT THANKING US AND MORE THAN ONE SAID 

"THERE IS A PLACE IN HEAVEN FOR WOMAN LIKE YOU." 

(IF HEAVEN IS JUST A QUILT AWAY....I NEED TO MAKE MORE QUILTS!)

EVERYONE SHOULD THANK A SOLDIER

 FOR THEIR SACRIFICE.

TONIGHT I WAS CHECKING ON MY EMAILS TO FIND THAT A FRIEND SENT ME THIS LINK......

SO FITTING FOR MY DAY......PLEASE WATCH IT.


.<http://www.youtube.com/v/ervaMPt4Ha0&autoplay=1>

GOD BLESS THE VETERANS  

QUILTS FOR THE VETS

A Letter to a Soldier

We are a group of 8 woman who live in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago. We call our small group of quilters the Scrappy Ladies.

In the beginning, Our love of fabric and the art of quilt making united us. Over the years, its our friendship that holds us together. Well that and meeting two times a month to share  family stories, gossip and eat!   We do have lots of fun with each other.

Every year we have handmade projects that we donate. Many times it has been for children centers or hospitals. Last year we made over 700 Holiday stockings that went to the brave service people in Afghanistan.
This year, it is our hope that you will except and enjoy the quilts we have made for you. We don't have to know what you look like or even your name to say "Thank you for your bravery and pride in serving in the military. Thank you for keeping all of us safe by making your unselfish contribution in making our country one of the grandest in the world!"
Our quilts are a small way for us, the Scrappy Ladies to show our gratitude to you for your sacrifice and commitment.

We hope these quilts will give you comfort in knowing that we care.

The Scrappy Ladies

PostCards In The Mail

 I create little pieces of art that I make into postcards. They are 4X6 and I send them through the mail to friends and family.

 The giraffe was sent to my 2 year old grand daughter Rylan to remind her that Grandma Dede is thinking of her.

 The floral was made for a postcard swap in a group called PostCardMailArt. Its in yahoo and anyone can join. It was made with rice size pieces of fabric placed on the batting then a fine tole was put on top of that. Then I freemotioned the heck out of it to keep it from falling apart! Its called "If you can squint, you can see my garden."

I loved working on my moon series. Landscapes are my favorites. These were sent to Three Sisters, Oregon to be donated for the auction to raise money for breast cancer research. I hope they brought in a few dollars.