"Memories of Laura," a Quilt

I've just been visiting with a friend via telephone and she was inquiring as to whether I was well as I hadn't posted for a while. She's right....it's been several days. I am fine. What with the hot weather and things happening around the Nest, I've just been kind of slow. It's nice to know someone missed my posts, but on the other hand, it adds to my 'guilt' when I fail to post often.
So, to you out there who take time to see what's happening at Bird Nest on the Ground....thank you so much. Hopefully when the weather cools and FALL, my very favorite season, arrives...well, I'll be all energetic again. What about you?

Yesterday I got a call from my sister saying my brother-in-law, (who has a very bad ankle sprain and can't work) would love to come here for a few days so he and the old navy man can visit. How he is traveling on a train with crutches and a 'boot', I don't know, but he is, as of this moment, on the Amtrack train from McGregor,Texas to Little Rock. We will pick him up around midnight tonight. (What a crazy schedule...he leaves at 3:15 a.m. on Sunday morning!) Never having ridden on Amtrack, the timing was a shock. But, we will deal with it and hopefully, the two Richards will have a nice visit. (Yes, my sister and I both married men named Richard!)

Anyway, I thought I should post something before the day was over, as I'm sure another post is not going to happen around here until maybe Monday or Tuesday. Just so you know. And, don't worry....I'm ok.

Here is one of my favorite quilts. I made it in 1988. It is the first quilt I ever made without using a pattern designed by someone else. I don't recall showing it here before, so if I have...well, just pretend I haven't! This quilt is 45" x 52" and is entirely hand made. It is named "Memories of Laura" because I thought of Laura on "Little House on the Prairie" as I designed it. The blue of the hearts and ribbon, plus the sky, were fabrics hand-dyed by my friend, Mary Morgan. She is no longer with us, but I think of her each and every time I take this quilt out of the quilt closet. She always encouraged me to do things "the way I wanted to" and I've always appreciated her advice. She was a great quiltmaker and I learned a lot from her.

When I was working on the borders of this quilt, I thought that blue print border would be the edge of the quilt....after I decided that binding that edge would be a pain....well, I just appliqued it to the solid fabric and called it done. I like the way it turned out. One of my other favorite things about the quilt is the little pocket on the pinafore....you can actually place a tiny thing in that pocket...like a favorite button or some such. I never have though, preferring to embroider a stem of flowers there. I also love the cat.

So, there you are....another quilt from my heart to yours. Hope you stay cool and safe and come to visit again!!! Thanks so much for taking the time to check on me and I'll be back asap. Take care, pat