Cousins September 14, 2012 (posted by Lorri)

Hopefully, you are all blessed with having some fun cousins.

I found some cousin photos that I thought I'd share.

My cousin Kelly shared some old family photos with me several years ago, when we were working on a birthday project for my dad's 80th birthday.  I just love this photo, these little guys just look like they are ready to have some fun.  I am guessing this photo is from about the mid 1930s.  Check out the vehicle behind them. 

Front:  Arnold Von Soosten  Left middle:  Virgil Von Soosten  Right middle:  Cletus Von Soosten (our uncle)  Back left: Edgar Von Soosten (our daddy) Back right: last name Lassman from Independence

Looks like the cousins are ready for an Easter Egg Hunt.  I'm guessing late 1950s.

Front left: Doug Von Soosten, Kathy Von Soosten, Sherry Von Soosten, Janice Knopp and Richard Von Soosten.  Back row:  Johnny Knopp, Delbert Knopp

We all look pretty miserable here.  I'm guessing it was a hot summer day.  Probably 1960.

Left: Lorri Von Soosten, Kay Von Soosten, Sherry Von Soosten with Kelly Knopp in front, and Janice Knopp

2012 Memorial Day, Gavin Crager on the left, Caedmon Crisler on the right.  Ed the cat in the front.  (Sherry's grandson, Lorri's grandson)

September 2012 - Charlotte Huser kissing Vada Huser
(Lorri's granddaughters)

Our families grow over the years, don't they?

All Things Vada (posted by Grandma Lorri)

We celebrated Vada's baptism August 18.  She was so good!

Here are a few pictures:

Stephanie, Clinton and Vada

Vada with her Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma Von Soosten

Kristy does love her nieces

Here is Vada in her baptismal gown.  I enjoyed making this for her.  She is very cuddly.

I made this quilt for Vada.  Stephanie saw a photo of a similar quilt on Pinterest.  I like the bright colors. I free-motion quilted flowers in each colored block with variegated thread.

Found this idea on Pinterest also.

Vada's Aunt Kelli (standing in the background) knitted this really cute hat for Vada.  Grandma Jeryl is holding her.

It was a good day with a sweet, sweet baby.

Charlotte's Baptism - July 2012

Here is Charlotte test-driving her baptismal gown. I used white muslin with cotton lace for the trim.  

I love this picture of Kelli and Charlotte together.  She is such a cutie!

Kelli and Aaron and Charlotte after the baptism.  I didn't realize how much Aaron looked like his brother until I got these pictures back.

 

 

Charlotte with her Great-grandma Von Soosten.  Charlotte looks much more comfortable in her slip.

And, of course, no family event is complete without a new quilt.  I made this quilt for Charlotte.  Kelli found a photo of this quilt on a blog. There was no piecing in this quilt, just applique.  I did free motion quilting in between the elephants, stars and circles.  Making baby quilts is so much fun, they go together so much faster than the bigger quilts. A cute quilt for a cute little girl!

A Quilter's Dream trip: American Quilt festival, Paducah, KY

Guess Where We went!!!!

 Yep! that' s right, Paducah, Kentucky, Quilt City, USA!  Last week, Kay and I along with my BFF's Debbie and Pegg left in the wee hours of the morning on Wed. for Butler, MO to get on a bus with a bunch of other quilters for a Awesome trip to the American Quilt Festival in Paducah.  I've always wanted to go, but am always working this time of year getting ready for the end of the school year.  When this opportunity came up, we decided it was meant to be. So we all took a few days off of work and took a well deserved getaway. It was a wonderful experience.  We had so much fun!  The first day we traveled across Missouri, stopping at two quilt shops along the way.  First was the Quilter's Harvest in Higgensville, MO. After lunch, we stopped in historic St. Charles to visit the shop Patches, along with some other very cute shops. One place we visited was a cake store with the most awesome Lemon Meringue Pie. I even took a picture of it.  After a few more hours on the road we arrived at our hotel in Marion, Illinois.  Even after being up since 3:30 a.m. that morning, I was so excited about our upcoming adventure the next day, I couldn't hardly sleep. Next morning we were back on the road again at 7:00 a.m. traveling an hour across the Mississippi to Paducah, Kentucky.  The minute we walked into the convention center, the first quilts we saw took our breath away.  The artistry, the creativity, the workmanship, of these quilts were beyond description.  I took pictures of the most beautiful and unusual ones we saw, but even they don't do them justice.  We spent the day oooooing and awwwwing all day at the quilts in the convention center and visited quite a few vendors.  They were awesome too.  Every major manufacturer of sewing machines, supplies, long arm and other quilting machines, fabric companies, and quilt stores from all over the world were there in buildings all over the town, not just in the convention center.  It was like being in a candy store with all your favorite candies in every flavor.  Only better! 

Debbie, Kay and I in the Convention center. 

 

 

 

 One of the first vendors, I sought out was the book store where Marie Bostwick  was signing her newest book, "Ties that Bind"  It is the fourth book in her series and I have read and loved all her books for a couple of  years. Yes, they have a quilt theme running through them but they are really about relationships, women and family.  It was exciting to meet her in person and have her autograph a copy of her newest book for me.  Here's our picture, a little blurry, but you get the idea.  Now I just have to find time to read it. 

 

 

 

Marie Bostwick, author of "Ties that Bind"  and me.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 We wandered around all day looking at the quilts, visiting the vendor booths and soaking in all the quiltiness of the Festival.  There were quilts there from Japan, Australia, United Kingdom, along with many from this continent.  But the fun wasn't over yet, waiting for the bus, we spotted an unusual site, something we have never seen before.  There on his segway, was Quilt Man!!! Of course Kay and I had our picture taken with him before he sped away.  How exciting!  Not everyone can say they met Quilt Man.  After a very full day we went back to the hotel, had dinner at the Cracker Barrel, bought some hats and soaked in the hot tub.  We did sleep well that night. I'll post some more pictures and tales of our adventures later. 

Spring Break

Papa and Gavin checking the cows

Today is the last day of my spring break, one of the best perks of being a teacher in the public school system.  If i were in charge of the country I would decree that everyone should get a spring break.  Its so good for body and soul.  This week I spent a couple of days sewing with friends, a day shopping with my lovely daughter,  a couple of days playing in my sewing room, one day cleaning house and cooking for Justin's birthday and had the two youngest grandkids spend the night last night.  Today I spent the afternoon on a new design and project.  Remember one of my previous posts about owls?  I would link this up to it if I knew how to do that.  you'll just have to scroll back through our posts until you find it.  sorry.  Anyway, the owls have been a big hit, I have sold 8 of them, two were claimed by the oldest grandkids, and I have 7 left, with two more ready to be finished.  So i decided to branch out and make an owl purse I found on pinterest. I had to draft my own pattern and everything, but i think it turned out kind of cute.  What do you think?  Should i make some more?  I am having a booth at a huge sale on April 14th and  will be selling my owls, pincushions and whatever else I can get done. 

I love Lucy (posted by Lorri)

I love Lucy quilted throw.

Close up photo of the I love Lucy fabric

I made this I Love Lucy quilted throw for my step-daughter Rachael.  She collects I Love Lucy things.  And, since you can find almost any type of fabric on the internet, I ordered these different types of Lucy fabrics for this throw.  I liked the red and black colors.  Carolyn Seeliger quilted it on her long arm machine. 

Welcome to the world Charlotte! (Posted by Lorri - aka Grandma Lorri)

Charlotte Fay Huser made her way into this world last Thursday, March 1, 2012.  She weighed 7lb 10oz and is 21 inches long. Here she is with her parents, Kelli and Aaron.

The pictures above her crib are the silhouettes of her mom and dad. Made by Kelli.

The walls look white in these pictures, but they are a pretty soft green. The chest of drawers, now painted white, were first purchased when Charlotte's great-grandma and great-grandpa Von Soosten were first married. 

There are dandelions floating across all the walls of her nursery.  Kelli made the roman shades herself.  I'm so proud!

Yep, she's a keeper!