American Heroes

American Heroes

Today, Memorial Day, is set aside to honor those heroes who died while protecting our country.

I sewed this 44” wall hanging with red, white, and blue remnants. Simple, yet striking. 

I cut blue prints with two segments of Charming Rings die, and appliqued it to one corner of a 22” square. Then I sewed red wedge pieces together, aligned them, and appliqued. 

I carefully trimmed the excess fabric underneath before sewing all four squares together.  I quilted with white thread in diagonal lines.  

I love the result of my day of playing with scraps. American Heroes is on the wall in my dining room, alongside my other red, white and blue quilts used to decorate our home from now through July 4^th.

Today, remember the heroes.

Dies used:
Blue Wren 6858 Charming Rings 8”
Accuquilt 55439 Wedge 9” 

Sweet Music Man

My all time favorite singer is gone. The distinctive voice of Kenny Rogers caught my attention back when he was with The First Edition. But I fell in love with him at a concert in 1978 when he sang Sweet Music Man, She Believes In Me and I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again.

So many memories made with his music. I spent the night on a sidewalk outside TicketMaster to score front row seats on several occasions. We never sat further back than the 6^th row, at all his Nashville area concerts.

Kenny used to toss signed tambourines to the audience and I'm lucky enough to have several. I knocked over a good friend to catch my first...I gave her the next one I caught the following year.

My favorite memory is a Christmas concert at the Grand Ole Opry House. He asked for volunteers from the audience and I popped up like a red headed jack-in-the-box. We were to help him sing The Twelve Days of Christmas. And I do not sing well at all. 

Being first, I had partridge in a pear tree, so I got to sing with him twelve times. On the Opry stage. With his arm around me!  My feet didn't touch the ground for days.

He had much better luck with some of his duet partners: Dottie West, Dolly Parton, Ronnie Milsap, Lionel Richie, Gladys Knight, Sheena Easton, and Kim Carnes.

His music is timeless in several genres: jazz, folk, pop, rock, and country. He kept his signature style but tried new ideas over his six decade career. I love his many hits but the album cuts are some of his best. If I had to choose my top five, they are Lady, Through The Years, Anyone Who Isn't Me Tonight, Crazy, and Sweet Music Man.

I will truly miss this wonderful, talented man. He always made me feel like he was singing just for me, even at a packed concert. I have photos, memories, and music to heal my broken heart.

"Nobody sings a love song quite like you do"

Freedom

Freedom

Patriotic quilts in red, white and blue are so beautiful. I saw a version of this design on Pinterest and decided to whip one up on Friday. It didn't take very long to sew using 3 ½” squares and half square triangles cut with Accuquilt.

Backing is a star print in navy, red, and cream.  I quilted with white thread in a straight stitch 1" apart.  

Freedom is 12 ½” by 36 ½” and is hanging on my front door. I'll bring it inside after today so it won't fade, then hang it again for Flag Day and Independence Day. It could also be used a table runner.

On this Memorial Day, I salute those who died defending our right to freedom.

Go Rest High On That Mountain

My feisty little redheaded mama has gone on to her next adventure. This week, just 2 months shy of her 84^th birthday, she left this world to be free of cancer and pain. I will miss her, but I'm happy that I spent most of the past year with her.

“Everything about her was

both unique and complicated.”

~Deborah Moggach 

Sam Hill was the cool mama, Girl Scout leader, and she would do anything for her kids. Never a dull moment with her!  She was an outspoken free spirit with an attitude, who loved mini-skirts, cold beer, tight jeans, motorcycles, Camaros, and bikinis.

If you knew Sam or would like to do something in her honor, please pick one of the things she was most passionate about: plant some flowers, go shopping for cute shoes, or spend a day fishing. She'd like that and it would make me smile!

"You weren't afraid to face the devil
You were no stranger to the rain  
Go rest high on that mountain
‘Cause your work on earth is done"

~Vince Gill

Memorial Day 2016

Memorial Stars

My Memorial Day quilt is a patriotic table topper that could also be used as a wall hanging. Designed in Electric Quilt 7, it features eight inch Road to Oklahoma blocks arranged in four by four rows. These red, cream and blue stars and stripes fabrics have been in my stash for a while, just waiting for the right project.

Enjoy Memorial Day...I'll be in the sewing room cutting up fabric and stitching it back together.  

Memorial Stars - KatieScarlett Designs

And please don't forget what today is really all about: 

Memorial Day is an occasion for remembering those who died while serving their country in the United States armed forces. It’s not to be confused with Veteran’s Day, an annual holiday in November that honors everyone who served in the U.S. military.  Memorial Day was first observed in 1868, when it was called Decoration Day, a day set aside to honor the 600,000 U.S. citizens who died in the Civil War. 



We come, not to mourn our dead soldiers, but to praise them.  ~Francis A. Walker

Farewell To A Wonderful Man

Yesterday morning my father-in-law passed away suddenly.  Mose White Ireland (Whitey) had just turned 89 years old.  I will always remember his kindness, his beautiful silvery white hair, his wit and his devotion to his wife of 65 years.  They provided a Christian home for their two children, and I am thankful to him for raising his son to be the wonderful man I married.  

Whitey proudly served our country in the Army Air Corps during World War II.  He loved baseball, lively conversation, and puttering around in his workshop.  He never met a stranger and always told you exactly what he was thinking.  

I'm sure Whitey knew how much we loved him by our words and deeds.  We were all with him before he left in the ambulance, but sadly, he was gone before we knew it.  Sometimes we forget that we may not get to say our final goodbye.  Today, let your loved ones know what they mean to you.