Vintage Car Quilts

Here is a picture of a quilt top I completed yesterday.
I am making two car quilts. One with Model T fabric and this one done with fabrics from "Vintage Cars".
Both quilts are different. The Model T quilt is for me. This one is for.....maybe I will sell it.

The vintage car quilt does not have a pattern. I constructed it by hanging it up, looking, and walaaa, I will do this to it.

Right now I am happy with the way it turned out. I have the backing fabric too. I will use the black fabric which is actually tires. the binding will be done with the red fabric. It is 70x75.

For the actual quilting: I do have some line drawings of old cars for the larger blocks. Perhaps some feathers in the open light blue areas. The center is a panel, maybe some free motion squiggles to make the cars stand out. Any other suggestions are welcome.

I am calling myself a "Topper". It seems the last couple of years that is all the farther I get on my quilts. Make a top and move on to the next top. I might have 8 of these now. I do the top, get the backing.....

I am now headed to Joann's with my coupon for batting. Determined to complete this one.

This is the Model T quilt top.

It was a free pattern I printed off the Internet. I would look it up but I have loaned the pattern out already.
This was another quick and easy one to do. I am definitely keeping this one.

The fabrics are Timeless Treasures. If you notice the model T fabric is directional so I made the cars fan out from the center. The pinwheels were suppose to be a color with white. I did not want too much white in this quilt because of the way it was going to be used.

There is enough of the model T fabric for the backing. Again, another top waiting for me.

We have 3 Model T's. I will use this one in the car to stay warm. Often we travel to picnics and there is not room for chairs so a quilt on the ground will have to do.

Our Model T Quilt

Last fall I finished our Model T quilt. The fabric was not my first choice but hunting for fabric with Model T's on it was only adding to my stash. That was not productive. The car is open on the sides, without windows and no heater. The engine does supply some heat coming through the floor.

I made the quilt large enough to cover the both of us and if I lay it just right the heat from the engine circulates under the quilt. The quilt is very warm and does the trick.

This is the motif in the light blocks. It is actually a piece of redwork I wanted to use. the design really pulled the quilt together and was done with my embroidery machine.

The rework motifs are directional. All of the motifs on the left point to the center and the right side does the same. The top and bottom of the quilt have two going in each direction.

This is my first attempt at printing on fabric too. There are four printed pictures in the center of the quilt. Right, left, front and back. The picture of the back has Max and Fritz in the small trunk.

The very center block has our name and location with a banner. The year and model of the car is within the banner. Again, done on the embroidery machine.

The quilt was made to keep us warm but also is rugged enough to really be used. You see, even though I had not been posting I was busy in the sewing room.

Lizzie' s Bees

It has been called to my attention that I have been the absent blogger. I do have to admit that i have thought about my blog. This is does not count though. More on this in a minute.

Lizzie's Bees!! I have been working on this for the last year and when October rolled around I felt successful. We are beekeepers and had just harvested our first batch of honey. Lizzie's Bees
was named after our model T, a 1923 Ford. This is also my label on our honey jars. Yes, that is our Lizzie there. When John and I looked at each other and said "Lizzie's Bees" we knew it was right. There is a web site for Lizzie's Bees but no shopping cart. The site shows you the process from the hive to honey.

The sad part about all of this is my health. This week I am told that I can not get stung anymore. I can wear my bee suit and all the garb and I am still capable of getting stung. I now need to carry an "epi pen" with me at all times. I have been stung many times and had no reaction to the sting. As time has gone on I developed an allergic reaction which worsened with each sting. The next time I get stung could be the fatal one. There are literally millions of people who deal with this situation. It is now a category which I have joined. I am no longer able to assist with the feeding and carry for our hives. I will need to rely on John and pictures for updates.

The bee's have been removed from the property. Not because of my allergies but due to a bear tearing up the hives. The bear tore apart the hives and strung frames all over the area. Bee's do not like temperatures under about 45 degrees and it was in the mid 30's here. The bee's will literally kill themselves trying to keep warm which is impossible with they are outside the hive this time of year.

The first time the bear arrived we put it back together loosing half of the population. The second time the bear came and had a repeat performance we lost more bees. This is when we removed the hives about 3 miles away. The bear has returned but I snicker thinking we tricked him. I can tell when he is around, Max and Fritz get fidgety and nervous.

Needless to say, that with the bear around my 30-40 Krag is loaded and by the door. I do not go outside, nor do Max and Fritz unless I search the back yard. I called some friends who are hunters to come out and take care of this bear but hunting season ended November 15th. I contacted the game department and this situation does not qualify for a "nuisance permit". I wonder if this bear knows this?

Oh ya, this is my sewing blog. I almost forgot. Yes, I have been sewing when my health permits me to actually do something. I have changed my style of sewing with the use of the embroidery machine I purchased this time last year. I have taken photo's of the things I have made but they must be stuck in my computer. Or, when I was thinking about my blog they did not miraculously appear on my blog. What was I thinking!!

With this posting, I will promise to be alive and participate the best I can.

Our Daffodil Parade

The clouds disappeared and we hit nearly 80 degrees. Our Spring Fling was getting under way in real Spring weather.

Every April the county has a "Daffodil Festival". There are several towns involved and all the parade entries go from town- to-town like it was a new day and a new parade. Our town is involved and the last town. The weather usually does not cooperate but delivers buckets of rain, hail and snow. This year was different. After having our high temperatures in the mid 40's the This was just for the day though because our current weather has not been above the mid 50's.

Most of you know that this winter we purchased a 1923 Ford, Model T. We were asked to bring "Lizzie" to the parade and escort an "Honarary Daffodilian". She is a personal friend of ours so we were delighted to do this for her. Lizzie does not have a heater or side windows which made me worry about keeping her warm. Who would know we did the parade with the top down!

What a great excuse to gather a few girlfriends to come up with ideas. Then the shopping and put decorations together.
It was a great day sun and everything! I mean sunglasses, no long sleeve shirts or coats.



The Seafair Pirates were around too and look who i met~~~~ haeee heeee!!! Way too much fun and such a long day. Do not ask because I am not admitting to anything!



Before I forget, and while I have "Lizzie" pictures out, look at this last photo closely. In between the front tires is a piece of embroidery I stitched up quickly. The name on it is the new business we have started. The product will be honey-pure and natural. the product will be ready this fall after harvest.

I am still working on my logo but this piece of stitchery has the main idea displayed. Now to change all this from .emb files to .jpegs. I can do it, I just need to find some more time.

We decided to call the business "Lizzie's Bee's" because the nickname for a Model T is "Tin Lizzie". If you would like to know more about this use this email and I will get back to you about our products. lizzies_bees@aldrichclan.com.

1923 Model T "Tin Lizzy"

As you can see we brought this home with us. We could not resist her. She is commonly known as "Tin Lizzy"; she is a 1923 Model T. She looks good and there are very few things missing. We drove her home most of the way. We do not know what happened, but it is a FORD.

We ended up calling a friend who came with a trailer, loaded her up and put her under cover at home before the rain began.

After everyone went home John went out to start her and she started right up. Sounds like she is in need of a tune up. He has all winter to make sure she is in perfect shape for summer. I like the idea of when I leave I can make it home!