Quilting Update ~ Tall Tales Quilt Block

Tall Tales Quilt Block

Pattern By: Kate Basti

Sewn by: Dee Ann Parry

#talltalesblock

#talltalesquilt

This block combines two of my loves, the love of reading and my love of sewing.  The block depicts an "Open Book" and is pieced together by following the foundation paper piecing method. 

Foundation paper piecing is a very accurate way to piece together quilt blocks.  All of the sewing is stitched on predetermined lines on foundation paper. 

The design can be hand traced or copied on foundation paper, newspaper or thin typing paper.  The foundation paper holds the pattern pieces together and can be easily ripped away after the entire block is sewn together.

The stitch length is reduced to approximately 1.5 stitches per inch to easily perforate the paper and allow it to be removed from the design when it is complete .After the block is put together, add the side borders from 2 1/2 inch strips and finally add top and bottom borders using 2 1/2 inch strips.  

The final result is an 8 1/2 x 11 block.  How fitting.. the finished size is the same as a piece of notebook paper.  

The pattern can be purchased on Etsy from Kate Basti.  

Other supplies used: 

Iron or seam roller

Quarter inch ruler

Postcard

Glue stick 

Rotary cutter

Letter from Aunt Joyce ~ May 22, 2019

Dear  DeeAnn,

We are now home after our trip to Milwaukee to attend Alyssa’s graduation from Marquette University Law School this past weekend. Had good weather and road conditions for the drives to and from and it rained only at night and while we were indoors in the daytime. The hooding ceremony was held Saturday afternoon at the Miller High Life Theater a few blocks north of the shopping area in the original downtown part of the city. The theater is very large and ornately decorated. The actual graduation ceremony for the entire university was held in the Fiserv Forum (where the Milwaukee Bucks play their home games) at 9:30 AM on Sunday. Alyssa was one of the Law School’s cum laude graduates. Starting at 5 PM on Sunday, Penny & Brian hosted a party for family members at Mo’s Irish Pub at Bluemound Road and Mayfair Road. The place is definitely styled after Irish pubs and we had a separate room to ourselves. Alyssa and Penny cooked up a game for everyone to play—33 questions to see who knew the most facts about the honoree. Paper and pens were provided and cheating was discouraged. Alyssa stood at the head of the room and explained that there were going to be different types of questions asked: some True or False, some fill in the blank, some multiple choice, some would have more that one possible answer, etc. Certain guests (Leslie, Ryan, Danielle and others) took it upon themselves to bedevil the newly-minted lawyer since she seemed to be acting as though she was a judge addressing a courtroom of unruly and mouthy characters. They began to call out comments such as “objection”, “overruled” or “sustained”, “clarification”, “out of order”, etc. I must say she kept her composure very well and just waited out the rowdy behavior! Has this family been watching too many reruns of “Law & Order”? Anyway, everyone enjoyed the gathering. We drove home on Monday and must now deal with a badly overgrown lawn and a large pile of laundry. That’s all for now. Email when you can.

Love,  Joyce

Aunt Joyce, 

What a great reason to celebrate.  A Lawyer in the family, a great asset to have in ones back pocket.  Congratulations to Alyssa and Mom and Dad. 

We are enduring the year without a spring... only rain.  My yard is looking lovely if you are a swather in need of your next mowing gig.  My Dad left me his riding lawn mower, however it needs to be somewhat dry to be effective as to not spit out clumps of grass I would need to rake up later.  The garden is planted, thoroughly rained, snowed and hailed on, no need to turn on the sprinklers.

Melissa, Sunne and the boys (Drey, Kye and Kash) have been staying with Scott and I since early April.  There is hope their new home will be ready for the walk through and closing this Friday.  They will be living in Lake Point (4 minutes from my house), shaving off 40 minutes of commute time for Sunne and giving Drey the location to keep his horse, sheep and whatever else he might drag home.  

We have plans for camping this Memorial Day weekend, I am taking my rain gear in anticipation of using it when not in doors.  

We've finalized my Dad's headstone and have it on order.  The mountains are from a Fish Lake photo, included are his camper, Chevy truck, and trailer to haul his Harley with the American Flag trailing behind.  His horse is standing near and he's waving good- bye with his gun on his hip.

I hope at some point to make a trip with my sister to visit you and Uncle Lou.

Have a great week.

Love, 

Dee Ann

You are "Enough"

During my recent camping trip in the west desert, I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the blooming flowers. I captured pictures and reverently observed the vibrant and brilliant colors of red, pink, purple, blue and yellow. The flowers stood strong, brave and resilient whilst being photographed in the desert wind, rain, sleet, snow and sun. 

Much like the flower, I am constantly struggling to find peace as the wind pushes me to and fro in the course of struggling to keep well, maintain good self esteem and balance in my own life.  I more often than not, feel pulled and pushed in many directions, not giving full attention and energy to any one cause. 

These feelings have left me exhausted, constantly full of anxiety and unsurety.  Often I wonder if I am vibrant, beautiful, brave, strong and resilient with a likeness to the flowers in the west desert. Heavenly Father says I am all of those things. 

What does our Heavenly Father expect from the flowers recently photographed in the west desert?  He wants them to be a flower and do the job of a flower, to provide beauty, giving vegetation and food production to the desert, serve as a landing place to nurture the insects and assist with the pollination process.  And that is ENOUGH.

What does our Heavenly Father want from me?  He wants me to do the job of a woman towards one cause by participating in the essential work of salvation.  And that is ENOUGH.

You are perfect, beautiful, brave, so brave, loved exactly the way you are, you are strong, resilient, you are so beautiful, you are a creation of God and you are ENOUGH.

https://www.lds.org/blog/you-are-enough

Come Follow Me "Here's Mud In Your Eye"

Many, many times while raising children, I silently pondered and wondered, if anything the "village" (primary teachers, scout leaders, young women leaders, parents and priesthood friends) had been teaching my children could possibly be sinking into their thoughts.

My own children and the many related and unrelated children who came and went from my home were subject to the same teachings, scolding's and chores, but.... were they learning?  

Fast forward two whole decades into the future, where my grandson Kye was at the table drawing a picture of a face.  The face turned out to be mine with one squinted eye and another small eye, destined to need glasses. The squinted eye in his drawing was clearly unable to see.  The discussion began, I let Kye know that Jesus performed miracles and put mud on a blind man's eyes so he could see.  It was my secret hope the drawing of my face soon be the recipient of a miracle and the plight of my vision deformities might be rendered with sight.

Drey jumped into the conversation and clarified the story he recently learned from his primary class.  He said, "It wasn't mud, it was Jesus's spit mixed with clay and then Jesus put it on the man's eyes."   "Jesus told the man to go wash in the water and he'd be able to see".

Here's the proof I needed, he has been secretly listening to the "village" of people sent to care for him. YES! it's working, the lessons are sinking in. 

Drey verified the details of the story for the family and I am proudly rejoicing in the knowledge and faith in our Heavenly Father, his son Jesus Christ and the village.  I am thankful for their miracles and the stories that exist in the hearts and minds of my children and grandchildren. 

Jesus heals a man born blind

John 9:1-41 

Come Follow Me “Frankly Forgive”

Simon the Pharisee was quick to remark on the transgressions of a woman who came to see Jesus while having dinner in Simons home. Simon felt uneasy and wondered why Jesus, a prophet couldn’t recognize the woman was a sinner.  

Jesus allowed the woman to clean his feet with her tears and the hair from her head.  She used oil to anoint his feet. I imagine the circumstances of keeping your feet clean and soft in Jesus’s time would have been a daunting task. It was a delightful service and tenderness from the woman kneeled at Jesus's feet.  

Simon learned through Jesus’s parable of two debtors, one who owed 500 pence and one that owed 50 pence. A pence was equivalent to a daily salary (Just enough to feed a person for that day). Neither debtor had money to pay and Jesus FRANKLY FORGAVE them both. Jesus asked Simon, which debtor he showed the most love towards. Simon answered, the one with the most debt. Jesus praise him for rightly judging the situation.  

Jesus spoke to Simon and let him know there was no water to wash his feet when he arrived at Simons home and there was no one to kiss his feet.  He mentioned the woman used her tears to wet his feet and she continued to kiss his feet since entering the home. Jesus recounts, there was no oil for my head, but the woman had oil for his feet. Her sins were forgiven because of her attentive caring for her Savior whom she loves much. Because she loves much, much is forgiven. 

Attentively caring for my own Father in the final stages of his life was a tender time. I was humbled by the feelings as I was able to display and the kindness I could give, with the Lords help.   Complete forgiveness was surrendered for the events I grudgingly held in my heart since I was a small child. He was never able to apologize or ask for forgiveness, but I was able to let the hard things go and FRANKLY FORGIVE. 

The forgiveness I was able to give has strengthened my love for the Savior by knowing, within his fold, I can become a more loving person who is willing to forgive. The Savior is looking for humans doing good around him. He is quick to notice you served your neighbor, forgive a friend, or loved the unlovable. You feel his love and appreciation when you feel the spirit in your heart. As I am forgiven for my sins and I forgive others, my love for the Savior deepens. 

Luke 7:36-50