Thursday, December 10, 2015

Take Me Out To The Ball Game

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Christmas is coming, 
but I am working on quilts for 
January birthdays.
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This one is for my brother 
that lives in Oregon.
 ~~~~~****~~~~~

I just finished it last night, 
except for making a label for it.
 ~~~~~****~~~~~

It is completely hand quilted. 
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The photo in the center was him 
back in the 1950's 
when he was around 15 or 16 years old.
   It was taken in our front lawn 
back in Michigan City, Indiana.
He is still playing ball today,
and activity in sports around his community.
 ~~~~~****~~~~~
We normally only exchange cards 
and phone calls, so I think he will be 
pleasantly surprised. 

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Well, that's my latest project,
now on to the next one :)
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Have a lovely day.
Please take time to let me know you visited
 by leaving a comment.
I love reading them 
and getting to know you all better.
~~~~~****~~~~~
Keep Smiling
~~~~~****~~~~~
Your blogging sister,
Connie :)  



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44 comments:

  1. Dayle ~ A Collection of DaysDecember 10, 2015 at 6:44 AM

    I'm a quilt lover and am blessed to have many handed down from ancestors. My husband would love this baseball quilt; he was a star player in school. I'm sure your brother will love it, as well.

    I came by from the Open House party, but I got sidetracked looking at this quilt. Now ... on to see what you've got for Christmas.

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    1. ConnieDecember 11, 2015 at 7:34 AM

      Hello new friend, before I replied I had to visit your blog and your Christmas decoration are beautiful. I love the way you have these wonderful quilts, you speak of, displayed. Wishing you a lovely Christmas and I'm so happy to meet you:)

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  2. mamasmercantileDecember 10, 2015 at 9:39 AM

    Such a beautiful creation, made with love. I love the idea of a photo simple but so very effective. Take care.

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    1. ConnieDecember 11, 2015 at 7:38 AM

      I hope that he likes it. The photo is one that my Mom gave me years ago . . . you know how Moms divide up photos and favorite items among their children, well, I don't even know that my brother has this photo so I'm sure he will enjoy it on his quilt. Maybe I will print a copy and frame it, it would be easy to roll it up in the middle of the quilt before mailing :)

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  3. Rebecca in AKDecember 10, 2015 at 9:49 AM

    I think your quilt for your brother turned out just wonderful! He is going to love it! You did a fantastic job on the hand quilting.

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    1. ConnieDecember 11, 2015 at 7:40 AM

      Hi Rebecca, getting a compliment like that from someone who is such an accomplished quilter as you, is huge to me. Thank You!!! I do enjoy hand-quilting, it's very tranquil :)

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  4. Patricia @ 9th and DenverDecember 10, 2015 at 10:18 AM

    What a nice birthday gift for your brother!
    My brother lives an hour and twenty minutes a day, and I see him on average about twice a year. But I talk to him everyday ...
    I don't have a sister and I don't think I could be as close to one as I am to my brother.
    I also LOVE baseball. So this quilt was eye-catching for me.
    have a great week.

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    1. ConnieDecember 11, 2015 at 7:44 AM

      Baseball, apple pie and hot dogs . . . what's more American than that . . . oh, maybe a rodeo:) I'm delighted that you like the quilt, I know that he will be surprised. Merry Christmas Patricia enjoy your Christmas break from school and have a little fun :)

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  5. Olde Dame PenniwigDecember 10, 2015 at 10:39 AM

    I just love the vintage-style embroidered baseball vignettes. Brings back many memories. The quilt is just wonderful.

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    1. ConnieDecember 11, 2015 at 7:44 AM

      Thank you so much, I'm sure that he will be surprise when he opens it :)

      Delete
  6. Teresa KasnerDecember 10, 2015 at 11:27 AM

    Your brother will love that! Very nice of you. My sister gave us four "mug rugs" last night that she quilted in xmas colors and I love them. Enjoy your holiday time.. I sure am. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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    1. ConnieDecember 11, 2015 at 7:50 AM

      Hi Teresa, homemade gifts are the best . . . you know that love went into making them :) I'm a morning coffee drinker, but last night I had my first cup of spicy tea before bed. As it was going down and warming be all up, I wondered (like I do every year) why do I only enjoy hot tea in the winter? Tea and Coco just go with the holidays . . . enjoy your mug rugs, what a thoughtful gift. Merry Christmas!

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  7. em's scrapbagDecember 10, 2015 at 11:48 AM

    What a wonderful surprise for him!

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    1. ConnieDecember 11, 2015 at 7:50 AM

      I'm sure that he will be surprised and hopefully delighted :)

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  8. AnnDecember 10, 2015 at 1:30 PM

    well look at you already finishing projects for 2016. Most people are still struggling to finish their Christmas projects. This is a great quilt. Your brother is going to love it

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    1. ConnieDecember 11, 2015 at 7:53 AM

      Hi Ann, really as soon as I reply to my comments, I'm heading out to the Art Barn to work on three Christmas gifts that I need to get in the mail next week. I'm not as organized as it may seem, LOL.
      Merry Christmas, dear friend :)

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  9. Lady JaneDecember 10, 2015 at 1:32 PM

    Your brother is going to totally love this quilt!!! What a nice gift. Hugs, lJ

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  10. LaurieDecember 10, 2015 at 4:02 PM

    Impressive and beautiful. I'm sure your brother will cherish it.

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    1. ConnieDecember 11, 2015 at 7:54 AM

      Thank you, what a sweet and lovely thing to say :)
      Merry Christmas!

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  11. Bee LadyDecember 10, 2015 at 4:27 PM

    Oh Connie, I LOVE this quilt! My Dad was manager of a little league team and that team won City Champs. I've been working on getting the gang together for his 80th birthday....only he will be 80 in January and I'm not going to get them together until Spring time. I've had a positive response so far. Your brother is going to love this.

    Cindy Bee

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    1. ConnieDecember 11, 2015 at 7:55 AM

      Cindy, you are the sweetest of girls. Your Dad is going to be thrilled!

      Delete
  12. Granny MarigoldDecember 10, 2015 at 6:13 PM

    I hope your brother doesn't look at your blog or he'll see his quilt!! I love that it's all hand quilted. So many people that I know, who quilt and used to hand quilt, now send them away to be machine finished. I don't quilt but I collect quilts. I've found a number of lovely ones at garage sales. Two were brand new. Gifts that the recipient didn't want and sold at a rediculously low price. You know I grabbed them up and enjoy using them. So pretty.

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    1. ConnieDecember 11, 2015 at 8:03 AM

      It amazes me what you can find at thrift stores and garage sales. I bought a cashmere scarf the other day at a thrift store for 97 cents, it still had the store tags on it. I guess it was a gift that someone didn't like. It just happen that one of my favorite winter hats matched it perfectly, Score! I do not send my quilts out for anyone else to quilt, but I do quilt some of them on my regular machine using the quilt as you go method, are you familiar with it? Hand-quilting is becoming a lost art and I think that is very sad. If people would give it a go, I think they might be surprised how enjoyable it is.

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  13. cynthia lee designsDecember 10, 2015 at 7:19 PM

    What a beautiful " Take Me out To The Game" quilt...love it!!
    ~Cindy

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    1. ConnieDecember 11, 2015 at 8:04 AM

      Hi Cindy, thank you so much! Merry Christmas dear friend :)

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  14. GloriaDecember 10, 2015 at 7:21 PM

    Oh Connie, That is absolutely gorgeous. Did you embroider the baseball players? How long did it take you to do all that hand quilting? The hours of love you must have poured into it. You brother will be so happy to receive it I'm sure. It is a truly thoughtful and love filled gift. :)

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    1. ConnieDecember 11, 2015 at 8:09 AM

      Hi Gloriade, Sorry to say that the embroidery was done on my machine, but the hand quilting was a labor of love. I don't count the hours that go into something like that, but it does take many full days of quilting. I'm slow and noticed that some of the squares took me a full DVD movie to finish. I've been watching old movies like the Quiet Man with John Wayne, and I watched the Titanic the other day while quilting:)

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  15. Art and SandDecember 10, 2015 at 8:53 PM

    So cute!

    Well, my 65 year old Bernina is dead! She was a gift to me in 1996 after my aunt had the machine totally rebuilt for me. I'm wondering what kind of machine you have that does all the embroidery.

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    1. ConnieDecember 12, 2015 at 7:07 AM

      Hi Carol, check your email. I send you some links and some information on my machine. I love it!

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  16. janieDecember 11, 2015 at 4:36 AM

    I am sure your brother will love the quilt. Extra special with all the hand quilting. Love your blog. Just found it recently.'
    Merry Christmas, Janie

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    1. ConnieDecember 12, 2015 at 7:18 AM

      Hi Janie, thank you so much. I'm delighted that you came visiting and found my blog, I have been a follower of your amazing blog for quite a while now and I love you work :) Come again my welcome mat is always out.

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  17. Cozy Thyme CottageDecember 11, 2015 at 6:55 AM

    Hi Connie! What a great present for your brother! And hand quilted! Wow!! Quilt on and have a great day! Nancy

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    1. ConnieDecember 12, 2015 at 7:23 AM

      I Nancy, I am busy as a bee getting the last touches on some things that I want to get done and mailed before Christmas. Last night we went to a Christmas program at church and afterwards I broke my low carb diet and over-dosed on sugar. I love all the Christmas goodies. Oh, and I could really feel the difference . . . I'm back on low carb today, LOL.

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    2. Cozy Thyme CottageDecember 12, 2015 at 8:50 AM

      Hi again Connie, They do say if you fall off the band wagon not to feel guilty but to just get back on track! Good for you! We went to a wonderful Cantata at our church last night too. Helps one focus on the real meaning of Christmas. I am writing this because I wanted to ask if you would mind giving me the dimensions of the baseball quilt. Thanks for your help. Nancy

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    3. ConnieDecember 12, 2015 at 10:06 AM

      I'll measure it today and get back to you :)

      Delete
  18. SandiDecember 11, 2015 at 10:30 AM

    What a GREAT idea!

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  19. MindyDecember 11, 2015 at 11:45 AM

    What a special and heartfelt gift! I love the attention to detail with the hand quilting and the photo. He will treasure it I am sure.

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  20. A Joyful CottageDecember 13, 2015 at 8:17 AM

    Your brother is going to love his quilt, Connie. Your hand quilting is impressive. Well done. xo

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    1. ConnieDecember 14, 2015 at 7:15 AM

      Thank you Nancy, I enjoy hand-quilting it's a peaceful thing to do and sometimes I need to hide away for all the noise of daily life. It seems that every modern device makes noise . . . beeping, chirping, ringing, and then there is the TV. I enjoy going out to the Art Barn where I can sit in a tranquil silence, sometimes our body and mind need that :)

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  21. ConniecrafterDecember 14, 2015 at 8:23 AM

    That is just terrific, he will be pleasantly surprised!!

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  22. Lowcarb team memberDecember 14, 2015 at 2:46 PM

    That is such a lovely gift Connie

    All the best Jan

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