Pony Express from Princeton to Earlville

This morning reminded just how much I miss my horse, Rojo, and the companionship we shared on many a trail.

The Pony Express mail service was re-enacted this morning by many gentlemen of the Illinois Valley Horsemen's Association.  The horsemen prepared in a parking lot adjacent to the to Princeton Post Office this morning. 



 

The Pony Express riders arrived through the parking lot and rode up the sidewalk a short distance to be welcomed by the postmaster.  

 

 



The mailbag was handed off by postmaster and well wishes for a safe journey.

The horsemen jay-walked their horses across to the grassy knoll.  Many children and curious onlookers had to take a double look to see two horseback riders riding through town, stopping traffic.


The rules of the Pony Express were read to the riders, and they were all sworn in.
Mayor Cain spoke a few words of gratification to Earlville, the Pony Express Riders, Joni Hunt (Princeton Bureau of Tourism) and our community for the spirit of cooperation and celebration.  This ride was the beginning of the 150th Celebration of Earlville.  My friends, Mary and Scott Wallis, met me at the Post Office this morning and we took many pictures.  Then we followed the riders through town.

As the riders reached the town's edge, they were followed by a traffic controlling pick-up and a police or sheriff's car.  It was a beautiful scene, watching the horses canter along the field edge.  The pull on my heart was strong.  Just a few years ago, this something I would have trusted Rojo and I to complete.

Mary, Scott and I headed to the next stop in Dover, IL.  We passed the trailers on the road where the next rider was preparing for the mailbag hand off.  Each rider would travel approximately 2 miles before a hand off.

Rider arriving in Dover, IL.

 

Below the hand-off of the mailbag.

 

 

 

 The riders took time at each mail stop to talk with the small crowd gathered.  Bandannas were handed out to the kids with Earlville's 150th Celebration logo printed on them.  Some children asked questions about the horses and riders.  Mostly curious how horses respond to riders and interest in the horse's shoes. 

This hand-off process will happen throughout today until the final riders arrive in Earlville at approximately 6pm for the opening ceremonies of the celebration.

Happy Trails to the Pony Express riders of the 150th Celebration of Earlville!

Handi Quilter Success

I have two Handi Quilter longarms both with Pro-Stitchers, HQ Sixteen and the Avante 18.

I have had great success with both machines.  The HQ Sixteen is for sale and the common question buyers ask, "has it been serviced?"  The answer had been no until yesterday.  I decided to take it up to Rockford to Quilter's Haven.  Brian, the service tech, did a wonderful job making some minor adjustments and cleaning the machine.  Brought it home and  put it back on the table with the help of my husband.  It glides like it on glass!

Loaded a charity quilt this morning and wha..laa....it runs beautifully.

Thank you to Lisa Barnes, Handi Quilter District Manger, for being at my beck n' call.  I have also used Handi Quilters' 800 number for support.  Now I would recommend Quilter's Haven also for assistance and tech support.  (I also took advantage of a little retail therapy at Quilter's Haven while waiting for the machine.)

I love Omni or Quilter's Choice thread.  So I came home with three new colors: bright red, purple, and polished pewter.

Yours in quilting,
Terry

Mauve Irises in Bloom

Here are the beautiful mauve and lavender irises that I mentioned in my post last week.  They are always a little slower to open than the golden/yellow ones.  There is a little pride in these irises as they were transplanted from my grandparents' yard.  Each year I used to have Aaron, my son, sit on the deck steps by these flowers and take his picture.  He is now 22 and don't think he would appreciate posing.

Today there was no rain.  WooHoo!  It threatened to rain and we had a fine mist a few times but no rain.  Here's what Skye thinks of rain.  Bored with rain.

Hope you had a great weekend.

Yours in quilting,
Terry

Quilts Who Went Home

A few quilts went home this week.  The first two quilts were quilted with Glide thread.
First, the dirt bike quilt went home with 8 year old, Kelsey, for his bed.

 

 

Kelsey took a quick look at his quilt and said, "OOuu cool Grandma" and was off to play with my dogs, Harry and Rascal.

 

The beautiful Trip Around the World quilt went home too.  Here is a better picture of it.

 



The final quilt to go home this week was a Tinker Bell quilt.

This was a twin size quilt.

 

This one presented a little bit of a challenge.  Grandma had made a previous quilt in pink for one granddaughter and this lavender one is for the next granddaughter.  I didn't get to see the other quilt but they brought me pictures of the quilting with a ruler laying in the picture.  This allowed me to judge the size of the quilting and try to match it.  YLI confetti variegated thread was used on the back and Omni Lt. Mulberry on the front.  Always a challenge with tension getting the dark thread not to show on the back and/or the light thread to show on the front.  My Avante handled it beautifully with some minor adjusting.

 

Does anybody fall in love with each quilt as you finish quilting it?  I do! Thank you to my customers for bringing me wonderful quilts to quilt.

 

Yours in quilting,

Terry

 

 



Back in the Studio

My husband has been in the hospital and now home recuperating.  He plans to return to work on Tuesday after the Memorial Day weekend.  We will get back on a normal schedule then. 

I returned to my studio trying to finish customer's quilts who have been patiently waiting.

This dirt bike quilt is headed home to an 8 yr. old boy.  I used the stars and loops pattern that came on my Avante.

This pattern provided great allover coverage. Grandma who made the quilt told me it would be washed a lot and this pattern will hold the quilt together through many washings.  The thread is Glide, color Slate.

The next quilt is a Trip Around the World Quilt made by Stephanie.  I am also using Glide thread.

Here is a screen shot of the quilting pattern.

Hope your day included a little sewing therapy, too.

Yours in quilting,
Terry

Beautiful Garden View to Start the Day

Each morning I get up and let the dogs out to take care of their morning business.  While they do that I check on my flower beds and pots.  This morning these two irises where in full bloom, with rain drops still on them from the overnight showers.  You can see a few buds in the background that will be blooming in the next day or so.  The irises I received from my grandfather many moons ago.  They surround our back deck.  There are some soft mauve ones that will bloom later.

Our "anniversary" clematis is blooming at the front door.  We purchased this two years ago on our anniversary at Hornbaker Gardens.  It survived the drought last year.  It is a burgundy color instead of the normal deep purple.

Headed down to longarm  to make some progress on customer's quilts today.  Will post pictures of progress tomorrow.

Yours in quilting,
Terry

Bonnie Hunter rocks in Illinois!

What a busy day.  Rod was released from the hospital after 6 days of fighting a skin infection in his face.  Woo Hoo! its so good to have him home and feeling so much better.

I was able to attend my class today with Bonnie Hunter (www.quiltville.com) called My Blue Heaven.  Today started out by Bonnie going around to each student and making sure we all a perfect quarter inch seam allowance. I bought a couple of Bonnie's rulers that help you set up your scant 1/4" seam allowance.

 She then taught us to use the Easy Angle rulers and the Companion Ruler.  The My Blue Heaven pattern is a free pattern on her website.

After lunch we had a show and tell session.  Everyone of you are so inspiring.  Some of the pictures are Bonnie's patterns and some are not.  Please enjoy the quilts as much as we did. :)

 Below are the show and tell pictures of the quilters that wouldn't be able to stay for Bonnie's trunk show.

Now the back....

Below is made of tiny 9 patch blocks that finish 1 1/2".  This quilt in in memory of the quilter's sister (in the yellow shirt).

Jackie, with big smile, was our host and treasurer of the guild.  This is her version of Weed Wacker.

The quilter in the lavender took this quilt class on Craftsy as a beginner class.  She's not a beginner anymore! :) Good job.

Dot Kuffel below in lavender.

Brown bag quilt below.  What a fun idea.

She is a snowbird and finished this large quilt in her motorhome.  Really?

I got to show Bonnie my Majestic Mountain quilt.  I took this class from Bonnie when she was in Arlington Hts., IL right after having my gall bladder out.

WooHoo, Easy Street.  Bonnie liked my border fabric, corner stones and green flange.

One more pic with Bonnie!

Below are my four blocks that I completed in class.  The last picture from show and tell is a beautiful blue and cream quilt that is a work in progress.

Thank you to IVQG, Shelley Serby and Jackie for being gracious hostesses.  Thank you to Bonnie Hunter for being a great teacher, quilter, and mentor.  I am honored to know to you.

Have a great weekend!

Yours in quilting,
Terry