We've moved! Yet again the Saylor's are on the move. This time back to Michigan. We are living in a delightful home built in 1910. It has been quite the adventure moving ourselves up here. We couldn't have done it without the help of our Church. We had 12 men show up to load the truck and 8 to unload. What a blessing they were.
The house has a lot of potential and Liz has been having a grand time working on getting the gardens back in shape. Our furniture is perfect for the house but then a lot of it came from my parents and grandparents so what do you expect!

We have been sharing the house this week with mice and flying things in the basement. So far 2 mice have gone to live in the great beyond and I am giving thanks for Tricia's cat Lucy! Dave has put the basement off limits until a professional can see just what exactly it is that drive bombs him when he goes down there.

The kitchen is coming together slowly I hope to have it done this weekend! So much to do and just not enough hours in the day. We are also learning to adjust to life post air conditioning (86 degrees and no air) I bought out Meijers in floor fans and it helps alot. It would really help if the windows weren't painted shut. Dave has gotten a few to open upstairs but hasn't had time to get the downstairs ones open (due to assembling furntiure and chasing furry rodents and flying who knows what they are!

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These are pictures of butterfly blocks that I made for a lotto exchange on the group lovetitchen4charity, a yahoo group. I donated 30 blocks to the group to make up into quilts for Quilts of Kids. Normally you make 3 blocks and one goes in a drawing for some lucky quilter to win the rest are made up for charity. But since I already have more than enough quilts in progress thanks to 20 years of teaching I opted out of the drawing but am looking forward to seeing the finished quilts. The pattern came from Quilters Cache a member of group simplified it for the group.
http://www.quilterscache.com/E/EasyPiecedButterflyBlock.html
I love associating with quilters and seeing all the good that they do each day to brighten the world of those that they come into contact with. It brings a smile in an otherwise hectic life.

The quilt is one that I made for the young women in our ward to give to their advisor Amy Formenti for her new baby Mason. The girls tied the quilt during her shower. She seemed very pleased with the quilt.

We have had a lot of babies born in our ward so far this summer so I have been busy making bibs to give to the new arrivals. They are quick and easy to make with my own bias binding made to match the fabric. I use the Olfa circle cutter to cut a half circle where I want the neck and then just round the edges. Some have pockets and some don't it just depends on how much material I have on hand. A warning though they are very addictive to make.

Mike's prom and 19th birthday pictures

Here's a picture of Mike and his friends heading off to the 2008 Valparaiso Prom. This group of friends are like family in fact they see a whole lot more of Mike than his family does!

This is Mike and his date Caitlin pinning on the flowers!

The next picture is of Louis and Kelly. Louis came down from Michigan to go to Prom with the group. Louis has been a friend of our family since he was just a little guy. He has grown up to be a great young man.

Just the guys!

Mike turned 19 this May. He had a lot of fun with his friends. He even spent time with his family that day (could be cause we had a surprise party for him here at home!

2008 Seminary Final Breakfast

Here are some of the pictures taken at the final seminary breakfast for this year. Sister Beth Thompson and Sister Amy Thomas went all out to make it a very special event indeed. I think the youth really enjoyed the special attention at 6 am!

I made each of the 6 seniors 26" x 26" floor pillows to take with them to college. I used a string method. They seemed to really enjoy them. I hope they will always remember the great times in seminary this year when they see them and that they have someone rooting for them at all times who loves them.

• It was a good year this year we had several students pass off all the scripture mastery:
• 3 who earned the Stake Presidents award
• Won 1st, 2nd and 4th place during the stake seminary fun day.

I am already looking forward to next year!

This quilt was made for Angela Cox. The sister of the Hebron Ward all signed blocks with their favorite scriptures on them. It was presented to her by the Relief Society President. It was such a spiritual experience working on this quilt. She knew that her son would not live much past his birth and we so wanted something that be with her during this very trying time. I am so grateful that I had an opportunity to work with LaJuan Updike and Kelly Dumas getting this quilt put together for her. They used it during Tony's funeral and Angela has stated that it has brought her great comfort.

Here is a picture of a string pieced pillow top. I am in the process of making 5 of these for the students that are seniors in my early morning seminary class. This one is for Cameron Hilker. The tops finish at 26" I think will make a great floor pillow for them as they go off to college

Here's a picture of David with his District in Frankfurt Germany. He is currently serving in Frankfurt and works with an outreach program there. He loves the people of Germany. David is the one in the back on the right. (Big smile on his face!) Having the opportunity to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a great gift these young people have. I am a convert to the church myself and am so grateful for those who took the time to bring me the news that there are still prophets on the earth, they do care about us and they guide and direct our lives.

Happy New Year! 2008

Wow, it's been awhile since I have posted. I had a total knee replacement in October and am just now starting back with sewing and being active. I completed 6 Christmas stockings for gifts this Christmas. I used a Thimbleberries pattern. I am not sure why I always do several instead of just one at a time but they turned out very cute.

I gave 2 to a wonderful family in our ward at church (The Matt Chandler family). When I was laid up after my surgery they took over teaching my seminary class which was 5 days a week at 6 am. Considering she is pregnant the least I could do to thank her was to make stockings for her little ones.



I also had my first UFO finish for 2008 today. I made 2 place mats and a table runner for my mother-in-law. She should have received it for Christmas but now she will receive it for Valentines day. I used a pattern by Nicole Chambers called Simply a Pleasure. It was a very well written pattern and I am looking forward to making it with colors of my own choosing. I have one I am working on that is navy and red. I think the contrasts will be better.


I also finally received some pictures from my son who is serving a mission in Germany. We were able to talk to him at Christmas and I requested some photos so he sent a half dozen. Here is one I think he took of himself! He looks very German to me in the photo. He has been serving for a year in Frankfurt Germany, he is currently in Karlsruhe. He loves it there and says the scenery is out of this world. He loves the Black forest and can't wait to show us after his mission.

I am a Canna What Flower Are You?

Quilts that I have made this year

I have been teaching quilting for the past 15 years. I really enjoy sharing my love of quilting with others.

I have been busy quilting this past year. I was inspired by the yahoo group stashbusters to finish several of my unfinished projects so here is what I have completed so far this year! (Only 2 months left I hope to finish at least 2 more).



These two pictures are of a quilt I made for my daughter's friend. I just love how the label turned out! I used a b/w graphic from pchug club and then colored the fabric. I think it's a great way to welcome a new little one!
This is a companion quilt that I also made at the same time.
This was made to be displayed at Regalitos, the local quilt shop in Jackson Michigan. It will go to a grandchild someday.

Dorothy Young sponsors a mystery quilt several times a year. This was her valentines mystery for 2006. I just love how she takes the time to make sure the directions are accurate, it makes doing a mystery so much more exciting knowing that it will turn out!

This is a nickel quilt that I recently finished. It is the Jacobs Ladder design. I taught a nickel quilt club. I love the contrast with the brights and the black background.

I have also had a hand in quilt designing this year. I have published and taught three classes on the 5- one yard pieces of fabric theme.

This quilt was made with fabric from my daughters dresses that they wore as babies. Now which one gets the Quilt? I really stash busted on this one, I did have to purchase fabric for the border but that's it.

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This wolf quilt is the same quilt pattern. I gave this quilt to Elder Morden who is currently serving a mission here in the South Chicago Mission. I also have one that I am waiting to be quilted with fish and deer. I really like how this one turns out.

The puppies were the start of another design. I love teaching this quilt because it is quick and easy. This one also has a matching pillowcase. This will be my niece, Tori's, Christmas present.

These quilts are so easy to make! It takes about 2 and 1/2 hours to piece a quilt!

Here it is again with a different fabric. This quilt will go to my daughter Stephanie this Christmas. It also has a matching pillow!

This was soo easy to make with an extra block!

These are some of the quilts that I have made this year. I have two more that I hope to finish before the end of the year. So hopefully I won't be made queen of the Stashbuster's this year!