See you in September...Is here already! !

I was so excited to see the post Madame

Samm had for this hop.  After this long summer I was ready, I really missed everyone and our hops.  Gingham,  now that got me thinking.  Would you believe I have nothing in Gingham?   Yeah, suprised me too!

But, before I get carried away showing you what I made this past summer and what I came up with,  I want to give a big thank you to Sherri Gallagher of Living with a Purpose and Madame Samm.  They did a terrific job coming up with this idea for a hop and putting it all together.

Thank you both!!!!

Now for Gingham!  I must say,  when I think if Gingham,  I think of country, and when I think of country... I think of Minnie Pearl.  She was a great country performer and raised a lot of money in her life for cancer and the MDA foundation.

She was born Sara Ophelia Colley on October 25, 1912 in Centerville, TN  (The youngest of 5 children and nicknamed Minnie)

One of her earlier jobs was working for the Atlantic based Wayne P. Swell Producing Co.  There she met an elderly woman whose  "Country-Fried  Manerisms" and speaking inspired her.

She started speaking in Womens clubs and a gentleman from Nashville happened to hear one of her shows and was very impressed, right from her opening line:   "How- www - DEE-E-E-E-E, I'm jes so proud to be here!"  This line led her to to the Grand old Opry.  

She always wore a cheerful Hillbilly get-up.  A frilly gingham dress with puffy sleeves and a straw hat with a price tag on of $ 1.98.  She bought her first outfit for less than $ 10.00.  She forgot to remove the tag from the dime store flowers and the audience loved it.  So it became her trademark.

After successfully battling breast cancer, she donated a lot of time and money to the Nashville Cancer Center.  She also helped Jerry Lewis with the MDA marathon,  in raising money.

(Her home outside Nashville)

She received the American Cancer Society Award and the Natonal Medal of Honor.

Minnie suffered a stroke in 1991 bringing her carer to an end.  She died March 4, 1996 in the Nashville Nursing home at the age of 83.

Her favorite lines were:  

Kissing a man with a beard is a lot like going through a little brush to get there.

The doctor must have put my pacemaker in wrong.  Every time my husband kisses me, the garage door opens.

Getting married is a lot like getting into a tub of hat water.  After you get used to it, it ain't so hot.

(I am sure everyone remembers "Hee Haw")

She was a great woman and I got lots of ideas as to what to make with gingham.  

So after reminiscing on my childhood and times watching "HeeHaw",  I thought long and hard, grabbed my pencil and paper and started to draw.  

Well, I came up with this: 

I bet you thought it would have something to do with Minnie Pearl.   :)

When I Riley Blake's gingham I just loved them!  All those bright colors!

I decided to make a baby quilt.   When I purchased my gingham,  I couldn't decide what colors to get, so I got an assorted pack.

(Some day,  I would like to make a  gingham dress like Minnie Pearl used to wear.  :)

Oh what a busy summer I had.  As most of you know, our biggest event was the wedding of our son and his wonderful wife.    They had gotten the wedding together down here in west TN but the actual wedding ceramony was in PA.

  I made 27 small toppers for the tables and 1 large one for the bridal table.

At the same time, I made 2 Mickey Mouse quilts.

I also started an embroidery project.  With the wedding and all the running,  it felt good just to sit and relax in the evening.  But not being able to quilt, that was hard.  My husband teased me and said I was going through withdrawal.   :)

So I got out this pattern my friend gave me.  I added some extra to it, you know me, I could never just follow directions.

Well it took most of the summer to finish it.

This pattern was actually for a table topper.  But I had no need for a topper like this.  I always make myself block toppers.  You know, the ones that I could put a centerpiece on (I love fresh flowers from my flower beds)  So they have to be practical and washable.  Anyway, I decide to make my own design around the embroidery and make it a walk hanging.  I came up with this.

I also made 4 Fall placemats:

Then I was asked to make a Football Quilt with purple and gray.  These are the colors of one of our local high school.   I also added their mascot, a Bulldog.

Ok, enough of my summer, I want to go see what others have done on their summer.   Also see what they have made with Gingham. 

Come join me! 

Here is the list of today's:

Life in the Scrappatch

Sew Many Yarns

Gracie Oliver Art

Everyone Deserves a Quilt

Thank you for dropping by,

HAPPY QUILTING EVERYONE!!!