Since finishing Paducah Stars, I've had some time to get caught up on the most recent blocks for Melva's QAL, Pieces of My Life. With these two blocks, we're celebrating love and friendship, which I've been lucky to have a lot of in my life!
Right after my high school graduation in 1972, my parents moved our family out here to Colorado where my dad was transferring for his work at the new (at the time) Kodak plant in Windsor. Although I wasn't particularly happy about leaving my friends back in New York, I agreed to start college at Colorado State University in Ft. Collins for one year. And, of course, what happened is I met new friends and have stayed in Colorado ever since.
A friendship star for my dear, lifelong friends!
We met while living in the dorms at CSU, and then rented a house together not too far off campus on Plum Street. There were eight of us, so we were the Plum St. 8! Eight of us took up the whole house - I shared a room with one of the others, but some had their own room. We planted a garden in the back yard, hosted friends at Friday night dinners, and played guitars and sang together. (Oh, and we did study and write papers and all graduated from college, too, lol!)
Around 1974:
And from 2016 when we were all together last - recreating the photo from the 70s:
During those years, I met my husband, Mike, when I had a summer job at Kodak, where he worked also. He fit right in with my Plum St. friends, and joined in with all the goings-on. Our first date was going out for pizza after work and the next was an outing for miniature golf. We still enjoy both pizza and golf! We did a lot of hiking and skiing back then, went to movies, and hung out with friends.
We were married in 1976, and the rest of the group sang at our wedding.
This interesting heart block was our block to celebrate love. Since I had the blue scraps out for June in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, it made sense to use them for this block, too. I'm really happy with how it turned out!
I've now made all the blocks for the QAL that have been released up to this point. I even went back and made the two 6 inch blocks I was missing from earlier. That means I can start putting the first quadrant of the blocks together in preparation for the quilt-as-you-go method of finishing the quilt. See Melva's post HERE for more info about that. I just put in an order at Connecting Threads for the Hobbs 80/20 fusible batting that she recommends. They're having a really good sale right now!
Sharing at Quiltfabrication for Midweek Makers.
And Melva's link-up for the star and heart blocks.
My Quilt Infatuation - Needle and Thread Thursday.
19 comments:
I love reading your stories and seeing the blocks you have made for this quilt along. Fun to do a redo of the old photo. Sounds like you all need to get together again soon. Gail at the cozy quilter
Oh my goodness, those were the days ... Lol!
Love your college story Diann, what a great group of friends and memories. That is such a great photo you recreated, and that photo of you and Mike is just priceless. Your blues look so pretty in that heart! I haven't made mine yet, it looks like fun.
What a great college experience! For eight people to live together and for all eight to graduate and years later still be friends, you were a special group of women! I like your heart and story behind it too!
I really enjoyed reading your stories about love and friendship. Relationships like those are rare these days. You are a very rich woman! You made the perfect blocks to celebrate.
What great memories you shared. I love hearing about them. Your blocks are beautiful and I just love that blue heart. Enjoy your day.
Your heart block is beautiful. And your story is so special. Thanks for sharing. ❤️
I'm glad you showed the reunion photo as I totally mis-guessed who you were in the first one! Nothing can replace a close circle of girlfriends. That's how I feel about the S'mores. We've been together since 2002.
that is so nice sharing a house with so many and all still there and get together for another photo. It sounds like you had fun together. Nice photo of you and Mike too!
I enjoyed your memory lane post with the photos -- how wonderful that you and your housemates have kept in touch for 50 years. (Did you rent the house for summer school, too?) Bet Mike's hair is shorter (though no less curly?) these days.
Thank you for sharing those wonderful photos. What a great experience to have memories of for a lifetime. And look at the two of you...so young! I adore all your blocks for Melva's SAL. So pretty and the very important meaningful heart block too,Diann.
What fun history. That heart block is a pretty design.
In your college photo are you the one in front with arms crossed? Mikes hair was so wavy, is it still?
It’s been fun following your “Pieces of My Life”. Hearing about you as a youngster and a college student was priceless! Watching the blocks come together has been fun too!
Really enjoyed learning more about you, especially fun to see the old photos! :)
Such a wonderful story of how you came to Colorado and found a fabulous group of friends and the love of your life. Great photos too. Your blocks look amazing, Diann. Such pretty blues in the scrappy heart. Hugs.
Your blue heart block is really cute. Such fun memories. Since I have a quilt as you go project planned for July, I'm going to check out Melva's recommendations. Thanks for the link.
I enjoyed reading a mini story of your life, Diann!!! Wonderful that you made 7 lifelong friends at college!!!
Longlasting friendships are the best! I enjoyed reading your post, and seeing the photos of friends and quilting.
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