I’m doing a little series of posts that feature old blog posts. I have been going back and looking at them. It’s been fun. I started blogging in June 2009…WOW. Over fourteen years. I’m so glad I’ve kept the blog as a diary of sorts…today I’m telling you about things I was working on in July of 2013.
This was a VERY memorable month in my life. So many things changed permanently because of things that happened in July of 2013
I was busy working on a Double Wedding Ring quilt. This was to the wedding present of our son Buck and his first wife Jen. I made it their requested colors. I finally got it on the frame. I was running really cloase to the deadline. You can read more about it HERE.
I was working with a new Moda fabric line coming out called Scrumptious. Later this became a published quilt for us.
I finished my Perkimon Daydreams quilt. You can read about it HERE.
Kelli and I actually made four quilt tops together. One went to my son Buck…another to my daughter Kayla. Here are the two we previously made.  Here’s the blog post about them. The one above is the one I still own.
I pulled a UFO. It was Bonnie Hunter’s Spoolin’ Around quilt. I worked on it but that’s all I did.
I had pulled out my Lazy Sunday Mystery from Quiltmaker. Â I was behind but was making a bit of progress on it. Â
Kelli finished her Oz quilt top and I longarmed it. You can read about it HERE.
This is a free pattern here on the blog. You can find the pattern HERE.
You can see I did some fancy longarm work in the setting triangles.
Kelli was hosting a Pieceful Nights Quilt Along and guess what? She never finished the quilt. She has passed to me. I am hoping to add it to my UFO list and finish it next year.
Kelli finished this quilt. I’m not sure what the name of it is. If you are looking for the pattern you can find it in this book, A Touch of Rosie Quilts (Leisure Arts #5103). You can read more about the quilt HERE.
Kelli finished another quilt top. This was a Crazy Mom Quilts Quilt Along. You can read about it HERE.
That’s all there was for quilting news…but there was other news too.
You all might remember me saying my niece Jody and I were super close. She was only four years younger than me. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in July of 2013. Things went well the first time around but her cancer returned two more times. In 2019 she passed away. July of 2013 was the start of my frustration with cancer.
Some good news…we bought our house.
This is how it looked when we bought it. We didn’t move in until January 2015. This was a foreclosure house and obviously needed a ton of work. I’m sure all of you wondered what we were thinking.
It was fun for me to see the photos below. This was the kitchen when we bought the house. You can read about it HERE.
This was in the house too. WEIRD. So WEIRD. We later cut off this portion of the house and built new.
This was the upstairs bathroom. This was cut off as well. Now there is a nice bathroom and my big sewing room.
Our daughter, Kalissa was gearing up and heading off to nursing school.
Because of buying the house, we made the decision to sell the chickens and chicken house that we had on the farm. Do you see that guy in the yellow T-shirt? That’s Craig-Kalissa’s now husband. The picture is from the first night I met him. Kalissa had met him a week or before and brought him home to meet us. We happen to be moving the chicken house. Craig jumped right in and helped.
I was pretty sure that put him in the category of being a good guy.
That’s a look into the lives of the Kramers 10 years ago in July of 2013.
10 years!???? My goodness how time flies! Happy Anniversary.
You and Kelli made lots of beautiful quilts together. It totally blows my mind when I see pictures of what your house was when you bought it. It is so beautiful now – you both worked hard and smart and made something wonderful. You do that with the quilts you make – take scraps and make beautiful quilts.
You put a ton of work and heart in your house to make it a beautiful home for your family and pets.
Hi Jo, I really enjoy your blog and so wish my eyesight was good enough to cross stich on linen.
Speaking of Blast from the past, years ago you made a quilt for I think a nephew’s wedding using rectangles in mostly taupy colors? I thought I saved that post but can’t find it. Have collected most of the fabrics. Do you remember the quilt I’m thinking of? If so, please let me know!
Thank you so much, Marilyn
I’m guessing you’re referring to this quilt. https://www.joscountryjunction.com/ariels-wedding-quilt-the-free-printable-pattern/
Thanks so much!
I really enjoy reading your Blast From The Past posts. Thanks for sharing!
I, too, was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2013. Both my sisters were also diagnosed before me and all 3 of us tested BRCA2 positive. We lost my youngest sister 5 years ago. I had 4 major surgeries and 5 1/2 years of oral chemo. My middle sister had 2 major surgeries plus oral chemo. Unfortunately her daughter was recently diagnosed too, although she is BRCA negative. She has had chemo and will have surgery next month.
I am sorry your dear Jody lost her fight. As you know, cancer is relentless and unpredictable.
We all do our best day by day to live and love. Thank you for allowing me a space to tell my story.
Love reading about your blasts from the past and especially seeing how your house looked then and now, WOW, you have a gorgeous house now, wonderful how you made it your own! Always love seeing the quilts you and your daughters were working on! So much inspiration! Thanks for sharing these!
I love these posts! Thanks for the trip down memory lane.