Julie & Me

My best pal Julie (that's her on the right) and I have known each other since August of 2008, and we have met each other in person twice. This photo, above, was taken the second (and last) time we ever got together. This was taken in June 2014 at the Zimmerman House in Manchester NH. Julie came up to New England that summer to see the Quilts in Color show at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

I was thinking last night that I should tell our story, since so much of it has happened online and behind the scenes.

Julie helped me to achieve one of the big goals on my bucket list, a visit to the Gateway Arch in St Louis MO. It was one of the highlights of my life, and I will never forget it.

A German tourist took this picture of us that day, in October 2013.

This is Julie with Glorious, the diamond quilt we designed together in 2018.

This is Julie (left) and Chris Ballard, who quilted my quilt Letters From Home, in 2009.

This is me in 2010 with Obsolescence, the quilt Julie made for me as part of a swap.

 Here is Julie in 2010 with No Rules for Julie, the quilt I made for her for the swap.


Way back when when she and I were discussing the idea of swapping quilts, Julie was very particular and very specific about what she wanted. What did I want? "That green quilt you are making. That's very you," I told her. "That's interesting" she replied, "as I am just coming to realize that green is a signature color for me."


So how did Julie and I first get connected? She wanted me to make a Gizzy quilt for her tuxedo cat, Angel (Julie is holding Angel in one of the pictures above.) What did I make?

Yeah, I knew what I was doing last year when I ordered the book GREEN, for her for Christmas.

Even though we have been together twice, and we live 1127 miles apart, we talk on the phone about once a month (in marathon 2 hour conversations we literally schedule in advance), we are now in contact quite frequently. We probably text two or three times a week, even if it's just to share pictures of our grandkids, but usually it's to comment on what we are doing in the quilt studio.

Julie and I have a long story, and it's pretty nifty. I will tell the story over the next few days. We have shared some of the same life experiences (we became grandmothers within months of each other). We have inspired each other, and we have helped each other. We get ideas from one another, and we give each other honest critiques. I always want to hear what Julie has to say.

On the Couch

Last night I sat on the couch sewing the binding on the Sparkling Winkel quilt. I have one short side and one long side done. My Mom told me over the weekend she was glad I didn't use the light blue on the binding of this quilt. Me too! This fabric is perfect in so many ways.

Millie sat beside me, on a quilt my pal Julie made for me, Obsolescence. Yes, she is always that alert.


I don't make a big fuss about the number of views my blog posts get, but I was astounded when I saw the number of views of the Tickled Pink flimsy in this post. It was over 3,600, which is staggering. I knew I hit it out of the park, but I guess I had no idea the impact it would have.

The Runner

My pal Julie recently emailed me about redoing her dining room. The old runner she made for it needed a new home, and was I interested?  She asked because the fabric was in my Obsolescence quilt that she made for me.

Well, like, Duh!

Happy Birthday Julie!

Today is my pal Julie's birthday.  Julie is my best pal. We've been email and internet friends for over four years, and in less than two weeks, we'll meet in person for the first time. I can't wait.

Julie has made me several quilts, and I love them all.

The first was Obsolescence,which Millie and I both love.

This was the result of a quilt swap. I made a Rules quilt for Julie (above.)

Later, Julie asked me to send her all my duds and orphan letters so she could put them together in a quilt to show my letter-making students that there wasn't really any such thing as a "bad" letter.

She ended up making not one, but two awesome quilts.  I love them all!

Happy Birthday Julie!

Happy Birthday to You,

Happy Birthday to You,

Happy Birthday dear Julie!

Happy Birthday to You!

Obsolescence

Last Spring, after I revealed Helen's Rules, and then Tonya's version, my friend Julie asked if I could make one for her. She said I could choose one of her quilts in exchange.

I remembered this post.

The swap was On. Julie's flimsy was already made, so she had a big head start. When she suggested a July 4th reveal date, I almost fell on the floor laughing! HELL NO! There was No Way I could get a quilt made and quilted, and shipped to Julie by July 4. So then she suggested Labor Day. Much better!

By mutual agreement, we mailed our quilts this past Tuesday. The plan was they were to arrive on the same day. Alas, Murphy got in the way, and though I received my quilt on Thursday, Julie's did not arrive until Friday.

Julie's taken some outstanding photos of "O", and you can see them all here. Be sure to click the individual photos so you can enlarge them and see the wonderful detail.

I love "O". It's going to be used as a throw in my living room. Millie has already decided she likes it.

You'll have to go to Julie's blog for the big reveal of my quilt later on Saturday. She wants to take pictures of the quilt in the sunshine. She's very happy.

Me too! What a terrific swap! Thanks Julie!

"O" is for OUTSTANDING!

The quilt Julie made for me, "Obsolescence" has arrived in New Hampshire! Oh boy! Oh my goodness! O is Beautiful!Here's O on my desk.. taking over! Look! Julie made a wonderful book about O.One of my coworkers took one look at the quilt and said, "Lynne I know you make quilts with bright colors, but THIS is YOU!"I think she's right!

More about "O" later... Meanwhile, Julie should receive the quilt I made for her today, so you'll have to check her blog on Saturday for the Big Reveal.

Travel Time for "No Rules"

"No Rules for Julie" is on it's way to Julie in Tennessee.

And the quilt Julie made for me, Obsolescence (aka "O") is on it's way here to New Hampshire.