Saturday, March 3, 2012

Keep on going

My last post was
sooo bad. Goes to show if you don't do it often you make mistakes!
After getting a few hints from Karen, I am hoping I can make nicer blogs. I think I have learned to take photos off my iphone and get them on my blog now. We will see. We will keep on going!
Within a week's time I have been to the Grand Strand Ocean Lake's quilt show and the Cobblestone quilt show in Charleston. Got to see lots of nice quilts. Always get inspired by what others do. This was one that caught my eye at the show in Charleston.
The big blocks above, are 2 of the nine huge 24" blocks for which Karen brought me for an early birthday present. Wow! The fabrics and the pattern. Think I like the concept of the huge blocks making punchy statement on a bed.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Thursday, February 23, 2012

February comments

Where is winter? Who knows? Here in SC we are enjoying the warm temperatures and trying to make the most of them by walking, bike riding, and even working in the yard. I am concerned though, that much of the country that depends on snow melt to water the seeds that will be planted, is going to be in a deficit. Yes, deficit, just like our economy or our treasury. Well, let me forget that and get to quilting which really makes the world go round for me!
I had some wonderful fun when my friend Karen, from Ohio came for a visit. Let me tell you she is the queen of speedy. I mean speedy with no mistakes! Unlike me, who makes all kinds of dumb ones when I start to rush. I will see how good I am at getting some photos of our work on this blog from my iphone. I know most of you say,"piece of cake." But you have no idea how hard it is for me to remember all the little steps involved with each action. I know, just like my machine quilting, practice makes perfect. I was able to put together some fat quilters to make one quilt she shared with me. I had enough Lakeside fat quarters and some white to make another quilt of hers too. I did buy just under 2 yds for the border as I didn't have anything I liked in my stash.
My Monday evening sewing class is moving right along. The ladies are finishing their rag quilts which they have enjoyed. They make them all in "flannella" which they like working with too. Elva, my Spanish speaking assistant and I want them to try a "5 & dime" quilt next. We have put together some kits for them to choose from. I am hoping that the ladies will try to machine quilt their own quilts with straight line stitching in grids, or 1/4 " stitching.
Hope wherever you live your winter weather has been tolerable. Here's to a wonderful spring!
Rats, I am so sorry, I have completely forgotten how to put my pictures on my posts so no pics right now. I will put them in the next post.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Fall, leaves, pumpkins and quilts

Here it is fall already and we are happy for it. Today is a perfect football game day. The weather couldn't be more agreeable. I couldn't resist the beautiful mums for sale a a nearby store.
Tomorrow our church unloads a portion of a semi truck of pumpkins. They are grown on an Indian reservation and shipped here. We sell them and donate the money to American missions. This year I bought some Martha Stewart stick on faces so I don't have to cut open the pumpkins.
I just returned from New Jersey where I attended the American Quilt Study Group's annual seminar. It is one of the highlights of my year. The papers presented were wonderful and the tours were super! I always return pumped up. I roomed with Mary J-P as I have in the past couple of years. She is delightful and we get along well. There just isn't enough time to go and see all you wish you could. In one of the pictures you will see a darling quilt which I helped create for the AQSG endowment fund. I sent my block back to Xenia Cord who graciously put the quilts together. Many ladies participated by making blocks and sending them. The finished quilts were auctioned Sat. night and I purchased the one my block was in. I love to do challenges like this to help worthy causes. Had to include a couple of the beautiful antique quilts I saw in New Jersey which are just above.
To the right is the Endowment quilt.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011



January, 2011
How did it become another year so quickly? Well, while I was sleeping, I guess. Just a quick note on our Christmas his year. It was spent with my dear sister, Carol and her DH, Barrie in California. Carol and I haven't been together on Christmas for over 50 years. Can you believe it? When she left home in her late teens, she went to CA, got married and soon had 3 sons to raise. Neither of us got back or forth very often, between CA and Ohio (where we were both born and raised) because of our families and money constraints. So now that we are a bit older we felt it would be a lovely thing to do. Brian and I had a super time and although we didn't do lots of touristy things, we did lots of cooking and visiting . We also went to Los Osos, which is 3 hours to the south of Los Gotos, their primary residence. Los Osos is their small, cottage-style second home very close to the Pacific. That was so fun too!
Elva, my dear friend, and I are back to teaching the "girls" more quilting. It is so fun to watch them learn and become excited about creating. Last fall we had some wonderful quilting angels looking after us. Sheryl and Bob Smith from, Accent on Sewing, a nearby shop, generously donated a large amount of fabric to our class to be used in the girls' projects! You can' imagine how delighted we were! The prints are so pretty and the girls love the brightest ones for their choices. We thank Bob and Sheryl again from the bottom of our hears for making so many people happy! God bless them!
Before I went to CA I got a cute wall quilt or table topper done. I just love it, but wanted my sister to have it. She was delighted and used it right away. I have plans to make myself another but probably will never find as cute fabric but that's OK. New ones come out all the time, it seems.
One of my on line friends, whom I know in person as well as cyberly (is that a word?)is Jan from the Dakotas. She sent us on line instructions for a 10 minute table runner. I had to make one right away. Cute and double cute! Thanks, Jan.


Tuesday, May 4, 2010

May Flowers and Beautiful quilts





Brian and I got 72 mondo grass plants in around our oval island in the middle of the driveway. We also put in 3 Knockout roses which do well down here in our humidity. I planted in our 2 areas around the pool and just put in mostly caladium. Absolutely no sweet potato vines. Last year they grew into the pool and we had to keep cutting them. I swear they grew 2 feet over night!
I had fun in late March as I went to Ohio to visit DD (dear daughter) and her family and then on to my friend Karen's. Karen had a purse kit all ready for me to make a purse along with the gals in her class. All our purses came out so cute. It was the first time I put in grommets. Karen and I also worked on matching Kaffe Fasset quilts form his new book which Karen gave me as a gift. I brought my light colors of Kaffe and she used the darks from her stash. I made the light blocks and she made the dark which we then swapped. I have a picture of it but as you will see it is far from being done, but you will get the idea of it.
I have included pictures of our first group of gals and their "Dresses" quilts. Some of the gals who have sons substituted shirts and pants for the dresses. I am always amazed at what the gals come up with. You will see some gals in our newer group of sewers working on their strip quilts. They did very well with them. I am very proud of all the work both the newer and the more experienced students are doing. Elva and I want to start another group in Sept. We have several girls who really want to learn who didn't make it this time.
What are you all up to these days? It seems that spring brings many jobs and chores, like planting and cleaning out closets, to light. My dear husband and I planted 71 mondo grass plants around our oval island in the driveway. We also planted 3 Knock out roses in that area which also contains our fountain and some sega palms. My sister in CA suggested that 2 rows of mondo grass would look even better. Well, maybe next year. Here is SC it is hot and muggy much of the summer and it will soon be too hot to plant. I haven't put in nearly the amount of plants I unusually do. It is going to have to do.
I had such a good time at my friend, Karen's home back in March. After visiting with my daughter and her family for several days in Ohio, I went to visit Karen who lives about 45 minutes from daughter. Karen had a purse kit all cut and quilted for me. Several of her students and I made our purses in a class she taught. I mean how great is that to have a kit ready to go! She and I also worked on a Kaffe Fasset project out of his new book, which she gave me for a birthday gift. I provided all the lighter color strips and she used her darker colored strips. We got much of the quilt finished. I have had some other things to do, and haven't finished mine yet. It is really a beauty and I have a picture of it not sewn all together yet. But I think you can see where it is going.

Monday, January 25, 2010

January is busy!





The Holidays seemed to end quickly and everyone got back into the old grind. I finally got the other two pictures on this post so you can see Mary and Isaiah at the Festival just prior to their leaving for Mexico. The little girl in the picture is a friend who danced with Isaiah. The next picture is of my Salsa quilt. I also posted a picture of my table-runner for a swap I am doing online. Tonight the gals are working on their fusible applique of "Little Girl Dresses"quilt which I posted a while back that I made. I have adapted the pattern so that the gals who have sons can make the pattern with shirts and pants or shorts for their boys. They are finding that zig zig is quite hard to do. I have been having them practice, practice until they are happy with their results. Then they can make the pattern. We will see how it goes tonight.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Best New Year Wishes!


Our New Year is starting with a real cold spell. Many parts of the country are having very severe cold weather. Here in SC it is cold too. I wear my fuzzy jammies at night and my woolly sweaters during the day. Some winters here are so warm that I rarely wear any of my old, warm clothes from Ohio. My old cashmere sweater feels mighty good today. I think it is suppose to warm up soon. This is wonderful quilting weather, especially if you have bindings to sew on. You can sew them on while the quilt keeps you warm over your lap.
Since Christmas break, our group of quilters from St. Cyprian's have met once again to finish their rag quilts. They are coming nicely and will be welcome by their families during this cold weather, so they better get them done this week! We are moving on then to a fusible applique project. During the month of Dec., a festival for Our Lady of Guadalupe was held for the members of the parish. My friend Elva (who speaks Spanish and is my interpreter) invited me to go and be part of the celebration. It was truly wonderful and so enlightening to see these families come together and put on a play, singing, dancing and eating! They transformed the plain, well used hall into a fairyland of beauty! I included some pictures of little Isiah and his dancing partner doing the Mexican hat dance. It brought the house down! There is another picture of Isaiah and his mom, Mary, who left for Mexico a couple of weeks later. Mary was a super student of ours and I hated to say good-bye to her. The very bright quilt that I call "Salsa" I made in Nov. and Dec. Those aren't the colors I usually go for, but this bright quilt I really love. I am now working on one of my UFOs (unfinished objects) that I started at least 10 years ago. It is "Oak leaves and Reel", which is a favorite traditional pattern. I am making it in all contemporary colors. It is very scrappy and will require over 500 half square triangles in the borders. Yuck! Maybe I don't want to finish this after all.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Getting ready to go again




























It seems I just got back from visiting family in Ohio. Here is it time to leave again for the American Quilt Study Group seminar being held in San Jose, CA. starting the end of this week. I am really looking forward to it. I always learn so many new things about quilts and their makers. It is a great time to renew acquaintances of other like-minded folks. This year the endowment fund committee for AQSG asked if anyone would make some little 4" blocks for little quilts. I made three which you can see in the picture. I am dying to see how they use all the little blocks in the miniature quilts. After the AQSG seminar, I will be staying with my sister, Carol and DBIL, Barrie, and purse-puppy, Pepper. She and I will get lots of sister talk in, besides lots of laughter and maybe quilt fabric shopping! I know, I know, I don't need to do that! But you see, I have an excuse that I might find something cute for my Mexican sewing class!


While in Ohio, I stayed for a bit with my DD and her family. Casey, the 14 yo was confirmed in their church on Sept. 13. You see her in the dress which she picked out with her little heels. Her hair isn't fixed or anything, but you get the general idea. She wore a white robe over her black. There was a lovely buffet luncheon which her mother and I prepared for the host of family members, who came to the event. It was perfect weather so we could eat outside too. Her dress is getting double duty, as she was just asked for a date to Homecoming at Central High where she attends. She is so grown up! Where have the years gone? Sorry, I forgot to turn her image so you would see her properly! Duh!





My other grand-daughter Lauren 12, and I worked on a cute craft which is a Styrofoam ball covered in felt and then covered with flowers which were stick pinned all over the balls. They were hung from the ceiling with ribbon. The idea was an original from P0ttery Barn Kids. They really did turn out so cute.







My Mexican girls are turning out some wonderful string quilts! I am so proud of them. They will finish them while I am gone. The next quilts we are going to try are rag quilts since they are kind of fun to make. I am sure they will come up with some wonderful color combinations with just the leftover fabrics others have given us. Eloise and Elva, my wonderful helpers and I have donated lots from our stashes as well. They don't have the stash that I do, but not many people do! That is why I am so delighted to be able to share it with these enthusiastic quilters. They are so fun! Slowly I am learning Spanish too. I hope to get Rosetta Stone for Christmas so I can really learn. Elva is my wonderful translator now. This picture is one of the colorful tops a gal has made. Borders are on, the quilts are quilted so they can do the binding and sew on labels.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Almost Fall

Time has just flown by this summer. What with a little company, teaching the Mexican gals to quilt, keeping up with house and cooking, and squeezing in a little quilting for myself, the months has passed very quickly. In my first picture you will see the Christmas quilt that my friend and I each made recently. Mine is ready for the quilters. My friend, Karen and I have often made exact or almost exact quilts together. We have similar tastes obviously.
I can't believe I don't have a picture of the 5 and dime quilts that the girls made for their second quilts. I have one I will get a picture of as the gal isn't here to finish it. I am sure she would love to have it pictured.
The girls are on their third quilt now, which is a string quilt. Cathy, another friend gave us a bag of strings leftover from binding she had put on quilts for others. She is a long-armer and often applies the binding as part of her business. As you can see the string quilts are striking! The gals are going to finish them up soon and then learn to do their own quilting. They can either do ditch quilting or 1/4" straight line quilting. As clever as they are, I wouldn't be surprised that there is a good free motion quilter in the group. That will come in time. In the one picture Maria is deciding on placement of her blocks. Lupe is holding her quilt up as she was the first to get her borders on. Sister Saundra looks happy as she makes her blocks. Isn't Isiah the cutest? He is doing his homework from first day of first grade. He works quietly while his mom sews! I will post more pictures soon.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

New Adventures















Looked at the date of my previous blog and couldn't believe how the time flys. Especially, when you are having fun, right? I just sort of fell into a wonderful adventure thanks to my friend Elva. She is bilingual and speaks fluent Spanish. She teaches English to Mexican folks who work and live in this area. She was telling me that she saw the Mexican nun, Sister Saundra, sewing costumes with some of the ladies of the church for a Passion Play that was presented at Easter. I asked if she felt there would be ladies who would want to learn to quilt. You guessed it, there were! So about 4 or 5 Mondays ago I met with Sister Saundra and the ladies from St. Cyprian's parish. With Elva's patience, we got the gals started on a simple 6 1/2" square comforter. They were 6x8 , so they weren't real big, but they understood how they could make larger sizes. I took pictures of the comforters and everyone was so proud! I am so delighted with the gals. They are all so dear. Many know English words. I am learning (slowly) a few Spanish words! What fun! Elva and Eloise another friend of ours, helped me to make kits for the gals second project. We are using an easy pattern and the quilts will end up being about 43"x60". Just to show you how wonderful the Internet is, I called upon my friends in Cyberspace to help me find a quilting book in Spanish. I thought no one would answer my request. But low and behold, a friend from North Dakota, posted an address almost immediately! Wow! The books were on sale for $1.99 each! What a bargain! So I got a bunch! The girls love them. They are by Alex Anderson and are soft back, with lots of how-to pictures and several easy projects in color. Their homework is to read that book and use it for reference. There is so much information that I am unable to give them in detail, so this book is a Godsend. In these pictures below, Elva is in the far left, then Betty, Maria, Lucy, then Sister Saundra. In the picture above right is Eloise, Angelica, Laura, Lucia, me, Luciero and Elva again.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Catching up


Spring is such a busy time! Trying to get plants in, getting the pool ready, a few short-term guests, and keeping up with everyday business, leaves little time to do lots of quilting. In early June, I am having the board of our ladies singing group here for an all day work session, which means I will provide lunch. Oh, what to serve? Well, I have a little time to worry about that.
I had to show you a picture of our funny dog, Duffy. He is a toffee colored Yellow Lab. He got so hot funny running after his tennis ball, he got overheated so he went to the pool and sat his body on the first step in order to cool down. He stayed there about 15 minutes until he was sufficiently cooled. I had to snap a picture of his pose in the pool. I also included a picture of my upside down tomato plant which my DH's cousin, Jay gave me for my birthday! I am so proud I have 3 tomatoes formed and more blossoms. I haven't grown tomatoes in years! My organic gardening mother is looking down and smiling upon me! Also my hydrangeas are starting to bloom in the yard. I love blue flowers so am so in love with these. During a rainstorm last evening, my DH, Brian, and I planted some plants around the pool area. We got drenched but the plants got watered in without being exposed to our usual scorching sun. Rained all night too.
I posted two pictures of a quilt called "Lady Fingers" by Cozy Quilt Designs. My friend, Vickie made one, so I thought I would try it. It called for a package of layer cake sqs. I had never bought one so I bought one online of the Kashmir group. I used some pale aqua and pale pink batiks for my two borders. I like it pretty well. I have to admit that it is a departure from all the brights I usually work with. Off to the quilters it goes!

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Hello again

After a short spell I am returning to my blog. It seems I have had a few health issues and those came first. I am feeling better and was able to resume my pool exercises with Cathy, my trainer. She has been wonderful for me, keeping me mobile so I don't get all frozen with arthritis.


Got the binding on my one Kaffe quilt, that was shown several blogs ago. The back is so pretty, as I used an allover Kaffe print for it. I am finishing up my "Big Birds" quilt. I have misplaced my pattern in my messy sewing studio, so have to depend on Vickie to help me out in order to finish it. She is making one too along with me, except she is in Ohio and I am here in SC!


The charity quilt my quilt guild made is finished and I didn't get a picture of it after it was all finished. Maybe I can get a picture of it from one of the other guild members. The auction event is today, but we are getting a friend in from Ohio so I am staying home.


I had to insert a picture of my blooming snap dragons. I planted them last fall and they are blooming their little heads off! I loved the coral color when I purchased them and knew they would make the front of our house sparkle. Now is the time to plant lots more plants around the house. I love it when the garden centers are full of gorgeous plants to add color and texture to our yards. Times like this is when I wish my sister, Carol (a horticulturist) were here to tell me what to plant where. She really has the eye for plantings. She and her DH live in CA.

My big singing concerts are over for now. The last one was last Sunday when we gave a free concert of all patriotic songs to the public complete with apple pies(a gift from McD's) for everyone! It was so fun and the audience loved it. I will continue to sing in our church choir during the summer. We have no scheduled rehearsals though which is nice. We sing stuff we know well already.

The Oriental quilt I made a while ago and was a shop model. I didn't have a chance to get it quilted until recently. Cathy quilted it so neat with some kind of Chinese words or something in the center. You can see it in the one picture.

My friend Vickie "tagged" me. From what I have read I am suppose to reveal 7 random things about myself. Here goes: 1. I love dogs. Cats are nice too, but I really can "talk" to dogs. 2. I love to sing. I love sacred music but have been know to sing everything from "Jack and Jill went up the hill" to "California Dreamin". 3. I am always battling my weight. One of these days I will win! 4. I love to read, mostly fiction from Ken Follett to Nora Roberts 5. I love to cook and bake but with no big appetites around anymore, I dare not get carried away 6. I am still friends with MY FIRST TRUE Friend, Carolyn, who I met in kindergarten. What a dear person she is. She Lives in MN. and I love her like well, a dear old friend! 7. I married the first time too young. It took me more than 30 years to finally grow up, finish college, and make a major change in my life. So now I will tag my friend Karen Passionatequilter.blogspot.com


Below are the pictures of my Big Birdies Quilt all finished and ready for the quilter. The other photo shows the polka dot backing and the binding which is the diagonal print. Both of these fabrics are part of the collection. I think it will be pretty darn cute when completed. I promise I will do a better job keeping up my blog. Happy Spring!

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Almost Easter
















I hope it is getting to be spring everywhere now. We had a cold spell, rather unusual for this area. Hopefully, it will be warm from now one.
My friend Vickie and her family are here from Ohio visiting. We managed to grab some time and get our nails prettied for the sandal season. Looks so much better! We also got to a local shop and got some same fabric for a big birdie quilt. No, not Big Bird, a folk type bird. There is a picture of the fabrics we are doing it in. You will also see in several photos the "Dressed to the Nines" wall hanging I am doing. I got the check border fabric you see in the photo several years ago, knowing a perfect pattern would come along that I could use it for. I will post another picture when it is either almost completed or complete. It will be just a happy little quilt for me!
I also posted a picture of another quilt in my antique quilt collection. It is so spring-like in sunny yellow and green. It needs just a little TLC which I will do with wet cleaning. You guessed correctly if you think it is probably circa 1930s. It has PA origins. I still have to research it as it might be a kit quilt or one from a newspaper. Oh, also I included a picture of a package of fabric strips from Moda. I guess you would consider them odds and ends. They have some selvages on some. Some are from a specific collection too. They are a real nice bargain if your shop carries them. They come in a little brown bag. Great for scrappy and strip quilts. My printer which has my photo loading capacity is going in for servicing so who knows how long I will be without pictures on my blog. Perhaps I will learn another way to get pictures up? Have a wonderful Easter, dear friends.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Almost Easter


It is almost Easter and for almost everyone around the country that means "Spring is Here!"


SC is to have a cool weather snap tonight and then it should be warm, warm, warm. Some of my friends are going to Paducah this year. I went last year and took the appraisal classes from Gerald Roy and Bobbie Aug. Some from that class are ready to take the exam to become Cerfitied Appraisers, but I am not near ready. I need a bit more experience and will take the classes one more time in order to be sure I know my stuff.


My friend, Vickie is here from Ohio, visiting with her family for spring break. She and I managed to do some damage at a local quilt shop. We decided to each make a very cute big birdie quilt. No, not like Big Bird, but a cute folk art birdie. I will show some WIP pictures as we get going on it. I am including a picture of a pretty, springy quilt which I purchased last summer. It is a vintage 30s quilt coming from PA. A couple was selling it as they no longer wished to care for it and weren't planning on handing it down. Even though the quilt is not my colors, I still love these quilts because of the quality hand quilting, which I no longer can do. Isn't it perfect for spring?

Friday, March 27, 2009

Azaleas and Company











After a nice rain yesterday, it looks like it has brought out the azaleas in my yard. I love them so, I wish they bloomed a second or third time in the year.
My week has been busy in that I have had a 7 year old here along with my MIL. She and her DH are raising this girl. Rachel can be nice but also a real handful and I am not use to little kids day in and day out. Now, MY grand-daughters were much easier to deal with at that age! HA! Spoken like a true grandma, right? I did have Rachel make a cute cupcake pincushion, like I had my grand-daughters make when I was visiting them a month ago. Rachel loves my sewing studio and always has a million questions. "Aunt Marilyn, how does this machine go? Can we cut fabric? Can I have some of that fabric?" Well, you get the idea! I have been giving her scraps of fabric for a year or so. This way she thinks she has a stash too! I did make my MIL a cute big water cooler bottle cover. I made a plain one for our water cooler bottle which sits in our kitchen. We find that if we fill our own bottles with good water that it cuts down on plastic. I just wash the 12 or 16 oz bottles out and refill them from the water cooler. It really encourages us to drink more water.
My quilt gals came yesterday to work some more on the charity quilt to get it ready for the auction in May. It is coming along nicely. I really didn't get much quilting done for myself with the company here, but did get a Serendipity Singers newsletter published a passed out at practice Thursday. Serendipity Singers is a group of gals who love to sing. We are giving a free performance in April. It should be really good. We have practiced since January. We give 2 performances a year and keep trying to make them free although it does take over a $1000. per performance. Yes, we try to raise that much ourselves, with sponsors and donations.
My quilter friend, Cathy got my one Kaffe Fasset quilt quilted, but I haven't finished the edges yet. Hope to do that this weekend. The quilting looks so good.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Spring is here! I think?




Well, it is really a pretty day here in SC. The spring flowers are blooming, the pear trees are blooming too. I have even seen quite a few azaleas. Let's hope it sticks around and the cold fronts have gone somewhere else.





I am presenting an antique quilt top that I wet cleaned, conserved, and completed for a friend who is giving it to her daughter as a shower/wedding gift. I hope she will like what I have done with the top. I have a picture of the label on it. I made a custom pillow case/storage bag that you can see by the label. The front of the quilt was in my previous blog, basically a 9 patch made of all different kinds of fabrics, typical of the 30s era.


My guild gals are returning here tomorrow to finish up the quilt that we are giving to be auctioned off this spring. You can get an idea of it as it is in my previous blog too. Hopefully, I will sent a Add Imagepicture of it completely done tomorrow!

I think I take the prize (if there is such a thing) for not only the most UFOs but some of the oldest! I pulled out a half completed I Spy quilt that I started 10 years ago! Most of you have probably made 5 of these quilts by now! I will have to reveal some of my other "old timers" to you when I gather the courage!







You all will think I am totally daft for putting a picture of shoes on my blog. But this picture is for my sister, Carole, who lives in CA. She and I are always trying to find wonderfully comfortable shoes. Well, my daughter, Carolyn, who works in the fashion industry, has learned from her own experience that good shoes at any age are the way to go. I can't tell you how I abused my feet when I was younger with stiletto heels and dumb things like wearing flip flogs when I was pregnant out to huge. Consequently I have had lots of problems. When I was with my daughter recently in Ohio, we went to the Walking Store. I got a pair of Dansko shoes just like hers which were so cute! She got black patent and I got navy patent. Then we spotted quilted shoes!!WoW those must be good! She she and I got matching quilted shoes by (I think) Mephisto. Yes, both of these shoes are a bit pricey but they are heavenly and will get much wear. The Danskos are Add Imageworn by lots of doctors and nurses as they are so comfy and have the closed back so they are permitted in the hospitals. So Sis, check out our new shoes!