The same way that all good conversations meander around. But it can lead to some fasinating snippets of information. Like my father's mother was one of 12, but the eldest of the second half of the family (?) and one of her elder brothers was friends with Charlie Chaplin as boys.

My Father was one of 13 children born in South Wales at the beginning of the 20th century so I had many aunts and uncles so I have many cousins, but we all live scattered around UK . My son lives in Australia and my daughter lives a few minutes walk away from me, so I count myself lucky.
How did we get away from quilting advice ????????????????
Anne

anne1 wrote: I'm the next generation down from you Anne, both my parents were only children, although they did have numerous aunts & uncles (by blood) My mother always complains that as a child she was out-numbered by the previous generation and after she got married and had 3 children, she was then out-numbered by the next generation, so that she was always in the minority. Which, as she sometimes says, 'is a bit much!'

Wow, Anne, I did not have many uncles and aunts on the Italian side of the family, but I never met anyone with two generations of no siblings! However, on the Chinese side of the family, there are lots of people who are uncle and auntie even though they are not siblings of our parents. In other words, blood relations is not the only way to acquire such relation. For example, if someone comes from the same village as your parent and shares your parent's last name, you've just acquired an uncle! I'm always confused, when I go to family reunions, as to who is a blood relation and who is not... in the end, it does not really matter! Renata

I think the quilt is lovely and the cat obviously thinks so, do you think cats like the colours in the quilts ?????
Lorchan I'm an only child too and would have loved to have siblings my husband is an only child also, so my son and daughter don't have any aunts or uncles or cousins AHHHHH. What you don't have you don't miss.
Anne

Renata, I just thought I would mention that Cara in Irish means 'friend'! I am sure it derives from the Latin for Dear or Beloved One as a lot of Irish works stem from Latin. We begin letters with 'A Cara', which roughly translates as 'Dear Friend'. Oh the threads that bind

Hi BJ! Cara, the cat really knows how to steal the show, doesn't she? She has as much personality and endearing qualities as her name implies. She will sit on your lap and purr away in a moment and knows how to pick out a spanking brand new quilt to "inaugurate!" My sisters and I had such a great time making this quilt--what are we going to do next? Renata

Renata, What a wonderful quilt and a wonderful way to get it done and a wonderful story behind it. The beautiful cat has the right idea for such a lovely quilt--decorate it with a beautiful cat.

loise98 wrote:
Good evening, Lois! Thank you for the note--we had such a great time making this simple quilt, it meant a lot to us as sisters to be able to take time out and do this together, plus it was so much fun! Cara is the cat--my sister named her that because in Italian it means "dear" but it's used mostly with people you care about--a true term of endearment. I forgot you live a bit away from Lancaster,but I did think of you when I headed that way. I will let you know when I return that way. It was my first trip to Lancaster, and now I know it will not be my last--beautiful, beautiful countryside!
Renata

rehak wrote:
Hi Nancy! I'm glad to be back on the forum and so nice to hear from you! I am probably more like your sisters because I'm really the non-quilter in the family but I am having fun and learning a lot. Your mom sounds a lot like my mom when it comes to over-protecting the quilted gifts she receives. Now, I'm behind with all sorts of projects again, including Sedona Star 2012, but I am starting to make progress on the round robin quilt (Rabbit Moon) that I asked you all for advice on.
Renata

Renata, What a great quilt! And that cat is gorgeous with the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen on a cat. They look like jewels. If you come by this way again let me know and I'll try to meet up with you. I live about 2 hours from Lancaster. Your experience in the Amish Shop does not surpise me. I love the story about you and your siblings making the quilt for your mother. You'll always remember doing that. Glad your back. Glad you had such a wonderful trip. Lois

Hi Renata -

What a wonderful quilt! And what fun making it with your sisters!! I have 2 sisters, but neither are quilters, so all of my mom's quilts come from me. She does treasure them! My mom will use the bed quilts on her bed, but she is very, very careful with them and has never washed one, not even the one that she's had for over 10 years. It's so much fun to make something for mom because it really makes her happy!!

I'm glad to see you back on the forum! We missed you!!

Nancy

Reetzbobeetz wrote:
Hi, Rita!
Mom was speechless and it is always fun to see her that way (I mean it in a good way, not in an ornery way...). We paper-pieced our flying geese using a CD by Brenda Henning called Triangulations 3.0 to print the flying geese papers (http://www.bearpawproductions.com). It provides foundations for flying geese sizes 1/2"x1" to 3 3/4"x7 1/2". Flying geese foundations by Quiltmaker is also pretty popular (quiltmaker.com). We really breezed through these, making 52 flying geese apiece in one day, size 3"x6". I'm sure the Eleanor Burns method is pretty efficient (I vaguely remember it) but will look her up and refresh my memory as well as the Ricky Tims method which I am totally unfamiliar with.

After being away so long, it was almost hard to start up again, but I guess I'm "back in the saddle again" on the Forum!
Cheers,
Renata

Lorchen wrote:
Thank you, Lorchen! By the way, we are six siblings and once you get past the first few, a few more don't matter... you wanna be sisters? Renata

PS I spent a few of my growing-up years in Germany (not just Italy, where my Mom's from). Didn't you grow up in Germany?