Feather Me on the Maypole Quilt

This quilt was just screaming at me to load it and use the panto "Feather Me." I think it turned out great and Janet is on her way over to pick it up. I called her last night to tell her of the Ruthie's quilting March special, which was buy one, get one quilted half-off. She liked the idea and was sorry that I didn't tell her about it earlier. Of course, I still have several of her quilts here waiting to be quilted.

I used Hobbs 80/20 batting and PermaCore yellow thread. I love it!

Stashbusting Week #13

It was a good week for me - NO buying at all!

March 23-29, 2009

Fabric Added This Week - 0 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date - 63.25 yards

Fabric Used This Week - 15 yards
Fabric Used Year to Date - 109.75 yards

YEAR TO DATE NET TOTAL: 46.5 yards

My big usage this week was making cat beds for the animal shelter. 11 of them, all filled with tiny scraps and threads. I must admit that I had a much easier time last year picking fabric to use for these. This week, I would open a drawer and think, "No, I don't want to use any of these." But, I finally found some and rest assured, there is more to be used.

I didn't spend all weekend quilting!

I got some hugs from these 2 cuties:
Here's Elizabeth, who will be growing some hair really soon.


Andrew, who was not feeling well and made a trip to Urgent Care for an ear infection.


I don't think I shared these darling photos of Andrew in his tux for Jason and Kathy's wedding. The first one show his apparent displeasure with his outfit and the second one makes me think that he has said, "Yes, I like wearing this!" (notice that he has his fingers crossed in the second one.)

Relay for Life

These were t-shirts belonging to Candy and I made 2 quilts for her to donate to the Relay for Life. This first one is finished, binding and all and the second one still needs the binding hand sewn.
Hobbs 80/20 batting, ribbon meander with PermaCore Lilac thread.

Bright ABC Quilt

Gwen brought this one and it sure is cute. I was pretty stumped over it though. She doesn't like pantographs since they go off the edge. I spent some time trying to figure out how to make it not go off the edge and I scared myself out of that thought process. So, I decided to do wavy stitching in the border and around all the blocks in the center. It may need some more stitching in those center blocks, but for now I'm calling it finished.




Look how cute the backing fabric is:

Patty's Block of the Month and Retreat Information

Here is Patty's BOM from Rossville Quilts. She picked it up yesterday and was very happy with it.



Next up is a baby quilt for Gwen and I need to do a little embroidery project for my friend Judy. That should keep me busy this weekend while Dan is off doing sound for the band.

Retreat Planning
I am coordinating a guild retreat next spring in March. We have had the retreat at Ross Camp for 2 years, but I am thinking of changing the location. I haven't had much luck finding a suitable location that is less than an hour from Lafayette. Stairs are an issue for some of our members, so that eliminates Camp Tecumseh. I have thought about a local hotel, but I think we would prefer to book an entire facility, rather than walking the halls of a hotel in the middle of the night after sewing till the wee hours of the morning.

Have you had a quilt retreat some place close that you would recommend?

Quilt Magazines

Hmmmm, I am really re-thinking my subscriptions these days.

First off, last year I had a quilt featured in Quiltmaker Magazine and was to be paid $50 and receive a complimentary copy of the magazine it appeared in. I waited about 2 months after the issue was available and sent an email asking about my complimentary copy. I received a reply stating that they were just a little behind and it would go in the mail that week. I didn't ask about the money, just assumed it would come with the magazine. That was in November 2008 (I just checked my email). Last month I received a letter from CK Media stating they were undergoing financial reorganization and it included a form for me to sign to accept a settlement of 40% of the amount owed me. I signed the form and faxed it back on March 2nd. I still haven't received the issue or the money.

Second thing ....how much do you pay for Quilter's Home magazine?

I received a packet in the mail for a new subscription and sent back the card. I have some friends that really like the magazine and thought I would try it for a year. I received my first issue along with an invoice for $29.99. I was writing out the check last night and thought, "wow, that's expensive!" I opened the magazine to see that the subscription price printed in THEIR magazine is $24.99/year. That's for 6 issues and my invoice is also for 6 issues.
I called this morning and was told that they would send me a new invoice for $24.99. No apology, no explanation, nothing. I think I should have said "NO THANK YOU," and I still may call back to say that.

Baptist Fans

Yesterday I quilted Janet's Rossville Quilts Block of the Month using my Circle Lord Baptist Fan template, PermaCore Camel thread and Hobbs 80/20 batting.



This evening I quilted Patty's using the same template, thread and batting. They both were a pleasure to quilt....nice and flat and well put together. I will wait until tomorrow to take a photo of Patty's entire quilt.

Stashbusting Week #12

March 16-22, 2009

Fabric Added This Week - 5 yards (4 yards background for my row-by-row (IN AND OUT) and 1 yard for the Nickel Swap)
Fabric Added Year to Date - 63.25 yards

Fabric Used This Week - 6 yards
Fabric Used Year to Date - 95.75 yards

YEAR TO DATE NET TOTAL: 32.5 yards

Slow, but sure! I certainly didn't get much sewing done last week.

The Family Photo

I didn't think to get photos before people started leaving, but did manage to get quite a large group in a photo. It was so nice to visit with family members and friends that live far away. When we lose someone, it makes us appreciate our relationships even more.

She's a Natural Quilter!

My daughter-in-law was here for the funeral and I was working on a Quilt of Valor during some spare time. She watched for a while and then took over. She did a GREAT job and said she might like to try making a quilt.

A Deep Sadness

"The song is ended, but the melody lingers on..."
Irving Berlin

On Monday, my ex-husbands mother passed away quietly with most of her family close by. She led a full life and was such a strong woman. She very much enjoyed taking a long walk early in the morning every day, and was a regular participant in the Walk for Diabetes.

I had a deep admiration for her and we continued to be friends after Jack and I divorced. She will be missed by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. I feel very blessed to have known "Dollie."

Here she is with my mother during a birthday celebration. Their birthdays were one day apart so they always got to share a cake.

Quilt Camp...The Pictures

My first project was a round robin/block swap from several years ago. I meet with a group of friends before guild and we have an ongoing block exchange. For 2 years it was a block exchange using your fabrics and design ideas. Then we tried a round robin and this year we are doing a row by row.

The first year my tote included batiks and a cream mottled background. The only instructions were that they were to use the background fabric and make a butterfly. It could be pieced, appliqued, embroidered....whatever they choose and there wasn't a specific size. When I got them all back at the end of the year, I decided to make a braid sashing/border. My original plan was to use the braids as a sashing between 3 columns of butterflies. They looked quite overpowering and Laurie suggested small sashing between blocks.(those are 3/4" finished) I love how it turned out, but wonder if I should have tried to turn the corners with the braid instead of placing a cornerstone there. Oh well, it stays as it lays!



Bricks & Stepping Stones
Next up was assembling my Bricks & Stepping Stones. I started this one last year and got the center all put together and both borders done on Thursday.



Bistro Kitchen accessories
I have been wanting to try a table runner with border fabric and I was surprised at how easy this was to do.



Then I made an oven mitt using a patten from Vanilla House designs that looks cute as can be, but needs some design adjustments. The area where your fingers and thumb go just isn't deep enough.



Flag Wall Hanging
Next up was some leftover blocks from this quilt. It's really too bad that I feel the need to keep these things and I think I could get a lot more accomplished if I didn't hang on to these "maybe someday I'll do something with them" items.
Anyway, I put the blocks together and added a border. Last night while watching Brother & Sisters, I pieced a backing, quilted it and added the binding.


I finally allowed myself to start something brand new....
Storyteller, which I am loving....see previous post

In between all that sewing, I taught the bag workshop to 5 people including Cheryl, from Chery's Quilt Shop. She said she was bag challenged and doubted that she could do it. Well, she not only finished her bag, but started another one.Purse/Bag makers at the retreat included: Vicki, Sandy, Marge, Anne, Denise, Loretta, Janet, Cheryl, and Judy.



The food was wonderful, the friends and fellowship were the BEST and guess what....I volunteered to chair the retreat next year!

My Stashbusting Prize

I finally got Julie to decide what she would like from the Fat Quarter Shop, so that I could spend my gift certificate. I ordered 2 FQ bundles of Cottage Charm, along with 2 yards of one of the background prints and 2 Miss Rosies patterns....Storyteller and Cracklin Palms. I wasn't sure which one I would use, but decided on Storyteller.



Here are the Storyteller blocks that I completed at camp and this is all that fits on my design wall.


Here is the rest on them in several different stages:



Here is what Julie picked out and although she didn't get to any of them at quilt camp, she was quite happy with them.


The pumpkin pattern is what I ordered the fabric from Desperate Quilters for last week. I would say that she has plenty to keep her busy sewing for a long time.

I would like to thank my friend Vicky for her very generous prize for our stashbusting contest.

Stashbusting Week #11

March 9-15, 2009

Fabric Added This Week - 8.25 yards (2-FQ packs from the Fat Quarter Shop and 2-yards background)
Fabric Added Year to Date - 58.25 yards

Fabric Used This Week - 19 yards
Fabric Used Year to Date - 89.75 yards

YEAR TO DATE NET TOTAL: 31.5 yards

I'm Off to Quilt Camp

I'm leaving bright and early in the morning and I'll be back on Sunday afternoon....with lots for show 'n tell.

Wonderful Online Service!

I placed an order from Desperate Quilters very late on Friday evening and was so pleasantly surprised to find my order in my mailbox on Monday. Now thats speedy service all the way from Texas.

Here's my order.....a pumpkin panel and some yardage for Julie to use in her Pumpkin Patch wall hanging. The pattern for the wall hanging is one of the things I ordered from the FQS with my gift certificate.



Also included with my order was a free sample of tea and a colorful pen. They sell tea bags on their website also.

It's those little things that make me feel glad I placed an order with them and want to tell you about great service from an online shop.

Slanted Star

This quilt is on Mabel and waiting to be quilted tonight. The pattern is called Slanted Star and probably has many other names, but goes together so fast and is so pretty.

Stashbusting Week #10

March 2-8, 2009

Fabric Added This Week - 2.25 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date - 50 yards

Fabric Used This Week - 0 yards
Fabric Used Year to Date - 70.75 yards

YEAR TO DATE NET TOTAL: 20.25 yards

Well, not exactly a productive week for me, but I had a lot going on and not much time to sew. I did use some stash, but I'm not ready to report it yet, as it's a small amount. On Saturday I attended the Bloomington Indiana Heritage Quilt Show and developed a migraine so those 9 FQs of 1930's fabric that came home with me were sympathy purchases.

Next week will be a big report week, because I'm going to quilt camp Thursday-Sunday, and also, I finally placed my $250 order with the Fat Quarter Shop.

Janet's Bug Jar Quilt

I finished Janet's bug jar quilt last night and then Dan and I had a discussion about why someone would make a bug jar quilt.........do you remember catching lightening bugs or any other kind of bugs in jars when you were a kid? Lightening bugs were a big deal in my neighborhood here in Indiana and more than once I had to be told to take them outside.

Anyway, here's the quilt, done with the Circle Lord swirls templates, Hobbs 80/20 batting and Permacore white thread.





Look at this cute backing fabric:

UFO Finish #4

I finished up the hand sewing on the binding of this UFO last night. It is a Quiltville, Bonnie Hunter, pattern called



I pretty much emptied out my green scrap tote to make this one. Of course, that was last summer and not it's about filled up again. I just love to use Bonnie's patterns to use my scraps.

Pineapple Blossom.


The quilting was done with my Circle Lord FanClam template.

Signature Anniversary Quilt

Carol made this for her parents 50th Anniversary and she is having all 4 siblings families sign the basket blocks. I used the Chantilly Lace block patterns for this one and really like how it turned out. The outer border is just short-long-shirt-long loops.(there is probably a name for these, but I don't know it)

Stashbusting Week #9

February 23 - March 1, 2009

Fabric Added This Week - 10.5 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date - 47.75 yards

Fabric Used This Week - 8.375 yards
Fabric Used Year to Date - 70.75 yards

YEAR TO DATE NET TOTAL: 23 yards

Not a great week because I needed fabric for a commissioned photo quilt. But, I used most of what I bought.