Saturday, November 8, 2008

Catching Up

There's catching up to do from the last few weeks. First on my list are the packages that have reached my mailbox. The gorgeous pincushion is from Vickie using fabrics in pinks and browns. Granny Lyn made the cute blue, crocheted bag and added three homespun fabrics. The 20 terrific fat quarters were won from Joyce during the Fall into Fall Giveaway. I prefer this kind of mail to bills any day.

pink and brown patchwork pincushion

two tone blue tote bag crocheted with fabric strips
ten red and ten pink fat quarters of fabric

While visiting our family in Wisconsin, we were able to see Ian play football. This is his first year and he's on the 6th grade team. It was a beautiful fall afternoon and Ian's team was the winner.

Yesterday Jim hit the big 60. We celebrated with Mike and Simone at Famous Dave's Barbeque enjoying a platter of ribs. Jim's mom was 42 when she discovered she was pregnant again. She had to see three different doctors because the first two thought he was a tumor. That story has been told and retold more than 60 times. She never regretted having a baby later in life and always said it kept her young.

Connie and I attended a quilting retreat in October about an hour north of here that was put on by our LQS, The Quilted Cottage. There were seventy quilters from Friday until Sunday who kept their sewing machines humming. The facility was wonderful with delicious meals served by a talented kitchen staff. The shop brought along a mini store for us to shop at in case we ran out of something or just needed something new. They had prepared several different kits for small projects and they gave each participant a kit to make a grocery bag. I made a pillowcase from the Breast Cancer Awaremess fabric. We were able to visit two Amish farms in the area, also. One makes beautiful baskets and the other sells baked goods. We filled up at both. I finished the latest top for the Clothesline Club called Best Friends and sewed the DNP blocks into a top for The Underground Railroad. The last project made at retreat was a Snap Happy bag. These are so cute and easy to make using an old metal tape measure for the 'snap' closure.

I think that's more than enough for this post. More soon....
fabric grocery shopping bag

pillowcase made with pink ribbon fabric for breast cancer awareness
Best Friends quilt top for Clothesline Club made with Darlene Zimmerman fabrics from the 30's

Disappearing Nine Patch quilt top made for the Underground Railroad

little brown print bag

23 comments:

Terri S said...

Wow! You've been busy! All your projects look great, and the retreat sounds like it was fun!!

Paula said...

Lots of great pics, Jeanne. I think your DNP is my favorite thus far. I've seen a lot of them out there on the internet, but I'm telling you, I REALLY like yours. Maybe it's the fabrics you used....very nice. Looks like you've got some great friends. Please give them my address....LOL

Vickie E said...

Glad you like the pincushion! I admire all you finished at the retreat....I have a retreat next weekend...doubt I'll get much done as I have to cut it short due to family coming to town.

Cathi said...

Wow, Jeanne -- you have been busy! Nice treats in the mail and all those projects! Everything looks super!

Joyce said...

Glad you liked the fat quarters. Sounds like you've been really busy.

*karendianne. said...

That pincushion, oh isn't that something else?! Love it.

What a great retreat. I've never been to anything like that - ever. I'll bet that was fun.

I should mention before I leave that I haven't heard this story about Jim's Mom, 3 drs and the Tumor. That's a story worthy of retelling. I giggled.

:)

Judy S. said...

Looks like you've had a real lucky streak and also been very busy. I really like that tote bag!

Betsy said...

welcome back. Great pics.

Rhonda said...

wow! you've been busy! Everything looks great! Love that pincushion!

Karen said...

The sewing retreat sounds wonderful. And you got so much done. The ones I go to, it seems like there is more talking than sewing...but fun!
And I do like your mail. A day with those kind of treats in the mailbox instead of bills is a good day.

Unknown said...

I also prefer mail with quilty things rather than bills.

Quilter Kathy said...

The Fat Quarters you won will make a great quilt, eh?
You were really productive at your retreat...sounds like a lot of fun too!

LuAnn said...

I love the pincushion. It sounds like you have been having a lot of fun with family. Great photos, too!!

julieQ said...

Love all your projects, and especially love your "tumor" story!

Kim said...

well at least one of us has been busy. I'm in awe at all you've done...bravo.
I need more mail like yours

Greenmare said...

Love the totebag with the orange straps!! is that webbing? excellent!

sewkalico said...

I wondered where you'd been! Happy B-day to Jim!

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed reading what you've been up to and getting caught up. It's been a long time since I've been to a quilt retreat...sounds fun. Love all your goodies!

Granny Lyn said...

I love those quilts,,,and the snap-happy bag is making me want to figure out how to make it! tee hee

You have been busy!! lots of great pics!!!

YankeeQuilter said...

That sounds like a great retreat! I tend to do more talking than sewing at those. Ribs...that is on my list of things to get now that I am back in the USA...

bingo~bonnie said...

they say good things comes in threes and it looks that way in your mailbox recently ;)

happy belated Birthday to Jim... my mom and dad said the same thing too about me keeping them young. Mom was 38 and Dad 42 when I came along. They had a 16 and 14 year old...married for 20 years and when they told people about me on the way no one believed them! LOL

that quilt with the plaids caught my eye - is it one of those slice and dice 9 patch patterns?

Happy early Thanksgiving to you and your fmaily in case I dont' make it back round before then... lots to do here to get ready to travel home to KY.

Love from Texas! ~bonnie

Cheryl said...

Lots going on in your part of the world! Love all your goodies.

Mary Johnson said...

You seem to have hit the jackpot - I love the pincushion and the fat quarters.