Sunday, April 25, 2010

Middle of the Mitten Shop Hop




Eight quilt shops participated in the shop hop this year. Our adventure began at 7:15 a.m. on our way to The Ice House in Grayling. Darlene, Connie, Helen and I all fell in love with the calendar quilts in this pattern. Each shop gave out free block patterns for different stars and a kit to make the block was available for purchase. The blocks were sewn together in assorted settings in each shop. I should mention the theme of the hop was stars. The shops all had unique interpretations. The Quilted Cottage had beds (sleeping under the stars) set up (including a cot in a tent) and all of the workers wore pajama pants. Connie and I were asked to volunteer and dressed in a modest shade of pink. At lunch, one woman exclaimed, "Oh, there's two of you!"

The watermelon quilt kit that is peeking out in the pajama picture also came home with me. That will be a fun quilt to sew at the next retreat. The last picture is a sample I sewed for the shop. It's a Country Threads pattern called The Farm House.

Although we didn't get to see each other, Kathy also shopped the hop with her mom and sister. Check her post for more details.



Monday, April 19, 2010

April Update

How do people say they are bored or have nothing to do? There are never enough hours in the day or energy in me to do all that I want to do. I've been retreating and shop hopping and sewing every chance I get. The one thing I haven't been keeping up with is my blog. Sometimes I write posts in my mind, but they never see the computer screen. I'll try to do better.



These are the second set of blocks for our Bee's swap. They are 4" finished and are made mainly with Jo Morton fabrics. They're going to make a terrific quilt someday.



The last picture is a bag I made to carry my iron to classes and retreats. It's lined on the sides and bottom with Insulbrite so the iron doesn't have to cool down completely before packing it away.

I enjoyed a wonderful Dear Jane Retreat in Shipshewana, Indiana last week. Connie, Helen and I shopped our way down to Shipshe and were welcomed with temps in the 80s.
How wonderful to see so many talented friends again including Hanne from Norway and Valerie from France. More on the retreat later....