Nines & Hourglasses

Nine patch quilts are my favorite - scrappy nine patch quilts are even better. This perpetual UFO didn't deserve to be neglected for so long. My sister, Connie, and I each started this quilt years ago. In order to get more of a variety of fabrics for our nine patch blocks, we took turns making ten 3 inch nines from one fabric, keeping five and giving the others. The hourglass blocks we did ourselves. The quilt has an applique border of vines, flowers and leaves. I've had the blocks pieced into four sections for some time. Anyway, the center is now one piece waiting for the borders. I hope it doesn't wait too long.

Flimsy, Blocks and Cross Stitch

I finished a flimsy that I had worked on two retreats ago. One block was cut incorrectly, so I needed to make an extra and then finish the sashings and borders. This pattern was in a Fabric Trends magazine from last year. The colors shown in the magazine were not my cup of tea, but I think these fabrics chosen by my LQS clicked. Connie and Helen have finished their tops, also. At the last retreat Connie surprised us with a cup that looks like the fabrics in the quilt.

The watermelon blocks are now finished and need to have 78 (I think) seeds added to the red parts of the log cabins. Most of these were pieced at the last "Sleep At Home Retreat" in June.

The cross stitch piece I was working on is also done and framed. I've made this pattern several times for others, but this one I'm keeping.

I'll leave you with a few photos from those last two retreats.

Sewing Progress

Phew! I've been working on block 7 of The Civil War Tribute Quilt from Homestead Hearth. It's a very pretty block, but a bit challenging. It took lots of concentration (and a little frog stitching), but I'm very happy with the results. Now I only to make seven more just like it! What?



This morning I made a new clothespin bag. Jim's been asking me to make one for months. LOL I used this cute clothespin fabric from the repro section and lined it with bleached muslin. Hope it will last a tad longer than the dollar store one it replaces.



Finally, here are pillowcases I finished for Abby and Ian. Kari and Abby chose the fabrics from The Quilted Cottage when they were here for my niece's wedding on the 18th. They went in the mail today.

Disappearing June

I was shocked to discover that my last post was on the 3rd of June and here it is the 30th already! There's been a wedding, flower walk, retreat and family visits during this time, but no posts. Guess I'll play 'catch-up' in July.


This ornament was made for the June Christmas Challenge foundhere. Amanda has a different project 'due' each month and is offering prizes. June's project was an ornament. It's a win-win situation.

Finished a top for the Downy project. Now I need to get it quilted and sent back for distribution. I was very impressed with the quality of the fabrics they sent and have seen some great quilts made online and by friends.

Christmas Wish BOTM

I sat down to do a quick post and happened to take a peek at Carol's blog (Brown Quilts). She has De-stashing Part 2 items listed for sale. If you are in the market for some great fabrics, click on over quickly. It took all of my will power to move along.

I've been working on A Christmas Wish stitcheries from Gail Pan's free BOTM and have only one left to do. The designs have been traced onto the backgrounds for some time now. Just needed the 'too hot to move' temps from last week to get me working on the rest of them again.
Jim's been bringing in bowls of berries from the garden this past week. We've overloaded on ice cream and berries, but they're sooooooo good.

Finally, here's a couple of pictures showing that Annie can sleep anywhere in any position.

Patriotic Finish & Zip Line

Finished this little quilt yesterday in time for the holiday week-end. This was a little kit given out during the Shop Hop by The Ice House Quilt Shop. Kathy from Canada showed hers here.

A couple of week-ends ago, I attended the May quilting retreat in Gladwin. In addition to working at the sewing machine, several quilters (including me) did the zip line! It is the longest line over water in Michigan, measuring about 1100 feet. We had to climb a platform that was forty some feet high. I loved the experience! If you click on the photos, you can see the platform that I jumped from in the first photo. (look in the center at the top) The zip line is over the Brown Sugar River in Gladwin. The last picture shows my sister, Connie and friend, Marlene who both jumped ahead of me. Once they went, I couldn't back down, could I? Let me explain the green socks. It was the only pair I had along and I didn't want to risk losing my Crocs in the water.

Baby Quilt

Several months ago, my friend, Ruthy, asked me to make a baby quilt for her to give to her future granddaughter. Another friend, Darlene, did a wonderful job of quilting it and the quilt has now been delivered.

Another Wednesday

After the Dear Jane Shipshewana Retreat last spring, a package arrived from Brenda Papadakis (author of Dear Jane and Dear Hannah) containing a fat quarter of fabric with fried eggs on it. My sister, Connie and I were given the name 'Chicken Sisters' many years ago by Deb and JoAnn of Minnesota. Every spring we seem to have a chicken incident. Last year was a doozy. That is why Brenda sent the fabric to each of us along with a challenge to make a wallhanging at least 18" square. She tempted us with a free meal of our choice at the retreat this year if we completed the challenge. From left to right, Deb, JoAnn, me and Connie. We had a delicious lunch at The Garden Gate in Shipshewana. This picture is 'borrowed' from Deb's blog.

Monday I took a bus with ladies from my church to the dinner/theater at Turkeyville. The show was called "Church Basement Ladies, A Second Helping" and was hilarious. Turkeyville is located in Battle Creek and everything on the menu has turkey in it. There's also an ice cream parlor, gift shop, and bakery besides the restaurant and theater. There's a little shop outside behind the tractor that is closing soon. I bought this cute apron made from an old pair of jeans there.

Checking In

Mother's Day was wonderful. Mike, Simone and JJ gifted me with a lovely bonsai tree and then took us out to dinner. A special delivery brought a beautiful bouquet in shades of yellow from Kari, Craig, Abby and Ian. We, also, spent some time visiting with my mom and got in a card game at home later that evening. I was a happy mom.


















We had Bee at my house on Monday and swapped our third set of four inch blocks. Aren't they the cutest! You can click the links to see the first and second sets again if you missed them. Half-way through the year already and the count is at 36 blocks.














Monday was also the day the staff of The Quilted Cottage treated us with a day of sewing and lunch for helping at the Shop Hop. We each received a lovely wine glass filled with Starburst candies and a star charm. (The Shop Hop theme was 'Reach For The Stars') I left shortly after lunch to get home before the Bee ladies arrived.


Then there was a Priority Package from Little Quilts in the mail. It contained the cute fabric I had recently won on their blog giveaway. The week has been good so far.

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.

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....

Edyta Sitar Classes

You know the song - "Heaven, I'm in heaven..." That's how it felt the past three days as I was fortunate to take three different quilting classes from Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts. She was such a delight! Edyta is an extremely talented quilter, as well as being patient, thorough, organized, funny, energetic, generous and motivating. On Thursday, we each came home with 350 scrappy half square triangles to make her tree quilt. Friday we foundation pieced on paper and created a beautiful table runner using logs and flying geese corners. Yesterday was a workshop to learn her technique for making Dresden and 8 Point Stars. Every morning when we got to class, we were greeted with an array of her gorgeous quilts that pertained to the lesson of the day. She said next week she hopes to have her teaching schedule on her website. If you are able to attend one of her lectures or take a class or workshop, you'll be smiling from ear to ear.



I was able to get a photo of the bunny top I made for the shop sample. The patterns is designed by Vicki Bellino of Bloom Creek and Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill Designs. It is featured in the April issue of American Patchwork & Quilting.



The last picture shows blocks from the first two months of the Civil War Tribute Quilt. I'm making the odd numbered ones and Connie is making the even numbers. It's going to be huge!

Valentine's Day

I hope you all enjoyed Valentine's Day in whichever way pleased you. We shared a wonderful, delicious BBQ chicken dinner with Mike, Simone and JJ that is put on annually by the Athletic Club of our church. They do a super job.



These are the Valentine pillowcases I made for our bed. I love this fabric line by Sandy Gervais.

I finished a shop sample, but forgot to take a picture before I delivered it. The pattern is in the April issue of American Patchwork & Quilting and is called Bunny Patch. More on that this week.

Connie and I are also sewing the shop sample of the Civil War Tribute Quilt. Next meeting is month 3 already. We're taking turns with the months and have over 35 gals who joined the club which meets the first Saturday of each month.

Yesterday my nephew, Eric married his love, Christina. It was a wonderful day, wedding and reception. They are so happy together.

Angel in the House & Swap Blocks

Judith recently had a giveaway of this gorgeous cross stitched angel and I was the lucky recipient. The picture (from Judith's blog) doesn't do it justice. Her workmanship is superb - the piece is gorgeous. Thank you so much.



Monday was Bee day at Mary's house. It was the first of our bi-monthly swaps of 4" blocks. We decided to trade three different 4" blocks made with Jo Morton fabrics (mostly) every other month. At the end of the year, we'll have 72 cuties to put together. We all like little and were pleased with the first batch of blocks.