Fall Busyness

Finish #1-Ladies Prim Society Blackbird Designs Song of Spring

The R & R prim yellow linen has a tinge of yellow in it and this photo caught the linen color best.

Finish #2-Christmas Tree Table Topper

I left off the red ric rac because the tree trunks were so short.  You can kinda get an idea of the backing fabric I chose on the sides (it is the wrong side of the fabric).  It is a vintage Christmas tree fabric from my stash.  It is already at the long arm quilter's as I couldn't figure out how to quilt this.

 

P>S> I bought 3 quilt tops off of ebay.  All very different designs.  One is black toile and black fabric and I decided to make a shower curtain out of it.  So I took the binding that came with it and sewed 4 strips across the top and folded over the top strip to put buttonholes in (so I can put the shower hooks thru the buttonholes) .  It turned out so cute!  A photo next time.  The other 2 quilts are at the long arm quilter too.

Did I say last time I had 7 classes this year?  OK, it is really 8 classes. I forgot about this one that I attended yesterday.  Debbie Busby from Wooden Spool Designs came to my LQS and we started this design.

Debbie is a most generous teacher and made us all a mug rug, and gave us a free new pattern.  She also included with the pattern for this design a small snowflake charm to use on this wallhanging. You can see it if you look closely at the photo.  This is my start on the first block.

We also had an opportunity for stash enhancement :)  Debbie had made a threesome of stacked pumpkins from this tomato pattern.  Then she put them in a little black cast iron dutch oven.  So, so cute!

Can't believe I forgot to take a photo :( 

Also, she hand-dyes wool and sold us fat quarters of wool at a discounted rate.  You can see I succumbed to temptation with 7 fat quarters.  And I  did not buy the most fat quarters by a long shot!!

Finish #3-A quilt-as-you-go flannel Baby Quilt

Bought this on my Alaskan cruise at a quilt store in Ketchikan, Alaska.

It just needs binding put on and it is ready to give as a gift.

 

No , I don't know what the new grandbaby coming in March will be.  But, if it's a boy, I'm ready!  If not, I'll put this one in the baby shower drawer for the next one I'm invited to a shower for a boy.

Last, but not least is my Mary's sampler.  I was caught up until today's new Week 5 release.

I am using a dove grey 32 ct linen and the called-for overdyed threads.  Couldn't believe I had every thread already in my stash!

 

One thing more-I had some comments last post about my retreats for next year. To clarify, they are all local retreats!  No flying around the country for me next year.  I even decided to pass on the regional EGA seminar in Reno, Nevada next year.   Here are the retreats I have planned for next year-

 

1. Meg Hawkey's Crabapple Hill spring retreat

2. Meg Hawkey's Crabapple Hill summer retreat

(I signed up last year for them and soon I get to go!!)

3. Pacific Beach annual retreat on the Pacific Ocean (again)  This will be year 5 for me.

4. Gold Bar retreat with the Northwest Sampler Guild

5. Gold Bar retreat with the EGA Evergreen Chapter

 

Gold Bar is a tiny town in the western foothills of the Cascade mountains. It is a beautiful, peaceful church camp and right next door to a state park with walking trails. It is a wonderful retreat location.

 

There is actually the possibility of one more retreat in Coeur d'Alene, ID with the Spokane stitcher's guild.  But I'm not sure about that one at this time.

 

Now none of the above retreats are expensive.  All are very reasonable priced between $200-$300.  3 or 4 nights lodging and all meals (except Meg's where lodging is not included)

 

Whew, this turned out to be a longwinded post!  Thanks for sticking with me! 

 

 Hope you all have a very Happy Halloween.  We get no trick or treaters at our house so we will spend it babysitting 2 month old, Brooke, while her sister goes trick or treating.  I'll try to remember to get some photos.

I Got a New Computer and Updates

I've got a new computer.

That's it. 

I know you'll understand now why I've been gone so long.

DH reassures me that I will get "used" to it. Well, I don't like disappearing links and  unannounced restart when I'm in the middle of something :(  And a hundred other things. Talk about cranky!  Am I the only one that doesn't connect "new" to improved?

Here is what I've been doing. I finished BBD Wild Garden. Very fun stitch and stress-free. Linen and threads provided in the kit.

Here are the first two blocks to the Natalie Bird Red Home quilt.  I am the only one in my class to do raw-edge applique with Lite Steam a Seam II and whip stitches.  Everyone else is doing needleturn applique. Do you think I'll regret my decision?

And a new start from the Ladies Prim Society-Blackbird Designs Song of Spring. Linen and thread also provided. Another relaxing stitch.  Other than the 4 sided stitch for the alphabet, there aren't any specialty stitches.  

Here is the latest on my Prairie Schooler Alphabet.  I'm still hoping to get it finished this year.

I have decided to call 2013 the Year of Classes.  I have one more class to go-Patricks Woods Button Lovers Brag Book in November.  That makes a total of 7 class projects I will have to work on next year from 2013. (Not counting any other WIP's)

So I'm calling 2014 the Year of Retreats. Yes, so far I have 5 retreats scheduled next year

and no doubt, I'll need all of them!

Five Classes and Seven New Starts :)

I have been away from my blog for a while.  Well, I have got several good reasons!

 

Two days after I got back from my Alaskan cruise, I packed up and left for Salt Lake City and 3 classes with Catherine Theron and the Swan Sampler Guild!

It was a lovely time.

Here is what I started-

 

The Hidden Magnolia Sampler

 

My Peacable Kingdom

and No Place Like Home Stitchery Book

Here is Catherine with Peaceable Kingdom.

Here is our class busy at work in the most beautiful clubhouse I have ever seen. (And I have seen quite a few since I am a realtor :)  See the open door in the back left of the pic.  That leads to a home theater with cushy, leather recliners set in a sloping floor just like a commercial movie theater.  Wow! Yes, there was a swimming pool too.

The Swan Sampler Guild ladies are a very talented bunch of stitchers and I wanted you to see some of their show and tell.  The above sampler is one of Catherine's designs called Morning Has Broken. Stitched by Lynn.

A band sampler also designed by Catherine and stitched by Lynn.

Another band sampler designed by Catherine and stitched by Jean.

Gay Ann Rogers Elizabeth stitched by Lynn

Not sure whose design this one is or who the stitcher was, but isn't it adorable?

 

 

Another wonderful WIP-looks like maybe a HAED design?

While I was in SLC, I was notified that I was a winner at a giveaway on Kathy Schmitz' blog-woo hoo!  Here is my prize-a fat eighths bundle of Kathy's new fabric line called Piecemakers.  Thanks, Kathy!

I got home again last weekend just in time to start a new quilt at my LQS. It is called Red Home Applique Quilt by Natalie Bird. From the Red Home book.  Natalie is a designer from Australia. This is the class quilt.

 

 I got to take Tropical Jazz from Terry Dryden this past weekend.  Isn't her purse lovely?  Not sure how I will finish mine yet. 

It was a small class and Terry is a delightful teacher. Nine students and 5 ghost students.

 

Are you tired yet?  I am.

 I also started Wild Garden by Blackbird Designs

Last but certainly not least is Christmas in My Heart by All Through the Night Bonnie Sullivan.  I had to trace the entire design onto a huge piece of freezer paper then trace again onto the base fabric.  The wool pieces are also all cut out.  It is time to start stitching!