Lead by example….right?

It was so easy sitting on the sidelines, what possessed me to take on such a task as Co-Chairing the Quilt Show Boutique?  While trying to coax Guild members into sewing items for the Boutique, I too, am trying to crank out a few items. 

Thinking misery loves company there would be fellowship working on the boutique projects, Co-Boutiquer Sue and I scheduled a sew day to rally the troops.  It was time to “think” Boutique – represent our Guild with the finest hand crafted items in the quad-state area!  Yes, yes, yes!!  Well….five women showed up, plus Sue and I…. 7 out of over 100 guild members.  Humf.  Insert disappointed emoji face here! 

Ok, so the guild is moving in baby steps….it’s still early, we have until late September, right?   While I try to suppress my panic attack, I’ll share the items I’ve made for the Boutique.    

 

 

Nice heavy pin cushions – filled with walnut shells.

 

 

 

 

No shame in my game – I want to brag about these dazzling pins adorning the pin cushions.  As with some of you, Pinterest is my “go too” for ideas.  They didn’t let me down with these little sparklers!  All it took was some fancy pins and raiding my granddaughters' glass beads….. Viola!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Without a doubt, my favorite pin cushions. 

Who wouldn’t love one of these Freaky Fowl?!?! 

 

 

What can I say? I'm a sucker....

Like I don’t have enough to do.  At the moment, I have too many projects in my home/garden and let’s not talk about all the quilting projects I’m in different stages of….. but does that stop me from volunteering at quilt guild?  No ma’am.  You’re looking at the new Co-Director of the Starlight Quilt Guild Boutique.  The guild is all-a-buzz about the upcoming quilt show in October.  Within the quilt show they host a “Boutique” which sells handmade items by the members of the guild.  A way of recouping (kinda sorta!) the expenses of hosting the quilt show.  I wrangled my quilt buddy Sue to help lead in this Boutique Madness.  After all, I wasn’t going to sink alone in this venture!  So with my partner in crime, we’re organizing the best (fingers crossed) darn Boutique they’ve ever seen!  While I seem really motivated and about as positive as I can be, we’ll see how I feel mid-September!

The Splendid Sampler Dish: 

Instead of making a “Quilt Shop” with the House block – I placed Uncle Sam in the window.  It seemed fitting using Civil War Repros.

Progress in the Splendid Sampler, or maybe lack of?  I’m really enjoying this quilt-a-long.  For a moment I really stressed over a few of the blocks.  Let’s just say – I wasn’t loving the non-traditional blocks.  After a couple of days moaning and groaning I decided this concoction of miscellaneous blocks are mine.  So I changed out a few, I mean the quilt police aren’t going to show up and point out the difference…. so let's throw caution to the wind, after all it’s my Splendid Sampler!  

I did a “change-up” for Block 14 – Flying High (below).  Not really my style, so I made a slightly different version of a Flying Geese (above).  

Gorgeous? Remarkable? No...it's Splendid!

I couldn’t stay away…..I got antsy just thinking about another online quilt along.  The Splendid Sampler, hosted by Pat Sloan & Jane Davidson.  It’s not just Pat and Jane – they’ve put together 83 fellow designers who will create and share 100 blocks over the next 52 weeks.  That’s 2 – 6 ½ inch blocks a week.  So far, over 18,380 members have joined the Splendid Sampler Quilt Along!  How could I not jump on this world wide bandwagon!?

Block 1 – Pat Sloan, designer

Block 1 started with piecing & applique

Block 2 – Jane Davidson, designer

Block 2 - piecing & embroidery (not sure if I want to add the embroidered butterfly antennas)

My funny for the day…..my grandson is one of the funniest little people I know.  My daughter sent me this pic of a shopping trip with the family….he’s pointing at this dad. 

Leap Day!

Indeed we have an extra day, but I’m not feeling it.  Now maybe if was a 3-day weekend, I would certainly notice an extra day! 

Where have I been?  Did you know it was acceptable to “track” down your man and ask him for his hand in marriage during a Leap Year?  So many missed opportunities…..

Look for the Quilt Dish tomorrow…..I have lots to share.

Where does the time go?

Dreaming of my New Year’s Eve…..

The Reality of my New Year’s Eve…..

…..having a couple of the Grands over.  I just love those babies, and they show me the love by nesting right up next to me and leaving me with a whole 12 inches of sleeping space!  No better way to ring in the New Year!  

Blogging has taken a backseat in my crazy world.  If you think my ramblings have been slow, you should see my quilting projects - or lack thereof!  However, it’s a new year with new goals and no upcoming holidays to celebrate.  So it’s all me, me, me time!

Between gifts, dinners, office parties and over-eating – I was able to sit for a few evenings and work on my Edyta Sitar wall hanging.  With the blanket stitching finished, I'm now on to quilting and binding.  

Can’t wait to finish and hang on the wall!

Batik-less Wall Hanging

First of all, Happy Thanksgiving!  I wanted to share my new wall hanging before I’m up to my elbows in sweet potatoes, dressing and pumpkin pie! 

  Since I’ve swore off buying fabric until my stash is significantly smaller.  I dug through my Civil War repros and began cutting.

The pattern used Batiks….I can count on one hand how many times I’ve used Batiks.  It’s not that I don’t like them, I just don’t think I know how to use them.  Keep in mind, I rarely wonder outside the “box” I’ve become so accustomed to being in.  

Once I had the triangles cut, I had to do a test layout before I started stitching together.        

So far, looking pretty good….. 

 My version of Edyta Sitar's Scrappy Basket 

Instead of fabric for the applique I used wool.  A little nervous not knowing if the fabrics would work with a pattern I’d only seen in Batiks – but I’m loving the results.  Next step - dig out the Valdani thread and get busy on blanket stitching around the wool.                         

  

               

                    

Treat or Retreat?

With all the renovation going on, I knew I had to break away from the house.  I needed to head out of town to a Retreat just get the Twins’ baby quilts complete.  The most I’d been able to do at home was to pick out fabrics and cut a few strips for the nine-patches.  I’d no more get my cutting mat out and my son would show up to work on the renovation/sewing room – knowing I’d need to strike when that iron was hot, I’d put my quilting away!  After all, I can’t move into the new sewing room until it’s finished. 

Uninterrupted time is a must if the babes receive these quilts before they start toddling!   So Sue (my dear Quilting Buddy) and I take off for a much needed, much deserved, quality minded quilt retreat. 

Day 1 - had us driving to the nearest quilt shop, which is the next town over from where we were retreating.  Cheri (QB’s sister) was missing a page out of her quilt pattern, so we left out bright and early that morning to hunt down a copy.  Well, not much luck with the pattern, but we’d passed the local “watering hole” on the way to the Quilted Moose Quilt shop, and Cheri was sure an adult beverage would dull the frustration of the missing pattern page.  So much so, I was beginning to think the search for the pattern was a rouse to find the local drinking establishment! 

Who am I to argue with that?  It was only a few minutes after 11am, so let’s get that woman a beer!  Isn't it....What happens at retreat, stays at retreat……if not, it should be!

Now I don’t want you to think it was all Bloody Mary’s and barstools…..I was able to knock out both Weslyn and Wrenly’s baby quilts in the next few days of the retreat.

Weslyn will receive the pink border quilt 

and Wrenly will receive the purple border quilt

While I thought I was movin’ and groovin’ with the baby quilts – Quilt Buddy Sue was laying down some serious thread!  She finished piecing and putting together this lovely.

It’s a paper pieced pattern by Little Bits, Cindi Edgerton.  With each piece being no more than 1/4 inch wide, total size is about 27inches by 27inches.  So gorgeous!! 

Nothing better than attending a Retreat location which serves meals, snacks and everything in between.  Normally I would say, “any meal is good as long as I don’t have to cook it”, but they have a chef on staff and the food is wonderful.  Since the Retreat is out in the country and nestled between a few really small towns, on occasion the menu items reflect it.  

I have to admit, this City girl enjoyed the wild game mixed Smokey Burger – very lean and no gamey taste.