Raffle Quilt Blocks for RNQG

One of my quilt buddies -  Deb  is organizing the quilt blocks for RNQG's

2013 raffle quilt.

I volunteered to make a few blocks and of course got carried away

(as usual!) and made four blocks.

The idea is to make a block of something you would find in your garden!

I thought that was fabulous - and completely original! 

The background fabric is black -

so I really wanted something that would POP off the block!

My first block was a beaded butterfly.

 I really could have kept on going with the beading (it's so addictive!)

but I contained myself!

I used silver embroidery thread for the antennas.

And YES I did needle turn applique - because I'm nuts!

For my second block I knew any garden of mine

would probably have a toadstool for sure!

I found this awesome Amy Butler fabric in my stash

for a funky cap to my toadstool -

and of course I just had to bead it!!

Then came along my version of a dragon fly!

With gold beads for eyes and beaded wings-

Can't you just see this guy flying around in the garden!?

Yes - more needle turn applique!

And every garden needs a Bluebird of Happiness!

I just love May / June when the bluebirds come into my garden - they are such a beautiful little bird.

I have a bird house just for them - I usually have to shoo a few sparrows away

to make room for the bluebirds! 

So those are my contributions to the raffle quilt ... I think it is going to be fabulous.

I think I'll buy SEVERAL books of tickets! I totally want to WIN this quilt!!

Another Quilty Weekend ... went by way to fast

This is the group of ladies I spent the weekend with quilting, sharing stories & ideas, gaining inspiration and building friendships. It was a wonderfully relaxing weekend.

The retreat was held at a Salvation Army Retreat Center. It was simplistic and comfortable - a joy to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. I shared a room with my two friends Diana and Giuliana.

We quilted all day and stayed up way too late watching movies on Diana's computer. Diana is Not selecting the movies next year - and that's all I'll say about that!!

Diana is in the purple, Giuliana is in the red and I'm in the blue - with no sewing machine! I decided to spend the weekend doing all hand work! Friday I stitched 4 blocks for RNQG's 2012 raffle quilt (we are ahead of the game!) Saturday I worked on embellishing the crazy squares for SCQG's 2011 raffle quilt (we are a bit behind!) and in between I started hand quilting this quilt. It was so nice and relaxing - sitting back, hand stitching and having great conversations!  Nancy you can sit next to me any time! I think this was one of my favorite retreats!.

relaxing and stitching away

The room we quilted in was HUGE! it is the chapel and the light would pour in through the stain glass cross window - the light traveled around the room as the day went on and that quilter was "blessed" by the quilty gods!  

    

All in all there were 31 of us on the weekend, i

t went by too fast and I can not wait for next year.

I may not bring a machine then either!

                                      



The Cut Away... applique style.

I am now ready to hand quilt my Hawaiian Quilt ...

but before I can do that I need to do the cut away.

This will make it much easier to hand quilt

(one less layer of batik to quilt through!)

I tried the fancy scissors - (top right) but I just could not get the hang of them!

SO I've gone back to my tiny little snip scissors and

if I go very Slowly and Carefully I seem to be getting the job done.

I've only made one tiny little oops(!) I snipped a thread or two on the top layer

but Fray Check took care of that!

I'm leaving just under a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

The edges are all done - now it's time to cut away the center.

I can't wait to finish this part and get the quilt basted

so I can begin the hand quilting process.

I love hand quilting - I find it relaxing.

I'm hoping to have it done by September for my guild's next show!

Wish me luck!!

Snow Day of quilting - What FUN!

I've had 2 days off from work due to snow days! Yippee!

I've spent them organizing the Groovy Girl Sewing Club that I'm teaching

at Quilter's Stash and doing some preparing for my next quilt retreat next weekend!!

I love spending time in my quilting room and looking out at all of the snow

(about a foot of new snow!)

I seem to get lost in my own little quilty world - which brings me to the picture  above.

The picture above is from Minnie's Sewing room in Disney World - my daughter

was there on a field trip a few years ago and snapped this pic with her cell phone!

"It made me think of you Mum"!

I love it - it's whimsical - and reminds me that quilting is a world

where I can loose myself in my creations!

Hope everyone has fun creating in there quilting world of whimsy!

Silver City Quilt Guild Retreat

My quilt guild held it's 5th quilt retreat this past weekend - boy did we have FUN!

Over 30 ladies from the guild joined in on the fun.

The organizers Donna and Carolyn set up a western theme and did they go all out!

Everyone got onto the "WANTED" poster ...

I was wanted for .... "Not washing my fabric"!!

Saturday night we had a cowboy hat decorating contest

My favorite hat was this one...

and the winning hat... gotta love the little sewing machine!!

The weekend was filled with fun, friendship and food! way too much food!

Everyone worked on fabulous projects and shared little tips and tricks - It was great.

I was happy to get TEN blocks done for my Sylvia's Bridal Sampler quilt

 plus four blocks for another project I'm working on!

Can't wait for next year!!!

Crazy Quilting

My guild is having our 3rd quilt show in September and we are making a
Crazy Quilt as our raffle quilt!

It will be gorgeous! And ever since we started the project - I've noticed crazy quilts everywhere! Isn't that funny how that happens! The Quilt Life magazine December issue had pages and pages on crazy quilting - great articles!
A must read if you like quilting history.

 I think I went a bit overboard and really embellished my block!

Between the stitching and the beading it has inspired me to make one for myself ....someday!!!