May 2026 Recap

 May Recap!

May was a much quieter month as far as my personal quilting goes!!

I'm in Applique Retreat Prep mode! 

Getting samples and step out ready, making little kits and printing patterns and class booklets!

Checking to make sure my laptop, document camera and new epson projector 

will be nice and talk to one another. I'm not especially a "techy" person 

and this is definately expanding my horizons!!! 

Cross you fingers it all behaves in July!!!

Check out the  Strong House Inn for more details!

The Quiet Valley Quilters of Bennington VT invited me to give my "Journey" lecture. 

So hubby and I packed up the car and took a nice scenic drive up to VT. 

The hotel was good (comfy bed) except for the nest of sparrows in the air conditioner!! 

Good thing it was still chilly out so the air conditioner wasn't needed! 

We could tell when momma bird arrived with food - the babies sang quite a song! 

So loud it sounded like they were in the room!!! 

The Quiet Valley Quilters were a warm and inviting group - asking lots of great questions! 

Just love it when a guild asks questions - shows they were really interested!

Before leaving Vermont Hubby and I had the BEST breakfast

At this cute little train car dinner!

The Blue Benn in Bennington VT - highly recommend it!!

 

After Vermont I traveled down to Westerly Rhode Island

to Ninigret Quilters to give a Spiffy Binding Lecture and Workshop!

This was my third (or fourth!) time presenting to this guild and they always

have a huge turn out! Very Interactive! The workshop went great and everyone

finished their spiffy binding samples!!

 

In May I was so happy to be able to take a workshop with

Heidi Proffetty

Her work as a mosaic artist is just outstanding and I’ve been

Following her for years - just loving everything she creates.

In the work shop we learned how to make a mosaic quilt

Start to finish (well except for the quilting part!!)

Our workshop project was this beautiful Moroccan Tile 

Now to do the micro quilting!!

Finding this process so interesting and Fun…

I bought three kits!

Spending time with “Karina” learning the machine and 

Practicing my quilting and even doing a little ruler work!

This quilt has been waiting patiently for about eight years

All basted just waiting to be quilted!!!

The room my Q20 provides and the ease of quilting

Is just outstanding - I’m having sew much fun!!

 

This is the new configuration of my studio - 

So glad I kept the pool table lights!!!

May was also Alex Kincaid’s Watercolor Week

Participating in daily painting classes via zoom,

 this was my end result!

Pretty happy with this one!!

 

May was also the month I decided to recommit to daily

(Well almost daily!) exercise! Hubby and I go to LaSalette Shrine

And do a two mile walk. It’s so peaceful.

My arbor garden is exploding - May brought the start of color!

The irises outdid themselves this year!

 

And the peonies are just beautiful!

Nature at its very best!

Have a great Quilty Day and enjoy the process!

                               Janet

Secret Garden appliqué is finished!

Well she’s finished!

The top anyway!!

My Secret Garden Quilt

Is ready for basting and quilting.

Yes I’ll be quilting her on my 

Little domestic Janome!

Probably outline each of the motifs

And then some nice floral background 

Fillers - should only take me a few years!!

The pattern is The Secret Garden

By Sarah Fielke

Fabrics are from Tilda

Except for the tree branch-

that’s from my Japanese Taupe collection. 

There are cute little critters and motifs throughout the quilt

Mostly things I see in my own garden!

Had to add the seashell - since I love the beach!

We have a number of squirrels that visit

the flower garden, they sit under the 

bird feeders waiting for droppings!

A few years ago we had a momma red fox trot

through the garden - unfortunately she was carrying

one of the neighbors chickens.

More squirrels!

 

Had the add the painter!!

One of the many birds that visit the garden!

Hubby loves elephants!

Me and my Raven!

There are three Ravens that hang around 

the garden all summer - they

are quite comical to watch!

Onto the next project….

Another Sarah Fielke pattern!

Rainy Days & Sun Rays

It was a BOM from 2020.

She’s been sitting on my design wall

patiently waiting for me to finish her!

Preparing to start another block.

I changed the pattern up - making

the pattern smaller ( to fit a certain wall!)

Here is my prepared edge system!

Sometimes we need a diversion from our crafts! 

Mine is watercolor painting!

Below are some of my paintings that

have been printed into 4x5 cards.

                                          

                                                        

Stargazer Lilies are one of my favorite flowers. 

 this one was painted during a zoom workshop with Alex Kincaid, 

pleased with how it came out!

Tried another version of the lily using the techniques

learned in my zoom workshop 

and came up with the next

Stargazer painting

Got a little daring and added a deep blue

background - it pops the flower

right off the page!

Over the past two months I’ve had the pleasure 

of showing my quilts and speaking

at local guilds!

Huge shout out and thank you to:

Holly Berry Quilt Guild in Falmouth

Thimbles and Friends Quilt Guild in Abington

Hands Across the Valley Quilt Guild in Amherst 

Cape Cod Quilter Quilt Guild in Brewster 

Thank you for inviting me to your wonderful guilds!

My classes at QuiltCorner Studio in Sandwich 

have been keeping me busy:

Collage

Domestic Machine Quilting &

Three different style Bags

In June I’ll be teaching my

Prepared Edge Appliqué method

at All About Quilts in Walpole

Life gets busy - so remember to take time to smell the flowers!

Happy Spring!