Another quilt retreat!

January was definitely Quilt Retreat month!

I had the opportunity to get away to my second retreat 

a few weeks ago - so wonderful to get out with other quilters!

The creativity was just outstanding!!

My days were spent working on two different donation quilts,

one for SCQG's Comfort Quilt program and the other for

Quilts of Valor (ran out of sashing fabric so could not finish that one!)

Here is my pile of cut fabric for a disappearing 9 patch

Using a speckled background batik fabric

and bright 5" precut batik squares-

it was fun putting it all together

then slicing it up!

rearranging it, 

and then stitching it back together!

now it just needs some boarders

(which were left at home!!)

 and it will be ready for someone in the guild to quilt!!

Hopefully it will go to someone who really needs a bit of comfort!

After returning from my fabulous three day retreat

it was time to get serious and get quilt tops and backs ready

to be basted - since that is NOT my favorite job

and I have FIVE that need to be done 

I'm opting to send them

out to be basted! 

Here are three ready to go!

This is a block that all go on the back of my "Snap shots" 

quilt - pattern was a BOM last year from the Fat Quarter Shop.

Such a fun quilt to make!

Since in was a camera - it just call for a family photo!

more photos of the quilts once they are basted

and I start quilting them on my Janome 6600!

Can't wait! Need to get them all quilted

for SCQG's show in September!!

May even have two more to add to the pile by then!!

Let's not forget 

Super Bowl 51

Wha-Hoo

LOVE those Patriots!!

Usually I can appliqué while watching the game…

but not this one! 

Emotions were all over the place…

they were off to a horrible start - so depressing, then

BOOM

they woke up came to life and made the greatest come back in history!

It's funny everyone is down on the Patriots for always winning…

well I grew up watch a Dad who support the worst loosing team ever!

He had seasons tickets and went to every game … and they mostly always lost!

He still stuck by them…

I'm sure he was looking down from is 50 yard line seat in heaven

and was over joyed at such a come back win!

Thinking of you Dad - miss ya <3

Ok tears dried … now back to quilting!

Mini Shop Hop - so much fun!

Yesterday my Quilty Gal Pal Joan and I went on

our very own mini shop hop!

It was great to get out and see a few shops.

I've been in a little funk lately -  

nothing has been hitting me

until yesterday!

Boy did the Creative Juice Hammer hit me 

- thunk - 

The first shop Calico Cottage

is a very nice shop with a great selection of fabrics!

The first thing to hit me was 

the "Swoon" t-shirt - a MUST have!

a few EPP packets

 a great piece of yellow/orange fabric 

for an applique project that's in the works,

and "The Dress" pattern

 ~ thunk~

not that I have anyone getting married,

but for some reason I just fell in love with

this pattern and it's laser cut silvery fabric.

Having never worked with laser cut fusible fabric

this could be a really fun project!

Our next stop was 

Knit One Quilt Too
this little shop is jammed with fabric, notions,
yarns, embroidery floss, ribbons, buttons…
my head spins every time I go in ~
there is just SO much eye candy!
Really need to control myself in this shop!
They have my favorite - Japanese fabrics!!
Picked up a pre-print Sashiko table topper,
new Tulip Applique needles
a beautiful pattern for all of my Japanese fabrics,
and of course a FQ of Kaffee for my appliqué projects!

the last stop of the day was at

Just Quilts

a small shop packed with lots of Batiks,

novelty, panels and holiday fabrics.

Just had to add to my Batik stash!

more Sashiko threads

and my Favorite Best Press scent

Caribbean Beach!

I now like ironing!!!

It was a great day!
My Quilty Gal Pal Joan
picked up a few goodies herself!

I think the Creative Juice Hammer
hit her too!
Joan ~ can't wait to see your bag when it's done!

Aunt Millie's Garden appliqué ... DONE!

Another long term project ... done!

Can not believe it that I started this quilt

back in ....Ummm .... 2010? or was it 2009?

Anyway it's not when you start,
it's all about finishing,
and enjoying the process along the way.

This quilt did that for me,
Truly enjoyed every minute of this one.
Good thing, it did take forever!! (almost!)

dimensions 72 x 83

Really pleased with the combination of
Kaffe Fassett and Amy Butler fabrics on
the red batik.

I did change the corners from the original pattern.
Just didn't like how the pattern had the top and bottom
boarders running off the sides and not connecting with
the side boarders. But of course left that fix to the last minute
so it was a tiny challenge to come up with something!
But I think this works!

Now for the EXCITING part ...

deciding on a quilting design.
Planning on quilting this on my
Janome Memory Craft 6600!

This will be the first quilt that I have quilted
on my new Janome!

I am looking forward to that process too!
Visioning feathers, swirls and flowers!

Spring has Sprung

Yes Spring has Sprung ... at least inside my house!!!

I have a huge wall in my entry way that was designed for ONE purpose...

to display my quilts!

This is my quilt for Spring.

"Springtime Impression"

The pattern is from Rebecca Wat's book Fantastic Fabric Folding.

I made this quilt back in 2005 and it is my favorite for spring.

It features 125 Batik folded flowers!

Thats a lot of folding!

TIP: I used frey check around all of the edges - not that batiks

frey very much - but I was not taking a chance!

The flowers start out as a 6 inch square and then you fold and fold and fold to get this....

 I tacked the tip of each petel down (I actually use this quilt!)

and I added a pearl bead for the center.

I think this was the start of my beading adventure!

HAPPY SRING TIME!

6 Batik FQ's

My newest adventure with batiks .... a sample for Quilter's Stash - Groovy Girls Class!

Terry Atkinson's Four Patch Farmhouse - great pattern!

Whips up very nice!

Just six fat quarters ... 3 light and 3 dark

make up this great little table runner!

I love when a quilt pattern is so versitle you can make it in

all sizes from a 3 block table runner all the way up to a queen size quilt!

And the best part ... selecting out all of the fabrics!!

Fiesta is FINISHED!!!!

After working on this quilt almost daily for a month the top is finally done!

This will be offered as a block of the month class at Quilter's Stash - oh I hope people like it and sign up for the class!!

It all started with my focus fabric from  Ricky Tim's. I used this fabric in the outer boarder and then selected all of the internal fabrics to blend.

It's very bright and busy and I just LOVE how it came out.

Once the class is done I can't wait to get my hands back onto this quilt and quilt it! I already have ideas floating around in my head!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Okay anyone that knows me knows I would rather quilt than cook ... so today was a big day for me ... I actually cooked the entire Thanksgiving dinner all by myself (and cleaned while everyone watched the Patriots WIN! - Yippee!). Which doesn't sound like much - but if you knew my cooking, you would know this was a major under taking. As my son has always said "we know when dinner is done when the smoke detectors go off"!! And he's actually right... can't tell you how many times I've set the alarms off, over boiled things on the stove and even almost burnt the kitchen down (but that's another long story!)

I decided not to stress myself out and since no one in the house eats the dark meat I only cooked a turkey breast ... I made a spicy rub (learned that from yesterday's TODAY show!), made my stuffing and added raisins and green apples, homemade Boston baked beans, mashed potatoes, turnip, peas & carrots ... ugh jar gravy (I was not going to attempt making gravy - it wasn't good the last time - why chance it again!)

After a few hours I called the family to the table and .... they were speechless!!! My son jumped up whipped out his blackberry and announced that it was picture worthy!! Notice hie two forks!!! I

Needless to say I was so pleased to have my family tell me I "made a perfect meal" 

and no smoke alarms!

I also was able to find a great recipe for Boston Baked Beans - similar to the recipe my Dad used to make. I used his old bean pot and gave it a try ... they came out pretty good - I have a little tweaking of the recipe to do - but all in all I was very pleased with how they came out.

OH and don't think I do any quilting  while I was making my Thanksgiving dinner (there was a little down time after all!) ... I had to really pay attention in the kitchen so I worked on a new hand project! I think I'll jump in on the Hexy band wagon!

So I started making hexies ....

 

Also continued working on another class sample for my "Fiesta" block of the month class at Quilter's Stash.

 

"Fiesta" is a great booklet by Lynda Milligan and Nancy Smith

Great pattern and good instructions - great way to use up your stash fabrics. I choose Batiks (of course!)

The line up! and BIG fabric decisions to be made....

Used my patio curtain for a design wall ... it works!

So today (and everyday) I'm Thankful for a wonderful family (who puts up with my cooking even when it's bad and the smoke detectors are going off) and for a quilting craft that fulfills my creative side.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving.