Sunday, March 10, 2013

Josh and his graduation quilt

 You remember this picture......the start of my young friend, Josh's Twister quilt.
 It is now finished and bound.
 Here is how it looks now.
And here is Josh all smiles when he received the finished quilt.  I showed him a picture of the quilt before it was cut and sewn back together and he was amazed that I could get this gorgeous quilt from the humble beginnings.

Oh I love these young people in my neighborhood!

Happy Quilting!              Lynda

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Pincushion

I found this cute little heart shaped pincushion on the internet....at Moda Bakeshop (Moda Love Pincushion)...and decided I needed to make one.  It was really easy.  I used 1 triangle piece of fabric for the back and pieced the front triangle piece of fabric with diagonal strips. Their instructions have you making 2 at a time.  One for you and one for a friend!   Sewed it RST leaving a small opening to turn.  Stuffed with plastic pellets and batting.  Sewed the 2 ends together and tied a strip around it to make tails.  I think it turned out pretty cute.  (Don't tell Vreni at OopsLah but I added it to her giveaway winnings.  Hope she likes it!)

I've finished another quilt to give to a nice young man who lives across the street.  I'm giving it to him tomorrow so I'll post pictures then.

Happy Quilting!                   Lynda

Saturday, March 2, 2013

 Ahhhh!   2nd day of our retreat has come and gone.  Patty has made 30 (if I remember correctly) of these beautiful Dresden Plate blocks.  After she had them all together 1 fabric just yelled "WRONG" to her.  So while she was at retreat she was picking out the offensive one and sewing in another paler petal.  She says she has been working on this quilt for 3 years already and this alteration should take her awhile.  Then she wants to hand quilt it.  It will be a beauty.
 Marilyn was busy at work.  She had a joint replacement with a cast on her hand and she still was smiling and making lots of blocks.
 Dixie was working on some Blocks of the Month for Quilt Etc. fabric store Saturday get together.  This one turned out great.  Martha was busy doing hand work.
 Arlee had made a darling Santa for her front door and was now working on 6 more for her children for Christmas.  Nothing like a head start on gift giving!
 Ina finished her Sunflower Skinny.  She hand quilted it.   We went to a class together, along with Dixie, to Quilt Etc. a couple of years ago.  Her wall hangings are getting done and mine are still sitting in a box.
 Our hostess, Suzanne, behind the quilt, shared a cute little girl baby quilt she has been working on.  So cute.
 Dee, who does the most beautiful applique quilts, has been binding this quilt during the retreat.  Isn't it a beauty!
 Megan came to our retreat this morning full of energy and happiness and excitement just bubbling over to tell us all her great news.  It seems her friend  kept urging her to enter a quilt in the Paducah quilt show this year. So......on the very last day.......she gathered all the required information, pictures, CD etc. and sent it off.  She figured she would frame the "rejection" letter and satisfy her friend.   However.  She was selected to have her quilt hung in the show.  This is the back of the quilt.  Isn't it great!!  I love when people piece the back too and make an entirely different quilt.
 This is the amazing front of her quilt.  I know......AMAZING!!   I should have taken some close ups.  Her applique is wonderful.  The colors just pop on that black background.  Congratulations to Megan.
I had my fingers to the fabric and my nose to the feed dogs for 2 days and actually finished a quilt top.  I think it turned out great.  I was a little worried that some of the fabrics were a little too strong but I think it turned out perfect.  Now to press it, pull off all the strings, and get it to the quilter.  I've decided against any border.

We had so much fun, sewed until our backs ached, laughed, ate and shared.  I'm already looking forward to our next retreat.   Thanks to Suzanne for hosting these retreats for us a couple of times a year.

Happy Quilting!                 Lynda

Friday, March 1, 2013

First Day of Retreat

 Yea!  Retreat is here!!!  Some people bring gifts to share.
 Claudia and her Halloween quilt in the making.  She hand embroidered all these amazing scary houses.  They were supposed to be all in black but she added some bright colors that really made them look great.  Here she is adding the sashing.
 There was a couple of "quilty" games and Alice was the first to finish so she won a prize.  A darling Sunflower pincushion made by our hostess, Suzanne.  Judy is laughing in the background.
 Myrna is busy working furiously to finish another quilt.  Myrna manages a quilt store and has really helped to make it one of my very favorite shops.
 Ina discussing applique I'm sure.  She is a master at it.
 Ina and Dee working and talking.  Dee showed a couple of great quilts but I didn't get any pictures of them.
 We stopped for a lunch break.  Always good food from quilters.
 Alice, Suzanne and Nancy discussing this great quilt.  Suzanne always has fun socks to wear at our retreats.
 Ina working a a Skinny Sunflower.
 Dixie making a block for a Quilts for Valor quilt Suzanne is putting together.
 Beth just discovered wool applique and was really enjoying the ease of applique with wool
 Yes I was working on my Chevron quilt.
Myrna ironing a great nine patch.

Now I best get myself together and get hustling off to the 2nd day of sewing, laughing, eating and sharing.

Happy Quilting!                Lynda