RETREAT!!! Another word for fun, laughter, sewing and too much eating

 Myrna, who works at a fabric store, (could there be any better job???) brought this 9 Patch Quilt to share.  A simple pattern made a very stunning quilt.

 Kathi, has been working on this stunning applique quilt for quite some time.  I should have taken a close up so you could see all the perfect circles.  

 Studious sewers just getting started.

 Myrna and Nancy sharing ideas.

 Some people bring gifts to share.

 Kathi getting set up.  Can you see that cute little snail pin cushion next to her machine.

 Claudia, doing hand work.  

  Judy and Alice enjoying a good laugh.

 Judy's project.  At first I thought it was a Bulls eye Quilt but she has sewn each of these curved units individually to make this circle.  

 I love these rich fabrics in Alice's quilt.  

 Lori and Debbie in their little corner busy trimming and sewing.

 Another Nancy, who also works at a fabric store, busy on her project.

 Dixie came late but got right down to sewing.

Martha and Dee busy at work.

Suzanne, our hostess, binding a baby quilt.  Her home has the perfect bonus room above the garage.  Easily fits in 15 busy workers, tables, chairs, cutting mat, irons etc.  She says her husband doesn't mind when she has these retreats because he gets to eat lots of good leftover food.

Hopefully today I can put the last 3 rows on my quilt and show it tomorrow.  I'm loving it!

Happy Quilting!                        Lynda

Tomorrow is THE DAY!

 Yes, yes, Yes!!!  Tomorrow Suzanne has invited us all over for a 2-day quilt retreat.  I am sew ready!!
63  String blocks.........check

142 sashing strips................check

 80 9 Patches....................check

Strawberry pretzel salad (that can pass for a dessert)...............check

And  Waffle Cookies.............check.

Just have to throw together some chicken, brown sugar and pineapple juice (Hawaiian Chicken) into the crock pot in the morning and I am set for a fun day of sewing, eating, laughing, and more sewing.   Thank you Suzanne!!!

Happy Quilting!                                Lynda

Super Capes

 Almost a year ago I made a purple and pink supergirl cape for Ellie.  I finally got around to making a pirate cape for Gavin.

This is the receiving blanket I posted a couple of days ago.  I didn't like how bland it was with just black and white fabrics.  I was going to unpick the whole edge and add red piping.  Nina Lise and Vreni both suggested I just add something on top and not have to pick out all those threads.  I found some red rick rack and now it has so much more personality.  Love it now!  Thanks for the suggestions.

Happy Quilting!               Lynda

Such a silly mistake!

 I've finished the 142 sashing blocks to go with the 63 String blocks already made.

 Now on to the 9 Patch blocks to add to the sashing.  More scrap strips and white strips sewn together.  I was working amazingly fast and before I knew it I had 160 of these little 1 1/2 inch strips for all 80 corner blocks........WHAT?? I only needed 80 of this one and 160 of the 2 scrap/1 white piece!!!   Oh bother!

 So I have spent the morning picking out 80 little white 1 1/2 inch squares so they will be ready to add another scrap 1 1/2 inch square.  Such a silly mistake.....but it took up my whole morning.

On to better things.  I made this cute receiving blanket for a great nephew being born in March.  Wouldn't it have been cute to add a tiny red piping to give it a little pizzazz! Do I really want to unpick that first edge just to add some piping???  Sure would be cute....just saying....


Happy Quilting (and unpicking)!               Lynda

Blocks done......on to sashing

63 String Blocks done!  

(Once I started I couldn't just do 2 a day)

I was proud of myself for not choosing matching fabrics but just letting them fall as they may.

Love the pile all trimmed to 8 1/2 inches square.

Always surprised at how different the sizes of the blocks are when done sewing.  The squaring up sure makes a difference.

Now on to the sashing....I debated whether to make them scrappy too.  

I think I will like the scrappy look to continue into the sashing.  

Happy Quilting!                           Lynda

PS:  Suzanne is hosting another Quilt Retreat at her home in February.  Of course, work always seems to get in the way so I can only attend one day but I am "sew" looking forward to it.   

String Theme

I am up to 41 blocks now for my String Quilt.  I decided to do a couple of theme blocks.

This one is circles and polka dots.

On to patriotic with a BYU thrown in to show who we cheer for at ball games.

This one is Wild, and not so wild, West.

This is turning into a lot of fun.  My husband even commented on how much he liked this one.  

Happy Quilting!                  Lynda

String Quilt addiction

I've been wanting to make a Scrappy String Quilt for quite some time.  I pulled out my Big Bag of Beautiful Bindings and figured I would never use those little pieces of binding as binding again so decided they were perfect for a string quilt.  I've been using bits and pieces of squares of fabric also for the corners.  After cutting 9 inch muslin squares..........

Sewing strips onto the muslin squares at a diagonal.......

I have ended up with lots of wonderful blocks.  I love them!  The sashing will be a scrap strip with either white or cream strips on each side.  Then the corner blocks will be 9 patches using scraps too.  I am so excited to finish the top now.  I made a goal of making 2 blocks a day.  It has been really hard not to organize the fabrics but so far I have only made sure I don't have 2 of the same color fabrics beside each other.

It feels so good to regularly get back down in my sewing room and create!

Happy Quilting!                      Lynda