What I have been up to

When I sew, I always have a helper.  This time it happens to be Charlie.

I can lay out a quilt, and he thinks i need to shake it up a bit. He take a running start and slides into the quilt. This time I was lucky and had just strips out.  There have been times when there are blocks all over the floor.  Sure makes it harder to put back together.

Princess does this too, only she is a tad more dainty when she slides.

Another of her favorite things is to burrow under the finished top.

Kitties, so much fun to watch.

After he has finished mixing things up, he sits there and looks adorable.

Here is the finished top from my Bonnie Hunter workshop I took in May.
I used the pattern, but changed the use of fabric.  I had a mindset to make it all with scrapes, and not use a one color for all the sashing strips, they are all different greens. I did the same with the corner stones, they are all different yellows.  In the final border I used all different shades of green.  I hate to say this, but I did not put a very good dent into these strings.

One evening I decided to take a class. See the chicken on the left, the yellow and orange one?  That is mine.
It was a fun class, It was not so much as I needed to know how to do it, as it was to meet new ladies, and just enjoy their company.

I have said I was on a mission to get more projects done.  Here are more of the 1000 half square triangle for that exchange in 2009.  Moniuqe Dillard designed this pattern, called "Oliver".  I made it longer, so I could use up more of the triangles.
What do you think?  I think it turned out pretty good.

Well here it is, I finally got the first top done from 2014 Row by Row.  It is huge  There are 20 rows in this one.  It kind of ended up being my own design.  The license plates are by the row where I got it.  The blank spaces just means I did not get a plate.
My friend Wendy is picking them up on the 16th to take them back to Florida for quilting.
She moved down there a year ago.  When she is visiting here in her old neighborhood, she will either pickup tops, or drop off quilts that she has quilted.  This arrangement seems to be working well for a bunch of us.

More exciting things are going to be coming up.
A quilt retreat, the annual Buffalo family reunion, and a trip to Europe are in order.
This does not mean I will stop sewing.  I have a lot more projects that need finishing.
Right now working on the last of those half square triangle.  Time to get back to pressing.

Have a great day.

Mary

Racine quilt retreat

Last week was pretty busy. It was quilt retreat time again at the Siena Retreat Center in 

Racine, Wisconsin. We were all hoping for good weather, but unfortunately it was not in the cards.

The area we were in sure is not as along  season wise as we are here in Illinois.

Good thing I packed, mittens and a hat and extra sweatshirts.

It was nasty cold and very windy.  We even had snow flurries.

The wind was so strong, the waves on Lake Michigan were at least 5 feet, and very rough.

Hardly any beach.

When the waves were out, you could see some of the beach.

When the waves came almost to the edge of the hill.

I came with a purpose this time.  I made it my mission to get at least this quilt top done.
I have been sewing on these rows for months.
This is one Row by Row quilt from kits I had picked up in 2014.
I have reported previously that I had at least 50.
This is twenty of them.  I think I had shown pictures of almost all of these, as I have
finished them.
I have even more rows made up.  I had a lot more of them on the floor, but forgot to take
a picture.

I have to say, when you are working on this type of quilt, you can only hope they come
out the correct size.  I did have some issues unfortunately. I had some of the left overs
of fabric with me and could fix them.  Still have a couple to work on, now that I am home.
Some rows are only 8 1/2 inches tall, instead of the 9 1/2, and others were not the 36 1/2
inches wide.  (  Could also be my sewing!)
When I had the quilt laid out here, it looked huge.  When I put it on my bed, it is long enough
but will need borders on the sides.  Now to acquire a bit more fabric.

Love the quilt that Lana finished up. The colors are so vibrant.

Kathy L. finished up a n fun Edyta Sita quilt pattern
What a great way to use scraps.

Kathy M was working on quilts for her grandchildren.
This one is so colorful.  Shopkins?
I only knew about Power Rangers!  There always something new
coming on the scene.

This day there was a beach and lots of rocks to search for sea glass, and cool rocks
for our gardens. Some of us enjoy looking for the sea glass.

One afternoons beach search by Kathy M.

Nothing like a snowball fight!
Kriket was making snowball blocks for the quilt she is working on.
Next thing we knew there was a snowball fight between the two.
They added their head gear for a bit of authentic flavor..
Always good to laugh. These two are so much fun.

When I got home, I pulled out the quilt and laid it on the living room floor.
Charlie had been a sleep in one of his beds.  He some how ken I had fabric on the floor.
Next thing I knew he came out, walked into the middle, and laid down.
After about 5 minutes, and a few photos, he got up and when back to where he was
previously, sleeping.  How does he know?

Sandy put borders on this bright and wonderful hexagon quilt.

This is the lighthouse I like to visit.
The weather for the 4 days were were here, just light this.

The only time I can say the \sun made any real attempt to come out.
This has to have been the coldest, and sun lacking time I have
ever had. It is always so good to get the chance to go away with quilting
friends and have a great time.  Our next retreat here is in October.  Time to get another
project ready to work on.  When you have a lot of days, it makes it easier to get a top done.
I did not stop sewing once I had the top put together.
Got binding on a couple of quilts, and worked on some leaders and enders.
There is always some sort of sewing to be done.
I do enjoy my quilt retreat time.
I hope you are having a good weekend sewing.

Mary

Other classes and work in progress

I have found a great place locally to take a couple of fun classes.  Harvest House Quilting, in Plainfield,  has offered  two classes recently that I thought would be fun to take.
Sometimes you see something that just looks like a fun idea.  This prairie point Christmas tree was one of them.
I have made or decorated a couple of trees for my Christmas display.  Small works very nicely in my house.
This tree has now been added.
Colleen classes are only a couple of hours long and because there is room for only a small number, you get great one on one help.
Colleen can provide the "kit" or you can bring your own supplies.  She even had the kit made up in two color ways, Christmas green and red, or blue and white to make a winter tree.
There is a Styrofoam base.  She walks you through the whole process, then makes suggestions for adding embellishments.
Our two hours were a lot of fun and productive.
I love going home with a finished project.

Here we are with our trees.  Each is the same, but different.

Here is Charlie, helping me hold my pattern down while I pin and cut for a new nightgown.
He loves to help out. 

Fall was very pretty in our own backyard.
Don't you just love all that red.  

While the weather was good, I thought it would be a neat time to showcase a couple of the things I have or am working on,. Told you about making those fabric baskets while at quilt retreats, so felt it was time to make another, bigger one.
This one was in time for Halloween.
It was a perfect container to hold our treats. I tried using an even bigger square.
Oh the ideas I have for these cuties.

This is what I started out with for the making of my clock which I showcased in my last post.
You know me.  I do enjoy handwork!

I did finish up one more Halloween cross stitch envelope.
Now starting to work on a couple of Christmas gifts and maybe an envelope or two.

Here is another class from Harvest House Quilting.
I have had the pattern, and this fabric to make The "Diva Frame Wallet" by Sew Many Creations.
I have had the pattern and fame for a couple years, and obviously had not made it.
When Colleen offered a class in using this pattern, I was all in.

It looked complicated, but again when you are in a small class, with one on one teaching, it does not sound so bad.
I do have a hard time reading patterns and trying to figure out what they mean.
I had this all done within the two hour class. This was the first time I have put a set in zipper.
I think I did not do too bad.  Had to purchase another frame to make another one!

I keep telling you that I have cross stitched a lot, but just have not make them all up yet.
Yep! I have.   I enjoy the process.  So many patterns, not enough time!
This has become so addicting.

I, also, have told you about the quilt I am making using a color range by Kona Cottons.
This is what I have so far.  The blocks are finishing at 8 inches.  One I got the hang of using the special ruler that
Gyleen X. Fitzgerald designed, for her "Trash to Treasure Pineapple Quilts".
I decided to make it a bit bigger.  Another row longer and wider. before I work on the borers.
My son is loving how this quilt is turning out.
I am too!

Just a touch of Fall.
American Gold Finch.

The squirrels are hard at working, burying nuts for the winter.
If you  ever get the chance to watch them, do so. They are so interesting.
How do they remember where they buried them!

That it for today.
Thursday Sew Days, I am busy working on more Row by Row patterns.
The other day I did sort them out to see what seasons I had kits and patterns for.
Looks like there is going to be a quilt for Fall. It has been so much fun working on this past years rows.  Again, I enjoy the process. More on this later.

Have a great week.
Enjoy your sewing.
Mary

Fun in the burbs

Here is one of my little cross stitch projects all sewn up into a zipper pouch.
The fabric surely fits this pansy.

Have you ever seen these?
There are fall crocus.
I saw some like these while in Racine, and had to find our about them.
One of our local greenhouses had them.
Funny, though, they are not inexpensive.
I just had to have a couple though.
Maybe the chipmunks and rabbits won't eat them.

The Monarchs are still in the area.

The robins are getting a bath before their flight south.

The latest grouping of rows that I have pieced.  Some still need their embellishments,
but that won't happen until it is put together and quilted.

Who knew that there are iris that blooms out of season.  This was a surprise.

When you are out and about, you never know what you are going to see!
I was sitting at a stop light, and these horse seemed to be greeting me.
He was very interested in what was going on around him. Sorry about
the picture quality, I took it through my windshield.

Just a bit of fun and progress.

Hope you are having a great week.
Mary

We are heading home

Time to be starting home.

Andy few home the day before as he had to work that evening.

We had lunch with Ron's mother to celebrate her upcoming 91st birthday.

We did make a couple of stops.

They called their row, "Water, Water Everywhere".
This was the first shop just over the line in Pennsylvania, Calico Patch Quilt Shop.
They are in North East, PA.

On our way out we had made a stop in Erie, and picked up this row at TaDaQuilting Studio
H    TWO   OH

Here is "Go take a walk on the beach" from Super Stitch, also in North East, PA.
They had a special ruler to make the steps.

After another night in Cleveland, Ohio, we had decided to make a stop in Shipshewana, Indiana.
We wanted a chicken dinner at the Das Dutchman in Middlebury.
We stopped at The Cotton Corner in Shipshewana to pick up their row.
They had a winner already.

The bottom row is this years, "Wana Waves"
The one on the top "Hoosier Harvest: was last years row.  They still had patterns left for sale.

This area has a lot of Amish residents. Love to see their modes of transportation.

Pumkinvine Quilting, in Middlebury has a neat row.  It is "Krider Waterwheel Cottage"
It is after a historic building in the area.

They have had a winner as well.

Here is my last one, well at least from Indiana.
"Splash Time!" is from The Quilt Shop at the Essenhaus shops in Middlebury.

At the Das Dutchman, was this cute quilt.  Love the gingham fabric for the border sets it off.

How about the yo yo's on this table runner?

At the Das Dutchman restaurant they have this area showing off several antiques and quilts.

Love those baskets.

This Loan Star is so pretty. The combination of blue and yellow is fresh looking.

Well that about does it for the time being.
Time to settle in for a while, and get some more sewing done.
I still have pictures of more quilts to share that I have finished.
I have done a lot of embroidery that needs to be made into  purses of set as pictures.  I am still considering what to make them into. Still have a lot of rows to now work on.
A couple of retreats will be coming up soon. Who knows what else I will get done.
I have to say it feels pretty good to be able to say I have completed some of those projects that have been on that
UFO list.  There are at least a dozen more to work on.  Then there are any little things that come along that will be fun to work on.
Got to keep busy.
Hope you are having a wonderful summer.
Mary