Vickie's Giveaway

As part of the giant giveaway at All Sewn Up, Vickie is having a very generous giveaway! She has some charm square packs, a fat eighth roll and pincushion for some lucky bloggers. Hop over and take a look!

Farewell, Dear Friend

On Thursday, April 23, 2009, I lost a very special person. She was an angel in my life in the form of a dear friend. My heart is heavy but I know she is in a better place and that one day we will meet again. I will miss you, Nacha.

Emotional Rollercoaster

Much time has gone by since I last posted and it has been quite the rollercoaster ride these last several weeks.

First of all, we, at the quilt shop, lost a dear friend and co-worker, Helen Q. She battled for several years against cancer, first breast cancer then ovarian, and lost her fight on April 8. She made the decision not to take anymore treatments and entered into hospice care at home only a couple of months ago. She was a courageous woman. To look at her, one would never know she was ill, always smiling and sharing her humor and wit. We'll miss you, Helen.

I also received word last week that a dear family friend is very ill and doctors have advised the family there is nothing else they can do for her. She is at home, resting comfortably, and is in hospice care at home. She has been like family to us and I am saddened to hear of her failing health. Now in her 80's, she is still an avid L.A. Dodger fan and you could always find her at a game or in front of the TV cheering them on. Many a night I spent at her home putting together jigsaw puzzles, sometimes until 2 or 3 in the a.m. I have many fond memories of time spent with her that I shall carry with me always.

Then there was the planning of my granddaughter's 2nd birthday. Per her mommy's request, I made the invitations using Photoshop Elements and had them printed as photo-style invites at Costco. It was suppose to be celebrated on April 25 but because of our friend's illness, I believe my son will be rescheduling the party. My son is very close to our friend and calls her "grandma." Of course, this puts our plans to fly out there in limbo as well.

I have managed to do some fun things, though. I have completed and mailed off my siggie blocks for the International Siggie Swap hosted by Connie over at Cootie Bug 2. Can't wait to receive my blocks in the mail!! Sorry, no pics, but you can see them on Connie's blog.

I also went on a quilting retreat last week. Hosted by the Chambersburg, PA Quilt Guild, we arrived on Wednesday morning and stayed until Sunday, early afternoon. I had a wonderful time, meeting new people, laughing, eating, sewing, eating, talking, eating.....I see a pattern here! Really...there was a ton of food (mostly snacks) and that didn't include the meals prepared for us. I worked on getting a top quilted, adding borders to another quilt, and sewed and completed a tote bag (Bow Tucks). Here is a picture of the bag:



Sleep was not in our vocabulary during our stay. We were lucky if we got 3 or 4 hours per day. I will admit that by Saturday, I was ready to come home. I think 3 days is my "comfortable" max for retreats. I missed my husband and our "boys", Boomer and Spunky.

So, I am home now and catching up on much needed sleep, putting all my supplies back and just trying to get back in the swing of things. Have read some blogs but need to catch up on the rest.

Hope everyone has a great, uneventful week! Sometimes uneventful is a good thing. Take care.

A Day of Fun-Filled Sewing

Today was the day! Several of us that work at the shop got together to "test" a pattern for Mimi Dietrich and Norma Campbell, two of our own fantabulous teachers, who will be teaching up at Quilt Odyssey in Hershey, PA this summer. Anytime I can spend the day sewing is a GREAT day!

Of course, in my haste, I forgot my camera so I was not able to take pics of everyone's little quilts to share! Every single one was beautiful and the fabric choices were varied from batiks to Asians, brights, southwest, to a beautiful vintage large floral.

DH decided he would make dessert for us and I think it's safe to assume it was a hit. He made a triple chocolate cheesecake with chocolate crust, chocolate cheesecake, and topped with a chocolate ganache. Wow! Talk about a sugar rush! It was rich and decadent. One bite of that stuff and everyone was wired and ready to go again after lunch.

After several hours of sewing, here is what I was able to finish:

Now here is how I think I will end up setting it (once I get the fourth quadrant done.


Once completed, I will put some borders on it and I think I will make a bright baby quilt with it. If I keep it at four quadrants and add and inner and outer border, I believe it ends up at 40" square. However, I may end up adding some strips to make it more rectangular.

Thank you to Mimi and Norma for allowing us to test their pattern! I think it will be a hit at Quilt Odyssey. If anyone is heading to that show, be sure to take their class! They are a blast!

Re-Entering Civilization

I am finally over this "stuff" I had recently with only an occasional cough remaining. You know it's pretty bad when you can't do anything but lie in bed. I did no sewing, no hand work....nothing -- I felt that bad. I hope that with this last bout I've had my share of the yuckies for several years to come!

I taught my last session of the One Block Wonder series at the shop last week. I truly enjoyed the teaching experience and will hopefully be teaching another series this spring. I will be doing just a little "tweaking" of my handouts and changing a few details but for the most part everything is ready to go, which will take some of the pressure off for this next session.

In the sewing department, I haven't done too much. However, tomorrow I'll be attending a class taught by Mimi Dietrich and Norma Campbell. They will be teaching this project at Quilt Odyssey in Hershey, PA this year and we are the "quilt testers". It should be lots of fun, especially since the shop is closed so there will be no interruptions.

I've been reading blogs and catching up and have come across several pics of "treats". They have no calories and are just too cute! I just had to try a couple for myself. I made my own little version of them and, of course, was a little generous with their size. I have since downsized them and have had lots of fun making them. Have one!


The last couple of days I've been playing with Adobe Photoshop Elements and trying out a technique I first saw over at Luanne's blog, Invisible Woman. She is truly a talented woman with a wonderful eye for color. She makes beautiful bags which feature a "collage" on the side pocket and has even had one of her bags featured in Quilting Arts Magazine. I have always admired the bags she makes and finally decided to try to create my own collaged bag. Luanne has been kind enough to offer advice on printing and I think I finally have something I can work with! It's not as beautiful as Luanne's, but I am very pleased I made it this far. As soon as I get my bag started, I will post pics. Here's my collage:


It is printed on Printed Treasures, although I would like to try the EQ Printables to see whether they make a difference. I used an Epson printer with Durabrite inks and I am very pleased with the results. Thank you, Luanne! I couldn't have gotten this far without your help.

And so off I go to prepare my fabrics for tomorrow. I can't wait to see what everyone creates.

Hasta luego!

Down for the Count

I'm afraid I've got what DH had (and still has) and it's really got me feeling pretty yucky. My head and abdominal area hurt from all the coughing, my throat hurts, breathing is a challenge with my nose all stuffy, and I'm just MISERABLE! Called in sick yesterday, today and if I'm feeling better, I should be back at the shop on Thursday (yeah, I know, wishful thinking). Hope everyone is healthier than I am at this moment! Back to bed for me... Ugh

Mail Call!

It's been a busy couple of weeks for me as I prepared to teach the first of three sessions of the One Block Wonder at the shop. The class was full and everyone was there early, with machines in tow, ready to create some beautiful hexagons. There were several interesting fabric choices and I can't wait to see the final results. In two weeks we begin making cubes and that should be fun!

Last week I came home to find a wonderful surprise in the mail, all the way from Australia. Catherine, over at Willow Valley Store was having a giveaway and to my surprise I won first prize! I received a wonderful piece of Sandcastle, a piece of twill measuring tape ribbon, a pretty little button, and two of her newest patterns for stitcheries! How cool is that?

Thank you so much, Catherine!

In the mail this weekend, I found another package! This one contained my purchase from Nicole over at Raggedy Old Annies. She makes and sells the cutest little raggedies I have ever seen. They have big heads and wear the sweetest little dresses! I so enjoy looking at her blog and drooling over her latest doll creations! I finally gave in and purchased a pattern for one of these sweet raggedies. I hope I do her pattern justice. Of course, she also had some fabrics on clearance and I picked up 3 yards of this wonderful little 30's bowtie fabric - it was a steal(sorry, Nicole...lol)!

Aren't bloggers wonderful? Thank you ladies! I will certainly put all my little treasures to good use!

Til next time, "pieceful" days!

...and It Finally Snows

While it seemed like everywhere else across the country it was snowing, here in Central Maryland we were only being teased with winter advisories and warnings, only to amount to little more than a flurry here and there. Well, today, it has finally happened! We have snow....okay, we have a little snow...about 2 or 3 inches maybe? But it is still SNOW!! And that makes me happy...doing the happy dance! As luck would have it, I don't work today or tomorrow so bring it on! (wishful thinking).

Haven't done too much in the way of quilting but I did get my granddaughter's quilt basted (I dread this part always). My mind is mostly on prepping for the One Block Wonder class I will be teaching at the shop in a couple of weeks. Want to get my handout finalized and review the checklist--make sure I don't forget anything. I'm looking forward to teaching. I can't wait to see everyone's fabric choices and what wonderful designs they will create! I'll be sure to take pics (with their permission, of course).

A co-worker came in to work recently with a wonderful fabric purchase she'd made at the quilt shop in Annapolis. It was beautiful! As it turns out, it was the same fabric I'd been eyeing for a while after seeing it online. I cannot believe how much more beautiful it was in person. I drooled over it, touched it, and knew I had to have some. DH and I took a little trip down to Annapolis last weekend to run a few errands and guess what I bought? Yep...Charisma by Moda.


I also found some blue crab fabric. Now if you live in Maryland, you know that "blue crab" fabric is a hot find and you pick it up when you see it (most of the time the crabs in fabrics are red).

Our shop recently received a shipment of books/magazines. I gave in and purchased the newest Blackbird Designs book, "When the Cold Wind Blows". Although there are a few "non quilty" items included, most of the quilts include applique, which I really enjoy! I finally had a chance to look at the book from cover to cover this morning as I enjoyed a cup of coffee and watched the snow fall.

And while outside is covered in a blanket of snow, I think I will get comfy on the couch under my own blanket and watch a movie! Stay warm!

Bread Puddin' Kinda Day!

Today was my Sunday to work at the shop. Business was average for a Sunday and it sure beat having NO customers. It sure helped the day go by faster. The best part, however, was when I came home and found DH had made a tasty treat for me! I walked in to the sweet aroma of bread pudding. DH enjoys baking and I always benefit from his tasty delights. He used a recipe from Martha Stewart. The bread pudding calls for both raisins and bananas....yummy.

As you can see, I've already had more than my share! Thank you, honey!

For those of you who are interested in a stitchery BOM, Gail Pan has a charming BOM going on called "A Christmas Wish", which looks to be very sweet. I have never been much for stitchery (because I don't do it well), but I'm going to give this one a go.

This week I hope to continue my work on the Lois Smith sampler as she has suggested that sashings should be ready to go by next month! Yikes and double yikes! I don't even have all my blocks yet! This should be an interesting month, come to think of it....a busy one, at least.

I hear the bread pudding calling me again. It's my duty. After all, I wouldn't want to offend DH, would I....lol.

Blogland is Buzzing!

With the New Year, seems like blogland is buzzing! Red Geranium Cottage has started a Diet Challenge 2009 group. I just joined Anne Sutton over at Bunny Hill Designs for her new and free BOM, A Tisket, A Tasket. First block is way cute! Oh, and May Britt and Kris Meares have challenged quilters/stitchers to finish one WISP a month with prizes to be awarded at the end of each month. Now is that incentive, or what? Seems like everyone has started out of the gate running!

I'm starting off the New Year with my sewing machine humming! I have been chipping away at a "quilt as you go" machine sampler. Lois T. Smith is teaching her Machine Sampler class for the last time at our shop. Her book, "Machine Quiltmaking", went out of print a few years back and Lois herself has now run out of books from her stash. I decided to take her class as Lois is a very talented, nationally-known quilt teacher and quilt show judge, and I knew I would gain much knowledge from her.

Now, Lois likes a BIG palette. She recommends 12 to 15 fabrics for the 12" inch blocks. Because it is "quilt as you go", you also need your batting and backing almost right away. Hmmm...sounds like a lot of fabric. Time to shop in the ol' stash. I think I did quite well. Only needed to make a few fabric purchases to supplement what I had (DH's wallet really appreciated it, too!)

I had a tan background selected that would have worked well for my taste, BUT...let's just say a third party convinced me that I should "be different" and go with the unexpected. "What color?", I asked. "Dark espresso brown", she replied. BROWN?? So, here's the result, so far.


I've got a few more blocks (no pics yet) that are in different stages, one in particular, "Moon Over the Mountain", is waiting on my final decision for a "moon" fabric. At this point, it's looking like a "Bright Sunny Day Over the Mountain". More to come as I finish.