New phone

I have a new phone and am writing this on it. The main thing is to be able to send pictures to my blog straight from my phone instead of going through the email.  So much is happening this month the blogs will be few in number.

This part of a quilt I want to make but it will have to get in line. 

I am going to have to turn these right in my phone before sending. So that is all for now.

The best weather

I think I must obsess about the weather but it has been so beautiful.  And with the rain we have had I hope we have some glorious colors on the trees this fall.  I thought August and September were busy but little did I know.  Quilt shows, retreats, festivals, craft fairs, so much to do so little time.
Our guild met and it was great to have so much conversation and so many  ideas expressed. 
The weather has provided me with the opportunity to let Cecil my poodle wear his fall sweater.

I think it looks so cute.  I am sure he does also and it must feel good these cool mornings./

A friend's mother-in-law was visiting from Wisconsin and she came to Community Quilting with us at the Red Cross building last month.  She put together the 9 patches and we cut them.  She also came to our Bee the next Saturday and arranged them and sewed them together.  I took it home, quilted it and put on the binding.  I do love the contrast of red, white, and blue.  I hope she likes the picture of her son-in-law and her donated quilt.

I had to finish up the Count on it Calendar hanging before Oct 1 but did not have the candy corn buttons for the fangs as they were not in the bag of buttons I bought to go with the book patterns.  They had to be ordered separately.  I picked them up yesterday after watercolor and they really make the piece.

I also love the Halloween fabrics I got from Lady Bug quilt shop in downtown Wendell. 
The patterns for the Stitcher's Garden class this month are 6 small blocks which use bobbin stitching
around the perimeter and the flower.  The center is a yoyo but I might put on a button.  We will see.
This was my first time with bobbin stitching.  Not sure it is right but will do it anyway.

I have not pulled the two threads to the back yet.  It is ok but .......

Well Cecil wants to go out so I will wind up for now.

Glorious quilting weather

Sally

 



Louise Penny and flowers

I have always adored mystery books.  Once I discovered Agatha, Ellis Peters, and now Louise Penny I cannot rest if there is a new book I have not read.  My friend LW told me about Penny and her detective Chief Inspector of the Surete in Montreal Canada, Armand Gamache and his quiet village just south of Montreal, Three Pines where more murders happen than should for a town that size.
But it is not all just about who "done it." Her character development and understanding of human capabilities both good and bad make for a deeply satisfying read.  From her first title Still Life to the newest How the Light Gets In you are deeply involved in these peoples lives.  I was lucky enough to see that she was doing a book signing in Raleigh at Quail Ridge Bookstore last Friday night and with three friends who share a love of reading we took off.  I was enchanted with Louise Penny from her first words to her last and when she signed my book I was content.  This had to be a top ten experience for me.  I felt this way even more after last night when I finished the new book.
I want to share with you how the title came about.  It is from a poem/song by Leonard Cohen-"Anthem."

Ring the bells that still can ring,
Forget your perfect offering,
There's a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.

Anyway if you love a good mystery and character development here it is.

Finally the back is better and I have felt like sewing.  Here are the two stitcher's garden blocks from Tuesday's class.

The little one on the bottom should have had rick rack around the bigger flower but I don't do rick rack.   Only three more months!!!!!
Going to P's to quilt tomorrow.  Will work on Confetti quilt squares and maybe snowmen blocks.
Mystery quilting
Sally

my back and snowmen

It seems as if my back goes out more than I do.  It is taking longer for the muscles to recover this time than usual.  I looked on the medicine bottle and it seems as if it was just this time last year I was dealing with my back.  Must be the "vacation in august" syndrome.  Anyway off to dr this am to see if it is something besides muscles.  They can't be weak after hauling around the sewing machines.  And speaking of that why did they call the little singers "featherweights?"  I guess everything is relative.  The calendar project meets on Friday and I will have to decide to carry hand work if my back is still not right.  I love doing them but will be glad when I have all twelve.  Then I will probably make a birthday one.  Here is the one for September.

I tried to find a button in the shape of a worm but will have to be satisfied with the lady bug on the leaf.  I really do enjoy doing these and it is fun to go to my stash for the fabrics. 
Here is the block for last month's stitcher's garden.

I have really learned a lot about my machine and sewing in general.  This block was about putting in piping in the borders.  I am getting anxious about putting all these blocks into a quilt!
I have finished the mystery quilt in amish fabrics and it is at Heather's being quilted. 
The other project I finished and handed to AB for a donation quilt was the BOM for Drunkard's Path.
Only 10 of the twelve kits were turned in so I found more fabric and made the other two blocks.  I like to practice feathers on the borders and got a lot of help from PB and Sue Nickels' book on quilting feathers.  I would love to take a class from her. Thanks to Marla's bee class on machine quilting several from the guild have plunged into machine quilting and are really enjoying it.

We try to keep our donation quilts less than 45 inches wide so we can get two pieces from our 90" wide roll of batting.  Two other kind people took two other kitted up BOMs to quilt and finish.
Little by little we are getting them done.  Thanks all for doing these.
Hopefully I will be better by this weekend so I can finish my snowman blocks.  Can't wait to see what everyone is doing for a block.  18 people have signed up so I am making 20 blocks. 
Looking forward to some cooler less humid air. 
Red delicious quilting.
Sally

waiting for cool...

I am not sure why the refurbishing bug hits me in the summer.  I guess since it is so hot that I don't go outside much and can see what is in my house.... hence the mood to fix, clean, redo comes upon me.
After putting new carpet in the bedroom and laminate down the hallway which by the way Cecil does not like I await the roofer.  He is trying to find three plus days of dry weather.  I guess that will come next week or not.  Can't wait to get up for the next few days to temps in 60s and drier air.

Finally finished the appliqued borders on mystery quilt now to put them on and miter corners.  I will be glad to have that done and will probably take it to Heather to quilt.  Would love do quilt it myself but my fledgling hand quilting skills are not ready for prime time.  \

Went to LibertyRosePatterns.com to see patterns and signed up for class for Halloween tree.  More applique.  I must be crazy.  It is nice to have hand work to do while I laze in the recliner watching Castle.  I do love that show.  I know I have seen most of them several times but as I have dvr set to record whenever it comes on once in a while I get to see one I have not seen before.  Joy!

I am working on the "Confetti" pattern by Augusta Cole and it really is rewarding to add new strips to the corner pieces.  Here is what I have done so far.

I am using batiks and the sad thing it has not made a dent in my stash.  I do love the color.

Time to go to meeting, bank, and then "Stitchers Garden" class at Thistle Bee.  

Colorful cool quilting

Sally                                 



projects!!!!

One of the things I don't like doing is several projects at one time.  However, I realized that I would have to get over that when I signed up for two ongoing classes at Thistle Bee.  And there are so many quilt patterns that are calling me.  I realize for many of my quilting friends this is just one of the "blessings" of quilting.  I have at least caught up with the calendar hangings with the August ones just finished and the September ones ready for the machine applique.

 
 

 The top one is for me and the bottom one is for my next door neighbor.  The boat is named Cecil for "our" dog and there is a little duck in the water.  What fun.

This is "Laura's quilt" finished and quilted by Heather Tighe in Hampstead.  Just love it.

This is part of a border which will be on all sides of small quilt.  First time for applique on borders.

 

Finally more garden pictures.  I have a perennial hibiscus which does not get very tall but has these really large blooms.  It tries so hard.  And I tried some moon flowers this year from seed. So rewarding and they are so rich in color.

 

Time to work on borders.

Appliqueing quilting

Sally

I know it is coming!

I know we will have to pay for this wonderful rain and these low temperatures but while it is here...!!! To have gotten this far into the summer with only 5 or so days just breaking 90 is ok by me.  I just watered my plants for the first time in at least 2 or 3 weeks and it is supposed to rain again this week.
Some results of the rain follow.

I just love the large dahlias and the star gazer lily is blooming for the first time The fragrance is unbelievable.  These two blooms threaten to pull the plant over and I had to stake it.  Just love them.
 I have been working on several projects at once... don't we all... and two of these are the calendar hangings and the block of the month "stitcher's garden" at Thistle Bee Quilt Shoppe. 
Here are the latest.

It is so much fun to go to my stash and pick out wild combinations of Kaffe Fassett fabrics for these.

I loved learning how to do pintucks for the heart of the flower.

Sorry about the lighting on the two flowers.  I am making a second set of the calendars for my young neighbor so the flip flops are for her and the flag is for me.  I put some bead loops on the flip flops and will put some beads coming out of my fireworks.
Finally to report a wonderful family event.  My sister-in-law's birthday ( won't say which one but it was significant) was a successful surprise to her.  My brother planned for us all to get there around 10am and just visit and eat all day.  Works for me.  My nephew brought lobster from Wilmington and together with contributions of filets, salad, potatoes and a dessert made the day a food extravaganza.  The boys even brought some special spring?? rolls from Wilmington.  All in all a great day.

This is Pete with two fellows who were invited? for supper.

LV is coming for lunch.  We are having chicken salad, garden salad and if I hurry up peach cobbler for dessert.  Hope these SC peaches are as good as usual.
Family quilting
Sally

Guild, rain, workshops

I am not sure but I think this must be the coolest June I can remember.  But then again I don't remember last week.  I just know it was full of things to do and places to be.  I just love being retired so I can meet friends for lunch or sleep past 6:30am or paint watercolors with friends or sew all day.

One thing I was able to finish was the quilt for my neighbor's daughter P who just graduated college.
The colors: purple and gold for Rosewood High School and green and gold for her college were at first a problem.  Then I found the Bonnie Hunter pattern "Texas Tumbleweeds" which worked great and I could use my favorite batiks which would include some turquoise and oranges for pop.
It was a present from her family, me and Cecil whose picture is on the label.

This charming young lady is a Brice's Creek inhabitant who visits anyone who has bread.  C called her Lulu Bell.

Another donation quilt from fabric in the guild stash.  It is hard to beat red, white, and blue and a disappearing 9 patch.

This monster 98"x106" is called Colors of My World

and was quilted by Heather Tighe of Hampstead, NC.  I told P I would give it back to her after show and tell.  I just love how the two blocks: Jacob's ladder and one I call Martian star,  work to make the quilt interesting.

I am a little frazzled.  Such fun with Augusta Cole and I enjoyed dinner with her and three other guild members at OG on Friday night.  Just love my "turquoise baby."

The rain has many benefits not the least of which is producing beautiful flowers without having to water.  Nobody waters like God.  This is the first bloom from a Rose of Sharon I planted last year.

My mother used to have one and I have always wanted to plant one.  I remember her carrying around her quart jar of kerosene and knocking off the Japanese beetles into it so they could drown.  She was such a sweet lady.

Have to go and finish the July calendar hanging before tomorrow morning.

Firecracker quilting.

Sally

Soggy June

I was so excited to go out this morning and pick my first gardenias.  I wait every June to see and smell them.  Most of the bushes in my yard are from ones I have rooted in water then in pots on my kitchen window sill for two years and then planted in the rainy spring. I have two in pots on the deck I need to get into the ground now.  Happy day.  Just put out a day lily from C and some purple basil plants.  This rainy weather will help them get established.  Put some cosmos seedlings into the ground also.
Hope they make it.  Love to see them blooming.

 

 

This next picture is the June block for the Stitchers Garden class P and I are taking.  Love the Kaffe flame pattern.  First time for couching.  Not such a great job.  Where is the magic marker?

I just finished the binding on a 98x106 quilt and a wounded warrior quilt to send to Kandahar.  Thanks to AB for coordinating that effort for the guild.  It was such an easy pattern with half square triangles from 6 inch squares we had in the guild stash.  It was fun to see how many ways to turn them.

I think I will do the next one with disappearing 9 patch.  It is so forgiving and versatile

Have to stop and get to work on the extra block for our "Stitcher's Garden"class today at The Thistle Bee.  I love picking out the fabrics but drawing out the pieces on H & B is a pain.  I think this is the half way month.  Not sure how it will be put together. 

And for the last picture this is a quilt top I just finished.  We call it Laura's quilt because she was the one to show us the very simple one block pattern.  Just love the secondary  pattern the whites make.  It came out a little large measuring about 75x59 but I really like it.  It helped me use some but not a lot of my reproduction fabrics.

 

Will have to close. There is a line of storms approaching Raleigh and want to be off computer.  Quilted at C's today and got a start on the 396 4-patches for the confetti quilt.  What is sad is that I have a box full of batik strips and have not made a dent in it.  We are going to the show in Wilminton tomorrow.  I hope to fins a dark batik either blue or black for the outer border.  Lots of sewing to do.

Steamy quilting

Sally

 

 

 

                        



I cant believe May is nearly over.

Things are moving just too fast.  Where has spring gone??? I am glad to get the rain but......
Pretty soon summer will be here arrrrgh. 
I have just two or three irises that bloom and I love them.  C gave me some more but I need to find a place they will thrive not just send up leaves.
Here is a picture of my favorite.  I call her "Drama Queen" and love the color.

                            

 

I am making another set of the Bakers Dozen calendar hangings for K who graduated with an Associated Degree and is continuing on at Mt. O.  Here is the June hanging "Mr. B"

 

Continuing with the Stitchers Garden class here are the last two pieces.  Having to do two is really pushing my time!!!  I still need to do the applique on the bottom piece and fix the borders.

C and I went to Gastonia and blazed through Foust and Mary Jo's last week.  MJ's prices are not much better than our local stores now but she does carry a large variety of fabrics under one roof.
I even picked up a Kaffe fabric to add to my stash for these blocks.  Then we stopped at Thimble Pleasures where I exchanged a foot I had ordered for one that did what I wanted.  Yes I also picked up two other Kaffe fabrics there.  They have probably one of the best collections of his fabrics around. 
Now to use up some of those fabrics.
Steadily quilting
Sally 

 

Rainy monday

 We are getting a good soaking rain and all the new plants and trees are drinking it in.  Was planning on going to yoga today.  I really was even though M was out of town but sitting here watching and listening to the rain is so calming I think I will miss it today.
I let Cecil out early and he did not stay long.  He looked like a drowned rat when he came in but he does love to get dried off with the towel.  Free massage.


We had bee in Garner Saturday and those ladies are so talented and do so many charity quilts for veterans and kids.  They also are so giving to the collection of scraps for dogs project at ME's quilt shop "Thistle Bee" that the back of my suv is full of bags of scraps. 

Here are some of the dog beds that volunteers make at TB and fill with donated scraps.  There are big and small beds for dogs at the Animal Shelter.

I have been working on the blocks for "Stitchers Garden" and here are the  two for last month's class

 

I do love the Kaffe fabrics for these blocks.  I still have to finish putting on buttons on the top block.  Then I have to work on the two for this month.

Here is my Baker's Dozen block for the calendar hangings.  Just love these.

And last but by no means least here is the Easy Street Mystery quilt from Bonnie Hunter.  It is really large.  Had to go to ME's shop and use the quilt rack to have enough room to get a good picture.  I do love the colors and all the action in the quilt.  It is now my "spring" quilt.  The back is a purple and turquoise 108" wide batik.  yum yum.

Got to get to work.

Rainy quilting.

Sally

 

 

 



Nature and sewing

I love this time of year when we get those little reminders of how cool it can be in April and I look out my window to see the abundant display of Azaleas, dogwood, and other flowering trees in my yard or in my neighbors' yards.  If I am patient I can see the bluebird watching out for his home from the top of a camellia bush and Cecil sleeping in his chair at the same time.  God is indeed good.

Our quilt guild had a day of sharing today with nearly 100 quilters attending from surrounding guilds.
It was a wonderful day because of the amount of work done in preparation.  Our theme was "April in Paris" and it was reflected in the decorations which included a lighted 4ft. tall replica of the Eiffel Tower, chocolate candies in the shape of ...you guessed it towers, and challenge quilts on the theme.
For lunch we had chicken salad in ...what else...croissants and the members brought salads and more salads.  The guild from the next county brought desserts.  Many beautiful quilts were shown, giving inspiration to get home and get started on a new pattern.  Door prizes were distributed from vendors who were kind enough to respond to our request.  And after a year from its beginning our beautiful double irish chain raffle quilt was given away.
All in all a pretty satisfying day.

I am moving out on the limb of embellishments and adding beads to my calendar quilts.  It really is fun.  Don't know if it will show up here. These are such fun.

 

I have made the blocks for "stitchers" garden but need to do the machine applique on them.

I do have a picture of a real flower however which is at my mail box.  I don't know why it blooms so early but it does then that is it.  Maybe it will be stronger this year.  I love the color of this clematis. 

 

Time to feed Cecil and me.  It has been a wonderful day.
Pollen-free quilting.
Sally

 

 

Beach sewing

After a trip to outer banks to sew it is hard to get back to regular stuff getting in the way.  We had a great time and the weather was wonderful.  The beach walking was cool with the wind off the still cold water but having lunch and sitting in the sun on the deck was the best. 
The detour was not too stressful except for the turtles.  I have a picture but not the best one.  haha.  This one looked prehistoric and was not in a good mood.  Hopefully he got to where he was going in one piece.

 

We stopped at the Big Trout Café in Englehard and ate with the sheriff.  We had shrimp sandwiches and C had a flounder sandwich cooked by "hot dog" Our food was delicious.

 

Cecil was glad just to be in the car and he chose P to be his bff.  He had a great time.

 

I finished putting on the pieces for Heartstrings on 9 blocks and now have to machine applique them..

I also worked on a batik quilt "texas tumbleweeds" and got two blocks ready (thanks to P) for machine applique on the "Stitchers Garden" workshop at ME's.
C was doing strip sets for a small 25 patch and cut us all enough for one of our own.  I did get one block made. 
Was a great time and worth the 5 hour drive.  P brought her delicious chicken and bean soup, C brought tea and those wonderful sugar cookies dredged in soft sugar.  I brought baked spaghetti and we ate most of all that food. 
Now to get back to reality with Day of sharing on Saturday and my cousin Art coming through on his way to Canada on Friday.
Sunny quilting
Sally