Just One Block a Month, That's All We Ask

Ok, quilters. How many of you do the same thing that I do? You see a block a month program that looks fabulous. The Fat Quarter Shop has been running some amazing ones. You think, "I can do a block in one month, no problem!" Right? Wrong!!!!! At least for me. If you know much about quilting and these types of complicated blocks, it takes almost as much time to make one as it does to strip piece and sew a number of the same design. So I'm dreadfully behind. Dreadfully, dreadfully behind.



This is the Designer Mystery Block of the Month from a year ago. Here are six of the blocks.

Here are three more. I'm on a roll. I made three blocks last week. Tomorrow I'm going to make the final three. I have the finishing kit and I will do the sashing, add the borders, take it down and quilt it on the longarm, bind it and it's done!!! Then...........

I will then get started on these two Block of the Month programs. (I'm not even going to mention the Block of the Month programs that I have "hidden" away in the cupboards. Why, oh, why!!!???!!!..........

If you do your Block of the Month blocks on time every month what is your secret?

****Addendum: I didn't want you all to think that it was in any way the fault of The Fat Quarter Shop or any other quilting institution that puts the Block of the Month Programs together as the reason I don't get them done. Also, I don't want you to think that they are too difficult. The instructions are wonderful. Ladies, it's ME ME ME ME!

Do unto others...

We live in such a hectic world. We are pulled in all directions. There never seems to be enough time to do everything we want to do for ourselves, let alone do something for others. Watch this little video, however, and rethink your priorities. I know I will.

Congratulations Sadie!

Scottish Terrier Sadie has won Best In Show at the Westminster Dog Show. A big shout out to Sadie - congratulations!!!!

Oh, my mistake. This isn't Sadie. It's my Maggie. The resemblance is remarkable, don't you think?

This is Sadie. Same soulful eyes, same loyal demeaner. Same terrier spirit. What is not to love, right?

Although my little Maggie won't win any ribbons, won't win best in show in any competitions, she is first in my heart. I love you, Maggie Doodles! Now could you please stop chewing up my sprinkler system and barking at the neighbors? Please? For Mommy!

Please excuse the interruption!

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Sometimes you just gotta laugh.

You're welcome!

More Retreat Photos

I promised you more retreat photos and here they are. Almost 2 1/2 years ago our group drew names and holidays for a quilted project exchange. For one reason or another we were never able to get together at a time to exchange them. Last weekend we finally did. We had a blast seeing what everyone made.

Kay, my BFF Nikki's Mom drew my name and made this lovely table topper. She also gave me the prettiest paper napkins and plates and a note that said she would meet me for lunch in my garden this summer. I hate to disappoint her, but this little quilt is much too beautiful to risk getting dirty. It's going to hang on the wall in my sewing room. We'll still do lunch, though!

Wanett's Christmas quilt.

Marian's Thanksgiving quilt.

Halloween wallhanging (held by Nikki) for her Mom, Kay.

Enlarge it and you may be able to see the little crystals sparkling.

Joey's summer wall hanging with a wire bee hanger.

She had just said that morning that she wished she had bought the pattern .

Cindy's winter wall hanging.

Heather's Valentine quilt.

Nancy's St. Patrick's Day table runner and place mats.

Rose's fall quilt.

Debbie's spring quilt.

Amy's Patriotic Fourth of July Quilt.

Finally finished - it only took me 2 1/2 years!



I'm sure you can all agree that this is a group of talented ladies!

Retreat

I'm back from retreat and boy did we have a great time!!! Our little group left last Friday and returned home on Monday. I've finally got all the laundry done and my sewing supplies put away. It's always a lot of work but so worth the effort.

This is where we stayed. Isn't it beautiful? It's part of a Chistian Conference Center in the foothills near Sonora, California. You can see more pictures of the facility here. If you live near here and want to schedule a retreat I'd be glad to help you. The staff is wonderful and the food. What can I say about the food? I haven't eaten food this good at fancy restaurants. We're talking bacon wrapped filets, creme brulee, homemade soups, made to order omelets, etc., etc., etc.... and RASPBERRY CHEESECAKE! Yes,you heard me right! Homemade RASPBERRY CHEESECAKE!!!!!!!!! Their chef is awesome and always fixes us the best meals. They are brought up to us from the main lodge and served to us, we don't have to lift a finger. They even come up at 6:30 in the morning to turn on the coffee maker. Talk about spoiled.

We don't travel light. This is my van and this is "stuff" for just Nikki and I. Notice the electric blankets? Tee Hee!



This was Cindy's car. She transported four ladies. It's a good thing she has side mirrors.

Our beautiful view.

Last year we were given black and red 5" squares of fabric and challenged to make a small quilt. I was a bit hesitant as those are colors I don't normally sew with. They turned out just beautiful, though. All of the quilts are being donated to cancer patients so they can snuggle up and stay warm while they have their chemotherapy treatments.

Some of the sewing that went on.... This is a little lap quilt that I put together. Notice the chenile? It's an uber-simple pattern but the Fig Tree fabric makes it really pretty.

More projects..... all those corners to match!

It's never to early to get ready for Christmas.

Our workroom. This year there were only ten of us. One of the ladies had an emergency at the last minute and couldn't attend. We sewed from morning right after breakfast until after midnight some days. We also went shopping at the local quilt stores, watched a movie and even had time for naps. Aahhhhhh.......

We even had some visitors. This was taken outside the dining room window.

I'll have more pictures to share next post.

I'm Off!

I'm off to our annual quilt retreat today! My bags are packed and loaded as well as half of my sewing room. It's a good thing I own a van! I just have to go pick up my BFF Nikki and off we go. Our retreat location is only about an hour away but once we're there it's like we're on the other side of the world. Four days of sewing and eating, sharing and laughing. I'll have pictures to share when I return. Sweety will have the house to himself - except for Maggie, that is

Speaking of Maggie,I've made a grave mistake. I don't know how I did it but I forgot her birthday. Our little girl turned two years old on January 20th. It seems like just yesterday that we got her here. We've had our ups and downs but for the life of me, I don't know what I would do without my little sweet Maggie!!
Talk to you soon -and Maggie, take good care of Daddy!

I'm In A Bind!

Don't get me wrong. I love to quilt. I love the fabrics. I love the patterns. I love the colors. I love the friendships I make. But I do not like to do the bindings. It's a big, clumsy pain to me. I have the binding sewn onto the quilt I'm working on for retreat this weekend. I just have to hand stitch it down and I'll be done. Yea! It only took me two and a half years to finish!!

I've finished the top my black and red quilt that I told you about earlier. The pattern is called Chinese Coins, but since it's to be donated to a cancer patient, I'm calling it Prayers and Pennies from Heaven. This evening I'm quilting it on a long-arm quilting machine like this. Then add the binding (ugh!) and it'll be done.

The rest of my week is going to be spent getting ready for my quilting group's, The Busy Bees, annual February quilt retreat in the Caifornia foothills. This will be our ninth year at the same fabulous facility. Yesterday four out of the eleven in the group and I met and spent the day cutting out our projects so we can get started sewing as soon as we arrive. I still have some cutting out to do as I usually take three or four projects to work on. You never know what you feel like working on or how fast something might go together. Then I need to gather all my sewing supplies, a good book, some movies to watch in the evening while we do hand work and my new scotty flannel pajamas which I wear all weekend and I'm good to go.

I'll tell you all about it when I return. Have a wonderful week and tell someone you love just that, that you love them!


*Happy Birthday Paul! I miss you every day with every beat of my heart! - Aunty Jean