They're Beautiful!

Jeff hasn't been feeling very well this week, so he bought ME roses!

Thanks honey!

I'm On A Roll!

Boy!  It feels so good to be productive.  It also feels so good to feel so good!

These are the quilts I quilted on Wednesday. 

I don't know the name of this pattern, but it makes a nice child's quilt.  It works great with all those cute conversational prints.  You do have to be careful if your fabric is directional.  Gina did a great job on this quilt.  I did a loopie meander with Lime thread. 

Here is a close up of the block.

Frogs, turtles, lizards caterpillars.  All those creepy crawly things children love to touch!!


I would love to cuddle under this quilt.

This is an all flannel quilt (backing too!) that Kay made for her sister.  It has a dimensional first border that I had to be careful not to quilt down. 

This block is so simple, but made a beautiful quilt.  The block is one light/one dark 2 1/2" x 4 1/2and one light/one dark 2 1/2" square." rectangles  

I am sure you can set this in many different combinations.  This quilt was meandered using Mother Goose thread! 

Wednesday I also accomplished...getting the kitchen cleaned, making the bed, mailing two other quilts, making copies of designs (no, I didn't find the folder, but luckily I had saved it on the computer), went on a 8.64 mile bicycle ride, made dinner and went to choir practice.  Wow!  What a Day!!

I can hardly wait to see what today brings :)

Today's Accomplishment

I got this on and off the machine today.

I love this quilt!  It was made with 5" squares that may have been a charm pack.  Guess what quilt I'm going to be piecing next?

I quilted this quilt with the Will 'o the Wisp pantograph with rail grey thread. 

The backing fabric complimented the front nicely!  I don't know what collection this was from, all the selvage edges were cut off.

That was the only quilt I got done today because I am trying to find a folder with designs in it.  I know it was in the van on the 13th of July.  After that, I can't remember where I would have put it.  The search will continue.  I'm sure it will be in the last place I look!! 

On (and Off) The Machine Today!

It is so nice to be back in the groove of quilting.  This is what I accomplished today.

First was this 45" x 45" quilt.  I love the colors and the back was just as pretty as the front.

This quilt was meandered using white thread.  I thought I took another photo at a different angle, but I couldn't find it.

When this collection of fabrics came out a few years ago I fell in love with them.  I think I bought 4 panels to have just in case I have grandchildren.  They have reprinted this collection in more primary colors and I still love it.  When I first unfolded this, I thought Linda had sashed each block.  This is the panel with border added.

I love how each block only has items in it that begins with that specific letter.

My favorite block...because I like cows!!

I quilted this using the Star & Loops pantograph with beige thread. 

I got another quilt back & batting loaded so I just have to load the top in the morning.  I hope I get just as much done tomorrow!

Another Mariner's Compass

Do you remember the Mariner's Compass I made in April?  This will refresh your memory.

Well, my dear husband Jeff decided to make one too!  He started his compass the Sunday before our son's wedding.  My quilting books helped him draw the design he wanted.

Very carefully, using nails, string and a straight edge, he got the design on his....ceiling!

I forgot to take pictures of the different painting stages, but here is the final Mariner's Compass!

I was amazed and surprised he finished this in three days.  It looks great. He still has to finish the outer edge which will be painted the same color red as points.

What ceiling did he put this on you ask?   Well.....

....the breezeway...of course!

Jeff and I spend a lot of time on the breezeway Spring through Fall.  We love morning coffee at the bistro table while watching the birds in the back yard. 
Yep!  I love my little corner of the planet too!

The Rural Thimble Quilt Retreat Projects

Today I will post photos of the projects we all worked on while at The Rural Thimble Quilt Retreat in Charm, OH. 

This is a Disappearing 4-Patch, set on point.  It was made by Mary. 

Jackie was working on Snail Tail blocks and worked on this batik quilt for one of her granddaughters.  It was made using a jelly roll!

'Momma' Barb was working on several different projects.  She worked on making 16-patches using her 2 1/2" square scraps,

She made about half a dozen "10 minute Table runners",

and she machine quilted in the ditch a 'Hello, Kitty' strip quilt.  She was one busy quilter!

Debbie worked on a Garden Maze quilt.  Here is a completed row, third project from the left.



Gladys was working on a wall hanging kit she bought at Fabric Shack a few years ago.  It involved making flying geese.   These were charms and she used the Missouri Star Quilt Company's tumbler template to make this adorable quilt.

Notice the sticky note on the machine.  It says, "1/4" Gladys".  When I first met Gladys, she was working on a sampler and having difficulty making things match up.  I asked her where her quarter inch seam mark was and she said, "Oh, I just eyeball it."  I about hit the floor.  I am glad to report she now has a quarter inch mark on her machine!  Oh, I did help her fix her flying geese with minimal aggravation!  I hope she post a photo on her blog: www.gladysgab.blogspot.com.

Michelle brought the Colorado Star Log Cabin to work on.  She was so happy to finally have time to get this finished.  First she ran out of a certain fabric, but having a quilt/fabric store next door has its benefits.  After Michelle completed the blocks, she laid them out only to realize she was 4 blocks short.  She hopes they are at her house.


 

Michelle's next project was a wall hanging for her Mom who loves chickens!

I was inspired by Mrs. Dillydally (www.dillydallydays.blogspot.com) to make this Square Dance quilt.  I used a Layer Cake and it is out of the book Livin' Large.
Mrs. Dillydally didn't tell me how piecing intense it was!

Finally, the main portion of the quilt is pieced.

I thought I followed the instructions to a T, but I did not have enough leftover Layer Cake to make the scrappy border.  Once again the quilt/fabric store came to the rescue.  I added 2 outer borders, one at 2 1/2" and the other at 5 1/2". 

Here it is on the back porch,

And the front porch.

Before we all packed up and headed our separate ways, we got photos with our projects. 

And last but not least....me taking a picture of Dorothy taking a picture of us!

We all had such a wonderful time.  Good Friends, good fellowship, lots of food and Lots of laughter.  All these ladies are my QBees (Quilting Buddies) and we're ready for our next adventure!



Quilting In Charm...The Rural Thimble Quilt Retreat...Photo Intense

I first and foremost must thank Mary and Paul Troyer for inviting me and my QBees to be the first guests in this beautiful house/retreat center.

l to r:  me, Gladys, Jackie, Michelle, Debbie & Barb

This house used to be connected to Miller's Dry Good Store and was the home of Mary's sister, Katie.  The house is not longer connected, and has been totally redone to accommodate quilters and crafters.  I cannot wait to see the before photos! 

When you walked in the front door before modification, there was the staircase.  It's not there anymore, and you can see the wonderful space we had to work in.

You can arrange the room to fit your needs.  We made a square O so we could all see each other and talk.

 

Here are some photos of the arrangement of tables and the QBees hard at work!



Momma Barb's workstation!

 

Debbie trying to get those snowballs perfect!



Here are some photos of the house.  They speak for themselves.  This place is beautiful.  Four bedrooms two full baths, one half bath, dining room, kitchen, living room and two porches, one front and one back. 

This is the only downstairs bedroom.  To the left is the open area and to the right is sliding doors to the back porch.  I chose this room!  This room is made private by closing doors to the open area.

One of the upstairs rooms.  Each twin bed had a Yellow Brick Road quilt, quilted with the 'big stitch'.

Another upstairs room.  Sorry it is sorta fuzzy.

This is one fun room!  The final upstairs room has two twin beds and a double bed.

I didn't take a photo of the upstairs bathroom, but here is the full bath on the main floor.

The Living Room...

The Dining Room.  This table is beautiful!!

The kitchen is top of the line and all the modern conveniences we are used to having.  Except me, I don't have a dishwasher!

 These cabinets in the kitchen are the most beautiful cabinets I have ever seen.  Sorry I didn't get a close up.

Front porch....



Jackie & Michelle taking a break



Beautiful front door



The back porch through the back door.  There was very comfortable seating out there!

The Laundry Room...

and of course, the new staircase.....

We had a wonderful time and made some great memories.  I hope I will be able to come back for more quilting fun with my QBees! 
I'll put our projects in the next blog post...there are already too many photos here!