Quilt Reteat Fantasy

To start with, I want to let everyone know that this is only a FANTASY.  I don't ever see this ever becoming reality, but it's fun to daydream, right?! 

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Over this last Labor Day weekend, we had visited the mother-in-law's new house.  It is located in a small community in Kentucky so it was very peaceful and relaxing.

I wanted to give a small tour:

Outside view  

(photo from my niece)

Just inside the front door

The living room

Kitchen and dining area

View of loft on second floor

Due to my job as a stay-at-home-mom, I'm too busy to attend a quilt class or to join a quilt guild.  And I have never participated in a quilt retreat (though I hope to some day).  I could envision my mother-in-law's log home as perfect location for a quilt retreat.   

There are three very large bedrooms, one downstairs and two upstairs, large enough to fit three twin beds or two full\queen size beds.  Each bedroom is accompanied with it's own full bathroom.  And there is a loft area upstairs where there is some cozy seating for some hand-work can be done.

Downstairs, there is plenty of room to set up some tables for sewing machines and still have room for a couch to relax on.  There was even electrical outlets in the floor, so it was as if the room was made for this!

View from back porch

View of the back of the house

(photo from my niece)

Although I have no idea about running a retreat, I could envision 6 quilters staying for a weekend.  Just need a couple of people to take care of the meals and a couple of people for housekeeping.  The only downfall is that there is not a local quilt shop nearby.

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Now back to reality!

Trust me, I will be returning.  My husband and boys will be anticipating the next opportunity to ride the ATVs, but for me, I'll be packing as many of my UFOs as I can and I'll take advantage of the peace and quiet of the country-side and tackle a lot of my quilting projects!  Or, if I'm lucky, I might be able to get away by myself for my own private quilting paradise!

Jane   <3

Holiday Weekend Yo-yos

We had great Labor Day weekend!  We visited my mother-in-law's new log home in Kentucky (which was fabulous) and all three of my boys (my husband and two sons) had a phenomenal time riding around on ATVs on their property.

(I will have photos of the new log home and some ideas I have in a future post).

Since I had most of the applique work done on my two quilts, I needed a project to take with me on this trip (it was a 4 hour drive!).  I decided to make yo-yos for a quilt that was on the cover a past issue of American Patchwork and Quilting magazine.

I'd gotten a lot of yo-yos made but it is still only a fourth of what I need to make for the whole quilt.

Another item I took was another new read, The Help by Kathryn Stockett.  I had finished the book today and I'm looking forward to see the motion picture at the movie theater (although I think I waited too long, the movie is no longer at our local theater).

I loved the story.  Athough it had a happy ending, I had expected some twist and turns in the storyline that didn't happen. And every time I think about Mae Mobley saying "You is kind. You is smart. You is important." to Aibileen, it brings tears to my eyes.  I hope the movie will be just as moving as the book was.

The last block of Henrietta Whiskers had just come out, so I'll be anxiously finishing Block Nine and I hope to get the rest of the quilt put together by this weekend (I'll keep my fingers crossed!).

More to come later.

Jane   <3

A Quilt Top Finished

 During our busy weekend, I was still able to finish a quilt top. 

I'm not sure just how happy I am with it.  In my opinion, it didn't quite duplicate the drawing that I had made for it.

I haven't forgotten about the scalloped border.  Not sure what color the binding should be- match the pink in the border or white, blue, green...?

I'm not going to be able to quilt it for awhile.  So by that time, I hope that I'll see it differently.

So what to work on next?  I have so many UFO's that it isn't a problem in finding a project.  I think I'll look for some more quilts that still need their borders attached.  And hopefully some quick finishes!

Jane   <3

Busy Weekend

I knew this was going to happen as soon as school started.  I thought I was busy with one child with extra curricular activities.  Now I have two boys who will be playing basketball this year (older son has already started) and the younger one will start his first year of Cub Scouts.  I was lucky last year because they both were in the same school so I was able to attend school functions for both of them at the same time (holiday parties, Christmas program, book sale...).  Now the older son is in middle school so I am having to juggle my time and try not prioritize one event over another.

And it happened this last weekend.  One son had basketball and the other had Cub Scouts.

Speaking of Cub Scouts, my younger son had his first Cub Scout event.  He raced in the Raingutter Regatta!  More info at the bottom of this post.

Despite the running around we did, I was able to work on some of my quilts.

I had finished piecing the last sashing strip.  Wheww!  So glad that's done!

I should have been more careful when I was sewing it to the blocks.  So anxious to get the top together, I should have taken the seam intersections (am I using the right terms?) slower so that I'd sure that the points came out perfect.

Example: these points don't even meet.

I still have the boarders to applique, but I think I'll set it aside for a little while so I don't get too burnt out on it.

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Back to my baby's Raingutter Regatta.

The Raingutter Regatta is a racing event that is sailboat equivalent to the Cub Scout's Pinewood Derby.  A sailboat kit is required and the Scout with his parent are to assemble, paint, and decorate their boat as they choose.

Then, the boats are raced in a standard raingutter that is 10 feet long, placed on saw horses, and filled to the top with water.  The boats are propelled by blowing into the sail.  The boat cannot be touch by the hands.The first boat to reach the end of the gutter is the winner.

He said that he wanted a Darth Vader boat.  So we found some scrap booking paper with Darth Vader and fussy cut it to fit the sail.  He had painted it black (and he didn't make too much of a mess) and I sealed it with a high gloss clear coat.

And what a great outcome from his very first event as a Tiger Scout.  Something for him to proudly remember and to help keep his excitement for Scouting!

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I've finished another top this weekend.  It is my Spring Bloomers quilt made with one of Susan Branch's fabric line.

I'll post those photos tomorrow...I promise!

Jane   <3

Time Out from Sashing Work

 I have been diligently trying to finish the last sashing strip for my Reminiscence quilt.  But it seems such grueling work when I'm this close to being finished with the top.  I've had to set it aside for a short while.

I had recently looked over my Sunflower Sampler quilt.  I still love the applique sunflowers I had put on it, but I still feel that something is missing (besides the borders)...?

upper illustration: quilt as it is currently

lower illustration: added more sunflowers

I had drawn up the quilt on my computer so I could experiment when the layout once again. Will adding more sunflower solve the problem but it that TOO MUCH!? 

This what I ended up with.  Borders and binding included.  I'll let it stew a while since I have to go back and finish with that sashing.  Can't you tell that I ready to move on?

Please leave a comment or some suggestions on what else I may try!!

Jane  <3

Reminiscence - Finally Did It

Twelve block all appliqued.  I was at a point one time when I thought I would never be able the finish all of the blocks.  It took me longer than I wanted, I'm happy that they are all done!!

 Block One

 Block Two

 Block Three

 Block Four

 Block Five

 Block Six

Block Seven

Block Eight

Block Nine

Block Ten

Block Eleven

Block Twelve

I had laid it all out on the floor to have a peek of how it would look like once the body is pieced together.

And a drum roll please...

And I then realized that I was missing a sashing strip that was going between the third and fourth rows!  Aughhhh! 

I thought I had planned, cut, and precisely counted all the pieces for each nine-patch.  Obviously, I had done something wrong!  : (  I've come this far and the last thing I want to be doing is to piece more sashing.  It feels as if I'm having to start over again!!

A sneak peek before more sashing

I'm hoping that the piecing for the last of the sashing will go real quick.  I'm wanting to get all the blocks together so that I may work on my Sunflower quilt.

Jane  <3

A Good Morning Hello

Every morning, I take my boys to school.  But this morning, I had a bit of a surprise in my little garden. 

The sunflowers I had planted are now about 5 feet tall.  Two of them had finally opened up and was showing their bright faces.

It reminded me of a sampler quilt I had been working on a while ago.

It got me thinking about how I want to finish this quilt.  I'd like to add some more appliqued sunflowers around the outside on the border.

But I need to get going on the Reminiscence quilt.  I've got all the blocks finished now and need to combine them with the pieced sashing.  I'm anxious in seeing how it comes together, so photos will be up soon!

Jane  <3