Happy Day - Birthday that is

Well I don't always announce my Birthday - But it's over now so I guess I can talk about it.  I had a very relaxing and nice day.  My Birthday Celebrations actually started when my Sister came to visit - but the actual day was Thursday.  We started out our day going to the river and doing a little fishing.  I don't have my license right now so I was just taking in the scenery, which included this beautiful sight.  He flew off and I tried to catch him/her in flight but wasn't quick enough.  

Then we came home and my Sweet Honey took me to breakfast at a restaurant that I've been wanting to try. *Bumbleberry Flats*  It is located in the Pioneer Casino in Laughlin.  

Here was our view - 

My Honey:  

Had this to eat - it was a ham and spinach omelette.  

Then he posted this picture of me on FB and said he was having breakfast with his beautiful bride the birthday girl.  :)  Sweetheart isn't he.  

And this is what I had -  Meat lovers omelette with "Cheese Grits" I love Cheese grits.  Yummy!  :) 

We both had enough to bring home and have for Breakfast the next day.  

 I want to go back there for lunch and or dinner to try some of their other entrees too.  They have a Jambalya I would like to try.  

Anyway it was such a nice day and I got a Kazillion Birthday wishes from friends and family which also made it so special.  

Thanks to all the well wishes and the yummy food. 
Blessings,
Lynn 

Retreat Recap

I didn't take as many pictures of the food this time but for your viewing pleasure, here is the last mornings breakfast.  

The retreat was fun - but felt very short.  On the ones we host we are there Thursday night through Sunday afternoon.  Well this one was Friday morning 9am to Sunday about 11am.   And we were a little more controlled about our early mornings.... We didn't come down to the sewing room until 4am instead of 3am.  :)  Can you See that it is still dark out.  

Okay now on to the fun stuff the quilts - 

Here is one that my friend Cheryl made:  

So What did I do?  I assembled and re-assembled the Raggedy Ann and Andy Quilt top.  

 It is long and narrow and my Sis and I were discussing if we wanted to add something to the sides, but I think adding too much of anything will take away from the embroidery.  So I think we are leaving it this way.  I'm sure I'll let you know if I change my mind.  LOL

Next - Here is a smaller wallet that I made.  

Then I got the bright Idea that I wanted to see if I could make the zipper pocket on the outside of the wallet.  So I kept sewing and ripping and sewing and ripping and ... and ... Finally - My friend gave it a try and she did a little ripping too.  But here's how she finally got it laid out before the final sewing - 

And how it looks put together

Next I started working on the original thing I wanted to make at the retreat.  The Kimberbell Table topper.  

The eye balls glow in the dark, so my friend brought me some glow in the dark thread to quilt it with.  

That pretty much sums up what I got done.  We did have a white elephant gift exchange which was fun.  I got this cute wool kit and am eager to start it.  

And - before we left they gave us the dates of the next retreat and showed us the  quilt that they will be teaching at it if we want to participate, otherwise it will just be an open sew.  Here's the picture from the magazine that they got the pattern from. 

    

 Here is a sample that one of the leaders is putting together - getting ready for next March.  

It really shows how color choices and placement can make such a difference. 

Well that's it for this one and already looking forward to the next one.  I have one with a different group of women in February, then this group in March.  :)

Blessings,  Lynn 

Raggedy Ann and Andy

Many years ago my Sister and I started a quilt together. 

At that time she emboidered and I pieced quilts.  So when I came across this BOM "Raggedy and Friends" by Kaaren Johnson at The Painted Quilt that had both embroidery and quilting, I thought it would be fun to do together.   We had a lot of fun picking out fabric together and planning what colors we would use for this and that. 
But like with many quilt or craft items people do - when you don't have a specific person or purpose for something, it's easy to loose motivation on it. And we did.  We made it through block 6 and then it has sat.  
Well we now have motivation - A friend of the family has recently announced that they have done all the paperwork and legwork to adopt a child.  And since everything is a go,  they could be getting a baby anytime.  With that in mind, the 6 blocks that we have completed will be more than large enough for a baby quilt.  We just need to assemble what we have already, then quilt and bind.   

My Sister Randi got all the stitcheries done, and I got the piecing of the setting blocks ready to put the ebroidery blocks into.  Now to just join the two.... 

Very wrinkled - but shows how the two parts need to be joined together.  

Randi is taking some of the remaining fabric with her to cut squares for a pieced back.  I will be taking the blocks and parts we have ready to work on at the retreat.   Then we'll get the 2 together and I will quilt. 

For years we have been trying to think of what we wanted to do with this combined effort and I'm so glad she thought of giving it to our friend, something from both of us.  Now I'm all reved up to get working on it again.  

Have a Blessed day! 
Lynn 

Craft Fair is over

Well we spent two days finishing up the babies/dolls in a bag and pot holders,  for the craft fair.  

One of the doll bags (and it sold)  

All 3 of the above were ones that sold.  

My Sister on the left and my friend Gloria, right whom I shared a table with. 

Here's a close up of my stuff.  Bags, dolls, purses potholders, fabric, kits, quilts...  A lot of stuff. 

So now the craft fair is over and done and in my thinking - I am probably done with Craft Fairs in this town.   I sold a few things to my friends and one item to a person that came through.  

I  still have an over flowing tub of stuff left - and except for the pot holders and some new dolls, all the items have been to 2 craft fairs and a quilt show boutique. Yes all in the same small town.  

I say all this because there are a couple more chances for craft fairs this year.  I would not make any more items, but not sure it would be worth even trying to set up somewhere else.  So as I stated - I think I'm done doing craft fairs.  

For the next few days I'm going to enjoy my Sister since she will be leaving on Wednesday.  Then Thursday will be guild meeting for the other guild, then Friday starts the retreat.  Yay!!!

Then when I get done with that, it will be time to work on the rest of the stuff on my list of goals which I'm pretty sure are going to be lacking this month.  :)  It has taken a huge chunk of my time to work on the craft fair items and then there will not be a ton of time left for what is remaining on the list.  I guess we'll see what I can come up with.

Have a Blessed day!

Lynn 

Wooly UFO's and Craft Fair Prep

I'm not sure it it's a compliment or a wake up call to find out that a few of your friends have recently bought patterns or kits of items that are in your UFO/WIP pile(s).  I will have to think on that.  :)  And it's funny because just yesterday a friend and I were talking about - what do you do on your UFO list for the year if you have more than 12 UFO's.  Hmmm I'll have to think on that also.  But of course after seeing them with their kits and patterns I had to dig a couple of the UFO's out last night knowing I had no time to work on them now.  But I looked at them and will now be trying to figure out where they go on the list for next year.  LOL 
Berdie thru the year - Here's January  

February got started 

Here's what all the months should look like. 

Then here's another -  Pennies from Heaven. 
I started this so many years ago - Here's the blocks I have done.  A couple of them still need topstitching.  

This is what the finished quilt should look like.  

I have one more flower block, two sunshine blocks, the center block and all the the borders. Still a lot to do - but it makes me want to get working on  it again. 

Okay since I haven't been working on these what am I doing?  Well here are a couple of pictures I said I would give you from my end of he month post.  The dog bed I made for my doggies, however Pepe seems to be hogging it right now.   

And the Trick or Treat bags for the Craft Fair 

Also some potholders

And then one of the guild projects - the tumbler Flag. 

I will be binding this with the red, that's why it is laying behind - for a preview. 

Then I have been working on the extra dolls that I wanted to make for the craft fair.  I mentioned that I got 3 new dolls.  Well they looked very similar to my last ones with the exceptions of the eyes.  Well have you ever heard the saying don't let looks deceive you?  Yep you guessed it.  I cut out all these sets of doll dresses and I get one all made and guess what - it's too small.  

As close as these look they are different. The one on the left has a smaller head, smaller neck, bigger waist and is longer.  The one on the right has a bigger head, bigger neck, smaller waist and shorter.  So as I wake in the night I am trying to figure out how to adjust with out having to re-design and cut out all the dress pieces again.  I did it.  Those waking hours in the night are not in vain.  The yoke part of he dress can be flipped up side down putting the fold and the neck on the other side and Bam it works great.  Hence the one on the left has a pretty little dress and is not naked. :) 

My Sister is coming to visit on Wednesday so the next few days will be a little busy. I need to wrap up the craft fair stuff, do a little sprucing of the guest room, and get it ready for Sis and my normal daily/weekly routines.  
Hope you all have a great day doing something you want to.   So I guess I better sign off and get at doing something. 

Have a Blessed Day!  Lynn

Bag Ladies and A Give Away

I am excited to help announce a new Stitch Along that is going to start up in January of 2017. 

I know it seems kind of weird to be planning for yet another New Year - however it is closer than you realize.  So if it's planning you want to do - now's the time.    
 Okay Barbara at Three Cats Ranch is hosting a give away for Chickadee Hollow with their new pattern set "Bag Ladies of the Fat Quarter Club"      Click on  Barbara's name above or Here to go to her post and read about the new club, sign up for the fun and enter the give away.  

I for one am looking forward to a year of stitching.  

Blessings, 
Lynn  

Fall out of September into October

September went by in a slow blurr - I don't know where it went.  So now is the big question - How did I do?  

If you remember - August was 1/2 done and part of my goals hinged on finishing August.  Okay I'll quit stalling.  

September 2016 Goals

1. Buttermilk Basin "Let it Snow" BOM - Finish "N", "O", and Prep "W".  

Goal Met.  :)

2. Bee-utiful QAL Blocks - There are 7 1/2 blocks left prepped and ready to go (pictured above, ) - Complete the bike that I started and 4 more, minimum.

Goal Met.  :)

3.  Farmhouse Threads Mystery Harvest BOW - There is one more block coming out tomorrow.  Goal is to prep it and Complete minimum 2 blocks. I'll do these 2 first.   Goal Not Complete!  :(

4. Dolls in a bag - Yep it's Craft Fair time again - I have 3 Baby Dolls that need bags, blankets, quilts and clothes.  And a larger doll, that has clothes but needs the rest.      Goal: Get them done and ready for the fair.  

Goal Met.  :)  With a twist.  I got the 3+ dolls done - then I sold 2.  (So I went and got 3 more - guess what I'll be doing in October) 

5. APQ UFO Buster #12  Which is Wool / Ark Crazy.  This year on my UFO's I listed only 6 UFO's but I listed them each 2 times in hope the extra time on each would help me get them done.  Well the Random number 12 ended up being the same UFO as last month's. My beginning status is pictured above as my ending progress from August.  Again - the Goal is to make progress.  

Goal Met :/ I fused a stocking on - but that's not real good progress.  

6. Scavenger Blocks -  Finish the top stitching on them.  Goal Met :)

7.  SNR Guild Projects - I am teaching the Diva Wallet for the guild workshop at the end of the month. I need to get a supply list ready by the 13th to be handed out at the meeting.  I also need to revamp the instructions we tried to use at the retreat - that did not go well.  :(  So I'll be working on that.

Goal Met :) - The class went very well with all my instructions and props.

As far as the goals went - not including bonus items I got  

5 smiles :) 

1  half smile :/

and 1 frown :( 

Not horrible I guess. 

Bonus

If I find that I just have a bunch of free time I have several more things I would like to accomplish for the month.  

B1.  Quilt the charity quilt I already have done and pinned.   No progress

B2.  Start the next charity quilt that needs to be done for the new Military housing facility that is opening up in the spring.  Goal Met.  Started  

B3.  Work on a Table Topper from my Kimberbell Book  - And do the project pictured below.   No Progress

B4.  Do More Harvest Blocks - No Progress

B5.  Do the rest of the Bee Blocks-No Progress 

So What did I work on since the shiny thing - I mean squirrel went by and distracted me.   ha ha ha   I can't be too hard on myself I am the project coordinator for the SNR guild so I do need to get my samples made ahead of time.  And since I have a craft fair coming up - I kept trying to come up with more things to sell at it.  

October SNR Guild Workshop. 

Next years guild BOM for SNR will be one every two months. This is one of the 5 project samples I need to get made by December.  I posted about this here. 

CRQ  Guild Workshop in September we made this 3 dimensional block. It still needs work.  I posted about it here.  

* Made some Trick or Treat Bags for the craft fair - and some pot holders as my contribution to the guilds table.
I will post more about them later with pictures.  


* I made a new dog bed for my doggies -   I will post a picture of that later as well.  


And I also helped 50/50 Hubby  Painted the garage - 

So where does all of this leave me at for October?   

October 2016 Goals 

I am not sure how I want to proceed with October.  I have so many things I want to do, things I need to do, and things I should do.  This month I am still helping a few ladies work on the Peaceful Holiday BOM that I made the shop sample in August.  I am doing that every Wednesday.   My Sister is coming for a week for a visit and we will be sewing some stuff too, and at the end of the month I have a Retreat - Yay!  

Okay I guess I just need to list out this monster I have going on in my head.

1.  Craft Fair Items - Due by 14th.  Additional Dolls, Trick or Treat Bags and possibly pot holders.  All pictured above.

2. Bee-utiful BOW - Complete the remaining 3 blocks. 

3.  SNR Guild BOM  Work on making more of the samples.  I explained how we are doing a double sample here.   Goal make 2 of the 4 remaining blocks. 

4.  CRQ Guild - Workshop - Flower Block (pictured above)  Finish the flowers. 

5.  Retreat - I change my mind on this alot and sometimes it doesn't go as planned.  Possiblilities:  The Kimberbell Table Topper I've been wanting to make for the last 2 months.  LOL   

 Next I would like to work on some of my Row by Row kits that I picked up over the summer.  There are several but I have a few that are my favorites.  These are ones that use fusible so The ones I work on - I'd like to at least get them fused.  

If I get all that done - I'll work on another Table Topper I have from Connecting Threads.  

6.  Sister's Visit Projects - She wants a box pouch for herself.  She said we could make it when she gets here but I might try to make it before she arrives.  Here is the fabric I think I'll be using. 

Next - she wants to make a box pouch for a present.  So we'll work on that. 

And she wants to make a mixer cover like the one I made her for a present for another friend.  I'll be posting pictures of our progress on that. Goal will be to complete these so she can take home.  She will be bringing fabric for them. 

7.  APQ - UFO  # 8  This is "Folk Art Gathering". 

With all this other I have no idea if I'll have time to work on a UFO - But lets give it a try.  Goal is to make progress.  The circled area above are the blocks I got sewn the last time I worked on it.  Here is a post of where I left off.

8.  CRQ Guild Workshop - Lone Star Block - Goal Start.  

9.  Two of the 3 additional dolls are already spoken for.  One wants pink and one wants Red, White and Blue.  Goal: Get the extra doll done for the Craft Fair and start on the other 2.  

If I am really energetic and can get all that done - here are my bonus things.  

Bonus - 

B1  - Work more on the military charity top and try to finish.

B2  - Work more on the dish towels and pot holders.

Okay I think I have my month cut out for myself.  Whew.  Wish me luck and say a prayer.

As for now I need to get ready as I am going to a Quilt Show. 

Blessings,   Lynn