Project Line Up

Project Line Up - Yep I've been a cutting machine lately.  But before I get into that and why - I have to say that August has been a little of a mystery month. Who - What - Where - and Why? 
To Recap:  We started out the month with company. Our Cousins and a couple of my husbands brothers were here.  The cousins and one of the brothers  left. Then the remaining brother and my husband left and went on a two day trip, while I stayed at home.  When they got home, I left for 4 days for a retreat. Then my brother in law left mid month and I think we've spent the rest  of the month (picture finger to lips, stroking up and down) going blub blub blub.  *smile*  And to top all of that, my husband has been battling his back and knee again so he hasn't been golfing as much.  Which means even though I'm still getting sewing time - I'm totally out of my rhythm.  Golf Days were my days to do my cooking, cleaning and sewing.  Non golf days were gym days and errand running.  Well so be it.  We've  been doing more drives and sight seeing, doing some swimming at the lake and - we're just winging it day by day!   Here's what all I've done. 
At the beginning of the month I finished my Tumbler Tote:

At the retreat I got my Frog Works Blocks done:

At the retreat I started the Stack and Flip Quilt:

Then I finished my new Great Granddaughter's Quilt top and got it pinned:

I Quilted the Charity Quilt:

These are the quilts I use to practice my free motion quilting on.  This is how it looks on the back.

And a close up of the border. 

And - I prepped and prepped and prepped.  Here is the why -  
I really didn't think I had anymore retreats until October.  That's what I get for thinking.  *smile*   I have two get away/retreats back to back.  Starting the day after Labor Day I am going with a friend to another friends cabin in Williams, AZ.  We will have 2+ days of sewing and one day of sightseeing.  Stay tuned for details and pictures.  I think we will be going to "Bearizona" (Click on the link) which is a drive through animal park.  And then we're going to Sedona AZ - Always wanted to go there.  Fun  Fun Fun!!!
Then I'll get home from that on Friday - We have plans to get together with friends on Saturday and then the following Thursday I set up for another retreat at our normal small room at the Casino.  This is a new group of ladies, approximately 30 and I think I know maybe a dozen of them.  
And finally as if I haven't drawn it out long enough - here are the items I have been prepping. I have selected fabric and made them into kits and then got them cut and ready to go.  
Garden Patch Cats - This is "Pod Cats". 

Next is "Pepper Puss"

This next one is from the Wooden Bear.

I bought this next one as a kit, in a quilt shop in California. At the time, we were still living in Oregon and were just on vacation. So that tells me this kit has to be approx 5 years old.  

I just got this next one. One of my friends didn't want to do it and said it looked like me.  LOL     

Then at the last retreat another of my friends, the one I'm going to Williams with gave me the below kit.  I didn't cut this one out yet but taking it with us.   

Fishy Business - I keep looking at this and doing other stuff.  I finally cut out the strips for this and got the fabric for fish ready.  I'm taking a lot of fusible with me for all these applique quilts. 

I also have this material that I got and my friend Cheryl is going to show me how to cut to make "Four Patch Posie".  It is a type of "Stack n Whack".  

I have way more ready to go than time to do it, but I will now be ready for the next few retreats with kits that are cut and ready to go.  

So now I am prepped and ready to go for next month - I guess I'll see what all I can get done. I only have a couple of actual goals I will post them September 1st.  

Blessings,    Lynn 

Adrianna's Sheep

Update:  I had the wrong picture up.  I had already fixed the bottom row, just used the wrong picture.  LOL.  

Well I mentioned that one of the things I wanted to do this month was to get a start on my newest great granddaughters baby quilt.  Well I am happy to say I did get a really good start.  The top is done.

 

I was also happy that I was able to get the backing made and get it sandwiched, ready quilting. 

But I want to back up a little .  My opinion of panels has definitely evolved over time. I used to look at them as cheater quilts.  Then when I started trying to get better at free motion quilting, I thought okay I can use them for practice. That's what I did with my zebra baby quilt. 

Here is a close up of some of the quilting I did.  

And here is the quilt that I did for our grandson Caleb and some of the quilting I did in it.  

Now the next hurdle I have to over come - is to think outside the box and figure out other things to do than to just leave it as a panel.  

Here is how the panel for the sheep quilt started. 

I looked up some ideas for panels and sent a few pictures to my friend Betty and she liked one of the lay outs.  Next I drew out a grid and colored it in with colored pencils.  I usually never do this step but it was so worth it.  

Then looked at the fabrics I had, and  went to work.  

Stage one.

Stage two. 

 And the finished top. 

Next up the backing fabric.  It's Flannel.  And so cute.

And as I stated above I have it sandwiched, pinned and ready for quilting. Yay!  
As I am writing this, our Granddaughter calls and now they are not completely sure on the name  (Adreanna)  Good thing I didn't put her name on the quilt like I thought about doing it.  
Well I'll keep you posted on that too. 
I have left over fabric,  pieces from the panel and another sheep panel called a play mat. 

I also have a more of the flannel I used on the back. So I see more sheep in my future. 
Blessings,    Lynn 

Family Friends and Frogs

I must been very intuitive this month - knowing not to plan too many goals and want to's.  My want to's always out weigh my time anyway.  I went to the retreat  and had a really nice time.  I've only done this particular retreat one other time. It's really pretty much the same as the other retreats except that is has 4 times as big.  We normally have 25 - this one had 101.  
Here is the view as we walked in to start setting up.  

My friend Gloria

From the front looking back.

Our table and machines would be off to the left of this Picture. 
Looking to the left from my seat. 

Looking to the right -  Gloria and Cheryl. 

I started out working on my Frog Works Quilt.  Unfortunately, I didn't get as much done at this retreat,partly because I was working with little pieces and also because I spent  a fair share of my time ripping.  You know stitch one rip two.  Which brings me to one of the other things that this retreat has to offer.  They do door prizes and and they also have the "Rip it Jar"  On the honor system you add a quarter for every time you have to rip something.  Then at the end of the retreat everyone tries to guess how much money is in the jar. The one closest to the total wins the money.  My friend Cheryl won.  Yay!

Okay back to my progress - I was able to get all of the setting blocks sewn for the Frog Works Quilt. 

Here are the blocks in no specific order. There are two of each block, a 6" and then a 9".   

On this one I noticed that one part was wrong and will need to be redone. However after looking I  need to fix 3 parts.  

On the last day of the retreat we only had a couple of hours before needing to start packing things up.  But in an effort to do more than one thing I started sewing my rainbow strips togeher for the stack and flip quilt. I did get them together. 

Due to the fact that they all different size strips and are not all 2 1/2" strips it came out a little smaller than I was intending.  I haven't decided if I want to add more strips or if I am going to leave it small and add an applique to make it a baby quilt.  I will let you know what I decide.  

That pretty much summed up the retreat. It was super fun, we all seemed to enjoy it and have signed up for the next "Big" retreat which will be in February.  That of course will make 2 in February so that will be a busy month. 

Only one bad thing happened at the retreat - I stubbed my toe.  And not only did I stub it - I stubbed it so bad that I had trouble getting it to stop bleeding and since I was staying at the hotel I had to call one of my friends and ask for her to bring me band aids.  Uggh!! I didn't know it at the time, but I pulled the nail away from the nail bed - Yes I am probably going to loose the nail.  On a daily basis it is okay - it really only hurts when I put shoes on, thank God for flip flops.  And since it is polished oh so nice - no one really knows.  I'd love to post several pictures to show you but that would gross you out. Yes you can thank me now.  ha ha.  Okay enough of that. 

My one brother in law Frank stayed with us for another week after the retreat ended so we spent some time with him swimming and sight seeing before he went home. We drove up to Kingman AZ and had some lunch, then took him on the Route 66 road from there to Oatman AZ.  On our way we spotted some big horn sheep - thank God we were driving slow.  It's a very windy road and we could have easily ran into them. Some went down the mountain side this one headed up.  

It was funny that I got a picture of him looking back at us.  

Then as we went thru Oatman AZ we got to see the many burro's that roam  the streets freely. 

They sell carrots and cakes of alfalfa that you can feed them.  However as you can see - there is a sticker on this baby's head.  It tells you not to feed the babies.  They're not ready for food yet. 

And here is a lone little guy on the way out of town. 

 I was happy to to do that for Frank - he's a great Brother and BIL and loves animals. 

Well I'm going  to end this one here. I'll do another post to let you  know what I've done since then. It's still busy here in our Desert home.  

Blessings,  Lynn