Just a few Things

 Hello... Yep been almost a year again.  

I always have the best intentions to not let this much time go by, but as you can see, it did again. I do really like being able to see my quilts and a little timeline of what's been happening in life so I'll post a few little things that have happened over the last year.   

So what has been happening over the last year... I'm still working lots and lots of hours.  I'm going to start with this year..  In January we got a new doggie... Her name is Artemis.. we call her Artie. I sometimes call her Emily.. not sure why she just looks like an Emily to me.  But she was 7 months old when we got her so we didn't change it.  She is a moose.... :)  She is American Bulldog and maybe some boxer... so now we have 2 dogs that have at least some boxer in them. 

Here is Artie and Ginger.  They wrestle like they are enemies then cuddle for an afternoon nap.  :)

I have been getting a lot of my quilts quilted by a friend that has a long arm machine.  It's worth every penny to not have to do myself and have them done.  One that I got done and gave to our youngest daughter Taya was the frog quilt.  Hand embroidered... 

My Neice wanted some table runners.  She has a very old fashioned eclectic taste here's what I made... she was over the moon.  She loves teapots. 

In April I went to a quilting retreat.  Since Covid hit there aren't as many local retreats any more so I treasure the ones I get to go to.  This time my Sister got to join us.  

My very good friend Cheryl.  My Retreat partner.  

Worked on a couple of scrappy quilts.  I still need to put borders on... By the time I get to that it might be the next retreat. :) The top one is a Chandelier Quilt. Some patterns call it a Bead Quilt.  I want to put a Seminole border on it (Square in a square). Then this bottom one was a free pattern from Missouri star quilts.  It will have a HST border around it. Below is the picture.  I didn't do mine with the rainbow affect so we'll see now the border will look, I just need to get it done.  

Below is our dinner out one night with our friends Kim and Mary. 

I also like to participate in Wool swaps. They have them 2 to 3 times a year.  This is what I made and sent for the one they had in the spring. 

Here's one of the gifts I got.  She made me a couple other gifts but wasn't done.  She is sending them to me now.  I was happy with this.  She sent this some wool and floss.  But I'm sure I'll love the other stuff too.  

April Started the massive renovation and construction projects around our house.  New garage roof, complete renovation of master bed and bath.  37 ton of new rock...  OMG... :)

We got most of the curtains hung this last weekend and got moved in, just a few finishing touches. 

I have some Quilts to get binding on and another swap to make goodies for.  So I think I'll close this post and work on those things.  Then I'll be able to post some finishes. 

Have a  Blessed day!

Lynn 

River Quilters Camp

I call them retreats, some call them camps.  Tomato - Tamato - Call it what you want it's a sewing fest and I enjoy them. 
This retreat/camp is especially fun.  They have raffles, gifts, door prizes and games. And even with all of that - you have plenty of time to get a lot of sewing done. Here is a group picture

The Room Set Up.

 And our goodies.

Here are my Bag Ladies of the Fat Quarter Club. I got the sashings in and now to quilt.

This is a wool mat that was part of our gift bag.  I went ahead and got most of it done.  

Saturday - Java Table Runner

I had left over fabric - so I made matching place mats.

Then I worked on the this little kit that my friend Susie H. gave me.  She's the one that does the drive by gifts. 

I need to embroider something in this banner.  The pattern says "Kindness Matters" which is good but I wanted to say something else... Not sure yet.  

Here are the projects Cheryl worked on but first - I want to show you a funny.  Cheryl brought a wall hanging that she appliqued on to show me for a possible banner at our quilt retreat... She looks up and Kathy sitting behind me had the same design as a logo on her shirt. 

Okay now her projects - She made these zipper bags for a friend that was leaving on a cruise and needed gifts for daughters of an exchange student they once had and were now visiting. 

Then she made this quilt top.  It was a kit she had put together for my Sister to do, but didn't do. 

We both did our wool mats but I didn't get a picture of her's.  Then she did this.  She did a Ta Da... asked if I could see the vortex pattern and Uh Oh I spotted that there were boo boo's on the right side.

I felt terrible having to tell her.  We brainstormed trying to figure out the easiest way to fix ... but there isn't going to be an easy way.  It's every other block on every other row that needs to be turned.  :(.
That wrapped up most to the retreat.  On Sunday we both worked on hand work until most everyone was heading out then we packed up too.
I worked on the last block for my Bee-Utiful QAL quilt. 

I started sewing the sashing between the blocks on Saturday - but Cheryl gave me a neat idea for the cornerstones - which will involve more embroidery so I'm not quite done yet.  I've just laid it out to give you an idea how it will be.  (or Bee)  

Well it's another busy week here.  My Sister and Brother in law are leaving for their other home on Thursday, so we're working at finishing up her stuff and getting stuff ready for her to take with her to do over the summer.  Also she is helping me pin the Bear quilt so I can quilt it while they are gone, hopefully to have it finished when they come back. Then there is regular life.  Oil changes, the gym, meals to cook, Doctor appointments and on Friday is another quilt show to go see.  
Have a Blessed week everyone - 
Lynn 

November Goals and a Retreat

In a few short hours I'll be heading out for my next retreat.  Yay!! So I wanted to put a couple things in writing as far as what I want and need to accomplish for November.  November yikes.  I don't like how fast time is going.  Anyway I have a lot of little odds and ends that I want to finish up this month, aside from my One Monthly Goal that I posted about in my last post.
1. I have a ton of hand stitching to do of bindings.  I have my "Quilt As You Go" that is finally done ... but I need to do quite a bit of hand stitching on the back where you join the blocks and then the binding.  

Then I also have the pinwheel baby quilt that will be for charity.  It is done and quilted - I'll show pictures after binding is done.  

And the Java Runner

With those three done - that will add 3 more to my UFO done list.  And I think brings it to 13 this year. 
Okay next on the bindings, the Christmas Table toppers I have two and after this retreat there will be four.  

Oh and I still need to finish (almost done) the binding on my Turkey Table Runner.  

I'd say that's a lot of hand stitching on bindings.

2.  Next on the goal list - I am taking it to the retreat, but I need to make a zipper bag for my Brother in law for his Kindle. I already packed it but I'm using some golf fabric.
3.  If I can get to it - It's a busy month and my Sister will be back in town, hey I should have her help me with bindings.  :)  Anyway I would like to finish my Jelly Roll Jiggle (I posted about it here) AND that will make yet another binding to hand stitch.  ha ha.  

Here's how far I am right now. 

I am sure that is quite enough for the month.  There are also guild projects and charity projects that will need to get done as well.  Lots of work but can't complain - I'm sewing and that is all good.
The retreat goes until Wednesday afternoon, so I'll post all my goodies I get done the end of the week. Until then have a Blessed day and have fun sewing. Lynn 

Hexie Eggs

Not a lot to show for the day - however yesterday I did get the top of this little Easter Runner done.  The binding will be the same blue as the inner border.  This will be used for a workshop in March for the SNR guild.  

Today I want to work on getting it quilted and then start my Sweet Tweet bird block if I have time.  We'll see.
Have a Blessed Day!
Lynn 

Gift Making

On the sewing front, I have been able to get quite a few things done.  Even though my Sister is visiting my sewing must go on.  :)  Kidding aside, she knows I have things I need to get done for my guilds and has been helpful with that. But we already made plans when she was here in October, to make some gifts to give her friend.  
My Sister doesn't quilt,  but does know how to sew. It's been nice because she will trim my threads, iron and cut squares for me and then I can just keep sewing.   Here are a couple of the gifts we have made.  Both are for my Sister's friend for her Birthday later this month. 

Mixer cover - her friend picked this fabric out, but it's been awhile so should be a nice surprise.   

Table topper - She has no clue this is coming so this should be fun.  The friend and husband are snow birding here in Arizona and this will be for their table in their 5th wheel trailer. 

It's definitely been fun for me - I get the best of both worlds.  I get to sew which I love and I get to spend time with my Sister.  And as a bonus I have a helper.   Winner Winner.  

Have a Blessed Day!

Lynn 

Bag Lady

The last couple of months have been all about "Bags"  and it is funny, because we used to tease my Mom about being the "Bag Lady".  this was because she was the original maker of these Dolls in a Bag and the little gift bags that I'm doing now.  She also made her own tote bags out of canvas and then painted scenes on them.  So now my Sister is having a good time teasing me about being "Just like Mom"  and the "Bag Lady".

Here is one of the lined Gift Bags.

I have 17 Christmas / Winter themed bags that are completed, with strings and bows.

Next I want to complete 15-20  in other various fabrics.  It took me about 7 hours to make the 17 start to finish so I'm hoping I can do the other 15 and get them done today.

Here are the purses I've made for the craft fair.  In the last post I showed the lay out of all the colors I'd put together.  This what they look like completed - with zipper and  a little pocket on the front.  :) 

Yesterday I didn't get much sew time only about an hour and half, but I cut out a panel to make into winter place mats.  I got the borders on  four of them sandwiched them and just started quilting them when I needed to go get groceries and start dinner.  

After dinner I worked a little (very little) on the binding for a quilt that I'm taking to sell at the craft fair. I'm hoping I can finish that up in the next few days along with the binding on the place mats.  I seem to be getting so sleepy in the evenings.

Okay well, I need to go get ready for our walk - yesterday it rained on us, but when it's almost 80 degrees and it's raining on you it's okay.  :)  We have been having thunderstorms the last few days and I love them.   There seems to me more lightening than thunder, but I still love it.  The sky was jet black and then would light up.  We didn't always see the jag of the lightening strike but it lit up everything.  

Well I better get ready - hoping that once we get home we can do breakfast and then I can get onto finishing up the place mats and onto the non-Christmas gift bags. 

Hope your day is fun and full of stitches.  

Blessings, 

Lynn