My Newest Project

Hat's, Hat's and more Hats.
My newest project for this year is to make enough hats for gifts to my family... Since I have a large Family I need a large # of hats to make quick and easy before Christmas.  I have started crocheting them in a very easy pattern and since most of my family live in Minnesota they will be very welcomed.  It is nice here right now.

KnitPickers August meeting at Perkins

Last Thursday our Knitpickers group met at Perkins in Dandridge TN. We are an eclectic group of ladies who love to share our passion for knitting, crochet, quilting, hand made jewelry and various other crafts. It was a rainy/sunny day out that day, there were 8 of us present.  Jo, Bettina, Rosa, Betty, Shiela, Pat, Beverly and myself.  I arrived early in dire need of coffee! I was also hungry and ready for breakfast.
Sally had asked me to take the notes and write the newsletter beginning this month so I also wanted to be set and ready to go.  I agreed to hoping this would help me put names to the lovely faces of my friends.  It was a fun meeting and Show and Tell was awesome, as usual.

My 2015 Summer Row By Row experience

SE MN Row x Row 

The Firefly Quilt Shop - Mankato

  This Summer I decided to take part in the Row by Row experience.  I traveled back to Wisconsin for 2 family weddings this summer.  I left East Tennessee on Saturday the 20th of June to get ahead of the summer storms coming thru Tennessee and Kentucky and be able to arrive in Wisconsin before my youngest Son, Earl's wedding at the end of the week on Friday June 26th.  I did not have time to stop at any shops that day because of the storms and Row by Row didn't start until Monday the 21st.   I had an uneventful drive and did get there by Sunday evening.  the 1st week was very busy.  The following Monday I was traveling to Southern Minnesota to see my Granddaughter and her youngest baby.

I took a couple of side trips that day and stopped at 2 quilt shops. The Firefly Quilt Shop in Mankato, I was in luck for both were participating in the Row by Row.  The above quilt at the Firefly Q S was made by each shop in the SE MN area that are participating in the Row by Row 2015.  I enjoyed the shop and did get both the Kit and the license plate for this area.  The goodies I bought at this shop, the row by row block, a license plate, a kit to make a barn pot holder, a quilt label and some steam a seam for my applique patterns.  

Southeast MN RxR Shops

My goodies from the Firefly Quilt Shop

A Barn Hot pad Kit

I loved this barn quilt but the pattern was no longer available

Zuri with Aunt Elizabeth and Baby Amelia

 I stopped at the Eagle Creek Quilt Shop in Shakopee, MN.  This has been one of my favorite stops on the Minnesota Shop Hops.  I enjoy their variety of quilting material and the wool candle mats and Needle Punch quilting patterns.  I've always admired these kits so I decided to buy the Needle Punch and some fabric.  I even got an impromptu instructions on using it.

Auntie Elizabeth reading to Baby Amelia

Zuri & Aunt Elizabeth took Amelia inside and was reading to her from a soft cover children's book.  They enjoyed looking at the variety of  fabric & patterns in the Children's corner.

I really liked this wool applique winter table runner

I want to make this wool applique table runner for the winter.  I'll have to order the kit online

My Goodies from the Eagle's Nest 

Look at all the goodies I got from the Eagle's Nest.  Eagle Creek Quilt Shop . A Row by Row pattern and license plate, a 1/2 yard of fabric with Minnesota names on it, a yard of fabric and a needle punch with a spring hoop.  I have a snowman pattern I made that I want to use with this.

I'm looking forward to working on my Row by Row Blocks

My Friday Finishes for last week

Last week I did have a few finish up's to post, only they weren't related to quilting, but no less fun.  On Friday the 26th my youngest son spoke his wedding vows to the love of his life and I had the privilege of doing minor alterations to the Brides Wedding Gown.  I also made 2 Bridal Hankies '(one for my daughter in law and one for my daughter, who is getting married on the 4th of July), and a boutonniere for my son.

My Brides to be: Rikki, my dsughter in law to be, and Nancy, my daughter, who are getting married a week apart.

Mr & Mrs Earl Swett June 26th 2015

This week I will be working on alterations for my daughter's wedding party. 

The Brides Hankie and Grooms Boutoneer Embellished with Lace from my Wedding Gown Cirrica 1961

King size Quilt is a wedding gift. Just need the binding to be applied.

Finish up Friday!

It has been a about 6 months since my last post and it has been a while since I have actually been in my studio to quilt. The winter had been a difficult one for me and the only quilting I was doing was on the Mondays I was able to make it to my BOL (Bags of Love) group.  Early June is the time for our East Tennessee Quilt Shop Hop so I did visit my local shops to pick up my free pattern. They were featuring Barns blocks, a subject I love.  I have finished 4 of my barn blocks with one left to make and I love the way they look. I am excited to finish them all, I am planning on making a wall hanging and pillow for my living room.

Crazy Quilt Barn Block from Holloway's in Cosby TN

I love the Barn History and want to find a way to Incorporate it into the quilt

This is my on point Barn Block from Sew Bee in Jonesboro -
I did have some difficulty with the pattern pieces not being the right size. I do wish this had Barn History write up.  

My Barn log cabin block 

I like the Barn History on this block too. from MidSouth Sewing

This block was challenging to figure out but I do like the way it turned out 

I haven't made this pattern yet.  I will post it when I am done.  

Look at what the Mailman brought to my door today!

Thread, thread and more thread!

About 4 months ago I was reminded that I really needed Thread, without it I would not be able to use my machine to create the fun things I love to do.  

I had just moved to my new home in East Tennessee last May 2014 and in order to reduce bulk and make my move possible I had decided to have a garage sale and sell my extra notions and threads & fabrics to help raise $ for my move.  I gave away most of my color spools of threads to my sewing/quilting buddies keeping about 3 large cotton spools for just regular quilting stuff - That was a lot too!

 I had many, many colors of both regular sewing thread and Serger thread, some obtained from a dealer when she decided to retire, but many were 8 - 10+ years old. 

 I had decided that I would buy fresh thread when I needed it. 

 Only I found I was running out of Thread, I had miscalculated how fast my thread supply would dwindle and within 2-3 months after my move I found myself perilously close to running out of a supply of good thread.  $ was still tight due to the expenses of my move and I refuse to buy 1$ thread.  I find the inexpensive threads do not work well for me on any of my machines, (of which I have a few - lol) so going down to Walgreen was not an option.  

Several weeks after my move I had decided to do an East Tennessee Shop Hop, figuring that this would be a great way to get to know were the shops in my area were and I could buy thread while I was out n' about!  So at the 1st shop I purchased a large spool of Gutermann quilting thread in my favorite cream for $26.00.  With my heart in my throat after hearing the price and knowing funds were very limited I handed over my credit card, keeping my fingers crossed that there would be a large enough balance to purchase it... there was and i did with mere pennies on my balance.  I walked out of the store with my new purchase in hand and happily went home promising myself not to get into that situation again.  Whew! disaster averted I was able to continue on with my quilting.  

Lesson Learned!

So now whenever I am around Joann's or Hobby Lobby and have a good coupon on hand I make sure I buy myself a fresh spool of thread... And over New Year's while watching HSN for their clearance deals I decided to get my Sulky Threads for my Every day sewing and my Embroidery Machine... 

Yeah! - Fresh Thread!  Life is good - and this makes me smile.