Quilting Retreat is here again!

It's time for The Ladies Night Out - Quilting Retreat again.  I can hardly wait for Wed afternoon to get her.  Boy am I excited!  I will be staying overnight from Thursday till Sunday.  I already have made a list this am of what projects I want to take with me to finish or work on so now I need to gather my materials and supplies together for the trip.  I am looking forward to the retreat and to finishing and accomplishing the goals I have set for myself and also looking forward to having fun with my friends. 

Another online quilting Swap - Applique Coaster :)

I've Joined another online swap at Michelle's Quilting Gallery and just downloaded the Pattern. OMG how cute - This will be an enjoyable one again.  Usually when I do a swap I make 2 of each pattern.  One for the Swap and one for me.  I love to either keep them or gift the extra one.

 Thanks Michelle. 

I have done 2 other Swaps with the Quilting Gallery and just loved the results.  

you can view my "Mini Quilt- Swap", Spring is for the Birds"

and my "Mug Rug Swap"    on Flickr

blocks I made for my Civil War Sampler Quilt

Lincoln's Platform Block

Last Thursday I went to my Civil War Quilt club at my LQS "Sew Little Time" Quilt Shop  and worked on my "Civil War Sampler" pattern, choosing & cutting fabric for 3 blocks.  My Underground Railroad piece which is made up of 4 blocks of 4 squares set on point, my Lincoln Platform block and a log cabin variation block.  Friday and Saturday-Sunday I worked on my blocks and even started on a 3rd block - It felt good to work in my studio on my quilt.  Getting back in the swing of things is very relaxing for me.  Today I went to my Crafting group at The Community Center and worked on the applique block "Seven Sisters" while I enjoyed the company of my friends.  we had coffee and muffins with cheese and crackers.  Conversation was interesting, ranging from concern over a community member and our experiences of going to a bar with friends and realizing you were the only female there.  I will post more pictures after I take them.  Lately I can't seem to get very clear pictures with my new camera.  I wanted to retake pictures of all my completed blocks so far and post them on Flicker for all to see.

Off to my Civil War Quilt Club mtg

July's CWQC meeting is today.  I am so ready to get back into the swing of things today.  will update everyone on the progress of my Civil War Sampler Quilt.   I am off to the races. 

Wow! Where did June & July go?

I can't believe it is already the 1st week of July.  It has been since June 14th since my last blog note.  I have been on vacation since June 24th and the week before was spent getting ready for my trip.  My youngest daughter Beth and Grandaughter Zuri & I took a road trip back to NY State to see my brothers an visit with family.  While there we all  met our goals.  My granddaughter went to visit with her Aunts and Cousins and my daughter wanted to see NY City and did take the train down twice spending the day with her cousins.  I enjoyed visiting with my brothers and their families.  Beth and I were Able to attend my Niece's Wedding and she got to visit all her cousins.  I also got to have a short Visit with my Granddaughter Jess and her family on our way home.  the drive to and from went well.  We missed a storm in Chicago going and took the wrong road into Chicago on our way home... we did stop over to sleep in Toledo Ohio on the way there and in Clinton Pa & Rockford Ill on the way back.

 I did finish one little project before I left but did not have time to post it.  I made a pinwheel mini Quilt using scraps from my Civil War Quilt "Flying Geese" Blocks.   When making my flying geese I used the left over triangles cut from the flying geese and made them into HST then sewed them together in pairs to make pinwheels.  After I finished the quilt I appliqued a woolen flower and leaves on it.  I also applied a small sleeve on the back using the binding material.





A Friday Finish Finally!

Finally a Friday Finish!  It seem like a long time since written in my Blogs or

Wagon Wheel 8" Block with Machine Appliqué
for my Civil War Sampler Quilt. 

had any Friday finishes.  May came and went by so fast and I did seem to accomplish much (see my blog note of May 10th) but here it is the middle of June.  I have not been sewing very much in the past 2 weeks but have been so busy with other stuff.  Yesterday I went to my Civil War Club at my LQS "Sew Little Time - Quilt Shop" Quilt shop in Hudson WI.  It was so nice to be there and be able to concentrate on my Civil War Sampler Quilt - I worked on the 7 sisters block doing some hand embroidery and then decided to do the Wagon Wheel as an applique.  I cut the pieces and then pressed them together to form the wagon wheel using my Teflon sheets and my mini pressing tool.  then I machine appliqued them together.  I needed to add more fabric to the edges but I do like the finished look of my block.  Hope you enjoy it too. 

A cloudy spring Sunday

The sky is overcast today, gray and cool, another April like spring day.  Here in western Wisconsin we continue to be about 3 weeks behind as far as spring showers an May flowers.  At my daughter's home the daffodils are still slow to awaken, the bleeding heart finally has come up to bloom & her red Lilies are just peeking up from under the ground.  (I thought they might not make it this year.)  Yesterday I went over to the RV campgrounds in Woodbury, MN to visit my Son and his girls.  They were camping out for this memorial day weekend.  It was a cool morning, cloudy with a threat of rain.  The sun peeked out from the clouds occasionally. 

Friends
 

after adding air to the tires and
off with the training wheels off they go!

Echo deep in thought
 

It was nice to be out under the trees with the birds singing and the children playing.  My granddaughter's even went swimming in the heated pool.  I felt quite relaxed there.  I liked the cabins on the perimeter - I am considering renting one for a few days during the summer.  would be nice.  very close to home yet a world away.  I took some fun pictures while there. 

Today is Sunday I feel very lazy and slow today.  That's OK! I didn't get anything finished for Friday's Finishes but I plan to spend time in my sewing studio today working on some projects in the works.  I am making a case for my 17" computer and I want to work on the Hobo Tote,  , (I bought the template at Nancy's Notions warehouse on retreat early may.)  I also want to work on some of my drawings for my daughter Nan's book. 

My Friday Finish!

My wing it block for my Civil War Quilt :}

  It's a Sunny May Day.  It is a little cool out today but quite sunny.  I find myself recouping from my hectic past 2 weeks.   The last week in April was filled daily with things to do, get- together's, Saying goodbyes to friends, Grandparents day, IV Therapy and a bus trip to Beaver Dam.  Followed this week by family time, spending time helping a friend with her quilting.  yesterday I went downtown to my local quilt shop to My Civil War Club.  I wanted to work on my Civil War Quilt.  I had started a block 3 weeks ago and forgot to mark which block it was to be and totally forgot.  I decided to wing it and it turned out to be a very nice block with the help of Kathy Lee.  She helped me pick out some fabric that would go with it...I did like the way it turned out.  I will wait to resize this one when I place it in the quilt top.  Now I have several more quilt blocks done and I am glad.  I have learned my lessen tho - to mark the pattern or block I am currently working on.  I will use some of the great suggestions from the ladies of my group.   I also finished my spring wall quilt.  I did some FMQ on this and I do like how it looks. all I need is a label and it is ready to be hanged.


My Spring wall hanging is finished and ready to hang.

What Notions did I buy at Nancy's Notions Sewing Weekend



Hobo Tote Templates
 

5-way Seam Gauge

Point Turner

Point Turner and seam Creaser



Magic Bobbin Washers

505 Basting Spray and temporary fabric adhesive

Majic Bobbin Gene Clover Seam RipperAfter walking thru Nancy's Notions warehouse I choose some great things to buy - notions from her catalog - it was a sewer's/quilters dream to be among so many notions at one time.  I could browse and pick them up, examine each - eye candy - for the sewer & quilter. LOL.  I bought a 5 - in One seam gauge, I like the lock in feature of this one, a seam ripper to replace my old one; both by clover.  I also bought a package of little magic bobbin genies to use when I am FMQ - Clear bobbins  & sewing needles for my sewing machine. I also got some heavy pellon for purse facings and a Hobo Tote pattern template, (which is on back order).  I got some great prices on them buy buying them at the warehouse on the weekend.  I also bought a UBS 1gb and a USB power strip for my computer, a collapsible water bottle to use for bringing water for my Iron when going to classes some double face basting tape for zippers and Zippers on a roll. 

Back from my Bus Trip to Nancy's Notions Sewing Weekend in Beaver Dam WI

Wow I had a great trip, met some very nice ladies from my ST Paul/Minneapolis ASG Guild.  I roomed with 3 of the nicest ladies.  Olga, Joyce & Edith  The trip started out a little treacherous.  We were in the Middle of a May Snow Storm.  Imagine that! On the morning we were to leave for Beaver Dam I woke@ 5:30am to 7+ inches of white wet heavy snow covering my driveway.  I knew that the fellow that does our plowing would not be here before I needed to leave at 7:15am.  I packed the car and opened my garage door and backed out with as much force as I could plowing out the snow with my car.  and made my way up the slight hill to the city street which wasn't even plowed yet; slipping & slidding all the way.  Once I got to the highway the drive was much better.  I was 20 min. late but the bus came 45min later.  So I guess I was really early.  :}.  I was so thankful that I was not driving all the way to Beaver Dam.  Above is a picture of how the trees along 94 looked as we drove thru Wisconsin towards our destination. The poor trees were so stressed with the heavy snow that they bent to the ground, some breaking with all the weight.   The Snow cleared after the Dells and the skies were gray and rainy.  I could see that the grass was starting to turn green and as we got closer to Beaver Dam I even saw some spring Tulips.  Spring was definitely here in this part of the country although it was very rainy and cool while we were there.  The Sun finally came out on Saturday, of course it was the day we left to return home. 
We arrived at Nancy's Notions Ware house about 2:30pm that afternoon. It was raining but we didn't care, we all were so excited to be here.  Once inside we got to roam around the store & warehouse.  I even met Nancy Zieman herself and had my picture taken with her.  I had watched her on Public TV for 35+ years.  I was so excited and she was very sweet.  I learned much of my sewing techniques from watching here and reading her books over the years.  My youngest daughter said "OMG how strange to see you standing next to her."  (She had grown up watching Sewing with Nancy along with me,)  Yes you do hear some Awe in that statement don't you.  It is so interesting to hear her viewpoint.  I know I've sewn for all my kids over the years and wondered how they felt about it. 

ASG Minneapolis/St Paul Ladies on the Bus Trip to Nancy's Notions in Beaver Dam WI May 2013

Above is the group of us & our bus driver, of course, taken on Saturday May 4th when it was sunny out.   I loved looking around the store and ware house.   one wall in the hallway between the retail store and the ware house was covered with a bulletin board telling the story of  Nancy's Notion's. 

I do apologize for the fuzziness of the last one but did not want to leave it out.

She also had Quilts along the walls.  They all were beautiful.  Here are just a few of them.  

I loved the color and symmetry of this small quilt & the beadwork was exquisite



I could see my Grandparents in this Quilt.

The Handwork and Beading was just beautiful. 

Another Bus Trip!

I had a long day today and despite the funky weather it was a good one. Started the morning off celebrating grandparents day at my Granddaughter's school, Echo & Ruthie, along with Their other Grandma Deb. It was enjoyable. then with a few hours to spend before my Iv Therapy,(for my Rheumatoid Arthritis), I had my hair done, shopped for some tops and then after my Therapy drove home in the rainy, snow mix. Travel was ok. Got back home about 4:30 just in time to stop at my community CTr were I played cards with my friends and had Pizza. that was fun. It was a nice way to say goodbye to a friend who will be moving to Ohio soon. after all the fun and laughter I got home about 7:30 - watched a little TV - Ate supper and am now getting ready for another trip in the morning. A bus trip to Beaver Dam with my Sewing Guild friends to "Nancy's Notions - weekend to see Nancy Zieman - who hosts channel 2's Sewing with Nancy. I have been watching that show for almost 40 yrs and am so excited to finally meeting her. I have a class at her shop on Friday and can hardly wait. Will let you all know how it went when I get Home.

Mystery Bus Trip!

Yesterday Spring broke thru the frigid cold, snow, rain and sleet of the week.  It was sunny all day, Milder around 39 - 40 degrees with blue skies.  Wow just in time for a mystery bus trip with the ladies of Hudson Heritage Quilters.  What fun, great conversation and laughter.  It truly felt like spring.   We visited 4 shops in Minnesota, the 1st - Blue Bamboo in Plymouth MN was spectacular; featuring a large selections of batiks and Asian prints.  I found the red batik I had been looking for and will revisit when I am start my Asian Inspired panel to look for coordinating fabrics and when I am ready to back my Desert Sunset quilt top by designer Boyd & Patty Krause (a pattern I gleaned from "quilt Sampler magazine fall/winter 2008").  Then we were off to mystery shop # 2. Eagle Creek Quilt Shop in Shakopee, a darling shop in a renovated train station, were lunch was served.  They gave us a free pattern for a Oil - cloth tote, a train charm and I won a door prize, a Penny - Annie Bag. They featured a selection of oil-cloth & had a nice selection of children/baby prints in cotton & flannel.  We also went to Four Seasons Quilt Shop in Osseo, with a great selection of Civil War cottons and Wools & Millie P's Quilt shop in Anoka, with a great selection of children's cottons. I bought some Civil war fat Quarters and flannels & cottons to add to my stash for the baby quilts I plan to make. All in all it was a very nice day.

Wow it's almost mid April already! Hard to belive it.

I can't belive my last post was on the 1st of April.  I'ts been quite a month and I feel that I really did accomplish a lot this past couple of weeks.  I've been working on my Civil War Sampler Quilt and have finished 2 *Album Blocks, 1 Baltimore Album applique Block, An *Ohio Star Block. An am presently working on my 7 Sisters Block. You can check out my progress here. 

Baltimore Album Appliqué Block

Wool  Appliqué with Embroidery



 

April is Here and Spring is in the air!

My Center panel with Trapunto and Surface Quilting

Ready for the borders after a little pres

well it looks like spring is in the air. at least it was on Easter Sunday.  although I had not been in my studio for the past few day's I made up for it today.  I woke early, realized that I had missed the deadline for my March finish so I worked on my MeadowLark Row Quilt today. I joined all the rows together, applied the 1st and 2nd border and the Outer border on the sides.  Tomorrow I will finish up the Top and bottom border and get my finished top ready for quilting.  I've posted pictures of my progress on my Flickr page so head on over to see my progress. 

Last week was a very Quilty Busy week!

My Two Owls mug rug received from Anola in Canada

My Winter Birdhouse mug rug Mug Rug Swap

 



Winter Birdhouse Mug Rugs Quilted by me

Two Owls

4" pinwheel blocks to represent the 23 Union States

Civil War Sampler Pattern

It has been a very busy and exciting week for me between Family Tree updates and Quilting.  In Monday's mail I received my 2 Mug Rugs from my Anola in Canada; a swap I participated in hosted by Michelle at the Quilting Gallery - wow she even included some other goodies for me.  Thank you - I love my new mug rugs - and in my favorite color scheme of tans and browns - the fabric, pattern and note card were so special.  I emailed her right away to say thanks. The patterns for the mug Rugs was from The Patchsmith.  I had sent my mine off to my partner in Brazil on the 11th so she should be getting them soon.  I will upload pictures of them to for all to see.  On Tuesday I got visits from my 2 girls Elizabeth and Nancy,  what a wonderful surprise,  I both of them are super busy and I was so delighted that they took time from their busy schedules to visit me. To top it off my youngest delivered a Christmas present from my daughter Marie.  Wow - it was a plethora of antique pins that she had gathered from her forays to thrift stores and garage sales...Wonderful, she knows I love these...and she has a great eye for picking them out.  one pin was a little sewing machine that I am going to pin to my Name Tag I have for my guild meetings.  Wednesday I spent  piecing my pin wheel blocks for my the Civil War Quilt I am making - 23 4" blocks in blue and gold.  I plan to square them up and sew the rows together tomorrow when I have my Civil War Club mtg.  So Thursday I finally was able to attend The Civil War Club at my LQS - my 1st time being there, it was so fun quilting with the ladies in my group, Carol Lee, Carol .  We meet 2x a month.  Then Friday I went to my monthly ASG (American Sewing Guild) mtg.  I needed to bring a jelly roll since we were going to be making a  strip quilt top.  So fun - I finished up my quilt top at home...(a little slow I was).  On Saturday morning I attended my Hudson Heritage Quilters monthly meeting.  Mary St John did the presentation on Fabric Embellishments - wow! she has great boards on Mary St John - Pintrest so click and enjoy her boards.

And the Winner is!!!!

 

CONGRATULATIONS!

The Beat the Winter Blues Giveaway Winner is!

Goodie Bag

GAIL ONLEY - You are my Winner (# 80)  March 12 2013 @ 6:10am -
 Wow!  There were 113 comments in all and you all had great ways to beat the winter blues.  I loved the tips for new quilters you left. 

Gail's Tip for new quilters: CUT PRECISLEY, TRIM YOUR BLOCKS BEFORE SEAMING ROWS.  She beats the winter blues by going to the beach for a week in January.

Civil War Club

It's snowing here in Hudson Wisconsin this morning but it won't stop me.  I'm going to my Civil War Quilting Club down at my LQS "Sew little time"  I am looking forward to being there with my quilting buddies from the "Girls Night Out" retreat this past Feb.  I missed one meeting because I was sick but I am so ready for this one despite the snow.... I will update you later with pictures....:)

What lovley day today!

I am sitting here at the computer just checking out all the lovley responses to my giveaway!  wow almost 100 with so many great tips for new quilters.  I plan to compile your tips on a tip page - to come soon. yesterday I was quilting and working on my civil war quilt.  made some small items - I will share pictures of what I did yesterday..can't now it would spoil the surprize I have for my giveaway winner.  I enjoy reading the comments so much - you also had great tips for chasing away the winter blues.  I haven't been doing a lot of quilting this past week tho because I have been excittedly looking at old photos of my mothers family....Wow brings back pleasant memories.

last thursday I was talking with my brother Eddie in NY and he told me he had met a cousin by chance.  He was in a car dealership the week before and overheard one of the salesman spelling his last name to the person on the phone.  C-U-CC-I-A!  My mom's madien name.  He went over after the salesman got off the phone.  " Hey cousin I belive we are related"  he said, turns out he was our 2nd cousin after all.  He gave my brother his father's phone # and addrress.  Well Eddie did call him up and they spoke for some time.  My cousin Frank My mom's Nephew!  OMG how exciting.  Eddie gave me the phone # and I called - My cousin called back and we spoke for over an hour.  He emailed me some pictures of mom with her family - all my aunts and uncles, and my grandma and grandpa.  put a big smile on my face that day.  I knew mom was doing the bunny hop in heaven knowing that I was talking to someone from here side of the family.  You can guess what I was up to for the past week.  Updating my family tree! Yeah!  My mom died in 1964 so my memory of her family is very sketchy.  we did loose contatct with them after that. 

That's what I've been up to - how about You?

Dont forget the Blog Hop & Giveaway that is running for 2 more day's...Head over to the Quilting Galleryy to see all the participants.  Don't forget to enter for the prizes...

                                                                                                                          Diane

Quilter’s Blog Hop Party with Give-Aways

Beat the Winter Blues – Quilters’ Blog Hop Party

Welcome!  if you are new to my blog I hope you will take some time and look around.  I am fairly new to the blogging scene and have only been quilting for 2 yrs.  This Past January I made my 1st Pattern, a Piano Runner.  I had so much fun putting this together.   Check out my other Blogs too.  Creative Lady's Enthusiastic Thoughts and Quilting and Sewing Arts Studio  


It seems like this Winter will never end!! I’m definitely dreaming of Spring! To help chase away the Winter Blues, join me for a Quilters’ Blog Hop Party.  Like Michelle at the Quilting Gallery says, "This is the Winter that just doesn’t want to end."  I agree! so lets chase those blues away by visiting theses other blogs too....

Thanks to Michelle At the Quilting Gallery for hosting this. 

 

Now for my Give - Away!

 

I am putting together some neat items for my give away and I am sure you will be delighted with them.  For each 20 comments I will be adding an Item into a quilted Bag similar to the one in the picture below,  up to 10 items in all.  Enjoy the Hop! 


To enter the give-away: share your favorite way of getting rid of the winter blues in the comments below.  What’s the best advice you’d give to a new quilter?  The Winner will be randomly chosen on March 15th.  Duplicate entries will be deleted.  Sorry! but I won't be able to send ship internationally.  I will email the winner so make sure to leave me your e-mail.

Click on the Button below  to visit the list of participating bloggers: