Quilt Obsessions

Burgoyne Surrounded Swap

2011-12-12T09:18:00.004-05:00

Last week when my Bernina 153 just stopped working and my other machine, my Bernina 180, was on loan to a friend, I sort of went through sewing withdrawal. I mean I was really discombobulated. So I got out my featherweight and started sewing together these blocks.

My guild, thanks to Cappy and Mary, organized a scrappy swap of the components for these blocks. We swapped all dark 4-patches, dark-light 4-patches, dark-light 9-patches, the 5x2 unit for the sides and plain neutral rectangles. It took a few months and some of the ladies have already completed their quilts.

I have always wanted to make this pattern. Throw in the scrapiness and the little pieces (each square is 1") and I knew this was in my future. I love working on this. It sure came to my rescue when I needed to just sit and sew. I only have three blocks done.

Once the holiday busyness is over this will be my next finish project. That is after, (or I should say while) I finish the baby quilt, and quilt two or three other tops!!

I always have a few projects in different stages. That way I tame the A.D.D.!!!

Wishing you a few moments to sit and sew
Susie

PS I got my 180 back from my friend so all is right in my world. The 153 is still in the shop.

Visit Judy to see other design walls

They just keep coming

2011-11-21T08:13:00.003-05:00

Weddings and babies that is and not necessarily in that order ;-)!

I have a lot of cousins and we all got married and had kids around the same time so that means that all those kids are now getting married and having babies around the same time too. I am not complaining mind you. The more the merrier as far as I'm concerned. And those babies sure are fun.
This is a baby I spy for a little boy to be born in February. When his parents announced his gender they started calling him blue and then blueberry. So there is blueberry fabric right in the middle. There are also other significant fabrics in there like Redskins for Dad (even though they stink!!!) and Ravens for Mom (not my favorite team even though I am a Baltimoron).

It is mostly put together and I plan on quilting it over the long Thanksgiving weekend. That is if I can get my sewing machine to work. It just up and stopped running right in the middle of quilting another quilt on Saturday. I lent my friend my other machine and will get that one back tomorrow so I do have a backup. I was surprised at how "off" I felt this weekend without my Berninas. I got out my featherweight and pieced some but I still had this feeling that something just wasn't quite right. Anyone else feel that way about their machines?

Happy stitches,
Susie

Oh, and go visit Judy to see what's on everyone else's design wall

In the blink of an eye...

2011-11-16T09:13:00.009-05:00

...more than two years pass.

I stopped blogging in August 2009. That's about the time our family got dragged into the middle of a Jerry Springer-esque drama. But I am proud to say we all kept our integrity and dignity and handled it with grace and class.

You know the first few lines of the novel A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens? "It was the best of times. It was the worst of times." Well that was how 2010 was for our whole family. It started out a nightmare and ended with the long-awaited birth of our first grandchild, Everliegh Laine.

So that is where I will resume this blog. As a quilter you all know that you can't have a granddaughter without making a special quilt. She was born four days before Christmas last year and came home on Christmas Eve. Needless to say our Christmas was very special.
Here I am holding Everleigh with her mom, my daughter Maggie, and her quilt hanging in the Southern Comforters quilt show in March. I was disappointed it didn't win a ribbon but I didn't go home empty handed. This quilt won first place in the large pieced category.
You might remember it from here.
I quilted freehand feathers all throughout and they turned out better than I expected and were so much fun to do. I hate marking a quilt so anything I can do without marking is my preference.
I have visited my blog everyday since August 2009 because I use it to check my favorite blogs that I read everyday. I have lots more favorites now and I will update them soon.

Happy stitches
Susie

Design Wall Monday

2009-08-17T10:23:00.003-04:00

Every Monday, Judy, over at Patchwork Times lets people show what's on their design wall. Every Monday morning when I get to work I think DUH! I forgot to take a picture. Well I finally remembered, mainly because I am binding the quilt I have been working on and actually got a little organized in my sewing room. I cut these out last month and took them to the beach with me. (In case it rained) Well it did rain one day but I was having so much fun hanging out with my grown kids, that I didn't even open my sewing stuff. So, I have been piecing them in between quilting my Asian Wallhanging that I am going to hang in my office. I'll show you that one when it's all done.

I think I'll lay these out and start sewing them together this week. Then I get to go shopping to buy a border and back. I haven't been fabric shopping in months and months. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

Until next time...
Susie

Getting caught up

2009-07-08T14:47:00.005-04:00

It has become a tradition in our guild for the past two years for members to make a 12" block with a given theme fabric. It is the brainstorm of Cappy and she finds the most fun fabrics. The first one (if my memory is correct) was chocolate, the second one was pizza, and this one is a mexican theme. The fabric we were given had tacos and chili peppers and margaritas and everything mexican. I used it in the center of my block. I was going to put the pinwheels all around but then I found the stripe fabric waaaaay down in my stash and had to use it. I can't wait to see all the finished blocks. This is another one I would love to win.
Mary is our a new Block-of-the-month chairperson. She has started off simple, but to be honest, sometimes they make the best BOMs. We were to do lime green and black nine patches... because lime green is the new beige! We usually have so many people participate that there is enough to do three or four drawings. I don't do a block every month because (and excuse me here) sometimes people don't follow directions. So you always get one or two blocks that don't play well with the rest. I have won those before. So I like this one and don't see many ways to go astray.

Drawings are in August. Hope I win these too!

Until next time...
Susie

Enthusiasm

2009-07-02T08:34:00.004-04:00

Our guild has been blessed with some mighty fine program chairs the past few years. It wasn't always the case though. I think that program chair is one of the hardest jobs in the guild. We have been on a roll and the last two program chairs set the bar high. Their enthusiasm has held because now we have Wendy! She came up with a great idea to make a quilt for our Quilt Bingo in October. Everyone makes two rows 60.5" wide for a row quilt. One set will be used for the quilt bingo and the others will be won by a lucky participant who made a row. The theme is fall colors. We have seen some of the rows already and this quilt is gonna be good. I have always liked row quilts and would love to win this one (even before it is revealed). I did these over the weekend.
Enthusiasm is contagious!

Until next time...
Susie

Starting something new

2009-07-01T08:36:00.004-04:00

Ahhhhh, I love this feeling.
I few times a year (and I mean a few...maybe two) I get to a point in my quilting adventures where it is time (without guilt, I might add) to start a new project. After our quilt show in March (which caused all sorts of deadline stress) I found myself finishing lots of odds and ends, including getting a few tops put together, making backings, and rounding up batting for said same. Oh and I also have been doing some superficial organizing-as-you-go in my sewing room. Soooooo, I have been accumulating piles of projects (ie fabric with patterns in boxes and bags) ready to start when the moment was right. Well I have spent the last two weekends cutting, cutting, cutting. I have three quilts cut and bagged, ready to start piecing. Here is one of them.
You can see the sample in the upper right corner. Deb Tucker made this quilt and I just loved it, mainly because it uses lots of different fabrics. Deb taught our guild the Hunter's Star class (she invented this amazing ruler that makes the quilt so much fun to make) and she brought all sorts of quilts to show us during her lecture.

There is something strange about this quilt though. All I had was the photo to go by and when I drafted it out to cut, I wanted the trees to be taller than they are wide. So the blocks are not square. You can sort of tell by the red nine patch.

My family will be going to the beach in a few weeks and I want to take something all cut so I can just piece. (Only if the weather is bad though)

More tomorrow. (I promise)

Until next time...
Susie

I am very (parenthetical) today huh?

Beautiful butterfies

2009-06-02T08:21:00.006-04:00

I just couldn't look at that Stack 'n Whack anymore. The more I look at it the less I like it. So feast your eyes on this beauty.
This beautiful quilt was made by Carolyn. She won this top a few years ago as our guild's anniversary quilt. It won first place in the group quilt category in this years' show. You can check out all the winners of our show here. Click on 2009 quilt show.
One of my favorite guild activities is the trash-to-treasure sale. I bought all these buttons (above) and lots of thread and a book or two (below) and of course some fabric. But my favorite find was a Joan Jones Santa face.
I bought the kit at Lancaster last year. She sells the faces already done but she showed me how its done, I bought the face fabric and the markers, and was confident that I could do it. Well, every time I thought about starting that quilt the face stopped me. I just couldn't get started. So when I saw this in the trash-to-treasure sale I grabbed it. So how many people think I will finish it before this Christmas? ....Yea I thought so--no takers. Oh well maybe I will at least START it before this Christmas.

Until next time...
Susie

Productive weekend

2009-05-26T08:50:00.006-04:00

I did it. I put three borders on this sucker. But I sort of cheated because I mitered them. That means I sewed them in strips and put one border on. There is alot of math involved (which I like I might add) and I have a way to do it that is practically foolproof. (Besides the math part).

This quilt is my donation for our guild's Quilt Bingo in October. I took a stack 'n whack class and I liked this fabric but I am not crazy about this quilt. I should have used different colors for the alternating diamonds. Sometimes when I look at this picture I see the argyle-like diamonds and sometimes all I see are the red/white hexagons. I like seeing the diamonds better. It is from Stack 'n Whackier by Bethany Reynolds.

I had three more floral hexagons left (I was playing with the idea of making the quilt bigger) so I impulsively made a table runner. It went together really fast.

I even basted it and it is ready to quilt. We can always use another table runner huh?

Until next time...
Susie

PS I have disabled anonymous comments. For some reason, they bug me, especially when they come across as chastising and with bad grammar.

Likes and dislikes

2009-05-22T08:28:00.002-04:00

I do love to piece. There is something so soothing about piecing. BUT, I have discovered that I really don't like to put on borders. This quilt wasn't so bad. One because it is small and two, there is only one border. I am a little anal about borders not being wobbly, so I go to alot of trouble to measure first. I also like inner borders (although this quilt doesn't have one) and that makes borders double (or triple-depending on how many inner borders) work. On my to do list for this holiday weekend is putting on borders for my Stack 'n whack. It will have three borders-ugh. I'll show you the pic on Tuesday. I will get it done! I also have to hem my husbands pants. His inseam is 31" and do you know how hard it is to find 31" inseams? So these pants have cuffs. Not too hard and they are all pinned, I am just procrastinating. They also will be done!

This cute quilt was made all from my stash. I had swapped jewel tone 6" squares on the internet a few years back (I had to cut them down to 5") and I just love it when the perfect fabric and the perfect pattern collide. I had the perfect border. I only had a yard and I used every inch! I have to find a backing. I have decided that I don't like pieced backs so I might be heading out to Joanns. BTW, our Joanns in Bowie is closing the end of June.

Until next time...
Susie

(And no snide comments Debi!)

More of my favorites

2009-04-08T10:36:00.005-04:00

My friend Terri makes the "funnest" quilts. ( I know "funnest" isn't a word, it just fits the mood of her quilts!) Here is her boxer shorts quilt all done and hanging in the show. When my husband and sons came to view the show they all voted for this one. My son, Scott, actually said he'd like boxer shorts out of some of these fabrics.
She also made this fun Christmas Tree quilt. It has a metallic silver inner border, which I thought was a clever touch.
Too cute, huh?

Until next time...
Susie

Eye Candy

2009-03-26T08:30:00.005-04:00

How gorgeous is this?!!! It was made by our president, Pat, and not only is it beautiful, but it is very complicated and made very well. It is a Stack 'n Whack with three different sizes of triangles. I think she said she took a class at MAQ. I am very impressed, Pat. Oh and she won second place.
This beauty was made by Jackie and it is BIG. I would guess at least a full size, maybe even a queen. The pattern came from a magazine, (I will be finding out which one because this one might be in my future) All hand appliqued. She won second too.
And you've seen this one before. It is my Merry Moody Blues. The Adirondack chair was part of our theme, A Day at the Beach.

More to come
Until next time...
Susie

Quilt Show weekend

2009-03-23T08:13:00.007-04:00

Whew and was it ever a good one.
Our guild members sure are talented. We showed some of the most gorgeous quilts. I will be showing a few over the next few days but these I want to show first.

I gave you a teaser here a few weeks ago. This quilt is so different I thought people were going to look at it and say either wow, that is beautiful, or ugh that is the ugliest quilt I have ever seen. Decide for yourself.
Well, I guess more people liked it because it won first place in the large pieced category. It is by Maria Tamaoka from Pinwheels, and all made from the beautiful Daiwabo Taupe fabrics. I was thrilled to win.

You all have seen this quilt here before but here it is actually finished. it won second place in the medium pieced category.
My Glacier quilt from the kit I bought in Alaska this past summer. It is designed by Lisa Moore and made with McKenna Ryan fabrics. This one was actually finished at 10:30 the night before the quilt show set up. Well, I should say the binding was finished because I still have a little work to do on it. I want to put some of those heat set crystals on it and make a label with our picture standing in front of this glacier. I had this picture pinned up next to it so people could really see that this quilt really does look like a glacier!
And here is the photo that I want to put on the label.
So check back later for more quilts from the Southern Comforters 2009 Quilt show in Bowie, MD and to see who I happened to recognize visiting our show.

Until next time...
Susie

ISO this fabric

2009-03-13T07:57:00.003-04:00

I am looking for just a 1/2 yard of this fabric. It is a Thimbleberries and more than five years old. I would be willing to buy it or trade for it. If anyone has a half yard piece that they would be willing to part with, please e-mail me privately.

This is why I need it.
I bought this kit at the Williamsburg (VA) Quilt show years back. I liked it so much I decided to make it a king size. So I went on-line when I returned home and bought more fabric. Well the kit sat and sat for a few years, long enough for me to not want a king-size anymore. So I pulled it out and decided I had enough fabric to make two twin sized quilts out of it EXCEPT for this light background.

The first quilt is made and if I can't find any of this background I will substitute another for the background in the second quilt so all will not be lost. I just thought I'd ask around.

Until next time...
Susie

Annual pincushion

2009-03-09T08:25:00.003-04:00

Every year at our February retreat Georgia has a pincushion for us to make. This year, since we were there over Valentine’s Day, we made hearts. They all turned out so cute and we had fun embellishing them.
This one was my favorite. Click here for a look at some past pin cushions.

Until next time...
Susie

The real silk purse

2009-03-05T08:36:00.005-05:00

The blocks were BEAUTIFUL!!!! I would have loved to win some but alas it wasn't meant to be. Five people won and I can't wait to see what they do with them. People kept to the Asian theme too. See the lanterns, the kimono and the cute Asian guy? There's even a scene with a pagoda!
Remember my last post, where I showed you last years blocks? Here is what Amy did with the ones she won.
The solid purple squares are actually satin. Very striking huh?! My block is in there too. (upper left). It's is so wonderous to me that when I see these blocks separately they don't appeal to me but put together in a quilt they are stunning.

Until next time...
Susie

Silk purse

2009-01-28T08:29:00.006-05:00

You know the saying.
Well here's the sows ear.
It is a very strange color. This is a 10" square. We have to make as many blocks as we want from this piece, 12 x 12 or 6 x 6 or 12 x 6. Retreat is in 16 days (not that I'm counting!) and I will be making some of these blocks with our Asian theme. Even if you don't particularly like this fabric I can guarantee that the blocks our members will make will make it look beautiful.
Here is last years fabric and the blocks that were made. They really were beautiful.

So I am expecting lots of pinks, greens and golds to go with this years fabrics. I will probably make one 12" block and two rectangle blocks. I like those weird sizes.

Until next time...
Susie

Soldier pillowcases

2009-01-26T08:29:00.002-05:00

I made 5 pillowcases last Monday at our mini-retreat. One of our guild members is a member of the Red cross and passes out the beautiful quilts to the wounded soldiers at Andrews Air Force Base. She told us they got a donation of 150 pillows and needed pillowcases for them. Each soldier gets a pillow when they are transferred to another hospital or released. I can't wait to go to guild Wednesday and see how many we all made. I know one woman made 30!!! If I was stashbusting, this would be a good way to use it up. Ahhh but unfortunately, (or fortunately, depending on your point of view) I am not a member of that club so I just use and replace (not necessarily in that order) at will.

I was very busy sewing over the weekend but can't show you anything. I am working on the mystery project for our retreat and I know some of the ladies read my blog. Last Year I did this one (scroll down to see the correct photo) by Mary Johnson. This year we have an Asian theme. Tomorrow I'll show you the "ugly" fabric that we are supposed to make blocks to trade.

Until next time...
Susie

Mini retreat Monday

2009-01-22T08:16:00.004-05:00

And we sewed and talked and ate and laughed and sewed and don't you know...I didn't take one photo. People started arriving at 9 am and didn't leave until 9 pm. I made potato soup in the crock pot (got up at 2am to turn it on) and homemade bread in the bread machine for lunch and we had Chinese food delivered for dinner. I think this is going to be a new tradition for our bee. I mini-pre-retreat-retreat. Our big guild retreat is coming up soon, in 22 days. Our minds are on what we want to work on there. At least mine is. I am sure that half the fun of retreats is in the anticipation!

Here are our guild BOMs for February. (The blue tape is holding them to the wall)
I love this idea and will be making a few of these. Our name is put into the drawing for each block we make. I hope I win these.

Until next time...
Susie

Brrrrrrr

2009-01-16T07:33:00.005-05:00

Don't my dogs look cozy and warm? Every time we make a fire, they plop themselves down for a nap. It kinda makes it hard to tend the fire but it must be some primal instinct that draws them close.

I read my blogs while I'm eating my breakfast. This morning, both Mary in Minnesota and Judy in Missouri have talked about how cold it is. Well, here in DC, it is, what my husband calls, "stupid cold". (Of course, he thinks anything below 70 is cold.) I am starting a four-day weekend thanks to Martin Luther King and Barack Hussein Obama.

I do plan on some serious quilting this weekend. I have to finish two quilts for our show in March and don't want to wait until the last minute. Here is a tiny portion of one of my entries. You'll have to wait until the show for the whole picture. If anyone recognizes it please don't tell. This quilt is so striking and different, I don't want to spoil the visual impact.
I am hosting a mini-retreat at my house on Monday. Just my bee coming over to sew. We'll put tables up in the living room and family room and sew from morning 'till night.
I'll report on that on Tuesday.

Until next time...
Susie

Show and Tell

2009-01-15T09:23:00.003-05:00

We always have Show and Tell at our guild meetings and this one was made by a new member, Marcy. Marcy is a new quilter and I just love the way she works (totally different from me). She is very creative and totally does her own thing. I think she started with the basic directions for the prairie braid and then her design just evolved. I have trouble doing that and admire people who can. I am too rigid and/or timid. I would worry, what if I make a mistake? Marcy would just go in a different direction to fix it. I would worry, what if I run out of a certain fabric. Marcy would just substitute another. I would worry, what if I don't like it. Marcy would work on it until she did or finish it and move on.

Our quilt show, coming in March, will have a new category called novice quilter. Anyone who has been quilting for less than three years can enter their quilt. Marcy is entering this one and I'll tell you right now, I'm gonna vote for it.

Until next time...
Susie

IIIIII don't want to work

2009-01-13T08:46:00.004-05:00

Did you get that tune?
You know, the one by Todd Rundgren.
I don't want to work. I just want to bang on the drum all day. That's what I have been singing for the past four days as I was sewing. After working six days in three weeks over the holidays, I had a full week of work last week. Now I do love my job but I sure did have a great time staying home and doing all that sewing. So I kept singing, "I don't want to work, I just want to sew in my room all day!"

This is what I've been working on. I want to get the blocks done so I can start quilting a special quilt to enter in our guild quilt show in March.

I took this Hunter's Star class back in October from Deb Tucker.
This is how big the top turned out...which isn't big at all (Another row of dark blocks goes on the bottom but I left it off because I knew I was going to make it larger). The blocks are only 6", so.....I am making it twice this size. I got out more beiges and browns and started again over the weekend. Her ruler really is amazing and I highly recommend it if you want to make this block. Check out her web site in the link on her name above.

Until next time...
Susie

Donation quilt

2009-01-08T09:19:00.003-05:00

One of the many charities that our guild donates quilts to is the Pediatric Oncology Department at Georgetown Hospital. Every newly diagnosed child gets a quilt. I like to send them off with prayers stitched in. I bought two of these panels a few years ago and finally got around to putting on borders and quilting one for Georgetown. (During my self-imposed sequester over the New Year's long weekend)
This is the back. They said they needed more quilts for boys so this one will fill the bill. I love making quilts for Georgetown as well as soldier quilts.

Until next time...
Susie

Naming Quilts

2009-01-06T09:01:00.005-05:00

Judy, at Patchwork Times, has a post today about naming quilts. That decided for me what I would post about today too.

During my sequestered New Years' weekend. I finished this quilt, and while I was working on it, I was thinking of names. I kept calling it Mary's triangles or blue scrap but it needed a formal name. See the basic block here and here.

Let's back track just a little so I can tell you I got a cute pink iPod for Christmas. I am having fun loading it with all the crazy eclectic music that I like, from classical to show tunes to rock. So I plugged it into the speakers that my son gave me, cranked up really loud, I might add, and was listening to my all time favorite album from the 70s when I was in college. I was quilting away when the name finally came to me! Duh...Moody Blues! I want the name to be a little happier so the official name is Merry Moody Blues.
Ha, how's that? I love it when that happens.

Until next time...
Susie

Starting Over

2009-01-05T08:59:00.005-05:00

Well, I think I have probably lost all my readers. So I am going to pretend that I am starting my blog over...with all the anticipation and enthusiasm I had when I first began.

Yes I have a new header. I saw Nicole's new header at Sisters Choice, and loved her blue log cabin blocks. Soooooo...

...while I was home... literally home for five days... as in, I didn't go out of my house... I have been physically and mentally organizing my quilting world. Oh, and I also undecorated my house, cooked some scrumptious meals, cleaned just a little, slept late, read, and of course sewed.
I teased you with the idea for our bee gift exchange, so I want to show you some of the creative ways we keep our gifts to under $3. Georgia embroidered this cute scissor holder. I have my full size pair of Ginghers in it. This will definitely keep my husband from cutting his odor eaters (new ones thank goodness). True story!!!
Loretto made this cute cup/bottle holder with a bee and our initials embroidered on it. I will be using this often to keep my water bottle from sweating all over my purse.
And this is what I made for everyone. I cut up my old quilt calendars and made stationery. There are different sizes of blank note cards with envelopes as well as some tiny gift tags. I also printed out some address labels (see upper left).

Until next time...
Susie

Merry Christmas and Happy New year

2008-12-23T07:36:00.006-05:00

And I mean that from my heart.
Above is my bee party. We all exchange gifts with a
$2-$3 limit. It makes for some very creative gifts.

Needless to say, I've been a busy girl. I won't
bore you with the details because I'm sure that they are
the same as many women all over the country. I do, however,
have the Christmas spirit and am enjoying the busyness
and underlying panic. My panic usually comes from
worrying if my three kids (they are all grown and on
their own, mind you!) have the same amount of gifts.
They have never worried about it but I do, for some
strange reason. I just want them all to have a wonderful
Christmas. Well, I consider myself truly blessed if that's
my biggest worry, huh?

Here is the cutest bag I made for Hannah, my second son's girlfriend.

The top pic is the front and the bottom is the back. It is the cutest thing with lots of pockets. I also made my son-in-law some San Diego Chargers PJs, pillow case and two bandanas for their beagles. He is a big Chargers fan and I bought three yards of Charger fabric and just about used all of it.

I truly hope you all have a peaceful, loving holiday.

Until next time...
Susie

Quick gift

2008-12-01T07:52:00.004-05:00

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving filled
with family and friends and...calories!

After my marathon cooking on Thursday, this is what
I worked on this weekend. (Oh and after I got home
from shopping on Black Friday--out the door at 6:45!)
We're having our supper club (5 other couples) over on
the 13th and I wantedto give each couple a small gift.
I just took a 12" block and made a mini quilt for a
table topper. Each one took exactly 1/2 hour to quilt.
Wouldn't it be nice if all our projects went so fast.
The pattern is Christmas Star from the quilterscache.

I have a long list of quilted gifts to finish before
Christmas.
1. Finish quilting my son, Matt's quilt
2. Make two pillowcases for my daughter, Maggie
3. Make a quilted bag for my second son Scott's
girlfriend, Hannah.
4. Make two dog beds for Maggie's beagles
5. Make two PJ bottoms for Maggie and Hannah

I'm not panicking yet though. Have to get through
this dinner party first.

Until next time...
Susie

New backwards quilt

2008-11-21T10:36:00.004-05:00

Sometimes when you see a piece of fabric, you just
know, without a shadow of doubt, that it is yours. That's
the way when I saw this.
I have been collecting blues and whites for a few years
now and planned on someday making a beautiful blue
and white quilt. Something classy and clean and crisp.
The pile of blues ranged from dark indigo to bright royal --
the same ones that sat near my window and
some of them faded. So I am using the dark indigo
ones for a triple nine patch along with apple green
(I know sounds weird, but it caught my eye--more
on that one later) The royals will be used for the front
of this quilt. Here are the fabrics.
And this is the pattern I am using. It is from the book
Quilt Along with Emilie Richards Sister's Choice.
This quilt is meant to be. I even know I am going to
quilt it from the back following the print in the fabric.
I just love it when the stars align and all the pieces
fall into place. Now all I have to do is make it!!! Sadly I
don't think it will be until after the holidays.

Until next time...
Susie

Quilting Backwards

2008-11-18T08:55:00.007-05:00

There have been two instances in my quilting journey
where I have started a quilt with the back. This is the
first one.
Sorry about the wonky photo. I asked my husband to
hold this up as he was walking out the door. So not
only were we in a hurry, but this quilt is king size and
no one else was here to help, so this is it folks!
I saw this cute fabric at
JoAnn's about 5 years
ago. It says "Life is just a
bowl of cherries. They
only had three FQs so I
bought them thinking
that someday I would
make something. Then
I ran across Aunt Sukies
Choice in Nancy Martin's book Make Room for
Christmas Quilts. This was the quilt that I could
make with my cherries fabric for the back. It would
still be red and green but not Christmas. Around the
same time (and I can't remember which came first)
I saw this fabric on a bolt and bought 15 yards. The
quilt was starting to come together. I started collecting
red and white lights and darks and black & white lights.
Then I found the border fabric. Perfect!. I even had
enough to make two pillowcases, and I still have
some left.

So I started with the back and a quilt was born.

Until next time...when I'll show you my newest
backwards quilt...
Susie

Quickie Quilt

2008-11-13T08:33:00.005-05:00

I will consider this my two-week quilt. This picture was
taken this morning (Thursday) and the only thing left
to do is finish the binding. (I am not labeling this quilt
because I don't know the recipients that well and in 20
years they won't remember me anyway. They will have
their own stories/history about this quilt). I started it
last Sunday-11 days ago. I
got it all cut out on Sunday,
sewed the center of the quilt
from Monday through
Thursday. I was off work on
Friday so bought the border
and backing, and got those
sewn on. Then I basted it
on Saturday, got it quilted
from Saturday through Monday (I was off work again).
Now I am binding it. Whew, it's amazing what you can
accomplish when you have a deadline. This was a
self-imposed deadline of course. I work in a very
deadline oriented business (magazine production)
so I try not to give myself many self-imposed deadlines.

We have a new assistant pastor at our church and
there is something about this young man that I just
love. (Besides the fact that he is an awsome preacher!)
He and his cute wife are expecting their first baby
(a boy) in January and the church-wide shower is
this Saturday. I know they could probably use
practical things like diapers and gift cards for
formula and stuff but I just had to make them a quilt.
I like to imagine all the many happy hours,
raising a sweet boy, playing I Spy.

Until next time...
Susie

OK, OK, I'm back

2008-11-11T08:13:00.013-05:00

Yeah, I know, I've been back from retreat for two weeks
now. And I do have lots of excuses for not posting, but
let's just say I couldn't get to it. It has a little to do with
my sense of rebellion and, well, all those excuses.
So let's just move on.
This was our view from our little cabin at West River
(south of Annapolis). Just one hour after getting there
and unloading the car, and setting up the tables with
Georgia, and setting up my sewing space, the world
just fell away. I mean it is the total opposite of stress.
Four days of it. Four days of sewing, laughing, eating,
sleeping, laughing and sewing. We all got so much
done this year.
I worked on this wall hanging from Pat Sloan. I bought
the fabric kit from Traditions at the White Swan who
vendors at our quilt show. I won't tell you how many
years I've had it. Georgia was making one too.
Loretto finished these cute wall hangings.
Marcie had the best idea of the weekend. She bought
some Vera Bradley napkins and some other fabrics that
coordinated with them and started a quilt with this
pattern. Each napkin will yield four blocks. I just love
it and think it's going to be stunning.
And BTW, Cathy embroidered that cute spider along
with pumpkins and haunted houses and more for
each of us.
Here's Cathy working on her new Grandson's quilt with
Kim watching. Cathy was sooo diligent, working on
that quilt the whole weekend. She made major progress.
Loretto (ironing) and Marcie holding up her cute
TP wall hanging.
Terri holding up a cute purse that Flo made. Here's Georgia sewing on her new machine.
You might recognize her from last year.

We sewed on all sorts of machines from a 25-year-old Singer to the newest Viking Diamond. So now I'm depressed to be back in reality. The next retreat is February. After the holidays I'll start counting the sleeps.

Until next time...
Susie

One more sleep

2008-10-23T09:00:00.005-04:00

..before retreat day arrives. Tomorrow's the day.
I really do have alot to do, but it's fun stuff, like food
shopping, laundry, figuring out what to leave for my
husband to eat for four days, and packing.

I bought some of these cake takers at Wal Mart. Bonnie
at Quiltville told us about them and as much as I hate
WalMart I ventured in and bought all they had which was
only four. I figured that I would use two and sell the
other two to one of my friends. That's my brown and
beige Hunter's star in one and my indigo blue double
nine-patch in the other. Hopefully I can show you pics
of these tops when I get back on Tuesday.
Here's my retreat list. You can click on the picture to get
a larger view. I have had this list since my very first
retreat in 2000. I have added to it over the years and the
large pink stickie (with previous lists underneath) has this
retreat's projects.

All this look's like I'm organized but I'm really not. I
hope I can sleep tonight without thinking about all the
stuff I forgot to do or buy or pack or...

Until next time...
Susie

Retreat time!!!

2008-10-22T08:38:00.009-04:00

Yes, three exclamation points!!!
I have decided that the anticipation, packing, and
planning for retreat is almost as fun as the retreat itself.

We arrive Friday at noon for our small, bee, fall retreat
at West River (which is conveniently only 40 minutes from
our town) and we will be sewing, laughing, eating, and
relaxing until Monday. (Notice I didn't mention sleeping).
(Someone once told me I write and speak very
parenthetically. (Don't you just love that word?
Say it out loud, par-en-the ti-cal-ly)).

So here are the beginnings of my piles on the dining room table.
The left pile of Royal blues is really an afterthought. I'll
save that for another blog post, post retreat. The pile
under the blueberry pie pin cushions is the Turning Twenty top (see right) that I put together last year at retreat and has hidden in the closet ever since. I will put the borders on. See the Jelly Roll that slid off the pile over there on the right? The page under it is Mary's directions for a cute box block quilt. Get her directions here. Then I have some asian fabrics that I will be making a wall hanging for my office. (I am sick of the
one that is up there now. That will be another blog
post later. (PS-I always say "Asian" instead of "Oriental"
because our daughter is Korean and she hates it when
people call her Oriental. She always corrects them to
say Asian instead).

So I'll prolong the anticipation (mine--not yours) and
post more packing piles tomorrow. Oh, but before I go
I want to show you what happens when my boys come
to visit.
They both had one eye on their lap tops and one eye on
the Redskins game. It was Matt's (left) birthday so all
my children were over for dinner. I was a happy Mom.
(That's Scott on the right).

Until next time...
Susie

Quilt Bingo

2008-10-17T08:32:00.006-04:00

I'd better get this post in this week about our Quilt Bingo
we had last Sunday.
We made this quilt with Bingo fabric for Joe, the Bingo
caller, who donates his services. We presented it to him
before the fun began.
This is one end of the stage showing the prizes.
Here are the prizes at the other end.
Leslie and Margaret at the basket raffle table and in
front of the special prizes. Do you recognize the
Carolina Crossroads there on the left? The baskets were
so beautiful. We had an Italian themed one, a
scrapbookers delight, a relaxation one, a reading one
and more but I can't remember any more. They are a
very easy money maker because the guild members
donated most of the contents.

Elfrieda (sitting) and Amy (who designed this quilt) in
front of our 2009 raffle quilt. The theme for our show
and raffle next year is "Down by the Sea".
View from the front of the hall. Some of these ladies
are very serious about playing Bingo. We had a great
time and our guild made lots of money.

This weekend I will be organizing for retreat. I have
some decisions to make about what I will be taking
to work on. (I always take too much).

Until next time...
Susie

Full Quilting weekend

2008-10-13T08:27:00.005-04:00

On Saturday I took a class (sponsored by our guild)
from Deb Tucker. She has come up with a really easy,
fun way to make Hunter's Star blocks and some
amazing ways to arrange them. Click here for her web
site. She is a great teacher and made the class fun.
Notice I have said fun alot (well two times). If you ever
get a chance to take one of ther classes I highly
recommend her.
Here she is holding one of her smaller pieces. That's my
friend Debi on the left. (We'll be going on retreat together
in a few weeks, in 11 days exactly-although Debi is going
this weekend too).

Anyway, Deb Tucker brought lots of her quilts for
inspiration and boy was I inspired. I love her tool and
plan on making more Hunter's Star quilts. I also thought
her Tucker Trimmer tool looked interesting too. One
thing at a time though-yeah right!

I had finished a few projects and was (was being the
key word here!) at a point to decide what to work on
next. Well, that is a dangerous place to be girls. I now
have at least five projects started. That means the fabric
is bought, washed, ironed, sorted and designated with
a pattern. Some are just in a pile, some are cut out,
some are half sewn and ...well that's enough huh?!!!
So I am amidst chaos and I am HAPPY!

Now I need your opinion. I really can't decide which layout
I like best for my brown and cream Hunter's Star . I only
have half the blocks sewn and they are just laid out
roughly on my design wall so please use your
imagination. Which one do you like best?
Version 1-traditional Hunter's star lay out.

Version 2-One of Deb's layouts. You can see completed
ones here on her web site.

Tomorrow I'll talk about our fabulous Quilt Bingo
we had yesterday.

Until next time...
Susie

Another surprise find!

2008-10-03T08:39:00.003-04:00

So, back to my Aunt's linen closet.
After I found the 1843 quilt I pulled out a Montgomery
Wards box that had this crazy quilt in it. The maroon
velvet border was like new and the back was a beautiful
dusty pink polished cotton in perfect condition. After
a very brief inspection I didn't see any wear on the
front so I assumed it was a reproduction bought at
Montgomery Wards. I didn't make a big deal over it,
just put in my pile and hoped my cousins wouldn't
want to inspect it further. I was so excited over the
other quilt, I barely thought of this one. Crazy Quilts
aren't really my style and I thought this one was newer.
So I left it in the box for a few months. I got it out at
Christmas and draped it over an overstuffed chair.
My bee came over one night and one of the ladies
noticed it. We examined the squares and I saw some
of the silks were disintegrating. Hmmm that means
its older than I thought. Then my friend saw a date
embroidered on it, 1886. Well it was a reproduction,
so I guess they wanted it to look old. Then she saw
the surname Hanna embroidered. OMG...that is a
loud shout OMG. Hanna is my great grandmothers
maiden name. This quilt was made by my great
grandmother Rachel Belle Hanna McCleary (and probably
many of her friends) in 1886. She is the daughter of
Margaretta Virginia Loy Hanna who signed the 1843
quilt. So of course we examined every beautiful block.

I'll show close-up photos of this one and the other one
after I figure out how to get clear shots.

Until next time...
Susie

My life BQ

2008-09-29T08:45:00.005-04:00

That's "before quilting". Before I was obsessed with
fabric, I was obsessed with beads. My friend at work
got me hooked on beading in 1991. I made this
bracelet years ago and I have gotten so many
compliments from quilters that they asked me to
help them make one for themselves. It is from Carol
Wilcox Wells' book Creative Bead Weaving.
I started making one in all blues. Goodness knows I
have enough blue beads. Hmmm this could also be
why I have more blue fabric than any other color.
I was so inspired when I got home I made these cute Christmas trees on Sunday.
They are for my friend Teri who lives in Paducah. She is
the one we stay with when we go to the quilt show. I
actually made myself a pair with a gold star and base
years ago. I wore them to church one Christmas Eve
and Teri liked them, so I took them out of my ears
and gave them to her right there on the spot. She likes
them but asked me to make her a pair in silver. So
here they are! I will mail them some time in November.
I just have to make myself another pair... SOON!
They are too cute. (BTW the pattern is from
Bead & Button Dec 1998)

Until next time...
Susie

LABEL...label...label...

2008-09-23T08:25:00.004-04:00

This is why I have always begged quilters to label
their quilts. I'll tell you the story how it happened.
My Aunt Marcia (my father's sister who had no
children) had to go into a nursing home because
of Altzheimer's disease. My two cousins, Anne
and Jane, and I spent a weekend cleaning out her
house. It was a task, let me tell ya. She kept every
piece of paper that ever crossed her path. But, she
also kept many family heirlooms. I pulled this quilt
top, all balled up wrapped in a sheet, from the
back of her linen closet. I had only been quilting
for a few years at the time, but my heart started to
pound. I could tell it was old. On further
investigation Anne and Jane and I realized that
there were names printed or stamped in the centers
of those hexagons. My heart kept pounding! We
recognized two names as our great-great-great-
grandmother and our great-great-grandmother.
Then, OMG, we saw a date!!! July 3, 1843. (It's
written in the green hex in the bottom right
corner) Well I just about fainted. There was no
question about who this quilt top was going home
with. Poor Anne and Jane didn't even hint that they
would want this because I think they knew I would
fight hard for it. I think if I had any hint of
resistanceI would have grabbed it and ran!

I am having trouble getting a clear picture of the
date but I will try again tonight. We also found
some more goodies that I will share with you all later.

The moral of this story is LABEL YOUR QUILTS. At
least name, date and place. Imagine who will be
holding your quilts years from now and how excited
they will be to have just this small connection to
their past.

Until next time...
Susie

Before and After

2008-09-16T07:59:00.002-04:00

Ta Da!
You guys are great. I completely forgot about synthrapol. I had some in my pantry. I bought it for some Cherrywood rayon that I made a jumper out of. It was a few years ago but it still worked. Next time I am at the grocery store I will buy some dye magnets. There is still a very faint tinge of pink but it is hardly noticable.
Thank you to all of you for your suggestions.

Until next time...
Susie

Pre-washing vs not

2008-09-15T08:04:00.004-04:00

This isn't a survey but I would like to know if and why you all pre-wash your fabrics or not. I usually prewash everything before it even makes it into my sewing room except kits or BOMs with small pieces. I do it because I don't want the fabrics to shrink at a different rate. Now here is another reason.
This is in the Star Struck soldier quilt that I just finished. It must have been one of the reds that I swapped. I usually wash the quilt before I give it away.

So here's the question. Should I wash it again? Will that make it better or worse?
I don't usually have this problem.

Until next time...
Susie

Mary's triangles progress

2008-09-12T09:15:00.003-04:00

These blocks are so much fun and so versatile. This is
what I have so far and I think I will make it larger.
It is just a lap size now and I think I will get it up to
a twin. Not sure about borders but I will keep you posted!

Until next time...
Susie

Remember

2008-09-11T08:29:00.004-04:00

We all know exactly where we were and what we were
doing seven years ago. I was at work here in Washington
DC, three blocks from the White House, listening in
horror to the radio. When I heard there was a fourth
plane missing and presumed heading to Washington,
I grabbed my purse and left, not even waiting for our
boss to let us go (which he did about 30 minutes later).
It was 10:15am. It was a mad house out on the street.
Everyone, and I mean every single person was on their
cell phone. I couldn't get through to my husband but
I could leave a message. So I called him every 15
minutes to let him know where I was.
It took me 1 hour to travel 6 blocks. Everyone
was polite and seemed calm. I remember thinking on
my way out of town that this could be bad so I stopped
at the grocery store, the bank and the gas station. I
arrived home to lots of messages on our answering
machine checking on us. We all spent the rest of the
day glued to the TV. My boss told us to call the next
morning to see if we could open. We were able to come
to work but there were army guys on every corner with
machine guns and so many emergency and military
vehicles crowding the streets. I didn't want to stay home
the next day. I wanted to come downtown to make sure
everything was still the same. Every thing was still the
same but every one wasn't.

Let's not forget NYC, the Pentagon and the Shanksville,
PA crash. I truly believe that it is entirely possible that the
plane crashing in Pennsylvania could have saved my life.

I will never forget.

Until next time...
Susie

Finished Star Struck

2008-09-08T08:43:00.003-04:00

A commenter asked for a photo of the finished Star
Struck and here it is. It was so easy that I think I have
to make another one. I finished the binding and put
the label on yesterday evening while my boys were
over watching football with their dad. They (the boys)
have started hanging out at our house on Sundays.
They live together about 3 miles up the road and I do
love having them around. I usually cook a brunch
after church and something yummy for dinner. Last
night we had chicken barbeque. I must admit though
that since they don't have internet access at their
house that could be the reason they hang out with us.
They both had their noses in their lap tops most of the
day. That's OK. They were home and I was content.
Don't get me wrong. I do love our empty nest and I've
said many times that I like my grown children better
when they visit!!
Here is the label on the back. Have I mentioned how
important it is to label ALL your quilts. I embroidered
the top part. I'm still a novice machine embroiderer.
And while I'm here let me say that the Embroidery Library
is my favorite site for designs. They have the cutest
designs, lots of ideas and their site is one of the easiest
to navigate. I love them.

Until next time...
Susie

Apology

2008-09-05T08:11:00.004-04:00

It's been two weeks since I've posted. I don't have any
excuses except that I tend to rebel when non-life-
threatening things hang over me. I also have had some
health issues, computer problems, camera problems
and been screaming busy at work. But I have had those
before and still managed to post.

I have also noticed that I have had more than 10,000
visitors and missed my 1 year blogiversary. This
weekend I will decide on a giveaway and announce it
next week. I don't usually get many comments on my
posts, so maybe this will generate some.

So dear readers (Hello...hello... is anyone there???) I am
sorry and will try to do better.

Now every time I thought to take pictures as I was
sewing these past two weeks I was working on
something that I had posted about before. I finished
the Carolina Crossroads, label and all that I will be
donating to our Guild Quilt Bingo. I decided not to
name it Carolina Rebel because some people might
take offense. I am now binding the Star Struck that
I will go to Leslie, a guild member and Red Cross
volunteer who actually has the privilege of handing
out quilts to wounded soldiers at Andrews Air Force
Base. I put borders on it and just now realized I
haven't taken its picture.

Pat and Debi, if you are reading this please don't
look at this picture.

Our guild is having a pin cushion swap this Wednesday
and I made this one. It was designed by Ami Simms.
I used real tart mini-pans (that Georgia gave me, if I
promised to make her one) and glued some heavy
washers in the bottom to give it some weight. I made
it a little differently than the directions (what a surprise!!!).
I also made this cute little pin cushion with a golf tee
that fits into a spool of thread. I got the pattern from
Arlette at Polka Dot Pineapple. She has the cutest things
and a few tutorials too. I need to raid my husband's golf
bag to get some more tees.

My cousin's daughter is getting married tonight so we
will be with all our family and I am looking forward to it.
(Especially since we weren't together at the beach 'cause
I got dragged to Alaska!)

Until next time... (and I promise it will be soon!)
Susie

Warning-sun damage

2008-08-22T07:28:00.002-04:00

I've been collecting indigo blues for some time now
and I have finally found a pattern that will use some
of them. More on that later. I had been throwing
them in a stack on a shelf under a window. (After I
washed and ironed them of course) This window
was shaded by large bushes but must have
had a sliver of sun peek through because look at
what happened to just two FQs in that stack. I don't
know if they were on the top or middle of the stack
but boy did the fold fade. I can still cut around them.
I am just surprised that these two faded so bad.
So consider yourselves warned.
Have a great quilty weekend.

Until next time...
Susie

Tell and Show

2008-08-20T07:49:00.004-04:00

Last week at our guild meeting I had a "tell" during our
show and tell time. I received an exciting parcel in the
mail from Peg Bingham. Last fall she came to teach us
her Celtic class. She was teaching her overhand knot
this time and I wanted to combine each knot and set
on point. Click here to see the quilt I made. She liked
my idea so much she added it to her book, calling it
Over Again! I am so flattered. So the book is now
printed and she even mentioned me in the front. I
have started pulling fabrics to make the table runner.
If you ever get a chance to take one of her classes,
jump at it. She is a great teacher and her patterns
are very easy. They might look a little daunting but
if you take it step by step they always turn out beautiful.

Here's my show.
I have finished the top of my glacier quilt and had lots
of curved triangles left over. They had to be hand cut
to decrease the bulk from the back. I have this
ScrapMaster Ruler by Judy Hopkins that I bought years
ago thinking it would be great for cutting up scraps.
Well, it is! The curved scraps are at the top right and
I got two sized triangles from them. I don't know yet
if I should sew them to each other or maybe I'll sew
them to a dark blue. Play time! I see perhaps a pillow,
or a picture frame for an Alaska photo, or a
wallhanging or...

Until next time...
Susie

Show ’n Tell

2008-08-14T08:04:00.010-04:00

Last night at guild meeting I thought to bring my
camera to take pictures of the Show and Tell quilts.
We have such talented (not to mention prolific!) ladies
in our guild. This is just a sampling. There were many
more that I did not photograph.
Enjoy.
My bee, The Piecemakers (at least that is our name this
month, we seem to change it periodically!), made this
top for one of our members, Lori, who had back surgery
in April and is going through a long recovery. Still to
be quilted by Cathy (who just got a new Gammill--
lucky girl)
Wow, what a stunning quilt made by Loretto. It must
be King-size because it is huge. It is such a simple
pattern using gorgeous fabric. A previous member of
our guild, Diane, used to own a quilt shop. She made
the most beautiful quilts and her motto was,
"simple patterns, great fabric." Well Loretto, that
formula worked here!
Lisa finished her Star Struck from Bonnie Hunter's class in April.
Elfrieda is another wonderful (read prolific) quilter who
uses great fabrics and simple patterns. I also had to
show you a close-up of the quilting (below)
Susan made this cute football quilt from a pattern in
Quiltmaker magazine. (I think-I hope)
Dawna, who BTW is a new quilter, was told this was an
easy pattern to make her first quilt. Well, I think
someone surely lied to her because this doesn't look
at all easy. But it does look beautiful. She did a great
job on her first quilt.
Barbara, our chief art quilter, (there are more in our
guild and they have even started there own small
group and are having their own show soon) Made this
gorgeous wall hanging. She is always experimenting
with new techniques.

I had a "tell" during show "n Tell last night but you'll
have to wait...

...until next time...
Susie

PS Hi Debi

Retreats are good for the soul

2008-08-04T08:27:00.008-04:00

Back in 2000, when I went to my very first quilt retreat
(the big one that my guild sponsors) I was asked to
write an article, as a first-timer (or retreat virgin we
now call it!). The title was "Quilt retreats are good for
the soul." And that hasn't changed. No matter how
long--a few hours or a few days-- or how many
people are sewing together, the world just falls away.
Well, not completely, because we all share our joys
and concerns about just about anything you could
think of in our lives.

So this was a mini retreat, just 7 hours on Saturday.
We all got alot done.
Guess who this is! Georgia is always hiding! Well, it was at her house and she really didn't have to get dressed but she looked fine to me! She is hiding behind her postcards for her exchange that she wanted to get done. She did. Aren't they cute?!
Terri was working on her Boxer quilt for her son.
She got all the topstitching done and started to put
it together. The fabrics are just the cutest things.
And here I am putting the binding on my Bingo
donation. I got the quilting done (I did start it on
Friday night) and the binding put on and started hand
sewing the binding while my husband and I watched
a movie that night. I will finish it, complete with label,
to take to guild on Aug 13. That will be crossed off
my list. I really don't do deadlines in my quilting life.
I work in a deadline business and my quilting is
supposed to be my relaxation. So if I have a deadline
for a quilt, it makes it feel like work. That's why I wanted
to get this done in plenty of time.

Next on my list is quilting my star struck RWB that I
made in Bonnie Hunters class when she was here in
April. Its all basted and ready to go. That one is for
QOV. And since I have to have projects in every stage,
(to appease my A.D.D.) I will start cutting my Glacier quilt.

So if you need some solace for your soul or just want
to have a relaxing time, plan a mini retreat. Just grab
a few quilting sisters, set a date, make a little food
and sew, sew, sew. (And laugh, laugh, laugh... and
talk, talk talk... you get the idea)

Until next time...
Susie

Mini retreat

2008-08-01T08:59:00.005-04:00

A few times a year, my bee gets together on a Saturday
to sew. I had mentioned at bee this past Wednesday
if anyone wanted to schedule one and Georgia popped
up with, "How about this Saturday at my house?" So
three of us are going on a mini retreat!
This is Georgia....
...isn't she cute?!!!

Anyway, my first thought about this sew day is what
shall I work on. My guild, Southern Comforters, is
having another Quilt Bingo in October and we need
to donate alot of quilts for prizes. I have decided to
donate my Bonnie Hunter mystery, Carolina Crossroads.
I am calling mine Carolina Rebel because I had to
change it around a little.
I decided it didn't even need borders. And I am so
proud of myself for making a scrappy back out of
some black & white leftovers.
I don't usually do this but it really does use up stash.
So we pin basted it Wednesday at bee and I will be
overall meandering it on Saturday. I think I can finish
the quilting and start the binding on Saturday. I am
also taking my Glacier quilt to start on. I washed the
fabrics last night and started reading the directions.

I will take pictures of our mini retreat to share.

Until next time...
Susie

A Perfect Gift

2008-07-31T09:10:00.004-04:00

I promise that this will be the last Alaska post.
My vacation is over, I have been back at work for
almost two weeks now, my laundry is caught up
and it sure is hotter here in DC than in Alaska!

When the members of my bee go away, either on
vacation or to a quilt show, we bring each other
back a FQ, usually with a sewing theme. (there's
only 9 of us so you only need 2 yards, plus some
for yourself)

Well how perfect is this to bring my quilting sisters!
It is eskimos quilting by Barbara Lavalle!!! The fabric
on the left is the companion fabric. I couldn't tell you
about it sooner because we didn't have bee until last
night and I know some of them read my blog. When
I saw it there was absolutely no hesitation. I bought
three yards so that means I have a yard for me.
(The companion fabric is one yard too but I didn't
share that one.)

I will leave you with a final photo of breathtaking
mountains. Living in Maryland, we have lots of beautiful
scenery: the Chesapeake Bay, the Appalachians,
the ocean, rolling hills and fields, tall cities and
quaint towns, lakes and rivers. I have only flown over
the Rockies but I sure love these Alaskan mountains.
And did I tell you, some of them really are purple!
Our country sure is vast and beautiful.
Until next time...
Susie

Back to Reality

2008-07-29T08:07:00.006-04:00

It's almost not worth going on vacation. Notice I said
almost. This vacation was definitely worth it but of
course not much of my work got done while I was gone.
Someone did do some of my work and she did it WRONG!
I stayed late on Friday trying to fix all her mistakes until
I realized that it would take me less time to just start
over. So I came in really early (6:30am) on Monday
morning and by 9:30 everything was resolved. Ahhhh
that felt good. OK back to quilting stuff. Thanks for
letting me rant!

My husband loves eagles, so I bought some eagle fabric
at Changing Threads in Skagway. The fabric on the right
in the bottom pic is of the Northern lights. I think I will
make some sort of I spy Alaska quilt for my hubby.
This shop is a few doors down from Rushin Tailors,
where I bought the Glacier kit. Here is a pic of the interior.
As I look at this photo, I hope I didn't mix them up. In
other words this might be Rushin Tailors. If I did, I
apologize. I think they are owned by the same person.

I will leave you with another breathtaking view of Alaska.
Until next time...
Susie

Ketchikan

2008-07-24T08:45:00.009-04:00

Isn't this just what you would think an Alaskan town
would look like? This was our first stop and I hit the
quilt store (of course). I bought this at The Silver
Thimble:
It is Birchwood Lane by Holly Taylor for Moda. I know
I probably could have bought this anywhere, but since
I love cardinals and there were lots of coordinating
FQs... well gosh, do I really need an excuse!

The water in the Inside passage is so smooth, you
hardly feel like you are floating.

Until next time...
Susie

Alaska purchases

2008-07-22T08:28:00.006-04:00

If this doesn't say, "I went to Alaska," I don't know what
does. I bought this kit in Scagway at Rushin Tailors and
this pic doesn't do it justice. The colors are brighter.
Mary at Maryquilts bought the same kit. We were in
Scagway on the same day and I probably missed her at
the quilt shop by a few hours.
I copied this photo from their web site. The pattern is
by Lisa Moore and the fabrics are by McKenna Ryan.
There are Swarovski crystals all over it too which really
makes it sparkle.
Here's me outside the shop. When we walked into that
bakery (just beyond the quilt shop) I said that this is
what heaven will smell like. We got the most delicious
cinnamon rolls.

More tomorrow.

Until next time...
Susie

I'm Back!

2008-07-21T12:53:00.005-04:00

My reluctant vacation is over and I have to admit...
I had a wonderful time! Alaska is vast, beautiful,
spectacular, awesome and all those adjectives that
describe pure, pristine, uninhabited wilderness.
The photo above is at the Mendenhall glacier.
The cracks in the glacier are the most brilliant turquoise
blue and when the pieces fall off they are blue too.

The photo below is the Dawes glacier way off in the
distance (yes that is an iceberg in the middle that we
had to navigate around). Seals were lounging on that
iceberg too. We also saw whales and bears and eagles.
And to my delight I have to tell you that the mountains
really are purple!
Mary over at Maryquilts was on an Alaskan cruise this
week too and we both were in Scagway on the same day.
I saw her ship and waved but I don't think she saw me!

I did hit the quilt shops in Ketchikan and Scagway.
I'll show you what I bought tomorrow.

It's good to be home.

Until next time...
Susie

Reluctant vacation

2008-07-10T12:37:00.005-04:00

Confession time!!!
We leave tomorrow for an Alaskan cruise with thirty of
our friends from our church. And I don't want to go. If
I didn't love my husband so much, (he really wants to go)
believe me I'd be at the beach with all my kids (which is
where we usually go the third week in July and where all
my cousins and extended family will be next week).

But I'm going and I have the patch from my doctor and
lots of prayers from my family and friends to send me off.

I will have fun...I will have fun...I will have fun...

I won't be posting again until next Sunday or Monday
but I am leaving you with a photo of my favorite quilt.
It is the Conway Album Quilt by Irma Gail Hatcher. I
saw it in person at the AQS Museum in Paducah and it
actually made me cry. No kidding. I sat staring at it for
30 minutes.

Until next time...
Susie

Kutztown quilts

2008-07-07T08:23:00.007-04:00

Lots of pics here today.
I went to visit my sister-in-law in Easton PA this
weekend and she took me to the Kutztown Festival.
What fun! We missed the quilt auction but heard that
the top priced one went for $7600. I would have loved
to see that one. The first pic is just one side of the big
building with quilts, quilts, quilts, all for sale. They
had lots of experts available to open any that you were
interested in. Both my SIL and her sister are not
quilters so they were duly impressed that I knew the
names of most of the patterns. The rest of the pics are
just some that caught my eye. Enjoy.

It wasn't just a quilt show, for those who are not familiar.
It is in Pennsylvania Dutch country so you can imagine
the food...oh my...the food. We had ox for lunch and
apple dumplings and homemade pretzels and shoo fly pie
and home made kettle corn, made right there in big
caldrons. Lots of crafts and homemade jams, pickles,
herbs etc. I saw something I hadn't seen since I was a kid;
you take a lemon, cut the top off and stick in a peppermint
stick and suck on it like a straw. Yummmmmmmm.
We're definitely going back next year.

Until next time...
Susie

Add another to the pile...

2008-07-02T08:27:00.002-04:00

...to be quilted.

This one would be number 4 in that pile!

It is the finished top from my John Flynn "Carnival"
class that my friend Cathy and I took at the Lancaster
Quilt Show in March. You can see the fabrics better here.
John gave us tips on piecing curves and he doesn't pin,
but those smaller curves...good grief...I ended up
pinning those. Now mind you, I am not scared of
curved piecing after recreating my
grandmother’s drunkards path, but this quilt was
trickier, mainly because you had to be aware of where
you are placing the darks/lights. I always enjoy a
challenge and this quilt fit that bill. And, I am proud
to say that it is all from my stash. Even the border is
6" strips from the darker blue batiks.

It looks sort of masculine and my oldest son saw it this
weekend and liked it, so it will go to him.

Until next time...
Susie

Survey says...

2008-06-30T08:31:00.008-04:00

Can't you just hear that guy on TV saying that on
Family Feud!!!?

I always love finishing a quilt because that means I
am free to start or start again working on another.
My neice loved her green pineapple quilt she
received at her bridal shower last weekend. So last
week's evenings and this weekend I pulled out my
Mary's Triangle blocks. Below are just three of
many ways to lay them out.

The top one would have plain beige squares in the
centers of the blocks. Which one do you like?

Until next time...
Susie

More Baltimore Album blocks

2008-06-25T08:19:00.006-04:00

I must say that when I see these blocks here on my
blog, I have a renewed enthusiasm for working on
them. Since I have A.D.D., I seem to stop when I hit
a snag. The block that is unfinished (that I will show
you later) has little lazy daisy embroidery stitches with
beads in the center, and I just couldn't make myself
finish them. Also I'm not crazy about the block. Just
like I'm not crazy about the top one shown here.
It was one of the earlier ones and I think the flowers
are too big. I do like the second block, but I think
those little embroidered things look like worms!
But this could be the weekend that I actually
get re-started. You all hold me accountable now OK?
Also the next block has a woven basket that I AM
looking forward to working on, so......
I'll let ya know on Monday!!!

Remember that our guild president ended her term?
We have a new president, Pat, and she is gonna be a
good one! I can tell. Not that the previous presidents
haven't been good, we have been lucky in that area.
They have each had their own styles and focus. It's
just that Pat, well, is an attorney and seems to have
a knack for being very concise, organized, fair and
forthright. I like that. I don't know if that's a lawyer
thing or a Pat thing. Anyway, Pat, I hope you have a
fun reign as our fearless leader!

Until next time...
Susie

Ultimate UFO

2008-06-20T08:31:00.006-04:00

This UFO will be with me a while. I took a year-long
class in 2004 from a guild member who is an amazing
quilter. She designed this beautiful Baltimore Album/
Little Brown Bird-ish quilt with the cutest 3-D flowers.
I am from Baltimore, hun, (it's a Baltimore thing) so I
knew when I started quilting in 1999 and became aware
of Baltimore Album quilts,that I was destined to make
one. The only problem was that I had no desire to make
one in Red and Green. This one has a very pale sky blue
background and will look kind of pastel-ly. The top
block is the first one and I can see now that my applique
skills were not as good as they are now. The little
circles are stuffed and I have to tell you that the
embroidery part is not my favorite. And dontcha just
love those cute daisies! They are so easy!
I have 8 blocks done so will show more later.

Until next time...
Susie

Stash

2008-06-18T08:28:00.002-04:00

Here are my two white shelves together. The corner
still looks bare. Maybe that's because the rest of the
room is still so cluttered. Notice I didn't photograph
that! I am amazed at how small my stash looks when
I spread it out. Does this mean I have to buy more
fabric???!!! I didn't refold it all but I still feel a little
more organized. There are still a few more piles of
fabric to file. The piles on the right shelves above that
cute little button lamp is all my Christmas fabric and
the small shelves on the far left holds miscellaneous
fabric like panels and groups that go together. The
skinny plastic drawers are the beginnings of my scraps.
I am using Bonnie Hunter's scrap organizing system and
have the drawers labeled for 2", 2.5", 3", 3.5" strips and
squares and the bottom drawer is labeled large scraps.
These are the pieces that I can't bear to cut because
what if I need a 6" square, yada, yada, yada!

My neice's bridal shower is this weekend and I am
slooooowly sewing the binding on her quilt. I'll finish
it and then...on to the next one. Yay!

Until next time...
Susie

I'm back

2008-06-16T08:39:00.009-04:00

Boy, it has been a while since I've posted. Sorry about
that. I have been too busy reading the ENTIRE
Pioneer Woman (aka P-Dub or Ree for real) web site!
This woman is hysterical. And her recipes are absolutely
delicious and her husband aka "Marlboro Man" is a real
live cowboy and handsome to boot. (Oh my I made a
pun!!!) Check it out.
My friend Mary and I went to the Annapolis Quilt Show
this weekend. Mary is in our bee, The Piecemakers, and
we usually meet at her house. We had a great time
looking at the beautiful quilts and the many vendors.
I sometimes can't decide if I like to look at quilts or shop
when I go to quilt shows. I think it is dead even. The
above quilt was a part of their challenge. Annapolis
always has good challenge ideas and beautiful challenge
quilts. The challenge was to create quilts using the colors
of the Maryland flag. And since I am born and bred in
Maryland, have never lived anywhere else, a true Terp,
("Fear the Turtle!") , and a Baltimore girl, HUN, I LOVED
all these quilts. This one was my favorite.

Here is what I bought.
Above are some Asian fabrics that I plan to make a
jacket out of. I call them Asian instead of Oriental
because, well, you see, my daughter is Korean and she
has always said it is politically incorrect to call Asians
oriental so I am sensitive about that word. Now, I don't
know if she is right or not, but I figure she would know,
her being Asian and all! I'll write about her and my two
blonde boys in another post.
I also bought a backing (right) fabric for my black,
white and red Carolina Crossroads mystery from
Bonnie Hunter. Then I got a few FQs (because they
were only $1.50 and certainly not because I NEEDED
them!) and some Kona Snow to use for my machine
embroidery. I thought I used lots of restraint. Actually
I have to save my pennies because my husband and I
are going on an Alaskan cruise in four weeks. More
about that later too.

Until next time...
Susie

What a mess!

2008-06-05T09:10:00.008-04:00

Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and get
organized!

This all started because I have given up the guild library
(the best job in the whole guild-I have had for 6 years!)
and I have to admit, I miss all those books. I counted
them as I was organizing them for Amy, the new librarian,
and there are 476 books. But I LOVE all that space they
left. So I got a bee up my you-know-what and decided
to move things around.

This is complicated so pay attention.
(Sorry, that is the Mom in me talking)
Here is the library as it was.

Most of my fabric was on those brown shelves on the
far left (above). I moved it all to the dining room table...
...so I could move those brown shelves.
You see, on the other side of the room were my other
shelves that were white. Those shelves were filled with
all my quilt books and magazines. I happened to have
another white shelf unit that was just lounging
(unassembled) in the garage. Now with all this space
to fill, I thought, "Wouldn't my fabric look good on
BOTH white shelves in this beautiful space left by the
library?" So, boom, there I was taking all my books and
magazines off the white shelves so I could switch them
with the brown one.

Whew, I was ambitious. Actually it didn't take me as
long as I thought. Just a few dozen trips from my sewing
room to the dining room around the corner...and back.

I'm almost done. I will finish this weekend and take
some beautiful pics. Oh and I forgot to mention, all
this is in the midst of finishing the quilting on my
niece's green quilt. That will be done this weekend
too and ready to bind.

Now if I could just get to this last pile of scraps to press cut and organize!
Until next time...
Susie

Free motion quilting

2008-05-28T08:20:00.006-04:00

I know people have their favorite and least favorite parts
making a quilt from start to finish. I have gone back and
forth over the years liking and not liking certain steps. I
used to only like piecing, then I wasn't too crazy about
cutting but now I enjoy it. One thing I have done that
works for me (having A.D.D.) is to have many projects in
many different stages. That way, if I feel like piecing, or
cutting or quilting or pulling fabrics for a new project, I
work on the quilt in that stage. I do limit myself, however,
so I don't have only UFOs! I get some momentum going
to finish things.

Well, my least favorite part--always has been and
probably always will be--is quilt MARKING. I hate to
mark quilts for quilting. So whenever possible I choose
to free motion. (I do quilt in the ditch, but usually more
quilting is needed.) I don't mind stencils but they can
be limiting sometimes.

I fretted and stewed over how to quilt this pineapple
blossom pattern from Bonnie Hunter . I have a deadline
too. This is for my niece and her bridal shower is June
21. At least I have more time than the last one though.
I started drawing patterns on a piece of tracing paper
but that didn't work. I got out all my stencils but that
didn't work either. I wanted to do a little more than
meander all over. So last Friday night, with my deadline
looming over me I just sat down and started free motion
quilting. I realized that you can over think some things.
I love the large flower and the vine going through the
light squares and triangles. The only thing I should have
done (where I should have thought a little more) is to
quilt the vine in the lights with neutral color thread.

Here is a photo of the whole quilt.
I still like it and the best part is I didn't have to mark
anything!

Until next time...
Susie

Guild Anniversary Party

2008-05-16T08:46:00.006-04:00

This is our 2008 Anniversary quilt top. We have a great
tradition in our guild that is for all the members to pitch
in and make a quilt top, organized by the previous
winner. Every member is eligible for the drawing (unless
they have won in the past 10 years) and they win the top
and they get to do the next years' anniversary quilt top.
This is a split nine-patch. We were all given the
background and told to use darks from our stash.
This one was organized by Kim and was won by a brand
new member. This will be a good way for her to get to
know people when she does next years.

The guild also sponsored a nine-patch Pizzazz class.
Here are some of the samples.

We also had a UFO challenge where we had to sign a
contract to finish one of our UFOs to be done by the
Anniversary dinner. This quilt was inherited by Susan
and made by her great grandmother. It is beautiful
and in amazing condition. All she had to do was bind
it. Needless to say, it won! And no, we did not use
it as a table cloth!

Until next time...
Susie

Life is just a bowl of cherries

2008-05-13T08:36:00.005-04:00

Our guild president is giving up her reign and in keeping
with tradition we are giving her blocks. Hers are signature
cross blocks and we are supposed to personalize the
centers. I am a new machine embroiderer so I wanted
to embroider the center. I saw this "Life is just a bowl
of cherries" fabric at Joann's a few years ago and
literally bought 20 yards of it. This was before cherries
were "in" and I even had to search for red and white
fabric to match it. Now it seems cherries and red &
white fabrics are everywhere! I started with a few FQs
and then planned a king-size quilt around it so bought
about 6 yards more, then decided to use it for the back
too so I bought another 12 yards. Needless to say I still
have some of it and even if it is a little thinner than
quilt-shop quality, it has a nice soft feel and I love it.

So thanks Evelyn, you were a great president.

And on the bird front...we have an empty nest! Yep,
they have flown the nest and boy just like the kids they
left a mess behind! So on my husband's to-do list this
weekend is to scrub the side of the house and the
front porch. He is so good!

Bye-bye birdies!

Until next time...
Susie

Leap, and the net will come

2008-05-07T09:20:00.005-04:00

This phrase has been in my mind for many years.
You can apply it to all aspects of your life. It was written
by Julia Cameron in The Artist's Way. Being somewhat
of a control freak I definitely need to have faith that
the net will come, if only I would just leap. The creative
process for me is a struggle. There are many reasons
for this but for now I will just keep the topic to quilting.

Making scrap quilts has been very freeing as well as
a learning experience. Dontcha just love Bonnie's
patterns?! They are so easy yet look complicated.
When I am picking through my scraps and I see a
piece that I think might not fit in, I force myself to
use it anyway. It always looks good when you get the
whole thing put together. I have even gotten better
at not worrying about the same fabrics touching
each other!!! I am becoming more random, instead
of "planned random".

This quilt still needs borders and it will be donated
to QOV. It will be my seventh QOV quilt.

Until next time...
Susie

Ahhh...nature

2008-05-01T08:46:00.005-04:00

Aren't they cute, all snuggled together? We think there
are three, even though there were four eggs just a
few days ago. Mama robin seems to be more used to
people living just a few feet away and only freaks out
when we actually walk onto the porch. I had bee at my
house last night and when Georgia and Terri left
they caught the poor mama off guard, blocking her
escape route. She flew around the porch a few
minutes before she escaped into the open. We were
all holding our breath and ducking so she could
escape. I love watching this miracle of life unfold
but I know I won't be happy with the noise and
poop later. We will remove the nest when all the
babies are gone.

Do birds use the same nest or do other birds use
already made nests? We won't be taking any
chances that they do!

Until next time...
Susie

Color Challenge: Yellow

2008-04-29T08:30:00.007-04:00

Angela, over at Cottage Magpie, has issued another
color challenge. Her last one was green but I discovered
it too late to enter. This one is yellow. Well I would have
done better with the green. I love yellow, I wear yellow,
I use lots of yellow in my quilting, my hair is yellow
for pete's sake! But I have very little yellow in my
house. I do have plans to paint my bedroom a pale
buttery yellow but that hasn't happened yet.
I should have taken a picture of the paint chips!

So here is the extent of my yellow. And to keep it on
a quilting theme, here is one stack of my yellows in
my stash.
This cute little clock was a birthday gift from my daughter a few years ago. It travels from the bathroom to my sewing room. Everytime I dust it I move it.

Here are a few more yellows in my house.
Over my mantle in the Spring (now!), and on my
sewing room door.

Thanks Angela. This is a cute idea and I have enjoyed
getting ideas to incorporate more yellow in my life!

Until next time...
Susie

More Quilt Show Eye Candy

2008-04-25T09:06:00.007-04:00

Remember this quilt? It is called
confetti and I made it in a class
by Norma Campbell. Well,
Georgia made this one (below)
using bright squares and black
background. It is stunning!

This one below was a block-of-the-month at our guild last year.

Geri won them and made this cute quilt. The borders
are embroidered applique and compliment the
blocks perfectly. I haven't participated in the BOMs
this year but seeing the cute quilts that people have
been putting together makes me regret that.

Marion made this one (above) with string blocks for
the star centers. The inner border is surrounded
by a black & white stripe that she cut tiny to look
like squares. She cleverly uses stripes alot in her
borders and they always look fantastic.

Until next time...
Susie

Hi, my name is Susie...

2008-04-17T11:29:00.005-04:00

...and i am a fabriholic.
Is there such a thing as F.A. (fabriholics anonymous)?

I really do have a problem and I'm not really sure I
want to cure it...just control it a little bit.

You all know Bonnie Hunter was in town and I attended
her trunk show and a workshop. She so inspired me to
get my scraps in order so I began ironing them to get
ready to cut them. I was OK with the long strips or the
ugly stuff. But I couldn't cut the larger pieces. I'm not
talking about yardage here, I'm talking about pieces
that are smaller than a fat quarter. In fact, when I came
across a whole fat quarter (you know, the ones that don't
even have a tiny circle cut out) I actually put them all
together in a FQ box. So if I cut all these strips, squares
and/or bricks, what if I need a 5" square or a 6" piece?
I won't have any scraps larger than 3 1/2"!!!! Yikes!!
(I'm not including my yardage here am I?)

I know the idea is to have sizes cut so that when you
decide on a pattern, all you have to do is sit and sew,
but I get short of breath, jittery, and filled with anxiety
when faced with a freshly ironed perfect color yellow
that is only 8" x 12". I have decided it's ok not to cut it.
(Until I want to use it of course--and I WILL use it
someday) I am willing to live with that decision.

The photo above is just my basket of long strips, I
have a few more piles just like this, of scraps.

So my solution is to create a box called larger scraps.

Whew, I feel so much better now.

Until next time...
Susie

Spring has sprung

2008-04-16T08:29:00.003-04:00

How's this for a porch decoration. We have been so
busy the last few weeks that we didn't even notice it.
We usually go in and out of the house through the
garage, so when we noticed this beautiful, perfect
nest on the wreath on our front porch, it was too late!

This was taken a few days ago and my husband peeked
in last night and there are now four eggs. When we go
out the door or when the mailman approaches the
mama robin flies to the tree just off the porch and
squauks at us.

I am not looking forward to the bird poop or the
crying babies but it won't be for long and this
nest is the smoothest, deepest,most symetrical, I
have ever seen. We will remove it after the babies
fly away. We do use the front porch when the weather
gets warmer. This wreath is right above one of the
rockers. I would like to keep it but don't know
about germs or bugs. Anyone ever keep a bird's nest?

Until next time...
Susie

Bonnie's fun class

2008-04-14T10:27:00.006-04:00

Time flew! Sewing machines buzzed! Laughter abounded!
And lunch was delicious (Thanks Debi)
That's how I would describe our Saturday taking Bonnie's
class. She taught Star Struck and it goes really fast. Of
course all our strips were cut so all we had to do was,
what Bonnie calls "power sewing".

Here is Bonnie cutting up shirts she bought the day
before at a thrift store. See the two bags on the floor
beside her. They are full of 100% cotton shirts and
let me tell you they are amazing. The fabrics are
beautiful and they feel great. Bonnie says she goes
by the feel as to what shirts will be good for a quilt.

Isn't Pat's scrappy bargello beautiful. I think she made
it during Bonnie's Bargello bowl on Super Bowl Sunday.

This is my Star Struck colors. I got most of the units
done, so all I have to do is lay them out and sew them
together. I will donate it to Quilts of Valor. Hopefully
I can get it done in a month.

And last but not least, me and Bonnie!
It was a great day, Bonnie is delightful as well as inspiring.

Thanks Bonnie.
Until next time...
Susie

Bonnie's here!!

2008-04-10T08:39:00.005-04:00

What a wonderful guild meeting we had last night.
(And I forgot my camera--rats)
Bonnie Hunter is in town and four local (sort of) guilds
are sharing her. If you haven't been to her web site,
Quiltville.com NOW IS THE TIME folks.

Her quilts are beautiful on her site, but when you
see them in person, they are spectacular!
(Warning--there are lots of exclamation points in
this post!)

I will be taking her Star Struck class on Saturday.
I haven't finished cutting my strips yet because we have
had house guests but they are leaving today so I will
be a cuttin' fool tonight while I am watching Survivor.
I had a chance to take her My Blue Heaven class
tomorrow but I shouldn't take off work and I couldn't
get strips cut for TWO classes back-to-back! I haven't
been very organized lately.

Just two teaser pics of more I bought in Lancaster.
Above is Daiwabo taupe that I hope use for a summer
shirt. The main fabric is like a cheater with different
squares. Below is fruit fabric that I will use to border
some embroidered sayings of Fruits of the Spirit.
That is my favorite Bible passage Galatians 5:22-23
so I have been collecting for it.

I have been having such a busy month and it won't be
slowing down for a few more weeks but I am itching
to get into my scraps. Bonnie is sooooo inspiring!

Until next time...
Susie

Willpower - NOT!

2008-04-07T10:03:00.006-04:00

Have you ever walked by a vendor at a quilt show, saw
something hanging in their booth and walked right up
and bought it? I didn't even ask the price. No, I'm sure
that has not happened to anyone who quilts! Well,
this little kit (she had the sample made and hanging
up-which helps) just absolutely struck me. I don't know why.
Could it be that it is blue -- or civil war fabrics -- or
simple applique and pieced? I can't wait to start it
but it will be in a few weeks.

Well, doncha know it happened AGAIN! I have seen this
little wallhanging in the Keepsake Quilting catalog and
thought it was nice. Let me tell you, in person it is
spectacular. I met the designer, Joan Jones, and she
gave me simple instructions for making the face. (
They are also included in the kit). I will be taking bets
on whether this will be done by Christmas! (Let me
give you a hint-I won't be holding my breath)

I thought I would pass along a blog/web site that I found

www.thepioneerwoman.com

Besides her delicious recipes, she is a funny writer,
a great photographer and her web site is beautiful.
I have made the apple dumplings. (You've GOT to try
them) and the Marlboro Man sandwich. Check it out.
You won't be sorry.

Until next time...
Susie

Carnival-John Flynn class

2008-04-01T08:33:00.003-04:00

I like it! Can you see the circles and the spider webs?
This is a 3 x 3 block version that is just on my design
wall (blocks not sewn together yet) The actual quilt
will be 4 x 5 blocks so with borders it will make a
nice lap size. I might even make it larger because
it looks like one of my sons will love this and he is
6' 3". Although I must admit curve piecing isn't my
favorite, I do enjoy the results. The trick is to go
slow. That is hard for me. John Flynn is very laid
back and funny. It is amazing to see him interact
with all these women. He was very patient to say
the least.

Maybe you all remember that the members of my
bee exchange sewing/quilting theme fabric. When any
of us go to a quilt show we bring the others a FQ.

Well how do you like DOGS ON QUILTS! I couldn't resist
this fabric. Most of us are dog people so I know they
will like it. I bought a yard for myself and two yards to
make FQs for my bee. Cute huh?

Finally, for today, here is a book I bought for the guild
library. It has patterns for the cutest flowers to
applique by machine or by hand. She gives lots of
versions for quilts and accesories. (Sorry about the
bright spot-I took four pics and they all had it-even
without the flash).

More Lancaster stuff to come.

Until next time...
Susie

Lancaster Quilt show teaser

2008-03-31T08:44:00.004-04:00

I left the cord that connects my camera and computer
at home so you'll have to tune in tomorrow (I promise)
to see Lancaster pics. I won't blog without pics
so keep reading!

What a wonderful three days we had!
The Lancaster show was so much fun and inspiring.
We got there at lunchtime on Thursday, checked into
the Lancaster Host, and started shopping. We hit the
vendors across the street first. Then on Friday we took
John Flynn's carnival class. I used the navy blue and gold
batiks but the blues would have worked just as well,
although given a completely different look. If I am brave
enough I will try all these curves again.
There was a three hour lunch break so we checked out
some quilts and of course shopped some more.

On Friday night we signed up for a dinner and Linda
Cantrell was the speaker. She is hysterical! If you ever
have a chance to hear her do it. You will laugh and
laugh. She is the one who did the funny pictorial quilt
of the apartment and the funny Sunbonnet Sue quilts.
Then Saturday was more quilts and shopping.
We stopped at Cracker Barrel (a quilt travel tradition)
for a late lunch on the way home and got home in
time to celebrate my son's 26th birthday.

So here are the pics, even though they have nothing
to do with Lancaster. Except that maybe spring is finally
starting to arrive, albeit slowly.

My seasonal little wall hanging in my foyer.
(Bare Roots pattern)

And over my mantle. (From a magazine, I think McCalls)

Please check back tomorrow .
Hi Debi

Until next time...
Susie

Lancaster Quilt show-John Flynn Class

2008-03-25T08:43:00.003-04:00

My friend Cathy and I leave Thursday morning for the Lancaster
Quilt show. I am so excited to see amazing, inspirational quilts
and of course shop, shop, shop!

On Friday we will be taking John Flynn's "Carnival" class.
It is all curved piecing. I, personally, am not scared of curved
piecing, especially after making my Drunkard's path quilt
but I am scared about choosing the right fabrics. We are
able to purchase a kit from John but being the control freak
that I am I don't want to purchase that sight-unseen. So here
are my two choices. I got it all from my stash because I
want to save all my pennies for the show, but I am willing
to supplement a little.

This one is my first choice, all batiks. I am worried about
sewing curves with batiks. They don't stretch as much as
traditional quilting cottons. I also will buy some more
solid-ish dark blues to cut down on the busyness.

This is my second choice. I have sooooo many blues and whites.
The only problem is that I think they might be too busy.
We need 10 darks and 10 lights. I would have to buy some
"quieter" blues like the first one on the left and the seventh one
from the left just to settle it down.

I am going to my LQS tonight to see what I can find to help
each set. I also have to buy more 28mm rotary cutter blades
because we will be using templates and you can't use templates
with the 45mm blades.

Until next time...
Susie

Quilt Show Eye Candy

2008-03-20T08:13:00.006-04:00

The Southern Comforters 2008 Quilt Show was wonderful!
I must say, for a small town show we do have alot of
amazing quilts. Charlotte's quilt (above) won in a
three-way-tie for the members choice award.

Pam's Hearts and Flowers is the second of the three-way-tie
for member's choice. I'm sorry I don't have a photo of the third.

This is the quilt, made by Karen, that I voted as my member's
choice The pattern is very unusual and, I don't know, maybe
I am now in my green phase, but this quilt just struck me.

Priscilla made this gorgeous brown and teal quilt. I just love
it and I love the name of it, Chocolate Mint.

And last but not least this is the quilt I made as my daughter's
wedding quilt that one FIRST PLACE! in the large pieced category.

I have lots more quilt show pics so stay tuned.

Until next time...
Susie

Silent Auction items

2008-03-11T08:07:00.003-04:00

I have been frantically getting ready for our quilt show.
I didn't realize how many quilts I was entering this year.
They are all completed but I have to sew sleeves on them.
I only have one more to sew.

This cute little wallhanging is for our silent auction.
Since I don't sell raffle tickets, (I really hate to ask people
to buy stuff!!??) I always donate one or two things for the
auction. I am a relatively new machine embroiderer and I
got this cute design from emblibrary.com. I love this site.
Not only do they have great, inexpensive designs, they
have the easiest site to navigate through.

I also made another one of these to donate.

Until next time...
Susie

Jill's green pineapple

2008-03-03T09:36:00.002-05:00

Don't you just love it when a quilt turns out beyond your
expectations!!!

My mother loved green and our whole house was some
shade of green. So, of course, I wasn't very fond of green.
I am a blue person. When Jill's sister said she liked green
I groaned inwardly but I actually love this quilt.The pattern
is from Bonnie Hunter called Pineapple Blossom. I
made it without the sashing because I liked the star effect.

I had this all cut out before my retreat and pieced it and
put it together that weekend. I just finished the piano key
border this weekend.

I will DEFINITELY make another one of these in blues ,
or florals, or yellows & golds... Thanks Bonnie for the free pattern!!!

Until next time...
Susie

Good stashbuster

2008-02-29T08:52:00.005-05:00

I just love piano key borders BUT I must admit I am not wild
about thirties prints. They are cute and all, but not my first
choice. So how did I end up with enough thirties prints in my
stash to make this quilt you ask??? Well, I'll tell ya!

I got swept away by a BOM at Cottonseed Glory in
Annapolis a few years ago. It was one of those deals where
you pay $5 for the first block and if you bring it in finished
the next month you get the next one free. You got to choose
your color way and since I had never done anything in thirties,
I thought that would be something different. I actually liked
the whole concept and participated in it for a few years
(with different colors each year)

Well you know you can't just get the block for that month
and leave. So I bought a few FQs each time and ended up with
a whole box full. I am trying to use them up and have a few
other cute patterns to try. This pattern is from one of the
P.S. I Love You books. They make really cute baby quilts and
I have given this to a friend of ours that has worked for my
husband for many years for her little girl Carlee.

This weekend will be preparations for the Southern Comforters
quilt show March 15-16. I have some sleeves to put on and
some things to make for our auction and craft booths.

Until next time...
Susie

Silk purse from a sow's ear

2008-02-26T08:54:00.007-05:00

Remember this fabric?

This is what we were given ahead of time to make blocks
for our retreat. They were to be 12" or 6" finished or (new this
year) a rectangle block 6" x 12" finished. I thought that was
intriguing so I made a 12" block and a prairie braid rectangle.
Here are the finished products. Some of the blocks are very
creative. I think they will make a great quilt, or I should say
quiltS. They grouped them by color ways and had enough
to draw five people's names. Not mine though :(

The cute antique wash tub in the foreground was filled with
lots of stuff that people donated to be used as door prizes.
Every few hours for the whole four days Terri would draw
two names and you got to pick something from the tub.
There was some great stuff in there. It worked out so that
everyones name was called twice. I got a new roll of
Golden Threads paper and some quilt magazines
(Like I really needed those!!!!) I should have taken this
cool ruler that had holes punched in it at the quarter inch
mark. It had 90º, 45º and 60º angles. I'd love to find it
somewhere. Has anyone seen this somewhere on the internet?

Until next time...
Susie

Carolina Rebel-Done

2008-02-21T11:38:00.010-05:00

I am still not caught up on my sleep from retreat.
I do want to say that quilt retreats are good for the soul.
Four days of nothing but quilting, eating, and laughing.

This is just one of the projects I finished.
It is Bonnie Hunter's Carolina Crossroads mystery and I
changed it a bit so I called it Carolina Rebel. I seem
to always change patterns or colors.

I am not going to border this. Just bind it and I will
donate it to our guild's Quilt Bingo. I have another
black, white and red quilt that is ready to be put together.
The blocks are done but I think I will wait until I can
face black, white and red again.

I have been working on this quilt since before Christmas but
couldn't say anything about it because it was the mystery
quilt for this year's retreat. My friend Debi and I were in
charge of the mystery this year and we chose this pattern
from Maryquilts.com. It is her spiderweb pattern. I made
mine in Red, White and blue and will donate it to QOV.

Here are some more versions. Some quilters were faster
than others so they are in various stages.

Until next time...
Susie

Carolina rebel

2008-02-14T09:47:00.004-05:00

Being the rebel I am, I changed the last block for the
Carolina Crossroads Mystery around a bit. I thought the large
white squares surrounded by all that dark made the stars
disappear. So I figured out a way to lighten up that block with
the minimum amount of work. Luckily I hadn't put that block
together yet when I saw the reveal of the final quilt. All I
had to do was make 25 more nine patches with red on the
corners and dark in the center for the centers of step 7. I
actually used the 25 light squares I had previously cut for
the small lights in these nine-patches, so I didn't really
have any waste. I turned the rails outward and also turned
the red-in-the-corner nines outward too. I like it. Depending
on how big this turns out I might not even put a border on it.
I am also thinking about donating it to our quilt bingo for
one of the prizes.

I will finish putting this together this weekend at RETREAT.
This time tomorrow I will have the car all packed and be on
my way.

Until next time...
Susie

Another wedding quilt

2008-02-12T08:12:00.001-05:00

Another cousin's daughter getting married. This one is in
September and I figure the shower will be in July or
August. I am certainly starting way ahead of time--for me,
at least--(unlike the last one I made). I cut this out this past
weekend (while I was sick) and it is going to be Bonnie
Hunter's Pineapple Blossom. (with no sashings and a piano
key border). I will be piecing it at retreat (3 more days!!!)
but I couldn't wait to see what the greens looked like so
I made one block.

I had asked Jill-the bride's sister about colors and she said
Jill likes green. Lime green?? Olive green?? Forest green??
Grass green?? Sea foam green?? Who knows. So I will
make a scrappy green quilt. I figure that is safer than
choosing a green that might not match her decor at all.
Any excuse to make a scrappy quilt huh!

I went to my LQS Super Bowl Sunday sale and bought 20
green FQs. I do have lots of green in my stash but I
figured the FQs would all be the same size and faster to cut.
I did get beige background from my stash. I also bought the
backing because if you finished a bolt you got it for 30% off.
Who can resist that? I'll show that when I show you the
finished top. (Hopefully next week!)

Until next time...
Susie

When you have to have it

2008-02-11T10:55:00.001-05:00

Back in the fall, after Quilt Market, I saw a photo on the internet
(sorry I cannot remember where) of a quilt made from a new
line of fabrics. I printed out the photo and thought I would run
across the new line somewhere soon. Yep, I found it at my LQS
but they didn't have the whole line. It is by Lakehouse and I
searched some of the other quilt shops in my area and found
some more. I don't know if this is the whole line but this is
what I bought. There is one more piece coming (the large blue
and green stripe) that I will use for the binding. The large
hydrangea print will be the backing and the rest (1/2 yards)
will be a sort of square in a square. You can see more of this
at Holly's blog.

Isn't it just beautiful?!!!!
When you gotta have it, you gotta have it!!!!

FOUR more days until retreat. I was under the weather this
weekend with a terrible cold and sore throat so I didn't get alot
done as far as packing goes. I did the fun stuff like cutting
and organizing. But, I want to get the house vaccumed and
dusted, the laundry done and some food cooked for my poor
lonely husband, so I saved that for this week when I
hopefully feel better. All this in between working too!

I have to remember to tell our kids to visit him this weekend.
I know the boys will be over to help finish the roof on the shed.
Hope the weather holds. I think secretly he likes the little
break without me around.

Until next time...
Susie

What a mess

2008-02-06T08:12:00.001-05:00

I haven't been doing much sewing the last few days. I've been
cleaning and organizing the closet in my sewing room.
I took the doors off years ago because they took up alot of
space into the room. There used to be two filing cabinets in
the closet and that didn't leave much room for anything else.
So we took out one cabinet and that left room for these great
shelves. I still have to tackle the top shelf which is just boxes,
a basket full of old neck ties and some old magazines.
I think both my husband and I come very close to being
called pack rats. I actually have boxes of boxes, bags of bags,
and bags of boxes!!! For some strange reason I like to keep
bags and boxes. It is satisfying to find just the right size of
box or bag when I need one. We do periodically go on a
tossing spree. It feels good.

So for now everything that belongs in the closet is in the
dining room. Think it will all fit back in??!!!

It has been fun going through the boxes and getting re-inspired
by all the fabric and UFOs.

The closet will be put back this weekend along with . . . . .

seriously packing for retreat! I have some cutting to do and
just generally deciding what I want to work on for four days
of blissful sewing. . .and eating. . . and laughing. . . (notice
I didn't say sleeping--not much of that goes on)

Nine more days!

Until next time...
Susie

Not Your Grandmother's Quilt

2008-01-31T08:05:00.000-05:00

That's the name of this quilt.
It hangs in my office at work and I look at it everyday.
When I was a new quilter in 1999 I told my friends at work
about my new obsession. One woman called me "grandma".
Imagine that! I was a little insulted on many levels.
The first being, "What is wrong with being a Grandma?"
I don't have grandchildren yet but I am definitely looking
forward to it. The second being, "You don't have to be 'old'
to quilt". Thirdly, I consider quilting an art form. Fourthly,
both of my Grandmothers were terrific women. And so on....

A few months later I made our boss a sampler quilt for her
wedding. The "grandma-calling" woman was impressed and
asked me to make her a quilt. I told her when she gets
married I will make her a quilt. (I figured she wouldn't be
getting married for quite a while, so I was safe).

Then a few months after that, I made this quilt specifically
to hang in my office with this name. When people stop by
to admire it, I always tell them the story.

I will be spending this weekend getting ready for retreat.
(15 more days). I have to decide what I want to work on.
There has to be a balance between what I want to work on
and what I have to work on.

Until next time...
Susie

First retreat brown-bag gift

2008-01-28T08:34:00.001-05:00

This is hanging in my sewing room and I get to enjoy it everyday.

I won it in 2000 at my very first quilt retreat.
We do a brown-bag gift exchange and I'm sure most of you
are familiar with the rules. We draw numbers and go in order.
The person who draws number 1 has to choose a bag and
open it. The person who draws number 2 can either choose
a bag or steal the gift from number 1. There are only two
steals allowed for each number. It goes on until there are
no more numbers left and then..... because number 1 didn't
have a chance to steal since they went first, they get to
steal anything at the very end. This means that number
one has her pick of all the wonderful (and not so wonderful)
gifts.

Well I got number one on my very first retreat.
And speaking of retreat---18 more days!

My friend Terri made this and I think it came from a
Debbie Mumm book.

I am very emphatic about keeping my blog about quilting
but I just have to comment on something. I have five
stitches in my upper lip (Nothing wrong, purely cosmetic).
It is healing nicely and doesn't even hurt EXCEPT when I smile.
I was wheeling around the grocery store and I know
everyone thought I was mad. Do you all realize how
much you smile???!!! I get the stitches out on Wednesday
and the first thing I am going to do is SMILE!!!

Until next time...
Susie

Ain't it the truth!

2008-01-22T08:34:00.001-05:00

I have often wondered what I would be doing if I didn't quilt.
I have some friends whose hobby is decorating their homes.
And some friends who are gourmet cooks or very organized.

Well, I am a quilter. And those of you who are also quilters
understand what that means. For me, it means that I would
rather be sewing than just about anything else. I use quilting
as a creative outlet, as a way to love the recipients of my
quilts, as a social network with my wonderful quilting friends,
as a way to give back to my community and as an escape.
When I am quilting, I mean really immersed in a project,
the world falls away. Yet, sometimes I think about and
sort through problems. Many times I pray for people on my
prayer list. I listen to inspiring music or watch my regular
TV shows. No matter what, I am grateful that I have such
a passion.

And what would I be doing if I didn't quilt?
Probably nothing as fulfiilling.

Until next time...
Susie

If you believe this one...

2008-01-17T08:53:00.001-05:00

...I'll sell you a whole roomful of fabric!!!

I made this a few years ago for our brown bag gift exchange
at retreat (in 29 more days!). Needless to say it was stolen alot.
(We are allowed to steal or select a new bag)). I was so
happy that my friend Lori ended up with it.

I am making two more, one for our quilt show silent auction
and one for me! They go together very quickly. I actually
reversed the pattern because I have a thing about sewing
machines being backwards. Has anyone noticed that alot
of sewing machine pictures are shown from the back?
Makes me crazy. (Not hard).

Until next time...
Susie

No such thing as ugly fabric

2008-01-15T08:09:00.001-05:00

But pretty darn close. I'm sorry if some of you think this fabric is
beautiful. While I do think it would make a beautiful sarong
or Hawaiian shirt or moo-moo, I am finding it challenging to
make a quilt block.

Each year at our guild retreat (in 30 more days!), we are
instructed to make a block from a given fabric. Yes, it
is usually bordering on ugly. We get to put our name in a
hat for each block we make.
I will admit that even with the bordering-on-ugly fabric, our
retreaters come up with some very creative ways to make
them look beautiful.

This is a 12" square so you can see the pattern is quite large.
The rules for this block exchange are to make a 12" or 6" square
or a 6 x 12" rectangle. Since I am somewhat of a rebel I was
thinking about making the rectangle. I pulled some bright
fabrics (orange, turquoise, pink) last night and I think they
might actually help. So I'm off to browse the internet to
choose a block pattern. Hmmm, now that I look at it, could
I get some sort of stack & whack out of this? Maybe I'll
make the rectangle and a 12" square.

Watch me win these blocks!!!

Until next time...
Susie

Mystery Step 6

2008-01-14T08:38:00.001-05:00

I played with these on my design wall and they look even better
from far away. This mystery has been so much fun.
Thank you Bonnie.

I did get my Christmas decorations put away and don't ya know
there is always something left that I forgot. The candy dish was
in the dishwasher so I will have to put that away tonight.

I am going to start a retreat count down. 31 more days.
I think this month before retreat is almost as fun as the retreat
itself, planning, organizing, dreaming and anticipating.
I have to do a brown bag gift and make my retreat block out
of the ugly fabric. I'll show that later. I mean it is ugly!
Also my friend Debi and I are in charge of the mystery quilt
this year. I can't give it away yet., but it involves scrappy strips!

Until next time...
Susie

Thank you, hun

2008-01-11T08:03:00.001-05:00

Remember my quilt rescue post? Well, Mary gave me this beautiful
Jim Shore Angel to thank me for quilting her quilt.

You can see it here next to some Christmas decorations that I swear
will be all put away by noon tomorrow. That is, if I don't start
Step six of the Carolina Crossroads Mystery and can't stop 'til I'm done!

Last night at the Friendship Quilters Guild (just south of Baltimore)
was a blast. I grew up in Baltimore Hun, and felt right at home.
(the "hun" is an inside Baltimore joke). We combined a program
with two other guilds and had Eternal, Southern, Friendship, night.
Two members from each guild showed some of their quilts.
It is amazing and inspiring to see all the local, talented quilters.

I met the woman who won my quilt at our quilt Bingo in
September. It is so nice to donate a quilt and then hear how
excited the person is who got it. That sounds a bit off huh?
It is just as nice to donate quilts anonymously too, without
any credit or acknowledgement.

That reminds me, I want to make another soldier quilt for QOV.

This is called Stars & Bars and goes together really quickly,
especially since I have made five of them!

Well, my weekend is planned!

Until next time...
Susie

Mystery Step 5 with pressing tip

2008-01-10T08:34:00.000-05:00

It's early Thursday morning and I am eagerly anticipating
Bonnie's next step for her Carolina Crossroads Mystery. I
thought I read somewhere that she isn't posting it until
tomorrow. Can't wait!

Technically this step isn't done yet because I haven't finished
pressing and trimming the dog ears but I wanted to get the
picture taken.

Did anyone else spin their seams when pressing on the back?
This is a great little tip to decrease the bulk at the center.
You just snip a few stitches from the seam to the edge
and the seams all go in the same direction. I don't think
I am going to trim each block (except for the dog ears
which I snip with scissors). They are really pretty close
to 3.5" square.

Last night was our bi-weekly Southern Comforters guild
meeting. We combined with the Eternal Quilters and
Friendship Quilt Guild up the road (just south of Baltimore)
so we had the Eternal Southern Friendship night. A few
of their members came to our meeting and showed some
of their beautiful quilts. A few of us will be going to their
meeting tonight to do the same. We are meeting for
dinner before hand. I am seriously thinking about
joining their guild. I mean these ladies are FUN.

Until next time...
Susie

Small is good

2008-01-08T08:27:00.000-05:00

Just a little (pun intended) eye candy for today.

If I were to pick a few of my favorite quilts this little gem
would be among them. It is from this book.
I was a relatively new quilter when I made it and it does look alot
like the one in the book but I just love it. It lives on top of my
singer treadle machine in my foyer.

I have a busy week this week. Meetings three nights (two are
quilt related) so I don't anticipate much sewing. I WILL finish
Step 5 of Bonnie's mystery tonight though. I am half done already.

Until next time...
Susie

Quilt Rescue

2008-01-07T08:35:00.001-05:00

On Saturday, my bee had a mini-retreat at my house. Six women

showed up at 9 am and we sewed until 10 pm. (We did have a small

break to go to California Tortilla for dinner) There was a small scare

because my son called in the morning and thought he could watch

the Redskins game at our house on our new TV. "Sorry son, the

TV is blocked by Mrs Brown and her sewing machine." (The Skins

lost anyway--what a shock!)

Everyone got alot done (I was so focused I didn't take any pics).

I had two main objectives and finished them both. The first was to get

my Step 5 hour-glass block cut out for Bonnie's mystery. Then I really

wanted to finish quilting this poor quilt for my friend Mary. Now when

I say "poor quilt" I don't mean it isn't beautiful (see for yourself-above).

I mean this poor quilt has been through alot. Mary made it a few years

ago in a Celtic class we both took by Peg Bingham (see Sept 17 post)

We had a friend that had just gotten a long arm and Mary commissioned

her to quilt it. Well folks I am sad to say the quilting was TERRIBLE.

I could go into details but all of Mary's friends are trying to put it

behind us. Let's just say that I couldn't think of a single thing nice

to say about ANY aspect of the quilting. Not one thing!

And she even had to pay $240! This was a friend of ours, so returning

it or asking for a refund was kind of out of the question. So Mary,

being the sweet person she is, just put the quilt away, got it out every

so often and the disappointment returned every time she thought about it.

Our bee members brainstormed over the years about how to fix it.

After many ideas Mary decided that she loved the quilt so much that

she took ALL the quilting out. It took her months. I volunteered to

quilt it for her. (I just quilt on my Bernina 153 made easier with my

wonderful Horn cabinet) Well, if I do say, it looks GREAT!

Probably because it looked so terrible before. Mary is thrilled and she

asked me how much I was going to charge her. "Are you kidding,"

I said. "I consider this a quilt rescue!"

Until next time...

Susie

Bargains, Journals and Mystery

2008-01-04T07:49:00.000-05:00

My oldest son and his girlfriend gave me a gift card to Borders
Books for Christmas. So, I got these calendars for half price!

The two wall calendars I have hanging in my office at work.
I figured that I will look at them more there than at home.
The spiral bound weekly calendar I use as a sort of quilt journal.
I write just short notes about what I am working on, what
stage it's in and anything else I think might be of interest to
any of my descendents when I'm gone.

What prompted this is a few years ago my two cousins and
I were cleaning out our Aunt's house because she was
entering a nursing home. We came across all sorts of
wonderful family heirlooms, including a few quilts,
quilt tops, linens, embroidery and lace. Also letters,
journals, and recipes from generations back. It was
so inspiring that I have resolved to ALWAYS label
my quilts. So maybe someday my great granddaughters
will be interested in my quilt journey too.

Carolina Crossroads Mystery Step 4 is done. I will do Step 5
tomorrow because my bee is coming to my house ALL DAY
for a little mini-retreat. Fun fun fun. I'll take pics and let you
know how much everyone got done.

Until next time...
Susie

My sweet husband

2008-01-03T08:20:00.000-05:00

Thinking up titles to each of my blog posts is sometimes very
difficult. I hope one comes to me before I finish today!!

OK so here's what my sweet hubby got me for Christmas.
(Well, just the quilt related things.)

Each year my LQS, Tomorrow's Treasures, in Crofton, MD
hosts a men's shopping day in early December. They give
the quilters a wish list to fill out but my husband,
THE SHOPPER, (no kidding) loves to pick things out for
himself without any hints from me. I just gave him a few
very broad ideas, like "batiks" or "beiges".

So here are the FQs. I don't know what gave him the idea of
the purples. I am not a purple person and only use it as an
accent color, maybe. But he liked them and that is nice.
Don't worry though, I WILL use them somewhere, somehow,
sometime. The batiks will be used in a New York Beauty
pattern I found on the Quilters Corner Club Yahoo group .
(More about that one another day)

He also bought me a new foot for my Bernina. It is #57, the
quarter inch with a guide. I love it. I think it probably isn't as
scant as when I use the regular #37 quarter inch foot but it
definitely keeps the beginning and end of the seams straight.
I used it to finish step four of Bonnie's Mystery and so far there
isn't any difference in the sizes of the blocks.

Now, Tomorrow's Treasures is a Viking dealer and I have a
Bernina so he had to go to another shop for this foot.
He actually went to three quilt shops total, because my
Bernina dealer, The Fabric Chest in Glen Burnie, MD
didn't have any. He ended up getting it at Cottonseed Glory
in Annapolis.

He did give me a $50 gift certificate to Tomorrow's Treasures
which I promptly spent on Saturday at their sale day. I got a
large batting for my bee mystery (see Oct 24 post) and
splurged on a Moda Jelly Roll and I really needed a few
more FQs.

I feel so lucky to have a great husband who supports my habit
and is comfortable going into quilt shops and quilt shows too.
(I just thought of the title for this post!)

Until next time...
Susie