Garland Guild Quilt Retreat 2010

I went on a wonderful retreat last weekend with my local guild. I didn't have a camera with me to record all the shenanigan's but here are pictures of what I got done while I was there.

First I put these blocks together. This is my oldest UFO and they are now almost a top. I made 32 of these blocks sometime around 2001. The other half of them went into a quilt for my niece Helen who was 3 at the time. She is now almost 12.

I'd taken some fabrics with me for the borders and decided I didn't like them. Still need to decide on border fabrics.

I also took another really old set of blocks and put them together into this. Ditto on the border problem.


I finished a bunch of blocks like these

and the bug jars for June BOM in the guild


And another UFO bites the dust

This was from a focus fabric into blocks swap with my friend Medina. It took a while to get the layout just right. I put the blocks on a design wall and my friend Sharon and I spent about an hour redistributing them. At one point I just walked away for a while and when I came back I knew it was perfect.

BTW tirane, I was wrong- you had all the green daisy blocks. I had them confused with these butterflies.

Pinks & Reds Runneth Over

They are finished just in time to give to the guild tonight!

I still have enough scraps for another 2 quilts. I'm making a split 9-patch top and a flying geese top. Then I hope they'll be all GONE!

On a Roll Again!

I don't know what it is about spring. Maybe it was inspiration from the Dallas Quilt show, maybe it's the warmer weather,but I have been busy!

I had decided that my Goals for March and April were going to be to finish up some UFO's, make some easy donation tops, and get rid of a lot of scraps.

This will be a donation quilt I'll give to the guild. I used blocks from a recent swap at QATW.

And since I'm a glutton for punishment, here's what I started yesterday

I swear, I can't get away from pink & red! The box of strips was screaming at me.
And the gal that gave me all of these let me know she's sending me MORE!

First Day of Spring

Yep- we had more snow. Friday was a a beautiful day with temperatures in the mid 70's.
Then we had a 40 degree drop.


I stayed inside and finished this

Favorites from the Dallas Quilt Show 2010

Last weekend was the Dallas Quilt show. I have gone to every show for the last 6 or 7 years and really liked this one. Some years it seems that the quilts are all the same, 1 year there were way too many Art quilts for my tastes, but this year there seemed to be a very good variety. Plus there were a lot of bright quilts which is always a good thing in my book.

I did a little bit of shopping- picked up a couple of novelty FQ's since I'm going to get back to making "I Spy" quilts again, and I also picked up some B&W prints because I want to get back to working on "Babs meets Jane and Freddy".
I took over 100 pictures, but here are a few of my favorites...

Here's a wedding ring in blacks and grays. I love it.

I like this Black & Bright. I do not typically care for embellishments but this one calls to me. She titled it "It's a Bling Thing"

and here is another Black & Bright- "Eye of the Peacock" (I wish I could get as creative with the back of my quilts)

This Star quilt was made entirely with Oval shaped Yo-Yo's
and I really like this "Self Portrait"- don't we all feel like that sometimes?

Crunch Time!

Each year the President of our guild picks a "Challenge" quilt. Anyone who participates presents their work at the March meeting. This years theme was Log Cabin's. It can be any size, and it doesn't have to be quilted, just a top is OK.

Miss Procrastinator that I am put mine off...but I've been having fun making blocks like this one

I only need a few more 12 inch blocks but I still need to figure out how many 6 inch ones I need for my border..tirane, beth, swooze, guess what I'll be bringing to do on Saturday...

Top has to be done by March 2! I can do it!

Recent Presents

I love "Secret Pal" swaps. When I joined the Garland guild last summer I couldn't wait to sign up for the swap this year. I got my questionnaire and filled out all the usual questions
about likes and dislikes.

I got my partner and she is a definite challenge. Polar opposite of me. Crazy quilts, applique, lace, velvet, toille, ruffles, and almost everything in her house seems to be the same 1 color. It's been hard shopping for her. I'm glad the Dallas Quilt Show is in a couple of weeks because I intend to shop for things to give her the rest of the year.

On the other hand, whoever has me ROCKS!!! In January I got a gift card to Target. My favorite store next to JoAnn's. At the February meeting I walked in and saw this on the table
I had been in a really lousy mood and just seeing the envelope boosted my spirits. I can't bear to get rid of it. Then I opened it and found
I had mentioned I collect Antique sheet music. I don't think she realized it but tucked inside this piece was another page with the chorus to another golden oldie. WOW! I've already sat down and attempted to play both. They are quite challenging, but I've been looking for something new to play. Along with these were a big handful of Reeses Peanut Butter cups,
which I've already eaten :)

I love my Secret Pal, whoever you are!

I also recently participated in a "Sweet Swap" on QATW and didn't give that many details, but here's the bounty I got from it-10 very bright FQ's, a quilting jigsaw puzzle, some Ghiradelli chocolates, a quilters emory board, and wallhanging kit. I can't wait to use the fabrics! and I've been good and only eaten 1 piece of chocolate even though it's been in the house over a week.

I've been sewing a lot again too- will post about that tomorrow. Gotta get back to work!

SNOW!

I think this has been one of the whitest winters around here ever. It started snowing in the middle of the night and hasn't stopped. It isn't sticking to the concrete- at least not yet anyway.

Tonight I plan to make some hot cocoa and sew- All the blocks for "Monster Mash" are done, but I need to get started on a challenge- can I make a log cabin top in a little over 2 weeks? We'll see! Stay tuned for the details and pictures of progress!

Catching Up

I didn't realize it had been a month since I posted...where does the time go? I've been really busy at work and dealing with some personal issues and haven't done a whole lot of sewing since finishing the pink & red top which is at tirane's house.

A while back I posted these fabrics I bought at Golden D'orI took the fabric with me when I went on my first retreat back in January with the Garland Quilt Guild Board. Until I started cutting I had no idea what pattern I was going to do. I spent the weekend cutting it all up and since then I've been making these blocks.

I've already dubbed this quilt "Monster Mash". (I'm not very original with names). Tirane says the googly eyes give her the creeps but I hope she'll have fun quilting the top. I hope to have it ready for our next get together. I'm sure some kid will love it. For being such an easy pattern it's the first time I've ever made a "Snowball & 9-Patch" quilt. It won't be the last. I can see using up a lot of my novelty yardage and brights in similar fashion.

Since I've been lax in posting, here are some promised pictures. First is a picture of the Christmas presents that Swooze made for me. I love them. The pincushion is stuffed with dry walnut shells (I think). It's so pretty I haven't started using it yet.

and last, but certainly not least, is a promised picture of the "Ankh" quilt on our bed and a close-up picture of the quilting. This is the quilt that David really wanted and my friends helped me make so I'd stop whining about it. I love my friends :)

(sorry the closeup pic isn't that great, I think I should have zoomed in a little closer)

I've been thinking about a lot of things this week.

1. I love my stash. Am I going to add to it this year? Yep. Am I going to use up a lot of it this year? Sure hope so. Am I going to spend time I could be sewing counting it and adding it up? Nope. Not gonna do it right now. It is what it is.

2. Beginning of 2008 I had about 60 UFO's. I'm down to less than 30. I'm good. Some of these were traded away, some were given away, heck, some were actually made into quilts. I have been looking at the UFO's that are left and I can say 1 thing...I'm tired of "samplers". More UFO's may be going away soon.

3. There are things I want to learn this year. I want to get better at binding. I want to learn to miter corners. I want to make tote bags. I want to learn to quilt on my machine. I want to get over my fear/loathing of applique. I used to say that about paper piecing so I know I can do it.

4. I am NOT going to set unattainable goals. My ONLY New Years resolution is to FINISH more than I start. That's it and I know I can do that.

5. I'm going to spend more time with my loved ones and friends, cultivating friendships and creating memories.

Here's to a great 2010 my friends!