Spring forward...

Boy, oh boy!  I slept in. I never sleep in. Ever. Can I blame it on turning our clocks and hour ahead? I think so....  but I didnt advance it two hours. hummmm

To address yesterday's Christmas quiltalong.... my project did not go as planned. Me, of all people forgot to blanket stitch. I was following the pattern that said zigzag or satin stitch and I knew I didnt like how it was turning out. So Im not sure if I will knix this project or try to fix it which means taking it out. May knix it....

So, I turned to the NYE Mystery that I just need to sew the rows together and add borders.

And... oh most important ...  hee hee.  I got my snowball blocks. OHHHHHH!!!  the love I have for these blocks....  but....dilemma.... I have no idea what to do for borders. I can not find a fabric that goes. Ive tried everything and my room is a mess. NOT HAPPY>  Im thinking a mixture of colors of lavender, pink, and yellow/orange.... now to find it.

But I had company and I had so much fun with Reenie and when Regina stopped by it was even better.
=)

Winter Break...

They say there is a month until SPRING....
Im not sure if I can wait....
It is Winter Break here in WNY and I am about no, AM going NuTs.
Im done with winter, snow, COLD, oh my yes, the Cold.... and the blahs....oh my the BLAHS... there is no amount of Vit D that will fix this.  I have to say Sewing helps but it is so dang cold down there.
So I looked at my scrap basket and said nooooooo, and looked at it again and said ohhhh I can take that upstairs and cut.

And I havent made much of a dent....

another 2-3 days worth of work....

I like these....they kinda cut them self.

So, I remembered that I had these squares finished and just needed to sew them together and slap them into a quit to gift with Reenie's House of Mercy  donations. So this makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. I have gather together some other items on the list and may finish another quilt; I hope.

I was squaring up the backing (gold fabric).  AnnMarie likes this quilt...(it would have gone to you missy if gifting it wasnt needed. You liked this one....)

Otherwise, I have only worked on the Monkey Business quilt and have two rows of it finished.

I love it.

I still have so much to work on. I need to finish the table topper I started with Reenie, figuring out these Asterisk blocks with Regina which I will have to iron properly.....  It definitely need to be, and the nye mystery blocks you can see here in the pic need to be sewn together,,,one row only geese. The list goes on and on...

Well I can see grass again, and the sun was out today so there is a smile here on the face... 

On the back burner....

I couldn't say " I was working on this...."
I couldn't say " I finished this...."

        or it would have ruined the

              SURPRISE!!!

Yeah, I surprise the ole' Reenster on her Birthday.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha....

Since our retreat and there after she has confessed a LOVE for this quilt. I have never heard of someone loving a quilt so much before. So, it had to be hers. I finished it and wrapped it and put it in a box and mailed it. Right after mailing it I went to see her for lunch for her birthday (this was Friday). Do you know how hard it is to keep a secret from her...?

So Shell, what have you been working on? Ummmm you know the heart quilt I finished it and the baby quilt that I finished. That is all I could come up with.
   The binding are strips of some of the fabrics in the quilt. That turned out to really work and made the quilt come alive. I used a fall small leaf on golden yellow for the backing.

I quilted all around the pieces in the panel. Outlined them if you will. I really liked this. So fun!

Sneaky Sneaky.....

Sewin' Day with Reenie

I arrive at Reenie's with all of my cargo and she blurts out, " Would you like to hit a quilt shop?"

Like there is any reason to ask me twice though I say " Are you kidding me?"  ha ha ha ha....  (did I hear her right? what about the no shopping..... I wonder to myself)

"I thought we could take a drive to Ivy Thimble. I love that shop." she says.  "ok"......

"When?" I ask....."NOW! that way we get it done and then sew." she says.  "Boy, you've thought this out."

So.... we head on down to Ivy Thimble with stops along the way.  First we stop at Craft Bits n Pieces.

I bought this for $22

Then we are off to Good Will cuz we hear on the radio that the Bee was there and we thought we would try a spin on the wheel.  Well, wrong one I guess so we just wonder around and Reenie finds a 4yd cut of fabric for $2. Deal of the day! Onto to Ivy Thimble.

I bought a few quarter cuts of 30's prints and a fat quarter for my flannel Yellow Brick Road I'm about to sew. I needed one more light. 

I was wondering around and picked up a batik jellyroll in lights. I said wow, this would be perfect for my quilt with the retreat strips I collected to make the Monkey Business quilt. (but I already have a tone on tone that is fine. I tell myself and Reenie. I talk myself out of it.)  So around and around we go looking and loving all the fabric. They have such a great collection and assortment.

Yep, it ended up in my bag as we walked out the door. Here you go she says. Happy Birthday!!!
Too much missy...... too much.  (but I love it. Mind you all day she speaks nothing of my birthday being Monday nor do I. I was super just out and about sewing day.....sneak!!!)

So, it will go in this..... Monkey Business

and use the strips from the retreat.

Then we were off to get pizza to bring home. Yay.... hungry.

Little bit of Pepsi.  Glasses of wine.

And then cut the fabric for the table runner "Star Crossed Love" from Marie's book A Thread so Thin.

Here are the two sets I finished (8). Two more sets to go.

I was so pooped when I left that I made a wrong turn onto Rt 283. I was heading east. I must have wanted to be RETREAT bound...  so I turned around about 10ish minutes down the road (the wrong way) and head home. So I talked to Patrice, got a shower and watched a little tv then went to bed.

Good day. Good day.

Christmas Sharing and Sewing with Reenie

Yay!!! Finally some quality time with Reenie. Saturday was set aside for sewing and catching up. A lot of chatting took place here. I dont think there was a silent moment. (And if you know Reenie and sewing, she shuts up when she sews.....so we must really missed the chatting...)

First we did our Christmas gifts exchange which we just did out of pure love and devotion.....not planned what so ever.  Santa brought me two Scrap Basket Surprises quilt pattern books so I just had to give one to Reenie. He knows one book would just not do. I also made her a green fuzzy warm cozy scarf which she wore all day long. 

Doesn't she look toasty!!!

Reenie's picture

Here is my gift from her. She tricked me. As she had implied on her blog this tree runner was someone else but when I opened my gift I was so happy the tree runner I loved was for me.

Love it! It is on my coffee table in my family room.

Oh sewing...  Yes we did some sewing. We made these table decorations if you will.

Reenie's picture

Now we have to embroider.  The directions had "Faith, Hope, Love and Joy" around the borders.

We wanted to do it by machine but the font wasn't large enough. I think by hand is prettier.

Reenie taught me paper piecing with the trees in the runner she made for me. I think I have found a new love... 

there was a moment though that I continued to sew the fabric in the wrong direction. Third time was a charm I guess but my head started to hurt....this is when we stopped to venture out to Craft Bits and Pieces. I have been itching to buy some good fabric for cheap cheap.

Ah so much fun!!

Thanks Reenie for a great day!

Cobble Court Quilt Retreat

       Arriving at Wisdom House in Litchfield, Connecticut after our dinner at dec*ca*pous....sounding like a spanish dead cow on the GPS...   de Capos, we immediately threw our stuff in our rooms and set up shop geared for sewing.

      We sewed until 9pm and began our Meet and Greet session with a Show n Tell of a quilt we brought and wine/cheese.  I truly enjoyed the display and stories each of us brought. Every single quilt or picture was completely unique.

     

Lillian

Sue

Sandra

I loved how these stories were told of these quilts that they became a piece of me now and now know a special part of each of them.

We did surprise Marie with a baby quilt for her new grandson. It turned out wonderful. Diane (who wasnt able to come but is a part of our circle) did a great job putting the quilt top together and Patrice did an amazing job finishing and quilting it.

Marie and Patrice

On Saturday there was lots of sewing. I worked on my fall disappearing nine patch.

still working on it...   I ended up putting it away and sewed together the rows of my tree skirt and binded a doll quilt.

Saturday we braked for lunch and went into Litchfield. We ate at the restaurant that Marie described vividly in her book "A Single Thread". We met Charlie, who treated us like queens and had a wonderful dessert that was to die for. I had the best scrumptious linguine I have ever had.

As we left the Grill we ventured down to Cobble Court. It is really there and saw Marie's vision of how she would love to truly have a quilt shop there in Cobble Court in New Bern....our story town.  It is a hidden hideaway. 

Looking down Cobble Court

Evelyn's Quilt shop (really an antique shop)

Sue, Debbie (slightly behind), Beth, Patrice, Lillian (back), Sandra, Reenie (center back), Marie, Cathy G (back),  Kathy, Paula (back), Cathy McG, me, Pam.  Front: Dorothy, Jen, and Karen

We also did pillow cases for Susan B Anthony House there in CT. We ended up with 40.

 40 Pillow cases to donate.

Not only was this a quilting retreat, it was a weekend of bonding friendship and spiritual growth due to this tie we all share from Cobble Court.

I am so proud and touched to have 16 friends for life and many more to come from our lovely quilting circle.

~Shellie

Fun Day with Reenie

I had so much fun at Reenie's house. There wasn't a moment to spare. First she gave me a tour and showed me her quilts. Love love....   and then I met the gang, well half of the gang; Joe, Hannah, Patrick, Dahlia, and Luke (D and L are the puppies).  I worked on the Christmas tree skirt. It takes me a bit to get a log cabin going. I had a few to repair.... gabbing and all.  Reenie CUT her tree skirt...yeah, she did. And made a wall hanging which of course turned out great. (pictures on her blog)

ya that is your picture Reenie.....2010. lol. See your credits.

Im too lazy to get my camera way downstairs and the card and put it in computer...  here ya go.

Lately I have been working on small quilts for a thing...  and cutting out fabric for the Relay for Life Mystery in 12 days....yay.  I have a boo boo in the binding which I just remembered to fix. Jill quilted the Christmas swap quilt for me, I got it back and did the binding and almost finished when I have a spot to fix before I can move on.  I have much to do. A fall disappearing nine patch which is at a standstill; I did do a few blocks but still way more to do. I have been gathering stuff for the retreat yay, in 2 weeks.  hee hee.  Cant wait.....  

so haven't totally disappeared.

Jitterbug

Here is a look at the Jitterbug top.  This pattern I quilted along with Reenie. Hers was completed last week. I take a bit longer to put the rows together. There seems to always be a kink in my plans or a kid interrupting. 

I love this quilt. The pattern is another story...

Reenie: I think we will have to bring this one to the retreat to snuggle in as we sip our wine laughing and chit chatting. 

I'm not sure on the name. I am thinking along the lines of Friendly Ties, 30's medley, Can you find the bunny? (LOL) or Gma's Time??? 

~Shellie

Mystery #15 for Relay for Life

My first Mystery is finished. I had to take some time to find borders. Actually I dug all of this out of my "stash".  *giggle, smirk* 

I really like this pattern.

Thanks Reenie for introducing me to Relay for Life. I really like the contributing and the mysteries we get to do. =)

~Shellie

Sunny Lanes Top is Finished

My top for Sunny Lanes is finished. Oh, I'm so happy!!!  I love the colors. I love how it fits the bed.

Love, Love, Love.

This is my hubbie's family antique bed. It is in our guest room along with other old stuff. I started gathering fabric for this bed in reds and golds then Regina picked our pattern of Sunny Lanes to do together. The pattern reminded of me of old scrappy quilts and decided to do it for the guest room.

Now for a name. I was thinking along the lines of Cozy ...  Warm...  Splender... Slumber... Cinnamon Toast.. I don't know.  What do you think?

~Shellie

Reenie and I have also been working on our 30's quilt; Jitterbug. Here are a few of the blocks.

We hope to finish them (we each are doing one) this week.  I may fix some flying geese and finish the blocks but we still have sashing to do then sewherup' .....  quite a bit of work left.

We'll geterdone'.

Heart Blocks with Reenie

I finally finished my heart blocks for the Cobble Court Quilters Circle, a quilt group on author Marie Bostwick's page.  I met up with Reenie last night at Hobby Lobby to exchange the blocks and do a little shopping.  I didnt have much time so it was a fly by. I cant wait to post pictures of the blocks and my ideas of a top. (I cant until everyone gets theirs.)

I came out of Hobby Lobby with more than I bought though.... 

Smiling from ear to ear....

Thank you Reenie...  a giftie from a doll.

The orange we fell in love with...so springy and the yellow and pink go with our 30's quilts. Yes, she has another one in mind. Well, if we continue to buy fabric we will have to do more quilt making.

 I see nothing wrong with this situation what so ever.....=)                  ~Shellie

Girls Day Out!!!!

Okay.....  I just want to say that finding what you want when you want it is GREAT!!!!

I went out today with Regina who first came by to view my sewing area and to give gifties...  Love love love them.  A roll to keep blocks flat and a place to keep all sewing items near the machine.  She also gave me my "Pay it forward" but I will post that this week.

On to our venture....

Our first stop was Jamie Lynn's out near the Seneca Park Zoo.  It was a blustery snowy day right from the beginning. The snow never did amount to much other than to tip the freezing temperatures that we did not notice for all we had to do was dart into stores and then back to the car. The pigeons, at first glance, we thought to be fluffin their feathers; were only fat from being fed in order to prevent them from eating the cat food as we were told but I think they eat that too. Their sale was on remnants and I was not much interested in large quantities of their selected fabrics so I bought a yard of a clearenced fabric for a dark and a 1/2 yd of a light for my "Sunny Lanes" quilt Regina and I are going to do together.

I texted Maureen/Reenie in the car to see if it was not too late to catch her at our next stop; Patricia's.  She said she was on her way so there Regina and she can meet. I was on the look out for 30's fabric (Reenie and I are doing a quilt on) and more for Sunny Lanes and Red&Whites had a coupon. So..... once there I gave Reenie her winnings for my birthday giveaway and she was so excited because she said she has never won anything. That right there was the best birthday gift ever.... to make someone else so happy!!!

Here we are!!!!  This was after all our purchases. The ladies there are so wonderful. I bought a ton of clearanced fabric here... 30's prints, red/white, lights and darks for SL.  Almost 6yds here.  Reenie headed home while we drove on to Sew Creative where Regina knows Linda from online. Here I bought 4yds of a 70% off oriental fabric to do a Japanese Knot purse or two.

About now we are starving and our brain is starting to sputter.....  yep, really.

So I say "how about chinese"?, I know a little place I went to the last time I was going to Ivy Thimble.

We plowed into the Panda Express parking lot and order a very large lunch, devoured it and felt like we were going to roll away..... Hey Regina!! We did not get a fortune cookie......*pout pout*.....

Ivy Thimble is having a 30% off the entire store....clearance too.  Straight away I piled up the clearance bolts to find out only 1 yd cuts...  a little bit more than I wanted to cut but hey.... stash building ...lol ...  I went on ahead and bought 4 yds of backing for the 30's quilt, 3yds of  30's fabric and 2 1/4 yds for SL. I think I would have bought more but I was pooping out.... all that for only $35. *big smiley face from ear to ear*  From there we headed on to Target to buy Valentine goodies and to look for shoes for Nathan but no such luck there. Lastly a stop at Wegmans to buy pizza building supplies.... for Matt.

I had a marvelous day and so much fun.  We must all do this more often.  It is good to be with friends.

~Shellie