Black, White and Red Mystery on the make

This is my dear friend Liz, who was kind enough to cut the fabric needed for the next mystery class starting at Kindred Spirits Quilt Co. I love the fabric I picked and it should look stunning. We opted for a different designer this year and have gone with Debbie Caffrey. This year's quilt is called Undercover in Chicago V. I'm looking forward to teaching it this year and all the fun that we have in the session.

Country Rose Four Patch

This is a very pretty 4 patch brought to me for longarming by Elizabeth. It is her sister's quilt. How a simple design like a four patch can create such a beauty....We quilted it in the pantograph Country Rose and I managed to get it back to Elizabeth in the nick of time so she could get the binding completed before she headed back to Yellowknife. Thanks for bringing me all your and your family's wonderful quilts to quilt this summer, Elizabeth.

Farmer's Wife Block 17

You know what they say...."when the cat's away the mice will play".....well I've done nothing but play...with these farmer's wife blocks.  I am loving the way the paper piecing is so perfect. At first I was not a big paper piecing fan...but now....I'm totally on board. I love the way they are so precise, makes each block look so professional.

Kitchen Upgrade

I had had a lovely quilt up in the kitchen for quite some time. Sometimes you've just got to change things up. You know, a change is as good as a rest. I finally finished this quilt that I had picked up in LasVegas a few years back and thought that it would be a nice new addition to the kitchen. It took me quite a while to make all the stars and churn dashes and the outside border, but it was well worth it. The pattern is called Vintage Homestead by Whimsicals. I purchased it at the Christmas Goose during a 15 minute shopping frenzy while my dear hubby waited impatiently in the car. When we do these trips, he does let me visit the local shops, however I know that I have limited time to shop, so it's almost like a smash and grab. I just whiz through the store, piling whatever I can in the basket before the bastard comes in buzzer goes off. Just kidding. NOT.   I bought this whole kit, not including the backing for $60, and with the leftover fabric, got a lovely little table topper out as well.

Love at First Sight

This little guy is the newest addition to our family. Meet Owen Mitchell...weighing 7 lbs. 6oz. and measuring 19 inches long. What a little peanut...I could eat him up. This is our second grandchild and a little brother for Ayden. Our daughter did us proud again. Needless to say, no quilting today.

Farmer's Wife Block 16

This block is called Calico Puzzle. The trouble with framer's wife, is once you start...you just can't stop. They are totally addictive. I need an "Intervention" so I can get some housework done.

Black Magic Dresden

This is a quilt I designed for Kindred Spirits Quilt Co. Quite a few of my students indicated that they would like to learn the Dresden technique, so I kept them in mind when I worked on this pattern. We opted to do it in batiks as the store had not featured a Dresden out of batiks and it turned out quite stunning. The class will be offered the 4th Saturday of each month starting in September for 3 months.

Farmer's Wife Block 15

This block is called Buzzard's Roost. A fairly simple block this time. I have been paper piecing all the blocks and can say that they are going together beautifully. We have started the Farmer's Wife class at Kindred Spirits Quilt Co. We meet the 1st Wednesday of the month, for ten months, completing 5 blocks per month. This will be sufficient to make the lap size quilt from the book. 



Custom Quilting is Exhausting

I'm just not a custom quilter. I try, but I'm not. I love to use pantographs,             but sometimes you have a quilt that just needs to be custom'd. I only do my own custom quilting, not for customers, and not sure I ever will. This is the second quilt I have completed for myself. It took about 15 hours from start to finish. I'm really pleased with it and do like the look. It's all stitched in the ditch, then custom lined throughout each block. I added details to all the houses and pumpkins and added oak leaves to the patchwork block areas. The quilt is called Autumn House and it is a BOM being offered at Kindred Spirits Quilt Co. starting this fall.

Peachy Keen

Ingredients

1 (15 ounce) package pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie

1 egg, beaten

5 cups sliced peeled peaches

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup white sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons butter

Directions
1.Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (220 degrees C).
2.Line the bottom and sides of a 9 inch pie plate with one of the pie crusts. Brush with some of the beaten egg to keep the dough from becoming soggy later.
3.Place the sliced peaches in a large bowl, and sprinkle with lemon juice. Mix gently. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Pour over the peaches, and mix gently. Pour into the pie crust, and dot with butter. Cover with the other pie crust, and fold the edges under. Flute the edges to seal or press the edges with the tines of a fork dipped in egg. Brush the remaining egg over the top crust. Cut several slits in the top crust to vent steam.
4.Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven, then reduce the heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and bake for an additional 30 to 35 minutes, until the crust is brown and the juice begins to bubble through the vents. If the edges brown to fast, cover them with strips of aluminum foil about halfway through baking. Cool before serving. This tastes better warm than hot.

Comfortable Seating for 5

500 hundred pounds of goodies that is.......This is Michelle's van once we were all loaded up. Only Liz and Michelle were able to ride in the van, the rest of us piled in the car with Gloria. Just when you thought they couldn't get anything more in, someone found another box of the shipment. The guys at the loading dock did amazing at maneuvering all the boxes and items in.

Checker's....Priceless

Full tank of Gas to drive there     $75.00
Duty Free stop to load up           $35.00
2 nights Hotel room-shared        $111.00
Cracker Barrel shop stop            $35.00
Fabric, rulers and patterns           $180.00
Roaming charges without a plan   $162.50

Weekend away to Checker's with Sew Sisters......PRICELESS....for everything else there's Mastercard

Fun day number two at Checker's

Our second day was much more relaxing, with time to learn, browse and shop. Jaybird quilts was there with her newest designs and I picked up a few of her patterns to try. I really loved this new quilt called Maddie Bea's. I picked up the pattern and the template ruler to make it. The second day also offered a wonderful food spread along with a gigantic anniversary cake to celebrate Checker's 63 years in business.

Day 2, Checkers Distributing

After a good night sleep, we went back and did it all again. Today we focused on shopping. They had booths set up where you could meet designers, see the new tools and patterns and learn how they work. There were fabulous new quilt designs and tons of inspiration to go round. Swirly Girls designs was there as was Jaybird Quilts. We learned how to use the Lazy Angle Ruler and loved it so much that we are featuring it for our Crazy Eights BOM program, this year.

Kids in a Candy Store

We were all like kids in a candy store the first day at Checker's. So much to see and so much to do, left your head spinning. Kind of like a sugar high. There were fabrics and patterns everywhere. There were quilts and notions everywhere. I remember wandering around in a daze, thinking "what should I look at next". Here is Michelle, kind of in that same daze mode. There are rows and rows of shelves filled with bolts and bolts of fabric. Here are Jane and Michelle as we left the first day. I'm surprised that they were still standing.

Yummy Lunchroom

This was the panoramic view from the lunch area at Checker's Distributing. When we were there, they put on a fabulous spread. The food was delicious and the lunchroom even yummier. This was the view as you sat and ate lunch. No indigestion here, let me tell you.

Judy Niemeyer Inspiration

During the first day at Checker's Distributing, we were invited to listen to lecturers from different quilting backgrounds. They had speakers from Sulky, Metler threads, but my favorite was  Judy Niemeyer. Her patterns were amazing. I did by a couple and look forward to the challenge. She was such an inspiration when she spoke and her quilts are truly works of art

Making good use of my time

On the way down to Checker's Distributing I was able to complete this adorable pincushion. My dear friend June, gave me the kit a hundred few years ago and shame on me for just completing it sooner. It is the sweetest wool/felt needle stitchery kit. I was able to sit in the car while Gloria drove and complete it. When I got home I strung a piece of ribbon through it and tied it onto my sewing machine. Nice and handy to use while I'm sewing.

Off their Rockers

 After a very tiring day at Checkers we had dinner and then opted to stop by Cracker Barrel to shop. They have the neatest things there. Here's the group sittin' a spell outside. Needless to say, after a few glasses of wine with dinner, we all got a bit silly trying on Halloween hats. Several were purchased for the Halloween evening event that will be held at the store.

Checkered out

We were exhausted our first night after visiting Checker's Distributing. We could barely eat and drink we were so tired. We walked down to the restaurant as it was a lovely evening and quite frankly we needed the fresh air and exercise after the 3am party in Jane's room long drive to Ohio.

Check - her ....us out

Check them out. Pumped and ready to go to the Checker's Distributing Open House. On  the weekend of August 20th, Michelle took the teachers and staff of Kindred Spirits Quilt Co. To Checkers in Maumee near Toledo in Ohio for the weekend. It was amazing. Here are a few of the groupies ready to go. There is Liz, Jane, Gloria and Michelle.

New pattern taking shape

This is Black Magic Dresden in the works. I've been working on the pattern for Kindred Spirits Quilt Co. to offer as a class this fall. Some of the customers told me that they would like to try a Dresden Plate Quilt so I've developed this pattern with them in mind. It's a simple Dresden that will let them try the Dresden Plate technique, work on a bit of applique and practice blocks set on point along with sashings. I have a few time saving tips and tricks to share as well.  

You can never have too many pincushions

I was recently up at my older sister Joanne's for a few days. I take my mom so she's able to have a few days away and visit with my sister. Joanne lives in a little village in Ontario called Hensall. Very, very small, think about 1000 population with a less than bustling downtown. We did take a walk down and found a very nice little shop that carries reproduced antique pieces, nick knacks and the such. I came across this lovely little pincushion that the owner had made and fell in love. I think I can have a go at reproducing it myself with a little effort. It's almost too pretty for pins!

Before and After

We always struggle with seating in our living room.  We recently                 "changed" things up, by moving the existing furniture to the family room, and bringing the family room sofa up to the living room. We ordered new wing back chairs and a chaise which should be arriving soon. When all the kids come with their kids and significant others, everyone gathers in the living room. Problem is there is never enough seating. I managed to pick up a very nice small checkered upholstery fabric at Hobby Lobby to cover a worn and tired stool that can now be used for additional seating. It looks rather nice with the new pieces and as a bonus I can put my feet up after a long day of quilting!

Goodies

When I was at Paw Patch Quilt Shop I picked up a few goodies. I desperately needed a thread stand to hold my cones of thread. Since I have a long arm business I buy my thread in huge cones. I use this thread when I quilt my own projects. Problem is they don't fit on the thread holder of my sewing machine. I was using a large mug to hold the cone in place and upright, but this new thread stand will work much more efficiently. I have been looking for the perfect shade of brown fabric for sashing for my Farmer's Wife quilt. Our local quilt shop didn't have the right shade to match our living room sofa. I took one of the sofa cushions with me and got the perfect shade to match. I am so excited about that! Who can't resist a lovely little Santa pattern along with all the wool felting, hair and trimmings to go with him, and all at 30% off.  I also picked up a tea towel as I love to do machine embroidery on them. It was a good day all around.

Scenic Route

We were in Nashville recently. Dear Hubby had a hockey tournament and we drove down and back and made it a nice little getaway vacation. Dear hubby was kind enough to take the scenic route home which allowed for some diversions on the way. Quilt Shops that is. Paw Patch Quilt Shop is located in Mount Vernon Ohio and is a wonderful quilt shop. Well stocked with fabric and notions and it was wonderful to get the time to browse and touch and explore the store.

I bought a few goodies and then some. I loved this adorable stitchery design made from tiny hexies. Alas the store was out of the background fabric which was a small quilted fabric set on point.

Can't see the forest for the trees

This is another beauty from Linda. It is for her mother and it is quite stunning and unique. The fabric clearly shows a forest of trees in gorgeous fall tones. The setting fabric sets off the focus fabric perfectly. I know her mom is just going to love it.

My favorite BOM

This is my favorite BOM ever. It's Barb's beauty that she took at The Quilting Bee and I love it. I'm only sorry that I didn't do this one. I love the colors, I love the blocks and my favorite is the patchwork settings around each block. The colors are vibrant and so country and  well.....it's perfect in every way. I wish I was one of Barb's grand kids, cause each one of them get a quilt and I would want this one to be mine....do you think she might adopt me?

Travel By Night Mystery Quilt

Barb, you outdid yourself again. I love your Mystery quilt and it turned out phenomenal. It was a challenge this year for the Mystery Quilters as the quilts were done in flannels. There were so many small pieces it was challenging to get the seams pressed the right way with as little bulk as possible so that they could be long armed properly. This beauty is for one of Barb's grandsons and it does look so masculine. It is so heavy with both the top and back being flannel, along with the batting and quilting. Barb joked that because of the weight that perhaps it would stay on the bed rather than end up on the floor which is typical of most boys. Too funny!

Red and Green are not just for Christmas anymore

I love the color choices in this quilt. Just beautiful. This is Margaret's mystery quilt that she finished and it turned out very, very pretty. Her points are perfect and the blocks just seem to come alive with her light, medium and dark color choices. It was a hard one to give back....love it!