Design Wall Monday

The design wall is still empty. 

There was very little sewing machine time last week.

I think I sewed 2 seams.

I did do some hand stitching on Millefiore blocks 

and I'm almost ready to start sewing the rosettes together.

I have another retreat next Thursday.

I swear it was this week so things have already been loaded in the car.

I needed to finish cutting some strips for our swap 

so I cut another wallet project too since I was in the mood.

Then I looked at the calendar. 

I was bummed all day.

So now I have time to dive into the sewing room organization again.

This time I'm working in zones.

One small zone a day.

This bright morning sky greeted me last week.

Some days this is all I need to get me going.

See what others are working on at Patchwork Times.

There is always so much inspiration posted there. 

I love Monday in Blogland!

Design Wall Monday...

...Retreat Report

Retreats are always so much fun.

Retreats with your daughter and 10 other close friends are even more fun.

That's what I did this past weekend.

Day 1 started with making these pillow cases for a horse loving granddaughter.

It always fun to have a TaDah moment early on.

Then I went to work on Pineapple Crazy.

Thursday and Friday resulted in 10 more blocks.

I decided Saturday would be UFO day.

I took along the blocks from 2014 BOM at The HEXIE Blog.

At our May retreat, I finished appliqueing the motifs to the background.

We won't go into the details of the sashing cut too short and

 the blocks having to be trimmed down a bit.

Now the blocks are sashed and the top is sewn together.

I can't wait to quilt it and gift it.

After the BOM top was finished I pulled out the new project.

This is called Between Friends Junior from

The Happy Hour book by Atkinson Designs.

This was a kit I had bought several years ago.

I just had to have the right person in mind before starting.

Sometimes that takes a while.

The blocks are ready to be layed out.

I'll do this Wednesday at Binding Friends group.

Deciding a layout is more fun with friends.

Sunday morning I decided to make 2 more Pineapple blocks.

It was raining and gloomy,

perfect for sewing while we waited for the storm to blow over before loading the cars.

The storm didn't blow over.

We loaded our cars in the rain.

Retreat was a blast.

I love to bring my friends over with me to the super scrappy side of quilting.

Marian showed her fabulous black and batik Pineapple Crazy quilt.

I thought she needed a new scrappy project so I introduced her to Wild & Goosey.

I showed my few blocks and hope to be seeing several other friends

 with W & G quilts one of these days.

I didn't sew any more W & G blocks but I did take 5 sections out of 4 blocks and 

turn them the correct direction.

Better to catch that now than when the quilt is finished.

Thanks Marian. 

I predict very little sewing this week due to other things.

My mind will be working overtime planning for the next retreat.

I'm headed over to Patchwork Times to see what others have on their design walls.

Design Wall Monday

I'm sew excited. It's retreat week!! That means it's a busy next 3 days. I have elk meat to can. Elk bones to cook down and broth to can. I want to make some apple pie filling. Will I get it all done in the next 3 days. You bet, I have everything ready for retreat already.

I bought this kit several years ago and keep getting it out and putting it back. A couple weeks ago I decided it would make a great project for retreat so I cut everything and it's ready to go. It isn't the cover quilt I'm making. One day I'll make that one.  The book is Happy Hour by Terry Atkinson and is full of great quilt patterns! 

 I pulled out a pack of Moda Marble fat quarters I had won at a previous retreat from the Chinese Auction. (We donate things from our sewing room and then put tickets in the bucket of the items we want). These were in someone's deep stash, they are dated 1997. I'm thrilled to use them for sashing on this UFO.

Pineapple Crazy blocks will be worked on after these 2 projects are finished.

I spent some sewing time this week working on The Necessary Clutch Wallet from Emmaline Bags. This is a very well written pattern and fun to sew. This was my first turn knob instillation. I think my second one will be better. Turn knobs are not required on this wallet, a magnetic snap works great too.

All ready to be filled up. 2 card pockets, a zipper pocket and 5 sections. It's a great wallet!

Yesterday morning I woke up with an idea and had to run in and test it out. Piping on glittery hearts. This will be very cute and I'll be able to use some of my heart fabric collection for the inside. 

Check out this weeks Design Wall Monday posts at Patchwork Times.

Design Wall Monday

Here it is Monday again. I comes around so fast! I have been busy, busy, busy!

It is now hunting season and I am a weekend hunting widow. Don't feel sorry for me! I love it. Sew all day in my pjs if I want and this weekend I wanted. Even though it was really nice outside, I spent most of my time inside. I went for a few walks but mostly I sewed and sewed and sewed. Eventually I did get showered and dressed. Just not too early in the day.

Saturday I added 12 more Pineapple Crazy blocks to my collection. I am now at 150 and really thought it was more.  I spent last night de-papering those 12 (I de-paper as I go.). Now I want to sew 12 more!

Sunday I worked on a secret project. I love a good secret project. snicker, snicker I'll spend some time today adding the finishing touches and doing the pressing. Then I might work on another bunch of pineapple blocks.

I spent Wednesday and Thursday at Crystal's house while she was whisked away for a little birthday getaway. I took along my Millefiore project to work on. The kids love to work the hexies like a puzzle. I got most of my pieces glue basted and even a few sewn together.

This week I plan to get Tumalo Trails pin basted and I have some Christmas blocks to make. Wish me luck!

See what others are working on at Patchwork Times.

National Sewing Month Recap

 National Sewing Month has come to an end. My plan was to sew every day. I have done this for several years. This year I missed only 1 day.  I thought it would be fun to recap what I did along with some random pictures that I haven't shared.

I added several Pineapple Crazy blocks to my bin. It might be time to count again.

I finished the Tumalo Trails quilt top and turned the left over border pieces into blocks for another project.

I finished rosette #2 for the Millefiore and started #3. So I have 3 finished rosettes since I jumped ahead and did #5 already. I love this project.

I made another Swoon Vivian bag and a Pearl wallet.

I made a snappy bag and added lots of tumblers to my leader/ender project.

I made oodles of string blocks--3 1/2" scrappy ones and 4 1/2" neutral blocks.

I started and completed the Country Roads mini quilt from Humble Quilts Quilt Along. 

Non sewing included finishing 2 pair of socks and starting 2 more. A new waterline was put in and I spent a couple days staying with my grandkiddos. We spent one day canning tuna with our niece and another day canning beans. One Saturday we spent the day with friends at a fish fry-that was fun and the food-OMGosh!!!

I think I might be glad September is over and I am welcoming October with open arms. I am looking forward to 2 quilt retreats coming up, one this month, one next.