Funny How Time Slips Away

I can't believe how fast the tie is going by,.

Almost a month since I last posted. 

Not because I had nothing to say,

I just didn't write it.

Here is another UFO marked off the list.

I sure love my new to me Sweet Sixteen! 

This is Friends and Companions Designers Sew Along by Marcus Fabrics. (2014)

Here is the link to Marcus Fabrics page about the quilt but I didn't go down the rabbit hole to see if the links to the designers leads to the blocks. 

I do remember it was a fun quilt to make. 

I was ready to quilt a smaller quilt so I jumped ahead on my Judy L Challenge.

I used flannel for the back. 

Daughter Crystal and I attended our retreat last weekend.

I decided to focus on this UFO designed by Judy L and the September project for her challenge. 

I did a quick search of her page and found it here.

I had the center complete and the framing pieced border was on and border 3 was pieced.

I cut fabric for all the other borders and made this my first project.

I took all the extra fabric thinking I could piece the back.

Wrong, so  I pulled out a new project that I can't share yet. 

When I came home at night, I went into the backing stash 

and found a 6 yard piece of flannel. 

That wasn't enough so I grabbed all my flannel that went with my flannel.

That was my project for because I wanted to pass it to my long arm quilter friend Jane.

I take a picture of this old snag at each retreat. 

I had a blast hanging out with my daughter and my friends. 

I love these gals!!

Today my dear sweat friend Pam (Hey Pam!) read me a text from a high school friend Ruth.

So here's a message for you Ruth.

Heeeyyyy.  I am so jealous of your planned trip. 

Thanks for reading my blog.
One of these days we have to get together! 

Design Wall Monday and...

 ...November Retreat Roundup

 And what a retreat it was.

I got so much done while having so much fun.

I have nothing on my design wall but I have great completed projects.

First thing I did was make the block for Wishes Quilt Along.

Then I did the borders for Tell It To The Stars.

Next up I made my final block (the one I just knew I had already made!

and will probably find someday in a different project box!!) 

and made the connector blocks for Friends and Companions.

Then put them all together, added the setting triangles and borders.

I love a good retreat TahDah!!!

And how fitting that my Friends were with me when I finished this top.

I added a few more Pineapple Crazy blocks.

(Not these particular ones,

I'm too lazy to get the bin out and take a picture.)

And added quite a few new to me scraps from friends.

It was fun to see when they found their fabrics.

We do strip swaps.

Usually 2 1/2"  black/whites, neutrals and batiks

but this retreat we added a new category.

1 1/2" neutrals!

Look at that selection.

35 different fabrics.

I am the swapper so I get the up close and personal look at all the great fabrics.

I am trilled to have added 60 strips to my stash!!

I had to stop Friday morning on my way in to Royal Ridges to take pictures.

The fall colors with the sunshine streaming in was just gorgeous!

I looked out my window to see these beauties up on the hill.

I will miss retreat season but

I am ready to hunker down at home for the winter.

Of course it hasn't officially arrived yet but it sure feels like it has.

Check fabulous design walls at Patchwork Times.

National Sewing Month Recap

My goal for National Sewing Month was to sew every day. 

I did it! 

I am celebrating.

Seriously, I cannot believe how much I accomplished.

Most days I was able to sit in front of the sewing machine.

Some days were spent with a little time, threaded needle and Circle of Jewels in my lap.

What did I work on?

In the collage you can see red/white/blue blocks for retreat lotto drawing, under that is the Quilt Retreat bag, next to that is Shirley checking out Tell It To The Stars, Batik Boxes (UFO blocks) top was put together, Wishes BOM was caught up, 2 minis, more Pineapple Crazy blocks made. Retreat fun happened. Smith Mountain Morning top was completed, Batik Hexies quilted. Circle of Jewels added to and a butterfly bag  (the black and white bag was made by Cheryl).  

Each day sewing time was found.

I'd love to keep that up for October.

For no other reason than

.

Sewing Soothes My Soul.

National Sewing Month-Days 15-17

3 more days of sewing and not much progress to show. Tell It To The Stars has another row attached and another row sitting and waiting it's turn to be sewn.  Last week's block for Friends & Companions Sew Along is finished.

This bin full of 1 1/2" batik scrap strips was dug into. A bunch of us are making our own bag at retreat, I needed some strips and couldn't resist joining a bunch of these to turn into a fun focal point for my bag.

There is another project in there but I can't show anything yet. Stay turned...

Time for me to pack the car and head out the 3 1/2 miles to the retreat center.  I know, I'm a bit spoiled by the distance I travel to my fun weekend. The fact that I can go, come home for a while to care for the animals and return until I come home to my own bed is priceless.

I shall return but in the mean time, I will be sewing away......National Sewing Month continues with daily machine time for me.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's off to sew I go.........

National Sewing Month-Days 5 & 6

I spent Friday morning fixing the corners of the block on the left 

and then made block 6 for the Friends & Companions Sew Along. 

On my list for this week was to make more Pineapple Crazy blocks.

I made 5 more and added 1 to make a nice picture.

These are so fun and addicting but they take a long time to make.

The other day I found a pattern for a cute bag,

printed it off and now I can't remember where I found it and

a Google search has turned up nothing.

It's called Retreat Bag.

It's been fun to sew on using black and white strips from swaps at retreats.

Even the fabric I used for the pockets came in a greedy gift at retreat.

Today is a full day of Grandkids soccer and an afternoon picnic.

I got up super early (really no earlier than normal) so I could get my sewing time in today.

So far, only these pockets were quickly quilted and binding put on.

But it counts for sewing time today.

Have a fabulous Saturday!

National Sewing Month--Day 4

You all know I am easily influenced to join in the sew alongs, right?  This time I will blame blog friend Kathy--snicker,snicker.  She posted here about the Marcus Fabrics "Friends & Companions" Sew-Along.  She talked about using the fabrics she had left over from her Votes for Women project.

That was all I needed to see.  I have fabric leftover from my Grandmother's Choice-Votes for Women quilt (still a top at this point) and I will use mine for this one too.  I have lots of fabric left from Taylor's Piece Hexi quilt so I added that for the black.  (That top is still waiting on borders too and is now sitting beside my machine.)

I started printing the blocks. After a couple weeks of not starting, I talked myself out of it. Then she would show another block and I would print off that one and put it with the others for someday.

Guess what! Someday showed up this week.  I was putting some things away and there is the bin of fabric. I pulled it out, sat down and cut the pieces for these 5 blocks.  Last night and this morning, I sewed and now I am caught up, ready for tomorrow when the next block is revealed.

Thanks Kathy for not getting out of my head. I really like these and I'm glad I jumped on the band wagon with you. Fabric from my stash is being used instead of being stored and has prompted me to add the borders to an unfinished top. This is going to be a fun little quilt.

As I look at the block with the blue frame, I've decided to change out the corner triangles to the same background as the others. I have lots of that fabric and I like that so far, the corners of each block are half square triangles.