Design Wall Monday

Wahoo, wahoo, wahoo!!!

Midnight Flight is finished and headed to my bed today.

I started this quilt in May at a retreat with Bonnie Hunter.

I am thrilled to have it finished.

My friend Jane quilted it.

I told her I wanted gold thread and swirls and to just do her Jane thing.

I love what she did!

I have been working hard on trimming up the scraps.

I am pleased to report that the backing extras are cut to usable sizes and put away.

Each retreat I stop to take a picture of this snag.

It's on the road into Royal Ridges.

I was a bit disappointed that the leaves weren't all orange yet.

Maybe they will still be there when I go back in November.

Like this photo from November 2015.

I worked on the secret birthday project until all the blocks were complete.

They are now stacked and pinned in rows thanks to help from friends.

Next up was Garden Party #2.

I just took posy block kits and I think I completed 30 more blocks.

These are so fun to make.

All the while, leader and ender Oklahoma Backroad blocks were being made.

I think 21 more blocks were completed.

I'm almost ready to lay this one out for real.

Retreats are fun.

Retreats are energizing.

Retreats are exhausting.

Retreats are special.

I get to spend hours sewing with one of my daughters and a bunch of my friends.

Today is catch up at home day.

Lots to do!

Hubs was lucky and harvested a deer on opening day so today is processing day.

And when that's over, you'll find me in my sewing room.

See what others are working on at Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

Design Wall Monday

Wednesday is Binding Friends Day.

I had my rows to Midnight Flight sewn together, 

I took them so the ladies would help me lay them out.

I really need to get a design wall up again!

After much oohing and aahing and a couple of rows switched,

we had it perfect!

It is now a completed top,

arrangements have been made for the quilting.

Pressing needs to happen today.

Lori at Humble Quilts is hosting another QAL.

This one is called Palmateer Point and part 2 is up today.

I know what else I'll be doing today.

Oklahoma Backroads is coming along nicely.

It's my leader/ender project.

I am one block short of half way.

This will be a lap quilt.

I worked on Mischief Quilt in the evenings this week.

I had to lay out a few of my blocks because it's time to cut more parts.

I can't wait to see what the next set of blocks will be.

No more pink or blue because there is a lot of that.

The strips are in the bin so it will be easy to cut the next bunch.

It's nice to be back into super sewing mode. 

And to make it better, the rain has returned to the Pacific Northwest!

I'm very thankful for that!

It's Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

It's a great day to sit with my coffee and catch up with my friends.

Design Wall Monday

When my world is in chaos and I can do nothing about any of it,

I retreat into myself and seek my quiet.

My quiet is in my sewing room.

It's been a while since I've spent so much time with just me, my machine, 

my thoughts and my prayers.

The borders for Midnight Flight are complete.

Now it's time to lay out the blocks and get them sewn together.

I'll have grandhelpers here today,

maybe it will happen or maybe it won't.

Next up were the exchange blocks for our Christmas Club party.

(It's not really called the Christmas Club, 

but I needed to name it. 😉 )

I can't believe I am this ready so early in the year!

Since I didn't have anything else ready to work on, 

I kitted up several more Oklahoma Backroads blocks.

Free pattern from Quiltville!!

All the piece for a block are pinned together, ready to lay out.

I'm using this quilt for my current leader/ender project.

And since I wasn't finished retreating,

I just sat and sewed several together.

Now I need to kit some more.

Several more blocks were added to the stack.

And of course some had to be layed out just to see. 😍

I can't believe I haven't done a DWM in over a month!

I'm linking to Small Quilts and Doll Quilts Design Wall Monday.

OMGosh, the things that are posted over there,

I can't wait to go visiting!!!

I truly love Monday in Blogland.

It's Funny How Time Slips Away

Not really funny, more like fun!

Blogging will happen when it happens. 

I've said before I am not a good passenger so I knit.

They are my passenger seat knitting project.

They are called Meandering Vine Socks.

I'm to the heel flap.

The whole heel has to be done at home,

I'll get to the mindless foot part before we leave again.

Before leaving home, I cut all of the border pieces for Midnight Flight.

The first couple of evenings, I marked the squares for the flippy corners.

And one afternoon, I sewed one half of the chevrons.

Then over a few days, I trimmed all of them

and after everyone left, I got out the iron and pressed them all.

During my sewing time, 

I couldn't find Jessie.

He had made himself a pillow fort. 

Silly little dog!

While I was sewing,

Ernie replaced the boards on this deck.

Most of the time it was a one man show.

One day he washed the bus.

My job was to watch the fire.

I'm good at my job.

We had lots of company!

Saturday evening, Dee, Vern and Taylor came to camp for a few days.

On Sunday Crystal and her kiddos came to spend the day with us.

She came home and ordered their own camping supplies. 

They will be our next camping guests.

This melts my heart!

I love being surrounded by my family.

I have a feeling this is going to be the perfect summer!

Smores and smiles are mandatory!

As are photo bombers!

There was a whole lot of love happening at the beach!

A perfect 4th of July campout!

Unless you were a dog.

We didn't go to the beach to watch the fireworks.

We stayed at the bus with the poor, terrified dogs. 

From the sound of it, it was a pretty spectacular show.

The landscape is changing at the beach property.

Lots of trimming and clearing is happening.

Bamboo is not our friend.

We tried to figure out why the previous owners did things the way they did.

Our conclusion is each to his own.

We'll fix it how we want it now. 

Design Wall Monday

Yippee, Yahoo!!

My UFO for June is now a compete quilt top.

I need to cut the binding and make the back.

The simple quilting design has been decided upon.

This will be taken to the beach for sitting around outside.

Will it be ready for our next trip?

Probably not.

But it's HOT here, not Arizona hot but too hot for Western Washington State!

99º is too much for me. 

So I've spent a whole lot of time in my air conditioned sewing room.

These are my favorite blocks.

I had to include a chicken, butterflies and bees. 

My most exciting accomplishment of the week is getting all of my 

Midnight Flight blocks sewn together.

I've put this on hold until the Deli Geese quilt is finished.

But I'm super excited to get back to it.

As I was cleaning in my sewing room,

I did cut fabric for the some of the border units that I forgot to cut.

So now I just have to sit and sew and sew and sew. 

I know how lucky I am that I get to do the things I love pretty much whenever I want.

Retirement is awesome!

Check out other design walls at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

Design Wall Monday

While babysitting the grands the other day, 

I cut more Mischief Quilt kits.

While I was cutting, they were playing.

It's lots of fun to play puzzle with quilt blocks.

I've been working on them in the evenings again.

This just proves my point of not stitching when I am dog tired.

It's all fixed now and a finished block.

I also worked on my June UFO for Judy L's UFO Challenge.

I have all 16 of my blocks made and

 today I  worked up this design in EQ7 will make a fun quilt.

None of my blocks match these blocks.

I just wanted to be sure my sashing design would work and I think it will.

 Next I dug in my stash for some great border fabrics.

I'm excited to get this top made this week.

I also worked on Midnight Flight blocks.

All kits are prepared and I used these as leaders/enders this week.

I've just got a few more before all the quarter blocks are made. 

I'm linking up to Small Quilts and Doll Quilts Design Wall Monday post.

Design Wall Monday

 The Mojo Has Returned

I found my mojo at retreat and thank goodness it has stayed with me!

I've got all my parts for Midnight Flight sewn together.

I think.

You know I've miscounted something but

I have lots of extra fabric so it's nothing to get panicky about.

I'm working on block quarters now from the kits I have made up.

I have a nice stack of them. 

Ooohh, I see a frinckle I need to check out.

I think I'll take some TV time this week and finish kitting up the quarter blocks.

A few more blocks were added to Oklahoma Backroads as leader/enders.

Along with block sewing, there has been some t shirt sewing!

I love the Laundry Day Tee and how it fits me.

Next project is making the dreaded pants pattern that fits.

I can do it!

Check out Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

Design Wall Monday on Wednesday

We headed to the beach last Thursday for Memorial Weekend and came home Tuesday.

My Design Wall Monday was postponed. 

I took my bin with Midnight Flight parts and pieces.

I decided I wanted to make up block kits.

I made quite a few blocks quarters.

I had lots of parts already sewn and bundled together.

Here is my bag of bags. 

It's stuffed full.

Each snack bag holds 2 quarter blocks. 

I should have counted. 

The chevron bunches on the left are how many of each I have left to sew the corners on.

The bundle on the right are pairs waiting for their HSTs and 4 patches.

I plan to be cutting and sewing today.

It was a beautiful weekend at the beach.

Friday was sunny and warm,

the rest of the time was overcast, mild and no rain.

It was the big garage sale event this weekend. 

I found a new old sewing machine that needs some work

and a few other treasures. 

I didn't think Ernie would like to go sale hopping but he loved it.

I may be in trouble. 

Retreating With Bonnie

I'm home from 4 days of quilt retreat and classes with Bonnie Hunter.

I have a long internet friendship with Bonnie, 

from the beginning of her sharing and inspiring from her Quiltville website.

When I found her in the early years, I knew I found my quilting person.

When retreat plans were first discussed among friends for our area, 

I thought it would never happen.

When it did, I thought the day would never get here.

But it did and it was worth the 3+ year wait!

Thanks Robin and Sonya for making it happen.

And for making it happen at our favorite retreat spot, Royal Ridges.

For more pictures and happenings,

go to Bonnie's Blog.

I take a picture of this tree snag on the first day of each retreat I attend.

Day 1 was spent setting up and sewing on our own projects.

Bonnie and Mary hanging Midnight Flight 

which was our first class on day 2.

I have 1 block made and parts for many more.

Table demo.

I sat with Brandy and Trina.

They are awesome friends!

My face and stomach still hurt from laughing.

Day 3 was Garden Party class.

I am making a second quilt using green for my framed 9 patches.

Day 4 lecture.

OhMyGosh, if you have a chance to listen to this fabulous woman talk,

get yourself there any way you can.

After a wonderful lecture and show and share,

I have many squirrels to chase.

The new list is long.

Waiting for lunch to be ready on day 4.

What a wonderful gathering of women.

So many new friendships were made.

The love of quilting is our bond.

As I was leaving last night, 

the sun was setting.

The sky was a vivid orange.

I felt rejuvenated by my time here.

Design Wall Monday

There's no design wall happening here.

There is quilting and there is preparing for retreat.

Not just any retreat,

it's a retreat with Bonnie in 43 days!

Excited?

A little.

I thought it would be fun to finish off as many Bonnie quilts as I can.

I, of course, had big plans but you know what happens to plans.

I'll get done what I can.

No pressure!

I will have my class projects kitted up and ready.

This is Midnight Flight ready to go.

The only problem I have now is that my bin is too small.

There is an easy solution.

I have lots of bins.

See what others have happening at 

Patchwork Times Design Wall Monday.