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

I had my list of projects to work on at retreat.

First on the list was to put the binding on this quilt.

I'll hand stitch it down this week while watching tv at night.

Next up was to finish up the doll clothes.

I had the pants finished and made this shirt.

I'll make the remaining shirts at home and mail them to my friend this week.

My machine doesn't like to sew skinny knit seams.

But she does great paper piecing which was my next project

 and what I worked on the rest of the weekend.

I ended the weekend with 20 completed Virginia Bound quarters and

18 more with the centers sewn.

Mindless string sewing is a great retreat project.

When I got home from retreat, 

my energy level was low but my mind wouldn't shut off.

I decided to create a temporary design wall to work on this baby quilt.

It wasn't as easy as it was in my mind but I got it done.

Now I'll make progress on the baby quilt.

 Monday morning edit:
Blocks fell off into a pile on the floor.

I'll continue to use my bed as a design wall until I purchase some foam insulation.

BooHoo.

As I do with each retreat, 

I stopped to take a picture of the tree snag.

The fall colors were stunning.

The weather was clear and cold and beautiful!

My project list is long but my energy level is high!

We had a great time with friends old and new.

I especially love when I can retreat with one of my daughters.

Check out other Design Walls at Small Quilt and Doll Quilts. 

Design Wall Monday

It was retreat weekend.

We had so much fun.

I had my projects and of the 5 I had planned,

4 were completed.

Project 1 was to make an apron for Granddaughter Stellie.

I've put this off way too long! 

#2 on the list was to make these heart blocks for a special project.

So cute!!

#3 was to frame these pinwheel blocks for a special baby quilt.

I have saved these pinwheels and was thrilled when I came across them and 

a baby quilt design popped in my head. 

Project 4 was was to work on this cute wall hanging.

I'm making it for Clella.

I'm going to put some of my Gramma's buttons on it for the centers of the flowers.

How fun to have something made by your Gramma that contains something from her Gramma!

We retreat at Royal Ridges.

I've been retreating here for 20 years. 

There were 6 horses up on the hill above the sewing room.

Every retreat I take a picture of this snag. 

It's fun to use it as a landmark. 

I'll be going back there in a few weeks,

I'm hoping the fall leaves are still there. 

See all the fabulous design walls this weeks at

Small Quilts and Doll Quilts Design Wall Monday.

Enjoy your week!

I like Thursdays #6

This week's I Like Thursday will be about my favorite retreat place.

It's close to my home. 

I've been coming here for retreats for 20 years.

I take a picture of this snag (dead tree) every visit.

One day it will be on the ground.

I will be sad.

There is always a welcome sign.

I love these Turkens!

I need to add these to my flock. 

I discovered this almond butter.

I will be buying lots of this.

My dear friend and table mate, Marian. 

I sat staring at the snack table but did not indulge except the almond butter and veggies.

That was the toughest part of the whole retreat!!!

Friendship at meals.

I absolutely love these ladies and our time together!

The chaos that is the sewing room.

With 24 quilters, there is a lot of stuff!

But oh my, the inspiration is fabulous.

The walk up from the kitchen and cabins to the sewing room.

I love all the rail fences.

I love quilts on rail fences.

I love On Ringo Lake by the old steel wagon wheels.

See the cabin in the background.

I just love Royal Ridges Retreat!

I love that I have such a history at this place.

When I was a child, the owners of this property would take us to church 

and about once a month, we would come to their home for Sunday dinner.

The adults would adult and the kids would explore this great farm.

When the owners were elderly, they donated a huge section for a church retreat for children.

It became a huge success.

It's fun to see the buses full of retreaters in the summertime.

I know where they are headed and that they are going to have a blast.

See other I Like Thursday posts linked to 

Not Afraid of Color.

Design Wall Monday

This past weekend was our annual Spring Retreat.

My projects were all UFOs.

I had 6 blocks for Reach for the Stars all kitted up and ready to sew.

I made 2 full blocks and for 2 more blocks, I just needed to add the last piece on 16 papers.

I couldn't do it, 

I was just too tired to focus so I came home.

Right after breakfast on Friday,

these 2 were finished.

They don't look like the same size but they are.

Here is a horrible picture of all 6 of my blocks.

Next I got busy building the last of my house blocks for Moda Be My Neighbor.

The bee hives (that's what I call them to honor of our bees) were already sewn.

I took all my rows apart and added sashing between them.

The owner of the quilt I had seen the blocks set that way was there.

She said she was flattered at how much I loved her quilt. 

I love the trees in this quilt.

They were so much fun!

The wonkyness of the purple plaid makes me giggle.

And it wouldn't be fun and games if there weren't some whoopsies. 

First those darn chevron!

They were mocking me in every way!

I told myself to be careful because 3 went one way and 3 the other.

Yacking and laughing and carrying on makes a person not pay attention.

I started on the last block and got to a point and darn! 

Where are my other pieces???

So I when I came home that night, 

I recut the 3 chevrons and the extra red pieces.

Before leaving yesterday,

I sewed my chevrons, and when I went to sew them to the house,

Well, you can see what I did!

Time to pack up and come home.

I had to lay finished On Ringo Lake over the fence for a quick photo shoot.

I love how it turned out!

Before leaving for retreat, I started quilting the baby quilt.

I can't wait to get in there and get back to work on it.

We play the greedy gift game.

I made this tote bag for my gift.

As I was making it, I pulled fabrics for 2 more.

One for myself and one for a gift.

The pattern is Fiji from Pink Sand Beach Designs.

They have such cute, cute patterns!!

Of course there was lots lots of new quilting ideas.

I had to rush to the computer one night and order a pattern pattern because I loved it so much!

It was a wild, wild, productive week

and I had a blast every single day!

I'm really glad I went.

I really missed being with my favorite retreat partner.

Can't wait until fall for the next one!

Check out all the fabulousness that is happening in Blogland at

Small Quilts and Doll Quilts Design Wall Monday.

Be sure to drool Judy's new adorable puppy!!! 

Design Wall Monday and Retreat Report

Last week was my final retreat for the year. 

I had plans, lots of plans.

I worked and worked, chatted and laughed!

My first project was to make this table runner for my friend for Christmas.

I just need to add the buttons to the intersections.

Ramona showed it last week on this blog post and I knew it would be the perfect gift.

Then she sent me the link for the tutorial.

Thanks Ramona!

Next I worked on bow tie blocks for another table mat.

Insert my sad face here when I did bring enough of my background to finish the blocks.

And then I cut for another table runner and the fat quarter I wanted to use was all cockeyed crocked!

It was so bad! 3" bad!

I have the charm squares cut and ready to go so I'll find something else that will work with it.

It wouldn't be a retreat without a Whoopsie or 2.

Next project--UFO #8 for August from Patchwork Times UFO Challenge.

20 Garlic Knot blocks were from a block swap and I made 28 more.

We layed them out and arranged them and pinned into rows at Binding Friends last week.

The sewing went pretty fast.

(After I made the last 3 blocks that I needed.)

Next up will be to quilt it and bind it with a scrappy batik binding.

Then I pulled out my Garden Party #2 Blocks and worked on them the rest of retreat.

I am almost finished with them.

Retreat started Thursday for me so I spent lots of time quilting the secret project before I left. 

I'm almost ready for binding and gifting and sharing.

Here is my favorite snag on the road into retreat.

The rains and winds knocked all the pretty orange leaves off the trees.

I take a picture of this at every retreat. 

I love this old snag!

Check out all the great design walls at

Small Quilts and Doll Quilts Design Wall Monday.

Design Wall Monday

It's been over a year since I worked on my tumbler top. This month Judy L at Patchwork Times chose #6 for the 2017 UFO Challenge and guess what was my #6, that's right the Quiltville leader/ender project for 2013-14. I pulled out the bin and promptly ignored it! Again!!  I haven't been too good about keeping up with this challenge. I need to go back and see where I am and make these a priority because UFO Busting is my challenge for this year!

I just went back and looked at the numbers list and will pull out the August and September projects to have ready to assemble next.

When I got to a stopping/I need batting point in my top secret birthday project, I wasn't ready to stop sewing. So I opened the tumbler bin and took inventory. Meaning I layed the top out on my bed to see where I was. I had a bunch of parts and pieces of rows and a bunch of rows sewed together. I wasn't as far along as I thought I was.  I sewed a few more rows and added them to the top, layed it out again and see I still need at least 3 more rows of neutral/color and 2 border rows of just color.

This means I need to cut more tumblers! So today I will count so I don't go super crazy with the Go cutter.  Will it be done by the end of the month? No, but it is now the main project at my machine...after the quilting of the secret project because I bought batting and the quilt is basted, bobbins wound, machine cleaned, thread is threaded and I'm ready to quilt. 😉 Binding is made and pressed ready to sew on. I'm hoping I can get this finished by Wednesday. Wish me luck.

I have another retreat this week. I have more secret projects to work on there-I need to prioritize my list! (Hubby fixed my machine rolling cart.....the wheel lost it's lock washer thingie so he went to the hardware store and bought more....$4 for a baggie of thingies vs $80 for a new cart.  He's a good guy!) My machine is cleaned and oiled with a new needle ready to go to work! I'm excited to just sew and sew and sew!

Have a good week everyone......I'll be back soon. Or Monday, whichever comes first.

Check out all the great posts that link to Small Quilts and Doll Quilts Design Wall Monday!

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

It's time to work on Garden Party #2.

This is from our retreat in May with Bonnie Hunter.

I haven't opened the box since May 22. 

After finishing Midnight Flight, 

I decided this is my next get it done project.

I have all the flowers kitted up ready to sew.

I decided to do the 9 patch chain blocks first.

Since I'm changing from Bonnie's original setting,

I need more blocks.

No problem, these are so fun to make.

I have my bins of parts to pull from

and everything else is already cut and ready to sew.

I have a retreat coming up pretty soon.

When your granddaughter sends you a picture of a quilt from a store

and she loves the colors and wants one kind of like that for her 18th (gasp) birthday,

you get busy.

I'll be making Quiltville's Scrappy Trips.

Found in her free patterns section.

I have a big bin of black and white strips but no aqua.

I ordered a strip set from my friend Judy at SewFunQuilts on Etsy.

Miss 18 is going to love this. 

Yesterday I sat down with my strips and made up block kits.

Each set is stacked in the order I want them sewn together.

Oh yes, I have a retreat plan.

Scrappy Trips first, then work on Garden Party flower blocks.

I think this will be enough to keep me busy for the whole retreat.

That's my plan today. 😉

Check out all the fabulous Design Wall Monday posts at

Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.