September Quilt Update

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I have moved the previous posts to the end of the entry.  I hope that you make it that far.  As usual, I have a big trip this month as well as a retreat to host.  Goals have been reduced as a result.

Goals:

BOM blocks (3) complete -  yes

Bow-Dacious (BD)  area ripped out, quilted, labeled, binding on - working on it
Old Tobacco Road (OTR)  - Clues 4, 5 - no

Christmas blocks - worked on and borders finished
Block a Day continued (BAD) -
Collect Row by Row Patterns - yes -- it's over now.
ROL - Clues 1-5 have posted, my constant is caught up, still need to quilt my scrappy one
October Retreat Project, Gift, Pillow - yes

1st -  I am in Telluride!  The beauty is everywhere and I simply could not be more inspired to create.  No wonder so many artists live here.  I am home alone with everyone gone for the day between work and school.  It's incredibly quiet - so much so that when I talk to myself, it makes an echo.  Being without internet, phone, television, or radio makes one realize how much they impact our lives.  I am settling in on the sofa and have created a nest of papers around me.  I have a budget to do and also need to rework all the clues for ROL.  Yep, that's right.  It's a long story that will be shared next month.  Once I have my paperwork back in order, I take out the ironing board and press the Christmas fat quarters that I have brought along with doing the ironing for Amanda.  I feel good about today.  Doesn't budget work just suck?  BUT - it has to be done.

2nd - It's another gorgeous day in the mountains.  Once the house is empty, I go on a hunt.  I know Amanda has a cutting mat and rotary cutter (dang TSA in not letting me carry one on).  Once I have located those items, I set up a small station on the end of the table.  Look at what I can see out the window while working.  It's incredible.  I am at peace.  I spend the morning cutting flying geese from the Christmas fabric and then move on to ripping out the remaining blocks on my unstitch project.  Here's a glimpse of my pajama top.  Yep, literally covered in threads.

Row Robin Journey

At the end of June, in one of our monthly "Dallas Meet & Greet's", a friend asked if I would be interested in participating in a Round Robin quilt.  Since I had absolutely no idea what that was, I asked for details and then decided to give it a whirl.  As if I don't have enough on my plate this year as it is --- what is wrong with me?  Within a couple of weeks, the assignment groups were out and the first deadline of September 1st on the horizon.  I guess that meant I needed to get busy.  Somewhere along the way I get this bright idea to do TWO rows.  That way I can keep one for myself and attach a duplicate of whatever row I am working on at each stage to it as well.  I have now made double the work for myself.  Apparently I am just a glutton for punishment.  

First things first:  This is all in batik.  I have some bright batiks that I purchased for a Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt last January and since I bought quite a bit, I can use some of those along with some leftovers from my Lazy Sunday quilt.  However, I do not have many neutrals at all.  Again, what was I thinking?  I am preparing to leave town in a couple of days to visit my daughter for a week.  If I take this with me, perhaps I can get some work on it accomplished.  That means a quick trip to the local quilt shop and within half an hour I have a stack of neutral fat quarters to work with.  I have decided that the first block will be the kite block from "Virginia Bound" by Bonnie Hunter.  This gives me the chance to use up lots of bits a pieces and odd shaped leftover strips.  I quickly throw the new fabric and a ziploc bag of brights into my suitcase along with a cutting mat, ruler, and rotary cutter.  Time to fly.

7/21  I am at my daughter's home in Cheyenne, Wyoming and my time this week is being spent watching my gorgeous granddaughters while their mom works extra shifts during Cheyenne Days.  I am lucky to have this time with them and am also blessed by having another daughter and three grandsons living in this city as well.  Once my daughter goes to work for the evening, Miss Elena and I set up a little mini ironing/cutting station on the table and get to work.  Elena helps by sorting the strips by size as I need a bit of variety in my blocks to keep them interesting.  Soon, we have a beautiful stack of strips all cut and ready to use.  LOVE the colors.

Surfside Beach Quilt Retreat #1

It's here!  It's here!  The long awaited beach retreat is finally here.  Guess what?  I am so ready for this.  It's a BEACH people.  What could possibly be better than quilting and a beach combined?  I cannot come up with anything.

It's an early morning run to drop off Mister work and abandon him to find his way home.  Then back to the house, load the car and I'm on my way to the bank by 9:30.  Onto the interstate 15 minutes later.  Woohoo --- lookout Surfside, here I come and I'm bringing 15 others along.

I make it as far as Richland before hunger takes over and it's time for a stop.  Once my belly is happy, the road takes us as a companion again.  About the time I get to Huntsville, I am ready to stretch my legs again.  It just so happens that there is something here to see.  Perfect timing -- let's go for a short walk.

There is always time in my life to learn.  Especially about history.  I LOVE it.  Even though I have only lived in Texas for about 8 years now, I call it home and it is near and dear to my heart.  So, Sam Houston, I'm happy to finally meet you.  (He is 77 feet tall.  That's why the people look like toys.)

Ribbons of Love - Clue 5

The 5th Saturday!  Wow -- these are just flying by.  Are you caught up?  I hope so cos this is a fun week.  Shall we get started?  AS ALWAYS - PLEASE READ THROUGH THE ENTIRE CLUE BEFORE STARTING.  There are  3 units in this clue PLUS a surprise.

Have you figured out that we are perfecting nine patches?  Yep --- that is the root of this quilt.

Unit G - Make 16.  You will need 32 Green/Neutral/Blue "threesies" and 28 Neutral/Green/Neutral "threesies". 

Ribbons of Love - Clue 4

Is it Saturday already?  Wow, that week went fast.  Your posts this week were AWESOME!  I love seeing your units coming together.  Remember that the main part is to enjoy the process.  Go at the pace that makes you comfortable.

Shall we get started?  Working on this weeks clue was so exciting for me.  I hope you jump on that excitement wagon with me and roll along.  There are THREE units this week so make sure you have the entire post.  Here we go:

Unit E - Make 24  Unit E-1 Make 4 --  AS ALWAYS, read all the way through the clue before starting.

                                                           Unit E                                                                        Unit E-1
                                                         Make 24                                                                        Make 4

Lonestar Quilt Show - Sulphur Springs Road Trip

I have been looking forward to this quilt show for MONTHS!  I am not joking on that on.  My friend, Ms. Marti, is in charge and clear back in May she asked Ms. Allison to be the presenter.  At that time, I said I would be there and I'll be darned if anything is going to stop me.  Although --- the elements certainly tried.  After setting up get togethers for breakfast and perhaps lunch, my sweetie was driving home two days ago and the dang car went kaput.  Totally kaput.  Okay -- punt time.  A quick post for help and soon Ms. Lee Ann said she would come to my rescue.  Phew.  Crisis averted.

She is on time -- and yes, I am ready to go -- so we are quickly on the road and zooming down the interstate to Sulphur Springs.  Great conversation makes the trip fly by and I am surprised when we arrive at the exit for our breakfast gathering.  Oh -- and my tummy is very happy about it.  For a change, I'm actually hungry this morning.

Ms. Ana is there to greet us at the door and already has a table set up for us.  Yep -- cos that's the kind of super cool friends I have.  Within 15 minutes, Candy and Valerie have joined us and the chatting is well underway.  What a lovely time (yes, Valerie is here and I am already speaking "English") we all have but time, as always, passes so fast and we realize that we need to get going or risk missing the presentation.  That will not work at all.  Time to go.

Ribbons of Love - Clue 3

It's Saturday and you all know what that means.  It means that no one is sleeping in.  Everyone is sitting by their computers waiting for this to post.  No?  Well, a few perhaps.  Thanks goodness for automatic posts.  READ ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM BEFORE STARTING.

First up today:  Unit B  And guess what?  We only make 1.  BUT --- we make several of the "threesies" that are a part of it.

Ribbons of Love - Clue 2

Woohoo --- It's Clue 2 time.  Welcome back.  Ooooohhh, you are going to love this clue.  To me it just looks so calming and well, wonderful.  This week is a very easy clue since I am out of town and unable to answer questions.  Enjoy.

Combo Unit  - Make 52 - 4 Brick Combos  Are you ready?  Please READ ALL THE WAY through the clue before beginning.

FIND your option below:

True Scrappy:  Do you already have these?  If not, get your scraps out and cut, cut, cut.  You will 52 - 2" x 5" bricks of each color.

Scrappy:  You will need to determine how many to cut out of your total number of strips to get 52 - 2" x 5" bricks of each color.  Again, here is my example.  I have 13 greens.  That means I cut 4 from each of them.  Math, math, math.

You should have something pretty like this when you are finished.  PUT YOUR STACKS IN THIS ORDER!!