May Quilt Update

 Any links that you click in this post will open in a DIFFERENT window, allowing you to continue reading this without losing the page.

I have moved the previous posts to the end of the entry.  I hope that you make it that far.

Goals:   I am no longer even attempting to comment on those that were not touched.  They'll just stay on the list until they are achieved, even though life jumps in front of them now and then.

Easy Street (ES) - quilted, bound -
Old Tobacco Road (OTR)  - Clues 4, 5 - 

Allietare (A) - Clue 6 sewn, back, label, binding, quilted, bound -
Double Delight (DD) - quilted and bound -
Row Robin #2 - back, label, binding made, quilted and bound - label, binding, backing made
Round Robin (3) - mailed -
Round Robin (4) - finished and mailed -
Bargello - back, binding, label made, quilted and bound - label, backing, binding made
Roll Roll Cotton Boll - Clues 5-8 5 finished
Periwinkle quilt for Ophelia - Top, backing, binding, label made
New baby quilt - Top, backing, label, binding made
UFO -- all popups -  All four made
Beach bags - Seven made

1st -  Since it is the birthday season, Mister and I are starting the month out with a trip.  If you are at all interested in what we find around Texas, please check out this LINK.  One of the things I spot while at the River Bend Nature Center is this HUGE owl.  It's a chalkboard and Mister thinks I should get it for the November retreat.  Well, okay then.  I also spot this dang cute IRON salt/pepper/sugar set.
2nd - It's day two of both the month and my trip.  It is a fantastic day and you can follow us in this LINK.  By the way, that link will take you to several others which you really should check out.  Nocona is amazing and worth learning about.  I would really like to get a road trip together with my gal pals to do a revisit.

Roll Roll Cotton Boll - Clue 6 - Bonnie Hunter - Mystery Quilt

The weeks for this mystery are simply flying by.  I'm doing my best to stay caught up, but fell a few days behind this time.  Perseverance is the name of the game, though, and today my clue 6 units are finished.  Yes, I'm patting myself on the back.  Somebody should, right?

This week our task was to make 5-packs from the bazillion half-square triangles of last week AND attach triangles to the threesies that we made in the very first clue.  Imagine my excitement when I go to the project box and discover that oh so long ago, I had actually cut the brown squares I would need for the triangles.  Oh yeah.  I am indeed ready for a happy dance.

Out comes my Easy Angle Ruler and just like that --- I have hundreds of little brown triangles.  I think I'll do the 5-packs first and then come back to play with these.

Chasing the Sun - Introduction

This is so exciting!  Where has this past year gone?  I cannot believe it is time to release my second mystery quilt.  I'm so excited that you are choosing to take this journey with me and have some fun along the way.  If you are new to mysteries, please give this a shot.  I PROMISE it will not be difficult and that we will have fun together throughout the process.

We have formed a Facebook group for those doing this mystery.  Please join in and share your progress.  Here is the link to the group:  Chasing the Sun Quilt Mystery

Last year Ribbons of Love produced so many absolutely beautiful quilts and I feel fortunate that about 200 people made my quilt.  What a great beginning as a designer and I have had the honor of either signing or being photographed with many of them.  I could not be more honored or humbled by your willingness to make this journey with me.

 Are you ready?  I know I am.  I could not be more in love with this pattern if I tried and the colors . . . . oh the wonder of these colors.  Rich, rich, rich.  Let's get started.

Chasing the Sun Summary

Welcome to my second mystery!!!!  I could not be more excited.  I hope you have a great time with it and please, please, please share what you have done.  I can't wait to see.  The first clue goes live August 27, 2016.

We have started a Facebook group for those who are doing this mystery.  Please join us and share your progress.  Here is the link to the group:  Chasing the Sun Quilt Mystery


I am gathering all of my mystery posts and placing them here so that you can link up and find what you want easily.  They will each open in a new page, leaving you access to this post.  You can always find this page by clicking on the tab at the top of the blog.  Please become a follower and you will always know when the new post is up.  Welcome to you all and comments are always appreciated.

CLICK ON THE POST LINK BELOW TO GET TO THE CLUES!!!!

Post 1: Introduction
Post 2: Clue 1 - Cutting and Units A, B, C
Post 3: Clue 2 - Unit D and some add-ons
Post 4: Clue 3 - Units E, F, G and some add-ons
Post 5 - Clue 4 - Unit H and some add-ons
Post 6 - Clue 5 Add-ons Galore
Post 7 - Clue 6 Finishing Blocks B and C
Post 8 - Big Blocks
Post 9 - REVEAL

A Vintage Night at the Auction

Oooh, oooh, oooh.  There are vintage lovelies at the auction tonight so we are off to give ourselves some wonderful eye candy.  Will something come home with us?  One never knows.

Quilts -  A couple were really old and hand stitched.  Those went for more than I was willing to pay, alas.

Brazos House - Spring Retreat 2016

What a beautiful day to start another retreat.  Before all the hoopla starts, I believe a walk is in order.  I need to connect with the land for a wee bit and ground myself.  Gain perspective.  Realize just how wonderful this place is to my soul while I am outside as well as inside.

Storms are heading our way and the plants are letting me know that.  Look how the sage is in bloom.

My Needle Book

At the retreat last February, Jennifer Marshall brought supplies for people to make needle books.  (If you wish to check out the ones that were made then, please click on this LINK.)  Well, this time I AM going to get one made.

There is a caveat though --- I NEED to be creative and stretch myself a wee bit.  Let's see where it takes me.  I had picked up a cute bunch of brown shaded, sewing themed fat quarters awhile ago.  I think this may be the perfect place to use them.

Starting with an idea that I would like the front embroidered, I search the room to see whether anyone brought their machines this time.  Ugh.  No such luck.  I guess I'll have to do it freehand.  Now, where to find the thread to use.  Oh wait, Debi has the bag of goodies for the November retreat with her and I KNOW there is some brown pearl cotton in there.  Perfect.  Now I'm cranking.  Tammy goes into town so I have her get some more buttons for me just in case.  The outside of the book (front and back) takes absolutely forever to the point that I pretty much just throw the inside together so that I can call it done.  Yes, it is even quilted.  I do love it though.  Now to fill it with needles and "stuff".

My favorite part?  The zipper that lined up perfect down the spine and around the edges.  Yay me.

Brazos House -- In Between Days with Val (And Ana and Stephanie)

Val and I have 2 solid days alone and then will be joined by a Ana on day 3.  Day four retreat starts up again with another fun group of ladies.  (Julie Keller Edwards - this is NOT a post you should read.)

Most of day one is spent with Val working on her Friendship quilt

Roll Roll Cotton Boll - Clue 5 - Bonnie Hunter - Mystery Quilt

I am at retreat and almost forgot to post this week's clue.  Are you ready to make about a bazillion hst's?  Well that and a few precut squares is on the agenda this week.

First up -- match up those neutral/red strips.  (I am replacing red with teal).  Cut, cut, cut with your easy angle ruler until you reach the goal.  Oh my. I went through a LOT of strips and my bucket for this size neutrals is dang empty.  Wow.

Next -- you guessed it.  All of those darling pair need to be sewn.  Here we go.  It makes quite a mountain.

Brazos House Retreat - Mother's Day 2016

Is it really May finally?  I feel like we have been waiting for retreat FOREVER, when in reality it has only been a couple of months.  I'm smack dab in the middle of birthday season and ready for time with my quilty friends.  Since I am at retreat for 10 days this time, Mister drops me off around 7:30 a.m. and I have time to walk around a bit before heading inside to set up.  I know I will be on my own for about 2 1/2 hours, allowing me to take my time a bit.  Back in March, people beat me to the center and then the race was certainly on.  Ahh --- it feels so good to be back here again.

Seat Belt Shoulder Strap Cushions

While at retreat this week, Sherry Denton brought ready made kits for everyone to make one of these seat belt shoulder strap cushions.  I could not be more thrilled since I constantly complain about how the belt cuts into my arm.  I spend so much time moving it about.

This is a wonder item, thus I am inclined to share with ya'll.  The free pattern is found on therm-o-web's website and you can access it HERE if you wish.

Start with two pieces of fabric (can be the same or contrasting) that are 6 1/2" x 8".  With a 6 1/4" x 7 1/2" piece of fusible fleece, line it up on the wrong side of ONE of the fabric pieces so that approximately a 1/2" gap is left on one end of the fabric.  Fuse with an iron.

Pop-up Bag Tutorial Missing Some Pictures

At retreat I am teaching these fat quarter pop-up bags from Fat Quarter Gypsy so I thought I would keep track of what I was doing and share it with you here.  You need to purchase one of their kits/patterns in order to make these.

Step one:  Using the circle pattern that comes with the pop-up, draw two circles on the top edge on the narrow side of the fat quarter.  (White lines are there - look close)

Antiquing and Quilt Shop Fun in Texas

Mister took me up to Wichita Falls for the weekend and we are having such a good time.  Today, on the way back, a few stops along the way contain the type of fun stuff ya'll might enjoy.

First up:  Aunt Pam's Closet in Henrietta, TX.  We were simply driving down the street in front of it and my eagle eye spotted "Longarm Machine Quilting" in the window.  Must stop!  Mister obediently pulls the car over instantly and in we go.

Nokona Baseball Gloves and Fenoglio Boots

I saw some information on Nokona, a company that makes baseball gloves by hand, a few weeks ago and mentioned to Mister that it would be fun to check it out.  The information said that they give tours on Mondays and Fridays so we would need to plan.  My sweet man took that to heart and planned a little birthday weekend adventure to let me peek in on this company and whatever else we can find along the way.

I thought I would share this part of the trip with ya'll since it truly does have to do with sewing and vintage machines.  We stop in Nocona, TX and find the place right away.  We only have a few minutes before the tour starts, allowing us to watch videos and check out the displays to gather more information.


They used to make all kinds of athletic gear and even some shoes, but mostly do the baseball gloves and a few footballs now.  They also contract out with other companies to make various objects.

There is a little shop out front that shows different gloves for sale and they come in ALL sizes.  Check out this small one.