LOST LOVE

I found love while searching for a tree. Sometimes this quilting thing scares me. I am continuing to search for an unfinished tree that is almost completed, but instead I found an almost completed quick exercise in improvisational piecing. So what I really have is unfinished love and a lost a tree. Had I been looking for love, it would have been in all the wrong places. My daughter would be rolling her eyes by now and I can hear the embarrassed "Oh Mom".

BAGGETTE

I just could not bring myself to work on unfinished work. So.....lets start something new!!! My goal was something I could finish today. I needed a little bag you can grab and go. The body is from a machine quilting practice sandwich made of linen with flannel for the batting. The lining is an old silk shirt. The pattern is called Sonoma Swing bag from Pink Sand Beach Designs. It measures 7 in x 9 in. Try it. You'll like it!( now that's an old slogan!).

Practice Makes Better

Just because your extention table did not arrive, it does't mean you can't quilt. You show them Marilyn!!

New MQ'S

Hard at work learning machine quilting are two of my Tues. class students, Maritza on the left and Lilly on the right, Sandy and Joyce in the background.

Close up of Sandy on left and Joyce on right. All 15 students worked diligently 3 full days and left more confident about machine quilting. We were also about 10 lbs. heavier as the TWW made sure we were never hungry.There was also a contest and raffles with great prizes. I had a fabulous weekend. Thanks to all who attended and the miraculous Two Wacky Women, Marilyn and Robin.

I'VE GOT PEOPLE!!!

The notebooks are finally finished! This was due to the help of my people the Gourmet Quilters. They pinned, cut, turned and kept me motivated. Each participant at the retreat will get one and while I might have repeated the fabric, all of the quilting pattern are different. One of my favorite sayings is "Everything takes longer than it takes". This is true even when you enjoy the process. I love machine quilting and I hope to have some converts after this weekend. I will let you know how it goes.

PREPARE TO QUILT I SAY!

I continue to prepare for my quilting retreat. Everyone gets a quilted notebook. The pattern is by Robin of www.twowackywomen . There are only 15 people so it gives me an opportunity to warm up and decide what to include pattern wise, plus they are all differrent so they will serve as design samples.

ROYAL CROSS

OK So I could not wait until tomorrow. I love this block. It is similar to Wheel of Mystery, but not as challenging. The photo looks much darker than the actual color, but this really is light for me. Guess what? I'm hooked!! Only 40 or so blocks to go.

LIGHTEN UP FRANCES!

I love med and darks with black and whites as a quilt reicipe. I love tragic novels. I watch movies that need a box of kleenex instead of the popcorn. Yet I am really a happy person, really I am. So I have been thinking of changeing my color palate to reflect a little lightness. Quilting Arts most recent magazine has an interesting article on this very subject. What convinced me to take action is a student of mine. Her name is Tina Kennedy and I often joke we were separated at birth. We are making a quilt in class using the Kings Cross block and Tina chose a light color palate. When I saw her blocks my heart went pitter/patter. So I finally purchased 18 quarters to get started. I hope to share blocks with you tomorrow.

JUST A LITTLE PURPLE PLEASE

I have a birthday coming up very soon, and while wearing purple may make a statement, I prefer the shoes do the talking. Dolls, quilts,dolls, quilts. I just don't have time for both, but when I do it is so much fun. Aunt Ophelia is wearing a piece of my wedding dress as a slip and the skirt is a lining fabric from a favorite dress. Her shawl is part of a sweatshirt that was a puff paint experiment. She is so full of memories.