Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Wonderful Wednesday - Unskilled Quilt Guild Getaway


!!!!!!WARNING:  PHOTO HEAVY POST!!!!!!

Welcome to this week's Wonderful Wednesday post!!  A member of my local Quilt Bee belongs to another bee.  That Bee was buzzing to have a quilt retreat.  The week-long event took place during the last week of September.  It was a Create-Your-Own-Retreat affair.  Some people went for an entire week, one went for most of the week, two more went for a late-week adventure, and two others (myself included) attended for the weekend only.


Our arrival found THIS beautiful quilt top in the works:



Hot cocoa with "a little something" was on order after a harrowing car trip with TONS of traffic and some crazy drivers:


We awoke to this spectacular view:



It's SEW peaceful here:



It was a bit too cool for breakfast on the screened-in porch:


The temperature warmed up as the day went on:




Sewing was the order of the day:


Our hostess showed off the projects she's been working on:


I enjoyed a room with a view...


... But took my time setting up my sewing station:


The "sewing room" had a spectacular view, too:


Nancy showed off the quilt that she brought.  She is working on sewing down the binding:


I found the scenery to be quite a distraction:


I haven't even set up my sewing station and I'm already ready for a break!!  Lucky for me the lower porch is equipped with THIS:


Looking for ORANGE leaves:


Found some on the way down to the dock:


These stairs lead up to the cabin from the lake:


The dock makes the water look so inviting:


Of course, I had to take...


... A photo...


... From every direction:


Hello, quilters!  Wish YOU were here:


The stairs were easy coming down, but look rather steep on the return trip to the cabin:


Maybe I'll just wander around down here by the lake:



Oh, all right!!  One last picture:


Look!!  They came out to see if I fell in the lake:


Work was underway when I returned to the sewing room:


These Moda Cake Mix Recipes from Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. were door prizes from the Asheville Quilt Show.  Members of the Unskilled Quilt Guild took in the show (approx. 45 minutes away) before we arrived at the retreat house:


Britt got busy while I was out taking photographs:


I finally got set up for sewing.  Crumbs, anyone:


Nancy's (?) beautiful wall hanging...


... And her much-avoided One Block Wonder:


These might look familiar to my Rainbow Scrap Challenge friends:


See?!?!  I was sewing:


But... I got distracted as the sun rose higher over the lake:



Margaret is contemplating borders:


The colors are more accurate in the photo below:


Borders.  Going on this Linked Up quilt from MSQC:


What on earth is THIS???


After putting dinner on to bake, we all went out for an explore:



Mountain Laurel. Twenty feet tall... or more:







Wait for me!!  I'm trying to take a picture:


Here is the longest view of the lake:



Time for a late afternoon / early evening selfie:


An ever-changing look at the water, as we continue around:





You've got to love a lake that you can see clear to the bottom:


Not a worry in the world, as we sit on the community dock:




SEW relaxing:



Time to head back so our dinner doesn't burn:


What's under the dock?

I wouldn't mind wading here, if it were a little warmer:


Last look at the community boat launch:


A fern bank on the way back to the cabin:




Just LOOK at these reflections:




The skies are darkening and the moon is up:



Who knew you could pack SEW much into ONE day?!?!?  But wait, there's more!


After dinner, it was time to turn our attention back to sewing:



Scrappy bits!  Guess who made this:



ORANGE Scrap Jar Star in progress:


Borders are going on this Sampler Quilt:


Well, that's one way to use a border print:



After much debate, the pumpkin won out for the inner border:



Another Scrap Jar Star in the works:



Go, Britt, go!!  TWO borders remaining:



Margaret give the inner border a final press:



Next...



Almost there:



Voila`!!



Hold it up for a better picture:



One happy quilter...



... On to the NEXT project:


Look familiar, Ruth S???




Components complete for block number two:



Margaret got her inner border attached:


Give us a better look, please:



Good morning!  Let's get busy.  Next up?  Outer borders:



Hmm... How is this layout looking:



What's this?!  Garment sewing:



Linked Up is complete:



What a great pattern:



Let's see the project that didn't get touched:


Great fabric choice.  Pretty pattern:



It's almost a skirt.  Only the waistband remains:



Even the hem is done:



We couldn't resist stopping to take in the views from the scenic overlook on the way down the mountain:




Color me a happy quilter!!




Connestee Falls, Western North Carolina's Premiere Mountain Golf Community

 No one told me that I was only minutes away from THIS.

Waaaaahhhh!!!  I absolutely LOVE waterfalls!!!

Until next time...
Adventure awaits!!!

Monday, October 9, 2017

Mail Call Monday #QuiltsForVegas

#QuiltsForVegas

Welcome to this edition of Mail Call Monday!  It's not the normal variety of mail.  No fabric or goodies.  There wasn't even mail delivery in the US today!  This post is about Email circulating through my Quilt Bee.

By now, YOU have probably heard the terrible news.  On Sunday, October 1, 2017, a gunman shot and killed 58 people and injured nearly 500 other concert goers outside the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.  The shooting is said to be the deadliest in modern American history. Investigations are still underway to uncover the reasons behind this senseless crime.

The Las Vegas Modern Quilt Guild has issued a call for quilts:

We have been struggling to put together words for what has happened in Las Vegas and have decided to put together quilts!



There have been a ton of people reaching out asking how they can help so we have put together a quilt drive for #quiltsforvegas.  We are requesting completed quilts, quilt tops, blocks, binding, backing, batting and monetary donations (or anything else you can think of!) to our efforts.  Monetary donations will cover shipping, fabric, thread and other quilt costs; any leftover donations will be donated to the GoFundMe that has already been set up.

Here is the notice that I sent out to my quilt bee:

Hello, Nimble Thimbles quilt family!

We did it for Orlando. Shall we quilt for Vegas, too?

I saw it HERE:

The details can be found at MQG Vegas:

They are asking for Grayscale blocks from Cluck Cluck Sew in happy colors with white done in any arrangement:

They request that ONE Heart block (like we made for Pulse) be added somewhere on the quilt using the 10” size.

I’m going to invite the NT Nights group and CCLQ members to participate, as well. The DEADLINE for block contributions needs to be the Tuesday, October 24th NT Nights meeting at the Hillsborough Library, 6:30 - 8:00 PM. That will give a couple weeks for finishing before the mailing deadline. SOONER is even BETTER!!

Who’s on board? We will need block makers, quilt assemblers, quilters, binders, and labelers. Please consider what YOU can do to help.

Thanks!
Joy

I am pleased to report that the responses started rolling in within minutes.  Bee mates are volunteering to make blocks, assemble, and bind quilts.  Since our group is made of three parts, I hope to send three quilts to comfort victims, first responders to, and others affected by this terrible event.

Until next time...
What can YOU do to help???

Saturday, October 7, 2017

ScrapHappy Saturday - RSC17 - Week 40

Welcome to Week 40 of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge!!  This is my weekly update for my scrappy sewing.

SUNDAY - I returned from the back of beyond.  Internet restored.  I was so tired that I missed slipping in the promised Scrap Jar Stars for your ORANGE viewing pleasure.  Sorry!!  Here's the view from the scenic overlook on the way to the gate house coming down the mountain from the cabin:



Meanwhile, Angela posted October's official Color of the Month announcement... even though she kind of, sort of let the cat out of the bag several weeks ago, if you know where to look.  In case you were not aware... it's time to break out those PINK scraps:


MONDAY - Knit Group was followed by quilting with Needleb.  Here are my ORANGE Scrap Jar Star blocks that didn't get posted over the weekend...



... Along with SIX (6) scrappy Crumb blocks:




Can you spot the PINK bits???

After dinner, I released the Summer 2017 (Ravelry) UFO Club - The Results post.  THIS will give you an idea of how everyone did with finishing their projects.

TUESDAY - The morning was mine, but the afternoon was spent helping a friend.  In the evening hours, I completed my Fall 2017 - (Ravelry) UFO Club - The List post.  You can see it HERE.

WEDNESDAY - No time for quilting today.  :o((

I did release my Wonderful Wednesday - The Winning Edition post for this week, though.  YOU can follow this LINK, if you are interested in reading it.

THURSDAY - Weekly Quilt Group met this morning.  After lunch several of us went to Durham to see Ruth B's new house.  It's AWESOME (and I can see many Sew Days once the rest of the boxes have been emptied!!)

When I got home, I worked on The Great Scraps Trade-A-Thon Swap the Quilting Knitters group on Ravelry and then sorted my PINK squares for the Alternate Blocks of my RSC15:


FRIDAY - Coffee Club... otherwise know as knitting... Again!!

During the afternoon, I did some catch-up work in orange:



I cut a range of shades for the Alternate Blocks for my RSC15 quilt.  Not sure WHERE the notion of only needing FOUR orange squares came from!!  Silly, Joyful!!  LOL

While waiting for DH to get home for dinner, I got a start on my Scrap Jar Stars in PINK:



No.  I didn't sew, but cutting is the first step to making blocks!!  :P

SATURDAY has rolled around, again.  It's difficult to fathom how quickly that happens.  I joined Angela's LINK PARTY for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  Come with me to see what PINK wonders await.

Until next time...
Get Scrappy!!!

Wednesday, October 4, 2017

Wonderful Wednesday - The Winning Edition

Welcome to another edition of Wonderful Wednesday!!  This post is all about the Raffle Basket that I won at the Piedmont Quilter's Guild Show in late August.  It ended up taking me THREE WEEKS to get around to picking it up!!  Then it took another three weeks to force myself to take things out of the basket for a closer look.  (It looked SEW pretty sitting on the coffee table!)

Would YOU like to see the contents???

Of course, Joyful!!!

OK.  First, here's a reminder of what the basket looked like when I picked it up in Greensboro two weeks ago:



Next, I really want to thank Studio Stitch for being SEW patient!!



Finally, let's see what's in beautiful Autumn basket!!!

1 seasonal mug rug
1 pattern booklet
1 "quilted" pumpkin decoration

and...

20 pieces of fabric in various shades of Autumn

Including:
2 half-yard cuts
18 FQs 


All housed in a reusable basket.  :o))

Nice job, basket maker!!  Many thanks.



Not too bad for a dollar!!!

Until next time...
I'll be in the studio!!!

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Fall 2017 (Ravelry) UFO Club - The List

Sign-ups are now OPEN for the Fall 2017 session of the (Ravelry) UFO Club. ALL Club Members should post their 5 (or more) quilting UFOs in the discussion thread or link to your blog by Saturday, October 7, 2017. Any qualifying finishes must be completed by midnight (EST) on December 31, 2017.

My list is as follows:

1. A6 Mystery by AlyciaQuilts:



2. Bargello Wall Hanging:



3. Grand Illusion Mystery Quilt (2014):



4. The Margaret Mystery:



5. Art Bee Slice Swap:



6. Like Deborah (Boschart) Only Not:



7. Dr. Pete's Wedding Quilt:



8. June Quilt QAL by Crazy Mom Quilts:



9.  Circle of Friends:




10. Rainbow Picnic by Stitched in Color:



11. Dad's Ties for Molly:



12. Blue/Green Quilt:


The goal of The Club is for participants to complete ONE of their projects during the 4th quarter of 2017.  Anything beyond that is icing on the cake!

Until next time...
Wish me luck!!!

Monday, October 2, 2017

Summer 2017 (Ravelry) UFO Club - The Results

The Summer 2017 session of the UFO Club is CLOSED. ALL Club Members were required to post their 5 (or more) Quilting UFOs in order to participate.  Any qualifying finishes must have been completed by midnight (EDT) on September 30, 2017.


Membership (24):
SEND (2):
doris7264: 7 completed projects
dulcetspins: 1 completed project
NO SEND (22):
sockjeannieous
basketcase9702: 2 completed projects
GBKDalton: 3 completed projects
dzirin: 4 completed projects
purplejen: 1 completed project
stitchnknitter: 1 completed project
Innerpeace1081: 5 completed projects
bowie: 1 completed project
Kat872: 3 completed projects
graylagran: 2 completed projects
threadbndr
siberspinner
sheepless
needleb: 1 completed project
knittingsuek
jrnylst: 6 completed projects
monicarose51
Yarnosophy: 1 completed project
aerieiris
knittingsuek
gathersnomoss: 6 completed projects
debwp: 1 completed project
Session Totals: 16 quilters completed 45 projects. Congrats! to Jrnylst on her 5th and 6th finish, to Kat872 on her 1st, 2nd. AND 3rd finish in the final days of the quarter.  Congrats also to Innerpeace1081 on her 3rd, 4th, and 5th finish of the session, the final entries, earning her the title of Queen of the Last Minute for this quarter!! :o))
It was a wonderful quarter.  Congratulations to all of the finishers, as well as members who made progress on any UFO over the Summer. If YOU have projects lingering, please don’t hesitate to come back for another round of finishing fun! Here is the LINK to sign-ups for the Fall 2017 (Ravelry) UFO Club.  Sign-ups will be OPEN through Saturday, October 7th, 2017.

Until next time...
Happy Finishing!!