Flying Geese!!!!!

Step Four of Easy Street involved sewing MORE flying geese.  Oh what fun!  But these geese are a different color.  Back to my list and checking it twice, so I don't sew with the wrong fabrics.  Had my fabrics cut out just in time to sew the blocks during Bonnie's Quiltcam.

I decided to adjust my sewing a bit so I knew the wings would be enough.  By having the edges of the red wings off a bit, their portion of the seam allowance less than 1/4", I knew I would be safe with these geese.  I stitched using the yellow as the guide.   What resulted were geese with wings a bit too large, but since I always square up my blocks, that was fine with me.

What wonderful red and yellow blocks.  I thought I was done with Step Four, until I remembered.  These geese need to partner up with the other geese made in Step Two.

So back to the machine I went, and joined the geese.  Now they were happily done. 

The final icing on the cake was to cut up my navy stash into squares.  Glad to finally be cutting into it.  Can't wait to see what the setting will be!

Winter Wonderland

Winter finally arrived in Minnesota today.  We received at least a foot of snow.  Beautiful outside.  Perfect day to stay inside, decorate the Christmas tree, and set up my quilt shop snow houses. 

A day of Easy Street

Friday morning, Step Three of Easy Street was waiting for me when I checked in at 6:30am.  So I quickly printed the directions.  Only issue was that I am using different colors than Bonnie's example.  Where was my fabric requirement page that had my colors listed???  Did I leave it at quilt camp last weekend?  After a quick search, the pages were found.  

I am a substitute teacher, and was working in the high school art department on Friday.  Two of the classes were working independently, and I knew from past experience that I should bring something to do.  Art class?  Of course it was the perfect time to cut out my fabrics.  

This Friday night was also sewing night at the LQS.  We get together from 6pm until midnight once a month.  Sew, chat, and snack.  Always a great time.  I was able to finish the blocks for Step Three.  This went WAY too fast.  Did I do something wrong?  Nope.  Ready for next Friday's next step. 

Easy Street Step Two

Bonnie posts instructions for her mystery quilt every Friday morning.  Luckily they were available online in time for me to print off Step Two prior to heading north for a quilt retreat.  All flying geese are done and ready for Step Three!  Check out Quiltville.com. 

Easy Street Step One

Anyone else doing Bonnie Hunter's latest mystery quilt, Easy Street?  Check it out at Quiltville.com.  It will be exciting to see how everyone adds their own personal twist to the mystery.  Here is my step one.

Shipshewana

Every year, we yearn to hear the sound of the horses as they travel down the local roads.  And every year we find something unique.  We have always seen laundry hung, even in the bitter cold, but this was an amazing line.  

At night, we are usually on the road to one of the local restaurants to enjoy another chicken dinner.  This particular night the sky was a red glow.  Perfect sunset after a busy day of sewing.

Our sewing room was always a buzz with creativity.  This fall the room was full of both old and new friends.  It was wonderful to reconnect and see everyone in person again. 

Luckily the weather cooperated when we ventured outside.  Happy to have a car and just watch the buggies and bicycles as we drove by them.

Show and tell on Friday night brought out several Dear Jane quilts including Claire's and Pat's.  Such creative quilters!

Shopping was not at the top of my list this year.  I am to the point where little fabric should be purchased unless there is a specific project. Tracy and I had planned to keep that promise.  After I found a few pieces for a gift quilt, she took the plunge and found fabrics for Bonnie's latest mystery, Easy Street.  Neither one of us had enough will power to go home without a little bit of Shipshewana.

With less time spent shopping I made progress on my daughter's quilt, along with taking on Rosemary's jelly roll challenge.  It was a wonderful retreat, and I look forward to next Spring.

Shipshewana Fall 2012

I have been visiting Shipshewana Indiana for nearly thirteen years to attend the Dear Jane Quilt Retreat. It was amazing to see the creativity that comes from a group of quilters connected through a CW quilt.  This Fall's retreat had Rosemary challenging us to complete a Jelly Roll Race quilt top. Fun time!

Besides Rosemary's challenge, I worked on a long overdue wedding quilt.  Progress made, but not finished.  I am making a king size version of Celestial Puzzle by Glad Creations.  See the photo below.  Center is completely done, along with one of the borders.  Way too big to show in photo here.  Planning to work on it at another retreat in a few weeks.

The food was wonderful.  And I always come home with donuts from Rise 'n Roll for the family, along with staples from E & S sales.  Of course our trip was not complete without visiting Rebecca's store, or the local quilt shops.  We need several weeks to do everything planned. Someday?

Easy Street Fabrics

Welcome to Easy Street.  Bonnie Hunter's annual mystery quilt.  If you aren't familiar with her and have a quilt stash, then check her out!  You can use up all those fabrics that have been sitting around.

Another month goes by

Today is August 16, 2012.  Another month has gone by.  My computer died in June.  My dear husband has my data on an external drive, but that is as far as it has gone.  

Last week, as I was getting everything ready to take my granddaughter off to camp, I discovered months of photos still on my camera.  Yes!!  I had not deleted photographs since the June Minnesota Quilt show!  Happy that some of my photos from the past year were available, I began editing.  Months and months of photographs.  I was finally going to get my blog updated.

Then my phone began to have issues, so I downloaded ALL of my iPhone photos to my husband's computer.  Not the best quality, but a start.  Memories from the past year, and more to add to my blog.

So with the cold weather today, I decided to take some time and began updating my blog.  My current plan is to go back and add postings from the past eight months.  So please check out my older blog posts.  They are really new to the site.  Just trying to keep them in chronological order. 

First up will be the Road to California 2012!

Dead computer

The past six months have flown by.  I can't believe it is the middle of July ALREADY! 

Looking at my blog, the last post was in January.  Way too long.  Yes summer is here, and many are busy with outdoor activities.  Definitely the thing to do.  I noticed that many of the blogs I follow have similar issues, so I know I am not along.

My intent this month was to update it, posting photos from the past six months, including my trip to California and our semi-annual Dear Jane retreat in Shipshewana.  Plus our numerous excursions out to Driggs Idaho and the Tetons. 

Unfortunately my MacBook died.  After a visit to the local Apple store, I was told that the hard drive is probably just fine.  But the rest is gone.  I am hoping that Jim will be able to move everything to his MacBook, and then I can clean things up and download into the proper places. 

Until then, I am using Jim's computer and my iPad.  May see if I can do some downloading from the iPad.  I forgot that I did take the iPad to California and Shipshewana.  Photos there I hope!

Road to California 2012 Part 1

Relaxing and sewing flower pins in Florine's dining room.

Having a bit of difficulty opening bottle.

Florine's Kaffe quilt

Florine showing several of her wonderful quilts.

Americana sampler that I love.

Busy day 2 at Bonnie Hunter's workshop.

Bonnie's ongoing hexagon quilt.  Great for traveling.

Bonnie with the Caravan Quilters from around the world.

Road to California

In January, I had the opportunity to go to California with several of my Dear Jane friends.  Florine opened her home to us, and made our week amazing!  Our first evening was spent sewing lovely floral pins that Caroline organized.  Florine started our week off with a bed turning of many of her antique and recently finished quilts. 

Global quilters

I have not had time to post what I have been up to lately, so I will refer you to another blog so you can see where I have been. California for a week with friends. First up was a workshop with Quiltville's Bonnie Hunter. Click on the link below and see!

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2012/01/quilting-globally.html

Photos soon from the rest of our California trip.

Tetons of Wyoming

We spent the holidays with our family out west. Beautiful views and a wonderful time with family. Skiing was better than other places, so we were glad for that. Unfortunately we had to come home way too soon.

Holiday

This year the holidays went by way too fast. Very few photos taken. But here is one showing part of one of my first quilts, along with stars and an angel.