ANOTHER GREAT QUILT RETREAT

FEBRUARY BROWN BAG RETREAT

We had so much fun at our Brown Bag Quilting Retreat at
The Creation Station Fabric and Quilt Shop located in Buellton, California.

This cute quilt shop is owned by Patrick, here cutting fabric inside the store,and his wife, Dawn, here in the classroom/retreat room. As you can see the walls of the retreat room are all painted with wild flowers growing everywhere. The floors are also painted with grass, flowers, rocks and more. Even the bathrooms are decorated so creativelySo inspirations abound...We drove up to Buellton on Thursday and met our friends the Nances at the
Flying Flags RV Resort in Buellton, where we stayed for the weekend in our RVs. Lynn and I head over to the Retreat Center at The Creation Station by 7 am-wait in line
(this year in the POURING RAIN) and then sew and quilt from 8 am on Friday
till whenever that night (we were there till 10:30 pm). The guys hung out at the RV Resort, playing cards, etc. (They had plans to go fishing-but couldn't since it rained all day
Friday and Saturday). We returned by 9 the next morning and quilted till 12:45 am.
Returned on Sunday morning by 8:30 am and quilted till the end of the retreat at 3 pm.

Retreats are such a great way to get a lot accomplished, starting and finishing quilt tops, and other projects, finishing UFO's and WISP's.
I finished the quilt top for my soon to be grandson (due in May) and made
the 20 blocks for my niece's queen size quilt. It is so much fun sewing with other women who love sewing and quilting as much as I do. Retreats are inspiring and educational--as we share ideas and projects. Meeting up with friends I don't get to see often enough is the best!

I'm in the middle between my quilting buddiesLynn on the left and Nancy on the right.
(That is Lynn's gorgeous quilt made of hand dyed Batiks in the background!)
Nancy is also the hostess with the mostest for all the Brown Bag Retreats. Yes, that's right, she gets the privilege to attend all 11 Brown Bag Retreats held each year at The Creation Station---
a lucky lady for sure!A few more of our quilting friends, l to r: Una (that's a long "u" na, for those of us who often say her name wrong!), Barbara, and Carolyn.
As you can see they are all busy working on their quilts so time for looking at the camera!

At the Brown Bag Retreats, named for the "brown bag" of goodies each quilter receives on our individual 6 ft sewing table (each quilter has a 6 ft table all to herself!). We have a pot luck dinner on Friday nights. Saturday we are treated to a homemade soup and salad bar, soups made by Patrick, and homemade breads made by Nancy. YUMMY!! (My favorite soup is his Baked Potato Soup-it is the best!!

As I mentioned, The Creation Station hosts 11 Brown Bag Retreats. I'm so excited because I am attending 4 this year, returning in April, July and September! Can't wait for the next one!

February To Do Projects

Off to a Quilting Retreat

We're heading to Buellton, Central Coast, California in our RV. We'll be camping for the next few days with our great friends, Lynn and Rick. While the guys do what guys do, Lynn and I will join our friend, Nancy and others and will be quilting till the late hours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Creation Station Quilt Shop's Brown Bag Retreat!

So, here's what I plan to work on while at the retreat:

1. A baby quilt for my grandson, Micah, due mid-May out of these cute fabrics:

2. And, for my niece, Amalia and her new husband Rick, a queen size quilt similar to this "Flyboy" quilt I made for my friend, Bill;
this one will be made with several shades of golden tan,
dark reds/burgandys and black.

(If time permits and I finish both tops, maybe I'll make a couple of table toppers for my bedroom nightstands.
But....I doubt it!)

We are really looking forward to meeting up with our friends Thursday night. We haven't seen them in quite a while (they live in Redding about 12 hour drive from us) ! Then bright and early Friday morning Lynn and I will head over to the retreat! Can't wait to get quilting!!

January Projects, Part 2

Gigi's Hawaiian Quilt is finished.
Just in time to be included in my January finishes for Charming Girls Quilt Club and OPAM !This quilt is for Gigi's room at Yaya and Papa's house. Whenever she comes to spend the night she sleeps in the room that was hers for 10 months!! It matches the Hawaiian theme in this room: Hawaiian Quilts and framed pictures I took when I was in Hawaii!! For Gigi's quilt I used many of the same fabrics as in the Hawaiian Quilt that is on the futon (in the same room), and added a few different fabrics to change it a bit. Both quilts have fabrics with Hawaiian flowers , surfboards and woodies!I designed both quilts, grabbing ideas from a few patterns I had seen for each. For Gigi's quilt I chose a soft yellow beach scene fabric, with shells and beach toys, for the accent and first border that really makes it look more childlike!

I tried to wrap Gigi's new quilt around her while she was sitting on the futon, but as you can see the challenge to get Gigi to pose and smile is not an easy task-this was the best I could get!

To make Gigi's quilt a bit warmer I backed it with flannel, which makes it so soft and cuddly. I added a label and included a Bible verse, the first Bible verse Gigi quoted to me just this week:
"Do not be afraid; your prayer has been heard." Luke 1:13. How fitting that she will be covered in the warmth of her new quilt, but she is also be covered in God's love.

January Finished Projects, Part 1

Busy with More Than Quilting!

With the end of January approaching quickly I thought I would share what I've done so far.
I've been knitting up a "storm"!! I used to knit years and years ago. Over Thanksgiving weekend, Jeri (Nicole's mom-in-law) showed Nicole and I how to make knit kitchen cloths
(she refreshed my memory about knitting; I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed it.). So before Christmas I made over a dozen of these 100% cotton cloths for gifts,
and a few for myself!

Then I made Gigi one beanie with a pom pom and another beanie and matching scarf set.
Gigi really likes wearing her beanies, although it's kind of hard to tell since she isn't smiling here-it's really hard to get a pic of her smiling these days! She doesn't seem to want her picture taken anymore.

Since the beginning of 2010, I've been having a lot of fun knitting, mostly at night while watching TV. I've made 3 beanies ( all toddler size, which will be for sale soon- the proceeds will go to Nicole and David's adoption fund--I'm taking special orders if you'd like one--jest email the color and head size!! almost all colors are available in variegated shades.) (Sorry-the colors are off in this pic; from l to r: variegated pinks,
variegated blues, variegated reds).
and 2 scarves (over 60" long each) which I plan to give as gifts.Now I am making another scarf. This one is being made for Craft Hope's Foster Care Teens Project (http://crafthope.com/2010/01/project-6-orphan-foundation/ )--which is partnered with Orphan Foundation of America’s Red Scarf Project (launched in 2005 to send red scarves to warm the hearts (and necks) of college bound youth).

Nicole and I both started our red scarves yesterday. Since we don't have a lot of time I've chosen a different pattern (from the one available at Craft Hope) for my scarf---one that will be faster to complete by the deadline of mailing it prior to Valentine's Day!Besides knitting, I finally finished sewing the valances for my family room--years overdue! Just need to hang them. I've also been working on the Hawaiian Toddler Quilt I'm making for Gigi's toddler bed at our house. I'm almost done--the body of the quilt is quilted, I just need to quilt the outer border, add a label, and hand sew the binding.
I hope to complete it this weekend to include it in my
January Charming Girls and OPAM finished projects.

Creative Projects

My Creative Projects TO DO List for January:

[For both OPAM (One Project A Month Challenge)
and the Charming Girls Quilt Club]

1 & 2 Hand Knitting scarves for gifts,

like the one pictured on the top!

3 Basting and quilting Gigi's Hawaiian Quilt for the toddler bed at our house.

4 & 5 Two pillowcases out of this Bamboo, eco-friendly fabric!!

It will be great if I can complete these projects.
On the horizon I do have plans
to finish the Fire Patches Quilt for my husband
(started a few years back).............Not only do I need to baste and machine quilt this quilt,
but I also need to sew on
all the patches (maybe more than 50)
my husband has collected over the
years from other fire departments
he's visited or ones
that have been sent to him.
This quilt has been a labor of love,
and it is time to finish it!!
But, it may have to wait till next month!

It's December Already!

Ok, I am a bit late in posting my finished projects for November. It was a "short" month for me so I didn't finish as much as I would have liked, and My one and only finish for OPAM- November was this table runner--shhhhhh...it's a surprise gift.

I did finish a couple of "blocks," though, that will count for the Charming Girls Quilt Club:
This block is for my Live Piecefully Quilting Bee online.
This block is for a Christmas "retirement" quilt for a gal at work!

Now it's December, and I only have one decoration up, my Advent calendar, made in 1979.
(We add a candy cane for each day in December leading to Christmas Day; see my daughter, Nicole's blog post about our family tradition of this Advent Calendar at gidgetgoeshome).

I am already feeling a bit of the crunch of a "short" December! Nick hasn't gotten our other decorations down from the shelf in the garage as yet, and we aren't getting our tree until this weekend (the 5th).

As for projects to do in December there are so many, and there won't be enough time. But I think I will be ambitious, so here goes:

1. Finish my "cat" placemats similar to these I made for my mom and aunt last year:
2. Several (4-5) shopping bags for Christmas gifts, similar to this one:
3. A taffeta Christmas dress for my granddaughter, Gigi


4. A table topper for Gigi's table out of these fabrics (she picked the brown birdies one!):
5. A baby quilt for my friend, Susie's new grandbaby due soon with this flannel:
I better get busy and get to my sewing!!!

Projects Complete for "Charming Girls" and "OPAM"

I know I'm posting my completed projects for October early, but we leave on our 11 day Carribean Cruise on Sunday morning, October 25th.

This red Hawaiian Dress for our adorable granddaughter, Gigi!













Fabric actually bought in Kona, Hawaii! (and my friend Lynn is making matching dresses for her two granddaughters!)








The pj bottoms with ruffles at the ankles



















that match the nightie top I made for Gigi last month!













Another Baby Girl Quilt, my pattern 4 Patches and Squares.
This one is backed with a cute "Suzy's Zoo" Panel and I used flannel for the "batting" to give it an extra soft feel!
The large pink squares are a coordinating "Suzy's Zoo" print!!



and 2 Flannel Burp Cloths, aka "Ni-nites" to Gigi. Two as gifts and two for Gigi to keep at Yaya and Papa's house for sleepovers!!













As for November projects, here's a couple I hope to complete:

Pin, machine quilt and bind Gigi's Hawaiian Quilt for her toddler bed:

A Christmas project for my SSCS (Secret Santa Christmas Swap partner). Since it's a secret, here's a hint-one of these possible patterns:
I could name a few more projects, but as we draw nearer to the holiday season, I know my time will be limited to sew. I think I will be a bit more cautious in my predictions of finishes.

September Finishes-October TO DO's!!

My Brown Bag (quilting) Retreat was so much fun, as always!! We sewed non-stop, Friday from 8am-midnight, Saturday 9 am-12:30 am, and Sunday 8 am till the end at 3 pm, and, yet, I only finished two quilt tops!! I always think I will finish so much more, forgetting how time consuming some projects can be, for example, my "Moose Junction" (pattern by McKenna Ryan). All the animals, birds, fish, trees and mountain are machine appliqued on top, using a blanket stitch all around the raw edges. I timed myself while stitching around one of the mountain goats and it took 20 minutes to finish one!!! So this project was definitely labor intensive, but worth it.It's a favorite of Nick's, and I'm thinking of adding another border, making it a small throw for our motorhome--since it looks so great draped over our couch!

I also finished the quilt top, "Gigi's Hawaiian Quilt" for our toddler bed. I got the initial idea from a free pattern and changed it to make my own. The blocks are made with two 3 1/2" squares of different Hawaiian fabrics and two 4 patch squares. I love the way it turned it. The criss cross pattern formed by the 4 patch squares are actually a pale yellow fabric that has beachy items on it. This accent really brightens up the quilt.[I had planned on posting pictures from the retreat, however I left my camera at my friend, Lynn's house and won't be getting it back until we meet up at the Pacific International Quilt Show, Oct 15-17th in San Jose!}

I also managed to finish some other projects during September, including another Firefighter Baby Blanket...
a matching "Big Brother" Pillow case (pictured on the left below, both gifts for one of the firefighter's in my husband's dept!);
another "Big Sister" Pillow Case, for another new baby girl born to a member of the fire prevention team;

and lastly, I made a "nightgown" for my granddaughter, to match the nightgown of the little girl in her favorite book, "The Goodnight Book" (which was also one of my daughter's favorite books as a child!). (Picture will be posted once I have it!!)

My October TO DO List will be shorter than my September list was, for two reasons. First, because I was over ambitious last month, and second because I actually have less time to sew and quilt, since we are going on a cruise, leaving the last week of October.

I'm hoping to complete the following:

1) Pajama bottoms to match the pj top/nightgown (which is supposed to be the pj top-but it is longer on Gigi than I planned). The pajamas are made out of the softest fabric--100% bamboo!
2) Another Hawaiian dress for Gigi (made from Hawaiian fabric bought when we were in Kona, Hawaii a year ago (my friend Lynn will be making matching dresses for her two granddaughters as well!
3) Pin, quilt and bind "Gigi's Hawaiian Quilt" (pictured above)

4) Time permitting, pin, quilt, and bind the "Moose Junction" quilt.

And if there's more time, any other projects I've previously mentioned and haven't finished as yet!!!! Wish me luck!

"Brown Bag Retreat Time!"

I'll be able to finish some projects for sure this month since I'll be attending a "Brown Bag" Quilt Retreat in Buellton, CA, hosted by The Creation Station Quilt Shop. I've been attending at least two Brown Bag Retreats per year for several years now. It's three days of all the quilting you choose to do and the best fun!!

One of my closest friends, Nancy, works and attends these retreats, so I join her, often spending the weekend with her. Other times Nick and I take the RV and stay at the Flying Flags RV Resort with our friends, Lynn and Rick from Redding. The guys hang out at the campground, go fishing, play horseshoes, etc, while Lynn and I meet Nancy and quilt away the hours for 3 days! For this retreat we're taking the RV, meeting Lynn and Rick at Flying Flags, so it's going to be a great weekend for sure!!

As any quilter knows when attending a quilt retreat it's best to take several projects to do, because you never know how much you'll get done or what you'll feel like working on. You wouldn't want to run out of options, should you find yourself stuck on a pattern, or just in the mood to work on another project, so it's good to have choices and a variety of projects just in case!

September projects to do (as a member of CGQC and OPAM):

1) from my August to do: finish my All American Tablerunner-just needs the label actually! 2) also from my August to do: pin/baste, machine quilt, and bind my Mary Engelbreit "Tossed Nine Patch" Lap Quilt! 3) McKenna Ryan's "Moose Junction" Quilt (my friend, Lynn and I both bought this kit on our Alaskan Cruise last summer, and we plan to work on it together at the retreat!) 4) McKenna Ryan's "No Trespassing Tablerunner, block three of "Calling Me Home" Quilt (also bought on my Alaskan Cruise last summer--I just love McKenna Ryan's patterns!) 5) If I still have time, I'd like to finish my Quick Trip lap quilt made with Robin Pandolph's line of fabrics in soft reds and greens--( I pieced the top in August) -- just need to pin/baste, machine quilt, and bind! I'm really looking forward to making my McKenna Ryan patterns!!

PS Another quilt reveal: here's the front of the "4 Squares and Animals" Baby Boy Quilt I finished in July for my friend's daughter, due in a week or so.....I was able to find fabrics that matched the colors of the baby's room. I appliqued baby animals in the solid squares and surrounded them with 4 squares and a pieced border. I made a personalized label too!