Autumn In The Air

Hello Everyone,

There is a hint of Autumn in the air up here at the cabin. So much of a hint that I felt like decorating the cabin for the season. Last year the Scrappy Leaves quilt was hanging in the shop for several months. This year, it is hanging at the cabin for the enjoyment of the squirrels, raccoons, and bears!

Our friends and fellow quilter Glenda and her husband Ken joined us for dinner last night. This was their first visit to the cabin so the welcome sign and mat were rolled out for them.

Quilting in the ditch is my least favorite stitch to quilt, but sometimes you just can't escape it.

The swirls represent the wind tossing the leaves about.

The borders took a fair bit of time to complete. But overall, it was a fun quilt to make and I love working with batiks.

During my incarceration, I mean recuperation, I've been working on the setting triangles for Summer's Blush. I only have five more hexagons flowers to make and I'm DONE! This has been rather "mindless" work....but at this point in time, "mindless" is a good thing for me.

I've been whip stitching the flowers together in groups of three, then I applique them on the setting and corner triangles.

I love, love, love all of the little checked fabric.

I actually sat down at the sewing machine today, for the first time in a couple of weeks, and sewed some rows together. It feels so good to feel so good!!

Have a wonderful weekend! I hope to see some of my "quilty" friends at the quilt show in Sonora this weekend.

As always,

Lynn

Month #5 - The Window Box

Hello Everyone,

Those of you that are in the Party in the Garden block of the month will soon be getting all of the fabric to make your window box. I apologize for the small image, but it was the only one I have on my laptop here at the cabin.

There are many small pieces to this block.....just take your time. Don't forget to do the embroidery too!

For those who are working on the block of the month and check the blogsite on a regular basis....here's a hint. On the left-hand side of the blog you will see the Label category. Just click on the Party in the Garden label and all posts for the BOM will pop up from newest to oldest posts. This way you don't have to go searching through post after post looking for what you want. Hope this helps.

It is hard to believe that we are almost halfway through the program. My monthly drop-in group has been so much fun. What a delightful, and creative group you are! We'll be meeting again on September 28th at the shop so mark your calendars. If by some chance any of you out-of-towners are in the area, we would love to have you join us for an evening of laughter, lots of talking, and a bit of quilting will be taking place too!

My friend Glenda and I are headed to the quilt show in Sonora this weekend at the Fairgrounds. It's a good show featuring lots of quilts and vendors. My House on Edgewood Lane quilt will be at the Bearly Quilting booth.....kits will be available for sale!

Have a wonderful day everyone.

As always,

Lynn

Update on Madrigal Quilt

Hello Quilters Everywhere,

I'm slowly getting back in the swing of life and getting back to my quilting and designing. I was inspired to work on the center section for Madrigal. I had two ideas but finally settled on a basket full of flowers. I still have many more flowers to make and of course there will be ribbons and some embroidery. The Luna Notte fabric by 3 Sisters for Moda has a wonderful large print with gigantic flowers. I've been using the large print to cut out individual petals to create new flowers.

It looks a little bare here in the center, but there are a lot more flowers to be added....after I make them. I love any fabric with paisley almost as much as I love plaids. The basket and handle are a Jo Morton - Andover fabric. Whenever I see great fabrics like these, I buy at least two yards. My stash is huge, but I feel that I have a whole "store" full of fabric at my fingertips...and I go to my stash first before I buy something new.

The whole time I'm creating, I'm thinking about the machine quilting. This is going to be a fun one to work on. My goal is to have this finished and the patterns ready for sale by Pacific International Quilt Festival in October. Wish me luck!

I hope you all have a wonderful Saturday and an enjoyable weekend.

As always,

Lynn

38 Years Ago Today........

Hello Everyone,

September 9, 1972 at 3 in the afternoon, my college sweetheart and I were married. When we started this journey called marriage, we had about $300 to our name and a small studio apartment that we called home in Chico, California.

Our wedding cost my parents around $250.00 which was a lot of money for them to spend. I made my wedding dress from a Vogue pattern. (This is the only Vogue pattern I ever made.) The whole dress, along with each individual bead that I sewed on, cost me less than $30.00.

Joe would not be caught dead wearing that ruffly shirt now! So 1970ish! We left the church in the rumble seat of a Model T roadster and drove to my parents house to open gifts. Then off we drove in our 1967 Mustang fastback to honeymoon at Lake Tahoe and the Monterey Peninsula with our $300.00.....for a whole week.

Each of my bridesmaids made their own dress. I'm sure they never wore them again. I can't believe I made them wear orange! What was I thinking??
There is no one else that I would rather have travelled this journey called marriage. It hasn't always been a super highway. We've had a few curves thrown our way and some bumpy spots. But that is what marriage is.....work through the tough times and navigate the curves as a team instead as individuals. We now have three beautiful grown children and six even more beautiful grandchildren. We have been blessed beyond belief.

As always,

Lynn

Blossoms of Friendship

Good Morning Everyone,

Since I've not been quilting too much this week, I was absolutely delighted when Sue sent me a picture of her Blossoms of Friendship quilt top. Sue is going to hand quilt her quilt. She said it will be on the frame for an "undetermined amount of time." An heirloom quilt like this cannot be rushed and will be worth every loving stitch Sue.

This quilt is how my blog began over two years ago. Little did I know at the time when I started this BOM and the blog, just how many friendships would "blossom." I've had the good fortune to meet half of the participants in the program when many of you brought your blocks to the shop as you worked on them. Some of you then signed up for the Party In The Garden BOM and I got to see some familiar faces and names again.

The pressure is on......what am I going to offer next? I still have to finish my Blossoms of Friendship quilt! It is so close to being completed and after seeing Sue's quilt, I want to get back to it just as soon as I can.

Have a wonderful day and week everyone.

As always,
Lynn

Home is Where My Heart Is

Hello Everyone,

There's no place like home.....there's no place like home. I should add that I'm tapping my ruby slippers while saying this. I do feel like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. I wasn't gone for very long, just long enough to appreciate my home, hubby and dog even more.

Home is where you heart is and longs to be. I'm home, feeling quite good actually and so happy to be here. I 'm going to get back to my little hexagon flowers this afternoon! It was quite silly of me to take them to the hospital expecting to work on them. What was I thinking?

I made this wall hanging for my son and his bride back in 2006. It has been hanging in their home for the past four years.

Thank you for your emails and comments. They all were greatly appreciated.

As always,

Lynn

More Quilts Inside.....of Me

Hello Everyone,

I was looking through pictures on our computer and found this one that we took in Pennsylvania's Amish country. I got to thinking about this sign and how it applies to my life. I have so many quilts inside my little brain that are so anxious to emerge and become real.



I'm going to have to put my quilting aside for a few days...I hope not weeks...as time and age caught up with me and I'll be going into the hospital tomorrow for surgery. Nothing too serious. What is quite routine to doctors is major to me however. The last time I was in the hospital was 31 years ago when our daughter was born. I was able to come home with a cute little bundle in pink......this time, if I play my cards right, I'll be bringing home a kidney-shaped "spittle" bowl!

As a matter of formality, I had to have a pregnancy test this week! I'm not sure if you would say I passed or I failed....all I know is that my friend was relieved that she didn't have to make a baby quilt for me! And I will not make it into the Guinness Book of World records for being the oldest, pregnant human being.

My husband, Joe, is going to make the best domestic diva for the next couple of weeks. I'll be in good hands between Joe, our children and our friends. As soon as I'm able, we are headed to the cabin for my recuperation. The cabin is all on one level so I won't have to deal with stairs. I'm sure once I'm home from the hospital, the stairs leading to my sewing room will resemble a climb up Mount Everest! Does anyone know of a Sherpa that can transport me up the stairs on a yak?

So my blogging friends, say a pray for the surgeon for a steady hand and nice, even little applique stitches. While you are at it, throw in a good thought for me too.

Soon,

Lynn