Quilt within a Quilt...

Quilt within a Quilt...

...the back was a tad too narrow, problem solved...

Using pre-cut squares(large and small) as leaders and enders for other projects, a 'free' quilt comes together in no time. Both of these quilts were made in this fashion. They magically appear from under the presser foot!! Sweeeeeet. With temps hitting 104 degrees, it's wonderful weather to hunker down and sew. Happy quilting. ~Susanne

Congratulations Jane!!!

For 2 years our dear Janey-Jane has been in school getting her degree to become a dental hygienst!  We have so missed her...but we are most proud of her because she has worked so hard, been totally dedicated to this program while balancing being a wife, mom, friend. 

The best news of all came this week...she passed her boards! 

We can now have her back...we may need to teach her how to use her machine again, but we can't wait for our first sewing day together!

Congratulations Jane!!!

Retreat #7

I am finally taking the time to upload some of our retreat pictures!  I so loved my week w/you girls!  It just inspired me and filled me with so much joy!  Thank you ladies for being my family!

Here are some things I worked on...

I was so sick of Blue when I was done w/this!  It is on the machine at That Little Quilt Shop, ready to be quilted and finished!!

I finished this baby quilt for Cady Bell, the baby of Tyler's 4th grade teacher that was one of his biggest advocates!  Baby Bell has it now and they loved the giraffes!

Cady has an older brother, 19 months old, that just moved into his big boy room...so I took him this as a big brother gift...I had no idea his new room was decorated with a soccer theme, so this is perfect and when he opened it, he said "ooo....ahhhh" and sat on it and played.  It was so cute!

I started a quilt that I've wanted to do since I was a little girl.  When the quilting bug hit me, while I was at my granny's house, I asked her to teach me how to do a "Log Cabin" quilt.  She said I should start with "A Trip Around the World"...well, I lost interest quickly and never have done a Log Cabin, until this retreat....here is the start of it.  I need to add borders and it will be done!  I loved it...and cherished every bit of it b/c it reminded me of Granny!

I'm ready to go back! 

This soup is also delicious and super easy!

MyRecipes

Here is the Greek Garbanzo Bean Stew recipe.

MyRecipes

Here's that yummy and easy pork chop recipe!

MyRecipes

Nathan's quilt

Here are photos of Nathan's quilt, all ready for the longarm quilter...wow, what a labor of LOVE!

pink patches

The disappearing nine patch in pinks w/a smidge of brown. Not happy with the brown, it's too dark. The new mommy is enjoying it and said it's used daily for tummy time. :) Perfect. Perhaps in a year the matching dolly quilt will also get some use.

2004 Retreat at SML...warm and breezy

Lots of snow = time to sew.

Blizzard + lots of scraps = recession friendly quilting. The scraps however, never seem to diminish a bit like a box of worms. You think you've used a lot of them, you say goodnight, close the lid and the next day *PoUfF* they've multiplied.

Poignant Cherokee Tale

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, in life there is a terrible fight, a battle between two ‘wolves’ inside us all.”

One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego.
The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked “Grandfather, which wolf will win?" The old Cherokee looked him in the eye and simply replied, "The one you feed."

Our group!

Here we are....

Retreat time!!!

We've been retreating for at least 6 years...is that right, gals?  We started back before Digital cameras, I think, b/c the first set of pictures I can find is in 2006...bring back memories?

Sew crazy!!!

I too figured this blog out but then I thought I'd add a photo like Ellen. For the past several years I have made Christmas stockings for each of my four adult children and my two son-in-laws along with each of my grandchildren, who have been coming at a rapid rate over the past six years. First there was Cora, now 6. She received the very first quilted Christmas stocking. Then came Andrew and Joshua, now both 4, cousins. After two years two more boy cousins were born; Matthew and River. As they came I made stockings for each. So in 2009 our daughter; Emily gave us another granddaughter in September and I had to make another stocking. But this year I decided to do something different and follow an actual pattern from a magazine. Little did I know that the sum total of each of the 150 pieces would take 20 to 25 hours to construct using foundation piecing. Finally two days before Christmas I did finish it and presented it to my daughter; Emily for her daughter; Rylee. I don't know if I would ever attempt this stocking pattern again, but I gained a lot of experience with foundation piecing and I would probably try another foundation piecing pattern, most likely a star pattern. Well, I hope you readers are encouraged to quilt with your friends as we do, we have a wonderful group and over the years we have planned and attended numerous retreats, but more about that later. God's richest blessings to all. Margaret

I finally figured out how to do this blog...haha. I will post later about our story, but wanted to show you guys a work in progress that I am making for the auction at Nathan's school. I'll be done with it soon. This is a detailed section.

Soon, I'll be back on and start the organization for the retreat. Can't wait! I've started my planning and cutting projects. If anyone goes to G street, let me know.