First 2013 finish

I know that it seems strange to have a Jelly Roll Race Quilt as a UFO, but I did.  You notice I say did, yes, this is my first UFO finish for this year.  I did the jelly roll part of it about two years ago and just never finished it.  I wanted to put a border on it and couldn't decide what to use.  My friend Becky over at The Quilting Booklady had some left over fabric that she shared with me that was a part of the same line.  I used it for the wide red paisley border, and found a piece that blended with it for the yellow inner border.  I have a quilt out of this line, Gingham Rose on the bed in my guest bedroom, this will probable end up as a lap quilt in that bedroom.  I am inspired now to finish something else on my UFO list.  Wish me luck.

Country Threads BOM

I am so far behind in  my many BOM's, that I decided this long weekend was the perfect time to catch up.  I have at least made a start.  Here is the February Country Threads Block of the Month.  Now it is on to Dixie Diary, and to get caught up on Grandmother's Choice from Barbara Brackman.  I don't know where the time has gone, I can't believe that it is the middle of February, the year is already flying by. This is a long weekend for the school system.  Friday was  a snow day so I was able to go to Thimbles.  It was great to spend the day with friends sewing.  I worked on Odd's and Ends from Primitive Gatherings.  I hope to finish it soon, I have been working on it way to long.  I also want to get back to East Street and Shh Don't tell, both are mystery quilts that I am very behind on. 

Retreat show and tell

 I can't believe that it has been a week since our retreat with Pat in Ellijay.  There were some great quilts!! Here is a sampling.

Claire's Log Cabin

Becky's flannel creation.

Maxine's strip quilt

Tami's cheery block quilt

Beautiful Celtic Knot quilt

 

Pat's Lost Sock Quilt ( I have these blocks, really need to work on this)

Beautiful repro 9 patch, I think this was one of the Linda's, should have taken notes.

Carla's berautiful Batik heart quilt.

1930's nine patch

Kristie's Blueberry pie

Teacher Linda's Scrappy Nines.

Retreat fun

Last weekend was the Silver Thimble retreat in Ellijay.  It was my first time and did I have an adventure.  The sewing was wodnerful.  I meet some wonderful new firends from Alabama, North Carolina, and Florida.  It is great to see what other people are making and get ideas from them.  The pillow below was  made by Maxine from North Carolina using yoyo's and precrocheted flowers.  I definitely see one of these in  my future.  It was too cute. 

This cute selvage bag was made by (teacher) Linda.  There were three Linda's in our group.  She made her own pattern and had all of the selvages color coordinated.  Another really cute idea.

I have been trying to move all of the photos around, I give up, you will have to get a mixed up recap of the trip. 

A little snow was predicted on Saturday, maybe an inch.  This is what we got, about 5 inches.  Several of us left on Saturday  morning to go to the quilt shop in Blue Ridge, while there it started snowing.  After leaving the quilt shop we headed to Starbucks, after a fabric fix we had to have a coffee fix.  Little did we realize that it would come a blizzard while we were getting coffee.  By the time we were on the road back to the lodge the roads had become iced over and were undriveable.  Jane was driving, and boy did she do a great job of trying to get us back.  However the ice and snow was too much.  Carla and I decided to get out and walk since our cell phones weren't working.  After we left, Jane decided to try to get up the hill one more time and ended up in a ditch.  Luckily her car is ok and everyone made it back in one piece, even the fabric.



More Snow, loved these snow covered chairs.



This is an antique quilt that Bonnie brought with her.  It was gorgeous, made of of all silks, and silk velvets. 

Kristie in the sewing room.  We are really going to miss Kristie, she is moving to West Monroe, LA next week.

Christmas Through the Year

Last year I got off to a great start with working on Christmas projects each month, but sadly toward the end of the year I slacked off and shouldn't have.  My goal is to be better at it this year.  My January project was three kitchen towels, embroidered with "Let it Snow" and some snowflakes.  This was a free pattern Birdbrain designs, they have several different free stitchery patterns.  ( I am into free this year).  I purchased the towels at Hobby Lobby with a 50% off coupon earlier this year.  The towels worked up very quickly and are put away until the holidays. 

Pigs on Parade

After dyeing wool for the last few weeks, I decided that I really should make somethhing out of it.  I decided on a pincushion.  Since I love pigs it was a no brainer, a pig pincushion.  I think they turned out pretty good.  I am keeping the yellow and pink one, the purple and pink one is for a friend who likes purple.  The next one I make I think will be "when pigs fly" all I have to do is add a pair of wings.  Wish me luck. 

Stuck in the Civil War

I love to read, especially historical fiction.  Lately I seem to be stuck in the Civil War.  I just finished reading Mrs.  Lincoln's Dressmaker by Jennifer Chiaverini.  It is her first historical fiction novel and it is very good, definitely a departure from the  Elm Creek Quilters novels that she is best known for.  I have always loved reading about the Civil War, and Abraham Lincoln.  I have never read that much about Mrs. Lincoln and after reading Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker I want to read more about Mrs. Lincoln.






  At the same time I was reading this book, I was listening to a book on CD in my car, My Name is Mary Sutter.  ( the radio stations in Atlanta are awful and I have had to resort to listening to books, not a hardship).   I didn't realize when I started listening to it that it would mirror, Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker.  It has been very interesting experiencing the Civil War from two very different perspectives.  The main character in My Name is Mary Sutter is a white, upper class female who wants to be a surgeon; while the main character in Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker is a female former slave.  Both books are very good reads and I would recommend both of them if you like historical fiction.  If I had to pick one, I would probably pick My Name is Mary Sutter as the best, but that is just me.  Enjoy!!!