R&R

I took a few days off from the craziness at my house and retreated with some quilting buddies. Didn't get a whole lot done other than make the one extra Turning Twenty duvet cover I've needed for the past 3 years over at the retreat, and start on the 240 blocks I'll need for the new duvets at the Cabin Too (our log cabin that's being readied for its new life as another, smaller retreat facility.)
The first 49 blocks...ugh.
Packets of 2.5" strips for the 12" log cabin blocks.
Piles of leftover scraps with the Marti Michel Log Cabin Ruler I used to make the several hundred strips I've cut so far. I've only done some of the pink, yellow and green strips, and I'm looking forward to cutting the next 500 or so strips. Maybe I'll go ahead and schedule that root canal instead. My friendKaren, The Quilt Rambler,has offered me the use of her AccuQuilt Go cutter so I can cut those strips a lot faster. I'll still use Marti's ruler to subcut them into each round's exact length, though, cuz the blocks themselves went together really fast. And I need fast.
Or maybe I'll go through some of the goodies the retreaters exchanged. That little mug thingy has a fabric insert that we all signed for each other - just need to decorate it, do a quick quilting job on it, and stick it between the plastic layers for a java-filled reminder of my quilting friends til I see them again in the fall.
Peggy & I went for a little walk across the road to Ozark Folkways Heritage Center to see what kind of goodies we could find. They have classes in basket-weaving, rug hooking (The Happy Hookers!), pottery-throwing, jewelry-making, weaving, spinning...all kinds of stuff.
Look up. Yes, that's a quilt stapled to the ceiling! Wow.


Very folksy, in a rustic old stone building, with lots of charming crafts...except for this creepy doll.It looks like a clown playing the wolf playing Grandma in Little Red Riding Hood. Scary as hell. But so you won't have nightmares, here's something cute!A weird little Italian antique box with Baby Jesus swaddled to look like a mer-baby. I almost bought it. Glad I didn't. Sorry - not much of a "palate cleanser."Oh wait! I bought something!Looks great on my mantle!

Circle of Life Raffle Quilt-Appraised: $7500!

My fellow quilters at TriCounty Quilt Guild have just finished the raffle quilt for next year's quilt show. Barbara & Diana headed up the piecing committee and I quilted it. It's called "Circle of Life" and is designed by Jacqueline de Jonge of The Netherlands.70" x 70"




The quilt took over 365 hours to complete, which includes cutting, piecing, quilting and binding, etc.
If you'd like to purchase tickets, they are $1 each or 6 for $5, 12 for $10, and are available from any guild member, including myself. Feel free to contact me if you're interested in purchasing a ticket or twelve.
It'll look terrific in your house - and think of the bragging rights you'll have as the owner of a $7500 quilt!

March 2011 Desktop Calendar

First, allow me to thank you so much for all your good wishes for our family. My husband is doing much better after his surgery and subsequent stroke, and we are very grateful for your support, good wishes, and prayers.
I can't believe how incredibly busy we've all been since this happened, and I've had to let some things go by the wayside. (Insert any and all household tasks like cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc. Not that any of those held a position of great import in my life before this, but at least now I have an excuse to let them go undone!) But the one thing I'm not willing to cut out is my desktop calendar. So here ya go. Especially for my nephew Aron, who's so proud of his Irish heritage. Sláinte!
Click on it to expand the image to full size, right-click and choose Set as Wallpaper or Background. To really jazz up your desktop, right-click on your background and choose a color that coordinates with the calendar.