Still sewing away

I did not get much done at the retreat as I was having issues with my place being set up awkward. I had lots of room but seemed unable to get comfortable. Finally I put the main project away to be finished at home and just made little 4-patches from my Civil War fabrics.

Then finished them up here at home as Leaders and Enders.

Today I made this pattern called Falling Leaves. This is the second one I have made. The first one was given to my doctor when he retired last year. Somehow this one seems lighter in value even though I used all the same fabrics.

I am so glad I have a tall husband.
XOXOXOX Subee

Irish Chain, failed bread and house critters

 Heaven, I'm in Heaven...to the tune by the famous dancer/singer Maurice Chevaliat (sp). I am in scrap heaven. I wore out a needle and emptied many half used bobbins.
I kept a log of the time and the name of each swapper's stack of squares I used.
(that was to avoid repeats and I do like to know how long it does take me to piece a quilt)
I now have the top done...but no picture in my camera yet. I am thinking I may make another whole set of blocks and make this quilt GIGANTIC for my own bed. It seems I have been churning out lots of lap size quilts and I do need another for my bed.

 I rotated my sewing area back to "winter" mode. The sun no longer blinds me when I sit in this position. Only problem is hubby has to back into the driveway because the sun reflection from his windshield hits me right in my left eye. I have been very light sensitive lately. Maybe it is growing older...maybe it is something else.
Anyway, here is the work area. Fun, fun, fun! And Baby on the back of the chair. She gives me back rubs when I am sitting in the chair. She also tries to kiss my neck...but I stop her...it tickles!

 Love the little baggies with their BEAUTIFUL patches. I have another swap on my Yahoo group going that is due by December 15, 2010. Then I am doing a neutral swap due in January 2011.

 This little clear napkin holder is the best for holding Bonnie's book. So I can admire her work as I work.
I do have an extra copy (autographed) of her book Adventures with Leaders & Enders if any of you are interested. E-mail me privately please.

I started another hand quilting project using Bonnie's Freehand Fan method.

 This is Stubby's spring litter female that Stubby allows in her territory. She also takes food from our hands now. But she does one trick that Stubby never did. She climbs the storm door and peeks in and I swear she knocks on the door. When I open the door with food I am afraid she will dash in. The kitties are hoping she dashes in! You can see just a tiny bit of MaggieMae's fur at the door. They sniff noses at the corner. Too funny!

 Poor Stubby. When it rains she gets so very wet. Her tail does not work like an umbrella. I worry so about her when it does get cold. Squirrels wrap their bodies with their tails to keep warm too. But we must be doing something right as she is starting her thrird winter with us!

 Before the turning of the sewing area after my return from Shipsee. Baby loves cubby holes.

 Macy says "hi". She is getting famous from her video. And I do believe that she has hubby trained!

Who could resist that belly?????

                                            
 We had a tornado warning. The sirens went off. So the kitties and I went under the dining room table and we all snacked on yogurt until the "all clear" sounded. Some areas very close to us had wind damage. I believe 10 tornadoes struck the area that day.

 My bread did not rise...it was edible but short.
I bought some fresh yeast and the next two loaves were great. Then I tried some wheat flour and was disappointed again. Anyway...it sure smells good baking.

My patch from Shipshewana retreat!

Shipshewana Retreat and Macy's trick on video

The Shipshewana retreat was fantastic!

There were "early in the morning quilters" and "night owl quilters".

I am in the first group and retired early. I was amazed at how many little blocks I did complete. I only worked on one project. But almost everyone worked on many, many projects.

Judy L. brought her finished "Mystery" quilt. It was beautiful. She added 7 borders to the quilt and it was great eye candy!

Bonnie brought her Featherweight with the "hot" paint job. There are flames on the bed of the machine. Gorgeous machine! Bonnie also shared her tricks on sewing hexies. It was so nice to see Bonnie again. She is so beautiful in person and in spirit.

OK....caught in the act of SAVING scraps from the landfill. I did have permission from the other quilters. Bonnie had already resigned from collecting scraps and offered the basket to me. Of course I jumped on that offer. I have some of Bonnie's peacock blue in my paper-pieced pineapple blocks now.

After seeing how small my needed scrap size was, other quilters started making deposits at my sewing station. I added all of them to my blocks with joy. Now when I look at my blocks I will be reminded of the great time I had sewing at the Farmstead Inn in Shipshewana, Indiana at a 4 day quilting retreat. The Farmstead Inn is a great place to go to have a relaxed and calm vacation. Life moves at a different speed in this small Amish town of 565 permanent residents. On Saturday early evening I saw at least 50 buggies moving at a proud trot into town. The horse hooves make the loveliest sound in the air.

I did make two trips into town to shop for fabric. Yoders is a store that carries everything from fabric to tractors. Then there is Lolly's in the Davis mercantile building. I hit the basement store where all fabric is only $5.99 a yard. WHOOOHOOO! But I really did not buy very much. One of our quilters spent so much that she was given a "tiara" from the shop owner.

I hope all of you will be able to view this video of our cat Macy. Hubby has taught her a trick. She will roll over on command. Her reward is a thorough brushing. She LOVES to be brushed even though she has the shortest coat of all our cats. Hubby holds the brush and asks her to roll over....then asks her to roll all the way over. So turn up the volume and you can hear him giving the command.