Retro

Look what my wonderful d-i-l sent me for Christmas ! ! ! ! !

Don't you just love it? I've never seen another! It just called out to her on one of her 'antique-ing trips. I'm so lucky that she listened.

Something New

My sister-in-law and I had a nice telephone visit Christmas day. She told me that when she and my brother were under mandatory evacuation from their mountain home this past month due to the wild fires in the Big Bear area there was little enough time to grab the dogs and flee. As they were waiting to hear daily/hourly whether they had a home to return to or not she found that time was on her hands. She went to Jo-Ann's and discovered Round Loom knitting.She went to town keeping her hands busy [and perhaps her mind somewhat occupied] while making one project after another. In fact, she made of number that were given as gifts at Christmas.Well, needless to say, I was intrigued enough to go to the Internet and Google round loom knitting and found a whole 'nother world on the net.Day after Christmas I went to Jo-Ann's and have been busy trying my hand at this new knitting method.Wait, wait, I know - - - - we all know about spool knitting that we did as kids so the method is 'new'. It's just that I'd never heard about this round loom knitting. Also found square and rectangular looms also.Here are my first attempts.

Ted E and his pal waiting to go deer hunting in their new hats ! ! ! Wouldn't want to mistake one of these guys for a deer.

Here's a work in progress from the working side of the loom.

And the reverse of the loom and the 'right side' of the project showing the hem/brim.

Can't wait to wear it ! ! !

Four Autumn Gals

Here they are gathered 'round their cousin Trudi!

Meet Autumn, Autumn Rose, Autumn Dawn and Autumn Joy.

Autumn Rose is stay with her cousin who lives in the Columbia area. She and cousin will have all kinds of catching up to fill their hours.

Busy Time

Gee, we had a bit of an ICE STORM here in mid-Missouri. Trees were overburdened being encased with ice.





Here's one of the reason's we're just a little bit behind

Yep, down they came. Many branches in the neighboring yards were cracking and falling. Luckily only one tree came down to do us damage.

Here you can see it acorss of storage shed - however, the worse news is that it took down all the utility wires/cables to the house.

The neighborhood had been without power since about five a.m. Sunday and the tree came crashing down about ten o'clock or so.

We were lucky to get a motel room Sunday afternoon - hotels were filling up with not only people from Jeff City but with utility workers from afar who would be working here to re-store power.

Ron was able to co-ordinate the electrician [to re-install a pipe on the house to receive power from the utility pole] and the tree trimmers to remove the tree from the storage shed/driveway and downed power lines and ensuring us a place to sleep until power was restored to the neighborhood.

What a time it was!

So, here it is Christmas Eve. Time for Family.

Straightening for the Season

Here it is - - - - our dining room, again.

It's been a long time since we've been able to enjoy it.

Cleared away all traces of sewing, dollmaking, etc., so that we could have a nice Thanksgiving dinner at the dining room table.

We all enjoyed seeing the room as it was intended.

Here's were the real work was done ! ! ! Yes, I did ! ! !

Color Wheel Comments

In response to my Color Theory class post, a 'stash' is the collection of fabric that we quilters seem to accumulate on a regular basis. It is composed of both fat quarters and yardage. {Fat Quarter being an 18" x 22" cut of fabric.}

An interesting use of the color wheel that I learned was using the 'Grey Scale' when selecting colors. The grey scale uses ten steps from pure black to white. One approach is to use colors at least two steps away from each other. As the saying goes: "Color gets the credit while value does the work!".

Color Theory Class

Attended Juanita's class on color theory using the color wheel. While it was a long afternoon, I feel more comfortable in my knowledge of the color wheel and was able, at the end of the day, to bring home a handful of fat quarters that make up the combinations for my chosen color . . . red-violet. That is, the complimentary color, the colors for a split complimentary and for a triad combination.

The group yesterday was composed of six students - two weren't quilters at all, but rather machine embroiders and were interested in color. Two of the gals traveled from the Kirksville area and had a two-hour drive each way. Two of us came from Jeff.

We didn't have the time to use our machines at all we chose to have Juanita answer all our questions and help with our color choices. What a day ! !

Am looking forward to her next class - surface design ! ! ! ! ! Should be a blast of an afternoon.

With my new-found knowledge, I'm thinking of arranging my stash according to the color wheel. At least a good exercise for my brain, if not for the appearance of my stash.

Haven't made too many dolls at all lately and feel the need. So am also in the process of putting together four little dolls. They're gals with an autumn theme.

Grand Yellow Flower

Here's my first art quilt wallhanging since taking Juanita Yeager's Grand Flower workshop last month.

Ron and I hung it in the livingroom where we can gaze upon it often. It really does brighten the room. I love it and am ready to make another.

I've a couple of leaves [rejects from this project] that I can audition for my next Grand Flower.

And, the 'Winter Trees' free-motion quilted project from Juanita's workshop Tuesday is well on it's way to completion. Just have to finish the facing and sleeve. Then, where to hang it - - -

Autumn is Approaching

and our sedum is looking great. The butterflies and bees are attracted to the blossoms and stay throughout the day.

Even the leaves are looking great. Here's one with the quilted background of my next flower wallhanging.

I've signed up for a couple more classes with Juanita Yeager and am eager to get started.

Certainly Applies

It says it all, doesn't it?
The gift from Quiltin' Chicks Social Thursday evening, it's from my Secret Santa Chick.

I must have been very good

Our quilting Social, known as The Quiltin’ Chicks, are doing a Secret Santa gift exchange this year.
Last evening I received two really great gifts.
The ‘Santa’ who gave me a set of bead containers must have been peeking into my Hot Fix Crystal Box to see that I’ve been storing my crystals in Sucrets and Altoid tins.
Today I put my ‘stash’ of crystals into the new tins.

Now I can see my entire collection at a glance.

As you can see my stash is a beginners stash. I can see now that I’ll have to print 40% Off coupons from the Hobby Lobby website every other week so that I can afford to fill a few more tins.
Thanks to the thoughtful ‘Chick’ who gave me these wonderful tins.

It's Do-able

Just saw the Hoffman 2008 Challenge Fabric at this url:

http://www.hoffmanchallenge.com

It's do-able!!! unlike the 2007 Challenge Fabric that was very hard for me to work with.

Now to get my hands on some. Next time I get to Columbia I'll be certain to stop in at Appletree Quilting. Yahoo ! ! !

Still no sign of that traveling gal - Benita
nor, is there sign of this year's non-traveling purses. Patience ! ! !

Did I mention that I garden?

This photo was taken this afternoon as we were going for a bite to eat.

Renee's Ready for TRAVEL ! !

Renee will be travel with the 2007 Hoffman Challenge ! ! !


As will be my last minute entry "Mid-Summer's Bloom" [a drawstring bag] using a Vogue pattern given to me by NancyC.

NancyC has been awarded Curator's Choice for her Pant and Jacket Outfit Clothing category entry ******* Congratulations Nancy ! ! !

Looks as though these three entries will all appear at the Northwest Quilting Expo in Portland, OR September 27 thru 29. What a Hoot ! ! !

One GRAND FLOWER

One Grand Flower !

This is my Grand Flower from Juanita Yeager’s Class/workshop at Satin Stitches.

It’s now hanging on my wall where it can seen from my sewing area or when we eat orwhile we fix a cuppa.I’m ready to begin another - - that is, just as soon as I finish a couple of long awaiting unfinished projects. However, I will sort thru my green scraps and stash for pieces for the background quilt for my next flower.

Nancy Cap has been notified by Hoffman Challenge that her Jacket/Pant Outfit as been awarded Curator's Choice in the Clothing category! Way to go, Nancy! ! ! Congrats ! ! ! !

Satin Stitches Grand Flower Class

The day finally came ! ! ! The first class I've ever signed up for ! ! It was held at Satin Stitches and taught by Juanita Yeager.

Here are shots of my Grand Flower so far. The quilted background has the leaf just attached. The leaf still needs to have veins stitched before I begin to attach the top half of the Grand Flower and then the bottom half of the flower.

There were twenty-two of us signed up and we had a full classroom. Every one of us loaded down with every conceivable sewing item we thought we'd ever need.

There were kits at each of our work areas. And we were ready to go.

These we two days of intensive learning and quilting! with home work in between. Boy, did we learn alot ! ! !

Juanita is a talented artist who recently moved to Columbia [ lucky for us] . She's a great instructor and was very patient with this group of twenty-two eager gals. If you want to see some of her work just google Juanita Yeager and you'll find numerous sites with pics of her work. Also try Bluestem gallery in Columbia.

Satin Stitches will be having more classes with Juanita this fall. Gail said that a list of classes will be in the soon to be mailed newsletter.

Gail and the gals treated us royally. Cool treats and truly wonderful lunches, and I don't want to forget about the lovely afternoon dessert cart.

Churn Dash Tablerunner

Just finished this tablerunner - think it'll be a Christmas gift.

The blocks were Guild lotto blocks I won in the month of June.

I like the way this one turned out as the rest of the runner front was made from scraps from last year's Thimbleberries Brown Bag and from scraps from the Chicks Social. The backing fabric is from Miss Millie's Quilt Shop.

This is the second tablerunner/cover I've made from the churn dash blocks.

Still have twenty blocks remaining.

Mid-summer's Bloom

Mid-summer's Bloom is the last entry for the '07 Hoffman Challenge. FedEx-ed it yesterday and it's en route via Lenexa, KS this morning .. .. .. Fort Collins bound.

Sunbonnet Suzanne

Well, here's Sunbonnet Sue all grown up ! ! ! Ta-da - - - - Sunbonnet Suzanne.

She's off to Thimbleberries Club in the morning.

Sun Bonnet Sue Wallhangings

These are the gals I made for Miss Millie's Quilt Shop. As you may know, Pam [Miss Millie's shop owner] participates in Missouri Girls Town annual Open House by contributing quilts we Thimbleberrie-ers piece, mostly Marilyn machine quilts them. This year in addition to the quilts leftover from last year we're making Sun Bonnet Sue wallhangings.

These are Deb's and my contribution to the cause. They were fun to create and hope they'll be enjoyed by recipients.

I'm working on one more to add to this group that I hope to finish by Saturday's Thimbleberries Club meeting.