Weekend of sewing

Last Thursday afternoon until Sunday morning, I was able to get away with a few ladies from the quilting group at church for some uninterrupted time with my fabric stash, sewing machine and ironing board.  It was a sweet time of fellowship with these ladies whom are all older than me and have come alongside me as I've been a young married woman to a new mom.  Some of the ladies I only see every once in a great while, so to get away for a weekend is special.

One of the gals brought along a quilt she just got back from the longarm quilter and showed off her quilt.  The bird pattern is just too sweet.  The gal's friend has a computerized long arm quilt machine that you can put in a pattern and the machine will quilt that pattern without too much guidance from an actual live person.  The ladies also gave out guidance as to which fabric choice should be used for the binding.

One of the projects I wanted to finish was my buggy barn quilt top.  A couple or so years ago, our group decided to learn a new way to piece a quilt.  This specific way of cutting and sewing a block together comes from a couple of gals outside of Spokane, Washington and one of the gals from our group had fortunately been to their studio/shop.  I started my top, but with little ones, I wasn't able to finish the last ten blocks needed for the required 30 blocks.  

I have two nieces whom are my brother's girls and of course, auntie wants to make them a baby quilt.  I did manage to complete one quilt top for one of the nieces using the same flower pattern.  This one was a lot of fun to put together but also tough because I was only using 9 fabrics.  I used the small remaining black to make cornerstones and then added sashing from the other 8 fabrics.

I did make another easy baby quilt top for the church baby dedications but I don't seem to have a photo of that quilt top.  Once it's all put together and quilted, I will have to get a photo of it.  Of course since being home, life has been running full tilt and my sewing gear is still all packed up from the weekend, but I'm so thankful I was able to get away for some time to sew and pray in a beautiful place and to see all the fall colors.

linking up with Carina

Off to quilt retreat

Today I'm off to quilting retreat for a long weekend of no kids, no diapers, no tantrums, no drop offs, no pick ups, no "I'm hungry."  After a long week of the kiddos and I as hubby had his golf vacation in some place warm, tropical, I get to have a little getaway with a few ladies from my quilting group at church and my sewing machine.

I still need to pack my clothes, but my projects and all my gear is ready to go.  I have way more projects to work on than I will be able to get finished, but rather be a busy bee than napping away my time.  Well, maybe that doesn't sound so bad....napping....

Day 296

My one goal for today was to vacuum my living room. I spent about 30 minutes picking up Lego's and the various sizes and assortments we have. Once I started vacuuming, I had a request from Andy who wanted to help out and vacuum himself. I figured if he wants to help, then why not. He did vacuum around his trampoline, but decided it was too hard to push that vacuum cleaner around.

Maybe I should find a lighter weight one that if he should so feel compelled again to help than he has his very one vacuum cleaner.

Day 290

One Saturday each month, the Companionship Quilters get together to spend a day quilting on whatever projects we currently have in the pile and enjoy each others company. Today was a little different as we have a family who recently lost a son in Afghanistan and the ladies wanted to make a quilt for his family and one for his bride. He was married in May, shipped to Afghanistan in July and went home to see the Lord in September. There were quite a number of ladies who worked on the quilts and each of us had a part whether sewing, ironing, or cutting. This was one of the quilts set out ready to be sewn together. I took this picture before I left so I don't know how far they got, but I'm sure they had at least both tops down.