Been gone so long......

 I finally finished the last of the 5 graduation quilts for this year.  This Chevron pattern was so easy.  I knew I wanted to use gray and yellow and the blue and orange came from one of the fabrics. I really love the brightness of this quilt.   I debated whether I was going to use white or black as the background but I'm really happy with the white.

 Linda, at Just Sew Quilt Shop, did the quilting.  It is very modern looking with the straight lines and boxes.

 I used a gray and yellow flannel for the back and a dark gray for the binding.

 Cole was very excited to get his quilt.  I gave his older brother one a couple of years ago so he knew it was coming and was so excited to see me come to the door.

 I finally put the binding on this Kaleidoscope quilt.  I really like the red and white striped binding.  For a long time I didn't like this quilt but I've had so many good comments on it that I think I appreciate it more now.  It really does look like you are looking through a kaleidoscope tube.

I thought the backing fabric was perfect utilizing many of the colors on the front.

A couple of weekends ago we went to St. George, Utah to see a dance recital of our granddaughter.  Our grandson, Taylor, is graduating from high school this year so I had made him a quilt too.  Here he is in the hotel room covered with his baseball quilt.  It was 88 degrees so he didn't really need a quilt.  

Here are 2 of our granddaughters getting to know each other.  Katie, in blue, has become quite an accomplished dancer now and we really enjoy her programs.  Ellie thinks she is the best.

Here Taylor is playing outside with Ellie.  She kept calling him her "good friend".


Happy Quilting!                      Lynda

Josh and his graduation quilt

 You remember this picture......the start of my young friend, Josh's Twister quilt.

 It is now finished and bound.

 Here is how it looks now.

And here is Josh all smiles when he received the finished quilt.  I showed him a picture of the quilt before it was cut and sewn back together and he was amazed that I could get this gorgeous quilt from the humble beginnings.

Oh I love these young people in my neighborhood!

Happy Quilting!              Lynda

Pincushion

I found this cute little heart shaped pincushion on the internet....at Moda Bakeshop (Moda Love Pincushion)...and decided I needed to make one.  It was really easy.  I used 1 triangle piece of fabric for the back and pieced the front triangle piece of fabric with diagonal strips. Their instructions have you making 2 at a time.  One for you and one for a friend!   Sewed it RST leaving a small opening to turn.  Stuffed with plastic pellets and batting.  Sewed the 2 ends together and tied a strip around it to make tails.  I think it turned out pretty cute.  (Don't tell Vreni at OopsLah but I added it to her giveaway winnings.  Hope she likes it!)

I've finished another quilt to give to a nice young man who lives across the street.  I'm giving it to him tomorrow so I'll post pictures then.

Happy Quilting!                   Lynda

 Ahhhh!   2nd day of our retreat has come and gone.  Patty has made 30 (if I remember correctly) of these beautiful Dresden Plate blocks.  After she had them all together 1 fabric just yelled "WRONG" to her.  So while she was at retreat she was picking out the offensive one and sewing in another paler petal.  She says she has been working on this quilt for 3 years already and this alteration should take her awhile.  Then she wants to hand quilt it.  It will be a beauty.

 Marilyn was busy at work.  She had a joint replacement with a cast on her hand and she still was smiling and making lots of blocks.

 Dixie was working on some Blocks of the Month for Quilt Etc. fabric store Saturday get together.  This one turned out great.  Martha was busy doing hand work.

 Arlee had made a darling Santa for her front door and was now working on 6 more for her children for Christmas.  Nothing like a head start on gift giving!

 Ina finished her Sunflower Skinny.  She hand quilted it.   We went to a class together, along with Dixie, to Quilt Etc. a couple of years ago.  Her wall hangings are getting done and mine are still sitting in a box.

 Our hostess, Suzanne, behind the quilt, shared a cute little girl baby quilt she has been working on.  So cute.

 Dee, who does the most beautiful applique quilts, has been binding this quilt during the retreat.  Isn't it a beauty!

 Megan came to our retreat this morning full of energy and happiness and excitement just bubbling over to tell us all her great news.  It seems her friend  kept urging her to enter a quilt in the Paducah quilt show this year. So......on the very last day.......she gathered all the required information, pictures, CD etc. and sent it off.  She figured she would frame the "rejection" letter and satisfy her friend.   However.  She was selected to have her quilt hung in the show.  This is the back of the quilt.  Isn't it great!!  I love when people piece the back too and make an entirely different quilt.

 This is the amazing front of her quilt.  I know......AMAZING!!   I should have taken some close ups.  Her applique is wonderful.  The colors just pop on that black background.  Congratulations to Megan.

I had my fingers to the fabric and my nose to the feed dogs for 2 days and actually finished a quilt top.  I think it turned out great.  I was a little worried that some of the fabrics were a little too strong but I think it turned out perfect.  Now to press it, pull off all the strings, and get it to the quilter.  I've decided against any border.

We had so much fun, sewed until our backs ached, laughed, ate and shared.  I'm already looking forward to our next retreat.   Thanks to Suzanne for hosting these retreats for us a couple of times a year.

Happy Quilting!                 Lynda

First Day of Retreat

 Yea!  Retreat is here!!!  Some people bring gifts to share.

 Claudia and her Halloween quilt in the making.  She hand embroidered all these amazing scary houses.  They were supposed to be all in black but she added some bright colors that really made them look great.  Here she is adding the sashing.

 There was a couple of "quilty" games and Alice was the first to finish so she won a prize.  A darling Sunflower pincushion made by our hostess, Suzanne.  Judy is laughing in the background.

 Myrna is busy working furiously to finish another quilt.  Myrna manages a quilt store and has really helped to make it one of my very favorite shops.

 Ina discussing applique I'm sure.  She is a master at it.

 Ina and Dee working and talking.  Dee showed a couple of great quilts but I didn't get any pictures of them.

 We stopped for a lunch break.  Always good food from quilters.

 Alice, Suzanne and Nancy discussing this great quilt.  Suzanne always has fun socks to wear at our retreats.

 Ina working a a Skinny Sunflower.

 Dixie making a block for a Quilts for Valor quilt Suzanne is putting together.

 Beth just discovered wool applique and was really enjoying the ease of applique with wool

 Yes I was working on my Chevron quilt.

Myrna ironing a great nine patch.

Now I best get myself together and get hustling off to the 2nd day of sewing, laughing, eating and sharing.

Happy Quilting!                Lynda

Woohoo!!  Vreni from OopsLah has won the giveaway.  Send me your address via e-mail and I'll get this off to you.  Thanks to those of you who entered.

I'm off to a Quilt Retreat tomorrow and Friday.    Lots of sewing, lots of laughing, lots of food and goodies.  I'm so looking forward to it.

Happy Quilting!                   Lynda

GIVEAWAY!!

 Over a year ago I joined Nina Lise at Mrs. Moen's blog for a "Pay It Forward" experience.  She sent me this darling wall hanging she titled, " Put on a Happy Face" that she made for me.  Those cute little button eyes have been looking at me every time I go into my sewing room.  Nina Lise even made the Smiley Face fabric.  I offered the chance to everyone to participate with me so I could make something for someone else...but I didn't get any offers because everyone was so busy.  Sooooo.....I decided to have a GIVEAWAY instead.

A long time ago I purchased some wonderful Asian fabrics to make myself a purse.  Well, I bought way too much and had enough to make another bag.  So I am giving away one of these bags to anyone who wants to enter.  All you have to do is leave me a comment.  That's it.....anyone and everyone can enter.  Please leave me a comment by midnight on the 26th.   Ten days from now on February 27th I'll draw a name from those of you who leave me a comment.  (Of course I'll add a few other little surprises too)

Happy Quilting!                    Lynda