I Can't Beleive it's the End of November!

We had my Sweet Farmer's family Christmas dinner today. It is the Saturday of the American Thanks Giving so all his brother's family can come up from New York. His mother rents her church hall and the siblings take turns hosting each year. The rest is potluck and we love it. What a joy to see all the next generation in the center of the room playing. Well, they start out in the center on the floor with toys and end  up playing tag, but they are not my kids so I could sit back and watch. Eighteen great-grand children age from the second youngest, our David who is ten months to our Ava and Clark who are the oldest at nine. We see some of these kids once a year so it is always fun to try to remember who is who. Our Elly was carrying empty plates and cups to the kitchen, not so much to be helpful, but to hurry along dessert. Because when you are four and three quarters, dessert is what it is all about.

My goal this month was to complete five of the BTCT blocks. I had several prepped and so far have completed three with four days left until the end of the month.

 

To my defense, I had my daughter and the two little boys here for most of the week. 

Tonight all three girls are coming for a sleepover.  

So, I will stitch little purple grapes and yellow flower centers for as long as I can.

I have not yet started on the embroidery. I did buy some green floss for the many tiny stems but will get to those one day when I am bored or avoiding doing anything really important.

Blessings,
Chris

Quilt Retreat 2016

Three of us took the seven hour drive to Shipshewana Indiana for the Just Takes 2 retreat. 

I sat in the  back and stitched no less than eight leaves. And no car sickness. This is good.

 However, that is all the stitching I got done on BTCT. 

I am told that what goes on at retreat stays at retreat but here is a peak from my sewing machine. 

I did get some tips on large stitch hand quilting using a size 22 or 24 chenille needle 

and number 8 or 12 pearl cotton. I will have to give it a try.

One of the fun things at retreat is learning from other quilters.

And we got to see the original 1857 Sampler in person. I got goosebumps.

I got seven Dear Jane 2 blocks done the Wed night and Thurs afternoon. 

We did go shopping a couple of times. My goodness! The best shops ever!!

I took a workshop with Linda Collins of Quilts in The Barn in Australia. She did a trunk show and lecture with some of her antique quilts. She has written this pattern for Simple Simon. I got two blocks made. 

And no pressing until a whole block is assembled. I finished cutting out all the bits after we came home.

Linda also taught a hand piecing class. This is a far as I got. Again no pressing.

 I chose to make only one block and it will go into one of the JT2 projects still in process.

I cannot believe how much my arthritic left hand hurts from all that cutting so better rest it a bit and do some housework. I have two little boy grandchildren and their mother coming over for the rest of the week and we will be celebrating my husband's family Christmas dinner this Saturday. There could be as many as fifteen great grand children nine years and under. Can hardly wait.

Blessings,
Chris

Going to the Shipshewana Retreat See You Next Week

Two of the little girls were here for the weekend and we had a task to do. The little boys were here the week before and all, not some, but all the pieces of 8 different Disney puzzles got dumped out. So three year old Devan and I assembled puzzles while four year old Elly watched Barbie movies on my desktop in the quilt room. Then Devan had to watch Minion movies on the laptop so I pulled out a BTCT block to work on. I put the headphones on Elly and both were happy.

We did finish all the puzzles then put them each into a separate baggie before Devan decided she had to do one of them again. She is good. She knows her Disney princesses and starts with the eyes and face then builds from there. Edges and corners are last. Ava turned nine and had a sleepover and spa party so the little sisters came to the farm. It was fun hearing them talk about their birthdays next year and they both plan to not invite their big sister.

My bags are packed for the Shipshewana Retreat in Indiana. Making a really, really big pot of homemade beef tomato rice soup. Should last my Sweet Farmer for a few days. That and the little boys will be here next week.

Blessings,
Chris

Beyond the Cherry Trees Progress

Last week I  finally and completely finished GORF after I got home from India  
I attached the binding. That was simple. I did it throughout the day when I did my India blog post and uploaded photos for hours it seemed right in the middle of my jet lag recovery. We called the bride and groom and invited them over to pick up their wedding present. I will post pictures when they do. Should be simple. I hope.

I stitched the leaves and wreath on this block in India then did the circles after I got home.

This is another I prepped and took to India and did some more work and preparation last week.

I started this one by drawing the design on the back of the background block. 

The stems are all done by back basting. 

Another block started. I am valiantly trying to complete a couple of courses for school but must have some hand work to turn to. Well, I have done more handwork than school work. 

I had not touched this block since last winter but did get the fruit and some of the leaves done in India. The bowl was stitched on at home. I still have to do a bit of reverse applique on the bottom of the bowl. And the bottom of the bowl is in line with the edge of the block. It really is. I still have most of the grapes to stitch on, a few more leaves and some embroidery on the cherries. 

This block I started 2 years ago but could not decide what colour to do the bowl. I stitched the center of the bowl purple a year ago but am just now adding the light red fringe. The bottom fringe has to be redone so it extends to the edge of the bowl. 

 Another block I did 2 years ago but now have the bowl and the fringe stitched on.

 So this brings my total completed blocks to 11 with a whole bunch in process. I am hoping to complete at least 5 of these this month. In the meantime, I am packing up my project boxes for the Shipshewana Quilt Retreat next week. And I promise that I will only start 1 new quilt. If all goes well, I might even complete it at the retreat. We shall see. I am taking 2 workshops with Linda Collins from Quilts in the Barn in Australia and she will have copies of her new book. I can hardly wait. I will be taking about 15 Dear Jane 2 blocks to work on. They will all be foundation pieced. And I will be taking a few BTCT blocks.

Blessings,
Chris