gloria gaynor not!

this amusing little quilt had me humming that 80s disco song with images of a mirror ball and the hustle except this quilter, cyndi zoller, was portraying another kind of night life, one where she likes to go to sleep early.   it was a ribbon winner and rightly so.  victoria has some other photos of this nice show, different than mine, so be sure and check them out.  *** my sewing time is now focused on sewing on the binding of my scrappy donation quilt which i've named "corn maze", hoping for a finish in the next couple of days.  today is a day off for me and it's filled with errands and tasks getting ready for retreat.  it's been rainy and windy all week but looks like the skies will clear in time for departure.   a whole year wait is almost over.  am thinking about maybe doing the spring retreat, since it's an awfully long time between quilty R and R....will see what mr. bank balance says about it....LOL

another show fave....

this one is titled "family tree" and i am guessing these are grandchildren (?).....faces colored with colored pencils looking so life like....climbing in a tree.....stunning effect.  made by betty jo quinn.  *** cool weather is back and here to stay, so the weatherman says.  november is around the corner and it could snow any time, though most years holds off until at least thanksgiving.  many in maine dread the winter but few actually flee, the rest preferring to remain and complain.  as for me, most of my stuff is packed and i'd be happy to leave maine anytime...

another prize winner....

was this blue and white beauty by anna bullard....beautifully machine quilted by linda bevins....what is better than a blue and white?  not a thing, in my book anyway....it was my favorite for people's choice....and no show is complete without

fabric, what else?  i didn't buy these, they were gifted to me by victoria...we are both 12-step flunkies as far as fabric is concerned....a beautiful paisley and a rust AND 2 gorgeous autumn fabric charm packs....i just started a project with the jelly roll she gave me last summer, and as luck would have it, an autumn fabric quilt is swirling around in the gray matter now....it was ESP!

best of show...

went to the cocheco show in rochester, nh today...first thing i saw when entering the room was this....

it's orange!   oooh, the book and scraps for MY orange are packed away, but apparently i am not the only one who loves this color!  the whole quilt and then a block closeup...see those strippy triangles?  a bonnie follower...whaddya think?

but then i saw this....the back!

it's an orange masterpiece! 

nothing finer....

than free fabric!....this was a giveaway in the recent marcus bros sew-along....9 lovely repro FQs and a kit for a vintage change purse....how nice!  it'll take time to decide on a fabric for the purse; meantime, the FQs will get washed/dried and added to the stash.  thank you marcus bros and lisa shepard stewart!  **** it's my weekend and numero uno task is to finish the scrappy quilt; it'll get tied and donated (after washing!) and also be off my UFO list to boot...how good is that?  i've been keeping track of fabric in/out this year and am woefully behind in using it up, not that i haven't seriously tried.  still time before year's end to make a decent showing and avoid feeling like a fabric collector instead of a fabric user...now back to the scrappy!

2 more rows.....

before it's a flimsy....so far it is gorgeous i think.   the last row sewn, bottom of photo, hasn't yet been attached to the others just so you know.  easy peasy to assemble and hardly have to keep track of colors...it'll be a great quilt for somebody.  ****  say what?  october 15th already?  fortunately this is the last thing i have to do before i can start packing for retreat in 10 DAYS!  i haven't blogged as i've been doing some secret sewing that i can show a bit later.  all is on track for departure...haircut done, snacks bought, projects packed, phoebe snug in her carrier and raring to go.  *** by the way, if you are interested in this pattern, marge at delaware quilts has it for a donation to her relay project.  a very worthy cause and the pattern gives you multiple sizes....so hop on over to www.delawarequilts.com and pick up one! 

revolting!

the empty scrap basket was a short-lived event....here is one of them now...the other is still empty but as you can see, some have already accumulated in this one.  it happens before you know it....and there will probably be more until the scrappy donation is a flimsy.  it is a delightful problem, to have an embarrassment of riches such as a fairly good-size stash.  not as large as some but not as small as some either.  what can i say..i just love fabric and working with it.  i think with the retreat trip, i might just reach my saturation point, at least with space.  i am trying to use it up, really i am.  plenty of ideas for projects.....ah what bliss!

swap blocks

got these lovelies in the mail the other day.....aren't they gorgeous!  this is half of the Lady of the Lake Block Swap; the other half will come in January i believe...so the UFO list grows....  no sewing today yet...grocery shopping and a half-day trip to the clipper merchant tea room with mom for some tea, soup and scones....so very good!  and the foliage is definitely peak in my surrounds...with the sun shining on the leaves, it is magical!  ***  2 weeks now to retreat; next week at this time i'll be getting out the suitcase and putting things together.  as anxious as i am to start my quilty vacation, i know it will be over way too soon.  that's how it goes usually....but i know i'll enjoy every moment. 

scrappy alphabet progress

while it is true that i cut up all my scraps, some were set aside to finish this little sew along project...the scrappy alphabet!  like the big scrappy currently in progress, this little one will use the yellow as the sashing to bring it all together.  there are also a few random patchwork blocks to even out the rows...it'll be a cute finish and a nice giveaway to the right person when done.  ***  already working at the machine this sunny autumn morning.  retreat is coming fast and still have a few things to finish before i can start packing.  even though i have time to sew when in maine, getting together with old and new friends for nonstop fun is sooo enjoyable...i can hardly wait!  but first, back to the old viking!

super sewing sunday....

it was one of those days when everything was aligned and spent the ENTIRE day sewing, well most of it.  i did work some on the hawaiian, but the rest of the time was at the machine and look what got done.  first, 2 rows completely done on the scrap quilt, then most of the rest of the squares done and ready to add, plus lots of strips cut out of the yellow PLUS some sewing on another quilt from a jelly roll given to me by victoria.  the scrappy is coming along nicely...i am thinking about that plaid piece that might get changed....but other than that, i am liking this a lot.  the backing and batting are on hand so it will be a fairly quick finish.  *** this morning already at the old viking trying to finish up all the squares so i can then put the top together.  this will have a total of 7 rows and it did make a significant dent in my 2.5" strip stash....now go tackle your list!!!