we had cake!

in celebration of marge's 50th retreat, the staff of Amishview sent in this delish cake for all to enjoy....and it certainly was good! half chocolate, half white; it took a few days to polish off most of it....and of course the staff enjoyed some as well.  it was a nice surprise for all of us....*** well, mom tells me there is only a dusting of snow on the ground, so hoping by the time i arrive it will be melted.  had hoped to be relocated south before snow started but not yet.  will continue on until that happens.

so long buggies and bossies....

at least for now...it was a reluctant and somber trip out of lancaster county after a glorious relaxing and fun-filled week of all good things.  with all my stuff loaded into the car plus some local goodies to bring home, i reflected on all that had transpired, not just sewing and shopping, but also a relay fundraiser and reconnection with new, but tried-and-true friends.  it's true i am a city girl and like being close to city diversions, but this time away basking in open spaces and quiet ways invigorated and fed my soul.  ****  the wind is still howling outside and has been all day.  no snow here in CT but in maine there is....glad i brought along my wool winter hat.  it seemed dumb last week but came in handy today.  once i get unpacked i'll show my progress last week, but first gotta find space for "some" new fabric....oh that rue indienne line from moda.  i made a pledge to delete all shop emails from now until march when "union blues" from barbara brackman comes out....and until then, i'm going to be sewing and sewing and sewing.....you get the idea.  say, does anyone know how to attach a sewing machine table to a treadmill? 

scrappy shenandoah

this is retreat project #4....a scrappy version of judy martin's shenandoah log cabin.  i had made one of these previously but my sister-in-law really liked it, so it's hers now.  all 16 squares are in the works at once, which i find seems to go quicker than doing one complete square at a time.  it's another of those done whenever projects to use up scraps and will probably get donated someplace at some point.  **** well, it's the last full day of retreat and i for one am consumed with sadness.  the enjoyment and camaraderie i have found in these women has enriched my life in so many ways, more so than some other quilt groups i've attended in the past.  we all have tough things in our lives, but for the most part, they get set aside for one week and we work at having fun.  it's like the perfect positive storm of everything wonderful---gorgeous venue, shared friendships and quilting--doesn't get any better than this.  ***  and what did i see on the news?  snow?  not in maine, thankfully and not here either, so it can just stay wherever it is until march....if only...

isn't this cute!

several retreat gals are sporting this cute fabric box accessory, so tonight ann showed some of us how to make them.  i volunteered some of my new fabric....a la carte by american jane....and ended up with this little cutie!  endless possibilities for making these with regard to color choices and sizes. 

and this is my little batik project....this pattern is called "hexie stars" and it can be found at quilterscache website run by marcia hohn.  i'm calling mine "aurora borealis" as the batiks are bright jewel tones (mostly) and will be wallhanging size.  only 2 more stars to make then it's on to project #4.   **** a bit cooler here today but no matter, retreat fun isn't contingent on outside temps...and why oh why is it wednesday already?????

my view at amishview

this is the view outside my room at retreat.  a view like this isn't required for retreat fun, but it sure does up the ambiance factor 100 fold.  it was instant relief to finally get off the interstate and spy these pastoral vistas of endless fields and barns.  my reservation for next year is already made! *** got quite a bit of sewing done yesterday.  it was a gorgeous day, temps in the 70s.  i brought 4 sewing projects with me.  the blocks i was working on at the motel are done as far as they can be.  then the amish ocean waves is also done as far as it can be as well....ran out of triangles.  now i am sewing up batik scraps on a new piece i'll show you later.  that leaves one project to do after this and with 3+ days left, should get most of that done as well.  *** yes it was 70s yesterday, today 60s, tomorrow 50s and then in the 40s for the weekend.  i brought shorts, fleece pants, t-shirts and sweatshirts so i am ready for the fluctuation in temps.  now back to sewing....

birthday boy...

if you see this guy today, give him a birthday hug for me....it's brother #2...he was about age 2 or so in this photo...white blonde hair until he got older, constantly in motion and busy and sometimes feisty...but a cutie and special to us.  happy birthday bro!

and since i am on the road, decided to emulate one of my quilty mentors and plus phoebe in for some motel sewing.  got some blocks done for another whenever project....scraps repurposed...while watching PBS.  today the real fun begins when i meet up with the gals at retreat....how good is that?

mailbox surprise

oohh squeal!  these arrived in my mailbox yesterday.....a thank you gift that was totally unnecessary but a very generous gesture.  it was for a deed that anyone would have done; i'm not special by any means.  i have a project planned for kaffe fassett goodies and these will be ideal.  i am very thankful for this over-the-top gift.  ***  the day has arrived and the car is getting packed up today for what i hope will be a perfect vacation.  quilting, friends, fun, family.....can't get much better than that!  

another finish...

so here is "corn maze" all tied and done, ready to give away.  this represents 10+ yards out of my stash and another UFO off my list.  i love this pattern.  while i was making this quilt, was thinking of all the color combos that could be used to make more, equally stunning.  some nickel squares, some 2.5" strips and a whole lot of 1.5" strips and voila!  with the right colors it makes a real statement.  *** departure day tomorrow and just as promised, sun is out and shining bright, albeit cool but normal for late autumn.  the to-do list is nearly history and 2 weeks of fun ahead.   i love vacations!

jackpot!

had a bit of free amazon cash to spend and so i ordered these, what i thought was one yard of each...mod-ish christmas prints from michael miller but guess what!  there was a tag on the trees fabric and an extra 14" added to my yard...it said, jackpot you got the end of the bolt!  i am thinking tree skirt from these and a few others.  the other print is called "nordic christmas" and i just love the bright colors. i have a celery solid fabric that will go nicely i do believe.   **** after a very stormy week, spied a tiny patch of blue sky near the horizon today....could be we will see the sun very soon....tomorrow so the weather guru says.  looks like traveling weather for sunday will be nice as well.  ****  the donation quilt "corn maze" is just about ready for the washer.  the suitcase is out, the sewing space is tidied, laundry is done and most everything is ready.  ***  christmas will be here before can even hardly plan for it...have you started shopping?  i have one gift already and working on my list.  as long as it doesn't snow.....if only (sigh)...

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