Virtual Retreat 2016

[genevacarroll]

Heather - love the commissioned baby you did a great job!
Luann - great to see what you are working on, I've missed you too.
Annis - I agree with Geneva what a bummer to have to repair a bought comforter! Looking forward to seeing your repair.

[ajclapp]

I tried cutting diamonds first but didn't like them, so cut up the 2nd sham into rectangles and will hand sew one on each side. If I fold the top down like the picture the gold on the back side will hide the patch. For the slit on the back I will slip a piece of fusible under it and hope for the best. It will be on the far side of the bed and won't be seen anyway unless I decide to use the reversible side of the comforter which I probably won't. I should use the leftover fabric to make a throw pillow. We'll see.

[ajclapp]

Luann...great to see you again :side: I've missed you! Love the stuff you've done

I'm really busy trying to get all the things I need to do done before I leave to visit my son for a month hmy: I'm excited to go, don't see them nearly often enough

Dorothy

[ajclapp]

I'm glad to be back, too!
I'm going on vacation for a couple of weeks but I'll be lurking if I can get online in the remote areas I'll be traveling to!

I just finished my third post for the blog challenge that Terry Knott nominated me for. I've included a giveaway so you might want to check it out. www.letscreatetoday.blogspot.com I look forward to your comments on my dilemma.

Thanks for all your encouraging words.

[ajclapp]

What a shame about the comforter needing repair! ugh.

I quilted the baby quilt, and reorganized my sewing room. Yay! I had to undo some of the quilting, and fix other parts, but it is now done and just needs a label (waiting on the customer to say what she'd like back there) and binding. I'll take close-ups later on, I'm satisfied with the bulk of it, and very pleased with the corner design I came up with. The rest is good, just nothing fancy/special.

The sewing room is lovely in it's makeover; new cabinet, moved the table to the middle of the room and stood my design boards up against the wall and now I can walk all the way around everything and nothing's in the floor in the way (except for cords......need to see about a solution for that).

Barb, I am just finally mailing your Row to you today, as I never made it to the post office last week as planned.

Off to take kids to the eye doctor.....have fun, everyone!

[ajclapp]

Thanks for the heads up Heather!
Barb :-)

[Scoopie]

Heather, I think it is great that you weren't afraid to itemize all of the costs involved in making a quilt for your friend! And, the fact that she accepted the price was equally great! There are so many people out there that just don't understand the time and money involved in making a quilt. You did good!!!

Luann, I see you have been having fun and are still being super productive. Yes, paper piecing can be addictive. I have done around three or four Judy Neimeyer quilts. I actually saw her in my LQS a couple of days ago. She came in to see a couple of finished quilts from her last pattern. There seemed to be a big mistake in them. I'll have to find out more on my next visit. The visit before that one, all the ladies from her current retreat came in to buy all of their fabric (with her help) for their quilt. Can you imagine the total amount of money spent in the shop that day?! What a sweet deal!

Annis, thanks for the review on the mat and the ruler! It always helps to hear other's perspective. I hope the mending of the comforter is coming along okay! What a drag! I hate to spend precious quilting time on mending!

Dawn

[ajclapp]

The patches are done. I found this biscuit quilt that I made out of shiny fabrics years ago just for fun. I wasn't sure if it would fit the style of the room but I think I like it. What do you think? I have enough biscuits left over to make a couple throw pillows and enough from the pillow shams for the pillow backs, and even zippers and cording if I want to us them. Too bad I have to go back to my city home later today and make dozens of deviled eggs and frost dozens of sugar cookies. At least my house is clean enough for all of the guests that will be there tomorrow and the cookies are already baked. Happy Easter!

[ajclapp]

Wow Annis - the comforter looks great with the biscuit quilt on top! Love the room with all the pieces too.
Happy Easter to you too!
Barb

[ajclapp]

Annis, that looks lovely together! What a find, and what a beautiful room!

Dawn, thank you! I've learned from all of you, blogland, etc, -- charge what it's worth. I decided since she asked, I'd be honest & upfront and let her decide. I was surprised she said yes! I have found it stressful, as you all know I am not a precision quilter. When quilting for myself, my children, gifts, etc., this doesn't bother me. Quilting for pay....yikes! I've undone and redone and feel it's good now, but the longer I look at it, the more mistakes I notice. Nothing she will notice, most likely, but still. However, label & binding are on, I'll wash it today and contact her to arrange delivery. I will take a photo before & after I wash it for you all to see

I have determined, though, I truly need to start spending time every single day practice quilting on throw-away sandwiches or mug rugs, etc. My ideas for quilting outpace my abilities, which gets me into trouble. I think when I have down time between projects I'll cut scraps into pieces for simple blocks, and make a little box to piece, assemble, quilt so I can practice. I need my skill level to catch up to my idea level!

[ajclapp]

Lovely room Annis!
Heather...I just made a jelly roll quilt, and am practicing different quilting in each stripe....it will end up on my couch, so it's pretty stress free....it's only for me :evil: it's really good practice for tight places, and I put a border on it, so will have some bigger negative space to practice in :P

Dorothy

[ajclapp]

Heather,
You commented about practicing on 'throw away' pieces, etc. Here's an idea for practicing without stress. Use inexpensive muslin for top and back and colored thread for visibility of stitches. Mark out your blocks with permanent marker, baste everything together like usual, then practice different stitches inside each block that you've drawn. Do lots of quilting! Bind in the easiest manner and give these to dog and cat shelters in your area. Check on the sizes they would prefer and just cut things to work for it. Basically, this is whole cloth quilting at is basic level. Now if I just use my own advise!!

[lorra]

These are great ideas Heather. Another is to use an old sheet (If you don't have one, look at a thrift store.). I don't know if the boys are too old to lie on the floor while watching TV, but they would provide a little extra padding if they do. My SIL is 30 and he still likes to lay on the floor to watch. If they have designs on them, you can practice following the designs, or echo quilting them. And, I like Luann, should practice more myself. I have no confidence in my quilting ability.

[lotti]

My new travel buddy, Bud' the Vermont Moose Bear and I have arrived in Chicago and have moved into our 'home' for the next week...
He's commandeered the bed next to the window at the Palmer House Hilton...

[lorra]

Bud looks great there. I always pick the bed closest to the bathroom. Short walks sometimes matter when you get older.
I have been doing some charity sewing, sewing together squares to make banners for a local church's May Procession. I will have some help in a few weeks, but wanted to get a head start on it. 450 3" squares per side, 900 per banner. I think I have enough squares to do 5 banners. I will also be attending our state guild meeting in a few weeks. My son from Michigan, and daughter from Ohio will also be here during that time, so it will be busy. My mystery clue will need to wait until after the 25th to get done. Also, my row exchange for April.
Then, there is the garden to take care of. Well, I just need to help do the planting and harvesting. DH does the taking care of it in between. Hope you are all keeping busy. Have a great and productive April.