Back on Track!

needs last border of plaid then backing border

Well it has been a busy week but not in the sewing department. Lots of meeting and goings on! But I did fit in some sewing on friday....well!! I sewed 4 borders on and then an hour later had to rip them out as I had put them on the wrong sides. I am making a quilt wider and a bit longer, I had a 50/50 chance of doing it right and lost. I did get them back on correctly and called it a night. So today my task is to finished putting on the last border and increasing the backing. I think it would have been easier to make the top from scratch. There will need to be some quilting done too and I am thinking of continuing the machine quilting that is on the quilt now. That will require some practicing as I am not proficient in machine quilting. Wish me luck!!

doing this one is more fun

I am also wanting to put a few more stitches in this baby quilt today. That will be my slow stitching with Kathy.

Yesterday I spent the day putting in the last of the bedding plants for the garden and adding some flowers to the front of my house. Now we need some warm weather to get everything growing healthy!

veggie garden is coming along

Miss Belle inspecting flowers

1st peony blossoms

My dad(will be 18 years this December he past away)

 Today while I work away I will be thinking of my dad and wishing him a Happy Father's day. I remember him fondly, his sneaky grin  and love of anything sweet especially date squares!

playing with some friends

Also wishing another special man in my life a Happy Father's day....my hubby.

Quilting friends are the best

24" square

I really do believe this! I had one of mine come for a visit this weekend. We spent Friday night hand stitching and watching "Outlander" on her pvr. She got me hooked on the series. All day Saturday we sewed away. I must say she got way more accomplished than I did. All I have to show for the weekend is this small baby quilt and pin basted this other baby quilt that I am going to hand quilt. The small baby quilt was made from scraps and bonus triangles from 2 gals at the retreat I went to the other weekend.
Today I am pin basting a couple of small quilts that I want to machine quilt and hopefully I will get something done on those.
I am linking up with Kathy and slow stitching did get done on the weekend and that is why I am linking up a day late. Better late (with quilting done) than not at all.

The weather has been rainy and cool lately so all this sewing is getting done cause I know the warm weather is headed our way and I will be spending more time outside in the garden. My flowers are starting. These are the first crop of poppies to bloom. A later variety will bloom in July.

Retreat Roundup

Retreats are relaxing, enjoyable and busy, not to mention exhausting!! Yes it has taken a few days to get back into the routine of life at home. Now that things are caught up and my sewing things unpacked, I have time to update my blog with the goings-on of the weekend.

Northridge Inn -lakeside

There were 11 of us at the retreat with 9 of us sewing in the main lodge so we had lots of room to spread out. We were at the Northridge Inn just outside of Sundridge, where new owners are working their magic to freshen up but still keep the rustic feel of the inn.With views and sunsets like this how can you go wrong! Even the wildlife was friendly. I wanted to take pics of these two Mallards so I tried to sneak up on them only to find out they would follow you just about anywhere!

view from my room

I was able to sew up two baby quilt tops, one large lap top and I did more hst piecing on a quilt of Bonnie Hunter's that I have been working on as a leader and ender. They will pop up on the blog as I finish them in the weeks to come. So I think it was a productive weekend. I even got in some hexie time one evening when I was just to tired to sit at the machine any longer.

our room

lobby

Our last evening was a beauty!!

My roommate taking a break from her sewing machine

friendly wildlife

Perfect ending

While I was away DH put in the garden. Well except for plants that would freeze, we are still waiting for warmer weather. It is overcast and grey here today so looks like I might get some sewing in yet!!!Looking forward to this weekend when my friend is coming for a visit and we get to chat and sew together. Happy sewing!!!

Packing day!!

Why do today what you can put off till tomorrow...well it is tomorrow now! Yup packing today! I really am excited to go to quilt retreat but just haven't figured out what projects to take. I have a couple that are almost done and a few(lots) that I would like to start. But do I really want to start something and not be able to finish it? Besides some of those are kits and I don't want to start cutting into kits when there is so much chatting to be done...you know that is when mistakes happen!!
I do need a baby boy quilt for a great nephew who is due to arrive in July. There does seem to be a baby boom going on in our area. Also I was thinking of making a quilt for a gift for someone...just a scrappy one so that might be an option too! Oh decisions,,,,decisions!!

1st block sampler

So while I am away here are some more pics from my show and tell. I can't believe how many quilts I have in the cupboard and around my house.

2" squares-pattern taken from a kerchief

blue challenge fabric 

taught this class a couple of year ago

simple pattern-lots of space to quilt

my very own pattern, was a mystery quilt

Debbie Caffrey mystery

starting to sew up my hexies!

 So I don't want to have to cut up any more paper hexies so I have started joining my pieces. I am not sure how big I will be able to go before it becomes unmanageable. I will do it in 4 quads but still that could be very large. I may still have to make more papers but will try this for now. This pic also showed up on Bonnie Hunter's quilt cam on Tuesday June 2, check it out!!
Well typing here is not getting me packed. Have a great rest of the week and weekend. Come back on Sunday and see what happened while I was on retreat!!!