Sew this ...cut that, bzzzzz!!!! zzzing!!!rippppp (hopefully NOT!)

Yes just me and the dog for a whole weekend and the sewing machine and the rotary cutter will be buzzing!!!
It will be a retreat of sorts for one. Let's see what this girl can turn out in four days! I have plans but we all know how that goes, you start on one thing and SQUIRREL!!! You are onto another thing!
So with that in mind, I have tumblers to cut out to use as leaders and enders, I have a baby quilt that needs basting and quilting then binding. I must get started on some demos for the new guild year, and there are at least 3 baby quilts I want to make for little ones that are being born this summer. YIKES

Tumblers,leaders and enders

This past Monday my friend Jessica and I went on a mini road trip to two shops in the row by row. She is collecting the rows but I just went along for the ride and a little retail therapy. This is the smallest amount of fabric I think I have ever bought. Just a few fat quarters  to increase the size of my tumblers. I took along some of the tumblers I have already cut to match colours. It is the strangest shade of brown/beige!

robot baby quilt for a little boy

Whatever you are up to today and this weekend...hope you are having fun!!
P.S.  Just a thank you to those who commented on my rant from the other day. It is nice to know I am not alone in my thoughts on this subject.

Reader BEWARE!! Rant about to happen

What makes a quilt teacher...a teacher? Is it countless certificates, numerous courses that have been taken, vast knowledge of all things quilt related or a love and passion for a dying art form. Is it some of these or all of these or possibly none of these??
Could it be that all those certificates show that the teacher is just a good student? I have taken classes where the teacher was certified but was not necessarily a good teacher whereas I have learned many tips and tricks and taken classes along the way from the guild member at the next table.
Having said all this...my rant is...why do we as guild members think if a teacher is certified or not or comes from out of town she is worthy of a monetary compensation but if a guild member offers to teach a class she is not given the same compensation! Where is the fairness in this and how does it possibly encourage other members to want to teach at guild.
I would like to hear from you. What does your guild do? What do you think could be done to better the situation.
Thanks for reading and listening to my rant!!!

completely done!!

Onto more fun things. I have a couple of finishes this week. A baby quilt is finally done but has no home as yet. Also the flannel quilt that I was enlarging for a friend is finished complete with me extending the machine quilting(oh boy) and ready for delivery!

Added black and dark brown borders

Plaid added to backing & new label

Finished quilt 

Routine...what routine!?!?!

Seems like I have been on holidays for two weeks. Had my friends come to visit and a quilting weekend then this past weekend I went away to another friend's cottage for more sewing and relaxation. Wanted to show you the view I had all weekend but I guess I will have to be more on the ball with the camera. I thought I had a pic but search with no results.

robot quilt in progress

Now it is back to reality and a definite need to get into the sewing mode and get some baby quilts made. There have been three babies born to friends or relatives in the last two weeks with more on the way.
I did work on one on the weekend but I was having a issue wrapping my brain around the cutting amounts. I was trying to use only fat quarters and wanting to make sure I had enough..I cut way more than I needed of one patch and than didn't have enough for another part. I made do with what was left. Now after struggling with the cutting, it didn't leave much time for sewing so all I got done was the strips and hst. I will work to get the blocks together and into a quilt top this week. I have till Aug 15 to get this quilt finished. Lucky for me crib quilts are small!!!

never ending it seems - hexies

We did watch the last season of Downton Abbey so I was able to get some slow stitching in on the weekend and especially Sunday joining Kathy. I am so trying not to have to cut more papers but it looks like I may not have a choice in that department. I started joining the pieces and it is starting to take shape. It is a slow slow process but something that I can keep working on and travel with.
Looks like it is going to be a warm day today so getting the housework done so I can relax later. Enjoy your Monday!!

Post "Quilt Camp North"Blues

They have packed up their machines and fabric bundles and have all gone home. My house is back in order and ALL those threads and fabric bits have been cleaned up. Now I can't wait for next year to do it all again!!
We really did have so much fun. Stories and giggles till our sides hurt. Catching up with each other as we live 5-6 hours apart.Now if only I could catch up on my sleep!!

Kathy I think you forgot something!!

So we all managed to get things accomplished. Barb and Louise worked on a quilt together. Barb also did some binding for me. Kathy got a mini(very mini) tumbler done and her stash buster quilt top finally put together with only a little bit of pushing. We had to bribe her and it worked although she forgot her bribe when she left. And as I write this blog post, it is what she posted about today on her blog too. You can read about it here!!!Not to worry Kathy I will take care of your things!! wink wink!!

Jamestown Landing by Bonnie Hunter- my version

 I finally got the pieces altogether for Jamestown Landing. That is one weighty flimsy top. It just needs some borders and it will be ready for quilting. I also worked on a tumbler piece, got it all sewn up and then Tuesday while doing some shopping, I decided to enlarge it. So now it is in pieces once again so I can add more colours and pieces to make the piece larger. Look for that in the coming days.
Today I have some major weeding in my garden to do and then to pack. I am headed to visit another quilt buddy for the weekend. I love my life!!!! We try to get together each month for a weekend, with phonecalls and facebook inbetween!! Hmmm wonder what I will pack to do this weekend?
Coffee is almost done so I have to get my butt in gear, there is work to be done so I can play this weekend!!

Monday sewing Madness!!

Piranhas-Barb,Kathy,Louise ad Me

Well we are still sewing away, enjoying the fun and friendship although we had to say good-bye to one of the piranhas. Kathy had to return to reality otherwise known as home/work!!
We are plugging away on our various projects today. Louise and Barb have gone to collect a row by row at a quilt store, while I stay behind to keep sewing. I have way too many UFOs to start something new. Tomorrow we are going on a short road trip. I will be their navigator to a couple more quilt stores and maybe lunch while we are out. It has been very warm here so we have made good use of my gazebo for supper and a little slow stitching on Sunday.

Barb was eager to help with some binding and Kathy was staying caught up on her blog. Maybe that is what I have to do...get a laptop so I can  post more often. I have been teased about not posting as much as Kathy. I just don't do as much and figure blog readers would get bored with the same old same old.

Dear Hubby has been a good sport too from keeping the wet dog outside to even BBQing for us and eating a little later than usual. He has even added to the fair share the laughter and giggles that have been going on since Friday!! But for the most part he just hides out in his garage!!

Here I am working away on my Jamestown Landing quilt. There are so many pieces and seams to match....yikes!!!I have pretty much only worked on this but I have some tumbler blocks I am using as leaders and enders. It is a Bonnie Hunter sewing weekend for me!! And hard to believe...there is more threads and strings on the floor than dog fur...and that is saying a lot!! Happy sewing, I know my Monday is a good one!!!

Piranha Weekend

Our work space...don't we look productive!

Well life is continuing on its journey and what better way to start a new chapter than to have friends around you. I have  three quilt buddies here for a few days of sewing, quilting, chatting and laughter...my sides are hurting.
I have sewn 5 fox blocks for a special gift that another group of quilters is working on. Now I am onto my Jamestown Landing quilt from Bonnie Hunter's book. This was a leaders and enders for me for awhile but now the push is on to finish it. After that who knows what I may get into.

Joining Kathy today for some slow stitching in my gazebo...she is here in person..at my house!!!

I have lots of binding to do for slow stitching but do I really want all that flannel quilt on my lap...NOT!!! So maybe some hexies or embroidery will be in the works for me.

Another milestone this week...little (not so little) Belle is 1 year old!!! Happy Birthday girlie!!Here she is enjoying her toy...it didn't last long! That tennis ball was in pieces and the rope was chewed to bits...back to her KONG toy which she hasn't managed to destroy yet!!

Caution...curve ahead!!!

Almost 14 years old

She loved the snow

Curve indeed.... You just never know what life will throw your way. Last week was not a good one in our household. We had to make the most difficult decision to put down our older dog Zoe . Her health in the last week had been getting worse. She wasn't eating much and her mobility was getting bad. The last straw was when she refused to eat a milkbone...her treats she never turned down.She needed help to get up off the floor. We spent a heartbreaking weekend with her and on Monday called the vet. Our fur babies are such a part of our lives...but we knew it was the best thing.

Luckily I was kept busy the rest of the week getting the trailer ready to go to my family reunion. It was a weekend full of laughter and catching up. So now another week has begun and I am playing catch up, trying to get all the work done so that this weekend I can relax. Why?!?! Three friends are coming...three quilting buddies and we have three days of sewing ahead of us! I think this might actually become an annual event, now wouldn't that be great!!

So I haven't been sewing but I do have lots of binding to do. This quilt has been increased from 60x80 to 82x96 and the machine quilting has been extended to cover the additional borders. I just have to attach the binding and sew it down. But with it being a flannel quilt, I am looking for a few cool days to do that.

For those regular blog readers...I will try to write more often...don't want to disappoint my followers. Stay tuned I am sure this weekend will hold lots of fun. Thanks for hanging in there!!