Summer's over here....

and the weather has turned cold! I had to wear jeans yesterday when I went out-first time since May. Today I went back to shorts, but shivered every time I quit working and just sat. Brrrr. I could live year-round in 70-80 degree weather and be very happy. The only time I want snow anymore is Christmas week. I do love the Fall, though. It's really my favorite time of year-still lots of sun and cooler weather.

And with Fall comes
and all the autumn colors I love. I have plans for 4 or 5 fall wallhangings. Some will be themed for Halloween, but others just for autumn or harvest time,
and then on to Thanksgiving.
I have a ton of fall patterns and books to choose from-that's the hard part! I've spent the last couple of weeks going over them and have made my final choices. Now to get down to business and start working.

I did mail out my September Happy Blocks in the Aunt Grace/Wash Tub 30's prints to the winners of that drawing on Block Central, NorthernDeb and Kylie.
Those lucky gals won about 50+ blocks each. I have to add a white border to each of the extra blocks I made and then I'm going to make them into a baby quilt top. Katie thinks we'll have enough to make 2 baby quilts or a lap quilt. She really like the blocks-especially the orange ones!

I also joined Bonnie Hunter's new Quiltville Swap Group on Yahoo and mailed out my first fabric swap strips. I love this group because we have a choice between swapping washed or unwashed strips. I don't usually pre-wash my fabric, so of course I chose to swap the unwashed 2 1/2-inch strip sets. We could swap up to 10 sets of 10 strips each, but I went for 5 sets my first time. Then wished I had done the 10 sets, because I forgot the strips are not WOF but only 20-22 inches. So I could get 2 strips out of each WOF strip.
Katie said, "DUH!" But next time I'll remember.

When I went to visit my grandson in Syracuse last month I went to 4 quilt shops in the area. My 2 favorites were Calico Gals and Mission Rose Quiltery. Calico Gals is very small but had lots of nice fabric and patterns for it's size. Mission Rose Quiltery was larger and had so much to look at, I think I went into overload looking at the tons of samples they had up. Both shops are located on the second floor, but still worth the visit. I also visited Cottons,Etc., which is very nice but I think more geared to fashion fabrics and clothing, and Patchwork Plus Quilt Shop in Marcellus. Patchwork Plus is huge--I've never seen so many fabrics outside a wholesale warehouse! Every color and theme you can imagine. Any ladies--they have TWO huge and beautiful bathrooms!! A big plus in my book. So if you're in the Syracuse, NY area, be sure and check these 4 places out. I told my grandson I'd be back for another visit soon if they have any fall classes I want to take. Just think-seeing my grandson and going to a quilt class all in one stay--how is that?

And last, but not least, a huge "THANK YOU" to Toni, The Quilting Pirate for getting my comments on this blog to work. She was kind enough to take the time to fix me up so I can now get responses. Isn't she the greatest? Thanks, Toni, I owe you one.

Well, off to bed now so I can get up bright and early and get groceries, then I'll have all afternoon to pick fabrics and get cutting. Until next time....

Happy Quilting
Sharon