Sunday, October 21, 2012

A new blog hop is coming....

A Fall Machine Embroidery Blog Hop will be sharing inspiration with an emphasis on Fall, and Christmas ideas too! They'll also be some tips, tutorials, and giveaways in this fun blog hop. And, you don't have to do machine embroidery to join the fun in this event.


Mark your calendars and come join the fun November 5th - 9th.  I found this info on SewCalGal's blog, so check out the bloggers there.  Since I just purchased an embroidery machine and have only used it once so far, I'll be waiting impatiently for this hop.

My BFF, Donna G, who's birthday we celebrated this week, made another new purse to drool over.  It's in gorgeous fabric that she tried to rip right out of my hands one day at the fabric store--but I was too tough for her, and she had to find this somewhere else, lol.  Isn't it pretty?


Usually a bunch from our Wednesday sewing group goes on a retreat for our Yahoo group during the summer.  The last 3 years we've gone to Canton, Ohio, but this year only Donna and her daughter, Jill, were able to go.  Another Yahoo member, Lyn from New Hampshire, did a tutorial on Celtic Knots at the retreat and Donna took it.  It's all hand applique and here is the piece Donna finished.  She wants to do more soon.


On Wednesday our group went to Hammondsport, NY (officially one of the coolest small towns in America) and visited the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum to see a small quilt and embroidery exhibit being held there.  The museum was fantastic!  Curtiss was the father of naval aviation and supplied the US with the first naval airplanes in WWI.   He also invented many motorbikes and cycles, plus water planes.  Very interesting trip thru history. 

Only a few quilts in the exhibit, but lots of lovely hand embroidery and applique.  The museum also had a large exhibit of miniature and dollhouses--especially liked the Irish Cottage with a thatched roof.

After the museum we headed off to lunch at Snug Harbor, a neat restaurant on the lake.  During the summer I love to eat out on the porch or dock, but a bit windy and cool today, so we enjoyed the indoors instead.  We had a lots of laughs and good food, and gifts for the birthday girls, Donna G and Gail P.

Then off to the quilt store, Lake Country Patchworks,  for some fabric shopping.  They carry lots of Orientals and batiks, so I picked up 3 Oriental fat quarters to add to my stash for my some-day quilt.  They also carry a great selection of grape fabric because, after all, they're located in the heart of the Finger Lakes grape country.

So until next time,
Happy quilting from Sharon and the girls


 

Monday, October 15, 2012

Are you ready for the drawing?

Today's the day I said I'd draw for the prizes I donated to the Leafs Me Happy Blog Hop.  It's my BFF Donna G's birthday, so she'll bring someone some good luck today.  

So to DONNA:

May you have cake all day long, lol.


What a fun experience this was for me.  Everyone was so nice.  And so many people stopped by and left lovely comments about my projects.  I was very nervous about doing my first hop, but since it was so pain-free, lol, I think I'll do it again.  My buddy, Joan, at MooseStash Quilting does them all the time and gives me lots of encouragement and inspiration, so look for me to do more in the future.

Thank you to our wonderful, hard working hostess, Cherry, at Cherry Blossums Quilting Studio and to Madam Samm at Sew We Quilt, the inspiration and bestest (?) cheerleader behind this and many blog hops to come.

With further ado, here is the winner of our little drawing:

Kathy H said...
I am a new follower and love the pictures of your cats. The maple leaf quilt is going to be gorgeous. ANd how cute with the cat and the pumpkin. The mug rugs are a great idea with all the different colors for the seasons. It turned out great too.

So thanks, Kathy H, for your kind comments (and Katie and Patsy Cline thank you, too).  I've sent you an email, so as soon as I receive your snail mail info, I'll get your Fall mug mat and charm pack in the mail to you.

And thanks to all of you out there that stopped by and left lovely comments and mercy me, even became a follower, lol!  This was a wonderful experience.  If you haven't tried it yet, I encourage more of you to join in.

Until next time,
Happy quilting from Sharon and the girls, Katie and Patsy Cline


Monday, October 8, 2012

Day 6 of the Leafs Blog Hop...

Today is the 6th day of the hop and more quilters will be posting their leaf-themed blocks. Cheerleader and hostess Cherry, at CherryBlossoms Studio, has all the info. Visit her to see the schedule on her sidebar and get ready for a fun trip. The blog hop goes until October 10th.

Don't forget the Halloween paper-pieced blog hop is also going on, and doesn't end til the last day of October.  Stop at Whims and Fancies to see the schedule at the bottom of her post.  Lots of great, new, original blocks on this hop.

Until next time,
Happy quilting from Sharon and the girls, Katie and Patsy Cline

Friday, October 5, 2012

IT'S HERE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Today is DAY FIVE of the blog hop and my day to post THE BLOCK!  Thank you to our wonderful, hard working hostess, Cherry, at Cherry Blossums Quilting Studio and to Madam Samm at Sew We Quilt, the inspiration and bestest (?) cheerleader behind this and many blog hops to come. What an experience this has been.

I've been a nervous wreck worrying that I would do something wrong and end up being banned from all future hops (and maybe even from blogland, lol.)  So take pity on me and remember this is my first attempt at a blog hop.

Since Fall is my favorite season and I live on a street that is lined with maple trees, what better block for me to do than the Maple Leaf.  I chose the 12-inch finished block from Marcia Hohn's  Quilters Cache and did it in just two colors for a challenge on one of my Yahoo groups.  We've been doing an Amish BOM for the past year, so my colors for the block are orange and black.  This will fit right in with the other blocks I've done for the quilt top. 

But because I love that block so much, I've also been working on another quilt done completely in Maple Leaf  blocks of all colors.  So far, I only have five of the 12-inch blocks done, but it's a work in progress, so it will get done sooner or later.  Here's Katie helping me choose my fabrics.

I think I want to make several of the future blocks in batiks.  Since I started working with them, I find I really love them.  And here's what I have done so far.

Once I started working with my Fall fabrics I found I didn't want to quit.  So then I went on and made a Fall mug rug to set my tea/hot chocolate on.  I've been in several mug rug swaps and they are so much fun.  I'm sorry but I don't remember where I got the paper pieced pattern I used, but it could have been from Carol Doak,  I belong to her Yahoo group and have several of her paper piecing books and CD's.  I like this pattern because I can make it in lots of fabrics for different seasons.  I've made it in pastels and darks for Spring, Summer, and Fall.  I like to use my fancy machine stitches on these just for a little zing. Do you like it?    

My last project is a Carol Doak freebie for her Yahoo group.  She gave it to the members to use in August and it's really what made me decide to join in on the Leafs blog hop.  I love the little cat peeking out of the pumpkin.  And since it reminded me of my kitty, JayDee (RIP Jade), I had to make it!  Plus, it's a great fall deco piece for the seasonal wire hanger I have on my entrance table.  I used the diamond stitch on my machine to make his little green eyes.  Isn't he cute?




The pattern is a 3-inch block that Carol offered to be used in a Fall card, but I blew it up about 200% to 8-inches and then paper pieced it.  I added a 1-inch first border and a 3-inch outside border to make it fit into my wire hanger.  I'm really pleased with how it came out, but if I make another one I would add extra border width at the top and the bottom so it filled the length of the hanger better.  As you can see, I'm camouflaging the bottom with silk leaves because it's a few inches short.  Because I might hang it somewhere else for Halloween, I sewed plastic rings on the back to hang it, instead of a hanging sleeve.  But what a fun project it's been--you should try it.

  Here is a list of today's bloggers:
 







Cherry Blossoms  (our fearless leader)


Moose Stash Quilting  (my fabulous buddy Joan)


Make sure you stop by and see them all.  And don't forget--Monday there'll be new bloggers posting, so come back then and start again.

Now, for more fun!  How about a little giveaway?  If you become a follower and leave me a comment, I'll put your name into the drawing for my Fall Mug Rug and a fabric pack of fifty 4-inch charm squares.  I'll randomly select a winner on Monday, Ocotber 15th--my BFF Donna G's birthday!

And thanks again to Madame Samm and our hostess, Cherry.  We couldn't have done it without you!

Until next time...
Happy quilting from Sharon and the girls, Katie and Patsy Cline




  

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Day Four...


Today is the 4th day of the hop and 11 quilters will be posting their leaf-themed blocks. Cheerleader and hostess Cherry, at CherryBlossoms Studio, has all the info. Visit her to see the schedule on her sidebar and get ready for a fun trip. The blog hop goes from October 1-10. Today's bloggers are:













Make sure you stop in and check out their blocks.  Maybe you'll find a tutorial to do or a giveaway to enter.  And tomorrow is DAY FIVE!!!!!   Yikes!   That's the day I have to post my block and projects.
I hope you visit tomorrow and like what you see.

Until next time...
Happy quilting from Sharon and the girls, Katie and Patsy Cline








Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Blog Hop Day Three...

Today is the 3rd day of the hop and 11 quilters will be posting their leaf-themed blocks. Cheerleader and hostess Cherry, at CherryBlossoms Studio, has all the info. Visit her to see the schedule on her sidebar and get ready for a fun trip. The blog hop goes from October 1-10. Today's bloggers are:













Make sure you check them all out and enjoy their lovely Fall blocks and projects.

Until next time...
Happy quilting from Sharon and the girls, Katie and Patsy Cline






 

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Blog Hop Day Two...

Today is the 2nd day of the hop and 10 quilters will be posting their leaf-themed blocks. Cheerleader and hostess Cherry, at CherryBlossoms Studio, has all the info. Visit her to see the schedule on her sidebar and get ready for a fun trip. The blog hop goes from October 1-10. Today's bloggers are:












Be sure to stop and see them all.  Some may have tutorials and others may have giveaways.  See you there.

Last week was my birthday and I had a wonderful luncheon prepared by my quilt club friends at Joan's

house on Wednesday and they even gave me prezzies!
 


Gorgeous tote bag made by Diane S
Fall WH made by Donna G
Scarecrow Pumpkin from my Secret Pal
Outdoor Mat from Ann
But Ann said that I'm still on probation, so not to get too excited, lol.  And Donna G made me a yummy homemade chocolate-cherry cake with chocolate frosting to top off all the prezzies!
 
Then on Thursday the gals that come to my house to hand stitch or knit, etc. all got together for the day, then we went out to dinner and came back to my house for more prezzies! Wow! What a great group that one is too.

Friday night my family took me out to dinner at our favorite Italian restaurant and I got to have Chicken Picatta--my favorite meal.  So that capped off a great week.

Until next time...
Happy quilting from Sharon and the girls, Katie and Patsy Cline



















Monday, October 1, 2012

Blog Hop Day One...

Today is the first day of the hop and 11 quilters will be posting their leaf-themed blocks.   Cheerleader and hostess Cherry, at CherryBlossoms Studio, has all the info. Visit her to see the schedule on her sidebar and get ready for a fun trip.  The blog hop goes from October 1-10.  Today's bloggers are:













Make sure you visit all of them and see their terrific blocks and projects.  Some have tutorials and giveaways, too.   Sunday our little quilt group went to the fire hall for some extra sewing time.  Bonnie and Diane made new tote bags from a Connecting Threads pattern.

Of course, smartie that she is, Diane had to go one better and use her leftover scraps to make a matching small bag for inside her tote. 

Donna made a new bag, too. Then she had to make another one in my favorite fabric, but she won't give it to me. Isn't she a meanie?




Mary has been doing some hand applique on wool and has been making these gorgeous candle mats.


Aren't they wonderful?  Lynne has been working with wool also, and finished up this pretty.

I am so lucky to have such talented friends.

Until next time...
Happy quilting from Sharon and the girls, Katie and Patsy Cline