More on my crazy quilting retreat...

We left on a Wednesday in the hottest part of July for a 4-and-a-half day quilting retreat in Canton, Ohio. There were eight of us from Pennsylvania and Upstate New York. Eight crazy, wacky, women in 2 cars intent on having a rollicking good time and maybe...do a little quilting. We arrived late afternoon, got checked into our rooms, unloaded our sewing paraphenalia in our sewing conference room amid hugs and greetings from our other quilting retreaters, and then went out for supper. In the evening we got our sewing places all set up and took turns doing show-and-tell. These are Debi's: a bunny quilt and a scrappy quilt.

Then Bonnie E showed us her embroidered quilt.

Followed by Jean's farm quilt and another made from strips.

Next up was Jodi and her beautiful butterfly wallhanging,

and Lanette and her gorgeous jacket.

Michele follwed with her stack and whack quilt. She shows us how to do that every year and each year more people actually "get" how to do it and make a quilt, lol.

Next was Ruth with her scrappy "Laundry" quilt,

and then Sharon T with her beautiful butterfly wallhanging. She and Jodi challenged each other last year to learn this technique and get the project done. I guess they succeeded, didn't they? Both are lovely.

A group of us did a Brown Bag Mystery last Fall and we had to bring what we received so everyone could enjoy. Here is Josie's little quilt, I don't remember who made it,

followed by Lyn's made by me,

and Marcia S's made by Debi.

Marcia also brought her crazy quilt to show us.

And Josie made a tablerunner for Ruth of a crazy Easter Chicken.

Isn't it cute? More to follow tomorrow.

Happy quilting from Sharon, Katie, and Patsy Cline

My crazy quilting retreat...

I spend a crazy half-week in Ohio with a wonderfully, goofy group of women.
This little video is from our Friday night pajama party. Here is the link from some of the fun: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7WE6X3EYnM

More to follow later.

Happy quilting
from Sharon and "the girls", Katie and Patsy Cline (who are embarrassed that their "mommy" would act like this, lol)

Let' s get this started NOW!

So it will be out there on the fourth!

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE

FLAG,

OF THE UNITED

STATES OF AMERICA ,

AND TO THE REPUBLIC, FOR

WHICH IT STANDS,

ONE

NATION UNDER GOD,

INDIVISIBLE,

WITH LIBERTY

AND JUSTICE FOR ALL!

For all of our other military personnel, where ever they may be.

Please

Support all of the troops defending our Country.

And God Bless our Military

who are protecting our Country for our Freedom.

Thanks to them, and their sacrifices, we can celebrate the 4th of July.

We must never forget who gets the credit for the freedoms we have,

of which we should be eternally grateful.

I watched the flag pass by one day.

It fluttered in the breeze.

A young Marine saluted it,

And then he stood at ease.

I looked at him in uniform;

so young, so tall, so proud.

With hair cut square and eyes alert,

he'd stand out in any crowd.

I thought how many men like him

had fallen through the years.

How many died on foreign soil;

how many mothers' tears?

How many pilots' planes shot down?

How many died at sea?

How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?

NO, FREEDOM ISN'T FREE !

I heard the sound of Taps one night,

when everything was still.

I listened to the bugler play

And felt a sudden chill.

I wondered just how many times

That Taps had meant 'Amen.'

When a flag had draped a coffin

of a brother or a friend.

I thought of all the children,

of the mothers and the wives,

of fathers, sons and husbands

With interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard

At the bottom of the sea.

Of unmarked graves in Arlington .

NO FREEDOM ISN'T FREE

Enjoy Your Freedom

and

God Bless Our Troops.

When you read this,

please stop for a moment

and say a prayer for our servicemen.

Of all the gifts you could give a U.S. Soldier, prayer is the very best one.



A new sew-along....

is being presented by Clover and Violet on their blog.  Embroidery 101: Stitch & Quilt Along! They are going to make a fresh, fun, bright quilt that incorporates embroidery. How is that?  Plus they're going to give different stitch tutorials to help us improve our stitches.  I do need that-I've done so much with the back stitch lately, that I've forgotten how to do some of the other stitches I used to use, lol.  So head on over and check out what they're offering and get your stuff together - this should be a great project.

Quilt Club was Wednesday at Joan's house, so I have lots of pics to share with you.  This is Bonnie's Christmas Row-by-Row from Sindy at Fat Cat Patterns.  She's almost done with it.
Here is a kids quilt that Ann made and quilted. 

And here is Gail's House Quilt.  Several of the girls made these over the last 2 years and I've shown their pictures in previous blogs.  They are all so beautiful.  I don't think I will ever make a quilt that ivolved, lol.

Joan made a tablerunner for the Patriotic holidays - nice isn't it?  That's Diane in the background.

Here is Sharon D. with her last year's BOM from The Village Sampler.    And a closeup of the quilting.  She still has one more of these quilts to finish, while I have BOTH of mine to get done yet!

This is a quilt given to Ann to quilt on her long-arm.  It is made of all men's ties.  Can you image the time it took to make this?  But it is really going to be spectacular when it's all done.

Over at the Quilt and Needle group I belong to, we had a Late Spring Mug Rug Swap.  Debbieanne had my name.  She is a fellow kitty-lover, and look at the cute mug rug she made me!  I love it!  And Patsy Cline and Katie have spent the last couple of days sniffing it like crazy--getting the scent of Debbieanne's kitty, lol.  I had Nancy, and here is the mug rug I made her. Good thing she took a picture, because I forgot to.  I have so much fun doing these.  I think we're going to have a Summer Mug Rug Swap, too, so I have to get thinking about what to do.

That's all for today.  Until next time...
Happy quilting from Sharon and "the girls"

I have the...

best friends in the whole world. Not only do they put up with all my insecurities and goofiness, but they also support my need to help others. Whenever I get the urge to do something nice for someone else, they are always right there supporting me. May 22nd three of my friends came over for a "Sewing for Charity" day at my house. We started four Quilts for Kids and one Patriotic Quilt of Valor.

My friend Mary zipped right through one 4-Patch and Square Quilt for Kids and got it all ready for the quilter. Then she started on a second one.

Lynne started a Disappearing 9-Patch, got the blocks all made, and took the rest home to finish.

Linda came later and started a 4-Patch and Square Quilt for Kids and took hers home to finish also.

And Katie helped me sew the blocks for a twin-size Patriotic Log Cabin quilt. Isn't she so cute? Patsy Cline helped too, but she doesn't stay still for long. She's hiding in some of the pictures.

Aren't they the best?? I am so lucky to have such wonderful, compassionate gals as my friends. Even if they are a little camera shy. Does Mary really think she can hide behind that sewing machine??

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

Thanks to our Veterans.......

In honor of the many Veterans of all our wars, I'm repeating my Memorial Day post .   Thank you for all the freedoms you've given us and the sacrifices you and your families have made.
http://quiltingwithamarmaladecat.blogspot.com/2009/05/today-is-day-to-remember.html

WOW--I'm in the Top Ten...

I entered 6 of my mug rugs in the "MUG RUG CONTEST" over at This-n-That Fabrics blog last month, figuring mine would just be a few in thousands of entries. I don't know how many they ended up with for sure, but guess what? They picked TWO of mine for the top 10!!!! Woo Hoo !!!

So if you would, I'd love for you to please go over there and vote for my mug rugs. I'm sure I'll never win, but I would like to at least have a few votes in the contest. Just making the Top Ten is so awesome, I've been bouncing in my chair with excitement since I read the email and went and checked out the blog post. WOW!! (Did I say that already, lol?) I can't believe it.

Mine are Number 2-the Irish paper-pieced cup with the tea, sugar, and spoon holder pockets,
and Number 4-the paper-pieced spring flower I made for the Seasons BOM Mug Rug Swap.


Just follow the link in their email, which I've included, so you can all see.

-------Original Message-------

From: news@this-n-thatfabrics.com
Date: 05/08/11 21:58:45

This-n-That Fabrics

Our local quilt group has selected the top ten picks for the "MUG RUG CONTEST"
and a poll has been set up over on our Blog for you to vote for your favorites.
(http://tnt512.blogspot.com). Come join the fun, check out all the great rugs and be sure and vote.

Linda and Sandy
www.this-n-thatfabrics.com

Isn't that exciting? Thanks for all your support,
a Happy Dancing Sharon