I'm Baaaack..........

Sorry I was away for so long, but I needed a break from everything for a while.  Now to catch up on all we've been doing in my little corner of the world.

First--If you want a new quilt for Christmas, hop on over to Hazel's Quilts and get caught up on the Festive Mystery quilt QuiltSue has designed and a group of bloggers have been sewing since March.  It's called  a Christmas Quilt-a-long.   All the installments are still on their blogs or just email them for the info.

Second--Starting July 1st is a Red/White/Blue Blog Hop hosted by Jane's Fabrics and Quilts.  About 6 different bloggers each day will be presenting R/W/B blocks with tutorials and some giveaways from July 1st thru July 16th.  So now is the time to start your patriotic quilt.

Then check out the Bowls With Borders Blog Hop Madame Samm has been telling us about.  This would be a darling wallhanging for your kitchen with a few bowls on it.  Contact Carol at Just Let Me Quilt to sign up and get the free pattern.  Unfortunately, you have to play to get the pattern for free, but you can purchase it from the designer, Regina.  Those who do not want to participate will be given Regina's links on July 1st. (You can purchase directly from her at a cost of 5 Euros.)



And finally, check out the new blog hop offered by Madame Samm of  Sew We Quilt. Think Christmas blocks. (6.5 or 10.5 or 12.5)  You could be inspired to make another new Christmas quilt, or tablerunners, or potholders, or wallhangings, or .... and the list goes on.   Lesley at The Cuddle Quilter is hosting it, so go over and read all about it and start pulling out your Christmas fabrics.

I'll end with some pics of my friends and our latest quilting venture.  This is the Dresden Fan workshop Diane S. held at the fire hall last month.

We all had a great time, and of course, the food was fabulous!  We have some great cooks in our group!

Until next time,

Happy Quilting from Sharon and the girls, Katie and Patsy Cline



A great loss....

Many of you may have heard the terrible news that we lost our friend, Gerda, yesterday. It was such a shock to hear -- I guess I never expected she would ever let anything get her down, especially some nasty germ from within. She was always so upbeat and positive about life, her family, and her hobbies. Gerda was so compassionate and giving of her time and resources to others less fortunate. She truly earned her nickname, "Marian the Librarian" with all the wonderful sites and tutorials she found on the Internet for us to
enjoy. She was a great internet friend and mentor, sharing her wisdom and skills with us all. She will be greatly missed by all her Groups--Block Central, Scrappy & Happy, the Quilted Table, Quilt & Needle, Seasons, and other groups she belonged to.

Rest in peace, Gerda, and know that so many people are hurting with your loss.


March 11, 1953 - June 4, 2012



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

HAPPY EASTER

Sharon and the girls, Katie and Patsy Cline

Let's be reasonable...

is the title of a post from a blog I follow by Sheryl at Quilting Tizzy.  I have to say I agree with all her conclusions, which is why I am posting her button and the links to her post here. 



It's up to you to read all the materials involved and decide how you feel about the issue of whether a fabric or pattern designer has the right to control the use of the fabric in their design lines or their patterns.  My feeling is this:  once I buy the fabric or pattern, it's mine, and I can use it any way I want - whether to make items for myself and family or to sell.  Especially fabric.  If I have to face the possibility of a lawsuit because I made a quilt or tote bag and sold it to a friend (or anyone)  from a fabric that is "restricted", I'm not gonna' buy it. 

So go and read Sheryl's post and her other connected posts and see what you think about this growing "restriction" issue.  If you agree with us, post her button on your blog, too. 

Thanks,
Sharon and the girls, Katie and Patsy Cline

Karen Combs --- Stolen Quilts! Pass The Word!

Copied from Bonnie K Hunter's blog, Quiltville's Quips & Snips!!


This blog network of ours seems to have become an avenue for getting info out on stolen quilts.


While I am so glad to be able to help, each time I post something about the ever increasing numbers of stolen quilts I fel sicker and sicker ---who is next?


These are the quilts of Quiltmakers that I have admired and revered for years and years. It’s making me second guess the way I travel with my quilts to the point where I feel like I am bordering on insanity.


I’ve been asked to help spread the word in hopes that we might find some leads in finding Karen’s quilts.


Her own blog with the full story can be found HERE. She writes:

It is something every traveling quilt teacher fears, her quilts will be stolen or lost. Unfortunately, it has happened to me. I’m heartbroken. . . please share the images and story below. I hope they will be found.

On March 16, 2012, sometime between midnight and 6am at the Courtyard New Braunfels River Village, my rental car’s driver window was broken and my teaching suitecase was stolen. The hotel is located at 750 IH 35 North in New Braunfels, Texas. The police were called, they stated the break-in looked like the work of a professional.

It was a “smash and grab”. The vandals did not know what they were taking and it will have no value to them. It means the world to me. . .

Inside the suitcase were the quilts from my popular Patchwork Illusions class. I also lost all my teaching supplies and step-by-step demos for the class.

If you live in New Braunfels or anywhere in Texas, please check local yard sales, flea markets and pawn shops for the quilts. Everyone, please forward this blog posting to every quilter and quilt shop you know and ask them to forward it to everyone they know.

If you find one of my quilts or quilt blocks, please contact me atkaren@karencombs.com

Thank you for all your help,
Karen

Please forward this post to EVERYONE. Be watching things like Craigslist and Ebay ---let your twitter peeps know, the news groups, email lists, quilt guild members, facebook, message boards – you guys know the drill ----we have been doing this too often, and we will keep doing it to get the word out.

This is one thing we CAN NOT get numb to --- we HAVE to remain outraged with this repeated scenario and do what we can to bring these quilts back!

Thanks for all your help in spreading the word….we have an awesome network of quilters to help get the word out ---


Copied from Bonnie K Hunter's blog, Quiltville's Quips & Snips!!

Please go to Karen's page and see her beautiful missing quilts and help, if you can, by spreading the word.

Thanks,
Sharon and the girls

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Clover and Violet are starting another...

sewing and quilt-long this month, the Garden Steps: Stitch & Quilt Along.  There will be two quilt options this time, a full quilt which will measure approximately 51" x 68" and a baby quilt which will measure approximately 34" x 51".  So click on the link in my sidebar and make a note on your calendar so you don't miss out!

My two quilting groups had another Super Bowl Sunday sew-athon and a regular sew-athon this month.  On SB Sunday, my friends and I made traveling iron caddys to carry our hot irons home.  The pattern came from Husqvarna but of course, we had to change it a little, lol.  Aren't these neat?

Lynne's bag

 

Mary's bag



Linda's first bag



Linda's 2nd bag - back



Linda's 2nd bag - front



My bag inside....

and outside.

Patsy snooping in Lynne's bags

Of  course Patsy Cline has to be right in the middle of everything!

Our fire hall sewing on Sundays has resulted in lots of really neat Christmas tree table runners using the Half Hexie Ruler that we bought at Missouri Quilt Co.  I saw the tutorial they posted on You Tube and had to have it.  So easy to make and you can use your scraps and there are so many ways to vary it..

This is Ann's completed TR.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
This is Linda's completed one.  Aren't they neat?
Mary decided the trees needed a trunk, so she added it to her's and then everyone else decided they wanted one too.  So a slight change to the pattern, but still very easy.
 
Jill brought the quilts she had been working on for her two daughters-in-law for Christmas, so we could she how they turned out. Aren't they gorgeous? She is so talented.  This is a picture quilt with the 3 boys pictures inside the the stars.

and this is her Elden batik quilt.  Not something I want to try...way too complicated for me.

Here are some more pictures of our quilt club members projects over the last couple of weeks. We have so much fun when we get together and everyone does such different things. We inspire each other and push each other to be better quilters and friends.


Donna G's stitchery


Gail's beautiful stitchery quilt for her Joe's Christmas present.

Donna G's shamrock

Jane's house quilt

Bonnie's Bee Hive quilt

Joan's Batik Swap Blocks Quilt

Jane's Batik Quilt

Jane's NYD Mystery Quilt

Until next time...

Happy quilting from Sharon, Katie, and Patsy Cline