ONE LAST THING

I had just a couple last things I wanted to get done before I leave for Greece tomorrow.

I wanted to send in the 6x9 rectangles that our church ladies had knit.

And I wanted to drop off this quilt at the Project Linus pick up location (a Local yarn shop). I made it from blacks that were NOT the required 6x9. I think someone will enjoy it. If it's too big for Project Linus, the yarn shop is also involved with Warm Up America, so it should keep someone warm this winter.

Let's see, what else do I need to do? Bills paid, check; paper stopped, check; mail held, check; key to the house sitter, check; e-mail boarding passes printed, check. So what does that leave. Oh, yea, PACK. I'd better get scootin'. See you around Thanksgiving.

GETTIN' IT TOGETHER

Oops, I almost forgot to take photos of the two baby quilts that are going to Greece with me for DH's great nephews. So here they are:

They both have chenille backing so I popped them in the dryer on fluff this afternoon to get any remaining fuzz off them.

I was hoping to assemble all the blocks form my block of the month quilt with the sashing before I leave, but that's just not going to happen. This is a photo, though, that a friend took last week at our quilt retreat of the blocks laid out, just so we could see how it will look. Yes, it's intended to have subtle color differences (except, of course, that Kaffe print at the top of the photo that will be one of the fabrics for the sashing.. Our bedroom is mostly in neutrals and this will be for our bed, so I didn't want there to be a lot of obvious pattern in the finished quilt.

One thing I was able to complete today, though, that will go in the mail tomorrow, are these PJs for a special little girl in Ohio. She will be spending lots of hospital time in the weeks to come, so I figured out how to leave the shoulder seams opened and put snap tape on the tops of the sleeves (extending from the opened shoulder seams) for IV access. A bit of a challenge, but worth it in the end, I hope!

I still have a charity afghan that I want to take by the local yarn shop tomorrow, but it's not quite completed, so I best get crackin' , I guess.

SURPRISE !

Yes, I've been away for a few days.  But that doesn't mean no quilting or knitting.  It means a LOT of quilting and a little knitting for me.  16 of my quilting friend from around the USA (think CA to MA and FL) met at a wonderful little retreat center at the foothills of the Smoky Mountains.  Our cabins were in this wonderful little setting.

Over the past few years, this group has become very close--you guessed it:  through the internet.  In our caring for one another we have made many quilts (one block made by several different members, sewn together by another, quilted and bound by  another two, and then a label made by yet another).  We have given the quilts to ladies who have lost family members, those dealing with difficult health issues, and to those who have gone "above and beyond" in doing special things for our little group.

Last year when I was one of those with some health issues, the ladies took turns sending me little "pick me up" gifts that I received weekly for several months.  So I was certainly not expecting a quilt as well.

But SURPRISE, on our first evening at our little retreat when we all gathered back in our sewing room after dinner, they presented me with this package.

Inside the package was this wonderful tote that one of the ladies had made.

And inside that was this wonderful "Greek Cross" quilt (seen here on the bed of my cabin).  Yes I did sleep under it while I was there, and again last night after I got home.

It is the loving work of the ladies mentioned on the quilt label.

Tearful thanks to all of you.

And if anyone thinks that the internet cannot begin  friendships, they just don't know the Weight Watcher's  Message Board Quilters' "Lizzie" group!

HERE IT IS !

Back from babysitting for Anna Maria while she is at Quilt Market.  (The other grandmother took over today.)

Here are Anna Maria's  shelves that I was able to glean for fabric for grandchildren's Christmas PJs.  (top right and 3rd from the bottom left are flannels.  And such soft flannel it is--not to mention it's 42 inches instead of the usual 36 " flannel.  

But I know that many of you are here to see the voile.  So here it is, ready for the backing to make 28" floor pillows--in all three colors ways:

Now wasn't that worth waiting for?

WHAT WAS I THINKING ?

What was I thinking?  I purchased all this fabric on Tuesday.  Not that I don't have a huge stash already, or for that matter, lots of projects in the works as it is.  There are a couple of gift baby quilts to finish, my block of the month that's been forgotten for at least two months.  And, oh yes, the pajamas for my 12 grandchildren for Christmas.  And I have nothing in mind for any of this fabric.  But of course it was on sale.  End of month/end of bolt sale.  If there is 5 yards or less on a bolt and you buy it all, you get it at a 40% discount.  Just can't refuse.  And I do really love all the fabrics.  They will be lovely for something.

And speaking of loving fabric:  I can't wait to get my hands on daughter, Anna Maria's flannels for those Christmas PJs.  I've been busy playing with some wonderful voile that's in her collection that will be debuting (along with the flannel and other new designs) at the Houston quilt market next week.  She asked me to make patchwork from the  3 color ways of her voile so that she can make it in to a pillow to showcase the fabric.  Now you may be thinking that voile is not appropriate for that home-dec use.  Ah, but it is--if you put lightweight fusible fabric on the back.  Anna Maria told me a really easy way to do it for this particular project.  I cut the different fabrics in to 5" squares, then laid them on the sticky side of the Pelon, "butting" them closely against one another and ironed them in place.  Then with right sides together, I folded the fabric on the line where the fabrics meet, and made a 1/2" seam.  Then I cut the seams to press them open.

I then did the same thing with all the perpendicular "meetings".  So easy as the perpendicular seams automatically are where they need to be--no pinning.  Hooray.

And viola, a beautiful patchwork design of your favorite light weight fabrics that will stand up to some healthy home dec uses.

Oh, sorry I can't show you the front of the patches--that will have to come AFTER market.  

In the meantime, enjoy dreaming of all the possible new fabrics that will be available to us soon--just as soon as  our favorite fabric retailers get the fabrics they order next week!