Sit N Sew

We had another great time at the last Sit N Sew. Some of us brought in our first Dear Jane blocks and some of us didn't. I think the five that did their Dear Jane did a fantastic job. Hopefully I'll have more to show you next month. If we don't all decide to quit. I've heard rumblings.

We also had a couple of show and shares. The ladies didn't want their picture taken, but didn't mind me taking the picutre of their quilt tops.

Jacobs Ladder


Mystery Quilt

I can hardly wait for Friday night. I think I'll work on my Dear Jane. Or I might just visit the whole time. Just depends on how stressful work is. See ya'll Friday. Deb

Temporary Insanity

At least that's what I'm claiming in regards to this circle challenge. Which, I've completed. I've been asking myself why I picked up one of Ingrid's bags and temporary insanity is the only answer. I mean I do not like to step too far out of the box. I'm a very traditional quilter. I like the old patterns. I mean a stack n whack is about as far out of the box as I want to get. I don't like curves. A circle is all about curves. Yes. The only reasonable answer is temporary insanity. For future reference if any of you see me go for a little brown bag that will help stretch my imagination, please drag me away and tie me up until the temporary insanity has passed. I will be indebted to you forever. Deb

Friday night at the hangout!

Just wondering who all is coming to the Friday night Sit and Sew. I am ready to party, I mean sew. Hope all are keeping cool in this Florida heat, even the pool water is boiling. Bonnie your first blog was wonderful and that is so neat how you made your table to quilt on. Deb tells me your not making it on Friday, I pray for safe travel for you.
I wanted to let everyone know that Ellen at the "Quilting Station" has add a class on Aug. 29, Disappearing Nine Patch Ellen's Way, Deb and I thought it would be fun to sew all day on a Saturday for those who work or just don't want to get out in this heat. This quilt is the brown, beige and green quilt we had at the show in Mobile, you can see it at the "Quilting Station".
On a different note, if you remember my blog a while back talking about sewing/quilting for a hour a day or maybe just finishing up projects. Well...it was not that easy but I have finished a few projects, I made pincushions for the Pensacola Quilt Guild to sale. Some turned out really cute and some turned out really really not so cute. Hey I can not do cute 100% of the time. My next project is learning to put pictures on my blog, ok first take pictures and then put on blog.
Well, Sweetie just went outside to pressure spray, MY MOM AND DAD's mobile home, so I have to go supervise (LOL). Hope everyone is doing well and let me hear from you if you are coming Friday. (Thanks Catherine, I put you on the list), Catherine and Deb so far are coming!
OH! OH! One more thing, let us encourage Sheila to make it Friday night cause her and Joe just got back from the VERMONT QUILT FESTIVAL, and we want to hear and see pictures all about it.
Ren

My first blog

Ok, I am trying to see if I can figure out how to get this posted with some pics. I enjoyed my first Sit N' Sew with you gals (or I think the other word was witches). I was ready to start trying to quilt and try the free motion, so I was trying to come up with a way to have a flat surface without buying a table.....

So I had this stuff that builders use on the outside of houses for insulation. It is about 3/4 inches thick and one side is covered in foil looking stuff. I had almost a full 8 ft x 4 ft section, that I had left over from making some cornices, so I had this brainstorm to build a little platform that my machine could fit down in.

I think it turned out rather well, and I tried practicing on it tonight.

You can cut this stuff with a bread knife and then hot glue the pieces together. I added some little cork pad so it would end up the exact height I needed. It probably weighs less than 2 pounds. I added some contact paper, because that foil stuff can rub off on your hands (so I would think it would rub off on fabric, too!) That would not be good.

P.S.

I forgot to tell ya'll I finished one of my works in progress. This is for the first reunion that I attend in July. I normally start it the Friday before they auction it off Saturday afternoon. I'd say I was a little ahead of the game this year. Deb

Traveling Companions?

Since Deb wrote about our trip, I thought I would mention a few things to remember when traveling with another person. No, I am not a professional traveling companion but I did spend 35 hours traveling with Deb so o.k., I did gain some insight about having and being a traveling companion
First, when planning your trip make sure you agree on a destination: quilt show, grave yard(number of grave yards your going to visit), side trips (shrines, grotto's, map read wrong, items not on agenda).
Second, how many hours spend at grave yards (we did take what 400 pictures or
more? that is just of graves), so it is important to find out if said companion has small, tiny family or "Broxson Family 200 and counting". Maybe that was Wise Family, no, no that was Tucker Fam.....will you get my drift.
Thirdly, when at show (quilt show, grotto, shrine, Chic-fi-la) you have room for ALL the camera equipment, purchases, Fireballs, drinks (diet coke) etc. etc. etc. All the maps, map quest (that had wrong directions), hand written directions from nice men at the auto repair shop.
Last but not least is synchronize bladders, WHAT IS THIS! When visiting cemeteries all bladders should be on the same time schedule, when traveling down I-65 rest area's are 80 plus miles apart again synchronized bladders are important. When traveling 100 miles down the wrong road, while talking, eating fireballs and drinking diet coke to stop the fire in your mouth is very important to have bladders schedule's that compliment each other.
Thank goodness, Deb and I had all the above because we had a great time in Cullman Alabama!
By the way, do ya'll know how much it is to rent a U-haul trailer, we might need to next time cause we thought we might go..........................to another quilt show one day.
Just a quick welcome to the Wicked Chicks that joined our Sit and Sew, "HOWDY", we look forward to Stitchin and Rippin with ya.
For those that missed Sit and Sew, we missed ya and hope you make it in July. Don't forget to work on those DJ blocks this month and remember Friday night at Ren's, June 26, let me hear from you if your going to make it.

Happy Piecing!
Ren
Traveling Companion

Quilt Symposium, Cemetery Hopping, Ave Maria Grotto, Etc...

Ren had mentioned to me a couple of months ago about going to a Quilt Symposium in Cullman, AL. I thought that would be neat because that's where my Mom was born. I half jokingly mentioned that we could do some cemetery hopping while there as a lot of my relatives are buried there. Ren thought that was a great idea. So we set off Friday morning heading to Cullman. We made very good time. Laughed a lot. Even stopping for dessert along the way.

I had mapquested the two cemeteries I wanted to visit. That was a big mistake. Mapquest had us looking for a road that no one in Cullman has ever heard of. Fortunately, there were no men driving so we stopped to ask directions. The first people we stopped to ask had never heard of the Duck River. This did not stop us. At the next stop these people had not only heard of Duck River they gave us excellent directions with landmarks to follow. We decided we would try and find a map just in case, which we did.

On the way to Duck River I spot another cemetery that on of my grandmothers was buried in. Ren is so nice. She stopped and help me look even though this wasn't on our itinerary. We couldn't find her. I knew I was at the right cemetery. This cemetery was on both sides of the road. Ren suggested I look on the other side. But, I just knew Grandmama was on this side, but I looked anyway. Ren was right. Somebody had moved Grandmama to the other side of the road. While they were at it they moved my Uncle Hulett and cousin Fred. That has to be the answer because I wouldn't forget a thing like that. Right? We got my pictures and were on our way again.

Missing Grandmother



I think Ren was a little overwhelmed with just how big Duck River is. I had brought two camera's and we started clicking away. I was very excited. I haven't been back to this cemetery in more than ten years. We then headed onto Welti with a stop for a couple of Yoohoo's that were ice cold and much needed. Funny how your mind plays trick on you. I could have sworn that the Church at Welti was a white block Church not a red brick Church. Oh well. This was also a large cemetery but not near as big as Duck River. With two cameras we had located my relatives in a very short period of time and headed to the hotel and some hot showers.

Great Great Grandparents


Supper was enjoyable. There was a toddler that was trying to help himself to some soft serve ice cream. He was standing on is tippy toes pulling on the handle and had his free had stretched out to receive that good ice cream. I wish I had my camera. That was definitely a Kodak moment. His Mom didn't think it was too funny.

Now the New Beginnings in Quilting Quilt Symposium of Alabama, Inc., Quilt Show 2009. The quilt show was held at the St. Bernard Retreat and Conference Center. The show was held in the gym. They had several teachers, lots of vendors, and a couple of judges. I took pictures of all the quilts and will bring a disc to our next meeting for all to see that want to see. There was a very good variety. I personally love the traditional quilts, but I love looking at all quilts. This was the one I picked for best of show. It reminds me of my Grandmother and was made with 30's fabric. The dresden plate is one of my favorite quilt patterns. This quilt did get a Judge's Choice ribbon and Honorable Mention ribbon.



Another quilt I just loved because it's patriotic.



Here is a picture of the Opportunity Quilt and it's Quilter. I'm still waiting on the phone call that says I won this quilt.



The show was set up very nicely. Not as cold as the quilt show last weekend, which was nice. Ren didn't put me on restriction this time. She probably should have. Oh well. I was able to get a lot of 30's fabric I had been searching for so that was a good thing. Here is a pic of Ren.



So we've finished looking and buying. We're going to get a bite to eat and get back on the road. That was until we drove by the Ave Maria Grotto. We, of course, had to stop. The rain had finally ceased so we decided to walk through the grotto. This grotto is the work of Brother Joseph Zoettl, a Benedictine monk of St. Bernard Abbey. It is amazing. It was well worth the addmission price and it didn't take us long to walk it at all. Of course, we had to be different and start at the end first. This Brother had a sense of humor.


Brother Joseph used anything available to him to put together this grotto. There are over 125 minatures of famous Churches, Shrines and buildings.



Just truly amazing!

We are now going to get something to eat and get on the road home. The trip home was very uneventful. Yeah right. But you'll have to ask us about that next time you see us. I don't want to leave any incriminating evidence online. My cat was glad to see me.



Yeah! He was glad to see me. Deb

Quilting since 1872...yes, 1872

yup, that's correct..........quilting since 1872. The ladies I met have belonged to the same group for YEARS (they aren't the original guild members, tho!! hahaha) While I was in Maine for vacation....well, actually on Campobello Island..........I discovered the quilting group that has been meeting every Wednesday afternoon at the St. Anne's Anglican Parish Hall since forever!. I had been hiking for the day in the woods and looking/smelling pretty 'woodsy'. Walked into the parish hall and there sat 5 ladies sitting around a quilting frame having a ball. I introduced myself....received a pretty good welcome being a Mainer, a DownEaster and better yet, a seasonal resident. What really opened the doors was the fact that my sister is married to a 'Finch'. The Finches have been residents of the island for at least 5 generations that we know of. Once that door opened, I was one of the girls!! They are very firm believers in hand quilting but will allow machine piecing for 'strength' and 'durability'. They were planning their summer tea and fund raiser to be held in late July (I"ll be back so will be able to enjoy)....all the work they do during the year is for sale at the tea. this is how they pay for the insurance on the parish hall where they meet. IN fact, they have a very dear friend who retired to Panama City, FL who also quilts. The Fl friend and her fellow quilters make items to be sold at the Campobello function & fund raiser. I forgot her name....... in looking at the original journal the ladies kept, in 1872 at the annual meeting, the '10 female communicants" made 4 quilts, 56 aprons and 78 articles of underwear! :-)) Their journal notes also indicate that anyone who missed a meeting had to pay 2 cents. The current ladies had found an article in 'country living' magazine a while back that indicated the oldest continuous quilting group in the US was formed in 1876....they were pretty pleased to beat that record by 4yrs. For those of you that don't know, Campobello Island is in New Brunswick, Canada.....you cross a 500ft bridge from Lubec, Me to the island.........I also met Anna Folkesson, a Swedish quilter and weaver who lives on the island. she invited me to her studio...........wow............not only does she have a really cool studio, some lovely works both weaving and quilting, but an incredible view of the ocean while she works........ she lives 4 houses up the street from where we have our retirement cottage..... I'll be going back for two wks in July and she has invited me to join her at her studio for an afternoon......she has a web site but for some reason I have it written down incorrectly......will try to get it so that for those of you who are interested........... one thing i discovered is that quilters everywhere are just a bunch of nice, fun loving, friendly, welcoming, social group of gals who have formed some great friendships............... just thought I'd share one of the high points from my trip and the pleasure of meeting some new quilters....... can't wait to join them in july...........

Zucchini

My husband likes to plant a garden. In fact, we have one almost year round. This year he was going to be sure and plant plenty of cucumbers for me to make my cinnamon pickles. He came in the other day with some good and bad news. The bad news - he thought he bought cucumber plants. The good news - I'll have plenty of zucchini to make bread with. The zucchini has only just started coming in. I've already made one batch of bread, put up seven packages of grated zucchini for future bread and given away a bushel of whole zucchini. Last night he brought me more zucchini. I put up more grated zucchini and made four batches of bread. I was planning on making some for tonight and then my hubby asked me to make some for him to take to work on Friday. My son saw what I was doing and asked me to make some for him to take to work. I couldn't leave out my other son so I made four batches of zucchini bread last night. Were still going to have zucchini coming out of our ears. There will be no cinnamon pickles this year, but we may get tired of eating zucchini bread.

Next year, I'm buying the cucumber plants.

Deb

Mobile Quilt Show/Azalea City Quilt Guild

I had such a fabulous time Sunday working in The Quilting Stations' booth. I met so many nice quilters from all over. Ellen and Ren kept me laughing. I got put on restriction first thing. I really didn't spend too much money. I left with money in my pocket so I didnt' spend too much. Right? I wish I could have been there Saturday. Everyone has told we what a great time they had. There was one lady that came through that was 91. She didn't look a day over 65. Still quilting. That's my goal. To still be able to do the things I enjoy the most.

The Azalea City Quilt Guild was so wonderful to all the vendors. They had plenty of food and drinks for all the vendors. Just stop by and get what you needed. The food was wonderful. There was this potato salad and home made sweet pickles that were so delicious. Unfortunately, Ellen let Ren and I go to lunch first. She didn't get to sample those items. Or the peanut butter chip cookies. Maybe in two years.

What I have been doing!

Hi all,
Hope everyone is doing well and getting their DJ block finished for Thursday's meeting. I have finished mine but it is not finished to my standard but....I am going to keep it like this so I can see my improvement as the project proceeds.
I have been really really busy this past week and wanted to share with you what I have been up to. First off, I have not been home much, but I have been doing a lot of quilty stuff. What????
I have been spending time at "The Quilting Station" helping get ready for the Mobile quilt show. O.K. O.K., I have been having fun, read that as blast, cutting, measuring, sewing, chatting, packaging and yes working at the show. I have enjoyed helping the customers (that would be quilters) and those that volunteered to help Ellen at the show. Kim Brackett, author of "Scrap-Basket Surprises" was there for a book signing. Such great comments about a really wonderful book and such "my kind of quilt patterns", so I was happy when so many people bought her book. Go KIM!
Tomorrow is the last day of the show, yes, I am going to win the donation quilt from this show! Sorry guys.........just kidding but it is a beauty donation quilt and then it is back to life as normal........WHAT IS NORMAL YOU ASK! Good question?
Well gotta run, will see you Thurs at the Stitch and Rip meeting and don't forget if you are going to take Kim's class on July 11 to sign up for it. Also tell Deb what you are going to bring for lunch.
Happy Trails to you, that would be stitching trails.
Ren