Cold & Rainy Colorado

Vacation is off to a rather damp and chilly start.  According to the local media, it should be dry and around 80 F today.  Instead it is pouring, the local rivers are dangerously high, and it was 41 F when I woke up.  The rain is supposed to end today and we're supposed to see a high in the upper 50s, but there's no hope of warmth today.  I'm happy to say that they are predicting much nicer weather for the remainder of the week...

Most of Friday and Saturday were spent in the car, so I didn't get much done in the way of sewing.  I did manage to finish one of my BOW blocks from last summer - I started it last year and had picked it up recently as a quick take-along project, and have been chipping away at it ever since.  I brought the next block along to prep - I love wool applique!  I had really hoped to have the new BOW in hand before we left, but it must have been sent on the slow horse - I received the thread, but not the project.  Looks like I will be at least two weeks behind on that one! 

I'm back to working on My Garden Album block 11 now.  The lighting in our cabin isn't the greatest, particularly with the lack of sunshine, so applique is a bit of a struggle.  We're planning to brave the rain today and visit the shops in town.  The area is beautiful, and the cabin is really wonderful.  We've got a nice fire burning in the fireplace as I write.  I'll have to post a few pics later.  Back to sewing!

Back from Runaway

Well, I started out with the best of intentions, but completely changed my mind once I finally sat down at the sewing machine! I began working on some of my UFO projects on Tuesday and just couldn't talk myself into moving my machine up to the Mexican Star classroom. So instead I spent the entire retreat in sit & sew and ended up knocking out four of my Sweet Annie's BOM blocks and 26 pages of half-square triangle paper for another project that's been sitting in a pile in the sewing room for longer than I can remember. I didn't end up getting nearly as much handwork done as I had hoped, but I'm not at all surprised. In the end, the Mexican Star pieces came home in a bag in the same state as when they left here. Another UFO, but one I can tackle in the convenience of my sewing room.

Here's the latest Summer's End block:

















I finished my second My Garden Album BOM block before leaving for Runaway but didn't get a chance to post it:















Between BOP, a new Yahoo group I found, Runaway, and a stop at the Cotton Patch quilt shop in Woodlawn, IL, I have been inspired to start numerous new projects. I plan to start at least one new one tomorrow. Now I just have to decide which one!

Summer's End Block 4

I'm continuing to plug away at my Summer's End BOW project. I finished block four shortly before leaving for New York & BOP last week. I prepped block five and took it with me to New York with high hopes of getting it finished on the trip. I might have actually gotten it done had I remembered to pack a needle! I was so bummed - it's not like you can readily get your hands on a chenille needle in midtown Manhattan.

Inspired by Kathy Delaney's class and quilt at BOP, I pulled out my Hearts and Flowers blocks last night. I started the project with my applique group in 2006, when I was very new to applique. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I did a pretty decent job on them! I have nine blocks finished, but had started a tenth one to replace one I wasn't too impressed with. I don't think I ever planned to make all twelve - I was shooting for nine. After close inspection, I have decided that I need to redo the flower on one of the blocks, but the other seven are in good shape. I think I will try to get the new block finished and the flower reworked over the weekend, and then set my sights on designing a setting. I think it needs something on the border, but I'm not sure what yet. I like Kathy's Celtic hearts, but don't think I want to commit to quite that much additional work...I want to finish this one in time for show & tell at BOP next September!

Another Summer's End Block Finished!

Instead of spending the day doing something on a machine, I sat at the machine and did handwork. No wonder I never get anything done! I did manage to finish block three of the Summer's End BOW.

I really should press these blocks before I post them, but I'm always so excited to have one finished that I can't wait to get a picture! I will have to start prepping block four tomorrow so I can get a start on it at bee Tuesday. I don't know how many weeks are left in the program; all I know is that I am hopelessly behind!

I really hope that the new BOM from Homestead Hearth arrives this week. I'd love to get started on it (yes, I am totally crazy!). I'm also dying to get a start on either Falling Leaves or Laurel Wreath from my Nancy Page patterns. I need more time!!!