This 'N That, My Week

Tuesday I went to the AQG meeting. We are starting a Roosting Round Robin that we will be working on each month. I think I know what I'm going to do for my center block. Now to see if I can get it done by the 27th. So, this months program was Round Robins and we were to bring any RRs that we had done. I took 3, one is one that I'm currently involved in with one of my Bee's, the Paradise Piecers. The other 2 are from several years ago that I did with an on line group I was in.

This RR had a winter theme. This was a fall theme. I've never finished it.

This one I didn't take to guild. It is a Row Robin I did with another on line group I was in. I haven't finished it either. I want to add another row. The row I made is the next to last row. I machine appliqued mine with invisible thread. Everyone else did hand applique. I really enjoyed working on every one's. Everybody had a different theme for their top.

I'm enjoying the RR I'm currently involved in. There are 8 of us, so our tops will be quite large. I think there are three more rounds to go, and will probably be next January before they make their way back home. We have 3 months to do each round.

Today the Paradise Piecers had their weekly meeting. We had a nice time, chatting and sewing. I worked on hand sewing down the binding on a quilt. I didn't get it done, so think I will take it for my project tomorrow when my other bee, The Needle Turners, meet. It is an applique bee and we meet once or twice a month. I have enough applique projects to last me several years.

Scrap Quilt

I finished this scrap quilt over the week-end. I call it "Abstract Squares". It is the first quilt on the Grace frame. I used my Bernina to quilt it as that is all I have to use. It did pretty good. It sure made the quilting process a lot easier. I look forward to quilting many more quilts on it. Maybe I will even get good at it.

Retreat over all too soon

I had a great time at the retreat, but it was over all to soon. I did get all the blocks made for the top I was working on. See the photo on the left. Today I've been working on putting the blocks together. I still have the borders to put on. The pattern is a Debbie Mumm pattern from a 1998 quilting magazine. Of course it called for a Debbie Mumm Santa panel and her fabrics. I used a SSI panel I found a year or so ago and fabric I had. So far I think it looks just as good as the one in the magazine.

On the right is a picture of some of the goodies we got at retreat. I think the tote bag is so cute.

AQG Redtop Retreat

Today was the first day of our quilting retreat. We started an hour later than planned, due to the sleet and rain we had early this morning. I had a nice time. Didn't get as much sewing done as I would have liked, though. I had 72 half square triangles to trim up. That took me awhile. We had fun decorating hats. We were all given the cutes tote bags filled with goodies. At supper, there was a tea cup, napkin and coaster on the table for each of us. We had a really good first day. There were also prizes given out. I didn't win anything, but there are still two more days to go. I took some pictures with my camera phone. It doesn't take the best pictures, but it is something to remember day.

These were taken at super. We're wearing our hats.

Community Service Project

the AQG had a community service project day on Tuesday. I was going to go, but decided with retreat starting Thursday, that was too much "gadding about". The block they are using for the project this time is like one I made several years ago. I alternated the "Crazy Nine-Patch" and "Stack 'N Slash" Star blocks in a quilt. I call it "State of Mind". See it on the left. I have no idea where I might have put the 9-patch pattern at, so, as it was a free pattern on the web, I decided to search the web for it. I was able to find one. The pattern says to use 9 squares of fabric, which makes 9 blocks. Of course I wanted 12 blocks, so I stacked 12 squares, which throws things off a little when it comes time to rotate the pieces. It was OK the first two cuts. I did get the top put together.

Now I need to make a couple more. I have another community service project I'd like to make it for, plus my daughter liked it too, and wants me to make her one.

Color Challenge

Allatoona Quilters Guild, one of the guilds I belong to, is having a color challenge. Our finished project is due in May. These are the colors I drew at the January meeting, a pink and sky blue. I was really pleased with my colors until I went to make my project. I decided to kill two birds with one stone, so to speak, and make the Rhombi Quilt my daughter has been try to get me to make for a couple of years. After our guild meeting, a friend and I went to JoAnns and I picked out my fabrics, adding yellow for good measure. My daughter made me a pattern for the rhombus shape and a color layout of the quilt.




I got busy cutting the pieces and put them on the design wall. This is what it looked like. I didn't like this arrangement at all. Each of the colors, pink, blue and yellow just seem to jump out at me. So back to JoAnns I went with DD in tow, to find a nice floral print with all the colors in it.

DD made a new color layout for me to follow. We call this one "Rhombi in Plaid" I like this a slight bit better. I have the top sewn together now, but have no idea when I'll get around to quilting it.

When I did the new layout, I had some pieces left over. So decided to do this little stained glass wall hanging. It is finished and may end up being the one I take in May for the Color Challenge.

My Saturday

I'm going to a Quilting Retreat next week. I'm spending today getting the projects ready that I plan on taking to retreat. I'm going to be working on some of my Christmas UFOs. One of the guilds I belong to is having a "Christmas in July" Challenge, so I'm trying to finish up those Christmas/Winter themed quilts I've been procrastinating over.