Summer Sabbatical

     I feel I must apologize for my recent neglect of my blog, especially to you folks who have been so faithful.  I know what happened to July (I was doing some traveling), but darned if I know what happened to August.  Anyway, I'm back to sewing, although not caught up.  Here's some pictures of what I've been up to while on hiatus.

The Gardens of Cecilanhof Palace in Potsdam,
Germany.  This is where Stalin, Churchill, and
 Truman met to divide up Germany after WWII

Rode the Euro rail from Berlin
to Warsaw Poland

Zakopane Mountains in Poland

Lots of Quilting Inspiration.  This is wood carving on a ceiling.

Since I've been home, I have had two quilts back from the quilters, binding on, and ready for the Guild Quilt Show in October.  The first is the the kit quilt I worked on last winter;

The next one is the Halloween Quilt from Primitive Quilts 2012, which I did last fall.  It was fun!  I love Halloween fabrics and had collected quite a stash.

That's all for now.  I am working on the challenge project for Guild, and will post about it later, hopefully not too much later.

Keep on stitchin', Judy

1st Annual (?) Arrow Rock Quilting Retreat

     My Quilt Guild had a big disappointment lately.  We had planned a retreat in Hannibal and were all looking forward to two days of sewing, shopping and quilting camaraderie.  Alas, our contact person in Hannibal called to advise us to re-schedule due to some construction work in the downtown area.  As most of us had this time blocked out of our busy summer schedules, we were pretty disappointed and were looking for an alternative activity.  We began looking closer to home and settled on a historic restored church in my little town of Arrow Rock.  As someone said, it was just as much fun and we got to sleep in our own beds.   We had a great time and the most anyone drove was probably 25 miles.  Here's some pictures.

Mary worked on machine quilting this Bonnie Hunter design she had pulled from her UFO stack.

Gina and Becky 

Don't you love our quilting queen crowns?

Michelle

Michelle, I just realized I didn't get a picture of your beautiful 30"s blocks.

Pam working on her UFO

And the finished top.

And then there was the snack table.

Dinner at Arrow Rock Station

Fran

Fran's project

Beth's Birthday Blocks completed.

 

Becky working on a scrap quilt.

Beth working on some birthday blocks for this year.

My jelly roll project.

Don't you love Beth's color selection?

Gina's setting for her 2012 birthday blocks.

Joyce had some beautiful fabrics to work with.

Looking forward to the next retreat.

The Fanfare, please

     Announcing the winner of the flag tumblers!

  My feline random number selection system

has chosen  Gina as the winner of the flag tumblers.  Congratulations Gina!

Sorry girls, that I had to do this so early.  My FRNSS needed his morning nap.

Keep blogging with me and I'll think of another fun event.

Judy

Summer Pickin'

    I've had some great luck with my picking lately.  One of our local shops is having a moving sale and I found some great items there.  Here are some examples:




A Composition Book filled with clippings of poetry, many by Edgar A. Guest.  Most of the copyright dates are 1936 or '37.  There is a little white tag on the spine with the handwritten title "Miss Ellen".  I am assuming that is the owner of the book.
   


Here is an example of Mr. Guest's work;

                         Self-Respect

Now when it comes to comfort and sleeping well at night,

There's nothing so important as the choice 'twixt wrong and right, 

For there's nothing so conducive to a seven or eight hours' rest

As the satisfactory knowledge that you've done you very best.

And this adorable little tea set.  Not so vintage as I usually like, but so cute.  Now if Zeke would only consent to have a spot of tea with me.

I don't know if you can see this, but the roof is a book cover, the spine on the top.

And a thirteen star Colonial flag to keep company with my 48 star flag.

Little oil cans of different shapes.

A set of billiard balls, then found the frame at the Red Apron Sale in Liberty on Saturday. 

Also, at the Red Apron Sale, an autograph book from 1946.  It even has suggestions for the signer in case they have writer's block;
"He who is true to one friend thus proves himself worthy of many."
"May the hinges of our Friendship never rust."  "It takes half our lives to learn who our friends are and the other half to keep them."

The Red Apron Sale (see it on Facebook) is held once a month by a group of approximately 30 crafters/collectors of vintage and repurposed items.  It is held on the outskirts of Liberty, MO.  Lots of fun!  I saw lots of stuff I liked, lots of ideas for crafting, interesting vintage items, etc.  I hope to go back sometime soon.
     If you haven't signed up for the flag tumbler giveaway, do it now.  I will close the sign- up tomorrow.  Leave a comment or click the "follow" button to enter.
Keep on Stitchin'
Judy

              

Summer Sewing

    Summer is officially here in Missouri.  It has been above 85 degrees F. for several days with increasing humidity, but after such a late, cool spring, it feels good.  It does decrease my sewing time though.  I find myself sitting outside with a cup of coffee or a glass of iced tea, listening to the birds sing and watching the hummingbirds fight over their feeder.  We have been feeding the Baltimore Orioles also and they have become almost as tame as the hummingbirds, coming to the feeders with us sitting on the deck.  
    Last week, I had a granddaughter and great niece here for a performing arts camp at our local college, so most of my sewing was some costuming for their Friday night performance.  They both wanted to do some of the sewing, so that is more time consuming, although I love introducing the younger generation to the creative side of it.  We made Livvy an Ipad case and Maddy an apron for her performance. 
     I did have plenty of time for some handwork, so worked on the binding for these placemats made from a French General Charm Pack.  It was mostly about the fabrics and a free motion quilting practice session.  

  Don't they look great with my brown transfer ware?   The colors are actually more on the rosy side, the camera made it look a little red.  I really liked the pattern, though.  It was from the Moda Bake Shop, called "Charm Saturday".  One Charm pack made four placemats with the coordinating fabric on the left side.  I was pretty happy with the quilting, especially the feathers, I have been working on them forever.  
    One of my favorite online quilting sites is Missouri Star and I took advantage of one of their daily deals last week.  It was a free 2.5" tumbler template, you just had to pay the shipping.  Well, you know how my logic works.  If I am going to pay shipping anyway. I might as well order something else.  So, I ordered the 5" charm tumbler template also.  I have been fascinated with the tumbler flags I have been seeing on one of the small quilts group I follow (Sentimental Quilter).  Since my stash includes lots of patriotic fabrics, I was able to put one together pretty quick.  I plan to hand quilt it, so this is just the flimsy.

    It was so much fun, I would like to share it with someone.  If you will leave a comment or click on the "follow" button, I will randomly choose a lucky recipient for enough tumblers to make your own flag.  The instructions are very simple.  Missouri Star Quilt Co. has a youtube tutorial on it or I will email the instructions to you. While you are looking for the tutorial, look for the Kansas City Channel 41 feature on their shop in Hamilton Missouri.  It is only about 20 miles from my hometown and I know the town well.  It has suffered the fate of many small towns in rural Missouri and it was encouraging to see what a quilt shop has done for it.
Keep on Stitchin'
Judy

Memorial Day 2013

It was a rainy and stormy day in Missouri, but a good day nonetheless.  We entertained friends for lunch (ham/asparagus quiche, pasta salad and fresh fruit).  Asparagus is in season now and we have eaten it every day for a week.  It's never better than the first sprouts in the Spring.
     I did a little decorating in the house this week.  Memorial Day is the beginning of summer and for me it means flags and red, white and blue.  I have several small quilts that make their appearance and some antique (pre 1959) flags with 48 stars.  We used to own an 1860's house and when we bought it, it came with the contents.  It was quite a treasure for a dyed in the wool antique-er like me.  It also came with lots of junk, but that is another story.  One of my favorite finds was a shirt box full of small flags, probably used as table favors for a political meeting/luncheon etc.  In the same box, there was 30 or 40 plastic thimbles with a Democratic slogan on them.  Can you imagine attending an event like that today?  Thimbles for favors?  Maybe at a quilting luncheon, but not a political meeting.  Anyway, the little flags spend the summer sitting in crocks, dolls arms, and anything else that will hold them.  Like this cast iron rabbit on parade.

Then the quilts:
Spools

Embroidered Stars, a Liberty Homestead pattern.

A black bird holding a tiny nine-patch

And a Kathleen Tracy pattern called Civil War Scraps helping to commemorate my favorite Sailor.

 Some more little nine-patch basket fillers.

Then my collection of little flags...

 Cats and quilts, they just go together.  He doesn't have anything to do with Memorial Day, but just looked so cute sleeping under this quilt.

 Happy Memorial Day!
Judy

More Quilt Camp

Here we are (instructors) holding Klonda's Challenge project.  Isn't it great?

And below is the entire camp in front of The Old Schoolhouse.

Thanks, Julie, for forwarding me these pictures.