Retreat week-end

Some of the members of one of my on-line quilting groups went to a retreat in Arkansas, but I didn't go this time. I stayed home and played along with them. Here are some of my finishes...
First, the one that's right at the top, is one I just finished today. It's McKenna Ryan's "High Spy". It's only 12" square, but I swear, it took longer than a regular bed-sized quilt.

Here is both sides of an Elvis pillowcase. I have a friend that L-O-V-E-S Elvis, so I think she's going to be a little excited to get this gift.

Here is my nephew, Jamie, with his new Asian quilt. He spends the night and needed a quilt to use when he's here. My 2 little grandkids aren't always so happy to share one of their quilts, so he now has his own.
The front...

the back...

and the matching pillowcase.

I already showed you the hot pads--now I can tell you, the Coke ones have already found a new home and are much loved and appreciated.

And that's enough for tonight. Hoped you enjoyed peeking as much as I did sharing. :o)

Got up at 5:00am to start the day

The first thing I did was to finished up a project. I've got these hot pads all bound and finished.




This little polka dot baby quilt was so fun to put together, and I was so pleased to use a leftover block. Don't have a recipient in mind yet, but I'm sure that eventually it will find a good home.

These 3 pillowcases have already been taken to Greenbaum's Quilted Forest, my LQS. They are a collection site for the 1 MillionPillowcase Challenge . Some of the fabric, I already had in my stash, and some of it was in the pile of fabric I got recently at the second-hand store; Over 22 yards of fabric for less than $11.00. Could any scrappy quilter pass up a deal like that? LOL

Just a touch of Springtime

Flowers in my yard. The lilacs are just barely starting and the daffodils are almost done.
We already picked a big bouquet of daffodils, but I forgot to take a photo before they shriveled up.

Is it Springtime beautiful at your house yet?

It's been forever...

Just a little peek at what's been keeping me so busy...
This is a quilt, all of polka dot fabric that I made for my sister-in-law's 50th birthday. And guess what? She likes it!


And this little matching nursery ensemble; quilt, changing table cover, pillowcase, pillow and diaper stacker was made for my niece's new baby girl. It arrived just 5 days before that baby did. I hear little Hailey Raye likes her stuff from Aunt Debi. :o)

More to come, but for now, I need to go to bed. I'm still getting used to the dreaded daylight savings time clock change. Good night.

my first set of Dotty Stars blocks

Now, I'm making another set for a block swap I'm hosting. This is going to be a way cute quilt!

Music and more

I love quilting and I love music! All sorts of music, almost all genres. Recently, I've added to my collection. Some is re-purchases from music I loved as a 10-year-old and the others I've discovered and love now.
Before I show you my new CDs, I wanted to show you my itty bitty claim to fame... Bonnie K Hunter has a new book out, (that I've pre-ordered) titled Leaders & Enders and my comment and recommendation is right on the web page.
I have, now in my music collection,

Osmondmania

Alan, Wayne, Merrill and Jay, along with Donny, Marie and Jimmy. I usually can remember them all.

The Partridge Family -

this was my very first album. I got it when I was 9 or 10, and LOVED it! I don't know which song I like more, "I think I love you", that was NOT on my album, or "Umbrella Man". That one so reminds me of living in the Pacific Northwest.
Keith, Laurie, Danny, Chris and Tracy and let's not forget Reuben and Shirley.

Seals & Crofts, beautiful voice and mellow tunes. A nice change from the stronger rock that I usually listened to.


another Michael Jackson. Love song #9!

Susan Boyle (although I may have already mentioned her.) Love, love, love her "I Dreamed A Dream"!

and Adam Lambert (great dance music).

My new magazine

I have been letting most of my magazine subscriptions expire. I don't need them. I have a million and a half patterns that I haven't got to yet, but they are starting to feel like the same ole', same ole' stuff. I still get Australian Patchwork & Quilting and American Patchwork & Quilting, but the rest are no longer coming...and I miss finding a quilting magazine in my mailbox. I went to the book store the other day and found Quilting Arts. I bought the special edition about the Houston International Quilt Festival and was showing it to my daughter...the art major. She is going to be able to use one of the patterns as a starting point for one of her projects. She needed an idea and this one the professor approved of. Isn't it cute? OK, now maybe I don't need to make any birds since she'll be doing it, but I think I still might need to make a bird or 2. They look like they might be cute little pincushions.