Together for 53 Valentine's Days

Hello Everyone,

Those of you who been following me know the story of how we met.  Here it is again for those of you new to my blog. We've grown old and gray together.

Let's time travel back to July 1971, when I was a sophomore at Chico State College in Chico, CA.  At that time, I had a small studio apartment that cost me $50/month during the summer and $100/month during the school year. That was a lot of money for someone working part-time and going to school.

I was dating an agriculture major/cowboy from Redding, and he started taking me to barn dances up and down the Sacramento Valley.  He suggested that I purchase some cowboy boots and Levis so that I'd "fit in" a little more at the barn dances.

I bought a pair of tall, English riding boots, because I didn't want to have pointy toes.  I also bought the tightest pair of jeans that I could squeeze my young, curvy body into.  The jeans were so tight I had to lay down on the bed to zip them up.

I was all dressed up in my best Western regalia when my date came to pick me up.  I thought we were going to a barn dance, but instead we went to watch a softball game in Bidwell Park.  Did I forget to mention that it gets really, REALLY, hot in Chico in the summertime.  It was about 110 degrees at the softball game.  I was dying and almost had a heat stroke.

My date brought me back to my apartment and dropped me off.  All I wanted to do was get my tight jeans and boots off and lay down in front of my swamp cooler.  Well, in the heat, my ankles got swollen.  I couldn't get my boots off which meant I couldn't get my pants off.  I couldn't call my date and ask him to undress me!  I had only lived in my apartment for a month, and I didn't know any of the neighbors.

There were about 20 apartments in my complex, and there was one light on in the entire place.  That light belonged to a rough and tumble "bad boy" type, with a hot Mustang and a motorcycle.  I could tell that he was a Veteran Vet because of his camo-wearing friends.  Viet Nam Veterans weren't treated with the respect they deserved, and I have to tell you I was a little afraid.

I was desperate.  I summoned up my courage, and my boots, Levis and I walked down and knocked on the door of a stranger.  I was secretly afraid he was "entertaining" someone if you catch my drift.  The bad boy opened the door, and my heart was beating out of my chest.  I told him my name, and asked him if he could take my boots off.  He looked at me, laughed, and said he didn't like to undress women in the hallway, come on in.  I went in.

We talked for hours, and hours.  He asked me out to a barbeque with his friends the next night. Bad Boy and I were engaged six months later.  Now I know inquiring minds want to know if he took my boots off.  Yes, he did, and only the boots!

So, if it hadn't been for the boots, the Levis, and the Barn Dance I didn't go to that night, I wouldn't have spent the last 53 years with the Bad Boy.....A.K.A....Mr. Joe.

Oue engagement picture in 1972.  Doesn't that hair look like a helmet!  It took a lot of Aqua Net hair spray to hold that in place.

Soon,

Lynn

Stardance Update

Hello Everyone,

We've had the perfect weather for quilting, rainy, windy, and cozy. This is the best weather to sequester myself away in my quilting room and work on Stardance.

The Courthouse Steps blocks go together much quicker than the star blocks.  I can make four of them at a time in no time at all.

I've been ordering bolts and bolts of fabric to make kits for this design.  I can't start cutting until I finish making the quilt, so until then, the bolts will stack up.

While I'm making the blocks and putting them on my design wall, I'm always thinking about how I'm going to machine quilt it. I think I have this one figured out, but as soon as I load it on my long arm, I will most likely change my mine.  My prerogative....right?

I can just picture this quilt on our bed at the cabin.  It's going to be perfect looking at the star blocks dance around the quilt!

My Sew'n Wild Oaks retreats are filling nicely.  My email inbox exploded after Barbara Black announced that she is going to attend my November retreat. All of the retreats are fun, but the November retreat will be very special as Carrie Quinn, a designer for Marcus Fabrics, as well as Barbara Black will be in attendance.  

I'm sure the November retreat will fill to overflowing.  I still have a few openings in my April and August retreats.  I can still help you with Laurel Ridge during those retreats should you not make it into the November retreat.

Happy quilting!

Soon,

Lynn

 

Sew'n Wild Oaks Retreats for 2025

 Hello Everyone,

I've added an additional retreat at Snowflake Lodge at Blue Lake Springs in Arnold, CA to my calendar for 2025 to allow more quilters to attend and enjoy the absolute pleasure of going to a quilting retreat.

We have a spacious room dedicated to our quilting for 5 days. The staff at Blue Lake Springs bends over backwards to provide and attend to our every need.

The quilters set up on a Sunday and stay set up through Thursday.

Many friends attend together and have a wonderful time!

I can host 36 quilters at a time.  

Between quilting we take walks around Snowflake Lake.  The added bonus is that I provide 'bear bells' for anyone worried about seeing a bear!

You can choose to attend one of my many lectures throughout the five days, or you can work on any project of your choosing.  For those of you making the 2025 Laurel Ridge offered by The Quilt Show, this is the perfect time for you to get some one-on-one help.  Also, those of you making Gentry's Mill will get the added benefit of my time and expertise. 

During nice weather we eat our meals out on the deck. We always break at 4pm for appetizers before dinner.

The Lodge overlooks the calm and peaceful lake.

Here are the retreat dates, and I still have a few spots open. In the eleven years of Sew'n Wild Oaks retreats, this is the first time I've shared availability on my social media platforms! I'm able to do this since I added an additional retreat.

April 27th - May 1st

August 24th - August 28th

November 2nd - November 6th

The cost of the retreat is $400 which includes rental of the facility, your meals (brunch and dinner), and my teaching and organizational time.  Housing is on your own.  There are two motels in the area and many cabins are available for rental. If you are interested, please send an email to:  sewnwildoaks@gmail.com   I will email a registration form to you will all of the specifics.  A retreat is a gift you give to yourself.

Soon,

Lynn

Stardance Update

 Hello Everyone,

I have so many fun things planned for the day that it's hard to decide what to do next.  I've been playing around with Stardance in EQ8.  This is what I decided on yesterday.....that could change today.....but I'm really liking this look of the well-defined star blocks dancing around the quilt.

This is what the design looked like before I started to play.  The blocks were cut off and I think they looked incomplete.  To remedy that, I made half-blocks to put in the border.

I keep adding to my little pile of blocks.  I try to quilt every day even it's for only a half hour.  All of that time adds up to a finished quilt.

In addition to quilting, Mr. Joe and I have been stuffing patterns for Gentry's Mill.  The orders are rolling in and the patterns will be rolling out.  The first order is shipping to Australia tomorrow.  Maybe I can pack myself up and deliver them in person.  Now that would be fun!

Every time I do a BOM, the dining room is turned into a shipping dock.  I find myself apologizing for the mess, but it's a wonderful mess and one I can live with. 

I hope you all have a wonderful week and have a lot of fun projects to keep you busy, energized and engaged.

Soon,

Lynn

Stardance

 Hello Everyone,

I've been working on a new design, and I have a nice little assortment of blocks for Stardance. This is a snapshot of what I'm working on in EQ software.

This is what the actual block looks like.  I love that what I see in EQ software is very similar to the real block.

This is a snapshot of another block in the quilt in EQ.  The block placement in the quilt determines the framing around the block.

This is the actual block.

I'm combining my Gentry's Mill fabric line with my Hearthstone fabric line. I'm so happy with what I'm seeing so far.  When the graphic artist at Marcus Fabrics sends me the files, they are ready to import directly into EQ software.  I get a wonderful rendition of the quilt right from the get-go. 

I go between EQ software, to the pattern directions, and then to the sewing machine.  I'm also using my little organization progress sheet to keep track of what I've accomplished.  These sheets will definitely be included in the pattern.  I feel as though this is the most organized I've been while creating a new pattern.

On a personal note, it's coyote mating season here in the Sierra Nevada mountains and the coyotes are 'talking' every night.  When our dog Mazey hears them, she chimes right in and howls unlike any howl she's vocalized before.  It's a primal howl coming from deep within her chest which sends chills up my spine.  It feels like I'm in a horror movie and I never watch horror movies!  I'm blaming these dark circles under my eyes on the coyotes.....and Mazey.

Soon,

Lynn

A Day in the Classroom

 Hello Everyone,

My sister Gail and I spent a day in the classroom with the Independence Hall quilters teaching Finessing the Figures a.k.a. Patchwork Math.  Here is Sue's beautiful block showing the different components she made during class from my Patchwork Math book.

Isn't this a great organizational idea!  I'm going to get out my label maker and do this on my clips.  I teach how to line up stripes or checks on a square in a square.  Becky got extra credit for doing a fabulous job with those pesky checks!  They line up beautifully.  It's all those little details which add to the charm of a quilt.

Here's another tip.  You can use a BlocLoc Flying Geese ruler to trim your square in a square.

To center the flower in the middle of a square in a square, you can make a template out of cardboard or template plastic to audition the floral bouquet.

Once the class finished making a few of the components, they started working with them on the design wall and arranged and rearranged their components.

Here are pictures of more of their progress.  The girls learned my techniques and the math so they can make those components any size they want to design blocks, sashings and borders.

By the end of the day, Deanna had a lot of components made.  She is going to put them all together in a Christmas project.

What a wonderful group of quilters!  Gail and I had a special day getting to know you better.  It is a great deal of fun to spend time with those sharing our same passion for quilting.

Soon,

Lynn

Gentry's Mill is Starting Soon

 Hello Everyone,

Coming to a quilt store near you.....Gentry's Mill BOM from Marcus Fabrics.

Both the quilt and the fabric line are called Gentry's Mill.  When we were driving back from Quilt Market in Houston in 2023, I saw a road sign that said, 'Gentry's Mill', and I thought that's a great name for a quilt.....and here she is.  I always keep a notebook with me to write down ideas as they come to me, because I know I'm going to forget it in a nanosecond!

The quilt above the bed is my pattern called Emilie Elizabeth, made for me by my dear friend Deborah.  See the precious story behind this quilt HERE.  

The color palette is rich and just plain classy.  I've enjoyed every minute working with this line. I'm working on a new design which combines Gentry's Mill with my Hearthstone line.  I can work away in my sewing room and lose all tract of time while playing, I mean working with the fabrics.

Yesterday, I took a much-needed day off and Mr. Joe grabbed the old lady and packed up the baby (Mazie) and we headed to the Shenandoah Valley in Plymouth, CA to pick up a wine shipment and do some wine tasting.

It was a beautiful day considering we are in January.  We sat outside on the deck at Iron Hub, our new favorite winery, and enjoyed a charcuterie board for lunch.

The sky was crystal blue with interesting cloud formations.  We thought this one looked like the bones from a fish. Seriously we did not have too much to drink! 

On a personal note, our granddaughter evacuated from her condo just north of the LA fire area.  Her place should be okay, but the winds are supposed to pick up again today. They had been without power for days and she decided it was a good time to pack up her car and leave with their dog and cat.  Her fiancé stayed behind and is packed and ready to leave at a moment's notice.  

My heart is breaking for those who have lost everything and have to start over.  It is such a daunting thought to think of the infrastructure that needs to be rebuilt before anyone can start to rebuild their life. If you read the story behind the Emilie Elizabeth quilt, you will see how the Paradise fire touched my life.

Living in the mountains surrounded by towering trees is a constant reminder of the fragility of our way of life. No matter how much raking we do to keep our lots clean, it's not really going to matter if a huge blaze comes through with howling winds.  

Treasure your way of life and be thankful for each day and every minute.

Soon,

Lynn