Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Full Retreat Mode and a SALE

Hello Everyone,
 
Full retreat mode makes me sound like I'm running away from a battle!  I'm really just working everyday on making my two retreats be very successful, informative, and fun.  I'm also squeezing in a bit of quilting along the way while I'm making a full-sized quilt using only these two blocks.  The blocks are like potato chips......you know how that saying goes!
 


I've been making kits for Cute As A Button, my new table topper.   I still have to cut the off-white fabrics for the kits, but at least, I have all of the reproduction fabrics cut and packaged.  This is going to be the project for my upcoming retreats.


It has taken me days to get to this point. I finished up the packaging early this morning while watching my morning TV shows.

 
I've also been working on the directions for this darling little table topper! 
 


Now, for a first time ever sale from Sew'n Wild Oaks.  I'm having a 15% off sale on all of my Sew'n Wild Oaks patterns on Etsy.  The sale begins today and runs through September 3, 2018.  So if you've been thinking about purchasing a pattern, now is the time!  Click on Etsy below, and it will take you directly to my shop so you can shop Sew'n Wild Oaks.
 
https://www.etsy.com/shop/SewnWildOaksDesigns?ref=search_shop_redirect
 
Almost everyday Mr. Joe and Mazey take the Etsy orders down to the post office. Mazey hops into the back of the SUV, hangs her head out the window, and with cheeks flapping in the breeze and tail wagging, they head to post office.  When they come back, Mazey has the mail from the box in her mouth and delivers it to me.  She is the cutest, and furriest mail delivery dog ever! 
 
If you don't "do" Etsy, send me an email and I'll still make good on the price.  The average shipping cost is $2.66 + $1.50 handling which includes gas, large envelopes, shipping labels, and Mazey's kibble and treats. Then there's the tax if you live in California. But, you are saving 15% on the pattern!  My email address is:  sewnwildoaks@gmail.com  
 
Thank you to all who have been commenting on the blog.  Many are "no reply" status and it's frustrating for me not to be able to respond to you.  I appreciate your comments very, very much. I'll start replying right under your comments, and hopefully you will see them and know I care.

 
Soon,
Lynn

 
 
 
  


 
 

Thursday, August 23, 2018

Kit Making

Hello Everyone,
 
I've been enjoying the time I have to spend in my sewing room over the past several days.  I started a full blown quilt by making more of these cute little blocks.  It's amazing how many little bits of fabrics I've been using from my stash.
 

Late yesterday afternoon, I prepared a batch of tiny centers.  I find if I have everything lined up for my project the night before, I'm much more productive during the day.


During my television time, I've been cutting 2-1/2" strips to make kits for the new little table topper.  This is going to be an optional project for my Sew'n Wild Oaks quilt retreats this fall.  I still have to cut all of the blues and beige fabrics, then the packaging begins in earnest.


I'm also making a few fat 1/8th bundles.    This fabric came from Country Pines Quilt Shop in Susanville.  I really wish this shop was closer to me. 


We have company coming this weekend and the following weekend for Labor Day.  At some point in time, I'm going to have to stop sewing and start cleaning up my beautiful mess.

Thank you for all of your comments about the new table topper.  If you are a no reply status, I can't respond to you personally.  In the past, Blogger used to notify me when a comment was left on my blog.  Evidently that doesn't work anymore. 

 
We've spent a very frustrating week with our Internet and phone connection.  Comcast was here for almost two hours yesterday installing all new equipment.  So far, so good, and we think the issues have been resolved.  Fingers crossed.

Soon,
Lynn

Monday, August 20, 2018

A Flimsy

 
Hello Everyone,
 
My little Inching Along is officially a flimsy.  I may even call it Cuter Than a Button!  I'm completely addicted to creating the blocks from my stash. 
 


It is going to finish at 31" x 31".  I could add borders, but it fits this table nicely just the way it is.  I can just picture it in Christmas fabrics too.  I can also picture it surrounded by an applique border. 


This will be the first in a series of Sweet Sapling patterns from Sew'n Wild Oaks.  I already have an idea for the next one!  I also want to make a large quilt with this design.  Too many quilts, not enough time.


Soon,
Lynn

Friday, August 17, 2018

Inching Along

Hello Everyone,
 
I usually start my day well before sunrise in my cozy sewing room.  It is extra cozy in the winter.  During the summer, I open the windows and let the crisp, morning mountain air blow in. We keep them closed at night because we don't want a bear to breeze in right through the screen.
 

Last night, I prepared all of the little parts and pieces for the 9-patch units.  I find when I do this, I start right in quilting without wondering what I'm going to do while I'm waiting for the coffee to perk.


I put the 50 cent piece there so you could get a sense of scale.  When was the last time you had a 50 cent coin in your purse?  My grandmother used to call her purse a pocket book.  I don't think I've ever used that term.


Well before lunch time, I had most of the tabletopper together.  I just have to make two more 9-patch blocks and work on the setting triangles.  Not sure about a border yet.  I'll know once I get to that point.

 
There certainly is something to be said for making smaller projects.  I usually spend weeks, if not months on some of my quilts, (years in one case).  I'm kinda liking this small project.  I like it so much that I'm going to start a new line of patterns under the name of Sew'n Wild Oaks.  I'm calling the new line Sweet Saplings. Now I want you to try saying that fast, three times!
 
The patterns will be smaller, and cheaper.  However, these Sweet Saplings might, just might, grow into a full-sized quilt!  I'm totally hooked on making these blocks.  No special rulers, everything is cut at 1"......what could be simpler?  I guess having someone else make it would be simpler, but not as much fun as I'm having.
 
Soon,
Lynn



Thursday, August 16, 2018

Sew'n Wild Oaks Was In Session

Hello Everyone,
 
My Sew'n Wild Oaks girls have been busy over the past month.  They had so much for show and tell on Monday and Tuesday.
 
Lynnette is putting her Grammy Square blocks together.  She nailed it on her "Y" seams!
 

 
Karen has a completely finished her gorgeous Scrappy Leaves quilt.
 


Here's the back.

Pat has a Crabapple Hill flimsy finished.

 
Laurie's little wool owls are so cute.


Kathy is taking the last few stitches on the binding on her Christmas Morning Delight wall hanging.


Mary made this adorable bag.  The top folds down if you want to make it smaller.  Brilliant.


Laura is making a set of pretty Christmas place mats.


Nancie is there somewhere behind her hexie borders!


Vicky is making Spoken For blocks.  She's headed to Iceland for vacation, and wants to applique the Dresden's to the background while she's traveling.


Isabelle is machine quilting away on her quilt.


Jodie is perfecting her stars for a Kim Diehl pattern.


Laurie is pattern testing my Huckleberry Hill pattern.


Karen is very proud of her square in a square.


Here it is in the center of her Country Sampler block layout sheet.


Susan worked on her project from the quilt cruise.


Cindy is working on her October Magic pattern.


Karen just has to finish the binding on her Journey's End quilt.  This was a BOM at In Between Stitches.


I love her backing!

Lynnette put a check mark on another UFO.  What a good feeling.

 
Melody is making great headway on her Row-Mancing Alaska quilt from the cruise.
 




Barbara finished her little Amish wall hanging.


Paula has five blocks completed on her Country Sampler quilt.


Barbara is almost finished with her Row-Mancing Alaska.  She added a cruise ship with a red cross on it to one of her rows.  Barbara had a heart attach while she was on the cruise!  She is fine now, but things weren't so fine for a few days.  She was in good hands onboard the ship, and then in Canada.

 
An ambulance was there to meet her at the dock in Victoria.  She will do anything to be the first person off the ship!!  All kidding aside, we are so happy that she is doing well. She had us very worried for a few days.  This showed us all how quickly life can turn on a dime. Even with her heart attack, she's almost finished with her quilt.
 
 Kristy is making some beautiful Country Sunshine blocks!


Rose has a cute little owl made in wool.


 Karen is also making a Country Sunshine block.


I had to get into the action too, and work on my Courthouse Steps blocks and Huckleberry Hill.  I can't keep up with my girls at all!  They quilt rings around me.


I get to stay home for the next 17 days!!  SEVENTEEN days of no classes, no workshops, no lectures, no shows.  This is almost unheard off in my life.  I do have a long to-do list to get ready for my two Sew'n Wild Oaks retreats.  There are kits to cut, directions to be written, and projects to finish.  I will be busy, but it's a good busy.

Soon,
Lynn

Saturday, August 11, 2018

In the Company of Quilters

Hello Everyone,

Another busy week here at Sew'n Wild Oaks while I try to get "caught up".  I don't know when or if that is ever going to happen. 

I started playing with some of the new fabrics I purchased at Country Pines Quilt Shop in Susanville, and this is the result.  Little 5-1/2" Courthouse Step blocks.



In my travels, I hear quilters saying they want to make smaller projects.  This is going to be a small project with small blocks.  Two for the price of one!  But it could also be a larger quilt too.


I started my week speaking at the Pioneer Quilters' Guild in Rocklin, CA.  It was a fantastic group of quilters with hearty laughs.  We had so much fun!  There was one lady in the front row who had me laughing.


Tuesday was my Patchwork Math workshop.  I'm trying to dispel math phobia one quilter at a time.




The girls worked very hard during the day.










When I was clearing out a closet to make room for more fabric.....of course......I found a box of Prairie Flower patterns.  I'm putting them on sale on my SewnWildOaksDesigns Etsy store for $10.00 so I can clear them out of the closet.  I remember very clearly machine quilting each and every little bitty square.......hundreds of them!


If you are interested and don't do Etsy, you can always email me at sewnwildoaks@gmail.com and I can send you a pattern.  The total is $12.66 which includes shipping.  Tax would be added if you live in California.  I love having this quilt on the bed at the cabin.  It is 93" x 93" which is perfect for a queen bed.


As I travel around to quilt guilds, I realize just how lucky I am to be in the company of quilters.  We laugh, we eat, we quilt.  What could be better???

Have a great weekend.

Soon,
Lynn