Our Outing in the Country

Hello Everyone!

Joe, Zinny and I headed out early this morning to take a quilt (The House on Edgewood Lane) and patterns up to Bearly Quilting in Sonora. Bearly Quilting is a delightful quilt shop filled with a wonderful fabric selection, books, gifts and sewing machines. I'm going to teach a class there this summer, so I took the quilt up for display. Stop on by if you are in the area and meet Nancy, Ruth and Cheryl.

Now you know, quilts and antiques go hand in hand. Our car has an "Antique Shop Homing Device" built right in to the GPS system. When it sees an antique sign, it automatically turns and finds the nearest parking place.

What a wonderful treat we had today on our way home as we drove through the little community of Escalon. We stopped at The Green Pea. Located at 1802 Main Street in Escalon. Sandi, the shop's owner greeted us warmly. You can just tell how proud she is of her shop! The building was built in 1906. It has been a Mercantile, Livery Stable, Post Office and a Hardware Store. Sandi is the 4th owner of the building.

You'll find little peas in pods throughout the store. Gifts from family and friends.

I loved this. It's a crib with screening to keep the bugs out. ( I think it's to keep the little buggers in!)

This picture doesn't do the store justice. I'm lusting after the table in the foreground. It would be perfect at the cabin. It came out of the kitchen from an old hospital in town.

New and old is beautifully displayed.

Hey! I learned how to type out of this book! Does that make me an antique?

I have this book too.

This window came out of a church.

The displays are charming, well organized and just as neat as a pin.

I'd like to know who does all the dusting Sandi?

Love the walls too.

All the modern conveniences of home.

Love this too!

From the old Post Office. Wouldn't this be great filled with Fat Quarters!!!

The use of old doors throughout the shop is just so clever. This is my kind of decorating....I just need more room. What is behind door #2?

Here is part of the Livery Stable. Sandi's husband made the doors.

The store is welcoming, and cozy. Plan on spending a fair bit of time wandering around while you travel back in time to a slower way of life.

Check out Sandi's blog for more information about this must-see shop. http://thegreenpeaboutique.blogspot.com/ I hope I got all of my facts straight Sandi. Thank you so much for letting me share your shop with my blogging friends.

I'm an antique lover....that's why I keep Joe around! It's a good thing he doesn't read my blog.

As always,

Lynn

P.S. The big quilt reveal will be next week. I want to finish quilting it.

English Paper Piecing

Hello Everyone,

I didn't want you all to think that I was "slacking" since I haven't been showing too many quilting pictures lately. This was the week to work on writing the pattern for the new Block of the Month. I can sew much faster than I can compose my scattered thoughts and organize them into meaningful directions.

I've been working on the directions to make the English paper pieced flowers and thought I would enclose them in this post. I know they aren't the easiest for you to see, but just pretend you can. Trust me, it looks great on my screen!





I've been scanning all the original applique drawings and got them into a digital format yesterday. Not really thrilling to you, but it was a major deal for me. The bottom line is that is will save money when it comes to printing. Which will make the cost of the pattern much lower.

I have a greater appreciation for all designers that design a block of the month. This quilt has been a major part of my life for the last few months.....and I'm anxious to get back to normal. (So are Joe and Zinny.)

So back to the computer and the sewing machine. I have all of the 40 itty bitty pieces cut out for the 6-1/2" corner blocks. I need to make them and work on the directions while the process is fresh in my mind.

As always,

Lynn

P.S. Check out the new website for the shop! http://www.inbetweenstitches.com/default.aspx

The Big Reveal......almost

Hello Everyone,

I'm driving myself crazy. I wake up at 3am with an idea....get up at 4am because I can't let the idea escape my memory.....and then I start ripping out the previous days work. So I'm going to stop changing the quilt and be satisfied with what I've done so far.

So you have to have a sense of humor here and realize that the flying geese are delivering the mail.....air mail that is! First 3am idea! Flange added to flowers - second 3am idea.


Third 3am idea was to add a little flange or eyelash around all the flowers. I like this so much better....I hope you do also. Check the last post and compare the two. This is much cleaner and leaves me some space for some machine quilted vines. This change meant that I had to make four more flowers. Making flowers while watching the debate over health care can throw you over the brink!
The cute little brown basket will most likely go into a corner of the borders. I just have to make three more little baskets with the forty pieces and the quilt top is done!

I added the flange to frame these English-pieced flowers also.

I've been exercising my prerogative to change my mind all weekend. But I'm done making any changes. The whole top is together except for the top and bottom borders. ....and now I have to machine quilt it! That is for another day. My poor little brain is fried today.

I have to get busy decorating for Easter, clean the neglected house, and reconnect with a dog and husband. I guess I need to re-order my list starting with husband and ending with decorating.

My thanks go out to all of you that have been so complimentary. I appreciate every single comment received and read them more than once!

As always,

Lynn