Thursday, May 31, 2018

Road Trip

Hello Everyone,
 
I've been pretty quiet this week on my blog, but anything but quiet at home while preparing for the Wine Country Quilt Show in Santa Rosa this weekend.
 
It's been a flurry of activity here.  First order of business was getting my latest pattern finished, printed, and stuffed into the plastic envelope.
 


This pattern is going to be part of my new guild workshop presentation.  Now that is it finished, I want to make another one!  This is also one of the quilts that I will be teaching on the quilting cruise to Alaska in July.  YIKES.....that's next month!

My sister Gail has been pattern testing for me.  She makes the components then places them on the block layout sheet.  A block layout sheet is included in the pattern for each of the nine blocks. The sheet really aids in the layout and construction of the block.




My friend Joyce has also been testing the pattern for me.


I've also been cutting, folding, and pricing bundles for my booth this weekend.  Here is just a sample of Jo Morton's new shirtings fabrics, and Pieceful Pines by Pam Buda.



I'll add these collections to my other reproduction bundles. My booth will be full of choices, (or temptations) for everyone!


Hope to see some of you at the show!

Soon,
Lynn

Monday, May 28, 2018

A Rite of Summer

Hello Everyone,
 
An annual rite of summer for me is the changing of the quilts.  Memorial Day signifies the date when this begins.
 
 
My Buttonwood quilt is the most 'summery' quilt that I designed.  This quilt will now greet visitors at the front door.

I'm preparing for the Wine Country Quilt Show in Santa Rosa this coming weekend.  This is my last show until the middle of September.  I'm making lots of bundles and quilted goodies for the weekend.  This show is always a good one!

 
Today isn't a day to celebrate.  It is a day to remember and think about the number of lives lost in military conflicts. My  husband, my father, my father-in-law, my uncles, my cousins, voluntarily enlisted in the service, and came home alive.  They all had stories to tell.  Mr. Joe volunteered for Vietnam.  Luckily he wasn't selected because he was a jet mechanic.  At they time the military was looking for helicopter mechanics.  His story could have had a much different outcome.
 
 
 Thank you to all Veterans and their families for their ultimate sacrifice and service. 
 
Soon,
Lynn


 

Thursday, May 24, 2018

Sew'n Wild Oaks Class Was In Session

Hello Everyone,
 
I was happy as a clam spending Monday and Tuesday with my Sew'n Wild Oaks girls at In Between Stitches in Livermore.  They have been so productive since we last met.
 
There were a lot of Country Sunshine quilts and blocks in the room made with so many different fabrics and colorways.
 





We also had a Christmas theme going on too.





We have a Country Sampler quilt in the making and pattern testing phase.




The box of yo-yo's looked good enough to eat!





I finished up my Gold Rush blocks for my Alaskan quilt.


I also made a huge decision to change the entire background of the quilt and removed the aged muslin fabrics.  In class, one of the girls made a comment about the background which validated what I was thinking.  I knew if I didn't make a change, I would never be happy with the quilt.

I took out my seam ripper at 5am yesterday, and removed every piece of muslin.


Then I replaced the muslin with a batik which has a very small, overall polka dot print.  I'm so much happier with the quilt now.  Yesterday was a full day of ripping and re-stitching.  It was exhausting but worth the effort.

 
We are headed back to the mountains today just in time for the Memorial weekend.  We will get a jump on traffic and arrive at our mountain haven before the masses arrive.  This is just the beginning of the summer visitors.  Our little town is transformed from a sleepy community to a bustling area of summer activity.  Our street will go from one car passing by per hour to at least five cars!  It's a huge change from the San Francisco Bay Area traffic.
 
We had a very busy five days back home in the city. We attended the awards ceremony for our granddaughter's track team.  Harleigh received her Varsity letter and scholar athlete certificate. 
 
 
We watched our grandsons play two Little League play off games. The result wasn't the way we wanted the season to end, but we were there to cheer for our little kids. My grandsons Jess, and Kade are not only cousins, but good friends.  If you look closely you can see Kade's black eye which he received during practice.  Such a cute picture and representation of the All American boy.
 

 
We had dinners every night with all of the kids and ate our way through the last five days.  We need to go back home and get back to our normal, boring schedule!

We enjoyed our family time......it was the best!

Soon,
Lynn

 

Thursday, May 17, 2018

Pattern Testing and More Kit Cutting

Hello Everyone,
 
It has been full steam ahead here at Sew'n Wild Oaks cutting fabric, writing the pattern, and pattern testing for my Country Sampler design.  The quilters on the cruise to Alaska are going to have a great time making this quilt.  It is a wonderful example of learning how to make components any size you want to create beautiful, and intricate blocks surrounded by a ribbon sashing which is made without any triangles.
 
 
Part of the pattern writing process is testing the pattern.  Yesterday, my sister Gail and I finished cutting all of the kits for the cruise.  My great room started to resemble a war zone with bolts of fabrics, cutting tables, and sharp cutting tools scattered around the room.  Once we were finished, Gail started making the first block for Country Sampler.
 


She selected her fabrics then made the components for the first block and placed them on the block layout sheet.  She started her second block at 5:30 this morning.  She was up and making the coffee before I started stirring.


Before she got to that point, we had to finish cutting and folding all of the fat 1/8th's



Here is the selection of blacks, golds, plums and blues from the Fresh Cut Flowers line by Kansas Troubles for Moda.

Here are the lights, greens, and reds.

While Gail worked on her block, I cut the fabrics for the border and sashings.

 

Today while I'm finishing the pattern, Gail is going to work on her block.  She says she's having a ball, and I believe her.  We are surrounded in gorgeous fabrics, and entertained with a passing thunder storm rolling down the spine of the Sierra.  Mr. Joe built a roaring fire, and we were happy campers.

More work ahead today.  But is it really work?  Hope you have a fun day "working" while creating.

Soon,
Lynn

Wednesday, May 16, 2018

The Sierra Quilt Guild of Tuolumne Country

Hello Everyone,
 
I've had the privilege of spending the last two days with the Sierra Quilt Guild in Sonora.  They are a very friendly and prolific group of quilters.
 

Monday night, my sister Gail, my friend Kaaren, and I drove over to Sonora for my lecture and trunk show.  I saw so many people I knew it was like old home week.


After my trunk show, the guild had their own trunk show.  The guild members taught 4th graders how to hand piece.  Here are their works of art which are going to be raffled off to the community.
The guild donated fabrics, their talent, and their encouragement to the young quilters.


This group of quilters is extremely prolific!  This is just a small portion of their Show and Tell.










Yesterday, I taught my Patchwork Math class to sixteen guild members in this spacious classroom.




There were many beautiful creations in the room.  Did I get pictures of all of them.  NO!  I get so preoccupied with teaching, that I forget to capture the moments.


You were a great group and I'm looking forward to seeing some wonderful projects from this class.  Thank you all for the wonderful day.

My sister is here, and we are cutting kits for the cruise.  We are almost finished with the kits for the first leg of the cruise. I'll post pictures of our progress tomorrow.

Soon,
Lynn