Quilts on Parade

 Hello Everyone,

My email inbox has been filled with beautiful pictures from quilters who've made my patterns.  Let me tell you I LOVE getting these pictures!  

First up is A Ribbon Runs Through It by Carol from the Chicago area.  She said she got carried away making pillow shams, throw pillows and a wool applique pillow.  I need to get this carried away and create a beautiful setting like this in one of my bedrooms!  I met Carol when I taught at the Pieceful Gathering Retreat a few years ago, and I hope to meet again.

Next up is a picture of Elena's quilt from Italy.  In her email, Elena said, "What you create makes us dream."  Elena's words were so touching, and I will always think about them while I'm designing patterns and fabric.  I virtually 'met' Elena through my Etsy shop in 2022 and she has been keeping me updated on her progress.  She is now working on my Laurel Ridge quilt through The Quilt Show.  Elena wants to come to the US so we can meet.  I need to learn Italian!

Next up is Teresa's Christmas Ribbons quilt.  Teresa was so kind to include a picture of her quilt in her review in my Etsy shop. This quilt is going to be a gift to a very special person. I look at the reviews and try to keep up responding to them.  I contacted Teresa and asked her if I could include the picture in my social media sites.  She graciously said yes.  I really appreciate her taking the time to make my design and post a review.  Positive reviews make a great deal of difference in Etsy's search algorithm. 

During the week I was contacted by Annette, who did a YouTube video HERE about her experience making her lovely Heritage.  The video is about 10 minutes long, and she even included a boo-boo.  Her boo-boo was one that I made too.  The video is so nicely done, and I really appreciate that she took the time to document her Heritage quilting journey which may help you on your journey.

Here is another gorgeous Heritage in an Autumn colorway, sent to me by Malgorzata from Poland.  We have been corresponding for the past 5 years.  Her words of inspiration inspired me and tugged at my heart. I complimented her on her work, and she said, "....your praise gives me wings and willingness to continue working on more quilts."  In addition to Italian, I need to learn the Polish language.  Thank goodness for Google Translator!

Here's a closeup of her precision.  So well done!

Whenever one of you send me pictures, I always show all of your images to Mr. Joe, and he is very complimentary.  He knows the level of effort that I put into my quilts, and he appreciates your hard work.

Your pictures and emails inspire me. I wish you could see my reaction when I open my email.  I'm gobsmasked! (I do love that word).  It's your kind words that keeps me doing what I do.  When I started designing in 2008, I never in my wildest dreams thought it would take me to this level of fond friendships around the world.  You, my dear quilters and blog readers are the BEST!

Humbly yours,

Lynn

Snow'n Wild Oaks

 Hello Everyone,

Yesterday I changed the name of my company to Snow'n Wild Oaks instead of Sew'n Wild Oaks.  I worked in the dining room on Stardance, my newest design incorporating my Hearthstone fabric line with Gentry's Mill. 

It was like being in a snow globe and I kept getting distracted while looking outside. It seems as though I either need to start making smaller quilts or buy a larger table!  I was measuring and squaring up the quilt and cutting border fabric.  It is so much easier to have the quilt on the table instead of crawling around on the floor.  I can get down on the floor okay, it's the getting back up that becomes an issue.  Also, when I'm down on the floor, Mazey thinks it's playtime.

We were going out every two hours to push the snow shovel around on the driveway to keep it open.  It also helps to clear the snow away, so it doesn't turn into the famous Sierra Cement. The berm created by the snowplow freezes solid, and then the shoveling and snow blowing becomes hard work.

The flowering plum tree was buried under a white blanket.  I was so afraid the branches would break, so I shook off some of the snow and soon buried myself!  I said a little wish for Spring by the wishing well.

Big flakes fell for most of the day.

My mountain friend Sue sent me this cartoon yesterday.  The saying up here in the mountains is that Winter isn't over until there's snow on the dogwood.  Our dogwood isn't blossoming yet, so I'm not sure if Winter is over or not.

It's Spring break for a lot of schools here in Northern California, and our grandson and a friend are driving up to stay with us for a few days.  I think my food bill just quadrupled with two strapping teenage boys in the cabin.  But now we will have four extra hands to wrap around the handle of a snow shovel!

Soon,

Lynn

Gentry's Mill Tutorial

 Hello Everyone,

The tutorial for month #2 of Gentry's Mill is now posted so you can download it HERE. 

This block is very similar to block #1. The block is the same, the fabrics are different.

I've been working on a lot of tutorials over the past week.  My granddaughter drove up from the Los Angeles area and we met up at our home in Livermore so she could film the tutorials for Bridle Path for The Quilt Show.  Our eldest son and his family live in the house now. 

We set up in the dining room as it has the best lighting for filming.  The only problem was Mazey likes to bark when the mailman arrives, so you can hear her in the background.  She just wanted to have her voice heard in the video.

My granddaughter is going to make a 'blooper' video if she has the time.  I was demonstrating a technique of making double flying geese with my prepared components, and I made one of them incorrectly!  I was flummoxed for a few seconds, maybe 30 seconds too long, and had to re-do the video after lunch.  We decided to show it so you can see that even this so-called professional can make mistakes.  

I mentioned before that our son and his family live in our Livermore home.  We have a bedroom there, but we share a bath with our 17-year-old grandson.  I forgot to take my shampoo and ended up using my grandson's Old Spice Swagger shampoo.  Maybe that's why I screwed up one of the tutorials.....I was feeling too cocky from breathing in the 'Swagger' shampoo!

On that note, I'll sign off for now.

Soon,

Lynn