Red Rose & Vine Meets Madrigal

Hello Everyone,

 

You might be wondering why I posted a picture of the center of my Madrigal pattern. 

 

 

Well I'm going to tell you why right now!  A package arrived from Marcus Fabrics the other day and it contained this wonderful fabric collection called Red Rose & Vine by Paula Barnes. 

 



 

I think it would be perfect made into a Madrigal quilt.  Now I just need to add another ten hours to my day so I can work on this quilt!

 

 

I also see a Lucy Boston block in my future using these two prints.  Thank you so much Marcus Fabrics for sending me a box filled to the rim with quilty goodness.

For those of you wondering, I finished the slide show for our son's 40th birthday party.  I cry every time I watch it!  The Jim Croce song, Photographs and Memories, keeps replaying in my head.  I didn't use the song in the show, but I have been going through photographs which have been sparking, or igniting many memories over the past week or so.  I hope I can hold it together while we watch the show with the family.  I can turn into a blithering idiot in a blink of an eye when I think about my precious kids and grandkids.  For me, life is all about family.

Soon,
Lynn

Two Finishes

 

Hello Everyone,

 

Just time for a quick post today to let you know I survived the Wine Country Quilt Show last weekend.  We got home late Sunday night, then off to work yesterday.  Today I'm playing catch-up in my office.  I'll do a complete post about the show tomorrow.....maybe.

 

Just wanted to show you two of the gorgeous quilts that came into the shop yesterday.  Ruth Ann finished her Madrigal quilt.  It is completely finished and beautifully machine quilted.

 



Marti just picked her Once Upon a Vine up from the quilter.  Love the circles with the bunches of grapes in them. 

Great work from both of you girls.  I love to see the finished product.  If anyone out there in Blogland makes and finishes one of my quilts, please email a picture to me at:  sewnwildoaks@gmail.com  I love to see what you do with my patterns and I love to post your pictures.

Now I have to get back to this pile of paper that needs my attention!  So boring.

Soon,
Lynn

 

The Girls at Ladybugs

Hello Everyone,

 

I had a full day teaching at Ladybugs Quilts in Manteca yesterday.  The girls wore and used their thinking caps all day long while taking my Patchwork Math class.  Their blocks look gorgeous together!  This picture shows that "Scrappy" is my middle name.  I love seeing their work together.  Each of the girls made a pile of components, then they started to play with them by making different arrangements.

 

Linda, took my Madrigal class at Ladybugs last year and she was so thoughtful to bring her finished quilt top to show me.  I love to see the end results!  This is a wonderful combination of fabrics.  Great work Linda!

I loved Linda's basket of flowers.  Wonderful use of paisley in the flower petals.

 

 

One of the benefits of getting up early is this spectacular California sunrise. 

 



We are off to brunch this morning with our twin granddaughters who just turned 12 on Thursday.  Time goes way too fast.  I want to gather them in my arms and make time stand still. Enjoy every single minute of today, make it special by enjoying life's simple pleasures, the gift of a sunrise.

Soon,
Lynn

Whole lotta binding.......

Hello Everyone,

 

My friend Sylvia came to the house yesterday to help us celebrate my sister's birthday.  Sylvia brought three wonderful quilts to show us.  Almost finished quilts!  The first quilt is my Madrigal pattern.  Sylvia took my class, and now she has a finish.

 

Her second finish is from Quilt Sue's Pick Four book.  The quilt is called 3D Noughts and Crosses.  It is a beautiful quilt with wonderful quilting.

Sylvia also made a table topper which is just perfect for the season. Sylvia will be binding for quite some time! 

Your quilts were fabulous Sylvia.  It has been fun watching your quilting progress through the years.  You've become quite the prolific quilter.  You have a good eye for color and I know how much you are enjoy your hobby.  I'm so glad you brought your quilts to share with me.

I'm off to the shop this morning to help Melissa unpack and put all of the product away from the quilt show.  Maybe we should make the shop "self service" today.  The customers can do their own cutting and ring themselves up, while we sit in the classroom and snooze.  Sounds like a good plan to me.

Soon,
Lynn

Two Finishes

Hello Everyone,

 

I can hear coffee mugs across the globe pounding on the table with quilters saying, "We want Gail, We want Gail!"  Well folks you are stuck with me again.  My sister Gail had to go home since her husband and kitties missed her.  It was wonderful having Gail here with me, working on Emilie Elizabeth together, laughing, eating cookies, and going to (by) a tattoo parlor!  It is an oddity that the word tattoo and parlor are used in the same sentence.

 

So back to quilting we don't go!  I filled in at the shop yesterday and I'll be working at the shop today.  Tomorrow I'm teaching, so my continued work on Emilie Elizabeth is on hold for a couple of days.  But, I do have some beautiful pictures to show you that quilters sent to me.

 

Kathy sent me this picture of her finished Madrigal quilt! Kathy took my Madrigal class at Ladybugs Quilt shop a few short months ago and now she is finished!  It is so beautiful Kathy.  I loved your fabric choice for your flange......very striking.  Your basket of flowers is just perfect also, as is the entire quilt.  Thank you so much for taking my class, and making my pattern.  I love it!  I especially loved the fact that you sent me a picture.  I teach so many classes and see the beginnings of wonderful quilts, but rarely get to see the finished product. Great job!

 



 

 

Last Spring I was contacted by Jane from Lady of the Lake quilt guild in Lakeport, California .  Jane asked if their guild could make my Country Charmer pattern as their opportunity quilt for 2015!  I immediately said yes and look at what the guild created!  A giant Country Charmer beauty!  Jane said they divided up the blocks between eight quilters.  The girls used fabric from their stash and just look at what they made!  I love it! 

 

Tickets are going on sale to win this quilt.  I'm going to try to clear my schedule and head up to Lakeport on October 4th for the Lady of the Lake quilt show.  Click HERE for information about the show.  Their Country Charmer will travel around to quilt shows for the next year, then it will be raffled off next fall in 2015.....which will be here before we know it!  I've always thought about making a BIG Country Charmer......now I know why!

 



Now I've got to get ready for work.  Don't worry, Gail will return as guest blogger the next time we get together.....which will be......

Soon,
Lynn

Madrigal Class is in Session

Hello Everyone,

Yesterday I had a fun day at Ladybug's quilt shop in Manteca with 10 incredible ladies making my Madrigal pattern.

First order of the day was making a couple of blocks to make sure everyone was comfortable with the process.

The classroom was filled with delicious fabrics!

I could have enjoyed myself shopping in all of the bins and totes that came into the room.

Sometimes it takes a few hands working together to get the job done!

After lunch, my signature flange that I incorporate in many of my quilts, started to appear on the design wall.

 

 

Then some applique started to show up.

 



We auditioned fabrics for borders and setting triangles.

I haven't seen a Madrigal quilt made with batiks, so I was very excited to see this one!

Thank you girls for being such a fun group.  Our day together flew by way too quickly and I look forward to seeing you again. 

This was the first time that I've taught at Ladybug's and the girls couldn't have made this experience any better.  They have a large classroom with all of the comforts of home.  The owners were very attentive to every need for the class and for me.  Well done ladies!

Soon,
Lynn

Once Upon a Vine

 

Hello Everyone,

 

This is the quilt that has been on my to-do list.  Once Upon a Vine started out when I saw the Vin du Jour fabric by Moda.

 



Since I live is the heart of wine country surrounded by vineyards, I thought it was only fitting to have a quilt dedicated to grapes and baskets.

I finished the triple-mitered borders this afternoon during a rain/snow storm.  How cozy!  The quilt measures 64" square.....more of a wall hanging or throw.  I've left myself lots of open areas to fill with machine quilting.

This is a bit hard to see, but I'm going to quilt something like this in the setting squares.  I'm hoping that the overall look will be the appearance of vines throughout the quilt.  We shall see.  I may have this quilt finished and ready for Spring.  That's my goal.

There's going to be a quilt show this weekend in Folsom, CA.  Click HERE for the information.  My Madrigal quilt will be on display in the Ladybugs Quilts booth.  If you are in the area, stop by see all of the wonderful items the Ladybug girls have in their booth.

 

 

It's a wonderful rainy day here at the cabin. I didn't realize how much I'd missed a good storm.  We are supposed to receive more rain this weekend than we've received in the last 13 months!  That is how dry it has been.  I'm going to sit by the fire and watch the Olympics while doing some Olympic stitching of my own. Zinnie will be curled up at my feet, and Mr. Joe will be in his recliner snoozing....I mean watching TV and listening to the rain. It sounds like the perfect day to me.

 

Soon,

Lynn

Madrigal Quilt

 

Hello Everyone,

 

I know, I know, I'm slacking off again!  No blogging for me over the past few days.  I have been productive in other ways, as in decking the halls and everything else that has an open space that needs to be filled with Christmas.

 

On our way to the cabin, we stopped in  at Ladybugs Quilts in Manteca to deliver patterns.  Cute, cute shop!  The staff is so friendly and welcoming.  They have a wonderful fabric selection that is just my style. 

 



The girls have my Madrigal quilt on display center stage.  I'll be teaching Madrigal in April at Ladybugs.

I've made two versions of Madrigal....a dark and a light version.

Here's a link to machine quilting Madrigal that I posted some time ago.  I had fun quilting this quilt.

I hope to finish the decorating today.  The twins are coming over after school to help with their decorating assignment. When they get older, they can take over decorating the WHOLE house. I should have taken a picture of the mess in this house with boxes and claptrap strewn from one end of the house to the other.  Decorating is a messy job especially when you have to empty an entire, large closet underneath the stairs to get to all of the Christmas boxes.  I had trails throughout the entire downstairs for three days.  I felt like a gerbil in a maze.

I'll post the winner of the Sew'n Wild Oaks pattern giveaway tomorrow.  Good luck to everyone who entered.  Gail wanted me to pass on a "thank you" for all of your wonderful comments about her quilt.  She's not been able to post a comment no matter how many times she tried.....frustrating!  She felt like a gerbil in cyberspace.

Soon,
Lynn

Barbara - The Finisher

 

Hello Everyone,

 

Yesterday, when I was working at the shop, Barbara called to make sure I was there, and said she had something to show me.

 

In she walks, with a big smile, a USA ballcap, and a quilt bag containing this, a finished Madrigal! 

 

She worked outside her comfort level on this quilt during class.  She began with the fabulous borders, and started pulling fabrics from her stash and from the shop's extensive fabric selection.

Beth Hummel from Livermore, added just the right amount of exquisite quilting to this beauty.  Beth took a beautiful quilt and made it even more beautiful. 

This is the back.  Barbara had some leftover border print and created a larger version of the block on the front.  She's just so darn clever!

This picture really shows off the wonderful quilting.

Barbara is a finisher.  Here's a link to a post I wrote about becoming a finisher.  With the new year approaching, we can add "become a finisher" to our list of New Year's resolutions.

I'm off to the shop again today for my Sew'n Wild Oaks class.  This class is a group of finishers.  We gather once a month to quilt, chat, eat and most importantly laugh.  There's lots of energy in the room, so I have to go eat my bowl of Wheaties to keep up with the room full of champions!

Soon,
Lynn

Quilts Coming Home

Hello Everyone,

The quilts are still finding their way back to me. I feel like my children are returning home from college.....all at the same time.  Party in the Garden and Madrigal have been in Gardnerville, NV at The Quilt House for a few months. 

These quilts are seasoned travelers and quilt show attendees.  I have gone to visit them at nearby shows.

Yesterday was a busy day at the shop.  (Don't tell the boss lady, that I went to work to catch up on some sleep.)  Boy, was I wrong!  I cut several yards of flannel off a bolt for a customer, and I was so tempted to lay my head down on the cutting table and wrap myself up in the flannel.  But I didn't.

Melissa (boss lady not bossy lady) and I put a "store" together that I will take with me to the Georgetown quilt show.  A store of all my favorite quilting goodies and gadgets. Melissa packed the newest layer cakes and charm packs for me to bring to the show.  Just the bins themselves are chock full of eye candy.

I'm off to the shop again today for my Sew'n Wild Oaks class.  This group will keep me on my toes and not let me rest for a second!  They are so sharp, witty, and I don't want to miss a minute of their quilting conversations.

Soon,

Lynn

P.S.  Here's a shout out to Linda P.  It was great seeing you yesterday.  I look forward to having you in the Nostalgic Pillow class.

The Last Madrigal Class

Hello Everyone,

Non-caloric eye candy today.  Here are some almost finished Madrigal quilts.  All gorgeous, all so different.  The first beauty belongs to Barbara.  She wanted to get out of her comfort zone and drew from the colors in her border fabric.  Rich pinks, greens, lavenders and browns. It is amazing and elegant!

 

My sister, Gail, added an extra row and almost doubled the size of the borders for her classic quilt which will now fit  a queen-sized bed.  We stopped traffic in the shop when we held this one up for a photo!  I'll be quilting this one for her.....but not for a few months!  I have time to figure out what to put in the setting blocks.....feathered wreath.....or something totally different.  Gail has embraced quilting.  She loves it! You can tell by her excellent piecing, precision and dedication. That's my sister!

Karen has all of the blocks together on her quilt and the applique is almost finished!  This quilt is so cheerful....just like Karen. 



Cute little flanges, or is it flangi?

This is Karen's fabulous border fabric!  I can see this quilt all finished and framed with this paisley print......wonderful.



Sylvia has all of her red, white and blue blocks made, and started putting it all together.  Sylvia said this is her first "professional" quilt that she has made.  Sylvia is relatively new to quilting and is enjoying the process as much as we enjoy her company in the class.  Sylvia's smile lights up the room.

Yesterday the girls learned how to mark the scallops for the borders.  Then I shared a few tips on binding scallops.  We all gathered together for lunch with our take-out containers from our favorite Mexican restaurant.  We whisper-sang Happy Birthday to Karen and enjoyed a piece of Neapolitan cake.  Friendship, companionship, laughter, and quilting was the name of the game.  I like that game...no rules, no score, only good fun!

The next time you see these quilts, they will all be scalloped and quilted.  What a feast for our eyes!  Each and everyone of you did a fabulous job on your quilts.  I'm so proud of all of you and I enjoyed every minute we were together in class.  It was a special time. 

Soon,

Lynn

P.S. We all missed you Kay.  We hope you are back on your feet soon from you knee surgery.  Take good care.