Spring Frolic Kits

 Hello Everyone,

I'm deep in preparations for my first Sew'n Wild Oaks Retreat of the year at Snowflake Lodge here in Arnold, CA.  One of the projects is my new Spring Frolic design.

This weekend, my sister Gail and our friend Debbie helped me make kits for the girls.  They are ADORABLE!  The table topper features my Hearthstone fabric line from Marcus Fabrics.  Debbie said she has a much greater appreciation for kits after she saw the level of effort it takes to pull them together.

I ordered more bolts from Marcus Fabrics so I can make more for my other retreats and I'll put some out on Etsy.  I'm including the backing and binding in the kit, so it is exactly like my original design. 

Today is going to be a full day of housecleaning, pattern printing and tutorial writing. 

Gotta scoot!

Soon,

Lynn 

Spring Frolic

 Hello Everyone,

I was on a roll yesterday and machine quilted Spring Frolic.  Once I started quilting, I thought to myself that I could finish it in a day...and I did.

The table topper is 23" x 23" so it wasn't a huge endeavor. I think it is going to look so pretty on my dining room table.  Mr. Joe isn't usually effusive about any of my quilts since he's numb to the fact they are all around the house.  But he does like this little project.

Snow is in our forecast for the end of the week and the temperature is going to plummet.  My long arm is in my garage, so I knew I had to get this done while the weather was cooperating. As it was, I was still a bit chilly and had to come in by the fire a couple of times to warm up.

I will be making Spring Frolic kits and I'll put them in my Etsy shop once they are cut and the pattern is written. I have to get them done before my first Sew'n Wild Oaks retreat at the end of the month.  

The other night when we were over at my sister's cabin for dinner, we came home to this mess.  We've had a Rubbermaid container on our deck for the past 20 years and the bears have always left it alone.  We use it to store charcoal briquettes, wood chips, plant fertilizer, planting supplies accessories for the Blackstone, and insect spray.  A bear or bears totally tore it apart and spread the contents out on the deck.  There were fertilizer ladened footprints on the mat right by the sliding glass door.  I'm sure Mazey was going ballistic with a bear right on the other side of the glass!  Poor thing.  

I think I'll send Rubbermaid a picture of the devastation as a testament to the cabinet's durability.  All the pieces just snapped back together, and it is as good as new....if you don't mind a few bear puncture woods.

I might get the binding ready for stitching today, so I can work on it during the snowstorm.  I'm so ready for Spring to arrive!  Maybe I'll have a spring in my step today and take a walk around the neighborhood before the storm clouds roll in AGAIN.

Soon,

Lynn    

Spring Frolic

Hello Everyone,

The stitching is almost done and then I can start putting this 27" x 27" table topper together. This sweet little table topper is going to be one of the projects for my Sew'n Wild Oaks retreat which begins at the end of April.  This image was generated using EQ software. I'm going to call this one Spring Frolic.

I get my chores done in the morning, then I spend a couple of hours stitching at the dining room table in the afternoon.  The sun (when we see the sun), comes streaming through the windows and it's so comfortable stitching while listening to an audio book.   I'm currently listing to The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish. It is a very thought-provoking book and extremely well written.  I have to stay on my toes as the book goes back and forth in time. I know some of you are going to think I'm crazy, but working on this applique is so soothing and it's what I do to give myself an afternoon treat.  A couple hours of stitching and listening to a book is absolutely refreshing. 

It is very much Winter-like here in Northern California so it's nice to work on something that reminds me that Spring is going to make an appearance any day now.....I can only hope. I received another Winter Storm Warning on my phone this morning. The grim Winter weather has been very waring on both of us. We've had less snow than last year, but it seems as though we've had more gloomy days, rain, hail and thunderstorms.

I use silk thread when I applique, and the stitches just melt into the fabric.  I drew a 1/4' seam around the block with a Frixion pen to make sure the little scallop was perfectly lined up. I will be making kits for this little cutie.

The emails have been flying back and forth between Marcus Fabrics and myself.  One new fabric line was just sent off to South Korea and hopefully I'll be getting the strike-offs soon.  I'm working with the graphic artist on another line, and I should be getting the jpegs soon so I can put them into my design in EQ software.  As I get the jpegs and work with them, it becomes easier to tell what I need when it comes to scale, color, and design.  Since this isn't my first rodeo, this time around I'm looking at the fabrics with a different eye for detail.  I've learned so much working with the talented ladies at Marcus Fabrics.  They are a joy and it's a privilege to work with them.

The big news is Marcus Fabrics wants me to do another block of the month for them beginning next March. Mr. Joe is going to be busy stuffing patterns!

I'm also still working on my 'special' projects.  I wish I could tell you what I've been up to.  Come on over and take a peek at my design wall.....NOT!

Mazey is almost back to normal.  The prednisone dosage is one tablet every other day.  She is ravenously hungry ALL DAY LONG!  She is also drinking about 5 bowls full of water ALL DAY LONG and throughout the night she gets up for a nightcap and needs to go out to the powder room.  It will be nice to get an entire night of sleep once she gets off of the drugs.

Soon,

A sleep deprived Lynn