Country Courthouse

Hello Everyone,

 

If you've been wondering where I've been, this explains it all.  This quilt contains 81 Courthouse Step blocks, and 64 blocks containing five 9-patch units.  The blocks finish at 5-1/2".  I say small yet mighty.

 



I'm going to call this quilt Country Courthouse. She is Cute as a Button's big sister.  I enjoyed making the blocks so much for Cute as a Button that I couldn't stop!  I started this quilt in mid-February.  Considering how hectic my schedule is, I think I did quite well to get it to this point rather quickly.  Now I have to write the pattern, which shouldn't take me too long.

I never tired of selecting the different fabrics for each block.  Every block is unique and beautiful in it's own way......just like people.  I did have a rule that same fabrics could not touch each other.  That wasn't too challenging since I had such a variety from which to choose.

 

My strategy to get this one finished was prepping every night.  I hit the ground running each morning right at my sewing machine, after I made my coffee!  This is the beginning of the 9-patch sections.

This quilt contains 401 of these little 1-1/2" finished 9-patch units.  I think I need to have my head examined.  What was I thinking?

Last week, my friend Sue in England, asked me if I was tired of working on this quilt and wanted to move on to something else.  At the time my answer was no, now I've changed my tune.  The last 10 blocks were so s-l-o-w!  I felt like I was mired in quicksand and couldn't work through it.  I was to the point that I would rather rake pine needles than work in my sewing room.  Now that's BAD!

Every night I review my to-do list, and each day I wrote, "finish quilt".  That was on my list for days, and days, and days.  Now my to-do list says work on borders which is much more pleasing to me now.  I had a dream about making a very intricate border.  That dream has now vaporized, and I'm thinking of just adding a red border which is the same as the setting triangles.  I'll let the interior of the quilt speak for itself.  I think it speaks volumes.

So the question is, did I make a big dent in my stash?  No, nada, zippo, zilch, big goose egg.  I cut 1" strips from so many different fabrics that I don't notice a dent in my stash at all.  I did however cut my way through a ton of shirtings.  I needed both 1" and 2" strips.

I'm off to my guild meeting this morning.  When I get home, I have to start prepping for my lecture at the Tuleberg Quilt Guild in Stockton on Wednesday.  I have to fold and re-pack all of the quilts from my last talk in Citrus Heights.  I'll also print and stuff patterns to fill up my pattern bin.  No raking for me today!  Oh darn, I'm so sad......not.

 

Soon,

Lynn

Quilters' Corner Quilt Shop

Hello Everyone,

 

Last week I had a day between a lecture and a workshop......so what was I going to do with a free day?  Well set up a workstation in the hotel and sew the entire day.  No cooking, cleaning, office work or dog walking.....only sewing.  I made eighteen 5-1/2" blocks for my big Cute as a Button.

 



I tried not to leave too many threads on the floor in the hotel.  You know how that goes!

I also did some serious retail therapy at Quilters' Corner in Sacramento.  This store has something for everyone.  This store is so "me". 

This stack of bolts was gorgeous and they followed me home.

Here's the moment of truth at check-out time.  I had to restrain myself and stayed within my budget.  The next time you see these fabrics they will be incorporated into kits and will appear in some of my quilts.

Quilters' Corner is so easy to get to.  It is right off Highway 50 on your way to Tahoe.  It is well worth the stop, and I promise you will not be disappointed in their fabric selection, tools, books, kits, and all things quilty.  There is so much to look at in the shop, you need to allow a fair bit of time to see everything they have to offer.  It's a fantastic shop!  If you stop by, please tell them I sent you.

Yesterday Mr. Joe and I started in on the yard work in the morning. Mr. Joe stacked wood and I raked.  The rains returned yesterday afternoon, so guess what??  I get to spend a rainy day inside working on my blocks.  I've decided to name this super-sized version Country Courthouse.  It is still Cute as a Button......a very BIG button.

Soon,
Lynn

Golden Valley Quilt Guild

Hello Everyone,

 

I just returned home from three days in Citrus Heights, CA.  I spent two of the days with the wonderful quilters from the Golden Valley Quilt Guild.

 



I gave a lecture Thursday night and a workshop on Saturday.

My sister Gail and I are teaching quilters Patchwork Math one quilter at a time up and down the state.  This group was so much fun!  Here is a snapshot of their components which they made during the workshop.

Note that all of the writing in all going in the same direction!  It was like putting a puzzle together.

The time spent with quilters is so much fun for us.  Quilters are the best.

The quilters get extra credit in class when they choose to work with stripes and get then to line up!  This is one of the lessons that I teach.

The facility was the perfect venue for a lecture and workshop.

Check back tomorrow to see what Gail and I did on Friday, the day between the two events. 

 

Today Mr. Joe and I start in doing some serious yard cleaning.  The snow has finally melted and we can see a huge amount of pine needles on our lots.  For good reason, the requirements for yard clearing this year are very strict in light of the Paradise fire.  We walked our two lots yesterday and viewed the huge job we have ahead of us.  We decided to spend a minimum of 2-3 hours a day and start tackling this job.  Anymore than 3 hours and we can't move the next day!  I have to be able to run a sewing machine....priority #1.

 

Soon,

Lynn