Pattern Stuffing

 Hello Everyone,

This is what old retired people do during the day......they fold, spindle, and stuff hundreds of patterns into plastics bags to get ready for shipping to quilt shops who signed up for the Marcus Fabrics BOM - A Ribbon Runs Through It.

I failed miserably at my retirement in 2008 from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.  I'm making up for lost time while working three times as hard running my own little company.  I love the challenge and the rewards.

Our dining room has been transformed into a pattern collating and stuffing center.  Mr. Joe and I sit here by the hour listening to music, and each other while we stuff.

We unloaded the big boxes on the front porch.

Then we went to work pattern stuffing.

The finished product is then put back into the boxes to await shipment.  There are quite a few pattern orders, and I have to spread out the cost over several weeks.  As soon as one shipment comes in from the printer, I place another order.  It's a real juggling act.

On another note, we are heading out to visit our daughter today.  Last week she was dancing at a Guns N' Roses concert celebrating her anniversary.  While she was dancing, she did something to her ankle.  That was on Wednesday.  Over the next few days she kept up her normal work schedule, and then over the weekend she helped her daughter set up a pen for a new steer.  Her ankle and calf became very uncomfortable, swollen and black and blue, so she headed to urgent care on Sunday. They put on a temporary cast, and then referred her to a specialist yesterday.  Come to find out, she totally ruptured her Achilles tendon.  It rolled up like a window shade into her calf.  It's going to be a loooong 12 week recovery.  We have now suggested she only attend Yanni concerts.

So this "Sweet Child o' Mine" is "One in a Million" and was "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" for the past few days.....just to name a few Guns N' Roses hits. 

Soon,

Lynn

Summer Endings

 Hello Everyone,

Now that my first retreat is over, I'm getting back to a little quilting for a few weeks before the second retreat begins at the end of the month.  I resurrected Lovey Dovey, and sewed on the Churn Dash block borders.  I may put a solid border on it too.....the verdict is still out.  I'm also finishing up the pattern.  I love this happy little wall hanging.

We went over to Sonora to Quail's Nest Quilt Company to deliver patterns and visit my Crossing the Pond quilt.  Susan, the owner, is in the process of making kits for this quilt.  Click HERE if you are interested in purchasing a complete kit for this quilt.  You will need to call the shop and talk with Susan to get on this list for this one.  All of the fabrics are identical to the original.

This is where I've been every morning Monday thru Friday throughout the entire summer.  Today is the last day of our organized water aerobics class.  Several of us will be meeting on our own, without the instructor, beginning tomorrow morning.  I absolutely LOVE water aerobics.  It's the least painful way to exercise, and is so beneficial.  I've suffered from sciatica for several years, and I'm so happy to say all of my symptoms have vanished, and I'm pain free.  I think I'm going to have to start a Polar Bear club to extend the benefits of water aerobics throughout the winter.  I'll get back to you on that one when we have several feet of snow on the ground!

I've been busy putting a tutorial together for A Ribbon Runs Through It HERE.  The tutorial will always be accessible at the top of my blog.  The shop kits will be shipping out by the 13th of September to the quilt shops around the world who've requested them, and want to make a shop sample prior to the release of the BOM in January.  

This has been a good way for me to re-test the pattern instructions.  I finished the first section yesterday, and I'll keep adding to it throughout the next few weeks to complete all of the blocks and the sashing.  I want this program to be successful, and this is one of the ways to help quilters put this heirloom quilt together.

I hope you all have a great Labor Day.  I'm getting ready to head to the pool, then my quilt guild has a meeting this morning at 10am.  I guess it would be a good idea to dry off first, and change my clothes before heading to the meeting.  I don't want to smell like chlorine all day!

Soon,

Lynn

August Retreat Part 2

Hello Everyone,

I have so many pictures to post from the retreat that I don't know where to start.  Here is Cindy's beautiful stack of blocks for Grammy Squares.

By Wednesday, Cindy finished making all of the blocks and started sewing them together.  This is absolute gorgeous!

In between visiting with other quilters throughout the day, everyone kept quite busy.

We also ate quite a bit throughout the day.

We could eat in the bar area.....

Or we could eat out on the deck.  You can just barely see Snowflake Lake in the background.

We did enjoy our happy hours thanks to my sister who likes to pop a cork or two!

I teach throughout the day.  I don't know what struck me so funny while I was teaching.  All I know is I like to make learning fun while teaching Leaf Peepers.

Every evening after dinner, we had a show and tell.  This is Valery's Country Sunshine quilt made with batiks.

Linda and Peggy were always having fun!

Clare did a great job on her watering can quilt.

Mary Sue made a mini Leaf Peepers wall hanging and quilted it herself.

Nancy made a Christmas Ribbons quilt.  She validated my thoughts when she said this one was an easy one to make.

My sister Gail, displayed her Zinnie's Choice quilt.  She only worked on bindings during the retreat as she's finished so many UFO's over the past few months.

It is so much fun to compare the two Row-Mancing Alaska quilts.  Here is Karen's with a light background.

Here's Valery's with a dark background.  Both quilts are so beautiful, and the girls did a fantastic job.

Aren't Kristi's houses adorable?  This is a Kim Diehl pattern.

Cathie showed us a very happy, and finished quilt.

Pat brought a Teddy Bear that she made.  It was adorable.

This was a great, creative and caring group of women.  I will share more pictures throughout the week of their creativity.

Soon,

Lynn