Craftapalooza Pictures And Comments

Our Second Annual Family Craftapalooza has come to an end.  The house is quiet.  The adults visitors have all gone home and they took their dogs and kids with them.  The sewing room is empty.  No more overflowing bags of fabric and other crafty items.  No more sewing machines humming along.  No more grumbling from Colleen about how she doesn't craft as she finished more crafts than anybody else.  We all know she is just pretend grumbling and really is crafty, but just doesn't have time for it now. (Colleen tells her own version of Craftapalooza on her blog.)

Sarah had the first finish of the weekend... a towel for her etsy shop Cooped Up

Karen continued work on her ticker tape quilt.  I think I need to make one of them.  I'll have to see if I have enough scraps.  hmmm.

Kathy worked on her jewelry, repairing some items and designing something new.  She has really cool storage containers.  And look at the healthy munchies!

 

This is Colleen avoiding crafting.

Karen brought gift bags for all of us.  Each one had things she chose special for that person.  She is so danged thoughtful.  Mine had lots of graph paper for designing and yo-yo's and ric rac and candy and....

... a calendar with a block for every day!!!

and...

 ...this cute little sewing machine with a cute little quilt!

Thanks Karen!

We all got some "Creative Juice" which is a Karen patented recipe.

Colleen had plenty to drink.

And then started crafting away, making holiday plates.

She brought one for me! with super yummy cookies on it! Isn't it cute?!

 

That's my floss in the foreground.  I need better storage.  I worked on that a bit and on a Quilts For Kids quilt and quilted some on one of Amy's quilts.  (pics for you soon Amy!)

And while we crafted away in the basement, John took care of the boys. He looks like he's having fun too, doesn't he?

It was so wonderful to have everybody here.  I just loved it.  Thanks for driving down and for the great company.  Everyone up for it again next weekend?

Second Annual Family Craftapalooza

Last year the girls in the family got together and spent a Saturday doing crafty things.... sewing, quilting, scrapbooking, preparing photos for scrapbooking, making jewelry and a centerpiece.  We had a good time being creative and talking and eating.

We are doing it again and this year everyone is traveling all the way to MY house. (WOO HOO!)  It's anywhere from a 90 minute trip for the closest ones, all the way up to a three hour drive for the farthest. (YIKES - and they are still coming!)  And since it's such a long drive some of them came a day early and will leave a day late. (again WOO HOO! - not just a craft day... a craft weekend!)  I love my family!

Colleen claims she isn't crafty. Hah!  She has the most creative parties, the best ideas for interesting gifts, and I have this beautiful cross stitch that she made for me a long time ago.

Sarah, Karen and I had fun already today sewing and chatting.  More fun tomorrow when Colleen and Kathy arrive.  Plus we get to play with Cooper and Dexter (while their Dad is responsible for their care!) and admire and pet Karen's new dog, Sophie.  She's soooo cute.

Tea Is Ready On Periwinkle Lane

The Boutique Is Open For Business

My first paper piecing project is finished.  It's not perfect but I'm a fan now.  I'll do paper piecing again.  It really should have more quilting but I was pressed for time.  It's a sample for a show that the LQS is going to this weekend so it's finished just the way it is.

It would have been fun to add a bit of lace to the window curtains or use a fancy stitch and white thread to add the look of lace . . . maybe the glass of the street lamp should have been yellow . . . a necklace on the mannequin . . . coulda, woulda, shoulda.  That just gives me an excuse to make some more!

Sharing Quilting Is So Much Fun

Niece Karen makes awesome quilts.  Uncomplicated designs, thoughtful designs, creative designs.  And I get to quilt them!  

This cheerful sunny quilt had a subtle pattern that I almost missed.  Do you see it? Yellow was the color requested for the thread (duh) and it made for a cheerful quilting session.

Her sampler quilt is blocks and pieces from the quilts she made in her first year of quilting.  It was so neat to see bits of other quilts I had quilted, bits of quilts she had shown me in person, bits of quilts I had seen on her blog . . .

. . . and bits of fabric from the first day we got together to share quilting.  (aww . . . warm feelings)  

Karen found this quilt top at a thrift store and bought it REALLY cheap.  It's, um, er, interesting. 

But is was SO FUN to quilt.  Karen said I could play.  And I did!  It doesn't show so much on the front. Here's pics of the back.

So much fun.  And then I had the fun of talking to Karen when she first saw the quilts.  It's always more fun to share. 

Thanks for trusting me with your quilts! Did I mention that I had fun?

Paper Piecing And Post Pondering

They don't mix. 

I've never tried paper piecing before.  But I wanted to make this:

The Boutique

... and paper piecing is part of it.  So I learned. 

I also learned I'm not as smart as I like to think I am.  I looked up a short tutorial on paper piecing and read it but felt it was just too simple to practice.  What's the big deal?  You line up your fabric and sew on the line.  Easy.  Why waste time practicing.  Just start the pattern.  Well.  Not a big deal, BUT YOU HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION.  If you make a mistake you can't pull out the stitches so you have to start over.  So, no thinking about what where this quilt will go, or what the next project will be, or even about the next seam.  It took four "start-overs" before I finally learned that lesson. 

Fusible applique is also involved.  I've done applique before but not much.  The "to protect your ironing board" part of the instructions seemed another waste of time.  From what?  I found out. And now I have a new ironing board cover.

But, if you take your time and follow the directions you get results you just can't get any other way.  It's just soooooo cute!   Only part of it is finished but I couldn't wait to show it off.

Glum Dee Dum

Around about early October I start getting depressed thinking that winter is coming.  Really, a bit of apprehension about the whole season change starts in mid August.  Okay, to be honest, right after the 4th of July. 

Then, right after the holidays, as in Christmas and New Years, I feel like we have rounded the corner and we're heading out of winter.... it's almost over.... Spring is coming! 

About the end of February all hope is lost. It seems as if it is never going to end.  There is still snow on the ground.  Any ground that peeks through is brown grass or darker brown mud.  If it's warm enough for rain it's COLD rain and then it freezes overnight.  The ten day forecast keeps showing cold and wet and cloudy. 

Gloom.   Gloom.   Gloom.

But wait.  What's that I see?

And Daylight Savings Time changes in less than three weeks!  Maybe Spring really will come this year.

Happy Birthday Brother Terry!

A New Neighbor On Periwinkle Lane

This is block 2 of Periwinkle Lane.   My hand embroidery might not be getting any better but it is certainly getting easier and faster to do.

Mari's Quilts

Mari from California sent these two fun quilt tops for me to quilt. 

A simple but striking pattern with sea themed fabrics.

This quilt of circles had fun, whimsical fabrics.

I can't imagine getting the fabrics straight when sewing circles... I'm in awe.

The little birds made me smile. 

They all have an smug expression, like they know something the rest of us don't!

I had fun with these Mari - thanks for sending them!

Happy Birthday Sarah!

And I know this next one is a repeat from last year but I just like it.

Happy Birthday Sarah!

I love you!

No Sew Block Swap . . . .

First, an apology.  Mavis (she is in the second RWB group) did send her blocks AND she spent a ton of money to get them here fast.  I then dropped the ball.  I am so sorry I delayed everything. My grandkids have been here while my daughter-in-law had surgery to have her hip replaced.  Surgery was supposed to happen in January and I knew that wouldn't effect the swap.  But it was postponed until this week due to some complications.  I just LOVE my grandkids and LOVE having them but I can't do ANYTHING (shower? what's that?) while they are here.  I don't know how I did it when my kids were little!  Is it just that I'm older?!?!  Because we got hit with a snowstorm they stayed longer than was planned. Home is 100 miles away and the roads were bad.  They are now home safe.  Their mom is hurting, but healing and on the way to a new lease on life.... she'll be running and playing with the kids this summer!  WOOHOO!!

I spent today catching up and getting packages ready.  One person let me know that they could not participate due to an illness and death in the family.  Blocks for two others have not arrived.  I replaced those three with myself and cut blocks so all groups are ready.

Packages will be mailed tomorrow. 

THANKS FOR PLAYING!!!

Success!

Zak, Caycee & Lynzee are here while their mom gets her new hip.

Surgery is over and all went well.

No Sew Blocks are coming in.... and going out.

The blocks have been coming in and we're only waiting on a few more.  Five sets are on the way.   Only one person hasn't been in contact with me for a few weeks.  If that swapper can't participate I'm ready to add another set.  P/G/W #4 is complete and those will be going in the mail today (unless you are in more than one group).

It sure has been fun getting all these squishies in the mail!