Remember....

It just doesn't seem right to say "Happy" Memorial Day. But I think it is a day to remember and celebrate the brave men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. I would also like to take the opportunity to say how proud I am of my husband, currently serving in Afghanistan. I'm so proud of you, Travis! You are my hero...I can't wait to put my arms around you again....

God Bless.....

Finally...lots of sewing going on here!

Finally I had a quiet weekend at home and I took full advantage of the time and sewed like crazy!! This first top is called "Starlight Pines." It's a Thimbleberries pattern and I love it. I altered it just a bit by changing a diamond type row into that checkerboard row. I'm pleased with the difference. I started this top at retreat and assembled most of the center section while I was there. It's a good size too...68"x 84"! It will be long enough to cover the toes of my 6' 3" son! :) This quilt will live in our camping trailer, I think it will be perfect for those chilly mountain nights.

This is for the Quilts for Kids charity. I assembled the top probably 2-3 months ago and it weighed heavily on my mind that I hadn't finished it and sent it back. I'm happy to say it's finished and ready to pop in the mail! It's not colors/fabrics I usually would choose, but I think it's pretty cute and I hope some little girl will enjoy it!

It feels great to finally be accomplishing something! Here's to a great week!

Happy Quilting!

Snow...really.

Can you believe it snowed here all day yesterday??!! It only accumulated to about an inch or so, but big, giant flakes fell all day. It's supposed to be cold and rainy all week too. I try to make a point of not complaining too much about the weather, because what good does that really do? But...this, c'mon!!! It's almost June!!!

Look what I made! 15 little zipper bags...they are gifts for the volunteers at the thrift shop. Next Thursday is my last day as manager and Tuesday we are having a volunteer appreciation luncheon. They are about 5"x 5" and hopefully they will be useful for lipstick or coins. I "borrowed" the idea from my good friend Angela. She made me a cute Pink Ribbon bag in a similar manner. I hope she doesn't mind! :)

I might put a little candy in each bag and each gal will get this Idaho magnet. This is sort of a typical gift here at Mtn Home for some reason. I have 2-3, each with a different organization/logo on it. They are made at the Arts & Crafts Center on base. About 1/2 our volunteers are spouses from the Singapore squadron, so I think they might appreciate a little memento from Idaho and the US.

Today I'm working on a quilt that I started at retreat. I'm putting on the last borders now, so I should have a picture soon!!

Retreat Pics

I had so much fun at retreat...I don't even know what to tell you about first. It is so much fun to spend time with these ladies and get to know them better every year.

I did a lot of sewing, but most of it is still "in progress." I did start and complete this quilt top though. It's made from a Frolic Layer Cake and only took about a half a day to assemble! I also won a door prize which was a $25 gift certificate to a local quilt shop, so I bought backing fabric for it.
These are a few of the little goodies I received from some of the other ladies. Aren't they adorable??!!

Here's a pic of me, Peggy, and Robin! Three years of retreats and we finally took a picture together! :)

Christie and Laura strike a pose!

Peggy gave us a cute little Raggedy....so now the one I made last year has her very own BFF! (pay no attention to the skin disorder on the doll on the right...she doesn't like raindrops. :( )

Here's another picture of most of the goodies I came home with...we did a pincushion exchange and a secret sister exchange, too!

I had so much fun, I'm signed up to go again in November!

and I'm off!!

I'm leaving tomorrow morning to the annual Back Porch Friends Quilting Retreat in Indiana!! 5 days of non-stop shopping, quilting, and chatting!!

I'm so excited...I know I'll have tons of pictures to share when I get back.

Happy Quilting!!

May 1st!

I, for one, can not believe it's May 1st. But I have to say that I'm elated that it's May 1st! It means that it's that much closer until Travis comes home. I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel! About 7 more weeks and he'll be home.

Over the past weeks, I have finished a couple projects...some I can't show pictures of just yet. :) Here are a few that I can share with you though:

These zipper bags were made for four ladies that helped me with the planning of our recent Protestant Women of the Chapel retreat. I filled them with goodies like lip balm, flower seeds, coffee gift cards, and of course, candy!

Two weeks ago, I went on the Southern Idaho Quilt Shop Hop. We visited 16 shops in three days...three of the shops were in western Oregon and the rest were in Southwest Idaho. I found this cute tote bag pattern at one of the shops. The fabric is from Moda's new "Frolic" line. I love it!

This is an OLD UFO...it's the 2007 Thimbleberries Club quilt...with a slight modification. I didn't add the final borders and made it lap size instead. I'm giving it to a great friend that has been an incredible encourager to me this year...I hope she enjoys it!

I thought I'd share a pic of the back. I love to piece the backs out of fabric from my stash. It feels like such an accomplishment to "use up" that stash! LOL These were extra club fabrics not used in the final borders.

I have a few more things -almost- finished, so I might have a couple more pictures later this week.

Another great thing about May...it's the BPF Quilting Retreat in Indiana! This will be my 3rd year to attend and absolutely just can't wait!! Only 10 more days til I leave!

A crazy thing about this first day of May in Idaho...it only reached 51 degrees today. Ugh...when is the warm weather going to arrive?

Happy Quilting!