Sixth Finish and progress

Yippie...several weeks before the end of the 2nd quarter Finish Along 2015 and I am DONE...for the moment!

 Here is the 6th finish...the lovely Modern Buzzsaw from Amy Smart's book 

Fabulously Fast Quilts.  I really like this quilt for so many reasons mostly the fabrics. It's like a snuggle from my carpenter hubby....not that I can't have the real thing all the time!

This was machine quilted with straight lines an inch or so from the seams and I tied the center of each square with some navy perle cotton.

 The back is a Kaffe that I have been hording until I could figure out what to do with it.

This is my new favorite way to finish the binding.  Sew it on the back then bring it to the front and use perle cotton to stitch it down.  Still hand stitching but takes a third of the time and adds a little extra detail.  Fun and Fabulously Fast!:)

 Kohlrabi is happening in the garden. That thing is five inches wide and ready to eat!

Amazing things also grow in our dirt/junk/rock pile.  Wineberries should be ready for July 4th celebrating.  This is just one of several patches in the yard!

There's the astronaut that joined the dinosaur league.

 Medley of Jen is growing too.  I have three large sections hand quilted...one more to go before joining them all together for the big reveal!

All the blocks came from Jen Kingwell's patterns and book.  Very fun!

Received a lot of lovely birthday wishes this year....this one is my favorite.

It is sooooo me!:)

~d

Second quarter 2015 finish along list.

FQ Retreat 2014....did it really happen?

Three weeks have gone by...we are back from our UK visit...internet is sort of fixed and I have photos so it must have happened!

(Large stack of Siblings Together quilts donated by all the lovely attendees!)

My second lucky chance to attend the FQ retreat was even better than I imagined it would be in my head during the long plane ride by myself!! 

Only doing Saturday classes I was very lucky to be in Thomas Knauer's Modern Knots session.  After we figured out how to draw our grids knotting was a cinch!  Thomas is my kinda guy...he talks with his hands!!

(My unfinished Knots piece and embroidery attempts)

Next class I neglected to take photos as Jo Avery was blowing my mind with the simplicity of embroidering what looks like very hard stitches!!  That's Jo's finished sample...I wanted to sneak it into my bag!! I learned so many useful stitches AND got to hang with my pal Jo. Bonus! Thanks sweetie!!

(photo borrowed from Lynne of Lily's Quilts and  FQ fame!:)

During the break everyone walked around oohing and aahing at all the cool makes.  I was very jealous of Trash's double pears!!:) Thanks for everything Trash...you know what I mean!!;) xo

 Then there was Sample Swapping!  We made 3-5 like items and Trash put us in small groups for swapping.

This was my lovely group and what I received from each person.  I swapped mini Kaffe pouches with a few goodies inside.  Thanks so much Claire, Pippa and Joanne.  So lucky to be in your group!!:)

After lunch was my longest class...all afternoon...which was great because I spent it learning hand piecing and needle turn applique with the amazing Jen Kingwell. My pal Amy Smart (peeking over Sue's shoulder) was in the class too.  Double Bonus! We learned a ton!

We laughed a ton.

 We played a ton!

 Cameras were happy.

Could not believe I was able to see and touch the actual Green Tea and Sweet Beans and

the famous Gypsy Wife quilts in person.  Those I totally couldn't sneak into my bag!

(Jo, Jenny, Sarah and photobombing Trash!)

Sunday morning I was going to visit the Victoria and Albert museum but Jo said come sew with her on the terrace.  OK!!:) It was so nice to be able to spend several hours stitching and enjoying the company.

 Closing comments by the FQ Three were made outside because of a fire alarm at the Baden Powell Conference Center.  Made for much better photos!:)  

Thanks so much the the FQ gang and their helpers Sandy and the Jacks! 

(My buddy Marguerite gave me the fabrics I used for Jen Kingwell's class...thanks pal!!xo)

There it is...a fun filled weekend in London. 

Traveled on an airplane across the ocean alone. Check!

Got on and off the Tube at the right stop alone. Check!

Found the Baden Powell and got the last bed because they didn't have my reservation? Check!

Had the best time learning and chatting with old friends and new ones.....Double Check!!

~d

ps...Trudi...thanks for the last minute FMQ lesson and rubbery pads...I'm working on it!!!!:)

Love From Utah and California....and Back Again!

  Wonderful friends have I...yep...wonderful friends and I'll give you a couple of examples! 

Amy Smart of Diary of a Quilter had several copies of 

Sweet Celebrations  for sale in her shop.  Amy has an awesome project in the book! Alas I was too late to buy one but lookie, lookie what she found and sent to me!!! For Free!! No pay....nada!!

How wonderful was that?  A thank you note just didn't seem like enough so...

 ...I made her this!  It's a copy of the little apple she has on her logo.

Oh...and look inside the book!!!:) Thanks bunches pal...I can't wait to try out your Love Notes wall hanging and my little thanks is flying to you right now!:)  

See this cutie...this is Julie Herman of Jaybird Quilts....she sent me some Julie love via my pal Kerry who helped out at Road to California.

 Kerry took this photo of Julie at the show in front of her booth....look at that smile and her booth was amazing!  You can see more photos here.  Julie wasn't content to send me this paper note with Kerry...no...

...she sent me ALL this....her new book Toes in the Sand and her Hex N More ruler!!

 So this is my thank you to Julie....her blue jay feather logo.  I think her brother drew the logo.

Inside... another autograph...I'm getting quite a collection of those!:)

Ladies....my heart is full...thank you so much. I hope you both feel the love I put into these little minis!:)
xo
~d