Winter Sunday

Spent the cold rainy afternoon in my sewing room quilting "Mother's Gift". I quilted straight lines with the walking foot yesterday, and am now free-motioning flowers in the block centers. I tied off and buried  thread ends while watching (and crying through) Downton Abbey this evening.

Pin Basting

I got out Mother's Gift, it has been a whole year ago that I finished the top. I pieced the backing yesterday, and finished pin basting today. It looks better to me now for some reason!

Inauguration Day

Sitting in sunny front room, watching ceremonies on C-SPAN, and doing hand blanket stitching on wool applique project "Little Tulip Crossing" from Primitive Gatherings.

Sunny January Day

Piecing borders on Happy Day this morning. Hope to finish this one for Quilt Fest in March.

Quilt Shop visits in Dallas TX area Dec. 2012

Visited three quilt shops along with DH, his daughter and son-in-law (he drove in the horrible traffic here - bless him!) I much prefer to shop on my own, I feel rushed with others waiting for me, and reluctant for DH to know how much $$ fabric is nowadays; but had a great time none-the-less.  Quilt Country in Lewisville, Quilt Asylum and Happiness is Quilting in McKinney.-there I bought Dutch Chintz panel, charms and fat quarter (pricey, but beautiful). Saw the chintz on their website and have been wanting it. Didn't buy the kit because I didn't care to make the hexies and too much purple in it.I have an idea to border the panel with flying geese, and applique paper pieced stars on it with the corner stones from the gold fat quarter. I might order the border fabric if it needs it. Quilt Country was batik heaven, I've never seen so many, even more than Lolly's of Shipshewana. Whole rows for each color. Was looking for Kona Snow - none to be had in any of those shops, but there was lots of Moda Bella solids. I bought some Snow of that but will keep looking for Kona since that is what the swap calls for (maybe I should have chosen the Moda?) But hallejuha I did find Moda Bella Solid fig tree cream for the jelly roll lone star project which I've been looking for for about 3 years. Yea! Quilt Alylum had lots of neutrals-bought some fats for my Alex Anderson neutral project.(and they were having a year-end sale of 25% off everything! DH paid the bill as part of my Xmas gift. He's a keeper! Was looking for cadet blue for the Scrappy Irish Chain, but no 1800/Civil War repros. to be found in any of those shops. If we go to Denton I'll look for it in shops there.
 Ate lunch at a unique and fabulous boutique/deli ; Patina Green in McKinney. All local organic and handmade sandwiches, salad soup, cookies and CHOCOLATES to die for!!!!! And the most fabulous bathroom I've seen anywhere.

Shipshewana last Sept.

Found this post in my drafts from last Sept. 2012. (no photos)

While on our way to the Midwest Birding Symposium in Lakeside, OH; DH and I spent the night in Shipshewana, and I got to Lolly's Quilt Shop! Only had 45 minutes there so it was quick but good. Didn't make it all the way through the batiks - they have a lot of beauties! And Edyta Sitar kits. I squeezed in another 15 minutes in the downstairs clearance store and found some good fat quarters.
This would be a great place to go with quilty friends; for a more leisurely time. So glad I got to go now though!

Post Holiday Retreat

Happily sewing at Threads and Beds retreat with some of my quilty friends this weekend. Working on my Edyta Sitar "Dresden Star" blocks. Snowing outside but don't have to drive home until tomorrow.