Summer Summary

I don't know what has happened to this summer?  It definitely flew by and even though I did some fun quilty things, there wasn't time to capture it on my blog.  I will do my best to catch up.  People ask me why I blog and the answer is simple-- I like the journal aspect and love to look back on what I have done over the years.  So- let's get this good stuff recorded for posterity.  If you are a Princess Bride fan (like me!!), you can't hear that word without thinking of this.  =P

The biggest, most awesome quilty thing I did this summer was travel to Oregon and attend the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show.  It was so! much! fun!  This show was a bucket list item for me and it was totally worth it!  And while there, I got to meet a longtime FB friend in person.

My little cousin, Sarah got married and she totally loved the quilt I made for her. ❤

I started up a new block of the month at Blue Bar Quilts.  It's called 'Chocolatier' and the pattern is by Anne Marie Chany.  I've got a few blocks done, but I'm a bit behind.  That's how summer goes!

I made two mini quilts for the Mad City Quilt Guild's booth at Quilt Expo.  The them was 'G is for...'.  I had fun with this, because I could use 2 plays on my last name (and this blog!!). =)

The last thing I have to share is a short re-cap of 2019 Quilt Expo.  As usual, it was a great time!  They are changing the name of the show next year.  It will be the 15th year and the organizers wanted to emphasize our state in the name, so it will be 'The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show'.  

I entered Scrap Happy Sampler and received lots of kind words from everyone.

Maybe I have one more thing to share... my garden didn't have the greatest season (many reasons), but I did grow some beautiful sunflowers! Enjoy!

xoxo,

Kristin

Linking up with: Oh Scrap! and Let's Bee Sewcial

Milestones!

Lots of sewing has been happening recently, but not a lot of blogging.  I've been the little train that could and have been chugging along on many of my WIPs.  And I've actually finished binding some of my quilts that have been hanging on for too long--Imagine that!  I don't have 'final' photos yet, because the weather has been rather brutal lately and it is not conducive to outdoor photos.  Lots and lots of snow and wind and ice and subzero temperatures. Fannie is loving the snow, I'm ready for warmer weather!!  Hopefully I will be able to share these finishes soon.

On to my milestones-- I've finished 2 tops recently and that feels great!!  First up is my Scrap Happy Sampler.

This top is a doozy!  And those borders....wow.  I'm very pleased with how the quilt turned out, but I'm also very pleased to be done with it!!  😋  Next up: quilting, binding and displaying at Blue Bar Quilts!  Wooot! It will be cool to see my quilt hanging in the gallery area with the quilts from my sew-a-long group. 

Quilt top finish #2: Alpine Mountains.  This is a wedding gift and has a deadline of June-- I'm on track!!  This turned out great-- the picture isn't doing it justice.  It is all batiks and they a lend depth and richness that you don't get from traditional fabrics. I'm really looking forward to quilting this up and having a completed quilt. I think when the weather is nice and I do a photo shoot outdoors, it will really shine.

With 2 finishes, that means I can start 2 new projects, right?? =)  I am participating in the Chocolatier Block of the Month and it starts in 2 weeks.  There is another wedding late summer and I want to make a quilt for that.  I'm hoping to get started on it at my Super Most Awesome Retreat next week (wouldn't it be lovely to piece an entire top at retreat?!?!).  And I am going to make 2 more Norway Flag quilts.  I've been cutting 10 billion red and blue squares in anticipation of those.  So/Sew much going on!! 

xoxo,

Kristin

ps

Linking up with: Oh Scrap! and Let's Bee Sewcial

Lutherdale Retreat 2019

I just got back from my annual 5 day sew-fest at Lutherdale.  I don't know what it is, but every year, the time elapses faster and faster.  In the blink of an eye, our retreat was over and it was time to pack up and go home.  I accomplished quite a bit, but of course, I would like to have done even more. Isn't that always the case?

The main project I worked on was starting a new quilt -->I don't have an official name for it yet. Winter Mountains? Steep Mountains? Rugged Mountains? Climb Every Mountain? Alpine Mountains? It is a wedding present for my mountain climbing cousin that has been living in New Zealand for a few years, but is moving back to the US this year.  The blocks are designed by Kristy from Quiet Play.  The layout I am using will be based on something shared on a FB group by @CamilleSews (on Instagram).  I hoped to piece the entire top (ambitous, I know!) during retreat.  The reality was-- those trees are a lot of work!! There are 25 pieces in the small tree and close to that many in the larger one.  It's been taking approximately 2 hours per tree!! Yikes!  I did complete all of the mountain blocks (15) and 1.5 of the 5 pair of trees.  In the last week, I've finished the second pair of trees and completed another pair.  Only 2 more pairs of trees to go!  Woot!  I can't wait to see this come together into a top.

The other main project I worked on was facilitating a group quilt to donate to Lutherdale.  Again-- my inspiration came from something shared on FB.  We cut bright scraps into 2" squares using my Go Baby! cutter.  It's turning out LOVELY!! The sashing will be a light grey and I'll add some more blocks to this throughout the year and have it finished up for next January's retreat.  What to name this?  It's kind of sparkly, jewel-like.  It's scrappy.  It's rainbow.  Hmmmm "Rainbow Sparkly Whatnot"?  Naming quilts is hard! 

The last project I have to share is a simple panel that I added 3 borders to.  This is something I will quilt up with fun doodles and donate to Lutherdale's August auction. I think I'll name it "Seaside Friends"

While at 'Quilt Camp', Mother Nature brought us a fantastic snow storm.  Using a quilting ruler, we measured 8" of snow!  Winter this year has been a bit dodgy and what little snow we have had has melted.  I'm happy to have a layer of white to make winter feel like winter.  The subzero temperatures we are experiencing right now...that's another story!!

I'm already counting down the days until next year's retreat!

xoxo,

Kristin

Linking up with Oh Scrap, Design Wall Monday and Let's Bee Sewcial