Spring Quilt Retreat #1

I had a great time at the first quilt retreat of this year held at West River in Annapolis, MD. My guild sponsors four per year and my goal this year is to try to attend all of them. Great friends and a great time and such a relaxing extended weekend away doing what I love to do. I was able to get only one project (my summer bag) completely finished, but I put a big dent in my diamond star quilt and all that is left is to sew the eight pieced panels together. I also put together the checkerboard back of one of my I-spy quilts, which will make it reversible.

Next retreat is in April at Cacapon in West VA. Can't wait............

My Anniversary Quilt

It started out as a lap quilt and my Mom saw it on my design wall and said that it was too pretty to be a small quilt, so I made it queen size! This is the first large quilt that I've made and it is also the first quilt on point that I've done. I love all of the batik fabrics.

Our quilt guild had a great show last week and I had the opportunity to show it off. Now it resides on our new sleep number bed. Our bedroom has a beach theme and the quilt fits perfectly.

Grandson's I Spy Quilt

Again, I've been busy sewing and gardening, so I haven't been updating my blog. It isn't that I don't want to, but I just haven't been able to find the time to dedicate to posting to it. So I have a good bit of catching up to do.

Well the I Spy quilt I made for my grandson is finished. I was amazed that it didn't take too long. I started with a nine patch and then split them and reattached to make the quilt.  It turned out better than I could have imagined! Each block looks like it has a frame around it.

 

The top was started and finished at the quilt retreat that I went on with the Friendship Quilters Guild to West River, Annapolis, MD.  I added the trim fabric and then finished if off when I came home.

I also made a blue jean scrappy quilt, that is great for outdoor use.  Just 6" blocks of recycled denim or blue jeans & plaids, shirting or homespun material sewn together like a rag quilt.  

This didn't take very long at all. I plan to make another one so that my daughter can have one to use in her backyard this summer.

Quilt Guild Greeting Card Challenge

In September I joined a great quilting guild in my area, The Friendship Quilters. The women that I met there are the best. They are very welcoming and friendly. I just can't say enough good things about them. This month the guild held a Greeting Card Challenge and a reproduction had to be made of a card. I wasn't sure at first if I wanted to try this, being new to the guild and also to quilting, but I thought... Why not? I chose a card that my daughter and her husband gave me last Christmas, because not only was it special, but it was something that I wouldn't mind having as a wall hanging.

Last night at the monthly guild meeting all of the challenge quilts were voted on for best overall and best duplication and most of them were absolutely beautiful, as well as being so perfectly constructed. I didn't think mine had a chance. To my surprise it won 3rd overall for best duplication! I guess I shouldn't doubt myself about my skills as a new quilter.

Update -- I won 3rd place for Best Duplication of a greeting card.

I'm Going to be a Grandma...

It's official, my daughter Angie and her husband Greg are expecting! The new addition is due in August and I'm so happy for them. I've already started to purchase baby related fabrics to make some baby items, so I'll have to set aside the purse projects that I was working on.

It only took me a week, but from the time I was told I would be a grandmom (but told to wait to tell anyone until they had see the doctor), I completed my first quilt for the expected baby.

Next I'll work on some matching items.