SCORE!

What a beautiful weekend!

The weather was perfect for junkin at both

"The Pec Thing" and Elkhorn.

The "Pec Thing" was alittle disappointing.

(Just my humble opinion remember)

We arrived bright and early to be there when the gate open

only to wait in line for 40 minutes.

They had just one poor lady taking $$$ at the gate!

But most importantly, I couldn't find a bargain.

You know what they say about the thrill of the hunt.

Trust me, I hunted.

We actually left without making a purchase.

But it was fun looking.

 The Elkhorn gate system is perfect.

They come down the line taking your $$$

and as soon as the gate opens everyone is off and running!

Plus I found a few bargains!

Let me start by showing you one of the treasures I found.

A LARGE mystery stack of linens for $3.00.

I forgot to get a picture before I opened it.

Just to excited to see what was inside.

There were miscellaneous doilies, kitchen towels,

a pillowcase, a sweet lace apron and these

2 FEED SACKS!

The one on the left is definitely faded and torn.

But hey, I'll just cut around the bad spots. 

The green one is in pristine condition.

I'm going to hang it up in my studio and admire it for awhile.

But that's not all.......

Look at this GORGEOUS album quilt top I found.

With Bubble Gum pink sashings!

No rips, stains or tears.

And a bargain.

I love it!

I can't wait to go back in June.

Want to share a customer tabletopper I finished this week.

And the back.

If you need a good cake recipe look no further.

No cake pictures.

Nance make this for our retreat and it

was gone before I knew it.

Going to bake one this afternoon to take to the grandkids.

I'm going Tuesday for a few days to help out.

And you know, a Grandma can't visit without bringing a treat!

Have a great week.

Lovin this sunshine!

And the unseasonably warm weather.

The grandkids came for the weekend and played outside till dark.

They love being able to run and visit the neighbor kids.

They're growing up so fast.

 The grandkids enjoy helping out in the kitchen.

We baked Chocolate Chip Cookie bars.

Found the recipe on Pinterest.

Where else?

Click on the photo for the recipe.

SOOO much quicker than cookies and just as good.

(Photo from Pinterest) 

Paid a visit to the Apple Butter House.

The barn is decorated for Spring.

So many vintage-prim beautiful things!

I found this vintage quilt pocket for my front door.

It's soooo me.

If you're in the area be sure to stop in and say hello to Caroline.

She's a real sweetheart.

I'm still working on yo-yos .

Had the longarm repair man "Ray"

(my new best friend) here 2 days last week.

Hoping "Violet" is fixed and ready to rumble tomorrow.

Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Enjoy the day!

Quilt Show Highlights

Rockford, IL "Memories of Mom" 

Quilt Show.

A beautiful pieced and appliqued quilt

took Best of the Show.

Her detail work was exquisite.

Oh, the time it took to make this one.

 Love this bright "candy wrappers" pattern

 and the curved cross hatching!

Look at all the curves & points.

And ribbons!

I've never seen this layered star pattern before

have you?

Sew cute in the reproduction prints and buttons.

The show theme was "Memories of Mom".

A great quilt and story.

And here's my entry. No ribbon.

Looks pretty "vanilla" in comparison to the other quilts.

I was just thrilled to see it hanging straight.

I was nervous putting on the sleeve

with the scallop edges.

Customer quilts from the Rock Valley Quilt Show.

 It's hard to see the "bling" Sue added.

And Barb's quilt, "Footprints in the Sand". 

Sorry, I didn't get a picture of it

hanging in the show.

 Pat's "Winter Wonderland"
took a 2nd place ribbon.

My entry

"Snowbound".

With a ribbon....Yeah!

Here are my purchases.

A cookbook and magazine.

Wasn't I a good girl!

 

Off to the quilting machine.

I'm sooooo inspired. 

2 Quilt Shows This Weekend!

Two quilt shows on the same weekend.

Is that great or what!

Plus, it's my Saturday Sew Day with the guild.

I'm in quilter's heaven. 

I want to show you my entry for the Rockford IL show.

Redwork Vintage Baskets 

 The pattern is called Aunt Bea's Parlor

designed by Judy Reynolds for

Black Cat Creations

 

I love the nostalgic embroidery basket designs.

 It took me most of the winter to 

hand stitch the 20 blocks.

 Of course, I used a different setting 

than the pattern called for. 

And I scalloped the edges.

The scallop edge really gives 

the quilt a quaint feel.

And quilted feathers complete

the look.

Have you ever scalloped the edges of a quilt?

It's not as hard as you think.

A little math and

You Tube.

The binding must be cut on the bias,

(not straight edge).

Here are easy to understand 

visual directions for

bias binding I've ever-ever found.

Print the pdf file for reference.

File it away.

One day you'll thank me.

OOO, I want to leave you with this darling

new quilt pattern and line of fabrics

from Lori Holt of Bee in My Bonnet.

 The pattern is called

"Vintage Dishes"

the fabric

"Sew Cherry"

 Photos taken from her site.

Take a peak.

 Don't ya just love the rick rack border

and scrappy binding!

Can you tell what I'm going to be 

on the look out for in those vendors booths?

May Basket Lotto

At our Friendship Stars guild meeting

next week we are having a

May Basket Lotto.

Have you ever participated in a 

quilt block lotto?

It's FUN!

Here is my finished 12 1/2 inch block.

Our lotto lets you make any basket design you'd like.

Because we have a lot of beginner quilters

in our group

I wanted to post an easy block with instructions

for those that need help.

Here is how I drew it out.

I'm no artist, as you can see.

You need to cut:

Background fabric

5- 4" squares (1/2 sq triangles)

5- 3 1/2" squares

 

Floral Print

3- 4" squares (1/2 square triangles)

Basket Print

2- 4" squares (1/2 square triangles)

1- 3 1/2" square

Using the 4" squares

make 6 half square triangle units 
of floral/background fabric

and 4  basket/background fabric.

Trim to 3 1/2" square.

Lay blocks in order shown below.

Stitch into rows 1 thru 4 and

Press row seams in opposite directions

so seams lay flat.

TaDa! 

Wasn't that easy?

The more blocks you make 

the more chances you have to win all the blocks!

Enough to make a quilt!

Doesn't it sound like fun?