BOM Blocks 6 and 7

are made and waiting on their "friends."

I haven't been sewing/quilting much this week---just needed some down-time. I've been working a 1000 piece puzzle that's been in the cupboard for awhile. It's ok, I'll get back to sewing again shortly!

BOM 5

is done and on the design wall with the others.

"At Home" Retreat

was held this past weekend for the "Ohio Quilters." I didn't know how much time I could spend in the studio since I was scheduled to work on Saturday. Well, due to the snow/ice, I got the day off on Friday and got rescheduled for Saturday, but..that also meant Hubby was home and...... (won't go there!!)

Friends, Pat and Becky, were in town so met up with them on Friday after the roads cleared. We headed to a neat quilt store, http://www.somewheresewing.com/. Didn't buy a lot--a backing, a spool of thread, and a WOW to add to the stash. Ann met us here too.

After lunch, we did a little local shopping and browsing...basically relaxed and enjoyed our time together. Dinner was a fun time with Debi and Dennis!!

I did manage to get the "Sand and Surf" top sewn together after making it home in another snow storm Friday evening~

Saturday I was so bummed after my trip was rescheduled--I couldn't contact the gals since my phone just wouldn't work....grrrrrrr (it did reset itself late Saturday afternoon, was it due to the weather?????)and meet up with them. So, I decided it was a good time to work on binding a quilt. I could easily do this while the laundry was being done:

Didn't accomplish all I had wanted to in the studio but I am pretty happy with this much done! It seems I never get much done during "home retreats!)"

Irene

BOM #4

is finished! I am rethinking the color placement on this one.....not sure I want the bright yellow in the center again? Think I will wait and see what the other 8 blocks are then if I want to change it I can......

Irene

Circles

of fabric the size of a computer disk.......100 of them!!! Now, what am I going to do with them????

One gal made this:

(but, I'm not going to applique!!!!!)

I have thought about cutting 7 inch background blocks and just sewing the circles on top and letting them ravel:

Need you thoughts and suggestions please.....

Irene

BOM Block #3

is now joining the others on the design wall. Finished it late last night when I couldn't sleep.

And here are blocks 1-3,

Ohio Star, Friend's Coming Together, Dutchman's Puzzle

I also got all those batik's cut and into "kits" to take to retreat with me! Now, I have to decide what I am going to work on??? Know Michelle would love it if I paper-pieced some more of the blocks for her quilt...huuummmmmm

Irene

Cutting~

Spending sometime doing cutting and prep work today. Have an on-line retreat coming up later this month and another "live" retreat in February. If I don't do some prep work now, I'll be rushing again at the last minute.

On the cutting table are batiks:

Am planning on these becoming quilt using a pattern by Debby Maddy, called"Star Gazing." http://webstore.quiltropolis.net/stores_app/Browse_Item_Details.asp?Shopper_id=2253191245102253&Store_id=529&page_id=23&Item_ID=1212

More batiks coming out of the bins:

The plans for this group of fabrics is to make a "Quick Trip" quilt using one of Eleanor Burns' patterns. http://www.quiltinaday.com/shoponline/books_display.asp?i=5137

Not sure what else I'll get into but am sure there is NO shortage of fabrics to use!!

Irene

Ack.....

no more sewing done this past week! "Sally," the favorite sewing machine took a slide off the table so had to go to the repair shop--thanks to Dennis at www.somewheresewing.com, Sally is not back in working order!! Of course, I couldn't walk out without first roaming the aisles of the shop...and yep, you guessed it, I didn't come out empty-handed! My purchase was a jelly roll in batiks with two border and binding fabrics. This will be a "group project" at retreat in February.

I am still working on the restoration of Jan's quilt (a few before shots)

--getting closer but still so far away to arriving at the finish point! I think I'll work on this again today as I do laundry for the Hubby. He came home after ten last night and leaves out again tomorrow, so I have no choice. I have to do do his laundry so he can repack.

Irene

Mystery BOM

OK...just what I don't need...but it will use up some of my stash!

The gals over at www.quiltingaroundtheworld.com are doing a Mystery BOM this year. I really want to use up some of my stash, so decided today I was going to really try and keep up with them! I've done "sew-alongs" with some of these gals before and they keep you on your toes!

Anyway, I got the first two blocks done today~

I am hoping to keep the dark blue a constant throughout the quilt....the background is a cream that I have around 4 yards of so am almost sure that will be used in each block too --if I run short--another cream can be used as this will be a scrappy quit)

Starting out

the new year by cleaning up the studio and rearranging! I know, I've moved "stuff" around to many time to count since we've moved, but I just can't seem to find the "perfect" layout that I'm pleased with!!!

Today I found a "kit" that had three rows done...have no idea why I put it back and didn't finish the top. Maybe it was an "Ann package?" (projects I kept to take to Ann's to work on)

The beginnings of:

Sand & Surf
Quilts and More, Winter 2009