Happenings with Pictures!

Last weekend was our annual sisters' weekend, that actually lasts longer than the weekend. As usual, we had a blast catching up and just plain enjoying each other. This is the first year we have not gone to Burr Oak for the event. 

Instead, everyone made the trek to my house this year and I was thrilled. I've always taken my sewing machine and over the years, everyone started doing the same. Here you can see five of the seven work stations that we set up. 
   

Pat was teaching us all how to make umbrellas and we had a blast. We made a total of 13 full size umbrellas in one day and two children's umbrellas were made the next day. These are so much fun. 

Thanks Pat! Now I see fabric and think, "Oh, that would make a great umbrella."

I worked on a couple of projects that needed finished up for classes I'm offering. I finished my table runners but forgot to take pictures before I dropped them off at the shop. :-(  

I finished my Jewel Box wall hanging and LOVE how it turned out! I'll be teaching this at M & E Quilt Shoppe in Sandusky. If you happen to stop in or send them a message, tell them Agnes sent you. That's my "shop" name. Don't you think it fits in with Mabel and Ethel better than Joanne?  

Ann was busy working on her Fabric Boxes. She's making a HUGE number of them and I can't wait to see them all done. She is her own little sweatshop!

After I finished up the projects that needed done, I pulled out my Prairie Star and began working on that. I'll get this done. It just seems like every time I pull this out to work on, something with a deadline pops up. I WILL get this done!

As I mentioned recently, Nikki and family have moved back up near us and I am thrilled! To help get her acquainted with some kids her age, Quinn attended a Vacation Bible Study camp this past week. She had a wonderful time and met some kids that will be in her class come Fall. Last night was the End of Camp Celebration and Jack and I joined them for a Family Fun Night Carnival. 

It was a lot of fun and they had a bunch of stuff for the kids to do. All three kids went through an obstacle course, although Ronan only made it half way through because he couldn't figure out how to climb the one set of inflated stairs. Of course I didn't get the camera out until after they had done that, but I did get some pictures of Quinn and Nikki rock climbing. 

Look at Quinn! She was nervous at first, but did a great job. She got a little over half way up before she had to stop because she couldn't figure out how to reach the next stepping stones. She was a bit too short to grab with her hands and still have her feet touching a lower rock. She did a great job and said that it was hard to do and her legs started shaking.

It's a bit difficult to see here, but Nikki is on the right and Quinn is on the left. I  love how the sun is shining across the picture through Nikki and on to Quinn!

After rock climbing, all three kids waited patiently to go into the bouncey castle. Can you tell the sun was kind of bright? They had a great time in there!

And finally, after the fun times out side at the Carnival, everyone went to the sanctuary for a brief program. When the minister called the kids up to sing, Quinn jumped up and ran on stage. I had hoped that she would stay close to the front so we could see her, but nope. She went toward the back and finally ended up just about in the middle of the pack. I know it's difficult to see, but there she is, right under the big red and yellow arrow. Even though she was in the middle of crowd, we did have a clear shot at seeing her. 

She wanted me to take a picture of her doing the hand signs and choreography for the song she liked the most. Of course grandma obliged.  :-)

I'm going to be doing a bit of sewing this afternoon and them we're heading to Nikki's house for a small cookout. 

Enjoy your weekend! I know I will.

Design Wall Monday

This past week has been very busy! 

Jack was in DC for five days singing and I hosted an Old Bags' Day Sew-In while he was gone. Because it was a holiday, Ann and Jerry were both able to stay an extra day, which was a lot of fun. 

I had to pick Jack up in Fremont at 4:30 in the morning and we spent most of Tuesday catching up with each other and the events of those five days, so I didn't get much quilting accomplished that day. It was worth it, though!

On Wednesday, Lynn and I drove to Columbus to pick up Sadie and Ronan so Nikki and Zach could spend some quality time packing without two youngsters vying for attention. Quinn was still in school, so she had to stay with them, but I'm guessing she may have been able to help a little. By the way, the final move was made on Saturday and all went well. I know Nikki and Zach are both very tired, but I'm thrilled that they are back living in this neck of the woods. :-)

I often forget how much energy two little ones have. It was tiring, but fun having them here. Unfortunately, Jack was not feeling well (respiratory issues from the trip) so he couldn't enjoy them as much as me. He did read a little to them and meal time is always hilarious. 

I think the funniest thing was when Sadie asked if Grandpa Jack was going to get a "bananabiotic" to make him feel better. Then she asked the pharmacist if his medicine tastes like bubble gum because her's does and that will make him "be not sick" faster. When the pharmacist said it didn't, Sadie asked if she could make it taste better, or maybe he should just chew gum while he took it. It still makes me grin just thinking about it and everyone, including the ever-so-professional pharmacist couldn't contain their laughter. Out of the mouths of babes, right?  

Anyway, back to Design Wall Monday. here's what's really on my wall right now. What a mess, right? This is the layering of the projects that I finished up yesterday and need quilted ASAP.

I'll un-layer everything for you. Here's the Jewel Box wall hanging that I showed last week. I love how this looks and can't wait to quilt it! 

I'll be teaching a series of table runner classes (all using a 60 degree ruler), starting in July and here are the new samples. The one on the left is fun vegetable fabric and it was made using the Easy Strip Table Runner pattern. 

I love the effect of the runner on the right. It was made using the Triangle Frenzy Runner pattern. by Bunnie Cleland. This is easy to make and I can see so many possibilities here! 

It gets better! Here's my short version of the Triangle Frenzy Swirl, also by Bunnie Cleland.

And a longer version of the same pattern.

And last but not least, my version of the Bunnie's Triangle Frenzy Hexagon. I love this one! 

I am so excited for these classes and can't wait to see what fabrics everyone has chosen. With patterns like these, there is no need to be worried about using striped fabrics or "odd" angle rulers.  :-)

Check out what other quilters have on their design walls today. 

Go to Judy L's Patchwork Times

Design Wall Monday

It's been a couple of weeks since I've posted, but something had to give and the blog was the victim. 

I've spent the last couple of weeks teaching (both sub teaching and quilt teaching), catching up on work at home and for a couple of local quilt shops, preparing for an extensive guild program and also preparing for the latest Old Bags' Day Sew-In. (I'll post pictures of the guild program and Old Bags' Day soon.) So, posting to the blog had to take a back seat more often than not recently.

Despite my busy schedule, I do have something on my design wall. Jewel Box by Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr of Modern Quilt Studio. 

I fell in love with this wall hanging when I first saw it in Modern Quilts Illustrated #8. I was thrilled when the owners at M & E Quilt Shoppe asked if I wanted to make one.  :-)

I had one problem with the cutting (I didn't pay attention to the directional fabric placement), but that will be resolved tomorrow when I pick up a little bit of fabric to make the correction.

What's on your design wall? Why not share it with the rest of blogland via Judy L's Patchwork Times. 

Don't want to share? That's okay. Sit back, relax go to Judy L's Patchwork Times and enjoy the eye candy.