Shift Change - The Men Have Arrived

Some of us sisters are very fortunate that our spouses are able (and willing) to join us for a few extra days here in Burr Oak.

 

Bill arrived after this picture was taken and then we got busy talking, eating dinner and just relaxing. Before I knew it, it was dark and raining and I couldn't convince the guys to go back outside for another picture. Where's their sense of adventure?  

More Fun Fabric Fondling Time

Guess where a few of us went today.

You guessed it. We went back to Nelsonville Quilt Company! They even left the welcome sign up for us.  :-)

A few of us needed a bit more fabric, thread and interfacing but we found even more fabric than we had anticipated. There are some really neat gifts in the making and I just hope my sisters can contain their enthusiasm and not give them out as soon as they get home.

Both Susan and Donna were cutting fabric today.

 

 

Tomorrow I hope to post a picture of most of the purchases over the last couple of days. It sure is fun trying to help the economic growth in this area.

 

Sewing Sisters and Friday Finishes

Well, it's our annual Sisters' Weekend and even though it's our first year without Mom, we're having a wonderful time. Do you think that maybe this has something to do with it?

 

As we've done for the past couple of years, we meet up in Nelsonville, OH and hit the Nelsonville Quilt Company.

 

 

Just look what you see as soon as you walk in the door! Ahhhhh. I think this may be what Heaven is like.

 

 



 

So, a few of the sisters have made a trip or two back to the shop and it's only Friday (I just looked at the clock and it's actually Saturday, but it still feels like Friday), but why not when there are so many friendly people who work there?

 

 

So what have we been doing here since our arrival on Wednesday? Well, since the weather hasn't really been wonderful, we've just been enjoying each others' company, fondling fabric and giving the sewing machines a workout.

 

 

Check out some of the projects that have been finished so far. Paula made a bag for Nick to carry a couple of guns and ammo. She's making another one but I don't have any pictures of it yet.

 

 

 

Barb has been busy making some vinyl mesh bags. She's also made an apron and is working on another bag, not vinyl mesh though. I'll get some pictures and post them later.

 

 

Kathy made a special bag and it is adorable!

 

 

 

Terri made this wonderful I-Pad holder and is working on another. Makes me wish I owned an I-Pad.

 

 

Ann and Pat have been busy as well, but for some reason I don't have any pictures of their projects. I'll have to fix that tomorrow.  I've sewn the binding on to a large quilt (about 102" square) and have just the hand-stitching to do on a pretty small one (about 40" x 60'). I quilted about 25 of the blocks that I'll be using in the quilt for the library and I just completed a wall hanging (38" x 47") called Cool Waters by Kate Mitchell Quilts. I bought the kit for this Wednesday afternoon at Nelsonville Quilt Company because I just loved how it looked hanging on their wall and the kit was priced nicely and included ALL the fabric needed, including the backing and binding. This was so easy and only took a few hours. I may have some batting the right size to be able to quilt this in the next day or so. Wouldn't that be cool. Completely finish a project here?

 

 

I'll be sure to take pictures of the projects that I forgot as well as the ones being worked on as I type. I'm having a wonderful time and love my sewing sisters!!

 

I've linked up to Crazy Mom Quilts Friday Finishes. Check out what other quilters are accomplishing.



Forgotten Picture

I can't believe I forgot to add this picture to my last post. I really like this picture but might have offended Lynn when I asked if I could cut off her head while cropping the photo. I just wanted a picture of the grandkids.  :-)  Do you like the big ??

Berry Picking

We went berry picking at Ellen's yesterday and the berries were GREAT! If you live close by, check out Troy Mills Strawberry Farm outside Willard, OH. It is definitely worth the trip. The bonus for the day was that the kids had a blast.

Oh and my shameless plug here is that there are still cookbooks available. (You'll understand why I say it's a shameless plug if you look at the names at the bottom of the cover.)  :-) 

Contact the farm or me if you want one. They make great gifts and are a a great at $10 each.

 

Ok, back to the berry picking adventure. Look at this crew, all ready to work. Zach and Ty were with us, but Zach was watching Ronan and I don't know where Ty was when this picture was taken. He was probably already picking berries. 

 

 

Sadie didn't really wait for instructions, she just started picking. Don't you love the boots?

 





Quinn listened closely to Nikki from instructions on how to pick the best berries.

 

And then she got to work and did a really good job. I see a summer job in her near future! I didn't see it, but I was told that she has the making for a good supervisor. She was doing a bit of quality control out in the field.

 



Here's the yield from the first trip out. The youngsters (and pregnant one) needed a break. (Nikki stayed in the field and picked a bunch more. I think the total was 37 quarts.)

 

Speaking of breaks. Look what Quinn and Sadie did on their break. I think it looks like they had fun. Quinn is getting set on the horse and boy did she swing high. (There's Zach and Ty. I knew I had a picture of them somewhere.)

 

 

I don't think Sadie quit smiling the whole time she was on the horse.

 

 

And of course Ronan woke up and had to try a berry or two. He really likes them!

 

 

Sadie was so proud of her work!

 

 

And then of course she wanted to share. She takes a bite and then wants you to take a bite . Ummmmm, no thanks. You can eat it all Sadie. (While cleaning the berries last night, we found more than one stem that definitely had half a berry on it. You could see the bite marks.)

 

 

We all had a good time and I even got some work in helping customers - just like old times.

 

Of course we had strawberry shortcake today and there are two pies chilling in the fridge.  YUMMY!!

 

Design Wall Monday

I've been piecing some backings so they are ready at a moment's notice when I have the opportunity to quilt something. Here's the backing in stages for my Disappearing Nine Patch.

I had four quarter blocks left over from piecing the front so I decided to make them into a block and put it on the back. Above it where I sewed the block in the middle of a strip and added a bigger strip on top. Below is where I'm ready to sew the bottom portion of the back together. The block is purposely NOT in the middle of the quilt backing.

 

Here's the front of the quilt.

 

 

I'm kind of scaring myself because the binding is already made for this quilt, as well as three others.

 

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

Go to Judy L's Patchwork Times.



Guest Chefs at the House

We had a couple of guest chefs at the house last night and they sure did make a great meal! The girls each made a small pizza for themselves and while they were baking, Nikki made a big one for the adults.

They're concentrating on their work and really didn't want to be bothered with having their picture taken. I think Quinn is saying something like, "Don't bother the master when she's working."

 

Don't their creations look scrumptious? Quinn mad a smiley face with pepperoni and I think Sadie's could be called a cheese lovers special.  :-)

 

 

They were so proud of their pizzas and even shared with us. What fun!!!

 

Maybe I can get them to cook one more time before they have to go home.