Alpine Bay Resort

A few of my buddies and I went to Alabama for a mini quilt retreat.  While there, I was able to meet an old friend from high school.  Peggy and I have kept in touch through the years (not nearly as often as we should) but it's fun to reconnect when we can.

I have actually gotten my sister, Eva Marie, interested in doing some hand quilting.  She joined us for a couple nights.  The leaves were still very colorful in some areas.

Judy and Eva Marie

Here's Brenda...

Jo Anne...

Ebba...

and C C.

I failed to get pictures of a couple other friends who visited a few days.  Patti and Lauren.

This is the first block of a BOM I decided to purchase.  The pattern is by Sherri Falls.  I enjoy participating in her Mystery Mondays and I fell in love with this pattern being offered thru the Fat Quarter Shop.

 I also finished this quilt top I started in class at Mountain Quiltfest in Pigeon Forge, TN in March.  The original pattern was for 6 blocks but I decided to make 12.

Love Is All Around by Charlotte Angotti

Close-up of one corner.

Bonnie Hunter would be proud of us with our three Featherweights.  And look at my new IKEA lamp.

Medallion Quilt and Half Square Triangles

Here is the beginning of my Medallion Quilt.  

As a new project, we Possum Town Quilters are each making our own quilt.  We started with our choice of a center "medallion" and then we are going to add borders each month or two with demos on how to make the proposed block.

I've added my Half Square Triangle border.

For my Possum Town Quilters, here's a demo of two methods to make Half Square Triangles.    First up is a Half Square Triangle.

First method to make Half Square Triangles (HST)

Start with two squares...one from each fabric.  These are 2 7/8" square.  (Add 7/8" to the finished size of the block)  

My HSTs will finish at 2"

This ruler is from Quilter's Rule.  Place on the diagonal of the square and draw a line in the center and on each side of the ruler.  I have placed my fabric square on a piece of fine sandpaper.
This keeps the fabric from slipping when drawing the lines.

Place squares right sides together and stitch on the lines.  (Let your needle just "kiss" the side of the line closest to the center of the block.

Cut down the center between the stitched lines.

Press toward the dark fabric and cut off the dog ears.  Check the measurement to make sure they are the correct size.  These measure 2 1/2".

Another method is to use an Easy Angle Ruler.

Use the strip size of the size of the HST you are making.  I'm making 2 1/2" (to finish at 2") so I'm using a 2 1/2" strip.
Place both strips right sides together and place the ruler at the end of the strip with the bottom lined up with the bottom edge and the top lined up with the 2 1/2" mark.

 Make your cut.

 Turn the ruler upside down.  Line up the cut edge with the ruler and also make sure the top edge (or bottom depending on how you're looking at it) is flush with the fabric edge.

 Make your next cut.

Now you have two pieces ready to stitch.  Start at the squared off edge and chain piece your HSTs.  Press to the dark and trim your dog ear.  (You'll only have one with this method.)

Gautier, Mississippi

 Hubby and I are on vacation in Gautier, Mississippi.  

Pronounced "GO-SHAY".

This is the condo where we are staying.  It's very nice.

Two bedroom/Two bath.  Clyde's brother, Tom and his wife, Sherry came to stay a couple nights with us.  We had a good visit.

Clyde wore his quilting shirt today when we visited a couple Quilt Shops in the area.  One is right down the street...Block Therapy.  Wish this one was closer to home!!  We also drove over to Biloxi and visited Janet's Quilting Bee.  Also a nice shop!!

I brought along my little Janome sewing machine and have been working on a quilt I'm making from Clyde's ties.  He used to have to wear one every day so I had lots to choose from.

Here are the parts to the block I'm putting together.

Here is a block laid out.  I think instead of the red center, I'm going to go with the same grey as the half-square triangles in the corners.  A lot of his ties have the red in them and I think they will show up better using the grey.

Any thoughts/suggestions?

Lazy Sunday

I've been working on "Lazy Sunday", the mystery by Bonnie Hunter that has been featured in Quiltmaker magazine.

Mystery Monday #6

I have been following Sherri Falls, Little Bits of This and That, with her Mystery Monday's.  She has just completed #6.

Here is my finished top.

I like doing her mysteries.  She keeps it short and "doable" with the clues coming weekly.  Sometimes I try to second guess where she is going, but so far, she's surprised me every time.

Fall is Truly Here

Each year Clyde and I walk around the yard on the last Sunday of September to check out the status of the pecan trees.  LOOK!!  Some have already fallen!  This tree is always the first to drop pecans.

We opened one.  Looks pretty good!  I tasted it and it was ok.  

Still green of course!

We have one tree that is really loaded.  Look how the limb is nearly touching the ground.

Don't think this year's harvest will be as bountiful as last year's but there will be pecans.