NewFO Projects for March 2013

It's been a good month for starting new projects, and I'm linking up with Cat Patches' 2013 NewFO Challenge in the hopes of winning this really, really cute cat needle nanny that Smitty has talked Barbara into offering as the prize this month, plus a one-year subscription to McCalls Quilting magazine - whoohoo!  Now I ask you, doesn't that sound like the perfect prize for me???  Wish me luck, would you please?

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My first start was Hudson's Heroes.  It is nearly complete except for stitching down the wheels and quilting/binding it.  I'm hoping to give this to my grandson next month, hence the hurry :*)

Then I started two new projects in classes I took at Mountain Quiltfest in Pigeon Forge this month.

Here is the first Tower One block I made in the class taught by Paula Nadelstern.  I haven't touched it since, but this block was so much fun, I know I'll be picking it back up soon :*)

And here is what I have done on the blocks for the second class, Strip Stacks....

Did you start anything new this month?  

Why not join in the fun? .......  Remember the great prizes!!!

Also linking up with Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times!

Hugs & Blessings! Teresa =^..^=

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The Easter Bunny is not the only one coming.....

We will have a very low-key Easter celebration at our house this year, but I don't really mind.  I have a couple of very busy weeks behind me - I need rest! - and a couple of very busy weeks ahead of me too.   As my post title states, the Easter Bunny is not the only one coming to my neck of the woods.....

BONNIE HUNTER is coming to our Guild this week!!!!

Oh yes!  That Bonnie Hunter!!!!

She will be giving a lecture and teach 3 classes while she is here, and I plan to enjoy every minute possible!!!  I took a class from her a couple of years ago, and the most memorable thing I learned was not a technique or tip from this Quilt Diva..... no, I learned that Bonnie is one of the most fun, joyous, spontaneous, down-to-earth people you will ever meet!  And I'm so excited about being in her class once again :*)

Since the classes filled up pretty quickly, we had to limit how many classes our members could take.  I'm in her Wednesday class - Jared Takes a Wife.  This is Bonnie's quilt...

I am planning to make a smaller wall quilt with smaller blocks, so I have to resize all the different pieces and sections.  The basic block is called Blackford's Beauty.  I also plan to totally change the color scheme to solid brights on black, Amish style.  Here is an example of my colors....

Big difference right?  LOL!!!  

I can't wait to start on this and see how it works out in the smaller size.

I'll be blogging a lot of the fun with Bonnie, so stay tuned!

Happy Easter to all of my Blogging Family!!!  

No matter what your plans are for this lovely Easter Day, I wish you joy and happiness

and a profound sense of what the season really means.

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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Last Orange Saturday!

I'll be on the road this Saturday, going to pick up my granddaughter from North Carolina so she can stay with us for awhile :*)  But I played in the ORANGE scraps last weekend and had so much fun!!!

Here's my Fantasia block in oranges....

And here are the Stretched Stars blocks with their resulting Half-square triangles....

I really had to dig in my small bin of orange scraps to find squares large enough for these blocks!  

And just in case you missed it, here is the orange Lone Starburst block sections I made earlier in the month....

It's never too late to join in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge fun!

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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Thankful Thursday

Today was the last day of our Music City Retreat at Camp Widjiwagan.  We all had so much fun!!!  But I have to admit, all that stitching pretty much wore me out!  I am THANKFUL to be home and looking forward to a lazy, relaxing day at home tomorrow :*D

One of my fellow retreaters napping yesterday afternoon - doesn't she look comfortable?  =^..^= 

And I'm very thankful that THIS....

..... was already on the floor when we arrived at retreat and not the outline of a fallen retreater LOL!!!  We never did find out how this got there - just maybe we were afraid to ask?

I am SO thankful for a beautiful spring day and the lovely sun showing its face for our enjoyment today here in Nashville!  The first few days of the week had what felt like the most frigid temperatures all winter long, so I am delighted that it is GONE!!!

However, it did give me a chance to wear my new Swishy Scarf that I finished up last week - once I managed to get it away from Gypsy that is LOL!!!  She sat in my lap most of the time I worked on this, so perhaps she thinks I made it for her =^..^=

I was afraid I would have to wait until next year to wear this bright beauty, so that's one more reason to be thankful :*)

Of course, I think this guy wears it much more elegantly than I ever could!

Of course, we are ALL very thankful that Daryl over at Patchouli Moon found the pattern for the Kitty Pincushion!

Yes, I had to show you the picture again - it's just TOO DARN CUTE!!!

The pattern is free too!  Click HERE for this pattern, designed and generously shared with us by Sue Daniel.  Now I can make one of these for my very own - and you can too!

So to celebrate so much to be thankful for, I'll leave you with a few more pictures from Camp Widjiwagan to inspire you!

We all agreed - one of our favorite finishes was Melissa's neutrals Rail Fence masterpiece!!!! 

And Joanne's UFO Stars from 2004 was a definite favorite!
This was the 2nd set of quilt blocks she sashed & put together into a top while at this retreat!

Phyl's Bunny Hill Snowmen make me wish for a nice cup of Hot Chocolate!!!

And who wouldn't love her Christmas Mouse applique quilt?  Hand applique my friends!!!

Don't you just love this mouse fabric for the backing?  It's perfect!!!

Nancy was only able to come join us for one day.....
.... and she stunned us with her colorful Eldon Stars - look at all those stars!!!

Anne worked on her beautiful fabrics she picked up in France - oo-la-la!!!

This was Debi's first retreat with us - and we certainly hope not her last!
Don't you love these wonderful batik stars????  Oh my!!!

Susie channeled her inner fashion design diva with these appliqued swirls on a knit dress =^..^=

Charlie is learning to like Civil War prints - definitely out of the box for her!

Brenda was overjoyed to finally finish up this fun blue/white snowball project!

Belinda worked on her McKenna Ryan applique project.  She had several others done but I wasn't
quick enough with the camera - she took them home before I could get a picture :(

This is Becky's gorgeous Christmas Poinsettia quilt - only two more borders to go!

There were a few others that I missed getting photos of - bad girl!!!!  I apologize to my friends who did not get included here - it is certainly not because your work was not beautiful, because it was!!!

As for myself, other than finishing the top for Hudson's Heroes, which I showed you HERE, I also managed to get 11 of my Strip Stacks blocks done.....

And I got caught up on all the clues for the Baubles and Beads mystery quilt.....

I just LOVE these batiks - YUM!!!  Can't wait to see how the mystery will turn out :*D

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you all have had much to be Thankful for this Thursday!

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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Winner of Child's Play Book!

Congratulations to Gayle!!!!  You are the winner of a digital copy of Jacquelynne Steve's new book, Child's Play!!!

Gayle has left a new comment on your post "Child's Play - A Fun New Book & A Giveaway!": 

I have a little grandson and it would be lots of fun to make some of those little critters for him to play with when he comes over to my house! 

Gayle, I know you and your grandson are going to have loads of fun with all the great ideas in this new book!!!

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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Sharing the Fun at Retreat #2

No sooner did I get home from Mountain Quiltfest (see that post HERE), then I had to begin getting ready for Retreat #2!  Poor me, right?  LOL!!!

This week is our local guild retreat for Music City Quilt Guild in Nashville.  Every year we pack up and head to Camp Widjiwagan for four days of fellowship and stitching - what fun we have together!!!

Tell me - do you love this little Kitty Pincushion as much as I do?????

I mean, just how CUTE can a pincushion really be???  

Oh yes, I fell in love immediately!!!  Sylvia had this sitting on her desk, and before the day was out, she took pity on me and let me "babysit" it for a while =^..^=  I did give it back at the end of the evening, but it was a close call.  I was right on the edge of making a run for it!!!  She is trying to reach the lady who made this one to find out where I can find the pattern and make one of my own :*D
.................until then, I feel very bereft!!!


****UPDATE***** Daryl over at Patchouli Moon has found the pattern for this adorable pincushion - and IT IS FREE!!!  Here is the link if you'd like to make one too.... http://dollmakersjourney.com/kittykat.html

                              I have been working on Hudson's Heroes and I'm almost done!!!

After I finally got all the vehicles paper-pieced while at Mountain Quiltfest retreat, I remembered this cute little helicopter pattern I had found on Craftsy designed by Quiet Play - and I knew I had to add this fun vehicle to the convoy.  I took out one of the ambulances and replaced it with this block - so adorable!!!

I've been stitching like crazy.....

adding fun little sashing elements from Jacquelynne Steves' fun and bubbly Happy Town line ......

And don't forget the wheels!!!  I said that so often that Joanne threatened to slap me if I mentioned the wheels one more time - so after that I spelled w-h-e-e-l-s when anyone asked =^..^=   They really make all the difference, don't' they?  I still have to stitch these applique w-h-e-e-l-s down, but then I'll be D-O-N-E with the top and it will be ready for quilting!  Whoohoo!!!!!

Don't forget that the back will be this fun play panel from the Happy Town line....

I'll announce the winner of the digital copy of Jacquelynne's new book, Child's Play, this evening!!!

Today I plan to catch up on Baubles and Beads, which is a mystery quilt from our Year-long Mystery project at Lebanon Piecemakers Guild, and then I'll start on the Strip Stacks quilt from my class in Pigeon Forge.

Here are some of the fun projects others are working on.....

Joanne finished her Twin Sisters quilt - all the fabrics are dogwood prints!
She and her friend Carla both made one of these - love it!!!!

Susie is a little shy, but she's one very talented quilter!!!

She also finished up this UFO - isn't it gorgeous?

Sylvia completed this lovely 30's quilt - to everyone's delight!

Candice pieces and quilts by hand only - she found the best spot in the house!!!

Late in the afternoon yesterday we had a few visitors!  I had to zoom in to get them so it is a little fuzzy.

And just in case you might think we are all work and no play around Camp Widjiwagan, I leave you with this  picture of Candice and Kay, catching a ride to the lunch cabin!  Yep, we're a barrel of laughs :*D

Wish you were here!!!

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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Linking up with WIP Wednesdays....