National Lace Day

Here are a couple of pictures of Vickie, myself and Carol at the National Lace Day event held in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. It was not planned what we were wearing, it just happened that way. So we named ourselves the two pumpkins and the vine. We had a great time. Shopped some and participated in some demos such as shuttle tatting, paper bobbins for bobbin lace and how to make paper beads. Oh yeah, did I mention we went there to brush up on our bobbin lace. Did not get quite there. We were too busy learning everything else. After all we needed more hobbies. We already are quilters,knitters,crochet, beading, bobbin lace, machine embroidery. I guess we are working on our bucket list. We still have thread painting to do and I am sure we will find other things to learn and do. Inside joke--"what about it" and "hey, why are my covers all on your side of the bed and on the floor too" We have so much fun.

Renegade Quilter's Fabric Challenge

Last weekend my small quilters group had a retreat. Nine of us attended where we pieced 2 twin quilts and one queen size for the lodge. It was work but we managed to get done and now they are off to the longarm quilters. At our last retreat we were given fabric as a challenge. We do this each time and the ladies come up with some creative ideas. I came up with "Queenie" my soft sculptured doll. Her clothes are the fabric we were to use. Now I am thinking about what to do with our next fabric challenge. I have to have it done by next March which gives me plenty of time or not. I did not get "Queenie" done until 2 weeks before our retreat date. Decisions, decisions.

My Great Grandson- Asher

My great grandson will be 3 in Nov and he's growing to be "a big boy" now. You can read about him on my sidebar called "A Prayer For Asher" . He is a very special little boy having survived a rare brain cancer tumor. He has been through a lot for such a young man. His Grandma Britta writes about him and I have been able to watch him grow. I love the stories she writes about him. I just had to do a little bragging about him. So Asher Great Grandma Gale loves you so very much.

Hot!!

Last time I posted and I asked how hot is hot? Well, it got even hotter this weekend as the
ac went out. But now, I have a happy face as the ac got fixed this morning. Enjoyed a day of sewing yesterday with my Sat. Group. Mama C taught a table runner and showed us how to do flying geese another way and they turned out perfect. This was a small project and I am still working on my UFO's. I have 3 quilt tops finished now. I am, though, having to take a break to get a challenge done for our Renegade Retreat in August. I am really cutting this challenge too close to the due date. But I will get something done.

How Hot Is Hot?

Well, let me tell you how hot is hot. 22 Days of it being over 100 degrees here in Oklahoma. 12 of those days one right after the other. This past Saturday it was 110 degrees. And the nights are not much cooler- 80 to 95 degrees. Thank goodness for the air conditioning, but I am sure we will have quite a large electric bill. Besides the heat, we have been in a terrible drought here. The grass is brown and crispy along with the farmer's pastures. I have heard on the news that the farmer's are starting to sell their cattle because there is very little hay. It seems that all around the country people are having their problems with floods, forest fires, etc. I pray one day the weather will come to those who need rain, that it stops for those don't need it and for the fires come to a halt.

I have finished piecing two of my UFO's. I think I have a PHD in quilting (Projects Half Done). I have vowed that this summer I am working on those projects and not starting any new big quilts until September. I probably won't even make a dent in those projects, but I have at least made a start. Here are the 2 I have finished piecing.

Happenings That Have Happened

Back in the beginning of April we had a Guild Retreat. I was the door prize chairman and we had plenty of door prizes. The classes went very well and was enjoyed by all 23 members participating. We made portable ironing boards for all to take home (Shown above). The retreat committee put the final touches to the retreat the day before. The classes were making bags for a hot iron to take home, a block saver roll up to carry unfinished blocks home. The committee worked very hard and I think it was the best retreat ever. We had show and tell while having lunch one day. We also gave David, the Camp Manager a quilt for the services and hospitality he has given us throughout the years


Then--2 weeks after the Retreat, 4 of us were off to the Paducah Quilt Show. It was my first time. I had so much fun with my buddies. It was a wonderful show despite all the water and flooding. It did not slow us down a bit. And to think the flooding has gotten even worse. My prayers are with those that live there. I think we went to Hancocks 3 different times as well as to Walmart. Some places they could call us by name. One of those places was the Lace Guild where we learned to make a bracelet and the 4 of us came home with bobbin lace supplies. What 1 has the rest had to buy also, so all 4 of us bought. LOL. Carol and Vickie had a class on Wed and Fri. On Fri, Sue, Carol and I took an EQ7 class Mary Ellen Kranz. She is a wonderful lady and it was a fun class to take. After being there a week, it was time to go home. Had to take a longer way home because of all the water, but we arrived home safely. Many thanks to Vickie for all of the driving she did. She did a great job. I have lots of pictures, but these are just few posted here.

Daughter Of Joy

I just finished reading a "Daughter Of Joy". It is a free ebook that I read on my Nook for PC. I enjoyed reading it and will put it on my bookshelf.

Quilt Retreat

Last weekend was the Renegade Quilters Retreat. Each time we meet one of us hands out either a fat quarter or 1/2 yard of fabric to each (we usually have 9, but this time only 6 attended) as a challenge to make something. This fabric was what I handed out last August. The fabric is the border on the left side here. I am telling you I was so proud of what the girls did with it. Another group voted on which one was their favorite and the winner would get the prize money. All of us gave $5. Vickie was the winner.

Below are the other 5 with the challenge fabric



We also had a group project-"Christmas Cactus Quilt.

Retreat Workshop

I had the most wonderful time with my most wonderful friends. We had a retreat workshop that will be coming up the first weekend in April. We worked hard yesterday and I just know this will be a really good retreat for our ladies in the guild. It is always fun being friends whether I am quilting or not. I hope to have pictures after the retreat so I can show them here, but for now it is all hush, hush.

My first retreat of the season will be this next weekend with the same friends. We will have six at this retreat. I am looking forward to it. I am curious as to what the ladies did with the challenge fabric I handed out at our last retreat. It's always fun to see what they come up with.

Then the first weekend in April is our Guild retreat. It will be fun to see the mystery quilts sewn together with the different fabrics. I hope they like the surprises the retreat committee came up with.

Then it's off to Paducah with friends. My first trip there. It will be exciting to see what my friend Vickie has planned for us. It sounds like so much fun.

Until next be happy and have fun quilting.

Superquilter

Shelter Dogs Of Oklahoma

My son Clyle and his wife Crystal run Shelter Dogs Of Oklahoma, a nonprofit organization, where they help find homes for dogs that come from the pound. These are rescue dogs and the site is on my sidebar. I have one of the dogs I adopted, a boxer named Joy. She is 11 months old now. I have posted her on this blog a few times. Last week Clyle asked me to make a dog coat with "Adopt Me" on it. I put their logo on it and their web site. I usually work on my quilts and never thought I would be making a quilted dog coat, but here it is.

Feeling Scrappy

I got my "Feeling Scrappy" done as far as it being a quilt top. Now I need to quilt it. I got this idea from Quiltville on Bonnie Hunter's site. I love her ideas of what to do with scraps. I also made a small table topper that needs to be quilted. It's starting to feel good getting inspired again.

My Niece Connie

I have added something new to my sidebar and it is called "My Journey" and it is my niece's blog.
She is going through cancer treatments. She is a very strong and determined lady. I still have Asher's blog about his journey through his brain tumor. They are both in my prayers every day.
Asher has been through a tough journey and he is a tough little guy. Connie and Asher are very dear to my heart and I am blessed to have them as part of my family.

Inspiration

Sometimes I need a little inspiration and I read my niece's blog about her journey going through her recent double mastectomy. She is so strong, upbeat and just beautiful inside and out. She is a nurse and was so very caring to my mother and sister. So after reading her blog I felt her inspiration and now I am ready to work on a quilt project. Sometimes I just need a little boost and say "get going". So I am working on a scrappy quilt that I found on Bonnie Hunter's site using her leader ender concept. Just using my scraps and knowing it will not make a dent, but so what. I am going to be productive. So off I go to my sewing room.

New Year 2011

I ended with 2010 not being very inspired, but enjoyed Christmas. So I am back to working on projects both old and new. I did not do any projects from Dec 14-Dec 31. I went to the guild this past Tues and worked with some scraps and yesterday I went to Chickasha with friends to sew at the Quilt Shop. I have been busy today and plan to sew some this evening. Will meet with my Saturday group tomorrow all day to sew and have some lunch. Not looking forward to a cold week this coming week. Weatherman says we might have some snow. We haven't had any yet and feel so sorry for those that have had more than their share. So I am off to my sewing room to get inspired. Happy New Year everyone.

The Quilt Lady