Windy and rainy here. Took the family out to the south jetty and braved the tower. Rain stings face. Good thing I wear glasses!

Got drenched and just now warming up again. (about 3 hours later)

Pictures!

Finished making the pattern for the Quilt Run. I call it Mardi Gras Mambo.

The theme this year is Mardi Gras at the Beach. My block is music!

So much music to be heard every year at Mardi Gras.

Better get a picture of the block up!

Lydia at Homespun Quilts

Going to Hood River for  a littler R & R with Thor. Will visit the quilt store there of course. Picture taking is a must. And of course quilting! I am working on two salmon run fabric quilts. Wish me luck!

Found out today that in the Fons and Porter supplement there is a pattern using the label  fabric!.

Thor made me a kit so I’m making a sample. There will be kits for sale. Free pattern.

see you next time,

Homespun Quilts

Do you ever go to Facebook or your blog and feel you have nothing to write about or share.
Me too. But this week I have lots to taalk about. I took my employees to CJ”s Dream Retreats last weekend. We had a great time! The food was great! Thursday we worked on our own projects. Wendy and Lisa made potato bags by the score. I worked on a machine embroidery table tunner called Peppermint Twist. Vesta worked on a quilt with her friend Carol.

We ate and ate. One fun thing was meeting at day’s end and staying up talking.

Friday and Saturday Peggy Gilbrich came in and taught us freezer paper piecing on a special quilt called Montana Cartwheel. Here’s a picture from Peggy’s website:

My colors are bright, Wendy used Asian fabrics, Lisa used neutrals, and Vesta used red, white, blue and yellow. They all look great.

I don’t know how it would work with homespuns or flannel.

More later

The Lewis and Clark Shop Hop starts next Friday! Thor is manning the shop while we’re at a quilt retreat.

We’re open 10 am-5pm during the hop, (including the two Sundays).

Making passports, making copies of the pattern, cutting kits. We’re almost ready. A couple blocks from the quilt.

What I’m doing this weekend. First steps were to cut 2 1/2″ strips and sew them together in pairs.

My pile of strips! then press open.

Pressed open. added background pieces and cut .

And the finished blocks. Pretty!!

Thor and went to Seattle to learn about the new 580E machine from Bernina. I want one! It has embroidery without needing a personal computer!!!!  Among other things.  It has a 9mm wide stitch, almost twice as wide as a conventional machine. Here is a short list:

automatic thread cutter!!
touch screen
10 brand new stitches
on screen information icon- touch the icon for more options
complete stitch control–Bernina exclusive- any stitch can be altered
buttonhole slit width is changeable
built in embroidery designs
personal folder to save favorite altered stitches
on-screen editing of embroidery motifs

We made a clutch using embroidery, straight stitch, and decorative stitches. (fabric too) We lengthened buttonhole stitches, made the slit width wider. Edge stitched, altered stitches and saved them to our personal file folder for use later.

FUN! Great machine with quiet smooth stitching. Come to the shop for a look!

Here are some pictures during setup of the Bicentennial Quilt Show. Fabulous quilts. fun people!

The quilts start  arriving.

Set up begins.

Readying quilts for hanging.

From the 18oo’s.

Drove up to Renton for the Fabric and notions show. Long drive with good music. Not too hot. 70′s. First time at the Spirit of Washington Event Center. Nice place, but no air conditioning for some reason! Everyone feeling hot.

Found this great fabric, the picture does not do it justice. here is a quilt to go with it.

Arriving in October.

Nite all