What I worked on...

Tuesday was a stay at home in my PJ's Day!

DH came home from work and said "Good Morning"

I wanted to get my Strippy Star's #2 done as far as I could.

This is how it started 

I took the YELLOW strips out.

I decided to leave it "webbed" to show to the Class that starts today.

I can show how to sew the rows together and measure for borders with it this way.

Once I got that done I grabbed the Mystery I started in Chicago.

I'm going to call it "Windy City Stars" 

 I was asked by the designer not to use the Mystery name.

No worries...

It's ready for the Borders now.

Next up- I had my last Downton Abbey Blocks sitting by the Sewing machine taunting me.

So I started laying them out to get the lines on the triangles all going the same way.

That took a while to be OCD!

 Here are the  6 "Plucky Rosamond" blocks

I laid out the rest of the parts and took a picture- Something is missing on the sides.

I alternated the last clues blocks on the top and bottom

I'll have to look at all the clues again and see where I missed the blocks that go there.

This is going to be HUGE!

I went through3 bobbins!  It is fun to see how many I use.

I'll be back with pictures on Friday afternoon or Saturday from my Kid's class.

Design Wall Monday April 6, 2015

Time to work on my Loyal Union Sampler BOW happened this week-end.
I had a little time to myself while DH attended his Priesthood Meeting.
We watched all 4 of the General Conference Sessions.
The last one was in Tri-cites with DD #1 and her family.
Then we made the rounds to drop off the Chocolate Covered goodies to the
DS #1 & #2 Families and my DMIL

H-11 Potomac

This one was fairly easy once I figured out the finished size of the HST's should have been 2".

I get flustered when patterns that don't give you a finished size to square the blocks down to.

Here's the Big EQ7 Layout.

Caught up for now.

This week I'll be working on a 2nd version of the Strippy Stars for my class Wed- Friday.

I can always use another Sample, Right?

Linking up with Judy L's Design Wall Monday HERE

Easter Preparations...Creative Goodness

I love Easter time!

It's even more Special when General Conference in held on this week-end.

It's a time to re-commit to living as Jesus Christ would have done.

Sharing the Gospel's "Good News"

HERE is a Link to a Video that shows what Easter is really about.

Today, I will spend some time putting Chocolate on these Marshmallow Eggs.

They will look like This...

Easter eggs- a sign of Spring and NEW LIFE!!!

My DD#2 is HOME this year to help me.

 The last time I made them with her was in 2009 in her home in Vancouver, Washington HERE

I am blessed to share this Easter Tradition.

I will Share the recipe this year- just for my Blog Readers.

Chocolate Marshmallow Eggs

Prepeare the 'molds' by filling sheet pans with flour- smoothed out and imprinted with an EGG.

I use two or 3 with a full batch, you can halve the recipe and fill just one sheet pan.

2 pkg KNOX Gelatin  + 4 TBLS Cold Water -Set aside

3 TBLS Jell-O (any flavor) 

1 Cup Boiling Water

Combine the above in a Mixing bowl and start beating.

Add 2 cups Granulated Sugar and Beat 5 minutes.

Spoon into the impressions and let set.  Turn over to coat the top side.

Dip in melted Chocolate and place on Waxed paper.  Store in covered containers.

I got this recipe when I lived in Mesa, Washington- 39 years ago! 

Thanks to Judy Barrow

They are really easy and so much better than the ones you buy in the store.

You could add icing flowers or print names on them for your grandchildren.

In my house they are usually eaten plain, the children don't wait for the fancy stuff.

If you don't want to mess with the flour, you can lightly spray a cake pan with non-stick spray 

and pour the Marshmallow into it. 

Cut with a sharp knife dipped into a glass of Hot water. 

Shake in a Zip-lock bag with Powdered Suger and /or Coconut.

On the Quilting Front--- I have GOOD NEWS!

There are 3 students signed up for the Kid's Class this coming week.

AND---

"Through the Hourglass"

 Patterns are ready for the May Class at Walla Walla Sew & Vac and Spas

#creativegoodness #Easter #BecauseHeLives

What does EASTER mean to YOU?

Linking up with QuiltShopGal HERE

Home from my Vaca in the Windy City

I had the adventure of a week in the Chicago area.

I scheduled this trip to go and visit my dear friend, Wendy- who moved away.

There just happened to be a "Quilt Show" in her area last week and I was invited.

You got a sneak peek at one of the events on the Monday Blog.

If you followed me on Instagram or Facebook you might have seen some of these pictures already.

I flew into Chicago a week ago, arriving in the middle of the night.

I missed my earlier flight by about 5 minutes.  

I don't fly often. 

I mistakenly thought at my small airport I could get there a half hour before and be ok.

I got my flight changed to later that aternoon. Came home to twiddle my Thumbs.

Wendy picked me up and I slept awhile then went to the Mystery class with Debbie Caffrey.

I didn't take a picture with her in Portland so I made sure to do that this time.

I chose one of my Robyn Pandolph Paisley's and added the red for high contrast.

The Pre-cutting made the assembly fast.

 Parts 1-7 complete- time to assemble

My Version 

"Debbie's Mystery"

Debbie's Version with Fish fabrics

It was sew FUN to go and see all the Beautiful Quilts, some that had been shown in Houston last Fall.

Friday Evening was the Iron Quilter Challenge with Show and Tell.

Here's the winning team.  More Pictures are HERE on Facebook.

Wendy's friend from California flew in to go with us to the Iron Quilter's Challenge.

Monday we took the Train to Union Station.

One last "Groupie" at Schaumburg Train Station.

A stop at Culver's for some Frozen Custard Ice Cream.

Bonnie Hunter is right- it's delicious!

The Chicago Thin Crust Pizza, Portillos Hot Dog and Chicago Mix Popcorn was good too!

I'm happy I got to go.

It's back to the Real World now...

This April Fool's Birthday Boy and his mom came to surprise me at the Walla Walla Airport.

Helping Grandma with her bags... 

Design Wall Monday March 30, 2015

It's that time again!

I made my goal and got the "Thank Your Lucky Stars" to the Flimsy.

It took a bit of un-stitching and it was totally worth it!

Thanks to all who commented and cheered me on with this one.

I knew what I wanted but it wasn't possible to get anymore of that fabric.

(I even asked the fabric designer, Jackie Robinson)

I changed the choice I'd made last week for the outside filler  parts.  

I could add the floral for a final border maybe a small inner border of the cream too.

Linking up HERE with Judy L for Design Wall Monday

Here I am Showing it off at the
 Iron Quilter Challenge in Chicago!
That was a Fun night! 

Have you signed up for Classes, Yet?

My Quilt Samples are all hanging up at the Local Quilt Shop. 

Walla Walla Sew and Vac & Spas New Website is HERE

Class schedule is  HERE

 This one is during our Spring Break

If you need a place for your young sewing friends to spend a few productive days,

April 8-10 pass the word along!

Through the Hourglass is in the front window.

Class will be 2 Saturdays - May 16 & 23  

March goal was to have all of my Samples done!  YEA!!!!

Time for some more NEW Designs...

Rubies and Diamonds is back from Trends.

Class will be June 6 & 13

I just realized I changed the name of this quilt again since it's first reveal.

Either way it tells the story.

This one is dedicated to my Mother who loved Red.  

Ruby wasn't her Birthstone but my Father bought her a new wedding ring set with 

a Diamond and 2 Ruby Hearts on either side for their 35th Anniversary.
I used to have it...until we were ROBBED in Burbank.
Dumb druggies, the police knew who did it but couldn't arrest him.

We need some quilters to sign up so the classes don't have to be cancelled.

Design Wall Monday- March 23, 2015

How did I spend my Worldwide Quilting Day?

I made the samples for Demo-ing my May Class at Sew and Vac & Spas.

Got my "Thank Your Lucky Stars" quilt out from 2013 Block Party class with Debbie Caffrey.

 I'll be seeing her again soon and would LOVE to have it at least to a Flimsy.

Sewing the center together is as far as I got.

 Unfortunately I don't have enough of the Dark fabric I used in the STAR points.

 Here is #1 substituion

 and a #2 Substitution

I like the Floral for the corner but really need that Dark fabric.  

Here's hoping Lynn still has some at Thread and Bolts. I only need about 1/2 yard.
I don't see any on her shelf in the picture I took recently. :(

Looks like I will have to do some Un-Stitching and that doesn't make me happy...

Next up was making more of my Downton Abbey Mystery blocks.

They work up quickly when they are all cut out.

1/2 done with my Week 6 Blocks
Energetic Rose

Linking up with Judy L again HERE

Friday Finish... Finally!!!

It's been a Very Long week of Unstitching on my Sample for the "Through the Hourglass" quilt.

I made the design smaller than I thought it should be. 

The stutching is only 1/4" between.

 I'll have to try it again on a different smaller quilt. 

Me and my "Froggin' tool are good friends, but I don't want to use it again anytime soon!

I just have to trim it and get it bound. 

Then it will be in the window downtown until after the class in MAY!

I said I would show the things I've added to my Quilting STASH from last week-end.

I laid them out on the living room floor on a sunny morning.  

It's now the 1st day of SPRING! Hurray!!!

If you know of any young people who want to learn to Quilt during Spring Break- Let me know!

Worldwide Quilting Day is almost Here!

Go HERE to read more about it.

There is a Quilt Block Challenge-- but it's for Quilt Shops only, bummer!
The Participating Shops have a Free pattern to giveaway on the DAY.

The Quilt Show is allowing FREE Viewing of thier shows all day too.
Click HERE

Linking up with QuiltShop Gal HERE

Design Wall Monday- March 16, 2015 --Trends (MANY PICS)

This is still 'under the needle'  on "Betsy" here at Home.
 I got it done up to the final Row of stitching before I left.

Close stitching with the "Amazing" design.
An attempt at a more Modern look on this sample.
Not my Normal swirls and feathers

I've been away at the Wholesale Trade Show in Portland called "Trends"

There was way TOO much FUN to share all of it so I will include many pictures-

and keep most of what happened at Trends in my head. The pictures tell the story, mostly...

My Diamonds & Rubies was hung really high.  

Next to it is "Kissed Quilts" Zig Zag Love.

Lots of other Eye candy this time. I didn't take pictures of all of them.

A total of 23 quilts were hung up in the center aisle for the attendees to Vote on the People's choice. 

Labyrinth Walk - Done in MINKIE

Pattern by Schenck's Employee- Chris.

It was in a Magazine that I know I have ---somewhere in the quilt Zone. 

The ones from Thread and Bolts will be shown HERE.

The best part about Trends is the Networking and seeing all the new stuff. 

 It's been over 2 years since I got to go.

Trends was one of the main reasons I got my Business license.

Mary C (me), Mary Ellen, & Mary J

The 3 Mary's that went with Lynn.

YES, there was an echo all weekend.  

The Saturday Special Guest Speaker was non other than Mark Lapinski!!

He kept turning when I tried to take his picture so I got this groupie with him, after the 'pre-show'.

He talked about his "Slow Stitching Movement" Click HERE for more info.

I tried to take notes on my phone and lost them with one swipe. (insert frowny face)

Sunday there were 2 Guest Speakers

The 1st one was a Local Quilt Shop Owner from Vancouver- no pic

Here's  Natalie Barnes, hiding behind what she called her Ugly fabric quilt.

She has a new book out called "A Modern Twist" and was there to Promote Martingale.

She signed my book plate, that had her co-Author; Angela Walters signature already on it for me and a Siggy Square of course. I collected a few.The duplicates are Lynn's.

 I caught Kelly- the maker of this beautiful, Origami Butterfly display for a photo.

He insisted I be in the picture too.

He write articles in the Fab Shop News Magazine.

I picked up 2 copies this weekend.

Here's my "Show me your Socks" Pics on Sunday.

Lynn found these "quilty" socks at the Goodwill in The Dalles on our way down on Thursday.

Rob Peter to Pay Paul- She told us to all wear them on Sunday.

Theme this Trends was

 "Festival of Color"

The Judges chose the 2 quilts following for 

Best use of Theme- "Joyful Noise"

Bunny Hop Quilt Shop- Lavonne Cookman

Most Technical- "Rosie's BOMb"

Marlene of Kissed Quilts

People's Choice was drawn from the ballot box Sunday afternoon.

Elma Variety- "Pinwheel- Fifty Shades of Blue"

The lighting isn't the best for pictures.

A Great time was had by All!  

Thanks to Lynn for gettting us there and back safely.

Many Thanks to Mary Ellen for arranging for us to stay with her college buddy- Margie!

Need to get a copy of the picture Mary C took of Mary Ellen and Margie on Mary Ellen's I-Phone.

Click HERE for lots more eye candy and Design Wall Monday postings.