I have another BOM that I started through a local quilt shop, 

it's called Chilly Charmers by Pearl Louise Krush.  The quilt is too 
cute, lots of snowmen and penguins!  The kids are going to love it when it's finished.  The little bear is something I made in a class last night.  It is made of all 30's reproduction fabrics.  The class is called Charm School, it part mystery and part charm (5" squares).  I've taken a few other classes, and the theme of the charms is always different.   At the last class we made a pinwheel block, and in a previous one, we made a windsock that was really nice.  I like that you never know what the finished product will be, and it something you can finish in the class with a little extra homework.  That's all for now, off to do AMG #2...

Aunt Millie's Block #2

I am working on Aunt Millie's Block #2, the flower combination is orange and blue, and I think it's going to be very cool.  I tried the glue baste method, and I have to say, I prefer the pins.  Once the glue is down it was spreading, making it difficult to turn under the seams.  Oh well, I found a new use for the glue anyway.  My daughter and I also picked out a bunch of fabric, tulle, and embellishments to do a Happy Villages wall hanging during school vacation this week.  She is going to try the "fairy princess" castle version, and I think I'll do the sandcastle version.  There was a Happy Villages class during the retreat, and there are so many versions and options, I can see us getting carried away!  I didn't take the class, but I learned a lot just by checking out every one's projects, and picking the teacher's brain.  I bought the book, and I also learned how to use the Angelina fibers last weekend, and I am going to pick some up this week, too.  I'll post pics of our progress soon...

I just got home this evening from a wonderful quilting retreat this weekend.  I had such a great time, and made so many new friends.  What a talented group of women, I hope I absorbed some of their skills via osmosis!  It was so inspiring to see all of their beautiful creations come to life.  The meals were awesome, I felt so full today, I even skipped lunch.  I am posting a picture of the quilt top I finished this weekend, it is a queen size version of Monterey Medallions by Atkinson.   I started it in a class a few years ago, and had put it away until I had more time and space to lay it all out.  I took this opportunity to complete it, and I am so happy to finish it.  I think I might splurge and have it quilted on the longarm, as a treat to myself for my birthday.  We'll see....I am also posting a few pictures from the weekend, I hope you enjoy!  The "little lady" with the red boa is named Pearl.  She was hand made by one of the most talented teachers, Emily, and she it just so cute.  She also makes all of her clothes, and even the bunny slippers!  Pearl is the mascot of the shop that sponsored the retreat, Emma's Quilt Cupboard.  Pearl and her "Califon" outfit won the shop a visit by Mark Lipinsky, he's coming to the shop Saturday, Feb 21.   I bet there will be quite the showing!  Way to go girls!  Her attire and accessories kept changing all weekend, it was so funny!  She even has her own sewing machine and fat quarters.  I might bring her on vacation this summer, think traveling gnome, only better!  Can't wait for next year... 

I am watching the Grammy's, what a great show so far this year!  Sugarland is performing right now, so awesome.... I can't figure out how Cold Play won for best Rock Album, they seem quite pop to me!  I must say I was hoping that Metallica would win, just saw them in concert last month.  One of the best concerts I've ever been to.  I bet most people would not expect a quilter to love hard rock, but it's true for me.  Drums and guitar, the louder the better!  

Anyway, wanted to post a pic of my Winter Sampler from Crabapple Hill Studio.  I used a darker colorway, so I think it looks more like winter, the bright red and white on the pattern was saying "spring" to me.  You might recognize the center from the top of my blog, but now it has some borders to pull it all together.  I really liked to combine the pieced blocks with the center embroidery, and I think I'll finish my redwork quilt soon (hopefully).  I asked my husband to hold up the top for me to take a picture.  He wasn't too thrilled about it, but I promised not have him in the picture.  Don't tell him, but you can see his hands.  Oh well, I tried to zoom more, but I kept cutting off too much of the top row.  Still trying to figure out how to get my computer and my camera to behave and play nice with each other, but they don't always behave how I would like.  ;)

 I am very much looking forward to this weekend.  A local quilt shop is sponsoring a retreat to a Hotel about an hour way, down on the Cape.  I have high hopes for finishing a few UFO's (tops only) and having a great time all around... Looking forward to lots of sewing, eating and laughing, even though I think the idea is ideally to relax? 

Oh yippie! My Aunt Millie's garden block 1 is all appliqued...I am so happy with how it turned out.  I'm looking forward to starting the next one.  We're getting more snow today, and  I have to say, I'm quite ready for Spring.  Looking at all of these bright colors and beautiful flowers helps to remind me, that despite at least 6 more weeks of winter according to Paunxsutawney Phil, the nice weather will come, eventually.

Whew, my birdhouse block from Primitive Garden is finished!  I'm happy to have that one completed, and look forward to starting another one of the blocks from that quilt.  I guess I knew when I packed them away last year, that once I got started, it would be addictive!  I also have to get back to my Aunt Millie's Garden, block one.  The class meets again in two weeks, so my goal is to have it completed so that I can start picking my colors and laying out block two.  I purchased a new glue baste, so I think I'll try that instead of those tiny applique pins (ouch!).  Plus I keep catching my thread on them... so if the glue works half as good as I hope it will, I think I'll be much happier during the stitching process... That's all for now. 

Watching the Super Bowl, but it seems a little less interesting this year (especially since we are trying to be "good", no fattening appetizers this year).  I hope my beloved Patriots make it again next year,  since this was certainly a tough season to swallow.   My favorite commercial this so far was the Sobe skit, this might have something to do with Matt Light's appearance.  Of note, also my favorite player on the Pats.  I guess I'm a sucker for an offensive lineman dancing in a white ballet uniform, who knew?

My next block from Primitive Garden is finished, and I'm working on another.  It is very cute, with 5 birdhouses, and a couple of flowers... Though it is proving to be much more challenging than I anticipated.  The large pieces won't stay fused down, so it's taking much longer than I hoped.  I'm sticking with it, and I hope it is finished early this week.

I'm also posting another small wool block.  It is all fused down, so I'll stitch that one next.  It's a Lori Smith design called Garden Sampler.  Very pretty colors, pinks, greens, and blues, some of my favorites.   It seems like it's also very manageable, I think it finishes to 38" square.  Well, going to finish watching the game, things have gotten interesting in the last 3 minutes!