On a Snowy Day

What's better to do than spend a snowed in day working on quilt projects! After digging out from the latest snowfall, I'm starting new projects and catching up on some ongoing ones. I usually post only completed projects, but in this case, I'll make an exception. If I posted all my unfinished projects, there would be a LOT of reading to do!


I'm working through my Civil War projects which until lately have taken a back seat to other, more pressing gift projects. I recently completed the small wall hanging using 5 inch charm squares. The big single block is the first in the Civil War Chronicles series, which in the end will be HUGE. The 6 smaller blocks are from the cover issue of the June American Patchwork & Quilting magazine (the same one that the plaid churn dash came from). I am just loving this day!

Christmas 2010 Quilt

My son Kevin, the paramedic firefighter, was the only one to get a quilt this Christmas, and it wasn't even planned. My pal Joann suggested that a churn dash pattern in a recent magazine would look great in plaids and wouldn't that be a great way to sew down that particular stash?! So I challenged her to show up at my house the next morning at 10:00 to start this project - and she did!!!

We finished our tops in record time and I sent mine off to be quilted ASAP, as I was leaving for California mid-December to spend the holiday with my West coast grandchildren. I like to put the binding on myself and knew I would not have it finished in time for Kevin to get it on Christmas morning in Connecticut. So I brought it with me and managed to actually do some sewing on the plane! I wound up sending the finished quilt by overnight mail to his firehouse in Massachusetts, so that he would have a gift on Christmas morning. (A 24-hour Christmas Eve shift and all day Christmas schedule prevented him from spending time with the CT family contingent.) While he loved the quilt, he made me promise not to send any more boxes to the firehouse unless there was food he could share with the guys in the house.

Court Street Quilt Retreat

I've just hosted a quilt retreat at my house!

My quilting buddies, Joann and Barb, and I have been discussing attending a retreat for a long time, but retreats are beyond our budget right now and I have to work. But because the opportunity presented itself (no man around for a few days), and I was able to work out some time away from the office, I jumped at the chance to take a couple of days off work and create my own retreat. Thank goodness everyone was available!

We kept it very simple because the point of the 3 days was to produce. Over three days we each worked on our own projects with varying levels of satisfaction. Our days began in the morning with coffee and bagels, then down to work, with a break for lunch around 2 pm, then back to work until early evening. Lunch menus consisted of home made chicken soup, baked macaroni and cheese, and Greek salad with olive oil ciabatta bread. Beverages were coffee, tea, water, soda and wine (the sources of our only exercise, climbing the stairs to the bathroom). I provided a cutting table, iron and ironing board. And background music. Tony Bennett and Michael Buble had us dancing in our chairs.

My project was to make a wall hanging for my mantle at work. I am using almost all batiks which work really well for the pattern. It consists of stars in 3 sizes and a LOT of flying geese units. I still have not finished the little guys, but I am very happy with the way they are coming out. These are the blocks; finished item to come.




Joann's project was a quilt that she adored at a recent quilt show. She is working with some beautiful greens and a great pattern. However, frustration reigned from the first block she completed. Much ripping to come, but she did complete the four corner blocks in a method not included with the pattern. So this quilt will be uniquely Joann's. Here's a finished block:


Barb joined us for a couple of days, but due to her busy schedule, she only got as far as cutting for her project, a table runner.

All in all, it was a great way to spend time together and help each other out. But it's not really over. Tomorrow we are traveling to a favorite quilt shop for a quick visit before continuing on to my daughter Laura's house for a Tastefully Simple party. Mmmm, more good food!