Grieving with Gratitude

As I've been decluttering my studio, I've been coming across some UFOs (unfinished objects for you non-quilters).  In the past I would have just let them languish - too guilty to throw out, but not interesting enough to finish.  But now I view them as mindless sewing. I started opening the drawers in my plastic storage towers.  One was filled with red, white and blue fabric.  This was perfect to make a veteran's quilt for our quilt guild's charitable projects.

Some of the pieces were pieced.  Some of the fabric was cut.  

There were lots of setting triangles - large ones.

I had no recollection of my initial plan.  I can't even remember when I started this.  I don't own any of this type of fabric any more. So, I knew I had to use what was in that drawer.  The paper pieced flying geese strips were the start of my playing and I added the setting triangles.

It really became one big puzzle.  I really enjoyed the process.  The large setting triangles were used to lengthen the quilt to make it more of a lap size quilt. But if you notice, there is a hole in the center of the quilt.  I am probably the only person that decided to create a quilt from the outside in.

A pinwheel block filled the space pretty well.  

Finished the top measures  42"x63" and now I will pass it off to another quilt guild member to quilt. (Thank you Cindy.)  It might be another bunch of years if I was to quilt it.

My first outing without Bailey and without Henry was to check out a new quilt shop with my dear friend, Joyce Hughes.  Joyce lives quite far away.  She wanted to visit me and I didn't have the heart to make her drive all the way to my house.  A meet up at  Stitch Central was a great compromise.

 I did have to put on my big girl panties to walk out the door and leave Bailey behind. 

It's a very quaint shop in an historic building.  The woodwork and beams are so beautiful.  The fabric is located upstairs in the loft.

On the main floor is yarn and embroidery supplies and the two nicest owners ever.

I did buy some very cute fabric that I'm planning on using for a book blog tour.  Look for it in March.

Speaking of friends, I have been over whelmed with cards and emails and phone calls.  They all mean so much to me with their love and support.  In the beginning, I just couldn't leave the house.  Staying at home, or cocooning was my security zone.  I was so grateful for visits from friends.  Being home alone all day makes for a very long day.

The vacation hold has been lifted from my Etsy shop.  Every day I accomplish more and more.  I am now ready to start packaging and shipping.  I will be offering a special discount in my next newsletter, so sit tight for a day or two. If you're not a subscriber, make sure you sign up now, by clicking HERE. 

Foto Friday

I thought there were a lot of farms and barns in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  Then we did a road trip to see the hex signs in Berks County.   Wow!  Check them out.  They are truly Pennsylvania Dutch folk art.

 Quilt anyone?

A Trip To Lancaster County

When I am creating a quilt, it starts with an idea.  Next comes the color choices and then usually the fabric.  I have to say that I hardly ever have the entire quilt designed before I start.  The quilt evolves as I piece it together.  So of course then I get to the point where I NEED a certain type of fabric that I don't have on my shelves.

The dilemma then becomes where to go.  There are no fabric stores around the corner.  It becomes a road trip.  But I want to make sure that the odds are good that wherever I go I will find what I need.  Quilt shops have the personalities of their fabric buyers.  If I need a certain type of fabric, I go to a certain store.  The project I am working on is made from batik fabrics.    I decide to head out to Burkholders out in Lancaster County - a mere 1 1/2 hrs away.  My  traveling companions are up for a road trip, so my husband and Bailey pile into the car.

We head out to the quilt shop via the PA Turnpike.  This shop did not disappoint.  There was recently a bit of a change in ownership.  But I have to tell you that the shelves were packed.  There was over a 30ft long aisle filled with batiks.  If I couldn't find something here.  The batiks were $7.99/yd and if you are a guild member they give you a 12% discount.  I found several options and bought them all.  Yipppeee!  Success!!

                                                                                                                                                                                         

Then we headed for lunch at this nearby luncheonette, where the food is good and cheap.  And we were able to eat outside at their picnic tables with our chow hound.

               


We decided to mosey on home via a country road to get our fill of farm scenery and stop at farmstands for locally grown produce for our dinner.  The sky was so blue and there was corn growing as far as the eye could see.  You can't even count the number of farms.  Barns and silos everywhere dotting the countryside.

Maybe not a farm, but I couldn't resist.

How could this not make you smile?

A wagon full of canteloupes with 2 adorable Amish girls hiding behind it.  The canteloupe was as sweet as candy.

Border Collie pups or watermelons?

Hmmmm.

We got the BEST corn from this stand.

Fall River Here We Come

We are going on a road trip. The dog, the husband and me!

We're heading to Fall River, Massachusetts to take a fabric dyeing workshop at
Pro Chemical & Dye with Carol Soderlund.
The class is full. It always is, so I registered on the first available day. The description says you go home with a binder of 1000 dyed fabric swatches and how to formulate them.
Sounds like fun to me.
I'm also bringing 5 yards of cotton, cotton threads and some dupioni silk to dye.

Yes, it is a family adventure - including Bailey.
A 6 hour drive for 5 days of fabric dyeing heaven.

The supply list included lots of office supplies and lots of empty bottles.
I also packed lots of black clothes.

I'm bringing my computer and will try to post as often as I can. Let me know if you have any questions that I can ask them for you.

Road Trip

When you've been cooped up inside due to all the snow we've had and the days have been gray and gloomy, the snow isn't pretty anymore, just different shades of dirt, what's a girl to do?

ROAD TRIP!

So our gang headed to Lancaster County, Burkholders to be precise. There was some scuttlebutt that the new owners were the old owners, and the shop was overflowing, packed to the gills with fabric. I hadn't been there in a couple of years and hadn't seen its demise.

So that was enough of an enticement to drive to the middle of nowhere to check it out. If you blink, it looks like another Amish farm. But just keep your eye out for that sign on Rte 897.

Once inside, it was clear that the rumors were true. The shelves were packed. As in the past, if they had one color of a basics collection, such as Michael Miller's Fairy Frost, they had them all.
Gene Martin, the new owner, was busy cutting my fabric, while my traveling companion Kelly was bragging that her soon to be beach quilt, aka lobster fabric, matched her red coat.

This aisle was loaded with batiks.

The prices are good, but the best part is they give guild members a 15% discount. That's huge. And Mr. Martin told us they currently have somewhere between 10,000 and 12,000 bolts. He and his wife plan on doubling the amount and adding a deli and a tearoom. A place to eat would make it a perfect day out. However, there is a charming luncheonette about 3 miles away, Kountry Korner. You can search very hard for a healthy choice or bring your Lipitor. No paper plates here. Sandwiches are served on a napkin.