April Quilt Retreat

Nashville, IN

The last week of April, I flew back to Indiana for a quilt retreat I began when I lived there. It was just wonderful visiting with golden friends!! I missed them so much! It highlighted the difficulties of moving across the country during a pandemic. Meeting people and making friends has been challenging here in Washington state due to masking and meetings being via ZOOM. SO being with friends I’ve known for several years was very comforting and enjoyable.

We (eleven friends) have been meeting annually in the same place for 7 years. Nashville, IN is a great locale for our retreat because we don’t have to drive anywhere once we move in. Many places to shop and eat within walking distance. Fabulous sharing and good times!!

Enjoy viewing some quilts that were completed or projects that were worked on during the 4 1/2 days together.

Cheryl’s quilt
Another of Chery’s quilts
Chery’s blocks

The two Lindas. One quilts, the other knits.
Elaine’s quilt – made from her late sister’s fabric collection for her sister’s sons
My table runner
Kathy’s embroidered shirt
Kathy’s machine embroidered tree skirt.
Each panel of Kathy’s tree skirt is detailed and amazing!
Denise’s quilt blocks
Three Posh Santa’s – two of Bev’s, one of Lynn’s
Bev also worked on these blocks for a Christmas quilt
Casey’s machine embroidery project
Casey’s machine embroidered block
More of Casey’s beautiful blocks
Lore’s beautiful quilt for a special charity. She makes and quilts around 20 quilts for charity every year!!
Lore’s work on this Christmas Tree quilt from Missouri Star Quilts
Lynn’s baseball quilt for a nephew
My Strip Twist pieces for GE Designs’ Sew A Long
These are what the Strip Twist blocks look like

Our last breakfast. We failed to get a picture of everyone. A few had to leave early.
Til next year, Cornerstone Inn!

Mini Pumpkin Patch Quilt

Mini Pumpkins Pattern by Sew Kind of Wonderful

My favorite season is autumn and I love this pattern, It has been on my to do list for a few years. Motivation came in the form of a challenge; a Handi Quilter Educator Challenge. This year’s challenge was to make a black and white (grays allowed) quilt, plus one other color that can’t be more than 25% of the quilt.

Time is always a factor, and this quilt being only 36″ x 36″ was doable considering my traveling schedule between now and the due date. Easy decision. I finally get to make this quilt!

Pieces were cut and piecing together was begun in early October.

Two days later it was pieced. However, getting it quilted within the next 9 weeks between several teaching events, a quilt show, celebrating a birthday, Halloween, and Thanksgiving, would be tricky. But a busy schedule makes for efficient planning.

Now to decide how to quilt it. I knew I wanted to make “ghost pumpkins” on some of the background squares to mimic the colored pumpkins, so I played around with ideas for the background. Hay, so it looks like the pumpkins are laying in a patch? Pumpkin leaves with wisps of curls? Pebbles and swirls? I decided on the latter, so the small pebbles and swirls would make the “ghost pumpkins” pop. I added some leaves for interest as well. I also double batted with one layer of 80/20 and one layer of wool on top for the poof.

Challenge accepted and completed on time.

Modern Double Wedding Ring

I’m more modern than traditional, so when it came to making a Double Wedding Ring quilt, I had to swerve. Sew Kind of Wonderful has a great pattern that fit the bill – Metro Rings.

I have a healthy stash, and I was able to find the perfect combo within it – Jelly Roll, background, binding, and backing. I’ve always thought scrappy binding was cute, and this would give me an opportunity to use the leftover strips from the Jelly Roll for that.

Loved my find in my stash!
Jelly Roll opened. Like what I see!

Metro Rings uses Jelly Roll strips and the Curve ruler to cut the pieces = less curved piecing.

Also used the sold lime green and solid navy from my stash for the triangle inset pieces.

Quiltable.com has a specific digital quilting design intended for Metro Rings! Score! Quilted on my Handi Quilter Forte with Pro-Stitcher and Superior Threads So Fine!

All finished except for the binding.

Enjoyed the ruler work on the triangle insets. Curved cross hatch!

Hanging at Handi Quilter Academy 2021.

TWIST

TWIST ~ This Week In Studio Time

I’ve been working on a comfort quilt for a friend who is going through a tough time right now.  Here’s what I have laid out right now.

scrappy tumbler quilt
scrappy tumbler quilt

I used my Accuquilt GO Tumbler Die for the first time on some of my stash.  Love it!  So fast and easy!

I’m needing a good quote, saying, or poem for the label. I’m thinking of something about life giving you scraps or a quilt giving comfort.  If any of you have any I’d appreciate you leaving a comment here.  Thanks so much!

Until next time,

Take Care,

Lana

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