Quincy Crazy Quilters Block of the Month

Every year our Guild does a BOM and I never seem to do it. However, this year is different.  Here's a picture of the first block, finished today. I plan to use the solid black as a background on all blocks and bright, solid Cherrywood Fabrics colors for a highlight. This one has red...

I have a lot of black & white fat quarters and figure this is a good way to use them up.  

It was fun to work on piecing projects today...although I do have a quilt loaded and waiting for me.

Quiltville Mystery

This one is starting mid-November, with the fabric requirements being posted sometime next week.  I've always wanted to do one of these, but never have.  Quiltville is Bonnie Hunter's site and she is definitely the queen of scrap quilts. I've always wanted to make a scrap quilt and now seems like the right time. Of course, by the time the directions are posted and the quilt starts, I'll be way too busy *sigh* My good friend, Kristina, is having a mystery on her blog...go check it out. I was going to do that one, too, but as usual, it didn't happen. *pout*

Bonnie currently has three scrap quilts on her website; they're still posted step-by-step. If all else fails, at least they're posted for long enough for me to catch up. I love the names: Orange Crush, Old Tobacco Road and Double Delight.

So...anyone want to do this mystery with me?  Who knows, maybe if I have some company, I may actually do it!! ....maybe....

Rachel's Getting Married

Dennis' youngest daughter, Rachel, is getting married next September and she's having the whole celebration only 30 miles from here! We're very excited!! This is a picture of her with her fiance, Mike. He's a wonderful guy and treats her like a princess.

This past weekend we went to Walnut Creek to spend the night with his other daughter, Hannah, and go to Rachel's Engagement Party at their Uncle's house in Martinez. It was a very fun party. Isn't Hannah gorgeous...she was very much a huge part of this celebration, being responsible for the menu. And this girl can cook.  Just one of the many wonderful items available for consumption: prosciutto wrapped asparagus grilled and then drizzled with a balsamic vinegar reduction.  YUM!!!

Hal and Heather were the hosts. Their home is perfect for parties.  It's set on an acre of beautifully groomed grounds and is so perfect on the inside. I'd met Hal and Heather once before, six years ago, at Rachel's graduation. They are such nice people and went out of their way to make sure I was comfortable and had fun.

Our hosts...having way too much fun.  Isn't Heather's smile infectious?

Here are some photos from the party...

Dennis and me with Rachel:

Dennis with the "Butterfly Girls." Brook grew up in Butterfly and was Rachel's best friend. They rode horses together, did 4-H, etc., all through school. Brook lives in Roseville now, but came down for the party. She'll be in the wedding.

And the obligatory family photo which has Mike's mom & dad (you can barely see his mom to the right of his dad), Rachel & Mike, then Charlotte (Dennis' ex) and Dennis.

And for those of you paying attention, yes, my hair has been restored to its natural color. What do you think? I'm enjoying not being gray!

A Batik Churn Dash

Marei gave me this quilt and told me to make it bright (like it really needed any help??) But, Marei likes bright, so I aimed to please.

I used the QZ with King Tut Autumn Days thread in the squares that are set on point and just did some variations of continuous curve in the other black blocks along the same row. 

In the churn dash blocks with the black centers, I used Copper Bottom Line thread. I wanted the quilting to be visible, but not compete with the  Autumn Days thread.

And a picture of the back...often the best part *wink*

Thanks for looking and remember, if you'd like to see a larger view of any of the photos, just click on it. When you're done, click the "back" button to return here.

QZ to the Rescue!!

I think its been almost a year now, but some time ago, I had the pleasure of talking with Jackie, the Volunteer Coordinator for a big quilting show. We chatted back and forth on the APQS list and I remember telling her that if she was ever interested, she could send a quilt out for me to quilt for her. Of course, I never thought she'd take me up on it--she lives halfway across the US from me!!

But...guess who called and sent me this???

And with this quilt, came cones of thread for me to sample (beautiful, bright lime green, gorgeous purples and pinks) and my very own tote-bag. Not many quilters are this spoiled--especially by a first-time customer! I'm one lucky girl!! (I took a picture of everything Jackie sent me, but can I find it...of course not!)

When I saw this quilt, my first thought was feathers...but Jackie doesn't like feathers. [How can anyone NOT like feathers????]  Immediately, the next thought was my Quiltazoid.  So I played and ended up with a QZ design in yellow on the purple squares, the same design in purple on the yellow squares and background stippling in matching the thread to the color of the block.

Looking at the photos, the design in the purple block doesn't look yellow, but it was, honest!!

 You can almost see the small design I put in the setting squares...if you squint real hard!

 This quilt was so much fun to work on.  Some quilts are fun all the way through and then give you such a feeling of accomplishment when you return them and your customer is happy.

And, finally, a shot of the entire quilt...defying gravity *grin*