Ryan and Michael have their quilt!

Last Saturday night, Ryan arranged a little surprise gathering at a relatives house to present the quilt to Michael.  Michael knew something was up but had no idea what it was.  We all were out on the deck waiting for their arrival.  Ryan had the most beautiful 'love note' to read to Micheal (we all cried) and then he got to open up the quilt.  What a wonderful group project completely made with love!!!

 Melinda Overstreet took some great pictures (check out her pictures here) and Danielle recorded Ryan reading his 'love note' to Micheal (go here to see the video).  It takes a bit to load and you need QuickTime but it is worth it !!!

They looked so good under their new quilt, I just had to jump in!!!

This was a pretty cool project for all of us to work on.  Thanks to everyone who  helped me figure out what to do, donated fabric, helped me pick out fabrics, cut stuff, ironed stuff, tore off the paper pattern FROM EACH AND EVERY PIECE, and lovingly longarm quilted it and made the beautiful label for this great piece.  Give your selves a pat on the back and a hug until I see you again to do it in person.  Bravo, team, bravo!!!

My Fairy Quilt GodMother is done!

Paper Panche had a contest to create your very own, one-of-a-kind Fairy Quilt Godmother.  They had a list of questions you answered and then you got the pattern made just for you.  A bunch of us girls made 'em.  Of course, I'm bringin' up the tail end of the pack but she is done.  Thank you Betty for taunting me into "get 'er done"

 mode!  I didn't paper piece the intricate locket that came with the pattern, so she sports a Bulloch Hall Quilt Guild pin as a locket.  I am so smart!  That little idea saved me like 2 hours!!!!

Maple Sugar

A few years ago, Betty and I took a road trip to Keepsake Quilters and I bought this kit.  Never have gotten around to making it and she said instead of me trying to sell in on ebay, she would take it and make it.  Well, the clever girl instead, cut it out and brought the kit along on her latest trip to see me.  So, with the kit all cut out, we just tag teamed the sewing and before we knew it, we had a really beautiful top.

Betty has found the backing and is going to have her longarmer quilt it. What a beautiful piece.  I am so glad she 'made' me sew it.  Of course, when you are sewing with your buddy, it is a lot better than sewing alone.  And the project goes together a lot quicker, too!!!  Thank you, Betty!!!

Look what Betty did!!

Betty whipped up 2 tumbler block charity quilts for the Murfreesboro Sewing Ladies and we dropped them off when she was in town.  These are just so cute!  I love this block.  Ole RJ just had to get in the picture to show off all the weight she has lost.  Way to go, RJ.  Why is the answer always 'diet and exercise"?  Can't it just be 'chocolate and the couch" just once?
And Betty, quite accomplished quilter that she is becoming, made these tops by using the pieces as 'spiders' while sewing other projects.  A 'spider' is a random piece of fabric run thru the sewing machine before and after any piecing that is not chain pieced.  So, Bonnie Hunter  www.quiltville.com   has taken the spider to a whole new level.  She always has a box of fabric pre-cut and ready to go when she needs a 'spider'.  Before you know it, you have lots of blocks made.
Rj is taking a bunch of tumbler blocks to the Project Linus Blanket Day for the 4Hers to work on.

The Double Wedding Ring is back from Zoe!!!

Yippee, look what came in the mail!!!  I was so excited when I got home and saw this big box waiting for me!!!  Well, for Ryan and Michael really but it is mine for a little while. 

And look how pretty it is packed in it's little box!

Zoe really knows how to do it up right!  It's like an early Christmas!  And it is all fold so pretty and all tied up with a bow!  Zoe, girl, you rock.

So, what does her little note say???  Well, as usual, she is telling me what to do!  She says, "Draw your lines - and sew ALL around edges BEFORE you trim to square up otherwise it will spread or seem to grow.  I left pins in to help (at the top and bottom)."  Thanks for the heads up.  You know me well!  I would have stuck my little fingers for sure.  She used a pattern called "Manchester Cavier" by Anne Bright. How perfect.  But I will be a bit of a tease right now!  You all can't see the pattern til I apply the binding and then we will have the big reveal!!!

Quilt Label arrives from Australia!!

Auntie Joan (from 'Down Under') has completed the label for Ryan and Micheal's double wedding ring quilt.  And it is fabulous.  Auntie Joan sent some pictures of the label in progress.  This is pretty cool machine she's got!!  I am very impressed.  Ole talented Auntie Joan designed this label and choose the colors especially for the quilt.  Wow!  This is way cool!  Who'd a thought this whole project would turn our this incredible.  You go, Joan!!  We bow to your creativity and talent!

 

Auntie Joan has it all planned out on the fancy machine and we are off!

 We have got to find out just how long this took for the machine to stitch out.  This machine is way cool.

 Look at the wedding rings!  They are outlined in a heavier gold stitching and just fabulous!  The stitching in an arch over the rings and ribbon is just inspired.

 Now for a classy saying. . .

 . . . and who all had a hand in this project.  Ya know, I'm sure the machine does this, but aren't the lines all straight and everything all centered and aligned.  Yeah, it's the machine and not Joan. . .   lol

 

And for the big finish -- this wonderful label is surrounded by fabric from Auntie Joan's own Australian stash.  You go, Joan.  This is just amazing!  You are the embroidery goddess!

Baby Quilt

Just whipped up the cutest little baby quilt for my newphew, Kevin, to give to a brand new baby of a co-worker.  It is so cute.  He knows the baby will be a little girl and he knows that she will be delivered by C-section tomorrow morning.  Think I'll overnight this quilt. . . .

 Here's a closeup of the wonderful butterfly inspiration fabric.  I sorted thru all my stash but what do you know, I don't have any cute stuff for a sweet little girl.  The closest thing to baby pink I had was glow-in-the dark highlighter pink.  Yeah, not gonna work.  Dan and I ran to Joann's (the only place open around here on a Sunday) and found this great bundle of the solids.  Dan had seen some butterfly fabric he took a shine to and then as we were walking to the cutting counter, saw this butterfly print.  Wow!  The colors are perfect and enough on the 'bright' side to make me happy.  Saw this pattern in the latest Fons and Porter and just went with it!  Kinda looks like woven ribbons.

Welcome to the world baby girl!  August 22, 2011 is a great to come into this world.  xoxox