Donna Days Video

On Friday, our little group had our Sew-n-Share and enjoyed a whole day of cutting out fabric, quilting, and spending more time together. I really enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and spacious room for laying out my plans for my first quilt. I am excited to see little blocks coming together to make such a beautiful array of color. As I placed the blocks down, I could envision this quilt finished someday and hanging on my LR wall. These are my favorite colors and accent almost every room of my home. So, my very first handsewn quilt is finally taking some shape

My favorite colors coming together

Once in awhile, we become silly and put on a demo for the others. I had a new tool for cutting circles that Jenny suggested when I visited MSQC. What a difference it makes to have the right tools! I absolutely love this little "cutter" - especially made for the circle ruler. My friends wanted to see it in action, so I gave a "Jenny Tutorial". I didn't know I was being recorded and chuckle even now as I see the final little snippet of my demo! You can see me being goofy on my girlfriend's blog:  http://www.dixieandthechicks.blogspot.com/

Donna & Jan steadily working on projects

but don't laugh too loudly! It was only my second circle cut! The procedure was much easier as I learned to be at ease with this cutting tool!

Ron joins us bringing his own project!

We have great fellowship as our quilts and projects are slowly pieced together! Each has a table and spread our work out over the room! We have an excellent island counter top in the kitchen for cutting, and another for ironing. It is an awesome setting and allows us to work non-stop on projects, with accomplishments getting cheers from our friends.
Often the guys join us at a table, pretending not to hear our constant chatter, but loving the day spent with us all. Thanks, Ron!

Adventurous Safari Shop Hop

Donna & Jan mapping our route

Like any other Monday, I raced around doing the household chores and morning routine; yet, it was different, for everything needed to be done by 8:00, so I could race off to join my friends on our planned SAFARI SHOP HOP.  

While refreshing ourselves with coffee and “monkey bread”, we mapped out our route of the five northern shops, then we excitedly climbed in the car headed to the farthest point and our favorite shop: “Missouri Star Quilt Company”.

"the girls of the shop"

At this shop, it is like meeting old friends! The girls welcomed us, giving us our Safari passports, showing the kits, charms, an awesome "winner's basket", the “Daily Deal” charm packs, and answering our many questions. I wandered over to the cutting table and was not surprised to find Jenny giving a tutorial on short cuts for the Dresden pattern. Wow! I love her demonstrations! She is so awesome, making any task sound so easy!

Jenny pointed to the MSQC square

As we admired the Kansas Star Quilt, Jenny pointed to the square made my MSQC. Loving the colors of the assembled quilt, it was easy to pick up their packaged kits and pattern and dream of our own personal quilt! Our minutes in the shop clicked away to hours making us sadly realize we needed to leave our favorite place to continue the tour of shops. So, we headed for Kearney’s “Sew Bee It”, and realizing it was close to the lunch hour, we discussed lunch plans with a Mexican flavor close by the shop. 

Celebrities visit Kearney!

Each shop surprised us with the beauty of their star, and their personal arrangement of the designated squares.  We spent quality time in each shop, admiring the array of fabrics and supplies each carried. I enjoyed meeting the shop owners and observing the personalities of the individual shops with the many displayed quilts hanging on the walls.

Quilts and kits were easy to find!

When the day ended, we carried away our little totes of supplies, kits, patterns, and visions of our imagined creations. But, the SAFARI SHOP HOP wasn’t finished…

There were 5 more shops waiting for our next free day (Thursday) when we could head south of Kansas City and discover shops never visited before!

GO! fast to the drawing!

Lana just informed me about this "gift give-away" and I am passing it on to my friends....
Follow the link below and take a minute to walk through her steps! Enjoy!

http://janesfabrics.blogspot.com/2010/09/its-go-for-giveaway.html

Pay It forward....

Here's the plan...

The idea is that 3 of you join my Pay It Forward and then 

I will send a hand made gift (made with love!!!) to each one of my THREE

within the next 365 days!

Then, those 3 people must also host a PIF on their blogs

and ask for 3 people to join their PIF -  To pay it forward!

So this is me, asking for 3 people to join my PIF -

just leave a comment to this post !

That's it...no Catches!

NOW...

I only need THREE...

who wants to be my THREE????

Now, this is what Lana had on her blog and it says it so well, so I thought "Why change a good thing?" Lana said exactly what needed to be said and has precise details. So, when she picked me (as her fourth), I needed to post immediately and get started on my 365 day projects! This will be so fun and a definite challenge! I've spent the morning thinking of gifts I would like to make and wondering who would be the special three friends that would receive these ideas from my hand. Will it be you?

I wonder.

Remember, all you need is a comment added to this post to be chosen as one of my three.

OK...so, I didn't relax!

I know it was Friday sew-in night, but I didn't have a place to sew in! We now have 4 generations living under one roof for several months, and to make that possible, the little family has the main house and we moved to the only space left - the garage. We constructed a beautiful 12 x 11 bedroom in front our parked car area, and then carpeted the second front part of the garage for a sitting room/sewing room. Of course, there are boxes everywhere, a make-shift closet hung using an antique ladder,

and much to sort through and give away...yet, we love the comfort and coziness of seeing our plans fit together. This part of the house is now our favorite little haven!
So, while most of you were sewing up a storm, I was looking for a place to sew in my new garage setting!

I looked at our "stuff" - piles of boxes, gadgets, and tools, and wondered how I could make a homey and pleasant corner! With the help of my Grandmother's antique quilt -  sewn in 1920's and hidden away in her hope chest, I covered clutter. It makes such a pretty wall and hides the storage boxes yet to be sorted! Then I added her rocking chair and sewing box to my corner. My husband's tools are stored in the cabinet, but even that fit the decor!

Now, to make it fair and to participate in the actual Sew-In Night, I sat on my comfy bed and stitched  2 - 8" blocks together. I hope that counts!  I have a long way to go, but I am so happy to have my sewing room set up and ready to create once again! I want my very first attempt at quilting by machine to be the postage stamp quilt! I cannot wait to get started!
Happy "Show n Tell" to all of you! Debi

Friday Sew-IN challenge met...

Getting into jammies and dreaming of sewing for an entire Friday evening was one thing! But, blogging what I've accomplished on a Friday night "sew-in"? That takes a lot of courage! I have 36 Dresden-decorated white blocks spread around me on the bed ready to be assembled, but I am so nervous!
You see, I'm a newbie...and this is a big deal to me! I cannot believe I am telling professional quilters that I am making a quilt one hand-stitch at a time...and then, showing them how it is slowly coming together. I never would have guessed that I would even blog, and have others see my feeble handiwork! I had big dreams of some day sewing a quilt, but wow...what a support group I gained by hanging out around you all!
In a previous blog, you can read my first photos in this attempt, and I will add new photos later tomorrow because you all are so encouraging and write things that make me think I can accomplish this great feat!
So...here goes - I am sewing and having a ball! Debi

A VERY FUN DAY

It was absolutely amazing! My four friends chose the day for a field trip and we piled into the largest van and took off for Hamilton, MO. One of them had found "the coolest Quilt Shop website" and the address was close enough for a day's excursion! Quietly two admitted to their tryst and day's excursion to spy out the place, begging a guilt trip for shopping without us. They tried every possible excuse for why they came across the location weeks before telling us what they found!

"I'm here! I'm finally here!"

What fun we had! Chatting and catching up on the summer past, we covered the miles quickly and pulled up next to a corner store. Photos had to be taken immediately for the explorer, but she struggled to pose as she danced a jig at the entrance into the place of her website!

Even the bathroom had displays!

Inside, I stood amazed. A colorful array of quilts lined the walls, and stacks of charms, jellyrolls, and bolts decorated each wall. I was drawn to the Autumn color pallet of fabrics across the first room and found beautiful charms in navy, gold, and garnet! I knew a pile of those would be in my shopping bag before I left the store!

Jenny, the store owner, greeted us enthusiastically, as did her husband and daughter! Jenny pointed out the Daily Special Rack and began a story of why this special was one of her favorites. From that conversation, she jumped to several "shortcuts" we'd enjoy. When our faces told her we were not picturing her lesson,

Right then, she taught us the short cuts!

she pulled open a drawer under her cutting board and with a "Let me show you!" began one of many demonstrations we saw in our field trip. I cannot tell you how many simple tricks she taught us in such a short time. She also made me think I could accomplish great things with the little blocks, the long strips and the tools hanging on the walls around us!

Jenny showed us many new tools

If you love quilting, please find some time to click on their shop website and enjoy all they offer or give yourself a treat and drive to Hamilton, MO!
Their website: http://missouriquiltco.com/shop And wow...great tutorials are in store for you at this site!

Here's the beauty of it!

And just for a quick note, I want to thank my awesome girlfriends for planning such a wonderful day of shopping, lunch, and just being together.
You all made a special memory for me!
And my vote is: "Let's do it again real soon!"