March meeting

As I told most of you when you arrived in the morning for our March gathering, this day was all about backup plans.  We found out early in the morning that someone was coming to see our house at 3:00. Everyone was very diligent and kind in helping me tear things down and clean up in time for me to vacate.  I really appreciate it.  Mike and Brady were out and about with activities most of the day so I really needed the extra help to make it happen.

Based on the craziness, much of the day is a blur to me.  Many Divas were industrious at the tables. Others were content to socialize--myself included.  We had a great lunch, as always, with many dessert choices.  I failed to get a photo of Judy's fruit centerpiece. :-(

Once it was clear we were going to be tidied up on time, we decided to do show and tell.  I'm glad Dianne and Fran spoke up because it was a great showing.

Dianne got the borders on her amazing jelly roll.

She also got the other three quarters pieced for the top she started at the January retreat. Just look at that perspective!

 

Fran got her jelly roll quilted. Just look at that A+ muckling of reds!

And the pieced back.  What a composition!

See you all soon!

Amishland Retreat - Winter 2016

What a great time we had, as always. Some of our usual suspects were unable to join us so we were a bit out of sorts.  We tried to make up for it but know that you were missed, fellow Divas.

 

Many attendees brought things to give away or sell, including one woman who brought a giant bin of scraps.  We had a lot of fun digging through them and many scraps turned into other things during the weekend.  Why is someone else's stuff always more fun than our own?!?

 

Syd got the top together from the Friendship cups.  It truly belongs on the pages of one of Gwen and Freddie's books, right?

 

 

 

Here's a shot of Syd's Diva braid challenge.  So much piecing went into this one and, yet, she made it look effortless (says her tablemate).

 

She even managed to get a bed runner out of it too!  Really great fabric choices and piecing (and shopping smarts in buying just the right amount of the background fabric).

Syd was also catching up on Marie's Scraps bands in a Kaffe Fasset theme.  Zoom in to see the great fabric combos.

 

Jan was all calm and collected, pacing herself while popping out bags like popcorn.



 



Kathy was turning out these like they were no fuss at all. I believe these came from the scrap bin and they were intended for the much discussed bra quilt that Prudie was working on.

Mary Ann made good progress on her elegant Maddie Bea.

She also made a few units of her Friendship blocks.

She also got pretty far with a patriotic Strip Twist for her husband.

Gwen put a beautiful border on her Kate Spain jelly roll top.

She also got this one pin-basted (backing first).

 

And the top ... love the fabric combo.



Gwen also pieced a back from the leftovers of the panel quilt she put together at the last Amishland retreat.

Dianne got the binding on this one.  The machine quilting is especially beautiful.

Diane also put together one quarter of this top, using leftover cuts from another project.  Hard to believe she had leftovers.  I know.  Just wait until you see the finished top in our March meeting post.

I managed to get the One Way wallhanging quilted.  I made a set of Minions blocks for my first Beach Blanket quilt. I made a pillowcase and made good progress on my Jinny Beyer Moonglow blocks.  My stuff is still stashed from January so ... no pics.  I still can't believe I haven't sewn since then ... ugh.

We shopped, laughed, cried, and plotted our next Amishland adventure.  Can't wait!

Jelly Roll Race 2016

I still can't believe it's the last race in this basement.  What fun we have had sewing laps and trash talking.



 

It is funny to compare and contrast our first race from this one.  How relaxed and jovial we are!

Some racers are very serious.  Others are just avoiding a potential win.



Dianne seems to be making a very serious point about something here.  Abstinence, perhaps?

Maybe not ...

Despite how many times we've raced, there's always something new.  This year, we had our first bloodshed.  I still can't believe how nonchalant Lynn was when the needle went in (and then we weren't sure if it had gone through). 

I had to pretend to be the medic since neither of our nurses were in attendance.

Here's a shot of the needle.  Pretty scary looking!

And, now, on to the racers.  Judy and Gwen had the same Kate Spain jelly rolls and, yet, they still manage to come out looking different.  So Spring-y!

Jan dug into her vast Marcia Derse stash.  What a great combo!

I believe this is Kathy's top and I don't remember the origin of the strips.  I love the orange.

Mary Ann did a cute dots combo.

Susie did hers in elegant batiks.

Lynn did a foodie version.

I, too, did dots and I am sure I won the award for the worst spacer clumping EVER!

Leave it to Dianne to reinvent the concept.  She cut multiple strips of a smaller variety of prints.  The photo does not do it justice.  Really stunning!

I am working on sewing down the binding from last year's Xmas top.

And the back ..

Dianne finished the fused and machine embroidered quilt.  What a tremendous amount of work she put into this one and it shows.

Here's a closeup of the stitching and machine quilting.

There were margaritas, of course ...

 

 

 

When the awards ceremony came, Susie was a little worried to see a certain cow print box appear.  She was momentarily relieved until she saw the twice regifted battery operated relaxation enhancement device and, also, a pointless screwtop bottle of wine.  Never fear, the topiary did not make an appearance.

Our referee Jan provided fab tote bags for all of the outstanding gifts.  Thanks to Jan, too, for some of the action photos in this post. 

Kathy also brought personalized medals. I wish I had recorded all of the great awards.  Kathy's was "Didn't cry" so that gives you an idea of how funny and imaginative they were.  I got "Best Twist" for managing to put a horrendous two rotation twist in one of my laps.  Here's Judy modeling hers.  You'll have to zoom.  Thanks to all who donated gifts.  For this event, it is often better to give than to receive but both have their merits.

 

Here's to another great race, Divas!