Word Up Sewing Party

Today is the Charming Girls Sewing party and since my Word this year is Participate (see my icon on the right?) I thought I'd do just that.

I headed out this morning and picked up a few treats, ran some errands and grabbed a pizza. Now I have setup my workstation, have my book queued up (I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore), and I'm ready to get going!

I'm going to be working on my Bali Wedding Star quilt. There is plenty to work on so, I'm just going for it.

Dallas Quilt Guild Retreat 2011

A couple of weekends ago the Dallas Quilt Guild had their annual retreat.
I love going to this retreat. This is my second year going and it was just as wonderful as last year.

There were less guild members this year (about 80 or so) but this gave us more room to spread out and more space to walk around and really see everyone's projects.

I love that this retreat is in January. It really gets you revved up for the year. Really inspired.

This is Full Bloom designed by Miss Carrie Nelson - Pieced by Carol Dickshat. She is putting this baby in our quilt show this year. The theme of the show is Stars - how appropriate.

And the applique that was being made! This is a Block of the Week program not sure who designed it but those blocks were only 3.5". It was really outstanding work by Peggy Slesinger.

The photo just doesn't do it justice.

Then there was this one. Again, not sure who the designer is but it was brought to life by Wendy Groves. She was ironing the blocks and I loved each one but when she put it together... Wow.

Funny, I am not a huge fan of this layout but I loved this one. Wendy was also working on a Green version of Carrie's Stella Blue pattern. A woman after my own heart! LOL!

The table where these ladies sat was just full of talent. I loved this one too. It was being put together by Wendy's Mom.

I sat with some pretty talented ladies as well. Renee, my roommate, worked on a batik landscape project that was outstanding, I loved that I saw it go from strips to a quilt. I wish I had taken a picture!!! AG!

And then there was Ragi who was one of the most industrious of all. She arrived late Friday and brought several UFOs that were in the last stages of completion. She was just kicking them out like there was no tomorrow. She also quilted the most gorgeous mini of a TCU mascot. Again.. No PICS!!! What was I thinking!

Marian Ann was my other table mate and she, like I, was working on a project that was just taking us much longer than we wanted. Her pattern appeared in an issue of McCall's quilting a few years ago. She was switching up the colors to give it a more modern/summer feel. Lovely lovely.

I worked on my Bali Wedding Star for most of the retreat. I also made a few Flying Geese for my Opening Day quilt. But most of all, I was inspired by these talented ladies. Always there with a words of encouragement and a welcoming smile.

A Wedding Journey... The Quilt

Ah you thought that I would not mention the quilt? Well, you are wrong, I have to chat you all up a bit but not much since I do want to keep the reveal under wraps, but since Nyshma chose the pattern that she wanted for her wedding quilt, only the reveal needs to be withheld, the actual process is open for blogging.

I have been quilting for many years now and I have taken many classes and done many quilts but when the wedding quilt was chosen I realized that I could not do it on my own.

My daughter saw this quilt last year at our local quilt show

It is really quite gorgeous.

Bali Wedding Star by Judy Niemeyer

That one is a bit brighter than what she wanted but she could see that this was the one. It is definitely not an easy quilt, but will be so worth the trouble.

I found a certified teacher (yes, quilters go through a specialized training just to be able to teach the process)  that was starting a 4 session class that I could join. I have three of the classes under my belt and am busy making the arcs for the quilt.

My daughter preferred more muted, earth tones so I didn't buy the kit that was offered but went out and made my own sets.

11 sets of 8 fabrics.

I have started piecing the arc and realized that it takes forever to complete each one, 

so I'm in for a good haul. 

Good thing she is an only child! LOL!

Will keep you updated on my progress.

2010 Quilty Recap

2010 was not at all what I expected when it comes to my craft. I started with the engines revving to go but work got in the way and I felt very uninspired during summer.

Still, I got a fair amount of quilting done.

All my Schnibbles got quilted in 2010 - I only have one straggler left to be bound which I will include among my first few projects in 2011.

Madeline, Sunday Best and Tagalong were started and finished during 2010. Picnic and Winter White were made in 2009 but were completed in 2010.

I made quilts for my favorite girls this year...

Hidden Stars went to my Lindsey in April and Little Bits of Love found it's way to Jessi in November.

Coming Soon arrived just in time to welcome my cousins first child, Camila Victoria in September.

I was able to kick out a few tops that were sitting around for over 10 years begging to be finished. It's a Jungle Out There, Compass Stars and The Bounty all were quilted and bound in 2010! Yeah, for reducing the UFO pile!!

And then there were the last two of the year. I actually had not posted about these since they didn't get bound until early December.

Bread and Butter could have been the UFO of the year,
but I found a second wind in Fall and got her completed.

She was quilted by Margaret who did a wonderful job taming this wild beasty.

It got ALOT of use during Xmas.

Everyone seemed to want to throw it over themselves and enjoy the warmth of the flannel backing. The colors look great on the sofa too!

Short Story was started while in my summer slump and I was surprised that I actually finished it

just as summer ended.

I love this quilt. Love Love Love it. Mary quilted it with a design that just goes perfectly with the fabric. It's MY first quilt. The first quilt I claimed as mine.

I have other quilts but those are more house quilts. Quilts that belong to my house, but this one is mine. The batting is a dream (I wish I could remember what I used) and it has the perfect weight.

I finished one more top in 2010 but I decided that I will not count it as a 2010 finish because  it has not been bound. Quilted, but not bound. As soon as I get the last stitch on it, I will  call it finished.

A few other WIP that move onto 2011. Opening Day and Two Piece Puzzle were started in 2010 and become a priority for 2011. I can't wait for these to be finished but there is one more that was started and never blogged about. I don't even have pictures yet.. I am making my daughter her wedding quilt. I'll have more details next week since I'll be heading to my guild's Retreat this weekend and will be working on it almost exclusively.

So... that was my Quilty year. Next up.. Goals for 2011 (which I already started talking about above).

Word Up!

The Charming Girls are choosing a word that will reflect what we want to see more of in our lives during 2011. It took me a while to decide on a word because I would find a word and then it would slip from my mind... I'm horrible remembering things which is why I am the queen of list!

So the other day I was taking a shower and was thinking that I kept FORGETTING my freakin word (yeah, while I'm in the shower I'm either daydreaming about hitting the lotto, or I can be found recriminating myself for everything I forgot to do the day before). So I thought I'd use the word Memories.. Make more of them by not forgetting so much... but by the time I got out of the shower and was dressed, ready to tackle my day... I had forgotten. :)

So I decided that was too lofty of a goal.

After more thought and a few notes to keep me on track, I decided that the word that reflects what I would like to see more of in 2011 is... Participate.

To take part of more things. I would like to Share more. These are the two key definitions to Participate. I love going to guild but the drive always drags me down. I want to attend more of the meetings, join in more of the activities. I would like to volunteer more and make sure I follow through - not just at the guild but at other events and causes I feel for. I would like to blog more, sharing my life and what I'm up to (this would contribute to more memories I can look back on). I can easily go on and on about how that word could be interpreted but I'm leaving it open so I can grow with it.

What is your word for 2011?