Congrats to Nancy E for winning the Harvest Moon MTT pattern/kit this week. We're finishing up the last of our Harvest Moon patterns, hoping for rain and a break in our 100+ temps, wishing for fall. For now, I have plenty to do inside surrounded by cool AC. My list includes finishing the new book, Loose Change, completing the next round of Stash Society projects, whipping up a block for Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks and sending in our next project for Primitive Quilts magazine for next spring. Whew! So glad I have Lois and Robert to help me out on a daily basis. Otherwise, things could get a bit unbalanced, if you know what I mean.
Pictures for the book were finally done on Monday. Here's a shot of the north end of the cabin with my new KT "barn quilt". It's 4' square but looks fairly small once we got it up on the peak. It took Robert and my burly twin sons to install it. I was informed it's up there for the duration!
I'll have a few more peeks at the new book in the coming weeks, but for now, this will have to do. Right after pictures, I barely had a chance to enjoy that it was over before packing up and heading out to meet
Pam Buda of Heartspun Quilts, at Heidi Kaisand's Hens and Chicks Quilt Shop & Retreat in Conrad, IA. We had a mere 36 waking hours to plot and plan the final elements of our first ever Great Girlfriend Getaway Alaskan cruise next month. (More on that in a minute.) Heidi's place is delightful with numbered rows of twin beds and sewing tables to accommodate 18. We had the whole space to ourselves for 2 nights and took full advantage of it.
Her quilt shop is downstairs, brimming with samples & fun ideas for quilting, scrapbooking, wool projects and items from local artisans. I was fascinated with the mini scrapbooks for proud Grammas or Moms that come in a complete kit. Everything you need is precut with instructions on how to put it together and add your photos. It's like charm packs for scrapbooks - I love it!
(note the KT quilt hanging over the racks of patterns)
As we said our Goodbye's, we also wished Heidi "Happy Birthday" and enjoyed special cookies and treats for her big day. Pam and I are tickled to have found a comfy spot halfway between us to meet and plan our new partnership in quilting excursions - Great Girlfriend Getaways. Besides our Alaskan cruise (leaving in a mere 29 days) we already have a trip to Cancun in Feb. 2013 and a New England/Canada cruise for Sept. 2013 on the books. We'll fly to a brand new 5-star all-inclusive resort in Cancun (prices include airfare from KC or Chicago, lodging, meals and ALL beverages, classes with Pam and Lynne and kits - what a deal!). We'll be stitching by hand (no sewing machines on this trip) with wool and cotton to create some fun projects while we're there. I should have info soon on both, but Pam has them on her website now. Is there anywhere you'd like to go with Pam and I and your quilting buddies? Sister's Quilt Show? Houston Festival? Lakeside cabins, stitching for a week? Let us know your bucket list and we'll see what we can do.
Better get back to work this morning. Stay cool and keep quilting.
Lynne
What a wonderful place for a retreat and it sounds like you have some fun cruises coming up.
ReplyDeleteDebbie
Where can I read more about the New England/Canada cruise? :-)
ReplyDeleteI would LOVE to go to the Houston Quilt Show/Market!! Actually anywhere quilty would be wonderful!! haha Have a super time!
ReplyDeletePaulette
Where is Sister's Quilt Show?
ReplyDeleteI love the quilt block on the outside of the cabin. :) Personally, I'd love to meet somewhere on the prairie (I love Kansas and Laura Ingalls Wilder/anything prairie-ish) and sew in a cabin! :)
ReplyDeletethe cabin is so pretty and so cool that you have your own barn block. I wan to do that too.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had lots of fun.
Actually I just got back from the Sister's Quilt Show, it was wonderful as always although we got rained out for the first time ever. I have been lucky enough to attend the Spring Quilt Show in Rosemont, Illinois as well as the American Quilters Society show at Opryland. My wish has always been to attend the Houston Quilt Show and market. Love the barn quilt. Linda
ReplyDeleteYour barn quilt looks so great! I would love to do an Alaskan cruise someday.
ReplyDeleteI love your new photo header of the cabin and adore the barn quilt block! thanks for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteI want to live in the cabin. Thanks for the lovely intro to Heidi.
ReplyDeleteThe barn quilt is lovely. I've been trying to talk my hubby into putting one on our barn---with no luck :(
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, I am enjoying my Holiday Medley scrap box that you sent when I won the blog contest. Thank you again. That box was filled to the brim.
My dream quilting trip would have to be going to the international quilt show in Ireland.
ReplyDeleteI love your cabin and barn quilt. I so want to do that on our garage wall that faces the street.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing
We had planned a trip to Alaska this summer, but had to put it off. That's OK, next summer will be our 25th Anniversary, and the trip is in the works. I'd love to go on a quilting cruise...maybe after I retire!
ReplyDelete