Design Wall Monday–July 29, 2013

Today is my first design wall in a few weeks.  I have been traveling and started a few new quilts.  I put this one up on my design wall last night and hope to work on it first.  It was taught by my sister Robin in Las Vegas and she calls in In and Out.

I have 12 blocks completed and need to make more.  They are fun to make and go quickly.  I am really loving the fabrics I chose, especially the background.

Next is to decide what I want to do with it so I know how many more blocks to make.  I made the first 12 in an afternoon in Las Vegas and think I want at least 36.

For more design walls, go to Patchwork Times and check them all out.

Melinda

Home in Georgia

I arrived home early this morning after a red eye flight from LA.  We did have a little excitement in LA at the airport. As we were sitting waiting for the flight to be boarded, a guy walked out of one of the alarmed doors – we could see through the windows that he went up some stairs.  Eventually he came back down and back in the door.  By then, the airline people were there and the police were on the way.

He was told to sit there and wait for the police and he did.

Not sure what happened after all this because the plane was ready to board and off to Atlanta we went.  It was a well named red eye flight and arrived home here at 6 am.  I am glad to be home and for one final photo, here is Emilio right before we all packed up and left Truckee.

Don’t you love his hat?  His father has one just like it.

Melinda

Last Full Day at Truckee

Today, was the last day here in Truckee. We are flying back to Seal Beach tomorrow and then I will fly home Saturday night. 

We had rain and hail this afternoon.  Cooled everything off nicely. Emilio and I just finished making him a wallet. Turned out OK considering I didn't know what I was doing. 

It is a two compartment wallet with one zipper for coins and another for folding money. Best of all, he likes it

Melinda

Rafting on the Truckee River

We went on a rafting trip down the Truckee river yesterday. We started with 10 people and ended with 9 but the straggler arrived in the next raft with kind strangers. Only 2 more went overboard at some point but everyone was safe but a bit wet.

Melinda

 

Kings Beach

We spent the day at the beach. Lots of fun and fortunately we had shade. 

P

Emilio's Birthday

Yesterday was Emilio's 10th birthday. We had a party last night.

Today I think we are going into Tahoe. 

Truckee, California

We flew on Jet Blue up to Sacramento yesterday and drove east to Truckee where we are staying in a lovely house with many bedrooms and other sleeping areas. When Kathy and Paula arrive today we will have 10 people here. 

Emilio's 10th birthday is today so birthday cake is on the menu for later. For now, here are photos from the front and back of the house. Beautiful!

Melinda

Las Vegas–Day 4

Yesterday was my day to teach.  We made Happy Scrappy Houses designed by Bonnie Hunter.  Lots of fun.  The hardest part is picking out the construction materials.  Here are a few of them.

Driving back to Seal Beach this morning and then getting ready to fly to Lake Tahoe tomorrow.

Melinda

Las Vegas–Day 3

Yesterday was day 3 and the project for the day was Too Many Scraps Make Me Dottie.  Lots and lots of dots.

Here is my first block – kind of blah but will be better with friends.

Here are a few more being worked on.

Today is my day to teach Happy Scrappy Houses.  Off to the sewing room.

Melinda

Las Vegas–Day 2

Besides finishing my Scrappy Happy Houses yesterday, I made a couple of smaller ones to show how to tilt them.  Will be teaching both sizes tomorrow.

Plus, Robin was teaching her quilt – In and Out.  Here are my first two blocks.

Fun, fun, fun!

Melinda

Welcome to Kaffe's Neighborhood

I finished construction on my houses and got them sewn into a neighborhood. I like it. Still needs a border but that can wait until I get home.

Twinkie Day

We bought twinkies for everyone at the retreat. 

In California

I got to California last night - it was late but we still managed to have a glass of wine before bedtime.  

I thought I would show you a photo of me sister's stash. I have a larger stash but it doesn't tempt me like hers does 

Her stash is a lot neater than mine also. 

Melinda

Quilting the Halloween Quilt

I finished up quilting the Halloween quilt last night and put the binding on this morning.  On to the Christmas quilt.

I quilted it with a variegated orange thread using a freehand swirl.  Fun and easy.

Melinda

Mary Ellen Hopkins–RIP

I found out last night that Mary Ellen Hopkins died yesterday.  She was a special person and I owe much of my quilting expertise to her.  In 1999 my sister Robin and I decided we wanted to go to a workshop/seminar led by her and found one in Las Vegas.  It had been going for 12 or 13 years at that point and we signed up.  Apparently the attendance was at a low point.  Here is the photo of that first time in Las Vegas.

I am leaving on Friday for Las Vegas and several of the women will be there, along with many more. I think it is the 27th or 28th annual seminar. Behind me in the yellow is Aggie and she has attended every one of the seminars. She is the only one who has attended them all.

Mary Ellen is the little one in front – what a wonderful teacher and friend.  I believe she was 83.  About 5 or 6 years ago, she had a car accident on her way to Las Vegas from Southern California.  Since then we have continued the seminar but without her, since she was mostly retired after that.  Instead of her teaching, four of us each take a day and teach a project.  Robin will be teaching on Tuesday and I have Thursday.

 

A couple of years ago she came up for the evening to celebrate the 25th annual seminar.  Here is a photo at that time.

We will all miss her – she had a unique way of looking at quilting and was so very creative.  I am pleased to have spent time with her and consider her a friend as well as teacher.  We will all have a glass of white wine in her honor – she loved white wine.  We will miss you Mary Ellen!

Melinda

More Progress on the Christmas Quilt

I got the blocks together with sashing last night.  Here is the progress.

I put the white outside borders on this morning and hopefully will get the last border on this afternoon.  It consisted of 2 1/2 squares of all the fabrics – lots and lots of squares.

Melinda

Design Wall Monday–July 8, 2013

I finished up the blocks for the Christmas Quilt and now need to start putting it together.  I am really liking this block.  It is from Scrap Basket Sensations Simply Fat Quarters.  My wall is full so here it is on the bed.

I think I need to move a couple of them around but there will be a lot more white when the sashing gets finished.  Hope to do that yet today.
For more design walls, go to Patchwork Times and check out all the inspiration there.
Melinda

More Blocks for the Christmas Quilt

I worked on the Christmas quilt for a while yesterday 

Five of the twelve blocks are done with the sixth one almost finished. Only six more to go. Off to the shop for a few hours today. Big sale!

Happy Independence Day to all of me fellow Americans!  It is raining again here in Atlanta so most firework displays have been cancelled or postponed. We got 3 1/2 inches of rain yesterday with more expected today.  Rain, rain go away!

Melinda

Quilt Guild Yesterday

We had a great time at the guild yesterday, at least until the fire department and rescue crew arrived. It isn’t a great party until the fire department leaves.  Unfortunately, one of our members had some distress at lunch and it seemed best to call for assistance.  The Acworth fire department responded quickly and efficiently and took Arlena to the hospital to be checked over.  Fortunately she is OK and went home later that afternoon.

Before all the excitement, we had a good meeting.  Lots of fun show and tell and sharing of some Christmas projects for a Christmas in July program.  I didn’t get a lot of photos but here are a couple.  First is another version of the BOM from a few years ago.  It is the same quilt and my black and green one in the header.  Looks a lot different with different colors.

This one is a simple disappearing nine patch for our community service project.

Here is a beautiful trip around the world.  This was started several years ago and is made from individual patches – no strip piecing on this quilt. Beautiful!

It is raining today – we have over 3 inches so far today and flood warnings until Friday.  I guess it is supposed to rain all day tomorrow also.  The shop will be open tomorrow and I am going to be there.  Hopefully some people will want to come out in the rain!

Melinda

Christmas Quilt Started

I finished putting the borders on the Halloween quilt last night and started a Christmas one. Next I need to quilt the Halloween one and continue working on the Christmas one. I also got the slashing on a couple of tithe house blocks.  I think it is working out well. 

Busy, busy!

Design Wall Monday–July 1, 2013

My Kaffe houses are still on the the design wall but my Halloween quilt is ready for it’s final border so I put it on the bed for a photo op.

See the black fabric with orange dots.  That will be the outside border.  The inside border is my favorite Kona – School Bus.

For more exciting design walls, go to Patchwork Times.

Melinda