Gingerbread wall quilt

I spent today working on the little quilt I started last weekend. It's kind of an experiment for me. I wanted to use materials that I had on hand and I wanted to mix the fabrics. I used wool, flannel and cotton adding some handwork too. I have the top done and now I'll wait a few days and think about the quilting. I think I'll use machine decorate stitches, but I may do some hand quilting too. I want to use it for the Gingerbread Quilt Retreat in November. I think I'm done planning my pampering gifts for the ladies and have most of my decorations ready to go. It will be a four day retreat and should be very fun.

I've been busy....

I remember one of the things my friend Clarice (Storybook Woods) told
me about having a blog...it's hard to keep it up! It takes a lot of
time. That it does. I have just been so busy and gone from home, I
haven't had much time to work on my blog.
Quilts*quilts*quilts*. Quilting and quilt retreats have been consuming
my life. That's OK too. I think of where my family was last year with
dad's stroke and heart attacks. That was all we could do with life. He
is so much better and happier now and we are so thankful. God has been
gracious. We have dad's house ready to rent, so that will be one more
"good" thing to have off of the list for him.
We were at Maupin this
weekend. I got to quilt and Jim got to fish fish fish. He is enjoying
being able to get out there in the water again. After his hip surgery
and then his knee surgery, it was so frustrating for him.
I'm so ready for fall, but warm humid weather has returned to Oregon. UGH.
The
photo is from the NW Expo Quilt Show I attended last week. I love this
Oregon quilt. It was on on display at the show. I am sorry I don't know
the maker's name as it is just wonderful. I thought it would be a good
one to share as Jim and I have been all over Oregon this month.
I am waiting for fall....

Post retreat

Still trying to get back to normal after the quilting retreat. All went well, except we have to find a new home. The hotel is doing away with the conference room. It was kind of a shock.
Fall is on the way. The days are still warm but the evenings are getting chilly.
I finished my gift for our fall Tasha Tudor group exchange. It went together quickly.
Gina called tonight from New Mexico. It was good to hear her voice and of course, she had me laughing.
Tomorrow is dad day. I haven't seen him for awhile.
I have paper work to finish up form the retreat and some banking to do yet.
Time for bed.

Sunday Morning

A nice cool morning. Our Illinois company has gone to the coast for a few days.
Time to get the lawns mowed again before a busy week starts up. Apple Harvest Retreat next weekend. It's such a nice time of the year. I am trying to settle down and enjoy things a bit.
We moved dad's things to the storage unit, so that is done now. Duane is working on the house and as soon as he is done, we can move ahead to rent it out for dad. It looks so big (well, even bigger) with all the furniture and everything out now. I wish I could rent it! I would love to have all of that room.
You can feel fall in the air in the evenings now.
This is a fall pattern I found that I think would be fun to make! It's from Countryside Patterns...they have lots of cute fall things to make. I'm such a sucker for fall. If you come to my home, you won't see many handmade items for summer, but you will in the fall. Maybe I just feel more creative going into autumn.

Apple Time....

I have been having a difficult week. I went out to my mailbox this
afternoon to find a delightful card and apple kitchen towel from a very
kind and thoughtful friend. Thanks LaVonne! You really made my day and lifted the clouds.
The
Apple Harvest Retreat is coming along. These events are fun but require
a great deal of last minute work. It's just the nature of the business.
So many people just don't get it, but my dear friends do and sure give
me a great deal of encouragement and support. I wanted a little
business and this fits the bill.
I am ready for the new crop of
apples soon to arrive at the farmers markets and I'm ready for fall. I
need to get some "stuff" out of my life or at least over and done with
so I can enjoy my favorite season.
I am hoping that LaVonne and I will be together sometime this fall!
Thank again my friend.

Annabelle is at it again!

I just can't leave that girl alone! While I was gone, she decided to
have her friends over for a tea party to celebrate Tasha Tudor Day. She
was baking up a storm. I think Clarice has had quite an influence on her lately.
She set up her table and knows how to plan a lovely tea for her friends.
After
tea, they decided to work on some sewing projects, so Annabelle brought
out her fabric, patterns and other sewing items. I'm not sure what they
plan to make, but they look pretty serious about it all.
She did
tell me she wished Annabelle from MT could have attended the fun today.
I guess MS Annabelle of MT is a bit down in the dumps lately. I think
she needs a trip to Oregon again.
Happy Tasha Tudor to all the Annabelles and others dolls out there.

Happy Tasha Tudor Day

I was planning to be home today, but Jim and I decided we needed to get
away, so we took off yesterday for the Oregon coast. We're sitting here
looking out over the bay in Astoria. It's a very old Oregon town with
lots of Victorian homes that have been saved.
I read LaVonne's lovely post on FB and got to IM with Suzanne this morning and was invited to Clarice's
book signing! What a morning. The friends I have met through my love of
Tasha Tudor's work and lifestyle, has opened the door to so many
wonderful friends and fun adventures, I just really can't believe it.
So, the new album will wait at home for another day. I have been able
to visit several quilt shoppes on our journey, so I think I'm going to
start on a Tasha quilt. I want to be able to take it with me when we
have our next Gathering...which I am hoping may happen next year????
The framed silhouette in the photo was made my LaVonne last Valentine's Day. I keep
it out in my tearoom all year.