Design Wall Monday--What a mess

Recently I snuck away for a long weekend of sewing. While there I finished my sample for an upcoming quilting class I am going to teach (my first class). After finishing the sample I could mess with my fun stuff. On my wall currently is the 3 compass' that were made prior to making the sample for the class. Here is the fun fabric made into compass' that I played with before I cut into the LQS fabric. I am hoping to make more of the compass' with the green stripes. The 9 patch diamonds are something that I put together last year. The pattern calls for all 2 1/2" strips. I would rather not use strips for the outer edges, so template making went into play. These blocks are now too big for the case they were carried to retreat in. I brought them back next to the cutting mat and plopped them on the wall until I have more time to work on them.

To get a break from the quilts--I made a pincushion out of a peanut butter container. I like to put sand in the cushion, it always feels better to me when sticking the pins in. Our family loves fresh lettuce. It is time to start the planting. My favorite way to grow lettuce is in a pot. This allows you to move it for a longer harvest. The pot is inside on the cold days, outside in the sun on the warm days (60's right now for us), and will let me move it to a shady spot as the temperatures rise into the 80's. Lettuce is a crop that gets very bitter when it is in full sun for the summer. This mix has parsley, spinach, beets (for greens only) and curly red lettuce. Nothing is better than a fresh salad straight from the garder. Others are always commenting how good it looks. This pot is about 6 days old. I start with plastic wrap over the top and remove it as the sprouts grow.

Still working on the hand quilting. I am getting ready to mark the borders.

See the other post for Design Wall Monday's at Judy's Blog

Hope you can get those fingers dirty & throw a few stitches in here and there. Just Another Quilter in the Midwest!

Recent Retreat

I had the pleasure of getting out of town for a few days. It was at the beginning of the month. I am a little slow getting pics here. I didn't take very many. I thought that I would show you 2 of the great quilts. I am not sure that they were actually made there. I know the Christmas one was not. I really like how the colors work in this Christmas quilt. I am not sure that I will make it in Christmas colors, but I think that this quilt goes into my future quilt list.

The other quilt is made from antique blocks that were purchased. I really like how she finished the top. Not something that I would have come up with. The blocks don't show well but they look like shirt plaids.

Myself, I worked on the sample piece for the upcoming class. I am excited that it is finished. The cutting directions are done. I have spent the time quilting it. I turned it in to the LQS on Monday. The big day is tax day--April 15th. Here is the final pic. I think that it turned out great. I really like the "good" fabric.
Man did I make the most of the fabric I had. More than once I didn't think I would have enough. The two blue sashings are different. I bumped up fabric yardage for that fabric. The blue green batik is also not what I purchased for that area. What nice shopping can be done at "Retreat" when others open their stash for you.

I have been back to hand quilting on the "Sister to the Lodge" quilt. I am almost to the outer borders. It will be nice to finish something. To date the teaching piece is the only one finished in 2010. I am looking forward to showing my design wall on Monday. It is a mess!

Oh. The oldest started drivers ed. Scary. The husband is taking her out now that she has her permit.

Keep sewing away.

Just Another Quilter