Pre-Paducah

My friend, Nancy, flew in from California on Saturday, and that is when the fun began!  We sewed like crazy women on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday morning.  Nancy was finishing up her Home for the Holidays quilt by Primitive Gatherings so she could deliver it to Merry (hostest with the mostest for our Paducah trip), from Merry's Stitchins in Jesup, IA, to be machine quilted. I'm working on this quilt too, but was not as close to a finish as Nancy.  We also prepped more wool applique blocks to take with us on the bus trip, and I had a jewelry order that had to be finished before we left.  Whew!  Those couple of days just flew by!  

On Tuesday, we headed north to Merry's shop.  Of course, we had to make a stop in Hills, IA  at Inspirations Quilt Shop (you know...because there isn't enough shopping in Paducah!).  I thought I took a few pictures there, but I'm not finding them!

Next stop, Merry's Stitchins!  The bus didn't leave until Wednesday morning, but we went Tuesday and spent the night with Merry.  She had a quick errand to run, so we went to Waterloo and had supper at Lonestar - wow, was it good!  One of the best filets that I've ever had.  Here is Merry browsing the menu...

And just a couple of pics of her wonderful shop.  If you haven't been there, you should go - it is definitely worth the trip!  I will get this Primitive Gatherings quilt finished some day - would you believe that I have all of the blocks finished, just need to put it together and stitch the border (remember...I'm the Queen of finished blocks and unfinished quilts).

 Iowa vs Iowa State...

 Aren't these adorable??

Merry has kits, just call her shop (319-827-6703) and Jennifer will fix you up.

The ladies started arriving at Merry's bright and early on Wednesday morning - all raring to go!  We loaded up the bus and off we went.  On my Instagram I posted this picture of our bus driver, and asked that everyone pray for him, as he would be spending the next 4 days with 50 women!  I think he got quite the education.  He was an awesome bus driver, with a wonderful sense of humor!

 We left Merry's at 8:00 a.m. and I think we arrived at our hotel in Marion, IL around 6:00 p.m.  We stopped in Hannibal, MO for lunch and a visit to a couple of quilt shops there.  But all of those hours on the bus gave us lots of stitching time, and it was nice to get some blocks finished...

These still need some details added...

It was great to be able to be so productive on the bus.  Our hotel was about an hour away from the show, so we had a little stitching time every day.  Perfect!

I'll stop here for now - more on the show and the vendors later!

I have been swamped with orders ever since I got home from Dallas, but I did take a break one day and prepped a couple of wool applique blocks to take with me to Paducah.  I'm so excited about going - have never been there, but always wanted to go.  I won't be vending, just visiting!  My friend, Nancy, is coming from California, and we are taking a bus trip to the show, so I wanted to make sure that I have plenty of things to stitch on, since there will be a lot of bus time!  

This is a free block of the month from Buttermilk Basin...

 This is also a BB pattern, all prepped and ready to stitch -

 We have a big order going to Ohio, here are a dozen pendants with bling...

 And then we have Ozzie...just being Ozzie!

Now I guess I better get some cleaning done before Nancy gets here.

Have a great week!

And the winner is...

LISA BOYER!!  I've already been in contact with Lisa, and am happy that she is super excited about winning Diane's awesome new book.  If you didn't win, I urge you to add this book to your library when you can - it really is a good one!

And in other news - here is what is happening at my house.  The usual...getting ready to rumble...

Callie is very happy that her daddy saved these boxes for her to play in...

 Ozzie wants me to put down the hand quilting and let him be a lap kitty (what a face!)...

This is my new ironing station (I don't know what else to call it!) - bought this at a local antique shop and put my big board on the top - much prettier that my ugly old ironing board, and love having the extra storage.

 I worked on this a little bit in Dallas and finished it up at home.  I need to get the next block prepped.

 I ordered a bundle of the new Bee Creative fabric by Deb Strain.  Not sure what I will make with it, but since hubby raises bees, I think we need a bee quilt!

 I cut out a bunch of little star bursts last night and will be making LOTS of flag pendants today!

 While I am working my fingers to the bone, Ozzie will be next to me doing a little of this...

Back to flags!

Have a great day!

Scrap Quilt Secrets review and giveaway!

Do you know Diane Knott from Butterfly Threads blog?  Well, now she is also Diane Knott, author of the new book called Scrap Quilt Secrets!  I've always liked Diane's blog - she posts lots of fun stuff, among my favorite are her 10-minute-tip posts.  When Diane asked if I would be interested in reviewing her new book, I of course, said YES!  And, I'm not sorry for doing it - you really need to check it out.  What I love most about it is that it is good for everyone.  All quilters, whether they be newbies or have been quilting for years - there really is something for absolutely everyone.  I love that there are some easy quilts, some with curved piecing, paper piecing, applique - you name it - it's covered!

The book starts with Diane giving you some things to think about when you are starting a new quilt and then she introduces you to a great SCRAP system.  I have heard a lot of people say that they just like to buy kits, because they can't choose fabrics that end up all looking great together in a quilt.  Kits are nice for that very reason - but really...everyone can choose fabrics that will play nicely together.  Diane gives you terrific tips on doing just that.

And then it's on to all of the quilts!  I've been trying for weeks to pick a favorite, and I can't do it. Some days this one is my favorite - it's just so striking.  It looks really difficult, but in the book there are tons of tips about how to make the arcs and step-by-step instructions on curved piecing.  She also gives instructions for more than one way to piece it.  So cool!

Some days Windblown Wishes is my favorite

I love all of the pieces in this one and that red is the accent color.  So many great quilts - I just can't choose one favorite!

And another thing that is so fun about Diane's new book?  She included blank quilt diagrams of all the quilts in the book.  You can copy these and sit down with your crayons or markers and play with different color placement to really make these quilts your own.

Trust me...you really will love Diane's new book and you can enter right here to win a copy of Scrap Quilt Secrets.  Oh, and if that's not enough, you can also go to all of the other blogs that are included in the hop and sign up to win there!  Make sure to check them all out...

3/21    C&T Blog

3/22    Bonnie Hunter at Quiltville

3/23    Lori at Humble Quilts

3/24    Karen at Nana Girl Quilts  

3/25    Audrey at Quiltyfolk

3/26    Pat Sloan at Pat Sloan

3/27    Valerie at  Val's Quilting Studio

3/28    Kelly at  Pinkadot Quilts

3/29    Victoria Findlay Wolfe at  Bumble Beans Inc

3/30    Rachaeldaisy at Blue Mountain Daisy

3/31    Angie at Quilting on the Crescent

4/1      Julie at  Me and My Stitches

4/2      Barb at Fun with Barb

If you want to enter to win, just leave me a comment below and tell me if you like to buy kits or if you make your own fabric choices. PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU ARE A NO-REPLY BLOGGER THAT YOU INCLUDE YOUR E-MAILL ADDRESS OR YOUR ENTRY WILL NOT BE INCLUDED!!!  SO FAR ALMOST HALF OF THE ENTRIES ARE "NO-REPLY".  I will draw a name on April 6th and C&T Publishing will mail your book to you.

Have a fun April Fool's Day!