Jamie's Quilt...

Brynwood Needleworks - Jamie's Quilt

My retreat roomie, Jamie, started this quilt while we were in Sebring in February. When we got to Nifty 50s yesterday, she brought out her pieced quilt top to show to the ladies that were there. We all loved it! (Note: Jamie's holding it up sideways. The lines will lie vertically on a bed.)

It's a gift for her niece, who will be graduating from college next month. Jamie has her own longarm machine, so she won't have a problem getting it quilted with time to spare.

When we were in Sebring, I showed her a wide, backing fabric that I have on the bolt in a brown fabric that worked perfectly with her quilt top. She told me how much she needed and I delivered it to her yesterday.

Brynwood Needleworks - Jamie's Quilt Fabrics

 

When she was working on her quilt top, she showed me all the fabric she'd brought along as possibilities for her project. I told her I loved these, but she decided not to use more batiks instead.

She did remember that I loved them, though, so she surprised me when she offered them in exchange for the quilt backing fabric. I was delighted at the idea! Deal done. I'm going to look forward to using these!

I'm working on Jacque's commission today. This one is really special to her - and to me. I'll share it with you soon.

Lemonade From Lemons...

Brynwood Needleworks - My "Roomie", Jamie and Me

Yesterday was the final day of our February Sebring sewing/quilting retreat. We had a great time together! Then, it was time to leave for home.

I went to the hotel parking lot, backed my car to the loading ramp and went around the back of my vehicle to open the lift door, only to realize that my license plate had been stolen!

I called 911 and filed a report with the police officer. She said they would let me know if/when the plate's recovered, but I needed to go to the county DMV (thankfully, right in town) to get a new plate immediately, to get legal again.

Jamie and I loaded up my vehicle and we went to the DMV, where they voided my stolen plates and (at no charge) issued new ones. I left there with a new license plate, but needed screws to mount it on the back of my SUV.

Brynwood Needleworks - Lyle's Dog, Rudy

I asked my iPhone (Siri, with a male voice) where the nearest automotive garage was and "he" sent me to Halvorsen Auto Restyling, Inc., and gave me directions. When I got there, we were greeted by this laid-back guy. His name is Rudy. 

The owner, Lyle, came from the back of the shop and I told him we were in town for a quilting retreat. Then I told him what happened and asked if he had a set of screws I could purchase to mount my plate on the back of my vehicle. He had the screws, attached my license plate and refused payment.

Then, he asked me to tell him more about the retreat. I told him we were quilters, and here's where the story gets really cool.

Brynwood Needleworks - Lyle And His Machines

He asked what kind of quilting we did, and I called Jamie out of the car so we could chat with him. He proceeded to tell us he's a quilter, too, and showed us his machines (right there in is auto shop)!

Brynwood Needleworks - Lyle's Morse and Seiko Industrial Machines

These machines are perfect for his work, but they're also perfect for the bag and wallet making I've been doing. I admit that I was a little envious. But, as we talked, we found out he had more!

Brynwood Needleworks - Lyle's Singer 500A (aka "The Rocketeer" machine)

This is his "George Jetson-looking" Singer. Many of my bag making friends have this one and love it.

Brynwood Needleworks - Lyle's Chandler Industrial Machine

And, Lyle had another workhorse. He uncovered this well-used and still-working Chandler industrial machine. He uses this one for his vehicle upholstery work. Even the wooden table for this one was fabulous!

Brynwood Needleworks - Lyle Halvorsen and Me

Last of all, he told us he rescues cabinets from thrift stores. You know Kenny doesn't have a machine table, and I've been looking for one. He was happy to climb up into his storage loft and show us what he had.

 

Lucky me! Lyle gave me a price, and Jamie and I left with a cabinet for my Kenmore Model 29!!! I'll get Kenny installed today and share photos tomorrow.

Jamie and I believe that it was fate (not Siri) that brought us together yesterday. Pretty cool, right? If you're ever in Sebring, stop at Halvorsen Auto Restyling and tell Lyle (and Rudy) we said "hi" and "Thanks!" He definitely turned a "lemon into lemonade" day for me!!  

Retreat Finishes...

Brynwood Needleworks - Magnolia Bud Table Runner

I finished a UFO this week. I went to the Sebring retreat with four completed paper-pieced quilt blocks from a Grannie Suzannie kit called "Magnolia Bud". I left with a completed table runner.

The pattern called for the blocks to be arranged into a square with a black background, floral fabric. I chose fabrics from my studio, instead, and turned my blocks on-point to make a table runner.

It's finished just in time for Valentine's Day, but I also think it has a bit of a Christmas feel, so I can use it for two holidays. I'm extremely happy with the way it turned out.

Brynwood Needleworks - Kit Bag

 

This was the project that was demonstrated for attendees to make at the retreat. It's a quick project bag that will hold nearly anything. I'll put this into the 2016 Birthday/Christmas gift pile. (The lining is a periwinkle-colored, print fabric that matches the zipper.)

I also completed quite the assortment of selvage blocks to add to my collection. I've told you my plan is to eventually assemble them into a queen-size quilt, haven't I?

Jamie and I are heading home having enjoyed three days away from home. We had a great time and are looking forward to more sewing days spent together in the future.

Tomorrow, I'll share photos of the projects that my other friends worked on (or completed) in Sebring. There are some really beautiful quilt tops on their way to the long-arm, as well as some other fun pieces. Today, I'll enjoy being back home and getting back in the swing here.

If You Want Me, I'll Be Playing...

Brynwood Needleworks - Selvage Block

 

We're here at the Kenilworth Lodge in Sebring, Florida!

 

Jamie and I arrived mid-afternoon yesterday, and many of the ladies were already set up and sewing. It's great catching up with old friends, meeting new ones, and then just chatting while we sew. 

For our first afternoon-into-evening session, I pulled out my ol' standby and starting making selvage blocks. I was so tickled to find a selvage from my dear friend, Michelle Palmer! I had to post this picture on FaceBook to be sure she saw it. I'll work on these again tomorrow for a bit, and then I have another project I'd really like to finish while I'm here, so I'll turn my attention to that.

My pineapple quilt went into a timeout late Sunday. Destiny went on strike and I spent more time "frogging" stitches (you know...rippit rippit) than actual sewing. I'll finish that quilt when I get back home. Until then, I shall play with my girlfriends! 

Tag has a few words to share tomorrow, so I'll show you lots of retreat pictures on Wednesday and show you what I worked on between now and then. 

Hope everyone has a great week!

Almost Done...

Brynwood Needleworks - Pineapple Quilt

I know I told you I wouldn't share photos of this quilt until it was finished, but this has taken a bit a lot longer than I expected!

Brynwood Needleworks - Pineapple Quilt

I'm really happy with the way it's going, and all I have left to quilt is the white border that's outside the orange that you see in this photo.

Brynwood Needleworks - Pineapple Quilt

Once the white border is finished, I'll sew the final orange border to the white, and then I'll sew on the binding.

I'm leaving tomorrow for Sebring with my friend, Jamie. We're sharing a room for a three-day retreat. I can sew the binding (and add a display sleeve) on this quilt to enter in our guild quilt show on the 19th.

I'm also going to take a couple of UFOs to work on while I'm away. It will be nice to have a few more finishes. I'll share photos of our retreat from Sebring, and then get back to work here on Thursday.
 

Retreat Recap...

I couldn't end my trip without posting photographs of some of the fabulous

 quilts created by my friends. There were so many beautiful quilt tops sewn

 together over the past three days - and not all were the group project pattern.

Alice made this stunning quilt top. She was set up on the table behind me, so

I got to watch her work on it. Alice is also the new owner of Prissy! Since I

brought my new Crescendo home, I've been trying to find a new home for

my hardworking, reliable Prissy. I took her to use at the retreat and let 

everyone know that she was "adoptable". Alice played with her and decided

to take her home with her. I'm really thrilled that they have found each other.

This is the quilt top my "roomie", Melinda finished. She started this top a few

years ago and decided that fall was the perfect time to complete her UFO.

I think it turned out lovely. She was right...it was time she finished this one.

Betty is one of my friends from the guild. She always makes colorful 

quilts and this one is no exception. I love her black and red poppy quilt.

I'll look forward to Show and Tell at the guild when she's got it all done!

My friend (and retreat hostess), Susan Slaton of Wazoo Quilts made

this quilt from a precut pack of batiks that a number of the women

bought when we went shopping. She'll add borders and her stellar

longarm skills to this pretty patchwork to create a stunning new quilt.
I wouldn't be surprised if she had it finished by the weekend!

This is Paulie's black and white version of the retreat project

"Jelly Roll Jam II" (free pattern from Fat Quarter Shop. Love it!

Here's Sandi's version in fall and jewel-toned batiks. Yummy!

This quilt is really elegant. Gladys chose a soft, soothing palette for her design.

This is my new pal, Linda Macklin. She made this project quilt using

fall-colored, ACORN-themed fabrics! Squeee! I threatened to abscond

with this beauty. It reminded me of Wisconsin whenever I walked past it.

(You may think she's smiling at the camera, but she was just taunting me!)

I first met Dawna at the Sebring retreat I attended last year at the 

Kenilworth Inn. Remember, there were four "Donna"s and one Dawna?

There were only two Donnas and one Dawna at this one. hee hee

I like how she arranged her six-piece blocks from light to darks. It made

for a completely different effect for the blocks. It's very spring-like, too!

  My last picture to share with you is the official "roommates" photo of me with my new friend, Melinda. I really enjoyed getting to know her and  sharing this retreat in her company. Until we see each other at a future retreat or quilt show...Wishing all "Happy Quilting and Happy Hearts".

Tuesdays With Tag - Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone...

Hiiii, Eeeeverybody. 

sigh

Welcome to a boooorin' week at Brynwood.

THIS is what I feel like tellin' Mom about her goin' away for a few days!

I don't like it one, single bit. She thinks Dad and I like batchin' it, but nope.

Not us guys. You ask me...she can talk to the butt!

She'll come home and 'spect me to run out to greet her.

Dad will let me out the front door and I'll be all, like...yeah. No.

I'm gonna practice "walkin' away" and see if I can actually do it when

she comes home. I always have these big plans to do this and give her

a hard time when she gets home. Then, she drives in the yard and I get

all Corgi stupid...pant...pant...bark..."ARRooOOOOooo! Mom's back!"

I start frappin' around in circles and then jump all over her when she

walks in the house. She'll bend over and say, "There's my little man!"

(After she kisses Dad, of course.) She's always glad to see us again.

I have to admit there really "ain't no sunshine when she's gone".

But when she comes home, she won't be able to tell from us.

Let's just keep it our little secret, ok?

Don't feel too bad for us. She'll be back home tomorrow. 

woot! woot!

I'll see you next week! 'til then...

"Wag Like Ya Mean It!"

I'm Retreating...

I'm in Sebring! I arrived around 1:00 yesterday afternoon and within an hour,

I was visiting, meeting new people, catching up with friends - and sewing. 

I decided that my Piecemakers fabric was part of my first project.

I purchased this kit from a shop in Cedarburg when we were in Wisconsin. 

The fabric is from Kathy Schmitz' "Piecemakers" line. Remember when I won a 

giveaway on Kathy's blog? I received this fabric line in a full jelly roll and a 

layer cake. Then I got some yardage so I could make a whole quilt. I love this

line so much that, if I'm not careful, it will become part of my "permanent" 

stash...too precious to use. I must cut it up before it achieves permanent status.

I finished my Sew and Go™ Sewer's Wallet shortly after dinner and now I'll be

  able to use it during the rest of the retreat. It has a coin/bill section; a place for 

my name tag (or in this case, business cards); and glasses case on the front and...

a place for my scissors and other sewing tools on the back...or the whole wallet can be used for travel instead - passport, airline tickets and such.   I know I'll make it again, but it will go a lot faster if I use pre-quilted  fabrics next time. I think the quilting (before I could cut out the parts)  took me the most time to do. So, do you like it? What do you think?
If anyone is looking for me, I'll be one of the smiling faces in our work  room at Inn on the Lakes in Sebring. I'll be working on a quilt today.
Tag will be back tomorrow.  I bet he and Handsome are having a ball together!

Jelly Roll Jam II Quilt...

Yesterday I chose the fabric I'll be using for our retreat group project. All I had to do was go shopping in the studio! (I have a boat-load few jelly rolls from which to choose.) I thought it might be fun to use this colorway from Minick & Simpson's Midwinter Reds. It's a Moda fabric, of course.   If you're interested in seeing what the whole collection looks like (before I make my Jelly Roll Jam II quilt, click this link to see every, luscious fabric!

I'm considering this polka dot fabric for the backing, but I won't make my final decision until the quilt top is done. I may end up not using the tans at all.

The pattern (free from The Fat Quarter Shop - with a link below) only calls for one jelly roll to create a 36 1/2" x 38 1/2" quilt. I'm planning to make a large  one, using two jelly rolls. I'll see how many blocks I can make without the tans.

If you'd like to make your own Jelly Roll Jam II quilt, let me know. I think it would be fun to share all the images in a future blog post. I'll make my quilt top at the retreat, but if you want to make one, too, I'll set up a Flickr page.    Click HERE to download your own (free) Jelly Roll Jam II Pattern. I'm also embedding the Fat Quarter shop video tutorial for this quilt into this post for you. Grab a cuppa and relax while you watch it! Direct link: http://youtu.be/sf98KddO1Uk   Enjoy! More to come on this project after the retreat...

Quilting At The Kenilworth...

When I arrived around 1 pm yesterday, there were already gals working 

on projects. I immediately set my up machine (in the foreground of this 

picture) and got busy. I brought Miss Prissy along with me for this adventure.

My roommate, Linda is in the lime green shirt across from me. Betty 

(a DPQG guild member) is next to Linda, and then Betty's friend, Dallas

 sits next to me on my right. She lives in Englewood, and she's a new friend

to me. She and Betty P. have been friends for over 20 years.

 We're all set up in the ballroom at the historic Kenilworth Inn in Sebring, FL.

There is plenty of room for the forty women who have attended this retreat.

 Heck. We even have room to dance if we really want to!

 Susan Slaton (our hostess this week), shared a great technique for creating

  this fabulous, colorful quilt. Everyone gathered around with notebooks or

cameras so we could memorialize the tutorial. Many of us will try it as soon

as we get back home. Some will get fabric and try it today or tomorrow!

 It's really simple the way Susan demonstrated it. We'll see how easy

it is when we each try it ourselves. Susan always has great ideas to share.

 This is my version of the other quilt Susan shared this week. I have each of

my blocks laid out and I'm in the process of sewing them together. Don't 

worry, this isn't the final layout. I just set them up this way so that I could 

double-check that the block components were all facing the right way. 

There's a mistake on one of the blocks (which I caught). Can you see it? 

I might bring back a little something for the first person to post the right 

answer in the comment section below. (If you're a "no reply" commenter,

please leave an email address in your note so I know how to reach you!)

I'm going to finish this quilt top today and then I'll show you what else 

I'll be working on while I'm away. It's so much fun meeting new people

and enjoying our shared love of quilting. It's already a great retreat.