Some of This, Some of That - May5th

Alas, no appliqué!  But I'm determined to get back to it this week - even if it's only those eyes for the elephants.

Again, I have yardage to report (surprise to me!).  Used 2 yards to finish my WIP #10.  Then I used another yard for the Festival quilt I started. I also began another VA quilt - for another .5 yard. Lastly, I took apart that hexie flower in my tut where I used red thread and resewed it.  So the YTD use now stands at 41.89 yards .  

And from the retreat - finally had a chance to have DH hold the quilt top #10 up for a photo:

VA lap quilt ready to sandwich

On my design wall:

Start of another quilt I saw at Shelly's Prairie Moon Quilts.

Another D9P - busy, huh?

And from my garden:

This plant ideally likes 45 inches of rain - some in spring and some in fall and we had only 4.5 inches so far this year. Our rainy season ends June 30th.

But it fruited for us!

 It is so delicious! Hardly acidic and so sweet. What a nice treat from the backyard.

Here's the next one which should be ready in a couple of month.  And another forming:

All started from a bought pineapple.

So what are you up to?  Would love to see your eye candy - from the sewing room or the garden. Leave me a comment and I'll come by.  Bye for now.

WIPs Be Gone Week 18

Back from retreat - what a grand time we had at the Viña de Lestonnac in Temecula, CA.  It was a beautiful place.  The weather couldn't have been nicer or the facility better.  They had set up cutting tables and ironing stations for us.  Once our work stations were as we wanted, they came and taped down the cables so no one would trip.  There were bathrooms on each end of the hall, and a full kitchen to use.

Where we went! A beautiful retreat center

in the heart of wine country in SoCal.

We even had hot air balloon sitings one morning - getting ready for balloon festival.

Mom working on her disappearing nine-patch - she got the top done!

The quilting room couldn't have been nicer.  It has a quilting libraryin three of the corners!

Of course we had to sample the local wines!

Here we all are at Primitive Gatherings, CA store. We also went
to The Temecula Quilt Co. - two stores with big online presence.

And while there, I got a WIP done - #10 - a lap quilt for our local VA hospital besides the fun make and takes they had for us:

We celebrated Mom's birthday - 89! - at our last meal there. It was her actual birthday.

 So looking forward to our next retreat.

Today's surgery for mom went very smoothly.  She is a trooper.  Thanks for all your prayers and good wishes.  They worked!

So how are you doing on your WIPs? Would love to see - doesn't have to be a finish, but we'll admire those, too.  Linky below - remember it doesn't have to be a new post, just one that shows a WIP.  Ends Monday, midnight.  I'm linking to Sarah's Can I get a Whoop, Whoop?, Amanda's for Finish it Up Fridays, Richard's Link a finish Friday, and Julie for her Pet Project Show. Lots of eye candy on the NET.  Have a great weekend!

An InLinkz Link-up

Some of This, Some of That

No Slow Sunday stitching this week as I'm packing to go on a retreat, leaving the guest room and bathroom ready for company Wednesday when I come back and leaving the kitchen ready for DH to be on his own for three days. Phew!  My Mom is going on retreat with me, and then I'll be bringing her home with me for her "clean-up" surgery (that's what the dr called it) on Thursday morning.

So for some stats.  I used a yard for one baby quilt I'm working on and 1.75 on another baby quilt. Totally different quilts. So my total YTD is 38.39 yds out.  

On my design wall - the center of one of the baby quilts:

This is an antique rose star block I read about on Mary Huey's blog. Click here to read about it.  I was so enchanted with it I bought the template set.  It is easier than I thought.  And it makes a big star - 20" point to Point; 18" side to side.  Check it out.  All one needs is one star to make a baby quilt.  Yes, I make smaller baby quilts - not crib quilts - baby quilts.  As a mom and grandma of two preemies, I've discovered that the 30- 36 inch quilts are much easier to use with newborns and under one year olds in bassinets and play pens, strollers or car seats, so that's what I gift to new parents. For this star I'm planning to put rows around it and eventually triangles with a finishing border. And since here in CA we have such hot summers, probably just fabric for the back instead of flannel.

I still havent' done the elephant's eyes so maybe at retreat that will be my applique on Tuesday.  I'm going to link to Judy's Patchwork Times, Lyn's BOMs Away, and Esther's WoW.  See you there for lots of eye candy.

Bye for now!