The sweet smell of retreat is in the air!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol
I am going to a retreat in just 15 days. I am so excited! I still have some things to get done before the 17th even gets here. Things like finishing my challenge quilt. I did manage to get it under the quilting machine needle today. A quick meandering pattern should be enough. I also need to make something up for little gifts for the other retreaters. Haven't quite decided what yet but I need to decide soon or I will be out of time. Plus I need to decide on a quilt to start while at retreat. I figured it would be a lot easier if I just started something new to take with me to work on. But I would like to have all the fabric cut before I leave.
I could probably get a lot more done if Walmart wasn't expecting me to show up for work! LOL

Hope you had a great Labor Day weekend!

Rhonda

It has been a while since I last posted. I am going to try and catch up a little bit today. lol

I have been working quite a bit lately so that could be my excuse for not posting. If you don't buy that I have others. lol

I haven't been able to get much sewing done lately. I really need to get buys though. Retreat is just 3 weeks away and I still have my challenge quilt to quilt and bind. Knowing myself, I will probably wait until the last minute.

I received a wonderful little package from Judy in North Carolina the other day. Judy is one of my sisters friends that I met while there a few weeks ago. The pin she sent me is gorgeous and I think would work great on a purse. Now I need to find the time to make one.

I am going to a sewing day tomorrow at Bloomington. Jean, the hostess, is one of our members from our Quilting In Indiana yahoo group. The day will be spent sewing, maybe, with some of our other members at a quilt shop in Bloomington, Shiisa Quilt shop.

Anyway, here are some photos from North and South Carolina.



This is my sister Dawn, with out part of her head (new camera, lol). Actually, this is how she looks most of the time. LOL Sorry Dawn!


This is Judy and Dawn, working away on their wall quilt.


This is Sharon, I think she is the head of the hospitality committee! Wonderful cook!


This is Ann and Leanne. Two other members of the hospitality committee. Also, both great cooks.


This is the finished wall quilt we worked on while at Dawn's.



This my niece Aimee and her two children. Zach and Isabell, I think you can probably tell which is which.



This is Jill holding Isabell.

The remaining pictures are of a bridge in Charleston, South Carolina. It really amazed me and I had to take as many photos that I could while traveling 70 mph in traffic.

We have arrived home after a short trip to South Carolina and North Carolina. It was a long 11 hour trip home. I will have lots of photos to share the next few days. That is if work doesn't interfere.

We left very early Thursday morning to go to South Carolina to see my niece's new baby. And, of course, to see Zach and Aimee also. Delivered a few goodies to them also, including the wall quilt for the babies room. Isabelle is gorgeous of course!!!

Friday morning we left for North Carolina to visit my sister and her husband for a couple of days. While I was there I met quite a few of my sisters great friends. Also taught a quilting class to a few of them.

Hi Judy, Elizabeth, Andrea, Carol, Sharon, Ann, Leanne, & Dawn of course. I probably forgot a couple of you but my memory isn't very good anymore. Sorry! It was great to meet all of you!

I have already got some laundry going so I don't have to spend all day tomorrow doing that.

Hope all of you had a great weekend!

Rhonda

Now that my niece Aimee has received the wall quilt for her new baby, I can post a picture.


Hope you are enjoying your weekend!

Rhonda

I love seeing all the Tote Bag and Purse patterns available now. I have even purchased some of them but they have always intimidated me to the point that I hadn't made any of them. That changed yesterday.
A few weeks ago, an online friend, Sharman Neel, sent me two tote patterns, a charm pack and coordinating fabric. I made it yesterday afternoon. It went together very easily and only took about 4 hours to make. Thank you so much Sharman! I love it!


The pattern is available at Quilts Illustrated and called the Charm Party Tote.

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

Rhonda

I received an award today!!! I opened my email today to find a note from my friend Debi Wind awarding me the "Wylde Women Award".
Debi creates such wonderful art! You must check out her blog and see it!

This award was created by Tammy Vitale to send love and acknowledgment to women who brighten your day, teach you new things and live their lives fully with generosity and joy.

These are the rules of this award:

1. You can give it to one or one hundred or any number in between - it's up to you. Make sure you link to their site in your post.

2. Link back to this blogsite (http://www.TammyVitale.com/) (so I can go visit all these wonderful women.)

I wish to bestow the honor of this award to:

Mary L.

Shannon A.

Sandy C.

Judy D.

Laurie M.

Thank you ladies for your inspiration!!!

Have a great weekend!!

Rhonda

It has been a few days since I posted. Thought it was time to put something new up on the blog.

I spent Tuesday and Wednesday freezing corn for this winter. It is going to be so good!! Mom and I worked part of it yesterday. I just wish I would get some zucchini. Need to make some more cake! Have you tried the Zucchini Coffee Cake out yet? Let me know what you think.

In a few short weeks the plan is for me to teach a quilting class for my sister's friends. I designed something just for the occasion. I have the top pieced but need to do the quilting yet. They asked for a Christmas design and that is what they got. I love this fabric.


What do you think? I love to hear your opinions.

Have a great day!!!

Rhonda

What fun we had yesterday!!!! My Mom, Jill and I were able to get 29 quarts of Slaw in the freezer. It didn't take as long as what we had thought it would. This Slaw is so much better than the Creamy Coleslaw most people eat. It uses a Sweet and Sour Dressing. Here is the recipe. Let me know how you like it!

Freezer Coleslaw

1 Medium Head of Cabbage
1 Green Pepper, shredded
1 Carrot, shredded
1 tsp. Salt

Sweet and Sour Dressing:

2 c. Apple Cider Vinegar
1/4 c. water
1 tsp. celery seed
1 tsp. whole mustard seed
2 c. sugar


Combine all dressing ingredients in saucepan. Boil for 1 minute. Cool completely.

Shred cabbage. Add salt to shredded cabbage. Let set for 1 hour. Squeeze excess water from cabbage. Add green pepper and carrot. Stir in Sweet and Sour Dressing. Freeze.

Have a great day!

Rhonda

I have been working on a class sample the last few days. I designed it in EQ6 but it seems that I always move things around in the design when I go to actually make it. I need to get really busy and get it done so I can make the supply list. But first I had other things to do.

I ended up making a cake this morning. This is a family favorite around here. So I thought I would share the recipe with you today. I actually used zucchini right out of our garden.

Zucchini Coffee Cake

2 c. flour
3/4 c. sugar
3/4 c. brown sugar, firmly packed
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 c. chopped pecans
3 eggs, slightly beaten
1 c. oil
1 Tbsp. vanilla (3 tsp.)
2 c. shredded zucchini

Topping:

1/4 c. brown sugar
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 c. chopped pecans


Lightly grease a 9 x 13 baking dish. Combine flour, sugar, brown sugar, soda, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon and pecans in a large bowl. Combine eggs, oil, vanilla and zucchini in another bowl. Add egg mixture to dry ingredients. Mix well. Pour into prepared pan.

Combine all topping ingredients in a small bowl. Sprinkle over batter in pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

Enjoy!!!! We do!

Hope you have a great day!

Rhonda

A wonderful quilting friend just started her own blog. If you get a chance check it out. She may have only her first post but at least you can say you knew her when she first started out in the business. LOL

http://sew4uandme.blogspot.com/

Yesterday, I was able to finish the wall quilt for my niece's new baby. The baby isn't due for a couple more weeks so I am ahead of schedule. I can't post a photo of it because I am sure Aimee would peek! Wouldn't you Aimee!

I also was able to get my blocks for the lottery on our Quilting In Indiana group put together. So here is a photo of those. The instructions for the block can be found at:

http://www.quilterscache.com/N/NextDoorNeighbor2Block.html



Since I can't post a photo of the quilt I just got done, I will share some photos that my Dad took on their trip to Colorado. I think these photos were taken in Kansas. They are Wind Powered Generators. I wouldn't mind having a couple of those in my back yard!







Hope you are having a wonderful summer day!!!

Rhonda

July 6, 2008

Yesterday I received a box in the mail from my Secret Sister! What a great gift to receive on my birthday. Here is a photo of everything she sent me.


Thank you to my wonderful Quilting In Indiana Secret Sister!

I also was surprise to get $100 from my wonderful husband to spend at the local quilt shop. When I say local quilt shop, I meant Sharynn's in North Vernon. I stimulated the economy somewhat at that time! lol

Anyway, I had a great weekend and birthday!

Hope you have had a great weekend also!

Rhonda

July 4, 2008

Happy 4th of July!!

There are no exciting activities here at our house today. It has been rainy, dreary weather here. We are going to a cookout tomorrow afternoon. It is my IL's annual BBQ Rib cookout. And of course, tomorrow is my 48th birthday. I have already received all my birthday gifts. I got a digital camera and some fabric from all the kids.

I have been working on the quilt for my niece's baby that is due in a few short weeks. The piecing went fast but now the quilting is going slow. That isn't my favorite part of quilting. But I am sure it is going to be done in time. When this project is done I will get started on a class sample. I need to get it designed tonight so I can pick up the fabric tomorrow at Sharynn's. Then there are 2 challenges to do. One is due before the middle of September and the other is due in November. I have the one for September designed so I just need to get the fabric and make it.

Well that is it for today! Hope you are enjoying your holiday!

Rhonda

July 1, 2008

Wow, the beginning of a new month! One of my favorites since my birthday is in July. I already know what I am getting from all the kids. Why do I know? Because I told them what to get. lol A new digital camera and some fabric. My daughter has been kind enough to tell me that all has been purchased. I wouldn't trust her with any secrets! I didn't even have to ask her, she just blurted it out when she came home with the purchases. No future for her in a government job that requires secrecy!

Yesterday was our 7th Wedding Anniversary. My wonderful DH got me a $100 gift certificate to one of the quilt shops in Madison called Margies Country Store. I like going there because she always has a great selection of fabric in her clearance area. Who can pass up fabric at 50% off! I know I can't. What did I get Greg? He told me 2 things he would like to have. So I got him both. A Dewalt grinder and a set of Craftsman sockets. He said it was like Christmas yesterday morning when he got up! We are going with all the kids but Micky out to eat tomorrow evening. Plans are to go to Cracker Barrel. Should be fun!

I am still working on my Lonestar Cabin quilt but have gotten quite a bit done on it. I have all 288 small diamonds completed. I have been working on putting all of those together into the 32 large diamonds. That is almost done also. Once those are put together though, I will have to put that project aside for a little while. I need to start on a wall quilt for my nieces new baby. The baby is due July 24th so I better get busy.

That's it for today! Hope to share some good photos soon. Waiting on that new camera! lol

Rhonda

June 26,2008

Things have been pretty quiet around here lately. I have been working on finishing up those 288 diamonds for the Lonestar Cabin quilt. I am down to only needing to do 62 more and the first few strips are already on those.

No pictures today. I haven't finished anything to take a picture of. Maybe in a few days. I hope to have all those diamonds done by then. Then I need to start on a wall quilt for my niece's new baby.

I have been thinking I need to go through all my projects and make a list. A list of what needs done to them to have them finished. Get those UFO' s done so I can make room for more.

That is it for today. I know not much!

Have a great day!

Rhonda

June 23, 2008

Over the weekend I did some playing around on my Mom's embroidery machine. This is what I came up with. I should have pressed it before the picture.


Have a great day!!

Rhonda

June 22, 2008

My sister sent pictures of the quilt we made her. These are photos of the quilt on her bed with a bed ruffle.






Have a great day!!!

Rhonda

June 19, 2008

Have you noticed the new layout for my blog? I thought I needed to brighten it up a lot. Do you like it, let me know.

I have received comments on my blog from several people. I don't know how to reply to them. Haven't figured that out yet. Could someone leave me a comment and tell me how to do that? I am computer illiterate. lol

The photos I post aren't very good either. I can tell you why though. My digital camera is 7 years old. When I bought it back then it was top of the line. But you know how things are. You buy something one year and it is obsolete the next. I have asked my kids for a new camera for my birthday next month. I think I may just get it. Yippee!!!! You will actually see decent photos on my blog. LOL

I spent yesterday working on my Batik Happy Block swap. I have all my blocks done. I will mail them once Jill gets her blocks done for the swap. I think she has 15 of her 50 done. They are really easy and go together really fast so it won't take long. We are way ahead of the deadline which is August 15th. We are doing this swap in our Quilting In Indiana group.

I thought today I would work on some blocks to send for the Quilts of Valor quilts. One of the ladies in our group participates in that and gave us the instructions for the blocks last Saturday at our sewing day. These quilts are made for injured service men and women in our state. A very worthwhile cause. You might want to check on the organization in your state.

Well, that is about it for today. Have a wonderful day!

Rhonda

June 17, 2008

My sister received her quilt today. From what I gathered on the phone this evening, she is happy with it. I guess I won't get it back after all. Darn it!!

This is it! This photo was taken at our Sewing Day last Saturday. That is Angel peeking over the top. She is such a sweet girl! She is really tall too! There are two other people behind that quilt but they are a little shorter. LOL



Hope you had a great day!!!

Rhonda

June 16th, 2008

If you have a blog, you know how hard it is to come up with a title each time you post. My solution---just have the date as the title. So that is what you will see as the titles on my posts.

My sister's quilt is now in South Carolina for a short visit then will be on to North Carolina tomorrow. I guess you could say it is taking the scenic route to her. I am anxious to find out what she thinks of it. If you hear screaming it may be her.

I had planned to post yesterday telling all, well some, about our sewing day Saturday. But I got busy Sunday and didn't get it done. I got up Sunday morning and took a shower and got ready for church. After church I thought I might as well mow the yard. I got that done and took another shower. Got the vacuum hooked up on the pool and did that job. Just got that done when Greg came home and said his brother needed some help setting his tobacco. So off to the field I go. Spent 5 hours doing that. I wish I had thought ahead and took the sunscreen. I am quite a bit red right now. Anyway, got home from there about 8 p.m. and had to take another shower. 3 showers in one day!!!

So I do need to tell about our sewing day on Saturday. We had a blast!!!! I think we had a total of 17 people come that day. Some for just a little while and others for the whole day. The last ones left about 7 p.m. I didn't get much sewing done but had a lot of fun just chatting with old and new friends. We took a road trip to one of our nearby quilt shops. I think they were glad to see us. Maybe not. We were there for about an hour past their closing time. The owner, Sharynn Patterson, gave everyone 10% off their purchase. That was so sweet of her. Sharynn and her employees are so nice. I love going in her shop. I did purchase 3 new patterns and a stencil. One of the patterns was for my daughter Jill. It is the Sassy Bag by Lazy Girl Designs. Jill has been making some of the Wonder Wallets by Lazy Girl so I thought this would be a great pattern for her.

Today I made 2 blocks for the block lottery on our Quilting In Indiana group. The pattern chosen by the winner this month is Kansas Dugout on the Quilters Cache website. Great website if you are ever looking for a pattern. Here are photos of the two blocks I made. I didn't get a straight shot of one of the blocks so it looks kind of funny.





















This is the better photo of the two. I guess I must not have been wobbling as much. LOL
























See what I mean about being wobbly! LOL

I got these 2 blocks done today plus 42 Batik Happy Blocks for a swap I am participating in. They are turning out really great. Tomorrow it will be more Happy Blocks!

See ya later!!!!!!!


Rhonda

June 13th

I finally got the binding put on the quilt my Mom and I made for my sister. Tomorrow it will be going home with Mom. Sunday it will make its way to North Carolina. I plan to post a photo on Monday. By then she will have seen it. It was a large project and we are glad it is done.

Tomorrow is one of our sewing days here in Deputy. Some of the members of our Quilting In Indiana group will be getting together to just sew. Some I have met but some I haven't and am looking forward to meeting them. We always have a great time. I think we get more eating and chatting done more than anything. I think this is going to be our largest group since we started doing this. My daughter is even decided to go also. She wants to makes some wallets from the Wonder Wallet pattern by Lazy Girl Designs. She made one Wednesday along with a purse. She did really good.

For the last few months I have been working on a quilt called Lonestar Cabin. I started it back in March but have had to put it aside several times for other things. The pattern is from the magazine Quilts With Style. There are 32 diamonds in the quilt. Each diamond consists of 9 log cabin diamonds. Here is a photo of one of the 32 diamonds.








Hope you are having a great day!




Rhonda