Fall Quilt Camp 2011

I went to camp again at Camp Horseshoe in September. As usual, it was fantastic! I completed 6 projects. It was probably the most productive I've ever been at a camp or retreat.

Mystery project. If you creatively fold the towel and add ties, you've got an apron. Helps if you put the applique on right side up for the apron, which is wrong side down for the towel. However, if you put the applique on wrong side up for the apron, it is right side up for a towel, which means less work, since you don't have to sew pockets or ties :-). Okay, that only works if you hadn't already made the ties :-).



Quilt for Kids kit that I picked up last spring at Camp Willson. Quilted and bound it at Camp Horseshoe.

Baby Quilt. One of 3 birthday projects from my mom. She gave me 2 packs each of 3 different charm packs. This set was from an Eleanor Burns line and only had 52 charms total (compared to the 84 in the other two). Original design. Was partially pieced when I arrived at camp. Is bound now :-).

Second of the charm packs. Also an original design. Was cut out, with some of the sashing/cornerstones pieced. Also is now bound.



Welcome Sign for door. Is a PIF for FB 2011 project. One of five ... four to go :-).



Was basted when I arrived at camp. Is a project from last fall. Anne Kessel taught the class.




I also started using a way cool binding technique. It uses a faux piping to allow you to machine stitch the binding! It was such a novel idea that I had to give about 2 dozen impromptu lessons on the technique. I found the tutorial here for the technique. She's got some very good photos to show you how to do it.



Last but not least, isn't this the cutest Christmas tree you've ever seen? It was in the silent auction. Nancy I. made it.

FNSI tonight!

Don't forget - tonight is Friday Night Sew-In. What are your plans?

I am working on an apron for my upcoming quilt camp. They usually have a special theme for the brunch on Friday. Last time it was "Christmas at Camp Horseshoe." They had the dining hall decorated for Christmas and even gave out little Christmas presents to everyone. A tea party was another theme. This year we've been asked to wear a favorite apron for the brunch. Since the only cute apron I've got is a Christmas apron, I'm making a new one. It's out of a honey bun I won online a few months ago. Shortly after winning it, I happened to pick up some matching yardage off the the $3 table at Fabric Shack :-D. I've just been waiting for the right project to use it. I'll use the scraps to make some little things (potholders/hotpads/placemats, etc.) for my kitchen to coordinate with the apron.

I also would like to finish stitching the binding to Bubba's football quilt so it's ready for me to hand-stitch down.

Looking forward to seeing all the goodies made tonight!

~QB29

Catching Up

Let's see - where do I start? It's been almost 4 weeks since my last post. Since then ...

February Friday Night Sew-in did not happen. I ran home for the weekend to celebrate a family birthday. The boys got to come over for the meal, and unlike last time, they were not multi-colored. :-). When I picked them up last in January, one had purple marker on his check, the other had teal and purple on his check plus a purple eyelid and teal on his head. Plus their puppy (a Beagle mix with light colored, short fur) was purple from the waist (if puppies have waists, lol) to his tail. That weekend went downhill from there :-). This time they were much better behaved.

I then got to hang out with a close friend and her friend the next weekend. We had lots of fun going Goodwilling and I introduced them to the joys of Izzy's, or as we tell my older nephew, the Pickle Place :-).

I've been to quilt camp! I forgot my flash card, so no pics :-(. I had a wonderful time and plan to go back for more camps. The camp was at YMCA Camp Willson in Bellefontaine, OH. They run the fiber arts camp once a year, which is for quilting, knitting, crochet, and scrapbooking. They also run a women's weekend twice a year, which I hope to try sometime soon. I've got a conflict of schedule with the spring one and possibly the fall one, but there's always 2012. I've only got one weekend scheduled that far in advance, lol.

At camp, a teenager named Abigail presented the project she did for her Gold Award for Girl Scouts. She started a Quilt for Kids chapter in her area. She passed out kits, and I picked one up. I've got it pieced and hope to get it quilted/bound by the end of the month to send back. It was a simple pattern, and I hope to make a few more for her this year.


We did a fabric exchange at camp and look at the cute print I picked up. I may use it in a Quilts for Kids quilt :-).


I also finished my Block Lotto blocks for the month:


Lastly, I finished some UFO's. First - my dad's placemats. They're double-sided - fall on one, Christmas on the other. This is #5 on Judy's list, so I'll need to plan a substitution.


No pics, but I also finished the binding on Zoo Parade (#6 on the list) and finished quilting the football quilt. I'm working on the binding now, but should have it done next week or so. It's #2 on the list. I'll get these pictures taken in the next week or so.

Stash updating -
I stopped at Fabric Shack on the way up and purchased 8 1/8 yrds (10 FQ @$1.25 each plus 3 yrds. from the $3.00 cart). I gave away a FQ plus 3 1/4 yrds in the fabric exchange and picked up the 1 yard. I also used 36 5" squares

last recorded week (7):
Used this Week: 0 yards
Used year to Date: 5 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 20
Net Used for 2011: -15 yards

current week:
used this week: 4 yards
used year to date: 9 yards
added this week: 9 1/2 yards
added year to date: 29 1/2 yards
net used for 2011: -20 1/2 yards

~QB29

Quilt Camp

Is anyone interested in going to a quilt camp in April? Let me know and I'll send you the info!

~QB29

camp (long)

Tuesday was an uneventful drive. It took about 8 hours, but that included 3 quilt stores, a Kroger's run, and a couple of gas stations. I realized when I had been on the road an hour that my puppy chow, which I had sitting next to my cooler, was not currently next to my cooler. My cooler was in the backseat while it was still in the kitchen. Oh well, my co-workers will get to feast on it next week.

I stopped at Sneeds Sew & Vac in Charleston, The Stitching House in Buckhannon, and Elkins Sewing Center in Elkins. I found something I liked at each store :-).

About 15 lades (out of the 55 or so attending) came for the Tuesday early arrival. We had a great time sewing and chatting together. I finished the applique and added the borders for Bubba's quilt. It is basted and partially quilted. I should will finish the quilting in time to get it bound and labeled for his 2nd Bday in Dec. Of course, that could mean I'll be doing the night before, but it will be done!!! No pic on this since his real name (not Bubba :-() is appliqued on it.

Wednesday morning we got pies! David made 2 pies for the early arrival crew. Let's just say they did not last long :-). I spent most of the day working on my denim and flannel rag quilt that I am making for Big C (Bubba's 13 yr. old half-brother, for those readers wondering how I suddenly got a 3rd nephew). I just need to seam around the outside edge, clip, and fluff. :-) It is all pieced together. This will be my TV quilt for the next few weeks, lol. Here is Anne helping me show it off at show-and-tell. Sorry the picture's not that great. I'll get another one once it's fluffed and ready to be gifted (by Christmas :-)).


Thursday I worked on a snowman wallhanging. It is an 10 1/2" center surrounded by 36 3.5" courthouse step blocks. Let's just say I did not realize that it would be that small when I signed up for the class. That was 468 pieces of fabric 1" wide. I like how mine turned out. I finally finished it Saturday morning. I cheated a bit and fussy cut snowflakes for the corner blocks rather than appliqueing them on. I also did mine in cottons in stead of wool (applique) and homespun (blocks). I hope to finish it up either before or at my Shipshewana retreat in October.


I like how Cindy did hers in Christmas prints instead of homespuns. She did use the wool for the applique.


I did not touch my table topper, but Susie got hers completely finished except for tacking the binding down to the back. Here she is showing it off:


I also only sewed 3 buttons on my tree wallhanging, but have tons of ideas to make similar designs for other seasons. Here's a couple that ladies finished. Don't they look good?



The big project for the week (which I elected not to do, but may buy the pattern later) was a Carpentar's star quilt. Here's several different tops that were finished. One lady did hers in black and batiks. It was beautiful!






The drive home was very uneventful. I'll post more pics later, but need to get ready for bed now. Night all!

~QB29

I'm Home!

I am home from camp. I had a wonderful time. Now to play catch-up. Stay tuned - I will be posting pics and updates this week :-)

~QB29

31

:=)

FNSI results

just a little sewing .... I finished the one earlier in the week and did its twin tonight. We need to bring two 12" 1930's/white (or WOW) blocks for the block drawing. Yeah, mine are done!

Friday Night Sew In Plans

first up - errands :-)

1. 12" 1930's block for lotto drawing @ camp
2. finish buttons skirt
3. prep for camp :-)

~QB29

96!

Hours, need I say more?

Quilt Camp Countdown

142 oops, I mean 118 hours, give or take a few minutes, until arrival :-)

Can you tell I'm excited? I've counting in hours!!!!!!

Oh, and BTW, I've got my route mapped, including stops for shopping (quilt stores!!!) and the usual (gas/food). I've got my schedule planned for classes, camp activities, meals (there's a great kitchen staff!), and other sewing. So am I ready? Almost. I still need to make my puppy chow (snack contribution), finish my 12" drawing block, and finish packing!!!!!

~QB29

WV quilt Camp

Anyone up for a quilt camp in St. George, WV? My information packet for this September's session came in the mail today.

I've been to this one twice in the past. It's held twice a year (September & April) but because of school and other conflicts I have not been for a couple of years. It is at YMCA Camp Horseshoe - a summer camp facility located in Monongahela National Forest outside of Parsons, WV.

Sewing takes place in the lodge. The main room houses 40 quilters and the smaller room houses 9 quilters. You pick your spot when you register and can request a nearby sewing mate, though these are assigned as registrations are processed, so you are not guaranteed to get your choice.

They have several exciting classes scheduled. You can pick and choose which classes you sign up for, sign up for all of them, or sign up for none. The classes are very low-key. At the time(s) specified on the schedule, the instructor will meet the students around an instruction table and demonstrate/review the next few steps for the project. The students then go back to their sewing stations and sew :-). The instructor is available for any hands-on help that is needed. If the instructor sees that the students need more help, an extra class time or two will be called. Unless advance preparation is needed by the instructor (such as kits or preparing patterns), you can usually sign up for a class during the camp. I did this once and others did multiple times. Sometimes the project image does not inspire you, but everyone working on the project does :-).

Housing is in the cabins, which are heated. There is a heated bathhouse nearby. There's nothing fancy about these cabins - it's your typical summer camp arrangement. However, a new building right next to the lodge where we sew has opened since I last went, which has attached bathrooms and is more handicap accessible. There is an extra fee for this building and it is asked that you request it only if you need so, since space is limited in it.

The kitchen staff prepares all the meals for us. They always do a wonderful job. You won't go hungry :-). Additionally, most everyone brings snacks to share on the snack table, so there's plenty to eat between meals.

Best of all? No cell service and no emails, so my work can't contact :-D.

If anyone is interested, here is the link for the information packet: http://www.hi-y.org/Quilt%20Camp%20Packet%20-%20September%202010.pdf
Here is the link for the website: http://www.hi-y.org/chprograms.html#quiltcamp

You can arrive anytime after 1 PM on Tuesday, anytime on Wednesday, or anytime on Thursday. The price is adjusted based on how many nights you are spending. The first meal is Wed. for lunch. If you arrive Tuesday, you are on your own until then. There is a McDonald's about 15 minutes away or pack something in a cooler. There has been a refrigerator & microwave in the sewing lodge in the past. I'm assuming they are still available and you could put a sandwich or two in so you won't starve until lunch on Wednesday.

Another Baby Quilt ...

Is on the design wall. Can you believe I went from this somewhat neatly ordered display of small squares, large squares, and rectangles ....



to this much better arrangement of small squares, rectangles, and large squares?....



in only a little bit? Okay, so, if you look closely, the blocks are not actually sewn together. I promise, I do have each of the three center columns sewn together now and am starting to sew the columns together to make the center. I wanted a pic before I started moving stuff to sew to make sure I didn't mess the layout out. (Yeah, really, you thought I couldn't?)

Gotta love this pattern. It's out of a magazine from a couple of years ago. We made it at my very first quilt camp (they gave us all the magazine!). The magazine is now lost in my shelf of magazines, but the pattern was easy to recreate. It's fresh in my mind because the pink baby quilt I just finished binding was the one I made at camp.

BTW - don't forgot about my 100th post giveway". Contest closes at the end of the month.

~QB29