GIRLS, CORKS and FORKS

Because Cork n Fork parties are fun!

I begin the preparation November 1st

when I put up a wine theme tree in my kitchen.

I absolutely LOVE this tree!

I use wooden wine boxes as the tree collar!

2022 was spent collecting 'bunches of grapes' at thrift stores.

And I covered this tree every color of grape possible.

I also needed lots of texture...from grapevine wreaths

to glittery ornaments.

And lots of corks wrapped in fabric as ornaments

And a topper fitting for any winery tree!

Grapevine leaves and all.

This is the 3rd year I have hosted (as one friend stated)

 the G.O.A T. holiday parties, with my girl friends.

All creative souls, from quilters, to gardeners!

It begins with lots of wine and food...cork and fork!

I make a Red Holiday Sangria..that disappears before the ice melts

And oh these appetizers are amazing.

I made jar-cuteries

instead of one big charcuterie board!

A huge success, enjoyed by all.

We milled around chatting and eating.

Until everyone arrived, there were 19 of us this year!

An annual Christmas sock exchange...

with packaged fun under the tree!

Squeals of delight in what they opened...

Until theivery and sock pirates appear!

Vikki had her socks stolen 3 times!

and of course, wine appears wearing ugly sweaters, 

cause an ugly sweater contest is about to happen.  

The best heartwarming guest is Cheryl Kaye.

After a dreadful year full of chemotherapy,

and a double mastectomy, SHE beat her 

breast cancer and joined the fun!

 Her new hair looks amazing.

And lucky me...this wine was unopened and 

LEFT BEHIND!

More on this party and the ugly sweaters coming soon!

This is the gift I give myself, time with my girlfriends.

A

WHEN QUILTY GIRLS GATHER

It was a FABULOUS Quilty Girl's Retreat!

This post is a bit long, lots of pictures, but seriously...read it all!

Meet...Kim, Tami and Lucinda!

Patty, Me and Kathy

A Thursday - Sunday adventure!

The sewing room area was huge with 8 large tables

2 ironing boards, 2 designs walls

and a large cutting area right beside this room!

Kathy was thinking about all the HST she needed.

To make a Fall Breeze quilt top!

We all drooled over this one!

Lucinda showed her 'crack' (inside joke)!

Her Christmas Tree quilt top was sew pretty!

Staggered rows look pretty cool!

and the backing, too cute!

Lucinda also finished up this top!

and look at this backing!

Tami was blasting thru her projects

using her mighty little Featherweight!

This is Tami's own pattern of the Santa Hats.

Tamil also used her own pattern design

to cut out and sew up this top for Stitching Sisters Charity.

Patty (left) nd Kim (right) were kept the heat going with their projects!

Patty kept the irons hot...

and finished this one with a mixture of designs and color!

Patty worked on finishing the binding for two

Wedding gift quilts that used this same pattern.

Patty also sewed together a kit from Stitching Sisters charity.

Kim was intent on making this Ghastlies Meadowland her

project for the weekend.

and she made half of the blocks.

Meadowland has a lot of pieces!

I brought Basic Gray Hustle and Bustle to make

Christmas Tree Blocks.

Which went together quick and easy!

AND the only project I actually worked on!

A beautiful view of The Newkirk House

and the two Christmas tree quilt tops.

Same design, different interpretations.

Kim (left) and my (right) Cut Loose pattern

were Sewcial Distance quilt tops/ Kim quilted them both.

And yes, there were beverages....

like coffee in my OSU Mug!

A  summery drink Kim made for us!

Tami and I enjoyed Old Fashioned Bourbon drinks!

Well, it was her birthday after all!

My t-shirt only hints at the wine that was served.

Which proved another of my t-shirts...says it all!

We had sew much fun we have made reservations

for January, 2023