2018 Year In Review

2018 has been a fun year...

It started in Ocean Isle Beach, NC

where I spent the winter.

I was only an hour from my son in Myrtle Beach

so I got to see him at least once a week! 

While at the beach I made 3 quilt tops

and later finished them at home.  

Ghastlies by the Sea

A Ghastlies Moments Panel

transformed into large Economy Blocks

Ghastlies Peep Show

I used 4 early lines of Ghastlies from 2009 - 2012

The Ghastlies, Ghastlies Night,

Ghastlies Reunion, Ghastlies End

 Thimble Blossoms Red Velvet Pattern variation.

Painted Forest pattern by Blue Nichols Quilts.

A dark background of stash fabrics

making it a Halloween Version 

with Cotton and Steel Spellbound and Boo

"Don't Go Into the Forest"

I did an asymmetrical setting vs straight

rows of the trees

I also made a few zipper bags.

The Clarissa bag is my favorite.

Back to Ohio in April and sewing was done for a while.

Spring brings my garden work!

May rolled around and I made this Poolside tote

for a special friend who retired.  

June, I began sewing a quilt for a good neighbor.

His birthday is July 4th and Red, White and Blue!

Sadly, Mark was diagnosed with lung cancer.

He is doing ok but is happy to have this

quilt to snuggle under with his recovery.

August rolled around and I wanted to make the

Range Back Pack.

I used cork, Essex linen and 

 Buckeye colors of scarlet and gray.

September I quilted my Pumpkin Quilt

that I had sewn together at a May retreat.

October new baby received this sweet quilt.

But the quilt I was happiest to finish was...

My Ghastlies Mode Make Modern Building Blocks.

A five year project...drove me nuts

the pattern sucked, sew many tiny pieces 

and the sections often did not fit together

requiring "strips" be sewn to make them fit!

Really Moda? who tested this pattern?

I decided to make the blocks I wanted

and fill in some fussy cut blocks 

to highlight my Ghastlies fabrics.

THEN....it finished quickly!

Cassandra Beaver quilted this huge 82" x 96" monster!

I made over 50 projects in 2018

 bags, zipper pouches, table runners, place mats, 

pot holders, baskets, pin cushions, cushion covers

 and numerous blocks or WIPs that still remain on my shelves.

AND this number includes

7 Lap size or larger quilts!

I also knitted some scarves...this is my fav

I am now in a card making group that meets once a month 

and having a great time creating with paper and ink.

I also usher for 6 Columubs OH Theatres.

Since July 1 (when the season begins)

I have ushered 28 events.

I ushered enough shows before July that I earned

free tickets to the Summer Movie Series.

I invited some crazy girls to join me in a night of

American Graffiti FUN!

Oh yes, we stopped traffic!

The best project this year was my sewing room remodel!

I spent two weeks at the beach while my

nephew did all this work.

All I had to do was fill in the color!

I look forward to 2019

Lots of sewing, card making, vacations

and time with family and friends. 

Wishing you a very KWILTY New Year!

GlampStitchalot

My partner in quilting crime, Kathy Guenther and I
 attended our first Glamp Stitchalot 
Only football or quilting would get this BUCKEYE to go to
Ann Arbor, MI. 

Upon arrival at the hotel, we received a great SWAG BAG 

full of goodies from the event sponsors.

It didn't take long to get set up and ready to sew...

wait....we didn't take anything extra to sew...

60 people attended.  We were in 4 quadrants and stayed put

while the instructors rotated around the room!

After the Thursday night dinner...we headed to our room to

to drink some wine.  This is my special glass Kathy gave me

 for Christmas last year!

Friday had a day full of classes...3 in all. 

AND of course there was shopping

all during the event from Pink Castle Fabrics!

They are the brains behind Glamp! and did a fabulous job!

First class Friday was an applique class.  

I have not done applique in probably 12 years.

BUT is was fun!

Barbara, from Pink Castle Fabrics stepped in

for Felice Regina, who had to cancel at last minute.

 

I decided to make the Llama project but instead of an oval 

wall hanging or mug rug...I just made a rectangle 

and this will eventually become a Knitting Project bag.

Isn't it cute!

Next up was Jeni Baker who I have admired for quite some time.

Her blog In Color Order is amazing...just like Jeni!

Be sure to check it out!

Our class was about transforming a quilt design 
with color and fabric using HST and Flying Geese
 I need to finish the Geese.

No idea what this block will become.

This was one of my favorite classes.

The 3rd class on Friday was with Lizzy House.  

We made a wallet/pouch to carry essential oils.

I almost finished it, but she suggested rounded corners 
and did not suggest bias binding..DAH?
Needless to say I am taking the binding off,
cutting the ends of the wallet straight across and
will make a sewing kit...or something usable. 

These are the fabrics I selected for the project.

 Saturday was a blast...first class was with my

all time favorite Scrappy Girl...

Amanda Jean Nyberg aka Crazy Mom Quilts.

Here Amanda is show us how to use phone book pages to

do foundation piecing...great idea!

I took plenty of scraps..

for the Improv Scrappy String Block class

and finished 12 blocks

I took my books so Amanda and Jeni 

could sign them for me.

The last class on Saturday was the one I was

sew looking forward to.

The Ugly Sweater Blocks with Kerry Goulder.

I

I had my fabric selected and began the process...

then I fell in a black hole.

The technique Kerry teaches in NOT like

I leaned 15 years ago. It took me forever to figure this out back than an here in this class, I became frustrated and 

could NOT get my head around it.

I pulled up a You Tube video by Angela Walter 
whose technique was the same as I remembered.  

But by then I was aggravated,

tired and just didn't want to be bothered.  

I decided this block would be best done at home,

by myself, where I could really concentrate.

And once home...I made this as a test block.

Next one is a special llama sweater.
I'll be sending this to someone who is knitting me 
a pair of socks...but....

wait for it...

I made it into a knitting project bag!

One of the best things that happened at retreat
was meeting an Instagram  friend, 
Pam Lincoln @mamasparks.

She lives nearby and came by the hotel to meet me!

Football field oponents..
but we had such fun talking and 
definitely connected "in real life" as stitching sisters. 

I prefer retreats where you bring your own projects. 
Sit, sew, chat, shop. drink, eat..not sew structured.

BUT this was a great event. New kwilty friends and
I really enjoyed meeting, talking to and getting to know the instructors on a more personal level. It was great that they
sat at different tables during our meals sew we
everyone could chat with them.

When, where and what kind of retreat is your favorite?
I'm looking for a new adventure in 2019.

VIRTUAL COOKIE DIVA!

The Virtual Cookie Exchange organized by
Carol at Just Let Me Quilt begins today!
I happen to be the first of many bloggers who will share
their holiday recipes, traditions and fun!

I have been a COOKIE DIVA since 2000



 I hosted Christmas Cookie Exchange Parties
with my girlfriends for 10 years.
This is a pic from the last year...when
I presented each sweet friend with her own 
"Cookie Diva Apron"

My party was not your typical cookie exchange!
I prepared and served a complete meal,
made each guest a "handmade" party favor,
made Cookie Recipe Books (using their recipes) for all
AND I decked my halls with as many as 17 Christmas trees.

COOKIE DIVAS had to bring 6 dozen, of 1 cookie
(no duplicates...they had to call asap with recipe)
NO store bought, NO no-bakes, HOMEMADE!



Dress in the party theme...different FUN theme each year!
Girls dressed in everything from Santa's Suites,
to this Christmas Mouse



I had wonderful prizes every year for best dressed, best cookie, etc.
Sew many wonderful memories with my friends.


The "Vintage Apron Theme" was one of my favorite parties.
I asked each girl to wear the apron and then gift it to me.
They each signed a muslin square 
with their name and the year we met.

I wouldn't tell them why!!!
I made this Memory Quilt with Friendship Stars
using those aprons and signed squares

Block close up 

FMQ on a longarm by Shirley Haller.

Here's the label

Of course, because of these parties the girls
crowned me "The Cookie Queen"
 I have a special "cookie baking" apron...

I have many cookie recipes to share with you today

They are on my Sweet Celebrations tab...

For quick access click here  !

But THIS cookie is a favorite!

November 27

Kwilty Pleasures (me)

Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats

Songbird Designs

Creative Latitude

Ms P Designs USA

Gray Barn Designs

Alycia Quilts

Happy Cottage Quilter

Sew Many Yarns

Get the entire 3-day lineup here at

Just Let me Quilt 

And as you read this I am on my way to see to see 
The Biltmore Estate decorated for Christmas. 
See Asheville, NC holiday lights
and stock up on my Biltmore Wine! 
Our 19th Anniversary is Dec 4 but this is our celebration.

I will respond to your comments as soon as I can...
Please tell me what your favorite Christmas Cookie is...

TRUCKING ALONG!

I am trucking along with a new holiday decor theme!

I have quite a collection of the 

Vintage Red Truck/Christmas Tree ornaments.

 Last year and they were very hard to find.

This year...this theme is EVERYWHERE!

This post is about the fabric I had to have.

It takes me back to the farm I grew up on

with lots of great holiday memories and SNOW!

I found two prints...one with the trucks and

one with the barn scenes by Henry Glass

I fussy cut centers for Economy Blocks.

Its a fav block if you have a special novelty print.

And of course, I pulled some Grunge Red and Green

from my stash and the black and red plaid.

I decided to make pillow covers for a couple really

old and ugly toss pillows!

I found a black and gray print for the pillow backs.

And in no time...DONE

They just sing...over the river and thru the woods!

And will look great on my front porch for the Holidays.

and they also say...come home for the holidays.

I have a pile of blocks left and my hubby wants a quilt

with a flannel back...I will add some red and black check fabric blocks 

sew it will work up quickly.

The question is...THIS Christmas or NEXT?

Stay tuned because my Holiday decorating starts soon

and you will see a lot of this theme.

YES, I am "one of those people" who puts Christmas BEFORE

Thanksgiving every year! I am "thankful" I can do that!

My Foyer, Dining Room and front Porch

will make you want to "Come Home for the Holidays"