GIRLFRIEND RETREAT

A couple friends and I gathered for a few days to hang out and quilt and laugh and eat and visit.  One of the gals lives in the woods on a little stream with an awesome waterfall.  It is a beautiful setting for relaxation and sewing.

One project was to learn to use the Curvy Log Cabin Trim Tool designed by Jean Ann Wright for Creative Grids.

Finished the quilt top.

Another project was to make these little Triangle Bags.  These are also called Humbug Bags.

I also worked on this paper piecing project.  This comes from a design by Carolyn Friedlander.

It was indeed a great three days with super friends.  I will post more about these projects as I finish them.


                                    -sandi

TUESDAY HAPPENINGS

There is nothing more fun than getting together with friends and visiting and doing quilting and/or crafting projects.  Two friends, Sharon and Linda, and I get together monthly and do just that.  Usually we work on our own selected projects, but a couple months ago Sharon suggested we all do the same project and see the different results.  Linda suggested we make floor quilts.  I had seen these at various quilt shows and had bought a book while I was at the AQS Show in Paducah with the intention of making a rug for my kitchen floor.  Linda had another book that she thought was a good source so we went with that book as our guide.

Linda was our fearless leader and led us through the steps to create our "rugs" called Floorquilts.
We had our Show and Tell in Linda's Studio.

On the left is my version of a fairly traditional Rail Fence with a little improv addition of some circles of flowers and strips;  Sharon is in the center with her lasagna strips where she added some rectangles for interest; and on the right is Linda with her beautiful Layered Circles of Kaffe Fasset fabric on a black background.  This was a fun project that we spread out over two months.

We are experiencing a bittersweet time right now, the three of us.  When we arrived at Linda's studio yesterday the For Sale sign was up on her lawn.  She and hubby are moving back to Florida.  We will really miss her!!  She has so much talent and expertise to share and I don't think I have had enough time to learn all I want to learn from her.  Besides, she is such a sweet friend!!

We will continue to get together until she must leave and continue to count each gathering a special blessing.

                         -sandi
 

ROAD TRIP

Today was a beautiful day with lots of sunshine and clear blue skies.  The best part was taking a road trip with a couple of my buddies.

Our friend invited us to her new "home area" for a shop hop of the local quilt shops.  She is moving to this area soon and wanted to share with us the places she will be hanging out.

Our first stop was at Decherd Needleworks.  A fellow named Jim owns this shop and all the quilts and needlework on display were made by him.  Upstairs is where Jim quilts on his long arm machine for his customers and where he has his living quarters.

This is downtown on Main Street.  I love these old buildings.

Across the street was this old church.  I love the architecture.

Inside the shop was a treasure trove of fabrics to choose from.  The rustic setting was so inviting and the walls were covered with finished quilts and needlework.

See the old brick walls?

We went across the street to have lunch at Jackson's.  It is a Mom and Pop Meat and Three kind of restaurant with lots of locals having lunch with us.


After lunch we headed out to see where our friend's new home will be.

Isn't this drive in beautiful?  Reminds me of the Great Smoky Moutains roads or the road around the Ocoee River.

This is absolutely gorgeous!!!  Listening to the waterfalls was so restful.  There is even a bench on an overlook where I could sit and quilt all day if I were invited.

This would be the most pleasant place to sit and stitch and listen to the birds and the waterfalls.

This old chimney greeted us as we approached the house.  It is a remnant of the original homestead.
The house is nestled into this little woodsy nook.

On our drive out we passed a deer grazing beside the driveway. There were several deer in the area.  I just love to see animals in their natural environment.  There is something so peaceful about that.

The next stop was another quilt shop over in Tullahoma.

The ladies in this shop were so friendly and helpful.  They had some great quilts on display.

This one of batiks used a free form cutting technique.

These little houses were so crisp and clear.  The Snowman applique beside it made me start thinking about Christmas gifts that I need to begin.


Needless to say, we did our share of shopping in both stores.

This is my little stack of colors that I bought to finish out my collection of brights.

What a fun day we had!  Can hardly wait for next time!!

Thanks Carol and Phyllis for a super great day!!!!

                                     -sandi