Embroidery Frames

Looks like the secret is out!   BeaQuilter has posted her newest design that I pattern tested for her.

 

Embroidery Frames.

For a  5"x7" design.

When Bea asked me to test this pattern, I had just bought my new favorite embroidery design from Joy Studio.

My mind went into overdrive.

 

Take 1 adorable embroidery...

 

Add it to a block...

 

Combine to make rows...

 

Sprinkle of some quilting...

and you have a fabulous quilt!

It was a complete accident, but contrast of these fabrics, just makes this quilt sing!

You can find Bea's fun pattern over at Craftsy

and soon to be at Quiltwoman.com

Be sure to visit her HERE to read more about this pattern 

and see a variety of embroidery ideas!

So much to stitch...so little time.

I'm a little sad that this is the last of my pattern testing projects right now.

Looks like I am going to have to spur on a few people to get creating!

LOL!

O'Susannah's Part 3

It was my turn for a mystery project for them, and I also turned to our fabulous fellow bloggers.

Aunt Polly's Porch

You see a few years back, Polly posted a great tutorial for a Scrappy Messenger Bag

You can find it HERE 

It's not the first time I have used this pattern 

 

I made a photo bag for a friend a few years ago.

But when I came across these Handmaids fabrics and embroideries over at Joy Studio,

I just had to have them...all!

 

The embroidery was perfect for a messenger bag.

Heck it was so much fun, that it was perfect for a second bag too!

 

I flipped thru this great little reference tool that I bought a few years back...

102 blocks in 5 different sizes. 

It just doesn't get any better, with all the variety.

I found a simple little Churn dash block for our back pocket.

 

Remember these snap tape bags from the She Who Sews Blog Hop?

They were perfect to slip an embroidery in and some of the supplies each needed to complete their messenger bags at retreat!

Then we went to work...

 

We worked until we just got too silly to go on.

And silly we got, even before the wine...

;-)

 Do these girls look fabulous with their new bags?

I think so!

The down side of this whole adventure is that its another year away til the next retreat!

Now how many sleeps is that?

LOL!!

Too many I am afraid...too darn many

:-(

 

Well, on second thought... 

After seeing this, I had to wonder why these lovely ladies would sneak around with a camera and take this photo.

Next year I am combing my hair before I go for the coffee! 

LOL!!!

 I share the good the bad and the ugly.

Lord knows this picture is "all" of that wrapped up in one.

Gheeez!

:-)

O'Susannah's Retreat Part 2

Here with the girls!

:-)

We were so darn excited to get together and start our secret project that Sharon put together for us, that we completely forgot about getting the camera out and taking photos... Sorry Sharon, no pictures of our wonderful leader in this mystery...

But, the "sweatshop" was open...

              and she had us string piecing and making these adorable blocks...

 

This is a tutorial over on Connie Kresin's blog 

Freemotion By the River.

You can find the link to it right HERE 

It's a great stash buster, and so darn fun. You just have to check out her tutorial!

Here are some of the blocks that were put together at our retreat...

 

Mary's blocks...She changed up the flower a bit below.

These were like chips to me. You just can't stop at one. 

I put together a few,

playing with different ways to stitch the flowers down.

(Connie shares great ones in her tutorial)

 

Then I turned mine into a little wall hanging.

 

I had a piece of very high loft batting left from some project...

It was just the right size, and allowed for me to play around with a little trapunto quilting.

Oh and Sharon had treats for us.  

Besides those wonderful tote bags of real treats...candy and fruit rollups, lollipops,  granola bars, mints, and even ring pops! Talk about kids in a candy store! LOL!

 

She gave us these.

A perfect way to keep your thread and bobbins close by, and the pegs

pull out easily, to pack and tote back and forth to class! 

This is just too cool?

 

We discussed those thread cutters on a stand... 

You know those that make clipping your chain piecing a snap...

It would be so easy to drill out one of the holes to accommodate a round handle seam ripper.

Everything at your finger tips!

Oh the ideas...

:-)

 Thanks to Sharon, for the great gift and mystery pattern she found! (not to mention the wine that was delicious) ;-)    And a very special thanks to Connie for sharing this wonderful block. It was perfect for swapping our scraps and just having some good ole fun!

More to come...

:-)

O'Susannah's Retreat!

I was lucky enough to get invited to a quilt retreat with these 4 wonderful ladies.

 

Lynn, Mary, Sharon, and Ann

You know it's not every day that you go out on the limb, and invite someone you have never seen face to face. Sharon and I have known each other for 4-5 years online thru quilting boards. I've done some swaps with her and Mary, but never met them otherwise. 

It was a big leap of faith, as you never know just who is at the other end of a keyboard here in cyberspace, but WOW what a great leap it was. I felt like I had known these gals for years. 

I boarded a plane Easter Sunday to head across country to O'Susannah's Quilt shop in Watkins Glenn, NY for a 4 day retreat. Having never even been to the area, I had no idea just what to expect.

Our home away from home was up above the shop. A quaint place all decked out in Shabby Chic style.

                                           Notice those beautiful tin ceilings!

There were 3 bedrooms, 2 baths...

 

and a kitchen and dining room...

 

but the best part was the huge work area...

                                      This is only about 1/2 of it!

 

And an ironing area. 

We were surrounded by inspiration!

And snugly quilts to wrap up in.

I'm hoping to get some photos from the gals, and will show you just what were were up to next time!

;-)

til then!