Dresden Plates, fabric shopping, My Life, Quilt Retreats, Quilt Shops

Rosemary’s 2016

It’s another January

which mean’s another quilt retreat to Rosemary’s!

Suzn+Quilts+Rosemarys+Quilt+Shop

In case you don’t remember, Rosemary’s is a quilt shop in Highland, IL.

Rosemary has a retreat center that consists of sleeping quarters & a sewing room with lots of authentic restaurants within a couple blocks; Chinese, Italian & Mexican to name our favorites, but there are many more.

A great weekend spent with good friends

(at least the ones that didn’t have family obligations to tend to)

& no cooking or cleaning.

Suzn+Quilts+Rosemarys+2016+group

 Loraine must have been shopping during this one…

Suzn+Quilts+Rosemarys+2016+sewing

My “spot” for the weekend.

Suzn+Quilts+Rosemarys+2016+sewing+station

 Spending valuable time with some of my other best friends

(Moda & Roxanne)

Suzn+Quilts+Rosemarys+2016+busy+pieces

Making new friends

Suzn+Quilts+Rosemarys+2016+new+fabric

only after they promised to get along with my other friends.

Suzn+Quilts+Rosemarys+2016+friendly+fabric

It may appear that I bought the same polka dot fabric twice, but Rosemary & I were a bit chatty & weren’t paying attention to her measuring; a side affect of being in good company!

It’s OK, I’m going to cut it into little pieces just to sew it back together anyway.

(crazy!?!?!?)

(short) Overnight drying time…

Suzn+Quilts+Rosemarys+2016+dry+Dresdens

My field of dreams, ahhhh.

Suzn+Quilts+Rosemarys+2016+drying+Dresdens

Can’t get enough.

I hope you’re getting time to work on your favorites too.

Just keep sewing!

Susan

new fabric collection, New ideas

Yet Another Moda Lovin’ Post – Garden House

Suzn+Quilts+Moda+Garden+House+1

I think maybe Jan Patek designed this collection just for me.

I absolutely LOVE these fabrics!

I know.

Don’t say it.

There’s BLUE in there!!!

It is in the gray/green family, but it’s definitely blue.

Also included though is charcoal, gold, olive, ecru & red.

 Suzn+Quilts+Moda+Garden+House+4

The reds…

Suzn+Quilts+Moda+Garden+House+3

perfect!

I can’t wait bear to cut into them…

I think I’ll just look at them a while longer.

Suzn+Quilts+Moda+Garden+House+2

Suzn+Quilts+Moda+Garden+House+6

Suzn+Quilts+Moda+Garden+House+5

Garden House

by Jan Patek

for Moda.

Taco soup is simmering in the crock pot,

so I’m ready for dinner when the time arrives.

No excuses.

I’ve got to get cutting…

Just keep sewing!

Susan

Family Time, My Life

A Sparkly New Year to You!

Suzn+Quilts+glittery+day

I have never chosen a word for the year.

I don’t know how I could concentrate on just one word for 365 days when my life is SO full!

When I look back at the highlights of 2015…

I sewed lots of Dresden plates for new pattern samples.

Suzn+Quilts+Drying+Tiny+Flowers

Helped our oldest move into her very first home away from home.

Suzn+Quilts+moving

Empty rooms have so much possibility…

Suzn+Quilts+empty+room

An almost missed trip to spring market because of my dad’s heart surgery (moved up in schedule because of his condition…) the day we were to leave for market,

Suzn+Quilts+1+market tags

followed by 6 weeks of almost daily trips to hospital then rehab to help get this guy back to baling hay!

Suzn+Quilts+Dad

Attended our quilt guild’s ”Quilt Away 2015” that I coordinated with 3 wonderful teachers, which finally helped me make this Primitive Gatherings kit that I bought at Paducah 6-8 (maybe more) years ago!Suzn+Quilts+wool

Turning over 200,000 miles on our Odyssey (10,000+ miles ago)

Suzn+Quilts+200-000+miles

going to Bloomington’s 3rd Sunday Flea Market w/ Clare, so FUN!

Suzn+Quilts+3rd+Sunday

We found this cutie (& a few other trinkets).

Suzn+Quilts+doll+bed

Lots of this, yum!

Suzn+Quilts+yummy grilling

Taught some wonderful quilters my tips for making Tiny & Mini Dresdens.

Suzn+Quilts+Jerseyville

I hope you guys are finished with those quilts by now.

Lots more of these.

Suzn+Quitls+more+dresden+plates

Helped my Mother-in-law (one of my best friends)

with numerous trips to doctor appt’s. & ER visits

which sadly ended in her passing away the day before we were to leave for fall market…

Unfortunately I didn’t use this.

Suzn+Quilts+market

But I did get this ready between everything else going on.

Suzn+Quilts+My+Happy+Place+pieces

& with the help of my photographer (& Nemo)

Suzn+Quilts+Photo+shoot

eventually turned them into:

Suzn+Quilts+My+Happy+Place#240+cover+RGB

this pattern now available.

Does this quilt make more sense to you now???

Among lots of other things, I thank God for quilting in my life!

  1. Faith
  2. Family
  3. Friends

I will concentrate on the here & now.

I did get to Festival with the help of my sister, Lori.

Typically I only let her slave over my accounting so it was fun having her help me with this side of my business.

Suzn+Quilts+fall+festival+2015

We attended our son’s college graduation the weekend before Christmas.

Suzn+Quilts+Blake+grad

Complete with a party the following day.

Suzn+Quilts+Blake+party

Notice Abe on his cake? 

Suzn+Quilts+Abe+cake

I adapted his silhouette from my Abraham Lincoln Tribute pattern.

I had help fine tuning.

Blake’s a history major, ready to go out into the would and shape the minds of our youth.

Know anyone looking for a history teacher?

Santa brought Clare this cute “Anthropology” looking comforter set which lead me to this post.

Suzn+Quilts+bird+shamUnfortunately the set didn’t come with a dust ruffle.

I guess dust ruffles are no longer the thing because they’re hard to find in any form.

She looked for a while, then I told her we could make our own.

She really wanted a gold polka dot ruffle…

So, she bought a cream dust ruffle, then I added the sparkle yesterday.

Suzn+Quilts+finish+glittery+edges

First finishing the edges

Suzn+Quilts+pin+basting

pin basting to store-bought cream dust ruffle

Suzn+Quilts+basted

completely basted

Suzn+Quilts+stitching+sparkles

stitching to ruffle

Suzn+Quilts+glittery+bobbin

glittery residue

Suzn+Quilts+glittery+machine

which will NEVER completely be gone!

The curse of a creative mind!

I guess what comes around, goes around.

I remember driving my mom crazy while we designed (she labored over) my wedding gown.

I wanted these sleeves… on this bodice… with this skirt, with this train…

I get my creativity from her.

Thanks mom!

It didn’t start this way, but since it took me a while to compile this post & I had to sleep on it,

I decided to add a bit of my 2016 forecast too.

S.P.A.R.K.L.Y.

& not in this order I will:

S. –sew

P. –pray

A.–argue for what I think is right

R.–relish my time with family & friends

K.–keep a positive outlook

L.–love

(hopefully inspire) Y.–you

 Happy 2016!

Just keep sewing…

Susan