Hello August!
With its arrival, I can now allow my fall-loving heart to get excited:
Those fall colors are just around the corner!
Time has certainly been flying around here--and so have I!
Quilting, golfing and traveling, including quilt shop visits!
So much to catch up on today so you'll want to grab a large
cup of [insert bev of choice here!] and here we go...
Quilt Updates
They are 50 x 61.5 and are very similar, though
the background and backing fabrics are different.
Both were requests and should sell within the week.
2) Unity QAL Update
This QAL has only just reached its halfway point so I should probably
relax a bit. Most evenings I attack a pile of HST's, removing paper
and trimming ears. The next day, I make up another batch and so
it goes, the cycle repeating. In this way, I've made great progress
and the end nearing but though I've visited lots of shops lately,
(more on those in a bit), I still haven't found a background fabric.
Travels, Quilt Shop Visits and Other news
Our latest travels took us to Oshkosh, WI where hubs worked
at the air show. I tagged along for golf and quilt shop visits.
I was most excited to see Primitive Gatherings
which is just minutes from Oshkosh.
I was a little disappointed that I didn't run into Lisa Bongean
but I knew my timing wasn't great there.
I think her shop wins the "Most Inspiring Quilt Collection" award.
I'd seen many on her youtube videos but it was like seeing them
all for the first time when there in person.
So many projects with tiny pieces--and so accurate!
The above quilts are featured in her latest book
Pumpkin Spice Gatherings...
...which of course I picked up as a momento as
well as for future projects.
On the left is last year's QAL that I wanted to join badly but didn't
have the time for. I know that was a good decision but I do still
want to make it, along with that star quilt in the upper left.
I have plans to start this quilt within the month so I
it was fun to find a sample to view.
Not really my colors but I love any 9-patch, especially
in such tiny pieces. I think these were 1"?
A little hard to get good pics--they are waaay up there.
From watching Lisa's Youtube videos, I've noted her wool projects
(and monthly boxes) have a huge following.
I believe this was a QAL not too long ago.
All of that hand stitching--very impressive!
Love the tiny quilting on this one.
My tastes are fairly similar to Lisa Bongean's so it was
an enjoyable time but it was also a little overwhelming.
(Some of that was likely due to the pretty hair travel issues
I'd gone through just that morning but that's a long story!)
An employee gave me a quick peak at the retreat house and
WOW, no wonder they book up so early! I wasn't really supposed
to be in there so no pics but you can find it on her website and on her
youtube channel. Someday I will have to get in on one.
I got in my golf (and exercise!) over the next two mornings.
Beautiful weather and wide open courses!
In the afternoons, I was free to explore.
So explore I did!
Fox Cities Quilt Co leans toward the modern in their shop.
They also carry a nice little array of knitting / crochet supplies.
Having plenty of projects lined up already, I controlled
myself here but I am in love with these dragons!
(Note my pic to document for a future to-do.)
Next I discovered Going to Pieces Quilt Co.
If I lived in the area, this would definitely be my shop of choice.
They're collection is huge!
(Note also the large classroom in back/left.)
It's one of those shops where you just keep walking and discovering:
more rooms, more fabric, more projects!
Gosh, I just love this one.
I'm always a sucker for minis though I don't
often take the time to make them.
Nine-patches and stars: my faves in one quilt.
Quilt shops weren't the only thing I discovered.
I've always loved lighthouses so I keep my eyes out for them.
This little guy is on the very large Lake Winnebago.
I'm not much of a museum-goer but I'm so glad I chose to
tour the Paine Art Center and Gardens.
I took many pics--too many to share but here are just a few.
Gee, my formal dining room seems somehow lacking now...
I'd like to have breakfast here!
And enjoy that view!
What great garden can exist without a fountain?
off for vacay so yep, a couple more rounds of golf were
enjoyed but you know what was my favorite?
Getting up in the very wee hours of the morning and
heading out onto Lake Michigan for some of this action!
I'd like to say I'm that thin but that's just the pole
painfully jammed into my side! LOL
With all of the storms turning the water, the fish hadn't been
biting well. Thankfully we still caught a decent amount.
We didn't reach our limit but at least we caught some big ones!
And guess what I found just up the street from our hotel?
Another quilt shop! I dashed in right before closing so no pics
but wanted to recognize The Quilt Shop at Two Rivers. Another shop
with a great, big selection that I'll have to revisit in years to come.
(Psst, the clearance prices alone make it worth the stop.)
After our fishing excursion, we decided to drive up to the very tip
of Door County, making a few fun stops and catching a few more
lighthouses along the way. I was happy to find the same market
(above) that we visited last time so I could purchase another jar
of their unsweetened (!) cherries.
(Outside of using fresh, it's the only way I'll make a cherry pie!)
So with all those quilt shop visits, what did I bring home?
FQs to boost the fall fabric stash and clearance yardage
to become backings for projects in mind for next year.
Now, after all of that, it's time to wind this down with a
quick look at my current, immediate quilting goals.
1) Continue on with Unity QAL; find background fabric
2) Start on baby gift: Polaroid I-Spy quilt
3) Perhaps start planning Acorn quilt
Thanks for hanging in there on this long post.
Have a great week and happy quilting!
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