Shop Hops

 I LOVE Shop Hops!

7/1 - 8/31/2025  All Mid-Atlantic Shop Hop (PA-NJ-WV-VA-DE)

8/1 - 8/31/2025  Tri State Paper Crafting Shop Hop (Ohio-Indiana-Michigan)

9/24 - 10/4/2025  Buggies and Buds Shop Hop (Eastern PA)

          Dover - Treasures Old and New

          Ephrata - L & L Rubber Stamps & Scrapbooking

          Greencastle - Stampin' Station/Home of Purple Daisy Design

          Honey Brook - Shady Lane Impressios

          Lancaster - Country Cottage Creations

          Lititz - Cozy Crop House

          Mechanicsburg - Joys of Life

          Paradise - Farmhouse Memories

Indigo Hexie Flower Quilt

 Once I got to Dede's and we went into Bay Quilts I got a brainstorm about how I want to finish my appliqued grandmother's flower garden quilt!  This is what they had displayed:

I instantly fell in love.

And I even want to slow stitch it!

So I started collecting indigo-colored quarter yard strips for my backgrounds.  Dede had six or seven scraps, and I purchased a handful more while I was in California, because OF COURSE we went to a quilt shop or two!

  I'll start with an 8-inch square, then cut it down to 7.5 or maybe even 7 inches unfinished after I've appliqued on my single-row hexie flower.

As of today, I've got 18 finished!

The new Ott Light I bought REALLY helps.  Appliqueing with thread as the same color of the flower worked best. It's so much fun and going really fast.

9/28/24

39 squares appliqued as of today

Unbelievably Easy Tissue Holders

Thanks so much, Ronda Winstead!

Find her YouTube Video HERE

I bet they take LESS THAN five minutes to make!

Ten-Inch Square Heart Block

Love this!  Thanks Pin Cut Sew.

YouTube Video is here.

Crumb Blocks/Strips Into Crumb Quilts

Agilejack's Fresh Start Quilt

Complete directions for blocks (shown below).

NOT HARD AT ALL!!!

Another idea:

Nine patch crumb blocks with unifying center and border!

Another nine-patch, also on the YouTube video below.

Here's a 9-minute YouTube video from MerryMabelMarket that is no-nonsense, quick, and fun to watch.  She's making 6 1/2 inch color-block squares: 

Hidden Trails - Table Runner from ONE Charm Pack

 

YouTube video is here. Quick, easy, simple.

You need 40 squares.

Trim down 20 of the 5-inch squares to 4 1/2 inches.

Draw diagonal line on the wrong side of 10 of the remaining squares.

Pair each of these with one of the 10 last squares and sew 1/4-inch on each side of drawn line.

Cut on line.

Sew together - "flying geese" on top of two squares.

2020 Quilter's Trek: TRUE BLUE (formerly Row by Row)

This year I'm going to actually make the quilt.  It'll be in different shades of blues and I'm really looking forward to getting started.  I've ordered a few of the kits, they're on the way!

My first call was for my favorite block in all my searching all over the country.  I'm quite sure it was the owner I spoke with, and she was super nice and talkative.   She says these fabrics are from her favorite lines.  The kit was $14.99 and s/h was $4.95, which seemed pretty darned reasonable to me.  Can't wait to see and touch the fabric.  Love that there are words on the background fabric!

My second call was to Lind, WA.  I loved the idea of including a crazy quilted square, and their kit cost and shipping was incredibly reasonable ($10 plus $2.20 s/h) and I think this one will be easy and fun to put together!  Christy told me about retreats they have if I ever get anywhere nearby, and they sound great.  I think she says they're about 70 miles from Spokane.  Fun!

My third call was to Knit One Quilt Too in Rhode Island.  You had to order the kit ($18.95) through their website and s/h is ten bucks.  This seemed a bit much, so I decided to look further before purchasing.

The fourth call stayed right here in Pennsylvania, to Wormelsdorf.  I'm going to have to hit the maps ti figure out where in PA they are.   In Stitches Quilt Store used yo-yos as flower ins a basket that looks pretty easy, with an appliqued handle on each.  I think I can tackle that, something a little different....  The kit was $17.99 with s/h $4.75. Okeedokee!

This is so much fun, might as well track down another!  My call to Cambridge Quilt Shop in Cambridge, MA was easy as pie!  It looks like an extremely easy kit and packs a punch - and I can add anything and everything to embellish it if I want. The kit is for the HOME, she added the HOPE to give another idea of how it might be used.   The kit is $14.95 and she though s/h would be somewhere between four and five bucks.  SOLD!

Well, I've spent $75.00 on this quilt so far, time to yank in the reins until next payday.  But was this ever fun!  I wonder when the first one will arrive?

I really like the background of this Dresden plate, and I love the idea of appliqueing the ties to it.  Unfortunately she doesn't have any extra of that fabric (I thought it might be nice to use in other places in the quilt) but I could always cut away the background behind the applique, right?  She'll send an invoice via email to continue the purchase, So now I have a block from Missouri!  It's 16.95 plus tax which includes s/h.  Can't go wrong!

2020 UFOs - If Only!

Okay, it's been a super tough year, mentally and physically, and I've been depressed.  Granted, I've read 130 books vs. 80 or so in the previous years, but laying in my bed THINKING about all my wonderful projects is not optimal.  I've got to get off my duff -- and I know I'll be in a better frame of mind working in my sewing room.

First, I've got to clean and organize.

Then I have to re-evaluate.  I've got so many more projects stated in the last year, so I have to pull everything out and take a gander.

Here's my new list of projects without looking (I know this will change in the next few days):

QUILTING

1.  Kaffe Fassett quilt for Ashley

2.  Cacophony quilt

3.  Dede's picnic quilt

4.  Pink rag quilt for Charley

5.  Josh & Julie's wedding quilt

6.  My yellow rag quilt

7.  Cowboy book wall hanging

8.  Prairie point pillow

9.  Rainbow wrap stole

10.  Kokopelli bag

11.  Blue Mystery quilt

12.  Suzy's window-style wall hanging

13.  Houses Mosaic

14.  Ella's Grandmother's Flower Garden

Jelly Roll rug

KNITTING

1.  Pink entrelac scarf

2.  Lt. grn/blue neckwarmer

3.  Bright mustard scarf

4.  Linen-stitch scarf

5.  Beige sweater

6.  4-color (yellow/orange/red) shawl

7.  Fingerless mitts - 2018 started

8.  Knitter's Day Out diamond scarf

9.  Fingerless Mitts - 2019 Knitters' Day Out class

10.  Soft, ribbed Catarina scarf

STITCHING

1.  Crazy Quilt wall hanging

2.  White Mittens centerpiece

3.  Halloween woolie piece

4.  Santa (half Moon Handwerks) woolie piece

5.  Molly Pitcher cross stitch

6.  My first Sashiko project

ONGOING HEXIES

Status on 1/1/20

Ella's Grandmother's Flower Garden

Christmas Hexie Quilt

Third Row Hexie Quilt

B & W Hexie Quilt

Orphan Gray Hexie Quilt

Big Hexie Scrap Quilt

UFO Challenges

APQ UFO Challenge found here.
And my RAVELRY page is here.

As of 1/1/19 I have three different UFO themes:

Quilting - Yarn - Stitching

Can I finish them all in 2019?

QUILTING

1.  Cacophony quilt

2.  Cowboy boot wall hanging

3.  Charley's pink rag quilt  This is January's challenge

4.  Ella's 5-inch squares

5.  My yellow-backed I-Spy rag quilt

6.  Shower curtain

7.  Rainbow wrap/stole

8.  Prairie Point pillow

9.  Dede's picnic tablecloth

10.  Blue Mystery Quilt

11.  Josh & Julie quilt

12.  Kokopelli bag

 EXTRA:  Suzi's Window-style wall hanging

                  Crazy Quilt wall hanging

YARN

1.  Pink entrelac scarf

2.  Lt. grn/blue neckwarmer

3.  Bright mustard scarf

4.  Linen-stitch scarf

5.  Beige sweater

6.  4-color (yellow/orange/red) shawl

7.  Fingerless mitts

8.  Knitter's Day Out diamond scarf

9.  Freeport Not-Quite-a-Celebrity Scarf

10.  Soft, ribbed Catarina scarf

STITCHING

1.  Molly Pitcher cross stitch

2.  My first Sashiko

3.  Woolie FROSTY MITTENS kit

4.  Golden Gate  Bridge

Mystery Quilts

I went to the LeTort Quilt Guild Meeting last night, and was lucky enough to see not only a few show and tells from members, but two "trunk shows" of quilts made by individual members through the years.  One of them had done a lot of mystery quilts, and there was a bit of talk about all the cool mystery quilts you could find online.

So I've spent a good bit of time checking out ideas and quilts on the internet.  I think I want to try one!  After much research, I've found three that look great to me.  The first is from a Facebook Group called Peace, Love, Quilt (right up my alley!) You can follow along with others on Facebook as you create your own.  It started on October 16th and runs through April, so I have a bit of catching up to do.  And I probably won't start until I'm able to get at all my fabrics that are still sitting on a moving van somewhere in central Pennsylvania!  I'm itching to get started!

The second is Meadow Mystery Quilt from Meadow Mist Designs.  It, too, has already started, but I can go at my own pace and TRY not to cheat by looking ahead.  There's also a Facebook group you can be part of.

The third is a MURDER MYSTERY QUILT.  This one is really intriguing, because you read a chapter to a murder mystery each month, follow clues/directions to make a block, and there's supposedly clues to the murder mystery in each block.  This one hasn't started yet, so I wouldn't have to jump in at the middle or end, I could actually start at the beginning!  It costs $9/month, whereas the previous two are free.

As usual, I'm about to jump in with both feet.  Slow down, girl, slow down!  How will I choose? Where will I begin?

2016 Row by Row

This year's Row by Row Experience goes from 6/21/16 to 9/6/16

Row by Row HOME

Row by Row MAP

Number of States:  10
Number of Rows:  40
Number of License Plates: 13

PA, CT, MA, NH, ME, VT, NY, NJ, MD, WV

1 - Simply Stashing Fabrics & Quilts, Littlestown, PA (no plate)

Two nine-patches with beehive and embroydery - bought kit
(NO LICENSE PLATE)
purchased the kit

2 - Danner's Bernina Shoppe, Hanover (Pennville), PA
"Home Tweet Home"

Vertical Birdhouse and 2 pieced blocks
(HOME SEWN)

3 - The Quilt Shop by Lois, Newtown, CT 
(QUILT SUNSHINE)

Lighthouse, then three pieced houses/barns

4 - Quilting By The Yard, Vernon, CT 
(SEW QUILTY)

Four pieced houses

5 -  Quilter's Common, Wakefield, MA
 (did not purchase plate)

6 - Seacoast Sewing & Quilting, Portsmouth, NH 
(PORTSTITCH)

Six Surfboards on Beach

7 - Cotton Weeds Quilt Shop, Freeport, ME 
(3SEAMS2THEWIND) 

Four Red Doors - Four Seasons

8 - Sewing by the Sea, Trenton, ME
(QUILT ACADIA)
Living at the Bottom of the Sea

9 - A Straight Stitch, Orrington, ME
(CRAZY QUILTAH)
Oh Won't You Be Our Neighbor?

10 - Quilt Divas, Rockland, ME
(AYUH GOT FABRIC)
Cabins Under the Sea

11 -  Maine-Ly Sewing, Nobleboro, ME
(CARPE QUILTEM)
USA

12 - Pintuck & Purl; Exeter, NH
(GATHER + STITCH)
Home Sweet Home

13 - Stitched in Stone; Kingston, NH
(AMERICA) - gave to Dede iiu
Stars and Stripes from Home

14 - Bittersweet Fabric Shop; Boscawen, NH
(no plate - last year's)
Home Is New Hampshire
purchased the kit

15 - Quilted Threads; Henniker, NH
(GO NUTS 4 BOLTS)
Home Sweet Home USA

16 - The Scarlett Creation: Bennington, VT
(GOT QUILTS)
Home Sweet Home

17- The Yardstick; Cobleskill, NY
(SEW MANY YARDS)
Home Tweet Home
purchased the kit

18.  Tiger Lily Quilt Shop; Utica, NY
Swing with doll or stuffed animal
(PIECE & LOVE)

19.  Sew Wilde; New Hartford, NY
"Barns Across America"
(Last year's plate)

20.  Ivy Thimble, Victor, NY
"Home...A Light in the Window"
(QUILT WITH IVY)
purchased the kit

21.  Cafe Sewciety; Webster, NY

22.  Jackie Lynn's Fabrics & Discount Sewing Center; Rochester, NY
Vertical birdhouse with birds on ladder below

23.  Country Treasures - Brockport, NY
"My Favorites of Home"
(FABRIC TREASURE)
purchased the kit

24.  Auntie's Attic Quilt Shop; Niagara Falls, NY
"Attic Treasures"

25.  Sew What? Quilt Shop; Williamsville/Amherst, NY
(SEW WHAT?)
Solar System row
purchased the kit

26.  Quilt Barn
no photo - either didn't get plate or there was none

27.The Witch's Stitches; Big Flats, NY
"My Country, My State, My Home"

28.  Patchwork Angels Quilt Shop
Endicott, NY
"There is No Place Like Home"

29.  After I dropped Dede in Peekskill - a NY shop 
no plate

30. Budding Star Quilts;  Lebanon, NJ
"Find Your Way Home"
(LUV 2 QUILT)

31.  Log Cabin Quilt Shop; Bird in Hand, PA
Amish horse & buggy on PA Amish Country roads
(did not get plate)
purchased the kit

32.  The Old Country Store; Intercourse, PA
"Pieceful Home"
(did not get plate)

33.  Family Farm Quilts of Intercourse; Intercourse, PA
"Glad to Bee Home!!!"
(did not get plate)

34.  Zook's Fabric Store; Intercourse, PA
Nine-patch on each end surrounding l940s kitchen-scene panel
(NUTS FOR BOLTS)

35.  The Quilt Shop at Miller's; Ronks, PA
"Home, Home on the 'Free Range'"
(I (heart) HAND QUILTIN)

36.  The Sew'n Place, Fayetteville, PA
"Home Sweet Home"
(SEW'N 2GETHER)

37.  Itchin' 2 Stitch; Waynesboro, PA
"Cabin on a Hill
(didn't get plate)

38.  Stitch-N-Time; Greencastle, PA
"Home Sweet Home"
(didn't get plate)
purchased the kit

purchased the Ninth Row Kid

39.  Traditions at the White Swan; Hagerstown, MD
"Home Sweet Home"
(I QUILT DO U?)

40.  All About Fabric; Martinsburg, WV
"Underground Railroad"
(FABRICS R US)

41.  Sew Jersey; East Hanover, NJ
"Garden State Tomatoes"
NO PLATE, shop just opened in April

42.  The Quilt Tree; Nyack, NY
Home Sweet Home
(HUDSON RVR QLTR)
purchased the kit

43.  Christie's Quilting Boutique; Norwalk, CT
Butterflies
(Two plates:  FABRIC HOARDER and QUILTING QUEEN)

44.  The Quilted Crow; Bolton, MA
(B CROW SEWCIAL)

45.  Village Quilt Shop; Berwick, ME
Birdhouses
(RXR 2016)
purchased the kit

46.  Fabrications; Bar Harbor, ME
Mountains of MDI (or Acadia?)
(no plate)
purchased the kit

47.  Cotton Cupboard; Bangor, ME
"Summer Nights"

48.  Red Barn Sewing & Yarn Center; Merrimac, MA
"Welcome Home"

49.  Appletree Fabrics; Auburn, MA
"Home Sweet Home" Pieced houses and trees

50.  Charlton Sewing Center; Charlton, MA
Habitat for Humanity
purchased the kit (100% of proceeds go to Habitat for Humanity!)

51.  The Fabric Stash; Charlton, MA
Sewing Silhouette

52.  Sturbridge Quilting & Sewing
"One Nation Under God"

53.  Meeting House Quilt and Fabric Store; Wales, MA
Meeting and 5 Quilts

54.  Pins and Needles; Mt. Kisco, NY
Mantle with Clock

55.  At Piece Quiltery; Easton, PA
Gingerbread House
purchased the kit

56.  Needle & Thread; Gettysburg, PA

57.  Stitch & Craft; Manheim, PA

58.  Weaver's Dry Goods; Lititz, PA

59.  Family Farm Fabrics; East Earl, PA

60.  Cedar Lane Dry Goods; New Holland, PA