A finish - actually it's a finish for two grandsons!

Today was the first day of our village's Pumpkin Fest. Well, technically it began last night but not much went on. Today was the parade, the craft fair, the food stands on the main street, and the carnival rides among other things. Our son, Brent,  and his family joined us and we all watched the parade together - most of the people in the parade throw candy to the spectators. What fun for the kids! 

It was a beautiful fall day with summer temperatures. Around 3 this afternoon, Ray and I decided to walk home - we'd had enough sun. We'd been home about 10 minutes when Brent's family joined us - they were ready for a break too! And the finish...

The two older grandsons, Mack and Griffin, wanted to sew so we finished the 'wild quilt' they've been making for Griffin. By their definition, a wild quilt is one where anything goes! They choose whatever they like from my scraps and/or orphan blocks. Griffin especially likes blue so this quilt has lots of blue fabric.

Griffin and his wild quilt.

The boys sewed a few blocks and they put borders on the other blocks. I did all of the rotary cutting and pressing along with appliquéing Griffin's name. After putting the blocks together, I sandwiched the quilt, did some straight line machine quilting and hand-sewed the binding. They each had to stitch two lines across the quilt today to finish the quilting.

Griffin and Mack, the quilt makers.

Griffin isn't tall enough to guide the fabric and use the foot pedal. Each time he sews, he decides which he wants to do. Most of the time he chooses the foot pedal and I get to guide the fabric. 

Griffin and me. Photo by Mack.

Griffin's wild quilt.

Griffin decided he wanted a soft back on his quilt - "like the back of a baby quilt". I knew he meant something like Minkee and I just happened to have a couple of scraps left from some baby quilts. To his delight, the color was blue.

The back of Griffin's quilt.

The quilt went home with them this evening but it won't be used for a while - we are enjoying summer weather although the trees are turning.

Enjoying fall weather and apples and cheese...

Lately, we have had cool, fall weather and that always makes us want to visit apple orchards.

Last week we were at Edwards Apple Orchard West. They had a few varieties of apples. We passed on the donuts but it took a lot of will power! After getting our apples -Zestar! and Ginger Gold- and some pretty mums, we wondered around the petting zoo. The goats were really cute.

These cuties were only a week old. I loved how the dog was keeping an eye on them!

This little one had the same markings as his mama.

Earlier this week we headed out to an Amish bulk food store, an Amish dent and bent store, the Decatur Dairy a fantastic cheese store, and Ten Eyck another apple orchard. We came home with a few treasures, LOTS of delicious cheese - Cheddar Swiss, Baby Swiss, Cheddar Bacon, Muenster, and a couple different kinds of curds - and more apples -Honey Crisp, Cortland, and Spartan. 

Last week I made applesauce and froze quite a bit. This week I froze apple slices and apple crisp of course, we ate some of the crisp too!

We still have quite a few apples and a lot of cheese in the fridge.  We both love apples. And we both love cheese. Life is good!

Quilt Camp and more...

I'm here, I just haven't been blogging cause we've been keeping very busy and enjoying each day!

We had a great time (except for the weather) at Shell Lake, in northern Wisconsin, with my brothers and their wives/girlfriend. OK, each of my three brothers has either a wife or a girlfriend - none have both!

Then it was on to ‘Quilt Camp’ - which was really a retreat this year. It was fun for the seven of us from Minnesota, Texas, and Illinois to be back together for a few days of sewing, visiting, and eating. We always enjoy some great evening meals out. We had a wonderful time reconnecting.

This year we sewed in the classroom instead of the barn. It was great - we had A/C and lots of room. Here are a few shots:

Susan (at the far end), Tina, and Polly. You can see one of Polly's blocks in the foreground.

Linda, Kathy, Sue, and my spot at the far end.

This was my spot.

Some of the completed or almost completed tops:

Sue's baby quilt

Linda's cute little quilt

Tina's neat lap size quilt

Linda's flag

Tina's great wall hanging

There were many WIPs (works in progress). I don't think Susan, Polly or I finished anything but we worked hard all week on large projects. I thought I had everyone's work but I missed Polly's blocks you can see one of her blocks in a picture above and my blocks you will see them later when I get the quilt together.

Kathy finished this top but I didn't get a picture. It was stunning.

One of Susan's many blocks

One of Kathy's disappearing pinwheel blocks 

Ray got in a couple of nice bicycle rides while I was sewing. He is doing great and enjoyed having a couple of nice days to ride.

Since Country Threads is closing, our little group hopes to meet somewhere else next summer. Wonder if we can find a place with great bike trails...

The yellow and gray quilt is done!

I bought some yellow and gray fabric when we were in Elkhart County, Indiana a year ago May. post is here Then earlier this year in April, I finally put together the quilt top while on a retreat. post is here . It took me a while but it is now quilted and bound!

That's a new orange/yellow sunflower yard ornament in the background.

This quilt is very soft in color and the colors don't show up well in the photos or the gold fabrics look way stronger than they are - sorry about that. 

I'm not sure if the quilting motif has a name. It is a couple of curves like a Baptist fan then there are dinosaur bumps on the outermost curve. It was just a design I wanted to try.

The back has some leftover blocks.I used all of some of the fabrics and had to piece the extra partial block on the right with some very small scraps.

The quilt is about 50" by 68" with cotton batting - perfect for a summer TV quilt. I'm not sure if it is living here or moving on. Some decisions can wait!

Meanwhile, you might remember that I knitted a corkscrew hat a while ago. We got a chance to try it on Leo. 

He is usually full of smiles but I took forever getting my camera to work and I don't think he liked the flash. However he did like his new hockey hat!

"You are right where we want you to be.

A week and a half ago, Ray had some back spasms and ended up with an ambulance ride to the ER. The pain was terrible and there was also the fear that the cancer had spread. The ER doctor got x-rays and said they looked clear. He diagnosed a back strain and back spasms. So Ray's been resting and recovering. There is a possibility that he has overdone the exercising and bike riding!

Today we were back at University Hospital in Madison seeing Ray's cancer doctor for his 3-month check since the cancer surgery. Ray got a great report. The doctor said "You are right where we want you to be." Ray appears to be cancer free. Next check is in three months. Feeling very blessed!

As far as quilting - not a whole lot is happening. That will change soon - we are headed to Iowa for Quilt Camp in a couple of weeks! But first we'll spend some time with my brothers in northern Wisconsin. I'm looking forward to being back at the lake - we haven't been there since 2010 and it is definitely time!

A couple of small runners

I went to Lucky 2B Quilting for the Christmas in July camp a couple of weeks ago. After seeing all of the suggestions/inspiration, I decided to make a couple of small table runners. 

As I was looking at fabric, I came across the Joy Batiks of Laundry Basket Quilts by Moda. I love batiks. I began with the layer cake and eventually bought the jelly roll too. I love batiks!

I decided to use the disappearing pinwheel block for one runner 

and the disappearing hourglass block for the other. 

Have you seen the Missouri Star youtube videos for these two blocks? 

Disappearing Pinwheel Block

Disappearing Hourglass Block

Both runners are quilted with Paisley. Considering it is my favorite quilting motif, who would have guessed?!

I bought one of the batiks that matched a piece in the layer cake and the jelly roll for the backing. I love batiks!

Since I want to use the runners more than just at Christmas, I decided on red and tan, leaving the green for another time. Always nice to have something to add to the stash! And I love batiks!

Summer Retreat

Usually four of us go on a summer quilting retreat but our youngest member couldn't make it this year. She was on a special vacation with her 11-year-old son. Although we missed her, we didn't feel sorry for her!

Sandy, Barb and I went to Memory Lane, one of our favorite places. And this time we met Blosom up close and personal.

Me, Barb, and Sandy with the famous Blosom.

We had great weather. Our work area was set up so we all looked out at the pond.

The pond - so serene.

It was very relaxing to eat out on the deck.

There was lots of visiting and sewing. We began projects, worked on other projects and even finished some things! 

Barb finished quilting this gorgeous quilt.

And she put the binding on this quilt.

Then she began appliquéing a couple of small hangings. 

Sandy made this pretty top.

And this one too.

I finished a couple of tops and worked on more.

I love orange!

My scrappy Trip Around the World will grow more.

My Disappearing Hour Glass in batik pastels.

We had a great time, as usual. And there was more but ...

some of what happens on retreat stays on retreat!