Tuesday, November 22, 2011

A Weekend, Camp and an Xmas Project

Last weekend was a family getaway to Lake Arrowhead.  My family surprised me with it for my 60th birthday last month….excuse me, I am still in denial over the 60 part!!  At the last minute we decided to have a turkey dinner since both my girls have to work Thanksgiving.010   My daughters first turkey….so very, very yummy.  Side dishes made by both girls and myself.  My girls are terrific cooks, good thing because it just isn’t my favorite thing!!!011   The cabin was so perfect…a log cabin decorated cute as can be.  We played games, laughed and laughed and laughed.  So great to have everyone together….I didn’t get many pictures.  Too busy having a good time.  I will have to snag some from my kids to show later.  It was absolutely the best birthday present ever…spending a whole weekend with them all was AMAZING!!!!  Love you guys bunches :-)!!!

Then there was quilt camp last week at beautiful Camp Cedar Glen.  Catching up with quilt032 buddies is always so much fun and sewing for four days with my friend Annie…WONDERFUL!!!   Oh yeah and quilting!!!  I was very productive, lots of  secret Xmas sewing and then there was a Jelly Jam challenge012 that was timed!!!!  Here’s my jelly roll strips in a pile sewn end to end, then again and again and again and finally this is what I got041 ……..

The winner sewed all her strips in to a quilt in one hour and 5 minutes.  Us human quilters sewed ours in about 3 1/2 hours!!!  My friend Nicole (on the right) used the same jelly roll that I did and she got very creative050 ….she freehanded the tree shape to match the trees in the fabric.  Stinkin’ cute I say!  That’s Sue Bouchard on the left…Eleanor’s right hand girl.

Eleanor and the girls always entertain us and always bring great new patterns along to tempt 003

us. I can’t wait to make this in 30’s.  She named the quilt Kylee’s Kite after her granddaughter.   I am always drawn to quilts that have what looks to be curves in them.  I heart  this quilt…..there’s my sweet friend Annie004 on the left.  She teaches classes at Quilt In A Day, and one of these days I’m going to surprise her and sign up for a class.   Not only are there new patterns to tempt us, but there is a mini store  to shop in031 with great deals on fabrics….$4.00 a yard for some!  Then there was something that caught my eye.  I use Quilting Betweens size 10 for my bindings, and threading seems to be getting harder and harder….guess it’s that 60 year old thing again……017when I saw this new threader from Bohin and it said for fine needles I just had to have it and it is WONDERFUL!  Works like a charm.022

I did make a couple Xmas quilts for The Dots, but again everything else is top secret…don’t even try you can’t get it out of me!

The last night of camp there is a fun raffle with proceeds go029ing to a local Women’s Shelter.  Everyone brings quilty goodies from home to donate, tickets are purchased and then the fun begins.  From both camp sessions $1,900.00 was raised. 

Last night was another Christmas Workshop class.  Again, no idea what we were going to work on and again….LOVE the project015.  My guys faces are kind of wonky, but Theresa and Joan assured me that means they have personality!! 

It’s always fun when  there’s a box waiting on the porch.  This one was from my swap partner Sharon016  …. two bags of Kisses right on top!! Woohoo, does my swap partner know me or what!!  Waiting, waiting not so patiently for Xmas morning to open all the goodies.  It has been so much fun to get to know Sharon.  She is one productive quilter.  

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Fall has finally arrived.   The colors are popping up all over the place.  

Wishing all of you in the States a very Happy Thanksgiving.

13 comments:

Vroomans' Quilts said...

What fun to do a retreat with Eleonor! A lot of fun going on!!

Kris said...

What fun you have been having! Happy Belated birthday to you. What a perfect gift!!! All such fun!!! Enjoy Thanksgiving!!!

Anne Heidi said...

It sure looks like you've had a lot of fun- Happy belated birthday to you!!! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Chookyblue...... said...

glad you had a great time away.............and a celebratory dinner with the girls...........

PunkiePie (Jen) said...

You have been keeping super busy! Happy belated birthday and Happy Thanksgiving!!

Allie said...

Cheryl, I think you've been having WAY too much fun!!! I used to have a very good friend that lived in Lake Arrowhead, she's been gone about 5 years now. I miss her.
I don't know girl, I think I couldn't keep up with you at 52, someone must have made a mistake on your birth certificate....*G* Love those quilts you made, and the darling snowmen! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving [hope you have some leftover turkey, lol]!

Carrie P. said...

so glad you had a great time with your family. the food looks great.
Oh, that retreat looks really fun! Great show and tell.

Ulla's Quilt World said...

Hi! Greetings from Finland! Your quilts are so fantastic! Thank you for the photos! It's so nice to find other quilters all around the world! :)

Mary Anne Drury said...

Hi Cheryl! Happy belated birthday and happy belated Thanksgiving ! Sounds like you've been having lots of fun with family and friends ! ..... and PRODUCTIVE !! WOW !! :)

Dandelion Quilts said...

Looks like you have been having a lot of fun....that bird makes my mouth water for Thanksgiving all over again.

deb said...

wow you have been having just too much fun girlfriend!!!!!! love all the projects!!!!!!!!!

Thimbleanna said...

Wow -- you've been livin' the life! Happy Belated Birthday -- a weekend in a cabin with the kids sounds just perfect, you lucky girl. And the quilt retreat sounds like tons of fun. Are you sure you don't want to tell us what you're making???

Candace said...

What a lovely celebration you had. Happy belated birthday, and being on the wrong side of 60, it's not so bad. Looks like you've been busy with lots of fun projects. That jelly roll challenge looks like lots of fun.