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.   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!!!   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 quilt 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 challenge 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 got ……..

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 creative ….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

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 Annie 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 in 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……when 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.

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 going 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 project.  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 Sharon  …. 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.  

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

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