Prairie Flowers Block

This little applique design is from Jo Morton's out-of-print book, "Prairie Flowers." I love to hand applique, and use the back-basting method. Small projects like this are fun and quick to complete!

This is Jo Morton's "Liberty Eagle" design, from her book "Yesterday's Charm." I will be teaching wool applique for the center design. My dear friend Becky Dye Cogan pieced it -- all Jo fabric, of course -- and my other dear friend Naida McKee did an excellent job of quilting it. I get by with the help of my friends. Well, at least I did the hand sewing on the binding! Give me hand work and I'm happy.

Class Models

Last weekend, I had a great time in Kansas City with me "old" friends, visiting and sewing. Gretta enjoyed playing with Buster (mostly) and Bonnie (some), Candy's darling dogs. Since I got back, I'm still working on posting my eBay items and enjoying time with family. Thirty years of collecting -- fabric, books, etc. -- takes a while to send back out into the universe! But I must do it to make space to enjoy my studio space, and invite friends to share it.

Today I'm sending off the two models for classes I'm teaching at The Rabbit's Lair in Rogers, Arkansas, in June. I'm looking forward to this trip with Candy; she will be teaching two quilts she designed with Jo Morton fabrics, one will be in Jo's next book, and the other is an Andover Fabrics free quilt pattern.

"Stone Cottage" Quilt, designed by Becky Dye Cogan, using Renee Nanneman's fabrics by Andover.

Stone Cottage Quilt

My friend Becky Dye Cogan designed a quilt using Renee Nanneman's newest line of fabric, "Stone Cottage." It is absolutely gorgeous and uses all the fabrics in the group. The directions are posted on Andover Fabric's website, under "Free Quilt Designs." Becky has agreed to teach this to a group that would visit here.

"Prairie Flowers" block designed by Jo Morton

Prairie Flowers Block

I'll be teaching this block on the back-basting applique method at the Rabbit's Lair in Rogers, Arkansas in June. I got permission from Jo Morton to use the design from her out-of-print book, "Prairie Flowers." I'll also be teaching wool applique, and my friend Candy Hargrove will teach a class on one of her designs that will be in Jo's next book, due out in May. I know we'll have a great time!

Here's another of the umbrella blocks.

Umbrella blocks

The "Primavera" pattern has several of these small umbrellas -- it has been rainy here for several days. We need the rain to bring us the Spring flowers!

What I'm Working On

I love to do hand applique! Most of the time I use the "back basting" method I learned many years ago from Jeanna Kimball. I am currently working on blocks from a spring quilt design by Vintage Spool, "Primavera." I love Verna's designs, and have 4 in progress. I'm almost done with the blocks for "Gifts from the Sea" and have a few blocks done from 2 Christmas designs and this one. I'll post pictures of the rest of the blocks I've made along the way.

My new favorite quotation -- "Appreciation is a wonderful thing; it makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well." -- Voltaire

I have a new favorite quotation! I saw it in a beautiful frame on our way to the Retreat last weekend. We stopped for lunch at the tea room in Handel Haus in Cole Camp, MO (a wonderful store and an equally wonderful lunch spot) and they had several unusual quotations. I especially liked this one, as it reminded me of how much we have to appreciate in the friends we have. Even if we don't have their talents, we can enjoy what they do and appreciate what they share with us. It's kind of like not needing to "own" everything we love, but enjoying it while we look at it and put it in our memory bank. Another way of "simplifying."

I gave this to my special friend Jo Morton, and she has it hanging in her studio. I consider that an honor. And I can enjoy it anytime I want by looking at it's picture, and think of it keeping her company. A very good thought!

Close Up of Jo Morton's quilt with LeMoyne Stars -- will work on this one day soon!

After Retreat

This last weekend, I went on one of my two annual quilting retreats -- this one was with my good friend, Jo Morton, as the teacher. There is nothing better than getting together with friends who share a love for the same things you do, and spending time. The retreat was Thursday through Sunday at The Barn in Valley Falls, Kansas; have been there many times. I rode with my niece Rachel and Diane from here at the Lake. Most of the women in this group have been attending this retreat for 8 years.

We had a great time from the start; had lunch at the tea room in Handel Haus in Cole Camp, then headed on out to Kansas.

Most of the time was spent socializing and working on a baby quilt for my son's best friend, while we watched my favorite movies. Jo doesn't get a chance to watch movies often, so we shared our favorites with her. My all time favorite, "Mamma Mia" was a big hit with her, as was "Secret Life of Bees" and an oldie but goodie, "Return to Me."

Yesterday I posted some more eBay listings; I found a new bag of batiks, so put them on. I need to stay on task to get more sold and cleared out to make way for work room for the studio! Check out my listings on eBay -- seller name is simplepleasuresquilting.

One really wonderful thing (other than being with friends) was our unfinished project auction (plus some quilts Jo donated) that raised $1700 for 7 Bells Sanctuary in Cole Camp. That is the rescue place where I adopted Gretta, and also my niece's dachshund, Daisy. Their mission is to care for older dogs that are hard to place.