The Mach Four & More!

We’ve never done this before.

We’ve never had a dedicated retreat day -

My mom, her 2 sisters and me.

And friend Cheri came to play!

It’s been just under 2 years since I enlisted Cheri’s help in locating a Singer 404 for Joy so she could learn to quilt.  Little did we know how this would escalate!

Mom has been quilting for several years now, the only odd one out is Aunt Gail, but that was soon to be remedied.

Joy is working on a Scrappy Mountain Majesties quilt from my Free Patterns Tab, and it is the perfect project to pull Gail right in with learning the ins and outs of basic rotary cutting, some simple stitching.  Some trimming to size, some slicing and rearranging and sewing back together with a 1/4’’ seam allowance.  ALL new to her, as she has done garment sewing in the past, but not patchwork.

She is mastering measuring and cutting with a ruler -

NOT the lines on the mat!  Hooray!

One of the things I love best about those who “know nothing”…there is NO un-learning to do.  You tell them what to do, how to do it, and they do it.

Joy , showing Gail what to do!

Oh how I love these ladies!  We have laughed and laughed!

And my sweet mama.

We have rarely sewn together either -

Usually when we are together we are surrounded by other non-quilting family and we are usually found in the kitchen prepping meals – or cleaning up after one.  Or just doing other family oriented things.  But this time?  Is PRECIOUS to me!

Sew, mama sew!!

She is working on some crumb pieced rectangles for quilts for 3 grandsons.  She takes after her daughter with her love of scraps and recycled fabrics all mixed together.  My heart is so full!

We really NEED to do this more often!

And I really have to thank Cheri for 2 extra machines -

Tables, thread catchers, rulers, notions, EVERYTHING we could possibly need!

We’ve just adopted her right in!

She fits in perfectly with our crazy clan!

I’ve been working on more Jack’s Delight blocks -

Be watching for this block to appear in one of my Addicted to Scraps columns in the 2020 issues of Quiltmaker – it was the fastest way to get my methods out to everyone on this block.  SO much fun – and easy when cut with my Essential Triangle Tool from Scrap User’s System sizes.

I was going to stop myself at 30 blocks for a small quilt -

But I don’t know! They are too much fun!

Waffles says “Supervising Quilters is HARD WORK!”

By 5:30 pm we were out at the farmer’s market -

These three sisters share a love of plants and gardening!

Late evening walk after dinner.

I forget how light it stays up north as we edge toward the summer solstice.  I looked at my clock, it was 9:30pm!  My body clock still was on East Coast time….saying 10:30! Go to bed!  I obeyed.

It was a full and fun day of family and friends, quilting and laughter – and it will continue today.

We are headed up to Spicer – to the shores of Ringo Lake!  Our next couple of nights will be spent in the continuing celebration of mom’s 78th birthday and we’ll have ALL of the siblings together.  Only handwork on this trip – which is easy.  I’ve got those two table runners to bind.

But if I can get this posted up soon enough – it’s only 7:30am here and folks are still snoozing – there may be some more stitching happening in the basement in Maple Grove, MN.

Quiltville Quote of the Day!

Vintage applique quilt found in Kentucky.

The very things you take for granted someone else is praying for.

Your life is extraordinary!

Have a wonderful Friday, everyone!