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Monday, April 02, 2012

Virginia Bound, Moline Style!

20 quilters --- laundry baskets and tubs and bins and bags full of scraps and strings, and FULL shirts ready to be cut down ---

I *WAS* sworn to secrecy, but you know…..I just can’t stand it --- because there are certain thrift stores in this area that have TWENTY FIVE CENT TUESDAYS!! That means --- gorgeous 100% cotton shirts are 4 for $1.00 --- are you whining with me yet?!

I’m trying to show some restraint….because this coming Tuesday is 25 cent day, and I’m telling myself that I don’t NEED any more shirts --- plus – I’d have to fight off all these women for them! LOL!

We had Virginia Bound blocks happening in so many color ways and styles it was a delight to see! Oh, and before I forget and go any farther, I’ve had emails asking where people can find Virginia Bound. I forget that we have lots of new readers who haven’t been following for long ---so you can find Virginia Bound in my first book, Scraps & Shirttails (vol 1) HERE!

We had more show and tell at lunch break, and I let someone ELSE do the holding, so I could get pics!

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Kelli showed her “Fair & Square” from Scraps & Shirttails II ---her borders are almost ready to go on! Boy can this girl power sew!

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She also showed her “Blue Ridge Beauty” ((From Adventures With Leaders & Enders)) in blacks and whites! This is AWESOME --- you should see the variety of fabrics in it. She’s made it for a wedding gift for some friends --- all I can say is they must be pretty danged good friends to deserve this quilt..it’s wonderfful!

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One quilter brought her My Blue Heaven! Doesn’t it look great? I just love blue/neutral quilts! I really like her piano key border, which was a great place to use up those left over 2.5” strips!

We used up every other available minute of the day sewing Virginia Bound blocks…..and of course, as always --- the scraps don’t go away, they left with juset as much fabric as they came with!

See for yourself!

The day was so warm that we opened up those great big garage doors to let in the fresh air ---after being told there were LILACS blooming out back, I had to go get a whiff….

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These were the small blossomed heirloom variety – and oh their fragrance was HEADY!

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I haven’t had lilacs since we moved from Idaho, and they are the one spring flower I really miss! They just don’t grow near where I live --- there are plenty of other “purple” things – but they just don’t SMELL the same! This fragrance takes me all the way back to when I was a little girl --- I love it!

April 1st! And Lilacs are in full bloom! What a WEIRD winter and spring it’s been so far!

Today we have a completely different workshop. We’ll be doing Scrappy Mountain Majesties --- and working with 8.5” squares of fabric. More photos to come ---- it’s going to be another fun day in Moline!

Sunday, April 01, 2012

Hot Sunday Evening Edition: Free Kindle Book!

I’m back to my room after a long but full day that started out by giving a class of very willing Quilters a demo on how to QUICKLY de-bone a shirt!

I’m thinking this is something that I need to have on video on the website ---because I can get that shirt apart faster than faster than fast ---usable parts ready to go, and not much to go into the trash at all!

So If I think tomorrow that anyone wants to see it again, because it will mostly be a new group ---then maybe I”ll have someone do video on my phone while I do it :c)

The weather here has changed drastically! High of 79! We got hot in our lovely garage-room ---yesterday was chilly --- you needed a sweatshirt ---last night the thunderstorms blew through with quite the lightning show and booming thunder and pounding rain – and today was GORGEOUS! We opened up those big garage doors and let the light and air in --- it was lovely!

I’ve got pics to edit later from class – I have just a bit of time before being picked up for dinner ((It’s Italian night, and a bunch of gals from the class are all joining us --- we should have something like 18! FUN!)) and I’ve got my shoes off, reclining on a pile of pillows while taking care of email on my laptop and resting up….

Well, I haven’t checked for freebies since I got here, so I went looking --- guess what I found? This sounds like a good one!

Murder on the Rocks by Karen MacInerney is free today from the Amazon Kindle store, and has received an average user rating of 4 out of 5 stars based on 44 customer reviews.

Category: Mystery & Thriller

Book Description:

Trading in Texas heat for Maine’s tangy salt air, Natalie Barnes risked it all to buy the Gray Whale Inn, a quaint bed and breakfast on Cranberry Island.

She adores whipping up buttery muffins and other rich breakfast treats for her guests until Bernard Katz checks in. The overbearing land developer plans to build a resort next door where an endangered colony of black-chinned terns is nesting.

Worried about the birds, the inevitable transformation of the sleepy fishing community, and her livelihood, Natalie takes a public stand against the project. But the town board sides with Katz.

Just when it seems like things can’t get any worse, Natalie finds Katz dead. Now the police and much of the town think she’s guilty. Can Natalie track down the true killer before she’s hauled off to jail…or becomes the next victim?

It sounds like a cute small town flavored fun read!

Be sure to check it’s still free when you go to get it – it’s listed at $14.95 regular price, and I know it won’t stay free for long!

Love from Moline, IL ---