Winner!

It's here!  It's here!  Autumn has arrived in New England and I'm loving it!

I added a few nice fabrics to the magazine for the giveaway.  Thanks for all the comments, I wrote email responses to all those who do not have "non-reply" status on their google setting :(   sady, a lot you fell in that category, but it was nice to get your comment.   Hanna texted me a number between 1-60 and the winner is:

 Cathy said...

Your Alice Payne blocks are fantastic. Can't wait for you to produce the pattern.

Great magazine for a giveaway.

Hugs, Cathy

Our retreat at Rosa Mountain House was wonderful.  Click here to Pat's website. If you are looking for a lovely setting to sew with friends, she offers dates in the spring and fall.

Norma looks very serious here sewing away....We had such a good time as table and room mates.

I read an article about my buddy, Rachaeldaisey.  Her quilt was the cover girl of QuiltMania's new Simply Modern Magazine.  Congratulations Rachael!

 We solved the problems of the world.....one at a time.

I caught up on the last 4 stars for the Stars in a Time Warp sew along.  I did NOT finish my retreat project yet.  I hope to show it to you next time.

This should give you a big hint as to how I might set the stars.

I received a touching and very surprising package from my teacher and friend, Gwen Marston.   She is retiring at the end of this year and gifted me her travel applique' needle.  She taught with exactly 1 needle in the zippered, inside pocket of her coach purse.  She also sent along one of her signature sweatshirts.  

At the end of an email this week she wrote:

Glad you like the gifts…now you are all set…completely set….to become the queen of folk art appliqué…spreading the word of doing your own work! Go forth and multiply!   Gwenny

I was literally moved to tears and see it as a good omen because this weekend I'm visiting an applique' group near Boston to give an Applique' Quilt Trunk Show and a Workshop on Designing Folk Art Quilts - Your Way.

Thank you for your wonderful comments on my Alice Payne project. Next week I'll be posting the finished top! 

p.s.  I've added the tab at the top of the blog for the coffin needle case since we're getting closer to Halloween.  click here to see the original post.  If you want the PFD leave your email  or email me using the form on the side.  Thanks!

FFF - Retreat & Book Reveiw

Happy Friday!

We had a great time at the retreat at Rose Mountain House.  Click Here to see the website.  Thank you Pat for your hospitality and delicious cooking!

Here is a new quilt that I worked on.  It is a 4-patch posie, like my India quilt.  Thank you friends for helping me with the placement of the blocks!

Here is the beautiful view from the Rosa house:

Here are some photos of my friends on this retreat -

sew, barb, sew! You can see Nancy's 4-patch posie on the wall.

And some of our projects:  Nancy's 2 doll quilts, and her special quilt for Emily.  My Lavender quilt.

I actually made a "key" for the color placement - thanks Pauline for your help.

Margaret's 4-patch posie Halloween quilt-

Pauline's -

Norma's 4-patch posie -

It was so fun to get away to such a beautiful place and spend time sewing with friends.

Book Review:
Here are 2 books that I like that couldn't be more different.

English family saga, WWII era with a little mystery.  Think Thomas Hardy meets Dickens.

And here is one I just started.  It is a fast forward in time from the Shining.  Vintage Stephen King; funny, creepy and very graphic.

Hope you have a great weekend!