Grand Lake Shop Hop and Lil Bag

     Saturday morning I joined other enthusiastic Quilters at Grand Lake's One Stop Shop Hop featuring 19 Quilt Shops under one roof in Celina, Ohio.  It was a wonderful location for Quilt Shops from Indiana and Ohio to meet and greet eager Quilter's.  Door Prizes were given away every hour - oh yay!  They had a Grand Prize of $50 Gift Certificate donated by each shop - that meant they gave out 19 Grand Prize Winners - wow!  I hope I get picked for one of them :)  They also held hourly demonstrations for quilting tips and techniques by the various Quilt Shops.  It was almost like a mini-retreat that you wanted to stay alllll day for!! I was so impressed how Rebecca and friends organized and carried out a successful show.   I look forward to the next show in March at University of Northwestern Ohio Event Center in Lima, Ohio.

I was able to meet Caroline face to face after many months of phone conversations (she owns Caroline's Cottage Cottons in Rome, IN).  She has sent me monthly mailings of Patriot's in Petticoats block-of-the-month.  I walked up to her and said, "you won't recognize my face, but hopefully you recognize my voice!"  Her face lit up and she was so excited to place a voice with my face!  We had a lively conversation as I was able to show her my completed 4 blocks.  It was wonderful to hear her encouraging words.

I came home with a few small important treasures like a spool of Aurafil thread and a finger pressing tool.  I'm a big fan of Aurifil thread!  I have almost finished with my first spool.  I've made 3 lap size quilt tops, 2 small tote bags, 2 blocks for Pieceful Nights and 4 Patriot blocks.  I'll let you know when I start my next spool. 

Saturday evening I started working on a small kit I had bought at Lolly's Fabric's.  I fell in love with Lolly's when I visited the Shipshewanna Show in June.  Lolly's had neatly tied bundles of 2 contrasting fat-eighths wrapped around a zipper next to "Cash and Carry" patterns by Atkinson's Designs.  I finished it this afternoon and it came out to 7" x 3 1/2".  It's adorable, directions were easy to follow, and it will certainly be put to good use.  I'm also thinking future Christmas gifts! 

Time to move on to another Patriot Block :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Elaine

Chipper Piecemaker

Lovely Patriot Number 4

To look at the picture, this is such a simple block and the fabric colors are so fresh and airy.  Saturday afternoon I didn't think I could do this one, but Sunday evening it all came together and tonight it's a beauty!!  I had to trust the cutting instructions and be sooooooo precise on the sewing :)  Yippee, it was worth it all!!

It's kinda like walking with the Father...sometimes you have to streeeettttch your faith and your senses and walk in the dark, trusting His leading and just persistently persevere.  You know it will all work out, but you just wish you had a little light on the path.

In what used to be our home-school room hangs a poem that has sustained me many times.

Press On

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.

Talent will not, nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.

Genius will not, unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.

Education will not, the world is full of educated derelicts.

Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.

I've been told I'm pretty determined and stubbornly persistent at times.  I suppose this block is another lesson to Press On!

Let me know what you have struggled with this week!  It may not be in your quilting projects, it may be walking in the dark and trusting His leading with life's issues.

Keep on Pressing On!

Elaine

Chipper Piecemaker

Patriot's in Petticoat's Block #3

I'm so thankful I signed up for Patriot's in Petticoat's block of the month.  I'm so happy to work on each block with beautiful fabric!  Each block takes me to a higher level of accuracy in cutting, piecing and pressing.  My comfort zone is expanding and I feel like my skills are growing with each new block.  The directions have been helpful and I usually have just a smidgen of leftover fabric when the block is completed.

Block #3:  Margaret Cochran Corbin

Margaret's block has been a challenge in the realm of pressing.  I'm learning to finger-press as I piece and consider how the next segment will attach before pressing a whole section.  This block came together as a 9-patch, but pressing was a little touchy.  Piecing has been easy - 10 squares for a 10 inch block, so every segment is 1 1/2 inches.  A few corners are slightly off, but overall...I look at it in awe! 

I've started Block #4 and it's a beauty, but the piecing is in the 1/8th inch increments.  It has 6 sections across that must finish to a 10 inch block.  Last night I was cutting out the pieces and reminding my self, "think twice, cut once, think twice, cut one, no oopsies"!

It would be so so fun sitting around a table with a group of ladies, working on each block together.  How I miss that inspiring camaraderie!  Hopefully a few more followers will drop in and we can chat about what they are working on.

Thanks for stopping by,

Elaine

Chipper Piecemaker

Christmas Batik Quilt

It has been a long time since my last post, but life happens.  I've been in the valley of losing a good friend and a father-in-law and comforting close friends who have lost loved ones - all in the last month.  It's more than the usual 3, so today I was determined to sew, be refreshed and take baby steps forward :)

A week ago, I cut out pieces for a shop sample.  A few are from the Batik Peppermint Patty Christmas collection.  The fabrics are beautiful and wonderful to work with.  I wish you could see them up close.

Over the weekend I pieced it all together!

This quilt was from Kathy Brown's Book and it's called "Take 5 Takes a Walk Around The Block".  It's a great beginner's quilt and a good stash buster.  The blocks are 12" finished, the inner border is 2" finished, and outer border will be 8" finished.  It's a great snuggler!  I look forward to Mike's creative quilting to give it the WOW factor. 

I'm anxious to get back to Patriots in Petticoats.  I still have soooo many blocks to catch up on.  Maybe this week I can start on a new block :)

It's been a nice weekend!

Thanks for stopping by!

Elaine

Chipper Piecemaker