Helllooooo

I never intended to be away this long!!  I am still quilting and piecing and I have recently learned how to long-arm!  It's been quite an adventure and I surprise myself every time I teach or work on my own quilts.

I made a T-Shirt quilt in hopes of gathering some interest to make them for customers.  I learned so much about the process and how to add borders to the T-Shirts.  I'm still praying I have some requests because I really enjoyed making this one.  I have several pantograph designs I enjoy long-arming, so I am eager for some customers.   

I hope everyone has enjoyed the Row by Row experience!  I have purchased several rows and enjoyed visiting new shops.  I promise I will be more faithful to enter future posts.

Happy Quilting!
Elaine

Chipper Piecemaker

My First Showing

When my Pastor's Wife learned I was published in AQ Magazine, she asked me if I would like to share some of my quilts on the Artist's Wall at our church.  I smiled and agreed to the request.  I spent several days sewing bindings on quilts I had procrastinated on and several days sewing hanging sleeves to each quilt.  I was ready to meet with Robb and Mary Ellen this past Saturday and here they are!!

This is my Star Watch quilt just down from the others.  It's BIG!

From left to right and top to bottom:  Hexie, recently published in AQ Magazine, Autumn Stars, a Thimbleberries pattern; Aussie Charms, my own design with Australian charms a friend brought back from her trip to Sydney, Australia; Patriots in Petticoats, shown in Paducah; Fractured Bargello and Contemporary Bargello.  

On Sunday morning I stood against the opposite wall to hear the comments as people walked by.  You can't see it from this angle, but there is a framed copy of my Bio information with a small picture.  My husband and daughter were with me, but we spread out.  I wanted to know what people thought.  One woman looked at them, raised her shoulders and said, "oh...that is just sooo much work!", and quickly walked away.  Several others smiled, walked up close and studied the fabric and quilting.  Some looked around and exchanged some kind words.  Then a family walked up, stared intently at the quilts, read my bio and turned to look right at me, pointed their finger and almost shouted,  "You are the Creator!  You did all of these!  These are stunning!"  Then the  conversations started and it was heartwarming!  

The other unplanned, interesting detail is they are all quilted by my Quilter, Mike Barber from Cozy Cabin Quilts in St. Mary's Ohio.  These quilts span 20 years and I am thankful Mike has brought out the best in several older quilts.  My goal was they would appeal to a broad audience.

They will hang for the month of January and I hope many in my church will walk by and enjoy them.  Seeing them hang makes me smile every time.  Their perception is overwhelming when I see them together on the wall.  I'm still so amazed that God would trust me with this gift and grateful I can make them by His grace.  

Have a good January!

Elaine

Chipper Piecemaker

My Hexagon Technique is Published

 

My Secret is out...Hexie is published in AQ Magazine!

The rest of 2013 was spent working on a magazine article for the January 2014 edition  American Quilter Magazine.    

I'm focusing on teaching machine pieced hexie's.  This technique demonstrates a faster machine pieced hexagon quilt than you can hand piece!  I've taught this technique for the past 20 years and Michele Duffy was so kind to ask me to write this article.  One of the amazing aspects about this method is it can be applied to other 60 degree patterns like Tumbling Blocks, 6-Pointed Stars, original Bow Tie and other piece making where you have to set in the pieces.

 

It was a combined effort with my husband and daughter.  He set up the table in our driveway so my daughter could take the procedural pictures. Michele's photographer's did the full size picture of the quilt.  They really know how to show off Mike's beautiful quilting!!  The whole process covered 7 months, but in the end, I'm astonished to see my name in the magazine.

 

Another special thanks goes out to my Quilter, Mike Barber in St Marys, Ohio for quilting this quilt in a short amount of time in late June.  The staff at AQ Magazine were wonderful, both the Graphic Designer and Assistant Editor.  Michele was very encouraging through the whole process.

 

I'm looking forward to showing my quilt at our Guild meeting on Thursday evening. 

 

Happy Quilting,

Elaine

 

Chipper Piecemaker 

 

 

 

Charlie Peters and Kate's Gift

 

Happy Mother's Day everyone!!

 

Tis the season for planting flowers and special gifts for special people.  This week I was overjoyed to find Charlie Peters at my local Garden Center. 

The original Charlie Peters, aka Purple Passion Plant, was one of my first house plants. Charlie watched over me during high school and respiratory school. He went off to my first apartment in Columbus and surprised me with blossoms one day. They were bright orange and stunk like a skunk!  I had to pluck them off and discard them outside my apartment. It took over a week to air out my one bedroom apartment from their brief fragrance. He lived a long life until unknown bugs invaded. I have looked for the past 20 years and this week, to my heartfelt joy, his offspring was waiting for me at Knollwood Gardens!! He's a little guy, but he will grow big and bushy like his predecessor.

Kate's gift is a little Origami bag.  I'm meeting her for dinner on Wednesday evening.  She's a special friend and I'm looking forward to dinner with her.  I wanted a little something for her to show my appreciation for her friendship.

Today is not only Mother's Day in our home, but it's also my Anniversary.  Steve and I have been married 34 years today.  We waited 10 years for our girls, so most folks don't realize we have been together this long.  It's a beautiful, breezy, sunny day here in Beavercreek, just like our wedding day.  The lilacs are in bloom, I've done Kate's gift today and I'll spend the rest of the day digging in the dirt.  It's too cool to plant all my treasures  Steve and I bought at the Garden Center.  I'll have fun pulling the weeds and preparing the soil!

This week I'm working on Almeda's quilts.  She asked me to make two lap size quilts for her two sisters.  The fabric is beautiful and I'm looking forward to both projects!

Hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day!

Elaine
Chipper Piecemaker

Springtime at Cox's

 

My good friend Linda and I met at Cox's Arboretum this week to enjoy the gardens.  We saw these turtle's sunning themselves in one of the ponds.

 



This looked like a family reunion.  The older patriarchs and then the youngsters.  One little guy slipped into the pond right before I snapped this.

Lilacs are my favorites!  Leah, my youngest daughter, will be bringing in bunches and placing vases all over our home.  My husband I were married in May, so the reception hall could be decorated with lilacs.  We will celebrate 34 years next week.

There were two families of ducks we could sit and watch.  This Mamma Duck was more receptive to our gazing than the other Mamma.

 

In my class with Alex Anderson, she talked about using pictures to guide you into color palettes for your quilt.  I have always wanted to do a green and purple quilt, but never quite sure about mixing the fabric colors.  This picture would be a wonderful guide!!  Thanks Alex for sharing wisdom and inspiring confidence!

 

Every Quilter needs a Drying Bush.  My Gramma Hill had a small clothes line, but she had several drying bushes.  I remember when she washed quilts from the upstairs bedrooms and tossed them over a drying bush to let them air dry.  I had a Viburnum Bush like this one at our home in Pennsylvania that I used as my Drying Bush.  At the end of the afternoon my quilts smelled good and our bedrooms smelled good for days!



 



Do you have a drying bush for your quilts?  I enjoy the old traditions.  If you have some family traditions to share, I would love to hear about them!

 

 

Elaine

Chipper Piecemaker

New Class Sample: Hope Chest Treasures

I've been pumping out the work over the last few evenings.  I was captivated by Tricia Cribbs, Turning Twenty #9, Hope Chest Treasures, a few months ago and had to make the pattern on-point.  Jenn, Little Shop of Stitches, shop owner, requested it in bright colors and I was happy to step out of my color pallette.  These blocks are BIG...a whopping 16" block!  Here is the finished quilt top!

 

I'm glad I made a mid-size version rather than the full size.  When I was visiting the shop this week, Jenn was lamenting she needs some big walls to showcase larger samples.  Her classroom is a cheery room with most of her larger quilts.  I appreciate having so many inspiring samples when I'm teaching.  They are great conversation starters and motivational for beginning quilt students.

 

 

Hopefully, I'll be teaching this class in August.  I'll be delivering it to the shop this week.  The new class schedule comes out next week.

 

 

I'll be looking forward to your newest creations!

 

 

Elaine

Chipper Piecemaker

Happy Memories of Paducah

 

My trip to Paducah was more than I ever could have imagined!  The Awards Presentation was filled with shrieks of joy and "Wow" after "Wow" as each quilt was lowered from the ceiling to an anxious audience.  I didn't place in the finals, but I was overjoyed to be a part of AQS Paducah's 29th Quilt Week.

 

.The next morning my husband, daughter, and dear friend, Jenn headed to the Convention Center to find my quilt.  Needless to say, everyone found it before I did. 

My quilt was the 3rd grouping on the right hand side, just inside the main door.  I walked by each day just to peek at it.  I loved hearing kind remarks and congrats.

 

Contestants had a yellow ribbon with their name tags.  Winners had yellow and white ribbons.

 

 

The people at AQS are the friendliest people in the world!!  The vendors were eager to share their knowledge and let you try just about anything you desired.  Jenn and I were looking at fabric when Edyta Sitir asked if we needed help in her booth.  We were ecstatic to have her help!!  She loves to pick out fabric!!  Then we went to Hancock's and were dazzled with their sprawling selection.  It has the Wow-Factor!!  Right before we left the first time, we were told about the "Back Room".  I took a peek while Jenn stood in line.  We had to return a second time so we could shop in the "Back Room".  We were on sensory overload everyday and came home with too many projects!  Where do I start?? 

 

Isn't that what Quilt Week is all about...being encouraged, inspired, spending a little too much $$, chatting with authors, designers, quilters and staying up late to savor the day's purchases!

 

What were your happy memories about Paducah?  I would love to hear about your Quilt trips!

 

Elaine

Chipper Piecemaker



 



Sewing on a Sunny Day

 

I'm working on some beautiful brightly colored blocks from the Turning Twenty pattern, "Hope Chest Treasure".  These are so bright they make me blink!



 

Oh the joy's of being streeeetched beyond my comfort zone!!  I have the sweetest friend, Linda, who is a "brights" quilter.  I look at her creations and they always makes me smile!!  A good friend helped me pick out these prints and I have enjoyed working with them.  Cutting has been tedious, but the piecing keeps me smiling!

 

 

I made 5 big blocks and one small block today and laid them out on our guest bed this evening.  I wanted to see the colors all smooshed together!  I'm making a small wallhanging, well, sorta small, when you consider 3 rows of 16 inch blocks on point...maybe medium size would be a better description.  These brights are growing on me.  Who know's...by the time I finish this little wallhanging, I may be converted to a new color pallette! 

 

Paducah is a little over 2 weeks away!  I'm still so excited!  Mom's Quilt arrived in Paducah last Wednesday.  How astonishing, it left Beavercreek Tues at 5:20pm and arrived in Paducah at 2:48pm the next day.  In less than 24 hours FedEx moved it right along to the capable hands of American Quilter's Society!  I have talked with several people at AQS and they are the nicest people on the planet...friendly, efficient, helpful, encouraging! 

I also excited my husband, Steve and darling daughter, Leah are coming for the Awards Presentation and Merchant Mall the next day.  I was surprised they can take the time and share the joy of Paducah with Jenn and I.  I can't begin to imagine what it's going to be like to see Mom's Quilt hanging in the Gallery.  I'll be taking pictures to share with everyone.

 

Blessings to you,

 

Elaine

Chipper Piecemaker



 



The Joy's of Project's

I've been working on another interesting group of blocks for the past month, while I was waiting to hear from Paducah :)  I have an unstoppable yearn to learn new skills and these blocks have fit the task!  Even after piecing all the Patriot stars, I enjoy being challenged by a few more stars.  

 

These gems are part of Pieceful Nights by Lori Smith.  I have a fondness for quilt's made on-point and this beautiful pattern is "all on-point"! These 12 blocks will turn on-point and surround a center medallion which is also on-point.  The borders are patiently waiting to join these blocks.  Lori's directions are outstanding!  Like Patriot's, there are several inside and outside borders.  The side triangles are three different fabrics that bring the quilt back to a perfect square.  The center medallion is on the left hand side of my banner.

 

The last part I love, love, love about this pattern is all the borders are mitered!!  To me, a mitered corner frames a quilt beautifully.  Since moving to Ohio, I've heard most ladies are squeamish to miter their borders, but I thought, "that's how it was done"!  At least that's how I was taught in Pennsylvania :) I'll have plenty of opportunities to continue the tradition, since there are 4 set's of borders.

 

I'll keep you posted on the progress.  It may be a little bit.  I have a shop sample and 2 Christmas quilts to make for a friend at work on my table.  I'll post pictures of them in coming posts :)

 

Thank's for stopping by!

 

Let me know what you are working on too :)

Elaine

Chipper Piecemaker

 



Paducah:  Honored, Blessed, Humbled and Overwhelmed by Kindness

     I came home from work later than usual last Thursday.  My daughter told me the envelop I had been waiting for was on the kitchen table, but I had to finish a complex problem at work first.  When I walked in the door, there is was...bigger than I anticipated. 
     I was told by two women, it will be the most beautiful rejection letter you ever receive...it's so good, you still want to make another quilt and try again.  They also said, "or it will be the biggest surprise you could never imagine".  I braced myself and carefully open the envelope and tipped it so it could carefully slide out.  However, the first thing that slid out was Contestant Guide and I went into shock.  The next thing I read was "CONGRATULATIONS!"  I looked up at my daughter, "I got in...I got in, Mom's Quilt is going to Paducah..."  I started crying and I read it again.

      Well, one person knew how to be excited, Leah, my daughter was jumping up and down, "she did it...Hallelujah...Dad called it...she's going to Paducah!!"  Leah stops spinning long enough to give me a hug, followed by my sweet hubby.  It truly was the biggest surprise I could never have imagined.
     My first phone call went to Jenn to tell her and she was over-the-top, ecstatic!!  She quickly reminded me how proud my Mom must be and how big her smile must be shining down from heaven.  I'm blessed beyond measure.  She promised she would be there with me every second in Paducah.
     I called several other friends and we have been having the "happy-quilty-dance"!  Friday morning, I caught Rebecca at home. I think she started dancing around her kitchen when I gave her the news!  I never would have entered the contest if she had not insisted.  I'm so excited for Mike and honored to have him recognized. He is an exceptionally talented quilter and breathes life into every quilt he touches! 

     Everytime I look at this picture, I am so humbled by God's kindness.  I still look at the picture and marvel.  The Awards  Presentation is held 7 weeks from tonight!  What a privilege to be in the company of men and women I have been inspired by for these 28 years.  I am deeply humbled "Patriots in Petticoats", affectionately also known as "Mom's Quilt" will hang in Paducah.  This is the greatest honor I could ever imagine!

     Jenn and I will be taking pictures at Paducah in 7 weeks! 

 

Stay tuned!

 

Elaine

Chipper Piecemaker

A little knitting... a little sewing...

It seems my hands must keep busy and the soreness in my hands has eased up some.  I started making 4 different patterns for Hannah, but I finally settled on a simple feather and fan pattern.  The yarn is from the alpaca's where my husband works part-time. 

 

For those curious about the background, yes it is sitting on the cover of my Domestic treadle sewing machine.

I finished my ruffled scarf last week. My favorite yarn shop offered, Molly's Scarf, as an opportunity to teach short rows.  I re-started 3 times before I found the ease of short-row stitching.  This 100% wool yarn, by Classic Elite Yarns, was delightfully soft to knit.

 I'm ready to tackle the Bermuda Shawl next. It looks like ocean waves of short rows criss-crossing across the shawl.

Leah is sleeping under her duvet cover finally.  She's patiently been waiting for her Mom to figure out how to take 2 very different panels and make them into 2 different quilts.  The design and creation of these quilts have stretched me beyond measure, but she's thrilled and I'm so happy with the way they finished.  My sweet friend Linda quilted the duvet.

 

 



 The top photo is Leah's favorite side.  We found this panel of 18 coffee squares three years ago at a little quilt show.  I wanted the two sides to be different so I put them on point, thinking it would be so simple.  She wanted to add some color to the blocks, so I let her pick out a pile of bright, colorful fat quarters.  They made the blocks "dazzeling", don't you think?  It became an adventure that came out better than I anticipated.  To my surprise, the on-point squares came out to the exact dimensions I needed.  I don't consider myself a designer, but I did enjoy creating both of them.  She not only loves them, but her beloved kitty, Sammy loves to curl up at the bottom of her duvet and sleep.  I hope you enjoy them too :)

I've been so inspired by your sharing!
Hopefully my next post will be in the near future...

Blessings to you,
Elaine
Chipper Piecemaker

A New Header, A Little Duffle for my Hubby & Leah's Duvet In-Progress

I hope you like the new header on my blog!  My daughter made this as a Christmas gift for me.  She design's for 2 other companies in our local area.  She made several different headers that I can change as the mood strikes me.  I hope she can spruce it up a little more in the future.

This was my husband's Christmas gift. He wanted something to store the little gadgets of his new razor.  It came together so easily!  My daughters loved it, so I have a feeling there will be future gifts!

I finished the first draft of Leah's duvet cover.  It was a real test of designing!  It's been a create-as-I-go project.  She loves how it came together.  Today I want to size it up to the other side and see if I can finish it in the near future.  She loves the wonky-wackiness of the colors!  I look at it and say, "Oh my my, this is definately a Leah quilt!!"  I am delighted she loves it!

I pray you all have had a wonderful Christmas!  I've enjoyed my days at home and time to be creative.

Blessings to you,

Elaine

Chipper Piecemaker

Little Duffle Bag & Knitted Scarf

This is a little something I made as a shop sample for an area shop.  It's from Karen West's pattern, "A Little Duffle Do It".  It's just too cute, and my husband shocked me out of my socks by asking for one for a Christmas gift!!  He has never asked me to make him anything besides his knitted alpaca hat for work.  He's always been patiently supportive, but never asked for anything.  Maybe I should get prepared for something bigger in the future :)  I'll start looking for fabric with a sports theme, since he's a Cowboys and Giants football fan.

 

 

Last week, I blocked my Romney scarf I finished last spring.  Here it is stretched out for blocking.  I wore it to work this week and just love it!  There is just something so satisfying to wear the labor-of-love-of-your-hands.  It was super easy to knit and the yarn, Blue Faced Leicester, is skin-soft to knit with and wear :)  If you haven't tried BFL yarn, I HIGHLY recommend it!  I bought mine from Somerhill Farms in southeastern Ohio when Lisa was at the Wool Gathering. I hope you like my Romney scarf!

 

 

 

Thanks for dropping by!  Enjoy these beautiful Fall days and let me know what you are working on!

 

 

Elaine

Chipper Piecemaker



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It has been awhile...

 

I thought now would be a good time to return to the blogging world!  This is one side of Leah's duvet cover.  It has been growing experience, but I'm tickled with the outcome!  I found this panel over a year ago and Leah LOVED it.  The wonderful co-owner of Tree City Quilts helped us put together the yardage requirements and then it was up to "Ma-maa", as I call myself in the 3rd person, to piece it all together!!

I thought it would be so easy to just cut up the panel, sew the sashing rails and make all the 9-patches...oh silly Ma-maa!  I finished sewing the final border this afternoon and spread it out on our living room floor to take these two pictures.  Sammy, Leah's cat, had to walk across it first...probably trying to figure out who the "Coffee Cat" is in one of the panels.  He will be sprawled out across this soon enough.

I need to get started on the other side of the cover.  Leah has another Coffee-themed panel for the flip side.  She picked out 14 fat quarters to go with it.  It will be a more scrappy approach and hopefully take less time to finish.  The coffee theme is perfect for her part-time job as a Barista.  She loves her customers and her coffee! Next month is birthday month and it would be a great gift for her to snuggle under.

 

I look forward to more regular posts.  I must say, I'm alittle envious of the clear photography on other blogs.  Maybe I could take some lessons this fall and learn how to give a better presentation?  Suggestions are welcome and you certainly won't hurt my feelings, because I'm a learner at heart!

 

Yesterday I attended the Wool Gathering at Young's Dairy.  I was so inspired by beautiful yarns and all-things-knitted, woven, spun and sheared.  I completed my first beret for Leah on Thursday.  She wore it to class on Friday and said it made her feel so "artsy".  She makes me smile!  She's a Graphic Design major...so you may see that popping up on the blog.

 

My goal this next year is to work on things outside my comfort zone.  What are some new projects that have been outside your comfort zone?  Come on, take a risk...it may turn out beautiful!!

 

Looking forward to hearing from you all again!

Elaine

Chipper Piecemaker

Patriots In Petticoats is Finished!

Oh Wow, Wow, Wow...it is breathtaking!  I finished my first block-of-the-month quilt within my set goal of February (yaaa Me!!) and it's a dazzler!!  I looked up at the clock on the wall and saw my lovely quilt was finished on Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 3:50pm.  I laid it out on top of the tables at the Quilt Shop one more time and I couldn't stop starring at it, looking over all the stars and the finished borders.  I kept thinking, "did I really do all of this"?  I started this journey in August 2011 and I thought, "this is going to be incredible"!  I had no idea how much this quilt would teach me as a piecemaker.  I could not imagine how much I would grow from these weekend lessons on a block of the month quilt.  I was in for a rare treat!

I would like to recognize and thank two amazing ladies who helped me finish the borders. I could not have finished this without the exceptional help of Rebecca Barber and Karen Imwalle from Cozy Cabin Quilts.   Rebecca taught me the correct way of measuring the quilt and border strips and sewing them on each side so they fit correctly.  I didn't think it made a big difference, but she made a believer out of me; when I saw how nicely they fit, I was astounded there was no wavy line thru the borders.  Rebecca helped me measure out the striped border and Karen securely held the ruler, while I cut all 4 striped borders. It took some extra time...a worthwhile investment.  Rebecca taught me a new way of mitering these tricky borders so that all 4 corners matched up line by line it was soooo beneficial!  I was sooo excited to see each row perfectly matched up.

I changed the position of 2 blocks from the pattern and it looks balanced.  Now, it is in the very capable hands of Mike Barber who is quilting it for me on his Gammill long arm.  He is the best machine quilter I have ever met and I have never been disappointed by his work.  He is an extraordinary artist!  I'm anxious to see the quilting we picked out together.

My husband and darling daughter stood on step ladders so I could take this picture in our living room.  The bottom edge brushes the floor by 2 inches, even though they are holding the quilt at the top of our ceiling.  Right now it is 102 inches square.  This is the biggest quilt I have ever done and I'm so proud of it!  My husband believes this quilt is too big for our queen size bed, but there is no doubt in my mind I'll be sleeping underneath it as soon as the binding is on the quilt - which will be the afternoon I bring it home...oh my, that means I have 2 weeks to prepare the binding strips :)

I couldn't resist taking the quilt to the cemetery of my Mom's grave, just minutes from our home.  It was a beautiful balmy, sunny day for February.  It may seem a little strange, but I wanted her to see this and share it with her in a small way.  My Mom could sew anything and she made me the most beautiful clothes I dreamed of with absolute precision, matching plaids and irregular 60's and 70's prints.  I grew up sitting to her left as she sewed clothes for my sister and I.  She was a simple girl who grew up on an Iowa dairy-farm.  She was also her father's extra hands when it came to the farm.  She could milk cows, drive the tractors, bail hay, and throw the bails into the loft with speed and skill.  She could also cook the best Sunday dinners and won several blue ribbons for her homemade bread at the county fair.  She was a homemaker no matter where my Dad was assigned in the Air Force.  I learned to tie my shoes behind the wringer washing machine in our little bamboo house in Japan.  We were raised with simple means, but she always strove to make our school dresses, winter coates and play clothes "better than store bought, so we could be proud of who we were".  We spent many happy hours picking out the right pattern and fabrics for "the next outfit".  A few months before she died we agreed to start sewing quilts together.  Neither one of us had any idea we would only piece two quilts together.  As I made the blocks and lined up all the directional fabrics in so many of the quilt blocks, I could hear her sewing lessons that she tried to teach me over our brief years together.  This quilt was made in her honor.  It was also made to honor my Grandmother who patiently researched her family tree.  I have descendants who fought in the American Revolutionary War, with letters written to family members describing the battles and events they endured.  I also have relatives from the Civil War who fought for the Union.  Leah helped me take a few pictures.

Next, I want to thank my dear friend, Jenn Henry, for suggesting we should go to the Shipshewanna Quilt Show back in April.  If she had not said "I'll make reservations and we'll go to the show", none of this would have happened!  Jenn you have been one of my dearest friends for over 30 years.  I love your enthusiasm, your laughter, your endless creativity, and your spunk!  You are a joy and delight on soooo many levels.  Remember when our children were so young and we used to think, "oh, it would be so fun to do little quilting trips together...maybe some day out in the distant future!".  Well here we are and boy are they too too fun!  I look forward to many wonderful Quilting Trips in the future! 

Lastly, I want to thank Caroline and her staff at Carolines Cottage Cottons for their willingness to take on the task of offering this block of the month project AND for mailing out the packages each month!  I'm so grateful for alllll your hard work.  Caroline, if you had not looked over your shoulder and said "we mail the blocks out to you if you live outside our area", when I visited your shop last June, I would have missed this blessing!  I had soooo much fun doing this and I was so excited each and every month to receive my packages in the mail.  You are all wonderful, wonderful ladies who always treated my phone calls with patience, enthusiam, encouragement, and kindness!!  I can't wait to show you my quilt at the Shop Hop in Lima, OH in a few weeks.

I promise I'll post the final-final pictures after the binding is on.  Look for pictures in April!!

Happy Quilting!

Elaine
Chipper Piecemaker