Design Wall Monday - November 24, 2025

 Good Morning Quilters!

I’m just back from attending a quilt retreat in Shipshewana, IL.  Here are two pictures of my part of the Friday night “Show and Tell” quilt show.

It made me so happy to see all the beautiful quilts that were in the show.  Here are two that I really liked.  I don’t have info on the patterns and makers, as I didn’t get that info during the show.  But these two wall hangings really pleased me.

Aren’t they stunning?  I am happy to report that this past week has my quilting enthusiasm brimming over again.  It was a wonderful week.

And soon it is Thanksgiving in America.  I wish you all a happy Thanksgiving holiday with your friends and family.  My contribution to a family gathering will be an apple pie and a pumpkin pie.   Also I will make the stuffing/dressing.  I feel very blessed by all of you and our weekly gatherings.  Thank you.

Link up below and show us what is happening in your week.  I noticed last week there was a glitch in the linkup, and linking was unavailable for part of the time.  But it is fixed now by Inlinkz, and should work as usual this week.  Happy Thanksgiving to you all! 

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Design Wall Monday - April 22, 2024

 Good Morning Quilters!

Last week I started a tutorial on how I made my fabric baskets, and didn’t get very far into my instructions before I had to stop to get to bed.  I told you I’d continue the instructions this week.  Well, writing instructions are a lot of work, and after looking at some youtube videos, I decided to direct you to some good instructions there - and not try to reinvent the wheel.  One video that I really liked was (Here)

The basic concepts are the same, no matter the measurements.  I started by making a “turning inside out” space in the bottom of the lining seam.  Then I switched to leaving a “turning inside out” space on one of the side seams….so the  lining wouldn’t have an obvious extra seam where I closed the turning hole.  But this video leaves a space for turning right in the seam around the top of the basket.  And it is sewn shut with the final top stitching of the seam around the top of the basket.  Sweet!

So I hope you forgive me for not continuing my tutorial.  But, I know when I’m trying to do something that has been done better many times on the net.

My retreat in Shipshewana was heavenly, and I had such a great time.  Having my daughter with me made it extra special, and the quilts these women make are spectacular!  

Here are my contributions to the  Friday Night Show ‘n Tell:

And my daughter, Christa showed the apron she made at the retreat, and two white geese that she crocheted.

The men who were holding up the quilts for display had fun making the geese “fly” for us.  

I had a birthday Tuesday, April 16th, after I returned home.  Now I am 81.  If I was dyslexic, I could be 18!  Many friends called, some stopped by, and others filled my Facebook page with well wishes. Plus the usual cake and candles.  I felt really blessed. 

So I’ve had some very full days since we last talked.  I hope you have been blessed too.  Please share your post below in our Design Wall Monday Linky Party so we can read your post.  Thanks to all who participate, you are appreciated.

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Design Wall Monday - November 13, 2023

 Good Morning Quilters!

It was a wonderful, peaceful week at the retreat in Shipshewana, Indiana.  So many wonderful ladies gathered in one room, all talking and laughing together.  I loved it.

 While there I finished the binding on the May Day Basket Quilt, and made some more bird blocks for Cousins Walk.  Here are a few pictures from the retreat:

First, a picture of me with my progress on Cousins Walk:

Next, a picture of all the ladies who came with their bird blocks of our uncompleted Cousins Walk Quilts. 

Note:  Several of us wear aprons while we sew in the work room, and I am wearing one of my mother’s aprons.  It looks like a skirt, but is pleated cotton, and was one of her “company coming” aprons, not an everyday one.

For the “Show and Tell” Friday night, I brought my large and small May Day Baskets quilts.  I had showed these two quilts before as just tops, but brought them again to show the quilting, and that they are now finished.  Yeah!

Here are pictures from that night:

At the end of “Show and Tell”, an antique quilt was shown to our group by Rebecca Haarer, an antique shop owner in Shipshewana.  I love old quilts, and she always brings a lovely one for us to see.

The hourglass blocks measure only 2 inches finished size!  Several of us want to make our own version of it.  Even though I vowed to finish all my UFOs before I start any others, I do start new projects.  Last April at this retreat, I started Cousins Walk, so it may happen.

Close-up of the quilt:

What have you started this week……or what have you finished?  Thanks for participating in the Design Wall Monday Linky Party each week.  Even if you don’t have a design wall, link up your blog post and we can read about you and the fun you are havng.  Don’t forget to provide a link back to this post within your blog, and mention Design Wall Mondays to your readers.  Thanks!

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Design Wall Monday - May 2, 2022

Good Morning Quilters! 

It's May 2nd and I am looking forward to putting together the May Day Flower Basket quilt.  It has been such fun embroidering all the baskets, and it is time to make the quilt top.  I selected a solid green to be used for the alternate squares.  I took a picture of the green with one of the baskets:

Did any of you receive a May Day Flower Basket on your door?   It used to be a common gift for a friend.

I was away all last week at the Jane Stickle Quilt Retreat in Shipshewana, IL.  Here is a collage of four of the quilts that were shown in the "Show and Tell" on Friday night:

The top left is the "Oh my Gosh!" pattern

the top right is a replica of a thirties butterfly quilt.

bottom left is part of an uncompleted Mrs. Billings Coverlet pattern,

bottom right is a quilt made with tiny, tiny bow tie blocks.

What amazing talent at this retreat!

Another beauty that I saw was this crib quilt that a friend bought at an antique store.  Pat Jensen's find is made of very small diamonds, hand pieced and hand quilted.  The closeup picture shows how small the diamonds are.  Such a beautiful work of art, and Pat loves small pieces as much as I do.

What amazing things have you seen this week?  Or should I say, what amazing things have you been working on that you can show to the rest of us this week?  Please join the Design Wall Monday Linky Party below and show us.  Thanks so much! 

Those of you who mention the Design Wall Linky Party in your blog and also provide a link back here are my favorite people.  

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Design Wall Monday - November 19, 2018

Thursday is Thanksgiving in the United States.  I have a lot to be thankful for this year.  

I just returned home from a wonderful retreat in Shipshewana, Indiana.  While at the retreat, I saw a vintage quilt that was made of broken dishes blocks, and it was such an interesting quilt.  Do you like it?

Here are two pictures of the Farmstead Inn, where we stayed.  The first picture shows Christmas lights from a display across the street, with the Farmstead Inn in the background. 

The second picture shows the Farmstead Inn with the lovely snow that came down while we were there.  It was just enough to look pretty, without causing slippery roads when our retreaters were leaving to go home.

The retreat is filled each time with such wonderful quilters, and they are all full of laughter, care, and love.  It fills my heart up.

What fills your heart with joy this Thanksgiving season?  I look forward to hearing from you, and seeing pictures of your design walls.  The instructions are the same each week; Please refer back to this particular blog post somewhere within your blog post.  I am thankful for you and your participation each Monday.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

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