Sometimes Panels Are The Perfect Thing

 I found the CUTEST panel for an Advent calendar when I was at Sarah's in Kansas.  

It was a train!

You guys, this panel is ADORABLE and oh so easy to put together.

I first layered the panel with batting and backing.

Then I free motion quilted around the motifs on the panel.

Next was making the "boxes" that the advent gift would go in.

Then I sewed those to the panel.

I trimmed it, and machine bound it.

I made three hanging loops that I stitched under the binding on the back.

The Advent calendar could be hung from the loops or not.

I used this adorable Santa fabric on the back.

Just a few close ups to show the "boxes" and how they are sewn on to the panel.

I love how this turned out.  

The panel is by Makower UK.

Santa fabric was from Joann Fabrics.

Binding was a Bonnie and Camille basics I think.

Super easy but super cute! 

On to the next projects.

~XOP~

Things I've Been Working On

 This week hubby has been gone to Canada. 

 I always look forward to having a week to myself to do whatever I want to.

I worked on some gifts and some baby gifts.

One of my favorite people at the Biolife plasma center is expecting.

They are doing Winnie the Pooh for the nursery.

I made 2 crib sheets and some wash cloths and burp cloths for her.

I made her 2 self binding blankets too.

I also made some sheets, burp cloths and washcloths for another friend.

I found the cutest basket at JAF this week too.

It is even Cole approved!

More to come soon!!

~XOP~

 

AQS Grand Rapids

Last week Friday I went to the AQS show in Grand Rapids with my SIL and my friend, Cori.

We had such a great time! 

I didn't think I *needed* anything but apparently I was wrong!

LOL

I bought a couple of patterns and some of the new Kona Sheen.

I got to meet up with my friend Donna.

It was the first time we met in person.

She is so much fun and she spent the entire afternoon going through the show with us!

Here are the three of us.\

We had a great time looking at quilts and shopping.

It is always great to spend time with these 2.

Here are a few of my favorite quilts from the show.

I think this one was my favorite!

Such a great day with my friends!

~XOP~

Happy Anniversary

 We celebrated our 39th anniversary on the 13th.  

Hubby wanted to go to the Toledo zoo.  

That's where we spent the day together. 

 We have not been there in YEARS.

  There was an art show going on so some of the exhibits were not easy to see. 

 We had fun and on the way home we stopped at Dickie's BBQ for dinner.  

They are all just big kitties.

Such a cool splash pad for the kiddos.

CHEERS to another year of marriage!

~XOP~

The Reject's Retreat

 This was the start of one of the best weeks ever! 
 I get to see these women once a year (some a bit more often) and 

I was going to get to introduce Kailie to all my friends!

One of my sewing goals was to finish my Comfort and Joy top and then work on my Denim and Lace top.

First star!

I used Holiday Homies flannel for this one.

It will be a Christmas gift.

We shopped, a LOT while we were there too. 

 The original gang (OG) went to MStar the first day so Kaliie and I stayed back and sewed.  

The next day we went to the KC Maker shop.  

Kailie and I bought the same shirts and wore them this day. 

 I think some of the other folks will be getting them too.

Off to Lawrence, KS and Sarah's.

 An iconic quilt shop to be sure! 

 We got everybody together for a shot at this shop. 

 I love these women!

Another day we went to the Fabric Chick. 

 I forgot to take pics there.  

This shop is called Stashworthy.  

They had a lot of nice stuff including Liberty!

Stashworthy had a great window with vintage machines in the window. 

 So cute!

I finished my top! 

 I love it!!  

I made the back when I got home and sent it off to my quilter. 

I had to pattern match this backing too.  

It is not my favorite thing to do but I think it turned out pretty well.  

I sewed and sewed and SEWED and managed to get 4 of my Denim and Lace blocks finished.  

This quilt is not for the faint of heart, LOL. 

 I will work on it more when I get time, now that  I'm home.

Mel and Kailie are making this too.  

We all traded low volume strips and Mel and I traded some of the bluse.

Kailie is going to make hers cranberry and LV.

It should be pretty.

She finished THREE tops.  

Made me feel like a slacker, HAHA.

It was a fun week but all good things must come to an end.

On Sunday Kailie and I headed out to Hannibal, MO on our way back to MI

Chris had told us we needed to stop there as there were 2 shops to visit.

It is the boyhood home of Mark Twain.

There was a cute little downtown AND 2 really nice shops.

First shop we went to was called Bits and Pieces

SO much to see.  

Lots of modern stuff including a LOT of Tula Pink!

There were a lot of antique toy sewing machines too.

I especially love the Fisher Price lady at her sewing machine! 

Second shop just down the street was called the Hickory Stick.

It looked small on the outside but went over several buildings!

This is what greets you as you enter this shop.  

On our way to the car we saw a steam boat. 

 I would love to go back and visit this town again with Chris. 

 It had a lot of interesting things in the area.  

Maybe it's time to branch out in our camper.

We eventually made it all the way home to MI.

Kailie spent the night and left the next day to go back to her place in OH.

Someone was sure happy to have me home!

~XOP~

 

Reject's Retreat 2022 Part 1

 It's that time again.  

Time to head out to Kansas City for the annual Reject's Retreat. 

 This year my friend, Kailie was joining us. 

 She and I decided to drive from MI to MO. 

 Hubby mapped out several quilt shops for us to stop at along the way as we progressed.  

He even put the times they opened up for us. 

 We started at Shipshewana. 

 Kailie had not ever been there. 

 First stop was Yoders and then Lollys.

Next was Betty's Quilting and Fabrics in Burnettsville, IN

The next stop was closed so we continued on the Chilothe, MO to spend the night.

We had a beautiful sunset on our drive there.

In the morning we went to Cuts and Bolts.  

They opened late and we just managed to catch them as we were ready to head out.

After that we were traveling on the the Missouri Star Quilt Company in Hamilton, MO\

This was the main shop.

Can you read the sign above us?

"Spends too much $$$ on fabric"

With an arrow pointing down, LOL.

This was in the Pennys building.

There are 4 shops inside there.

It was pretty incredible.

The iconic Hamilton sign.

There was a little Amish man selling fry pies near here too.

YUM!

Cheersing with our cherry fry pies!

On our way to the retreat!!

Next up our arrival and activities at the retreat!

~XOP~