Virtual Retreat July 2015 - Join Anytime

[Pamela N.]

Rosemary I will try the Profelan Arnica cream, Geneva gave me a prescription for wine and I have tried that with great effect (on the night). Sounds like you had a great day at Oxford - I love days that involve art activities.
Love Pam

[Renata L.]

I found a table runner I liked, called "Lily Dreams," in Edyta Sitar's book "Hop to It..." This, too, is a gift... I can never seem to hang on to anything I make... :lol: It's made entirely from scraps in the favorite colors of the intended recipient. She'll be receiving it in a couple of days. The hardest part, for me, was figuring out how to quilt it, but I stitched in the ditch to give me as much flexibility with the different densities of quilting I used for the middle block and the rest.

[Renata L.]

oooooh sounds wonderful Rosemary!!
Still working on my first batch of hand dyes....had one (blue violet) that ended up with speckles of red on it, but so far the rest are turning out ok. We'll see after I get them all washed out :unsure:

Dorothy,
I've had that problem myself at times. I think it was Judy that said she strained her dyes through coffee filters. I'm going to try that on my upcoming dye workshops. I just know this: DO NOT THINK YOU CAN USE PAPER TOWELING FOR THIS,!!! And I think a skewer through one of the filters that's flat and opens at the top would be the way to go. I wonder if a fill-your-own tea bag down the throat of a proper sized jar, rubber banded to top ring, might also work.
When I get spots I just cut around them for fussy cutting, make sure they will land in a seam, appliqué over them, do some surface design work over them, or add more with various methods and act like it was exactly what I was going for!! LOL
Most importantly, enjoy what ever you get. We can drive ourselves bonkers trying to be perfect. Ask my how I know!
May God bless your stitches.
Luann

[Renata L.]

Just found the perfect bag of m&m's...

[wendy w.]

Renata I love it your applique is so good and so is your quilting. Lovely present

[wendy w.]

Thanks Rosemary

[Nancy R.]

It's beautiful, Renata! I love the colors and the quilting choices! I know your friend will love it!!

[Geneva C.]

Renata, your quilt is very pretty. Your various quilting motifs fit it perfectly. You are a very nice friend!

Rosemary! How did you know I needed those M&Ms? I've been sewing all day and am tuckered out. That is so cute. Did you make it up or did you find those somewhere?

Pemela, yes, by all means, a wee whiskey before bed is necessary. What type do you like? My husband and sons like whiskey. Glad I could assist in your recovery!

Hope the coming week will be good for everyone....

geneva

[Geneva C.]

Found some great chocolates to share here

Yum Rosemary they look good enough to eat! (Haha)!

Barb

[Geneva C.]

Wow Renata love the table runner, applique and the quilting!

Barb

[Lotti D.]

fab fab table runner, renata, your friend will be overjoyed!
love that M&M medicine-package, great find Rosemary, and thanks for sharing them with us, mmmmmh!

from yesterday's walk...






wishing you all a fabulous fabulous week...

[Marianne G.]

Gosh - I'm so behind reading. 87 messages while I've been cooking, being tour guide and entertainer. Visitors are great to see but also very, very tiring. Got to get back into the creative saddle so will look through some eye candy.
Wendy; making curtains by hand!!!!!! Wow you're one determined lady - do you have a M-i-L looking over your shoulder? You deserve a whole bag of M&Ms to yourself after that!
Lois - I've got a teflon foot for an old machine that is out of action. Will see if it can be fixed to another machine and give the laminate a try.
Luann and Nancy, you both mention that you use a walking foot on laminate - doesn't that leave marks? DD tried that and she said she had marks on the top side but she can't reduce the foot pressure on her machine so maybe that is why.
Heather - lots of eye candy from you. Fingers crossed you get into the FMQ class at Houston - Just going must be very exciting! I can't imagine how I would feel if I got to go :lol:
Rosemary, your mini bargello is OUT OF THIS WORLD! Jaw dropping amazing - thanks for sharing. Looking forward to seeing what you get up to quiltwise on this gem. Art in Action is a wonderful place to spend time. Haven't been for over 15 years. Used to be a must for the summer when I lived in Oxfordshire. DD goes most years so hope to join her - maybe next year.
I would need bags of only blue M&Ms!!!!!!!!!
Kathy - I did a table runner and a Sweet Sixteen bag a long time ago using that technique. It is so effective and really easy to do. I only used wadding in the table runner. You can use 4-patches for the "back" and get interesting patterns
Renata your table runner is delightful - love the colours. Would go so nicely with my dining room rug; hint-hint
The dyed fabric is so gorgeous. I almost regret giving up dyeing when I see fabrics like these but I had so many disasters and never really enjoyed using the fabric I dyed so better leave it to others and just drool over the colours :silly:
Hope to keep up with the thread now. The rest of July should be quiet but who knows? :side: Off to exercise now :blink: See you
Marianne

[Marianne G.]

Lotti,
Love the view from your morning walk!
Luann

[wendy w.]

Wow Lotti that's amazing views thank you for sharing. I'm just painting and resealing the chicken run and it's started raining grrrrr. Oh well can get on with some sewing.

Thanks Marianne for the extra M&Ms perhaps I'll share them.

[Nancy R.]

Luann and Nancy, you both mention that you use a walking foot on laminate - doesn't that leave marks? DD tried that and she said she had marks on the top side but she can't reduce the foot pressure on her machine so maybe that is why.

I've never had my walking foot leave a mark on anything, and I use that foot more than any other. Might she need to clean her foot? It seems like the foot pressure would have to be pretty excessive to leave a mark.