Shirley Anne’s Heart

Posted By drsao on January 29, 2011

We had such a wonderful time today at Augusta Cole’s CUTTING BEE.  It was my third time and I had just as much fun today as I did the last two times…..I will admit that I missed some of my FAVORITE PEEPS (Patsy, Carmen, and Sheddy!)  I missed other people too ……:)

Catherine and I started the day with breakfast at my NEW FAVORITE BREAKFAST SPOT *yes it is NOW on my list of FAVORITE THINGS!  We went through the DRIVE THROUGH at Starbucks!  I had a veggie egg sandwich and a dupio *heavenly!  Here is my breakfast just ready to be enjoyed!  It wasn’t BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’s but it was the next best thing.  OH OH OH I love Starbucks!

Breakfast At Starbucks

If you have never been to one of Augusta’s Cutting Bess – you will want to put it on your calendar for 2012 – it is always the end of January and held in Richmond, VA!  Everyone brings 10 1/2 yards of light fabrics cut into strips and 10 1/2 years of dark fabrics cut into strips.  THEN…we all draw a number and line up according to our numbers.  At Augusta’s command, we pick up strips *to music, mind you!* AND WE GET A VARIETY OF FABRICS FROM WHICH TO MAKE A SCRAPPY QUILT!   We have all memorized Augusta’s famous line, “Variety is the spice of life.”  (You must say this with a good Southern Accent too!)

Now just look at Augusta ….doesn’t she look like a person that you would have fun being with!  She is WEARING a beautiful SCULPTURED LEAF NEEDLE CASE created by Catherine….the needle case is gorgeous and quite worthy of being worn as a pin!  (You know, wearing a needle case is a pretty good idea – I am ALWAYS sticking pins through my shirt!!!!!)

Augusta the Drama Queen

I took a couple of pictures of the table with light fabrics and the table with dark fabrics so you can get a feeling for the VARIETY of choices….

Light Fabrics

Dark Strips

I must admit that I tend to pick dark blues, browns, blacks, deep reds for the darks and for the lights I get the palest of neutrals – so this year I asked Catherine to CHOOSE half of my strips for me so I would have a variety…..just look at the two piles of strips – the ones that I picked and the ones that Catherine picked….can you tell  which is which?  I had to giggle!

sao and Catherine's piles

Then we got to sew – and Augusta had samples and patterns for a VARIETY OF QUILTS…..this is one that I like (I made it in all pinks – and named it the PEPTO CHATTANOOGA CHOO CHOO!)  The one pictured is the one that Augusta made….

Chattanooga Choo Choo

Here is another choice ….. I want to learn to make this border……love it!

Catherine and Annette

Besides quilting, Catherine and I met a new friend – Annette – but her e-mail address has lemonade in it and I will always think of her name as being LEMONADE.  I was also really happy to see Joy – it is been awhile since our paths have crossed….look how happy she is!  She is happy because she got to spend the night last night with her darling grandangel…..

Joy

I think that another reason that Joy is so happy is that she has a BEAUTIFUL RED FEATHERWEIGHT….oh how I want a red featherweight Singer sewing machine……isn’t it so cute!!!!  I actually RARELY REALLY REALLY REALLY WANT SOMETHING…..but  I love this red sewing machine!!!

Joy's Red Featherweight

I think it is pretty special to have a sewing machine that matches your car.  OK – so I just decided that my next car and my next sewing machine will be red!  My DD is going to be so happy – she LOVES to shop for cars and when she reads this post she is going to go straight to the internet to find me a red car!  REALLY!  She got my dad’s CAR BUYING GENE.  My daddy bought a new car every other year and a a few people in the family have inherited his love for car shopping!!!  Christi is one of those people!

Catherine had something pretty special to share today too.  Her friend, Ellen, embroidered this SPIDER that Catherine put on her Spiderweb Quilt *designed by Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville.com!

Catherine's Spider

Catherine put spiders on the front and back of her quilt

Ellen did such a good job of embroidering the spiders!!!  Catherine did a great job of burning the little spiders off the backing *SHE REALLY BURNED THEM OFF WITH A WOOD BURNING TOOL and I don’t think she messed up even a single leg!

Here is my Ribbon Weave Quilt made with fabrics from last year’s Cutting Bee.

sao's SHOW AND TELL

And I took just a FEW more pictures of SHOW AND TELL …

AND TA DA…..here is what we worked on TODAY….

Catherine's Block *Love the SHIRTINGS

Joy's Block

sao's HIDDEN PINWHEEL BLOCK

This was a long post – but hope you had fun SEEING all of the FUN THINGS!!!!

Category: Augusta Cole Quilt Patterns, Augusta Cutting Bee 11, CATHERINE, Future Quilt Inspiration, Hidden Pinwheels, Life Comments, My Favorite Things, Quilts, Quilts in Progress, Ribbon Quilt - WEAVE | 1 Comment »
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Posted By drsao on January 29, 2011

The COLOR PURPLE is now on my list of FAVORITE THINGS.  Last night my DD Christi, her friend, Jennifer, Catherine and I went to the Landmark Theatre to see  The Color Purple.   Catherine even wore purple!

Ready to see The Color Purple

Before the show we ate at the new Mexican Restaurant (beside Hancocks) – wish I could think of the name of it – it was FANTASTIC…made me feel like I was home in California eating at one of the many fine Mexican restaurants there……the name of the restaurant was ???? AZUL…….Catherine will make a comment later and tell us the name so you can go there if you are ever in Midlothian, VA!  🙂    I had the spinach and mushroom stuffed  chimis……oh I highly recommend that too!

Jennifer and Christi at dinner

Here is my daughter Christi *whose REAL NAME IS JENNIFER and her friend Jennifer…..both born in the same year too!!!  It was funny though because both Jennifer’s couldn’t help their eyes from going straight to the CHILDREN’S MENU….hey mothers do not get out alone often enough….LOL.

And I can’t post a blog without a close up of another of Catherine’s artwork – look at this necklace….WOW!

Catherine's PURPLE necklace

Bathroom wall

I just had to post a picture of the tile on the bathroom wall at the Landmark Theatre.  A quilter is always looking for new patterns!!!  The entire threatre is magnanimous……elaborate, ornate, a feast for the eyes.

If you live near Richmond, do make an effort to see the Color Purple.  You will not be disappointed.  The entire production was beyond my wildest expectations.  The singing  was outstanding….the choreography was some of the BEST I have EVER SEEN – the costumes were breathtaking……..it was really wonderful and the musical elicited EVERY EMOTION known to womankind!  JUST FABULOUS!  I couldn’t stop thinking about it all day today!

Category: a Few of My Favorite Things, COLOR PURPLE, Theatre Recommendation | 1 Comment »
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Posted By drsao on January 27, 2011

I just heard that there is a PILLOW TALK PARTY hosted by Anne at Bunny Hill started February 1.  Each day (until the 19th) they will feature a designer and a pillow that represents the designer’s personality.  I think this sounds like fun – and there are GIVE-A-WAYS too.

I am going to the party – are you?  Click on the link below or go to  www.bunnyhillblog.com to see who will be featured.

http://bunnyhillblog.com/2011/01/26/a-pillow-talk-party-and-youre-invited/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+bunnyhillblog%2FJYXA+%28Bunny+Tales%29

Pillow Party

Category: Bunny Hill, Pillow Talk Party, Quilt Blog | No Comments »
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Posted By drsao on January 25, 2011

I finished my FLIMSIE (the top of my quilt) today.  It was designed by Dorothy Young and presented to the online group – A POCKETFUL OF MYSTERIES as the Christmas Mystery Quilt 2010.  THANKS DOROTHY – it was lots of fun.

I made mine scrappy but with reds, blacks, gold and greens…..and my outer border is scrappy too.

It is always a good feeling to finish something…….

Hugs and Kisses Flimsy Completed

…and here is the scrappy back of the quilt.  I love SCRAPPY BACKS – all 12 1/2 inch squares and rail blocks.  (It looks like there are blocks of blue in the back – but it is an illusion – the blocks are green!!!!)

Hugs and Kisses Back

Category: HUGS AND KISSES, Quilts in Progress | 1 Comment »
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Posted By drsao on January 23, 2011

Dawn

Show and Tell at our SWEET RETREAT at  Quilter’s Corner today was alive and well.  Dawn started with her spectacular Mariner’s Compass creation – it is absolutely gorgeous.  She hand quilted it!!!

Catherine's Halloween Quilt

I love Catherine’s Halloween Quilt – and you will notice that we cannot see her face….that is because SHE IS HIDING….at least she THINKS she is hiding!  🙂

Catherine HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT!!!!

Catherine Quilted her SPiderweb

I can hardly wait to see the embroidered spiders that Ellen made for Catherine when she puts them on this quilt!  If she doesn’t STOP hiding she will NEVER get any work done….LOL!

Catherine is still hiding

Dawn's Quilt

Dawn’s quilt is really pretty too…..love the colors!  I bet she will hand quilt this one too!

Susan's BEACH HOUSE

And don’t you just LOVE this wall hanging that Susan made….it is SO CUTE……and Catherine made the kite tail…….SOOO IMPRESSIVE!

Catherine did come out of hiding long enough to create a beautiful scarf (in fact she made two)…..I think she called it the NEVER ENDING SCARF – just lovely!

Catherine's Never Ending Scarf

BINDING - FIRST SIDE

I got ONE SIDE of my Grandmother’s Flower Garden Quilt binding finished.    I think this is the most tedious task that I have ever attempted.  I had to do this in small segments of time – 11 points at each setting.  Everyone knows how much I LOVE BINDING and this involved a lot of points in the binding!!!!!

Jared Takes a Wife

I also finished my Jared Takes a Wife top……I love the plaids.  This is a Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville.com pattern – but without the sashing.

We had a really nice day – lots of giggles, oodles of creative juices flowing – and Mike made us a wonderful dinner – noodle soup, salad, and chocolate chip cookies.  YEAH!

We have another day of retreat tomorrow – and it will be lots of fun for sure!

Category: Grandmother's Garden, JB Takes a Wife, Quilt Shops, Quilter's Corner, Quilts in Progress | 1 Comment »
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