Betsy Chutchian's Workshop

Betsy

   Today's workshop was enjoyable! It was very relaxed with a great group of ladies working together. There were people from Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Lake Charles, and 2 of our guild members came from Lake Charles, but only 3 in the Lafayette area came.  It really is a shame when people from other parts of the state recognize what a great guild QGA is and participate in the workshops, but our own members don't! Well, I am off that soap box b/c it was their lost not mine!

Pam

Mary

Lucy

 I got to sew with Pam and that is always fun. She was stressed as usual but by the end of the workshop she was a bit more relaxed ... didn't have a finished block but relaxed which was the point.   Mary(from Baton Rouge) and I bantered about the fact that we both love the same fabrics so maybe we need to shop in each others stash. Lucy (GSQA) picked different colors -red roses, black, black & white polka dots. Everyone's blocks were lovely even with all the pink!

Cinnamon

4 glorious yards are mine!

   I even had PINK! Don't faint! It gets worse - I started with PALE BABY PINK found hidden in MY stash. Now you can faint. 
   But I was smart enough to give it to Pam as a background color to go with all her beautiful blues. Betsy had several beautiful cinnamon colored fabrics to replace the offending pink. (If cinnamon is pink, then it is a pink I adore). Lucy had already bought the one I wanted so I bought another 2 1/4 yard piece. Beautiful! Then I spotted the prettiest  poison green print! 

   This block is  not difficult but you do have to concentrate or you get confused. Needless to say, I stayed confused the whole time. My Alex Anderson Ripper was my 'bested' friend. First you had to make, 1 1/2" half-square triangles....lots of them (8 per block) but you had triangle paper for it. Then you had to make 4 1/2" h-s triangles...only one but not paper. Then you had to cut squares on diagonal and rectangles. Finally you had to sew it all together. Did I tell you I got confused? My final basket handle points are not correct. They should be pointing to the sides. Mine are standing straight up in shock over the pink. That's my story and I am sticking to it. 

I like!

   I really enjoyed the workshop. Basket quilts have never been my style but I could make a quilt from this pattern. I think that first I will complete 2 more of my 'special' blocks and make a table runner. Then later make a basket quilt. But not until I finish 3 other projects on my plate: DJ's graduation quilt; the Saints Star Season Reproduction; and the Twisted Sister Baby Quilt. So  for now it is joins the PIGS (projects in grocery sacks) section in my studio.
   The only bad note to the workshop is that Betsy's husband started feeling badly while he was out exploring Lafayette. Thank goodness he or someone called Betsy and she & Mary C. went find him. Having 2 nurses in the workshop was such a grand thing b/c they monitored him while Betsy packed and then took him to the ER. Last I heard he was doing much better and would go back to the hotel. I guess Cajun food is just not for everyone! 
  Well, tomorrow we are bowling in DeRidder all day. UGH! So I am off to pack my project bag. Only good thing is that this bowling lane has a broken air conditioner so I won't freeze. 
Lator Gators. May all the fabric you desire find its way into your stash before you need it. Keep 2011 STRESS FREE!

Challenges

Challenge 1: Oh, why did I get the home phone fixed! I just get into something and the thing rings. It is a sales person for diabetic supplies or magazines or insurance or something or it is someone looking for my SS or SD#2. UGH!!! It is a CHALLENGE to speak civil to these people. 
Challenge 2: Why can't my DH understand that our two male dogs can not go outside alone? Especially Leeapaul! I got home yesterday and  both the boys were missing b/c he let them out and they "took off." Did he call them or look for them immediately? NO! Lee is now limping more than before so heaven knows what he was doing. They are driving me crazy! It is a CHALLENGE not to get mad at all males in my life.

Challenge 3:  You increase your movement (exercising 5 to 6 days a week for 10 weeks) and decrease caloric intake and you get smaller and healthy. Do I lose weight? NO! It is a real CHALLENGE to keep this level of commitment when nothing happens at the scale!

Glenda

Challenge 4: Pam is going to the workshop - "Gathering Baskets" by Betsy Chutchian using lots of half-square triangles on Saturday and Glen will be there either Sat. or Monday. This is not a problem b/c I can attend both days. This should be a hoot and fun beyond fun if both are there together. They will either love each other or really dislike each other! LOL Betsy uses pink(ugh), indigo, brown, and poison green. It is a real CHALLENGE to find the right fabric combinations in my stash. 
Challenge 5: I have decided that wonky anything is just not my thing unless it comes with exact directions! It felt like a gremlin played tricks on me. It was a real CHALLENGE not to just send a New York Beauty instead!
Lator, Gators! I am off to conquer my challenges. May the fabric you desire appear in your stash before you need it. Keep 2011 STRESS FREE!

Design Wall September 19, 2011

Muse left!

I have 3 design walls going right now. The first has DJ's Graduation Quilt which I have not touched in months so it is starting to drop pieces.   Soon I will have to bite the bullet. 

3 votes to 2

       The Second has a top I am planning for my great-grand nephew to be born in January. So far 5 people gave their opinion and 3 voted for no corner stones.Just my 7 year old DGS#11 and DD#1 said they liked the corner stones for a boy's quilt. I like both and think the corner stones change the look totally. I'll work on it sometimes during the week and will go with the majority.
   The Third has my Bee Swap blocks. My husband has claimed that quilt and wants  the name and location of each sender added to the block.  Too much started and too little finished!  
   This week I am helping my DD#2 in her classroom. She is a fantastic teacher but lacks the confidence that experience gives. So far I have helped present science experiments on the last 2 Fridays. It almost makes me want to go back. At least until she asked me to come help with her 6th graders. Ugh, I hated that grade as a child and dislike 6th graders as a whole except for my two grandchildren who are 6th graders. So I will be in her classroom on Monday, Wednesday, & Friday.
   Well, time to get moving!
Lator Gators. May all the fabric you desire appear in your stash as you need to fondle or use it. Keep 2011 STRESS FREE!   

Stash Report Sunday September 18, 2011

Fabric Added this Week: 5 yards
Fabric Added in September: 14 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date:  97.685 yards
Fabric Used this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Used in September:  1.12 yards
Fabric Used Year to Date:  129.555 yards
Stash Reduction: 31.87 yards
I was doing so well in May and then the fabric began calling my name! Not all the fabric came from LQ shops, in fact most came from DD#1. 
     Then I bought 5 yards at the beginning of September to do my Bee blocks. Maybe I should count that fabric as used since only 5 of 12 blocks have returned. That would help my numbers! 
      I think that I need to start counting my fabric as soon as I send the quilt top and back to DD#1 for quilting. She has at least 2 tops to quilt for me right now and 1 that is missing in action. LOL I really am not complaining b/c she does such a wonderful job and has one of my tops on her machine right now when she should be doing one of hers!
     When all the tops I have almost ready get done, I should have big number changes. I hope!!

W/O corner stones

With corner stones

Right now I am trying to decide how to complete this top.  It is for my grand nephew.


Lator, Gators.May all the fabric you desire appear in your stash before you need it or have to count it. Keep 2011 STRESS FREE!