GONE FISHING

See you next week.

Quilt happy,
Marilyn

ON MY DESIGN WALL

June's UFO.  I am just playing right now.  I'm sure it will change several times before I'm done.  But, it's a start.  The printed batik blocks I bought at our guild's Red Hen auction maybe six years ago.  I am finally getting them together. 

This may take longer than I was first thinking.  Because I'm thinking. 

Quilt happy,
Marilyn

READY TO QUILT

These are a couple of quilts layered and ready to machine quilt and bind (oh and label). But, I'm not in the mood right now. When I feel the need to flip that switch in the brain, I'll get to them.  Both are for my guild, Quilters by the Sea.  There is no big hurry; so until the mood catches up with the need, they will sit in a pile beside my sewing machine. 

Now on to that other UFO.

Quilt happy,
Marilyn

HAPPY EASTER

My mother always talks about going to the Hollywood Bowl as a young girl for sunrise services.  It was her mother's favorite part of Easter.

My mom is 91 and the Hollywood Bowl is still holding Easter Sunrise Service. 

May you have a blessed Easter.

TODAY IS FRIDAY

This Friday, I tidied my quilt room.

This Friday the girls got pretty.

This Friday is Earth Day.

This is Good Friday.

Quilt happy,
Marilyn





I'M NOT SEWING

I have had to put my sewing aside for a while.  There are some things I need to do.  However, I am cooking every so often.  A few weeks ago, I found this book near the counter at Joann's Fabrics.  You know that long line of magazines and impulse buys that you play with while waiting to be checked out? 

Turns out it is now one of my favorite cookbooks.  You see, I love salads: unique, simple salads with great fresh ingredients.

This one is simply called "Salad with Garlic Dressing" and mine is a close adaptation, because I never follow a recipe exactly.  Probably why I don't bake. 

Isn't it pretty?  And besides that, it tasted good.

Here's what in it:

Arugula

Tomatoes

Cucumber

Green onions

Freshly roasted bell peppers

Fresh mint chopped

Garlic Dressing

2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

1 garlic clove, crushed

2/3 cup plain yogurt

2 Tbsp. olive oil

salt & pepper to taste

bon appetit

Quilt happy,

Marilyn

PROGRESS REPORT

I found a red that will work for Cindy's UFO.  The top is done. 

Best of all, when I went to pick out a red fabric, the gal who cut my fabric knew Cindy.  She is a member of our guild and knew I was working on Cindy's UFOs.  That really made it special.  I know I will get to know more about Cindy as time goes on. 

Now on to the quilting, and binding, and putting a label on it (and they check for that label when it gets declared finished). Can't get by with a thing these days.

Quilt happy,

Marilyn



WINNER

I heard Charlie owns the term WINNING now.  Or, at least applied to own it. But, I am a winner.  I won these great fat quarters from Anna, over at Anna, the Artist Within. 

I met Anna in a Mary Lou Weidman class at Road to California this year.  Check out her great blog here.  Thank you Anna for the great fat quarters.  I can't wait to use them.  And, I know just where they are going. 

Quilt happy,
Marilyn

ON THE DESIGN WALL

On the design wall today is another UFO.  Two more need to be completed by our June Guild meeting.  So, I picked the easiest to do first.  I wonder if that is smart?  I am working on Cindy's 2nd UFO.  I wrote about her here .  And I am working on this set of blocks:

So far I have this small square.  Now to start adding some borders to get it to a decent size.  The problem is that this is all of this fabric I have.  I need to find something that will be complimentary.  Not the easiest when there is no clue to the fabric line or date.  So, I will take a trip to M & L and punt.  This will eventually go to the guild.  Maybe it will be a table topper.  Or, maybe a child's quilt.  Even a lap quilt for a wheelchair-bound person.  The guild is also looking for quilts for an auction at our quilt show in October.  So the final resting place for these blocks of Cindy's is still TBD. 

Check back in a few days; maybe I'll have the top done. 

Quilt happy,

Marilyn

MAR'S HAIR

What do you think?

One more haircut? 

 I will let it go through the summer and then decide if it too boring.  It does take some getting used to.

Quilt happy,

Marilyn

ANOTHER FINISH

Another UFO is finished.  I started this last summer when Lyn Brown held a Quilt Mystery.  It is a "Goose in the Pond"; but, I'm calling it the "77 Piece Block".  It is on my UFO list and due at my guild this Thursday.  Geeze, just in time.

Still deciding what to do with this one.  Maybe one of my kids would like it.  But in reality, they all probably have too many.

Quilt happy,

Marilyn

WORKING LEOPARDS ARE HAPPY LEOPARDS

The auction quilt is now in Florida and Mrs. Leighton's class has seen it and approved of it.  I understand the 2nd graders spent a good 10 minutes looking it over.  How could it get any better than that?  

Mrs. Leighton frequently reminds her class that "working leopards are happy leopards".  And, that is the name of this quilt.

Quilt happy,

Marilyn

GETTING IT DONE

Sometimes it is just hard to get started on that project that has been put on the back burner.  Here it is, neatly folded and pinned.

But I am committed to get this Work In Progress done by the April 14th Quilters by the Sea Guild meeting.  So.........

I think I'll make it in time.  Just barely. 

But, look who is keeping me company.

Maybe it is the other way around.

Quilt happy,
Marilyn



TWO WACKY WOMEN ARE WINNERS

We are!  We were voted the best Quilt Retreat.  Thank you, thank you to all who voted for us.  Sew Cal Gal had a contest for the best of.  She asked her followers to select their favorite for various topics.  You can see her post about it HERE.

And the lucky winners are:  TA DA!!!!

Best Designer Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill Designs

Best Teacher/Instructor Bonnie Hunter, Quiltville

Best Author Eleanor Burns, of Quilt In A Day

Best Quilt Store (Physical) Mary Jo's in Gastonia NC

Best Quilt Store (online) Fat Quarter Shop

Best Long Arm Quilter Judi Madsen - Green Fairy Quilts

Most Innovative product (physical item) AccuQuilt Go! Fabric Cutter

Most Innovated product (software item) EQ7, by The Electric Quilt Company

Most influential person in the world of quilting to-date, aka "Lifetime Achievement" Eleanor Burns, Quilt in a Day

10) Best Quilt Retreat Two Wacky Woman (Southern California)

We are in pretty darn good company I'd say.  Robin and I are thrilled and very grateful for Sew Cal Gal and her continued support of the quilt world.  She is always on the search for the newest product, tip, or best of out there.  If you do not follow Sew Cal Gal, please add her to your list and you will not be disappointed.  And while you are at it, check out all the nominees' and winners' blogs.  I know the speeches at award shows say that just being nominated is an honor and it sounds corny.   But in fact, it IS true.  It is a thrill just to be nominated.

We just had our Spring Quilt Retreat over the weekend and unpacked the cars this morning.  I managed to do a couple Jelly Roll Quilts.  And, since I've always heard a blog post must include a picture, here are the tops I finished at the retreat:

Quilt happy,
Marilyn

TWO WACKY WOMEN QUILT RETREAT DAYS 1 & 2

A few pictures of our retreat.  First a couple before our guests arrive:

Iron and cutting stations.

Sewing stations

And some photos of our busy guests.

It is always so, sew much fun.

Quilt happy,
Marilyn

GETTING READY

This is how my cutting table looked yesterday.  Robin and I were putting together our welcome packages for our Two Wacky Women Quilt Retreat this weekend. 

I hope to get more pictures tonight or tomorrow.  So come on back then.

Quilt happy,

Marilyn