It's time!!!!!!

I wanted to let everyone know that I'll be heading out in the wee hours of the morning and won't be back until the 28th. Sorry if I haven't responded to all your wonderful comments you made about my favorite quilt. I've been so busy. I promise to do so, just as soon as I get back in town. Sooner if I find a free moment in our very busy retreat schedule, probably unlikely though. I'm so excited, this is my first retreat and I get to meet 70 of my quilty friends that I've spent a lot of online time with this past year, and finally get to meet them. I will be sharing a ton of pics with you when I return. I will be carrying my laptop and will post the tutorial on Friday. I have to tell you it takes a lot of time to do one of these pic tutorials, next time I think I want to share something I may just do a video and make it easier on both of us. I know I'm not good with words or explaining things, and even worse when it comes to typing them. So you can expect a ton of pics. You know a pic is worth a thousand words. So, if what I'm trying to say doesn't make sense, I have a pic for every sentence. So you will be able to click any of the photos and get a good look at each step. I'm off to get some much needed sleep. Hope you all have a wonderful week.
Hugs, Donna

Park City Girl: Quilt Festival - Spring 2009

I seen where Park City Girl is hosting an online Quilt Festival. So thought I add my favorite quilt. I made this quilt out of some scrap fabrics to donate to QWL (Quilts with Love) to go to the troops overseas. They are the reason we lay down at night in peace. So thought it would be nice to help our troops rest a little better too. Out of all the quilts I've made I think this is my favorite. I had to think it over for a few days deciding between a few when I remember this one which left the house right after it got the binding. It was made to the cot size they had asked them to be, which was a bit narrower then a twin but the quilt was very heavy and the hand quilting just made it feel so good. I have always been a big fan of RW&B quilts and have made one every year for the past three years since I started quilting. This is my favorite because it has 4 of my most favorite things, Bear paws, flying geese, RW&B and crosshatch quilting. I don't have a very good picture but I'm sure glad I took one. You can see the red and white strip backing. I still have some of this fabric. I remember buying the whole bolt. When I first started quilting I never knew how much to buy, so I'd just buy it all to much sure I had enough. I've made 2 quilts and backed one with it and still have some of that fabric left, LOl.

I almost forgot

I told you I would post a pic of the buttercup bag I made my sister. It didn't take no time to make this and was one of the easy things I've made lately. Here's a link to the free pattern. Make sure you show us your buttercup bags!!! madebyrae,blogspot.com/

Quilt giveaway

The Bitchy Stitcher: Because I care. And I'm lazy.
Head on over and sign up for this quilt giveaway. Make sure you read the requirements to enter so you can get extra entries.

I've gotten behind

On reading everyone's blogs and posting on my own. But I've have been terribly busy getting ready for the big retreat. If you look on my side bar you will see a COF retreat countdown clock. When I first put it there I had over 190 days. Boy has the time flew, now I find myself in a mad dash to get everything done. I have got the tutorial I promised, all drafted up and ready to post the day I leave (April23rd) can't do it any sooner or I may ruin the little surprise I made for this great group of ladies. I had quite a few projects/challenges to complete. So, as soon as I return I'll be posting lots of pics, I know everyone likes pics. I'll also be taking several classes and will show you what I accomplish at those as well. There was a spot come open at the last minute so my wonderful sister was able to now join in on the fun. The best part is she is going to fly from Ohio down here to Ga. to fly back up to NH with me, where we'll have a stop in Pa. What's so great about that you ask, well not only has it been far too long since I have got to spend time with my sister, but I have been terrified about traveling alone and have came close to backing out several times. This is a once in a lifetime event for me, I have never attended a retreat or quilting class, and the best part is getting to meet 70 of my online quilting friends, and spend time with my sister. We will also be taking a big trip to Keepsake quilt shop, woohoo. I've only been to 2 quilt shops before and although I thoroughly enjoyed it they were quite small and a bit of a drive so I usually do all my shopping online. I decided I had better bring an empty suitcase to haul my loot back in, and it's a big one too : ) We will be playing FQ bingo, show and tell, making the Miranda bag, we will be doing a meet and greet where we all will be wearing the T-shirt we created to represent our state, they have too many things on our to do list for me to possibly list them all. So after 2 suitcases and a purse later I decided I needed more, so I made a tote for my sewing things. My sister wants me to make her one of the cute little buttercup bags that she seen some of the ladies on the HGTV message board make and the tutorial for them is on madebyrae.blogspot.com/ I hope to get started one that tomorrow, and possibly finish it and post tomorrow. But for now the only thing I can show you is the tote, which is a Simplicity gardening tote pattern but I loved the big pleated pockets and it has 12. that should hold all my stuff. It looks rather small in this pic but it will hold my pocket book, laptop and all my sewing tools, camera, cell phone, a few good books and of course some snacks(fig newtons for me). I have the matching apron pattern, if I have time I'll be making that too.