I was trying to figure out a retreat project. Jane and I are flying up for Alex's retreat on Thursday morning. Nothing like waiting until the last minute!
The official retreat project this year is from her new neutrals book. I've got a couple of neutral quilts, so I thought I'd work on something different - although I wanted it to be something "Alex."
Jane gave me this pattern and a whole bag full of greens and black/whites for Christmas a couple of years ago. She started hers. I hadn't. Until today.
Three attempts to make these stupid pine trees. I cut templates per the pattern instructions, and let me just say that I didn't do very well on those at all. So I made up a paper pieced pattern, and my backgrounds came out on a diagonal. Didn't like that either. I was whining to Jane on the phone about it, and she suggested the tried and trusty Tri-Rec rulers. The size is slightly off from the pattern, but I can adjust the piano key borders to fit. Yep, this will work. So I'm going to spend the rest of the afternoon getting a bunch of these cut out. And finish watching LSU get clobbered by Alabama. (sigh) Maybe they'll do better in the second half. I know, hope springs eternal! Geaux Tigers - please!
Edit: Whew! I'm getting way too old to watch LSU games! I wasn't breathing at the end of that game!!!!!!!
This week was busy because the CEO will be gone hopefully for the next two weeks. He's going up next week to watch Magic train for the National Championship, which is the following week. I said that "hopefully" he'll be away that second week. There is an elimination each day. Magic is high point dog in the country, so he has all the potential to go the whole week. If on Thurs. 11/15 he is called back to Friday's trial, I will probably leave and drive up there. I don't know when I'll find out, or if I'll leave Thurs. night or very early Friday morning. It's a six hour drive, and I'd want to see him run on Friday. So that week is kind of up in the air.
But first things first -- RETREAT!! I'm so excited! I haven't had a vacation day since January, and it was only one day to attend the Road to CA quilt show. So these two days are very welcomed!! And I can't wait to see all of my buddies. We've been together for a lot of years at this retreat. Fun, fun, fun! Let's just hope that the flight up and home are smoother than last year's.
Gratitudes:
~ An absolutely gorgeous day today!
~ Spending another portion of today petting the Market presents from Jane!
~ A nice conversation with a good friend last night!
~ Lazy Daisy.
15 comments:
I think your trees look great! I hope you have a great week and get to drive up there Thursday night!
I agree with Erin about the trees. Great job!
Several years ago, I was at LSU for a "tiger bait" game, traveling with the opposition from up north. I remember walking around the parking lot just outside the stadium with our radio play-by-play guy and hearing the best quote EVER from one of the tailgaters:
"We're a real friendly bunch here. You can start at one end of the parking lot hungry and sober and wind up at the other end drunk and full!"
I love that quote :)
I wondered what had happened to you this weekend! I checked last night and this a.m. and nothing! I guess you were lost among the trees! Oh, your trees remind me of Marcie's topper that I did last weekend--I used a template that I made out of construction paper, and that worked fine for me. But, of course, Marcie recommended the ruler. Have fun with that project!
Have a great retreat. Glad to see someone else likes the football. I always get uptight when the Sooners are playing, so I feel your pain. That was a close one for LSU, that's for sure. AND, your trees look fine.
I think your trees are loverly. :)
Your retreat sounds like it's going to be so much fun. I hope Magic does well.
My hubby is a big college football fan....not me, although I have learned alot of over the years hanging with him. :)
Vicky your trees look great. I love college football...that game was too tense for me, but I was doing the dance when LSU pulled it out. Great game. Thought of you this morning when we were coming back from Starbucks...a car in front of us had a vanity tag...LA CAJUN...now I know the LA stood for Louisiana but I was thinking Los Angeles Cajun...Vicky!
Enjoy the retreat! Go Magic!
Darling trees - great project to take along!
Enjoy your retreat!
looks like the perfect project for retreat and at least you did plan ahead enough to get the hang of how you want to do it! Hope you have a truly fun and fabulous time at retreat and take more vacation days!
I love those trees. I might have to make something use those but you know there will be no applique in my border!
Have a fabo time with Jane at the retreat. Can't wait to hear all about it! Cute trees.
I still haven't used my Tri Rec rulers and I've had it for a while. I really need to pull it out (or rather find it) and make a quilt. Hanne had a wonderful string quilt a while back that she used them to make.
Those trees look like fun (now that you have the piecing worked out :0) ) and I'm loving the applique you've been doing. As for the new fabrics, um, I'm just not gonna look right now. My wallet won't let me, and I KNOW I'm gonna get in trouble if I do!
I am very jealous that you are going to Alex's retreat!
That tree quilt is darling! Sounds like the Tri-Recs was just the ticket. (It worked for me!) Your retreat sounds like a blast! Have fun Vicky!
Tri-Recs is the perfect solution for those trees!
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