A Finish, A Start and A Getaway

"Flowers for the Table"

designed by Rebekah L. Smith

kitted by Wheaten Woolens

using Rustic Moire Wool Threads

I am so excited about this finish! 

I am thrilled with how it turned out. (Although now I see that I should have made sure all the tongues were laying nice before I snapped the picture.)

Beth Anne did a lovely job kitting it. My favorite part? She used hand dyed velvet for the tan background! I love the combination of textures, it adds so much.

And I continue to enjoy using the Rustic Moire Wool Threads. 

Another wonderful rememberance of Rebekah, Beth Anne, and the wonderful times at Wheaten Woolens. You can find this kit and more here. 

So you know that I had to immediately start something new:

"Autumn's Choice"

design by Maggie Bonanomi

for Country Sampler Girls Club 2016 

What a perfect design for September as Summer turns to Autumn.

I don't think that I will finish it in September with only two days left...

I've finished a few more diamonds for my Temecula Quilt Co Insta-sew-along.

They are going quickly!

And I don't think that I will be able to sleep at all tonight!

Tomorrow morning it is time to hit the road and meet the Bittersweet Stitching Sisters!

It has been an entire year since we have been together. 

I am sure that I will be back with much to share about our adventures.

Several of the sisters have already started their adventure and I can't wait to hear all about it!

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

~1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Blessings, Patti

Hexie Love ~ Part 2 ~ A Start

In 2015 and 2016, I visited Temecula Quilt Co. - a quilt shop with a very distinctive signature look that I love. 

Earlier this year I was lucky enough to win one of their  giveaway scrap boxes!

Wow what treasures!

A large flat rate box filled with fabric scraps, patterns and the two gorgeous collection rolls in the first picture!

They recently shared a blog post about a Insta-Sew-Along that they are doing for English Paper Piecing using hexies. You can read about it here.

Count me in!!!

Although their version is very scrappy, I decided that I wanted mine to be more cohesive.

I bought this fabric bundle on one of my trips to Temecula Quilt Co and decided that it would be perfect for this project.

Here are all the fabrics in the bundle cut and ready to go.

I'm using one inch hexies as I had the paper pieces on hand and they worked well with the size fabrics in the bundle. They feel giant after my big project with half inch hexies ;) 

And what better to use to store my pieces in than one of my Temecula Quilt Co. boxes. :)

The diamonds are going quickly!

I've finished several already.

It's fun to see how each turns out...

I think that this is my favorite so far...

Will you join in the fun? As they mentioned in their blog post,

they are sharing on Facebook and Instagram.

I'll be checking in with my progress!

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

~Romans 12:14-18

Blessings, Patti

Thank you & a little giveaway

Words can't express how thankful I am for all of the kindness and support expressed by each of you!

You have been a source of comfort to my entire family.

It is only now just sinking in that Dad has passed away.

I try to remember all the happy memories and know that we will be together again one day.

I have been gone too long and have so much to share from the past two months.

Bright little spots amongst the difficulties.

Early in September I was traveling quite a bit. I had a business trip to San Diego and found myself with four free hours. What is a woman to do?? Why, rent a car and visit her favorite quilt shops...

I had been to San Diego last fall and had a wonderful day shop hopping. I knew that I couldn't visit them all this time, but I headed out...

The first stop was Temecula Quilt Co.

Such incredible inspiration!

I so love the applique!

The postage stamp quilt behind it is awfully special too!

I just love the signature tiny prints in all her quilts.

Such beautiful colors

Such an eye for display

And some wool too :)

I didn't leave empty handed :) I need to incorporate those tiny prints into some of my creations.

I stopped at In and Out Burger to make my sons jealous ;) and thought I had enough time for one more stop...

Fat Quarters Quilt Shop

It may look little on the outside, but the inside goes on and on...

(For you Dr. Who fans, it is like the Tardis)

You could happily get lost inside and stay there forever ;)

I was absolutely amazed at the Lantana hedge! I plant them as annuals in Chicago and am thrilled when they are a foot and a half tall. The bees and butterflies love them, and I love the tiny multi-colored flowers. Here they are bushes?!?!

I only just walked inside the front door and was inspired by these darling little seasonal quilts!

Beautiful wool and a quilt which really isn't "my style", but it spoke to me truly - I couldn't stop looking at it! Just love all the animals and the butterflies, too.

Why did I not come home with the pattern for America the Beautiful???

I looked at it a dozen times...

This is what did fit in my little carry on ;)

The models of both Bits and Pieces by Joan patterns were so gorgeous in person!

All too soon, my four hours of fun were over and I needed to get to the conference.

Surprisingly, it was cool and cloudy in San Diego, but the final day was glorious!

The beautiful view from my room.

Gorgeous Bird of Paradise.

Well, I couldn't have fun on my little trip and not include you!

So I have a little giveaway:

A few little items from both of the shops.

So tell me what is your favorite tropical flower?

Simply leave a comment on this post or send an email to me at pgagliardi9@hotmail.com with

San Diego Giveaway in the subject line.

I will pick a winner on Tuesday, November 8th.

Thank you again for all your kindness and support!

"Surely he will save you    from the fowler’s snare
    and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his feathers,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart."

~Psalm 91:3-4

Thank you Kathy F. for the bible verse!

Blessings, Patti

A winner and a little stitch work...

 

I'm so sorry for the delay in selecting a winner!

Unlike Peanut and Leia, I haven't been resting and relaxing, but rather life has been crazy busy!

But there will be more about that in my next post.

 

I had 56 entries in my giveaway and it sounds like most of you are like me and would really like to try English Paper Piecing. Using random.org, the winning number was #35 - Lee Anne!

Congratulations Lee Anne!

Unfortunately, you are a no-reply blogger so I am unable to email you. Please email me at pgagliardi9@hotmail.com by Saturday so I can send off your prize.

Thank you all for participating.

 

 

Between the lovely trip to Yellow Creek Quilt Designs

and following Mrs. Holder's Hexagons on Temecula Quilt Company,

I was anxious to try my hand at those teeny 1/2 inch hexagons...

So I pulled out a mini charm pack of "Union Blues" by Barbara Brackman and got started.

(I thought I should test the waters before delving into my beautiful "Stars in the Garden" kit!)

My first little flower turned out ok and I found it fun!

So I added a ring, like Mrs. Holder.

 

 

So far so good! Let's try another...

 

Oh, I am liking this!

Then all too soon, my mini charm pack was all used up.

Hmmm, how should I finish it off?

With a bit of brown and blue tweed wool, of course!

 

Is it wrong, that I move it around the house so that I could admire it? ;)

 

I added a perle cotton blanket stitch around the edge and called it done.

 

 

I was so pleased!

I immediately pulled out the "Stars in a Garden" pattern and read all the directions...

Off I go!

 

 

And in no time, my first start is done!

On to the next! Oh my... this is addictive!

Hold on wool applique and counted cross stitch, I haven't forgotten about you...

More about those projects in my next post.

 

Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

~Romans 8:34

 

Blessings, Patti

One Day Shop Hop~My Purchases

So many of you have asked to see what I purchased on my one day shop hop in California :)

It was a quick trip, so my husband and I only had carry on bags. I had to keep this in mind as I shopped...

I love Quilts By Cheri and have followed her website and blog.

It was such a joy to see so many of her designs completed as models at the shops.

So of course many of her patterns came home with me!

From Country Loft above - these will be ready for next autumn I hope :)

 

And these were purchased at Country Loft too! So stunning in person!

And a few more that I picked up at Fat Quarters Quilt Shop.

Also from Country Loft, French General ribbon, a few mini charm packs, and two of their new Christmas kits - A Quilts by Cheri penny rug and a wonderful wool applique towel kit (the design is the latest craze - a red pick-up truck with a Christmas Tree).

More patterns and English Paper Piecing from  Country Loft

and I was so happy to find a few patterns by JoAnn Mullaly.

The Fall Branch model was gorgeous!!!

Of course I purchased the Buttermilk Basin pattern after seeing it in progress and Briar Root Primitives is a new designer to me - loved the fireflies in the mason jar!

At Temecula Quilt Co. I had to purchase their wonderful ruler boxes! 

And a few other notions as well.

At Grand Country Quilters, I found the wonderful "sherbet" pack of pastel wool. And at Fat Quarters Quilt Shop I found the great chenille rickrack and wonderful blown glass snowman scissor fob :)

Of course I had to bring home a few souvenirs for my mom too ;)

And I still managed to zip my carry on closed!

"May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light."

~Colossians 1:11-12

Blessings, Patti