Time flies...

The older I get, the faster time flies!  

After working most of June and July, I am finally enjoying about four weeks off, but it is going by in a giant whirlwind, with very little sewing accomplished.  

I went camping with 300 women:

Yes, that's right.

Don't knock it till you've tried it :)

Solid Rock Women's Retreat 2010 -- camping on private property near Wilsonville, Oregon.

We called it, Camp Honor.

All the tents and other camping paraphernalia were set up before we arrived by the men, 

bless their hearts,

so we could have fun

and learn a lot

and share with each other.

Three amazing women: Diane Comer (Solid Rock), Sarah Eggerichs, Joy Eggerichs.

Even sleeping in a tent in a horse pasture, I slept so well.  I even slept through coyotes making sheep-like noises to sneak up on the goats (in the pasture next to the tent area) before they were chased away by the camp dogs.  My husband called it:
Little Church Retreat on the Prairie.

Best Women's Retreat EVER!

After coming home on Sunday, I quickly repacked and drove to Seaside to spend the better part of a week with Michael (age 19), who has been working in Seaside and living in our beach cottage.  

I had a wonderful time with Michael, despite coming down with a horrendous summer cold, and I got to have lunch with Monica (Happy Zombie).  Monica is a wonderful person, and I'm so glad I got to spend a little one-on-one time with her.

I became quite overcome with emotion as I drove home yesterday evening -- I was leaving Michael, going home only to pack and leave again (with precious little time with my poor husband), and Molly had moved back to Multnomah University while I was gone.  I cried as I drove and almost had to pull over.  Silly, really, because I will see my husband on Monday night, Michael will be home in about a week, and Molly is only across town, and I will go see her new dorm suite on Tuesday.  I deeply love and am so blessed by my family.

As far as quilting goes....

I've added many more blocks to this, but I don't even have time to download new pictures as I really should be packing right now.  You're just going to have to take my word for it.

And I'm going to use this gorgeous Plume (Tula Pink) jelly roll in the Fat Quarterly quilt along.

 Anyone care to quilt along?  All you need is a jelly roll or stack of FQs.

With wishes, true and kind -- Joan

Ready, Set, AccuQuilt Go!

There are four fabulous giveaways going on in Blogland right now.

  If you've ever wondered about the AccuQuilt Go, first check out Heather's (a la mode fabric) review here.  Then, head on over to her blog to enter a giveaway to own your very own AccuQuilt Go system!  And, while you're at it, head over to see Jackie (Canton Village Quiltworks), KarrieLyne (Freckled Whimsy), and Karen (Sew Many Ways) for more chances to win an AccuQuilt Go system!

Good luck!

Updated 8/26:  Julie (jaybirdquilts) just posted a review here.

Refusing to say "Goodbye"

I don't usually say "Goodbye" to people.  

Not when it's for real; you know -- leaving a job, moving, etc.

I usually say something like, "See ya later," in anticipation of visiting with them again (sooner or later).

So last night Terri/Sew Fantastic said "Goodbye" to her Portland peeps and tweeps before her move to Bakersfield.  

I don't know if you noticed, Terri; but I never did say "Goodbye."  

I just couldn't do it.  

And I'll definitely "see ya later" -- one way or another.  

Count on it! 

And, in the meantime, I'll just stalk you online :)

I have to admit that I agonized over a little "see ya later" gift for Terri. 

Terri, however, had no such problem.  She knew just what to make for each and every one of us.  

Seldom have I seen such thoughtful and personal gifts.

Terri made these great little totes for each of us, with fabrics specially chosen for the recipient (e.g., FMF, red and aqua, Orla Kiely, Mo Bedell's Party Dress, Ann Kelle's Remix, etc.).  I guess it should come as no surprise that she chose Amy Butler for me.

Each bag was also personalized with the recipient's name (see the tag?).

Believe it or not, the bags were not empty!  Terri also made these fabric covered organizers!

I love it so much -- and in one of my all time favorite AMH Good Folks fabrics, too!

I have always drooled over Terri's Mod Podge coasters, and she even included a set of those!

Gorgeous!

She also gave me this pretty AB bag pattern.  So cute!

I can't believe I didn't take pictures of everyone's bags and gifts!  

It's one thing to be so generous, but the thoughtfulness behind each and every gift was absolutely incredible and takes a very special person.

Thank you, Terri, so very much!

I was also thrilled to receive this bundle of holiday adorableness from Monica/Happy Zombie.
I see a Christmas project in my future!

After our wonderful happy hour and dinner at Paragon in the Pearl, we walked over to the Pacific Northwest College of Art for this month's Portland Modern Quilt Guild meeting.  I posted a recap of the meeting with lots of pictures on the PMQG blog, so I'll only post a few here.

Prepping for the meeting included basting hexies for a swap and making practice pads for free motion quilting.

Apparently for me, "third time's a charm" is true.  It worked for my gathered clutches, and it worked for my new method of basting hexies with stitches on the back only.

By George, I think she's got it!

So, I took a little break from all the AMH hexies and decided that Sis Boom fabrics would make wonderful hexies.

I think I was right.

The theme of the evening was free motion quilting.

Christina gave a wonderful power point presentation

and then demonstrated on her machine while we watched the projected image above.

What would we do without the fabulous tech support from PNCA?

Be sure to go to the PMQG blog for this month's eye candy.

I received these pretty little hexies in the hexie swap.

Can you guess what this is?

Fabric sample gorgeousness donated by Free Spirit!

A group of us continued the fun after the meeting.  

It was pretty dark, so unfortunately I didn't get many good pictures.

It was also a little cold.  Fortunately, quilters always seem to be prepared.

Violet rocking her new haircut and keeping warm under Heather's Swiss Army quilt.

Irene and Elizabeth under Elizabeth's most recent quilt.

Thanks for all the compliments/congratulations after I "bragged" about a little recognition I recently received.  I realized later that I had forgotten to include having my Pillow Talk swap pillow shown on Sew Picture Perfect.

And since then they've also shown my Scrapbuster block (designed by Little Miss Shabby) that I'm using for two separate bees.

I'm leaving later this afternoon for a church women's retreat, so I'll see ya later.

And Terri, I'll see you later, too! You truly are sew fantastic!

With wishes, true and kind -- Joan

Something for everyone

Two swaps that I have participated in have drawn to a close.  

This is the wonderful package that I received from Sarah (Mumblings):

Aren't the hexies great?  And look at that awesome fabric and adorable pouch!

Thanks so much, Sarah!

You may remember the hexies I sent off --

but I can now tell you that they were received by Julie (jaybirdquilts).  

I haven't received my gathered clutch yet, but the one I sent to Kirsten (threedancingmagpies) was received today.  I think it's pretty sweet that her little daughter fell in love with it...

and the hexies that were inside.

Here Ellie counts the hexies, proving that they are both fun and educational.

Be sure to check out Kirsten's lovely blog, three dancing magpies. 

Yes, all the cool kids are playing with hexies.  

Cindy's grandson demonstrates the cool factor while helping to keep Cindy organized.

Note the cool shades and "tat".

Cindy does fabulous things with selvages, so check out her blog, live a colorful life, too.

Thank you Kirsten and Cindy for allowing me to share your wonderful pictures.

And thank you to Terri -- SewFantastic -- for recently giving me some Heather Ross love:

I can't believe she's going to leave us soon!  Oregon's loss is California's gain!

And speaking of showing some love, I have received a little bit of recognition in the past week (aw, shucks!).

First, Jennifer Paganelli featured my gathered clutch made from Sis Boom fabrics on her fabulous blog.

And then a Turkish site featured the same clutch yesterday.

And the lime, gray, and black clutch was featured on Craft Gossip.

Thank you Jennifer, 10 marifet.org, and Craft Gossip.

I'll leave you with a few pictures from  events I attended last weekend.

We went to a murder mystery dinner at this gorgeous estate Saturday night.

The setting was just perfect.

Sunday night's event was held at this Ponzi Vineyards bistro -- wine tasting and antipasti.

With wishes, true and kind -- Joan