Road Trip

About twice a month I get together with a crazy group of women to sew and quilt (Elizabeth, Gabrien, Heather, Jen, Kristin, Irene, Mo, Monica, Sally, Shelley, and Violet).
We started out as a "sewing circle" and evolved into the "Sweet Hot Yams" (SHYs or Yams for short).
I'm pretty sure that the story of how we got that name is not as interesting as the name itself, so we'll just let that go for now.
The Yams laugh, tell stories, hatch schemes, swap fabric and tips, and occasionally get a little sewing done.  And recently we took a road trip to the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show.

Heather's trunk, with every available nook and cranny. including the entire backseat, completely filled.

Violet, squeezing Traci's serger into Monica's car at the last minute.

The set-up in Sisters -- inside

and outside:

I worked on two quilt tops:

 And started a new project after a consultation from Elizabeth:

The Portland Modern Quilt Guild display at the quilt show was wonderful:

We also enjoyed the tent displaying work by the various teachers at the quilt show, including Tula Pink and Bari J., who hung out with us one afternoon and evening.  It was so great to meet them and I had a blast with them at dinner.

 Tula Pink's quilt

 Bari J.

Bari J.

We also enjoyed having dinner one night with Rob Appell (so sweet and generous, and a few Yams were a bit smitten)

and spending a few minutes here and there with Valori Wells.  Here is a lovely display of her fabrics in The Stichin' Post.

The Yams are already planning the trip to Sisters for next year.... if we can wait that long!

With wishes, true and kind -- Joan

SMS May 2011 Giveaway Day!

First things first:

Molly and Peter were married on Friday night, May 20th, in a beautiful ceremony, followed by a wonderful reception.  If you haven't tired of wedding news and pictures by now, you'll be in for a treat at a later date.
Well...
 just to tide you over:

Molly and Peter taking a Pedicab to the reception.

 Leftover flowers adorning my home.

But you're here for giveaway day, right?  I thought so.

This is my third participation in the Sew, Mama, Sew giveaway day, and it's always a blast!
My giveaway item this May is a charm pack of Sherbet Pips, designed by the very talented Aneela Hooey (Comfort Stitching).  Check out her latest blog post for pictures of her booth at Quilt Market and lots of ideas for using Sherbet Pips. For still more ideas and examples of how this pretty fabric looks in a quilt, check here (Chasing Cottons), here (Red Pepper Quilts),  or here (Fussy Cut).

To enter this giveaway, just leave a comment on this post.
Your comment must be connected to an email address so that I can contact you.
Shipping within the US only.
The giveaway will close at 6:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on May 25 and will be chosen by random draw.
Whew!  That gives me a few days to find the charm pack hiding somewhere amidst all the wedding paraphernalia!

With wishes, true and kind -- Joan 

Moments in time

The days are going by in a whirlwind of activities and preparations.  I try to enjoy every special moment, but they come and go so quickly!

Another lovely wedding shower.

A gorgeous tea at the home of beautiful bridesmaid Brittany.

 A pinwheel party to make hundreds of pinwheel/rosettes for the reception.

 Moving Molly out of her dorm room at Multnomah Bible College.

 (I loved following Molly's car and seeing a stack of three quilts in the back window.)

Trying out the wedding hairstyle.

 (Hair by Melissa at Bombshells, Beaverton, Oregon.)

Attending and celebrating Peter's graduation.

And in between it all --

sewing 

and shooing away a pesky cat.

 Fifty wonky log cabin blocks.

Smile.

And a big bag of leftovers for another project....

With wishes, true and kind -- Joan

Wordless Wednesday: Wonky Wedding Quilt Edition

With wishes, true and kind -- Joan