Monday, March 19, 2012

Spring is here! NOT! It only feels like it.

It is mid March and the weather has
been absolutely gorgeous.  We have
broken a number of records and
people have started cleaning out
their gardens.  I only hope we don't
get a snow storm next week :-(
 My daffodils are
already in full bloom
(It is March19th!)
I am surprised how
quickly the grass
greened up, the
trees budded and
how many birds
are back chirping
up a storm.













The dogs are especially
happy about the
weather!  They keep
looking at me like "Let's
go for a walk!!!"

West Suburban Quilt Show 2/2012

 West Suburban
Quilt Guild has
some really
wonderful quilters.
Their show is
usually held at
Mount Mary
College in
Wauwatosa &
features over
300 quilts.













Some day I'm going
to do a "Maggie &
Lilly" quilt.  I'm not
sure if it will be funky
like this little guys or
more realistic.  Stay
tuned............

Playa del Carmen, Mexico Feb. 2011

Our all inclusive hotel
was exactly a minute
walk from this quaint
little shopping area.
The shops varied
from local vendors
to Tommy Bahama
(David's favorite!)




There was a "Cigar
Factory" near the
hotel as well.  Factory
was an overstatement.
All cigars are hand
rolled and made fresh.
These were some of the
cheaper cigars made from
smaller pieces of the
tobacco.











I LOVE these glass
candle holders in the
trees.  I want to do
this at home!!!

The restaurants in the
hotel were spectacular.
Here, we are having
dinner in the Italian
Restaurant.  They
also had Japanese
and American
restaurants.  Our
waiter is preparing
Bananas Foster.
YUM!!!
The agency had
dinner at a really
fun Mexican
Restaurant.  The
margaritas were
flowing and they
had a mariachi
band playing in
the background.
 Hans & Lisa
Myklebust
What is that expression on my face???











Valentine's Luncheon at Linda Maly's 2/2012

Linda Maly is the most
gracious and prolific party
planner I know.  She
arranged this little
get-together two days
beforehand.  It would take
me far longer then that just
to get my house in shape!!!
The tables were set beautifully
and everyone went home with
a festive candle.

Olympia Quilt Retreat 2012 - part 2

Part of the fun of the retreat
this year was having author/
quilter Jennifer Chiaverini do
a reading, trunk show and
book signing.







This wagon wheel quilt represented
on of Jennifer's books that
celebrated the westward
movement.

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Olympia Quilt Retreat 2011

After many years of having Hearthside/Patched Works
quilt retreat at Lakelawn Lodge, it found a new home
at Olympia Resort in Oconomowoc.  The set up was
great!
 Julie....Our fearless
leader! 
Mary flies in from
Colorado each year.
I always look forward
to seeing what she's
working on.  She has
very similar taste to
mine in art quilts.
Robyn joined us a few
years ago and is a
real hoot. When you
first meet her you
think she's on the
quiet side.....Wrong!
 Laurie has a sweet
tooth equal to mine....
which is pretty bad!
She is usually in charge
of the chocolate supply :-)
 Susie Q can always
be counted on for her
fine wine!  She started
an annual retreat at her
place in Coloma last
fall.  Talk about spoiling
us!
and then there's Beth....
She is probably the
most prolific quilter
I know.  Plus she's a
hell of a lot of
fun to be around.
Julie put us all together
in a corner.  Do you
think she was trying
to tell us something?







Kim Schaeffer is an
author of many books,
patterns, and fabrics.
She gave a short
talk and then shared
all her quilts from her
newest book.