How Can a Tiny Owl ...

... Create such a mess in my sewing room?

Tiny Tuesday Owl - a month late 

Yes, I know he was supposed to be green, but my green scraps have been put away.  I was looking for the perfect eyes and found them in aqua.

Life's a Bear - Finale

Sunrise over Lake Junaluska

Sunrise - Sunday, April 6 - looking west

Sunrise - Sunday, April 6 - looking east

Before it was time to leave this beautiful setting, however, I did manager to get one-half of the project finished.  See a problem?

Two quadrants of Enchanted Grden

The quadrants are supposed to be square.  Mine measure 26.5" x 27.5".  One inch is just a little too much to "ease" together when dealing with pieces that finish at 1/2" to 1".  I am going to make the other two quadrants, paying closer attention to the quarter-inch seam and also pressing less aggressively.  I have enough extra fabric that I can remake a block, if needed.  It may be a couple of weeks before I get them done so stay tuned for a final report.

There were six S'mores in attendance; Becky was the only one to finish the center.

Becky's "Give Peas a Chance"

Don't pay attention to the quilts in the background.  Becky is currently auditioning fabrics for the large setting triangle corners.  Her light fabric had too much pink and yellow in it and we all felt it would detract from the work she put into the center portion.

Ari is doing Red Hot Mama and needs to do another block to cut for the corners.

Ari with her Orange Hot Mama

When you see the corners added, you will understand the name.

Frances is stepping out of her comfort zone to add a red strip. 

Frances' version of Give Peas a Chance -- maybe

Frances did well to finish one block since the red detail is not included in the pattern and took a lot of concentration.  I applaud her persistence.

Nancy and Sena each finished a block.

Nancy upper left; Sena upper right

I'm not sure which setting of the pattern Nancy and Sena were working on.

The Life's a Bear retreats hosted by Cindy Williams (the Math Whisperer) and Nancilee Dills are not only in a beautiful setting (Lake Junaluska, NC), but a great value and the food is too tasty for my own good.  I suggest you check out the LAB facebook page for upcoming events.  The fall retreat will be Feathered Star.

Angela Made Me Do It!

Rainbow Scrap Challenge - Aqua

When Angela/soscrappy announced the color for April is aqua, I went searching in my blue scrap bin -- very little.  I checked my shelves of folded yardage -- nada.  I wanted something that clearly said "I am AQUA," not blue-green, not green-blue, not grayed down to boring-dom.

Nothing to do but go shopping!

Aqua fat quarters

I find that I really LOVE aqua.  There will probably an aqua quilt in the near future, as soon as I find the perfect background.

Life's a Bear

Day 2

Making progress on my Op Art quilt.  Friday's accomplishment -- two strata:

Mine is a little subdued compared to the others, but Cindy calls it "sophisticated."  (That may be a first for me!)

Today we shared our progress in a group photo before one of our number had to leave.

You see what I mean about "subdued"?

Retreatin' at Lake Junaluska, NC

Spending time with Cindy Williams, Nancilee Dills, and 15 old and new friends.  What we're working on:

Cindy introducing the project on opening night

Upcoming Fall Retreat -- Feathered Star:

Catching Up

And getting ahead

April's calendar is full of retreats, birthdays, visits with family, guild programs ... well, you get the picture.  So I knew I need to get my act together or I'll be stressing out.

Highest priority was prepping for Life's a Bear Getaway and Retreat at Lake Junaluska this coming weekend.  Strips are all cut and packaged up.

Enchanted Garden

I can't wait to show you what we accomplish at the retreat!  I have reservations about my fabric choices but I was determined not to purchase anything for this project so I went with two somewhat coordinating fabrics that I had a little over 2 yards on hand.  I am hoping it will be a neutral enough background to put a very colorful applique on.

I've been trying to get 6 blocks made every day for my secret sewing project.

I've been shooting from the hip with this one and I see areas where I may want to lighten it up.  But for now it is what it is.

I spent an hour in the retina doctors waiting room today catching up on a Tiny Tuesday from the yellow month -- well, at least I made it in yellow ...

I used the freezer-paper-on-top method, hoping to revive a needle turn method I think I learned at the knee of Elly Sienkiewicz.  I prepped this so long ago that the freezer paper had become unstuck.  And I started with too small a needle.  But after I switched to a longer needle to sweep the seam allowance under the piece, I developed a rhythm and I think after a good pressing and trimming to size I will be happy .

I also managed to get 8 chandelier bead blocks done this afternoon in aqua, the RSC color for April.

And one of three Double Shot blocks.

Tomorrow I'll be packing up for the retreat, cleaning bathrooms in anticipation of guests who will be going with me, and fitting in an annual medical visit.  I'll do my best to report in from Lake Junaluska this weekend.

Quick Post

and I'm not foolin'!

Rainbow Scrap Challenge sewing has been close to non-existent since the first of last month.  So glad I got a quick jump on my major blocks which I showed here.  Tiny Tuesday, on the other hand, not so good.  Only one uninspiring improv log cabin block.

But I found a couple of treasures in unexpected places.  A tiny triangles block ...

... and an appliqued heart.

Lots of prepping and very little sewing planned for this week.  That is, until Thursday.  More on that later in the week.


Check out other RSC projects at soscrappy Scrap Happy Saturday.