HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

                                     LET THE SHOPPING BEGIN                   

Baby It's Cold Outside

Wow can’t believe our weather. Normally we’re running our AC but not right now. This past weekend was a stay inside kinda weekend. It was wet and cold. Cold for Houston.  Saturday and Sunday was loaded with football and unfortunately none of my teams won. Grrrrr Now the Saturday after Thanksgiving is suppose to be in the 70's. And I wonder why I have sinus issues or get colds........

So I've been to a Baby Shower of a high school friend 
and fellow water polo player. 
Kelley is the cutest Little Momma to Bee. Got to see several folks I hadn't seen since Kelley's wedding. In fact I think that was the last time I saw Kelley
but I keep up with her on the social media Face book.

Then following weekend I went to a bridal shower for my daughters long time friend from elementary school. It's hard to image these girls growing up and getting married and having babies but it's happening.  It was a really nice shower. Here's the beautiful bride Marlaina with her beautiful Grandmother and Mom.

Since the quilt retreat I have been in sewing and pick up mode. Houston she found the floor again in the sewing room. I had tubs, baskets, fabric, and paperwork all over the floor. I had a path from the door to my desk and and even narrower path to my sewing table. I’m trying to reorganize my shelving and put things away. Of course that doesn't mean it will stay that way long or that I’ll be able to find it when I want it but it’s worth a try.

I managed to make Dexter a new place mat for his food and water bowl. I made it long enough so when Sophie comes to visit her bowl will fit too. Nothing fancy and not perfect but it looks much better than the white lament placement he's had for 16 years.
I also managed to complete a Christmas tree skirt for
 
 Pamela. Hope she likes it.  Dexter likes it. Nothing fancy or quilted but It does has a fun side with penguins and a more trendy side of black and white should she ever feel the need for a more trendy type skirt. I’m not sure trendy is the right word or should I say fancy, whatever.  The ruffle is toile with sparkles. Well those sparkles are glitter and guess where it’s at now.  ALL OVER THE HOUSE! Everywhere I walked glitter fell which was no good for the husband. He was rather upset because we had the all the tile floors cleaned the day before. 

And speaking of the tile.....OMG my tile and grout look like NEW. Glitter will vacuum up but not fast enough for David. I can’t mop for a week.I have used a swifter but glitter kept appearing off my clothing.

I still need to get two quilt tops quilted and work on 2-3 other quilts plus throw in some other sewing projects and I may actually put a dent in my stacked up projects.

So until next Blog post....... I'm a quilter (sorta) and my house is in pieces.

Carla

Did someone say Quilt Time?

First I've been properly scolded for not posting sooner but I haven't had much to write about. I know very unusual seeing how David and I are taking advantage of being empty nesters to the max lately. Friends of ours had a Halloween party that I went to while David went fishing with his buddies from high school a couple of Saturday's ago.  
And Pamela went to Las Vegas that weekend for long time friends

girls weekend before she gets married. L-R My daughter, Christine, Marlaina Bride to Be and Diana the mother of the bride. What happened in Vegas stayed in Vegas. LOL

And here I am with a quilter's dream of quilts. Well a quilter wanna be. So begins my quilting adventure.

A week ago Friday I took a day of vacation and went to the Houston International Quilt Festival. It's always so overwhelming when you walk into the George Brown Convention Center. The minute you walk through the doors you're hit with the buzz of excitement, color and textures galore. You can't ignore all the vendors. Row after row booth after booth of vendors with sewing, quilting gadgets, beads, lace thread, scissors, other types of cutting tools, tables, cabinets and scarves oh my. The list can go on and on. 

The look of the quilts this year was more on the artsy side which is okay 
but I still wanted to see
some of the more traditional quilts. 



My favorite display was the cow theme Play on the word








I did run across a guild member quilts hanging in the show. Three Cheers for Lyndy Spenser. How awesome is that?

 Several guild members were working in a booths at the show selling quilting machines or promoting Quilts of Valor.
If you want to see all my pictures from the day you can click here.

Now for more fun I became a Bossy Pushy Organizer of a Quilt Retreat of my own. I went to my first retreat last year and I loved it and I wanted to go on another one so I decided to organize one of my own. I sent out an email to many many folks to see if anyone would go with me and finally got my minimum number to go. The retreat was Monday through Wednesday but everyone decided to take advantage of an early

check in at Retreats by Margie in LaGrange for a small fee and drove up on Sunday. Some of us took in the Texas Quilt Museum where each quarter they feature a different type of quilt. This quarter it was Star Quilts. Then we went next door to the Quilted Skein where we found lots of bright and colorful fabric. Imagine right? And one wall was full of every color and type of yarn a knitter could dream of. I'm not a knitter but I was in awe of all the yarn. By going up on Sunday it gave us extra time to set up before the retreat actually began. 


Once everyone had arrived the girls corned me and hand me this bag.

That bag was filled with all kinds of goodies as a 'thank you' for organizing the retreat. I couldn't believe it. This was so awesome and sweet. What a great bunch of girls to spend time quilting, laughing, talking, and maybe enjoy an adult beverage or 2... We even managed to watch a movie that Monday and Tuesday evening. 

 No one wasted any time getting to work on an unfinished projects.That's why we came right?  Tuesday night some of us were having such a good time we were up until 2am quilting and laughing. 

One thing I didn't do and meant too was have everyone introduce themselves and 

• tell something about themselves
• and how they knew me and for how long

Of all the girls Denise is the one I've know for 21 years, and have been in a book club with 16 1/2 of those years. She is the one who helped me get started in quilting. Her mom Dolores came and helped Denise by sewing the binding on a quilt and some cutting for a Christmas stocking.

At the Guild Quilt retreat last year I met Janet, Cindy and Judy. They belong to the guild but with 300 members and me usually running around taking pictures I might not have ever met them. Janet also blogs where she shows off her many talents. Go check her out by clicking here.

Deborah is quilter/fabric artist. I know there's a better description but I'm drawing a blank. She dyes her own fabric. I met her at the Quilt guild and eventually by accident became her neighbor. 

Pat worked with me at the Middle school I worked at then she moved over to our central office, retired and I got lucky enough to take her job. She is also in the guild and we went to the same quilting bee.

Donna V. - I met her at the quilt guild and found out she actually works right down the hall from me in the district. And we've been friends ever since.

Then there was Sandy. She is from College Station. Sassy little thing trust me. LOL I met her on a Quilt Shop Bus tour last year where we hit 6 shops in two days in SW Texas. She happened to be sitting behind me when she noticed what I was reading in between shops.... Fifty Shades of Grey. Of course that got a conversation going and a friendship was formed. We email back and forth and she follows my blog.

And there was Donna M. well some of you may recognize her from Donna's Lavender Nest blog. I had never met her in person but knew she was a quilter and lived somewhere not too terribly far from Houston area so asked if she'd like to join us and her answer was Yes. Oh and guess what her favorite color is.....  So glad she made it and that I got to know her.

I had invited a wide diverse group of ladies but we all had one thing in common we love the act and art of quilting. I had ladies that I had either known for a long time or for a very short time if at all. Most of them met first time. 
We all had a blast! The fabric was flying and the machines were

humming. I was pleased that everyone got along and it was like we all had been long time friends.
Sandy and Pat were the first to finish a quilt top the first day.

We even had a special guest Ralph who wanted to join us at the retreat. But I told him he wasn't allowed inside and he might cause someone have a heart attack.
So he stayed outside on the porch. 

I was able to finish one quilt that I can't picture here yet, started 2 more, sewed up a pretty grocery bag holder to hang in the pantry for my daughter, complete my 2 year and 15 minute table runner, okay it was suppose to be a 10 minute table runner but it took me 2 years and 15 minutes. 

And I'm trying a new technique on how to make a double diamond book mark. I can't show the quilt picture of the finished quilt top until I get it quilted and mailed to the intended. But here's what I can show you if you Click HERE to see other pictures from the retreat

Check on Donna M.'s oops that's Donna V's quilted posted card that she was working on our last day. Looks a lot like the retreat.



Here's everyone before we headed home. Thanks Jim for taking the picture for us. You and Margie made our stay awesome.

The retreat was homey and our dinners were very tasty. 
Thanks to the girls we had plenty to eat for lunch and Thanks to

Janet who decided to become our Chef one morning and whipped up a yummy breakfast.
We enjoyed ourselves so much that we are going to meet up again in the Spring for another retreat. Plus we added a day. Gives us more time to get into trouble and complete more projects.

And guess how I ended my vacation. Got home just in time to head up to Main Street Crossing in Tomball with David to listen to Max and Heather Stallings. Love listening to Max sing. Heather chimes in with her alto voice and plays a mean fiddle.

Couldn't ask for a better ending.

So until next Blog....“There is nothing better than a friend, unless it is a friend with chocolate.  ~Linda Grayson   

Carla  

A Hill Country Weekend

A vacation Day and we're off to the Hill Country. 
Our first stops are drop of the little guy at the kennel and kolaches for breakfast. Priorities. And we're on our way to Blanco. My sweet husband while looking to see what events were happening in the Hill Country saw that there was a quilt show in Blanco and asked if I'd like to go. Duh! Is the Pope Catholic?

Our first stop when we got to Blanco was for food.
We stopped at the Redbud Cafe on the square. They had a large selection of lunch items to choose from and I chose the tilapia wrap with mango salsa and cilantro cole slaw. It was a lot of food. I managed to each one half and just the fish out of the other half. Very tasty. David had a hamburger that was really juicy and he said his food was tasty also.

After lunch we split up. David found the quilt show but had no intentions of accompanying me. He walked the square and down to the river while waiting on me. I walked a block and half and paid my $5 to go to the Blanco Quilt Show. I will say this right off... This was the smallest show I have attended and it was very spread out. Upon entering there are about 5 non-profit vendors selling various items from fabric, crafts, jewelry and lotions. As I walked across the courtyard to go see the other vendors that were located on the 2nd floor on the building I saw this quilt....... A smart car cover.
Very cute but oh my goodness.
I went upstairs to find the vendors. I found 6 vendors. Selling a pretty cool cutting table, cutting mat, rulers by Martelli, a gentleman selling wood quilt hangers, another vendor was selling crafts/hand made items. The fourth vendor was selling various quilt books, patterns and a 1/4" guide that took some of my money and biggest surprise for me was I actually passed up buying fabric at the 5th vendor. I mean that's unheard of. The fabric was pretty but nothing just jumped out and said buy me. The last vendor was selling clothing and I passed.


My next stop in the Quilt Show was back down stairs and down the street. A new Quilt Store that was just opening. They opened their doors but were still unpacking all the pretty fabric, patterns and quilts. I did leave some money there by buying a pattern. That will go in my collection of a thousand projects I want and need to complete.
Now check out this quilt shop. Holy Cow. It looks like the Library of Congress.
All the pretty wood work and many many shelves that are just waiting for the fabric.

This is the pattern I bought. Big surprise since I love everything

western. Who knows when I'll get around to making it.. but I have so I can when ever that time is. 
And I didn't buy any fabric to add to my stash that's over flowing. Not sure I'd win the "most fabric" game if I were to die tomorrow but I'd be close.
I've been told there are other Fabric-ahol-lics out there worse than me.

My next  stop is to walk across Hwy 281 aka Main to the courthouse where the quilt exhibit was on the 2nd floor. I thought the lightning at my guilds first quilt show was questionable but these folks really had it rough. There were no over head lightning and very little natural lighting coming through. There were light sconces on the walls just ever so often.  
I had to laugh at myself I saw this quilt at a distance and thought someone had made a quilt with appliqued strapless dresses then as I got closer I realized... What a goof I am.... It's Sue bonnet Sue in something other than 1930's type fabric.


They had about 100 quilts maybe to see. All were pretty. One poor lady was having hot flashes she was so excited when she saw she got a first place ribbon and was calling everyone she know or helped with the quilt.


And imagine I found another boot quilt that I liked. I think it was called Andy's Boots.

Finished up the quilt show and found David relaxing in the car waiting on me reading a Land/home for sale magazine.

And it's off to Wimberly we go. David was talking with one of his buddies from high school and mentioned we were going to the Hill Country and next thing we know Billy and his wife invite us to stay with them at their place they just bought in Wimberly on about 10 acres or was it 12?! How awesome.
Before going to their house we did a little shopping in Wimberly and had mmm a couple of Margarita's at Ino'z Brew and Chew. Those were some good margarita's too. We sat outside on the patio that over looked the creek and park area. Before we knew it, it was time to travel down the road to find Billy and Cheryl's place. 
Now in my mind I pictured this old farm house because David told me that Billy said it was an old place but that's not what I saw. My pictures don't do the home justice because of one my photo skills and two all the trees but the house was really pretty hidden behind those trees.  
Between the house and the garage was a guest house that was really hidden and the garage you see in this picture had an apartment over it. It even had a balcony.

 This little guy greeted us at the front door.
A unique use of an alligator. Right beside him was the skull of a rhinoceros. They were left by the previous owners but I think Billy and Cheryl may leave them alone.

Billy cooked and served up some Green Chili Friday night. Can you say "YUM". It had pork, potatoes, carrots, onion, and just the right amount of all the spices. Oh my goodness it was good. And are ready for this.... 

The guys cleaned up and did the dishes. Well you know I can't really say too much about this since my husband does his fair share every evening at home when it comes to picking up the table but it was so funny seeing the two of them washing and drying the dishes. They looked like and old married couple.

Some views from the balcony Saturday Morning

The boys went for a walk down to the creek. I figure I could make it down the ravine to the creek but getting back up might be an issue. Isn't the view gorgeous though?It was getting late and we wanted to go to Fredericksburg to check out the Mesquite Festival being held at the Veterans memorial park.

And check it out we did because we sure couldn't afford anything. There was this entry hall table made out of mesquite that was really pretty but OUCH the price almost gave us a heart attack. Over 2000. 
Check out this solid mesquite wood rocking horse. Isn't it pretty. I'm sure it was over 8,000 but we never could find the price on it.



Breakfast was wearing off and we were all getting hungry. 
The first place we stopped at was packed and it was hot. I think their air was broke.
David and I mentioned a place we ate at one time called the Buffalo Nickle and that's where we ate. Another yummy and filling meal. 

Billy, Cheryl and David posed for me.

We walked through several of the shops looking for the deal we couldn't pass up. We managed to keep our money but found some really cool things and ideas.



David found me a camera for my collection. It was made of wood. This picture makes me think of Mr. Wilson off of the TV show Tool Time with Tim Allen. Did you ever watch that show? I would have loved to have that camera but I don't have a place to put it right now.
At one point David, Cheryl and I found a cool spot to relax while Billy did some looking and measuring some pictures he would like to get for the walls in their new place.

Got a picture of the hill country sunset Saturday evening before the rain came in.

Sunday morning I decided to wander around a bit and snap a few pictures. 

Snapped a couple of the back of the house. It was a pretty home. We had a great time and appreciated their hospitality very much.

Before we knew it it was time to come back to Tomball and work. Bummer. 

Cheryl, Our great hostess. Can't thank her and Billy enough for their hospitality.

As we were driving down the road toward Dripping Springs I had asked David to stop by this old truck so I could take a picture. We almost passed it up but David slammed on the brakes and slid to a stop. He's good at those kind of stops. It's now the header for my facebook page. Coming down the Hwy 12 and 290 we saw a few roads with water running across them. Thank goodness the roads we had to travel weren't flooded from all the rain that hit at around 3 that morning.

Traffic was horrible and we had to pick up Dexter before 6 but we weren't going to make it. It was 5:56 and it was another 10 minutes to the kennel. I called and they said they'd wait.

We rolled in at 6:05. I think the little guy was glad we did

Thanks Fur-less parents for picking me.
I didn't get much rest at the Kennel

So ends a great weekend.  

So until next blog... Good friends are like old quilts. They age with you but never lose their warmth.

Carla