November Cape Retreat Part 1

I've just returned from our 19th annual Cape Cod quilt retreat. While our event was taking place, the hotel we stay at was being sold right out from under us, so we're not sure if we'll be able to celebrate our 20th annual retreat in February. Our group has been together for a really long time!

While 11 of us made it to the retreat, the talented Pratt sisters visited the Houston Quilt Festival because Kim's award-winning Omigosh Quilt was on display there!

Here is the amazingly talented Kim Pratt with her award-winning quilt, Omigosh! Did you see Kim's quilt at Houston this year?

Never been to a quilt retreat? Wonder what you need to bring?

Here's Marion with our luggage cart. The smallest items on the cart are our clothes...the rest is two sewing machines and lots and lots of projects!!

On to some of the beautiful works in progress (WIPs)

Sue worked on two Yellow Brick Road Quilts, a favorite pattern among the Brown Bagger quilters.

Christmas prints

A cool turquoise and peach combination

Pat, who is one of our fastest sewers, finished the top of her Gypsy Wife quilt, which is a Jen Kingwell pattern, and made a couple of baby quilts.

Pat bought this as a quilt as a kit a few years ago.

This pattern is called Backyard Fun. Pat made it from her stash. It has cute little elephants in it.

Pat's Gypsy Wife quilt.

Here is Marion's Gypsy Wife quilt, which I photographed in her home a few weeks ago, as well as her projects from the Cape retreat.

Marion's Gypsy Wife quilt.

This is Marion's birthday block quilt. The blocks are from a swap of several years ago. You can set the blocks in different ways.

This quilt was from a kit that Marion had marinating in a box for about 10 years.

Marion had one more piece of sashing to add when we left the Cape this morning. This is also a very old kit that she is working on completing. Next, I predict that Marion will be busy assembling quilt backings for all the tops that she is finishing!

Joannie C. made a window seat cushion as a gift for her sister. It matches the quilt that she made for her a couple of years ago.

Lots more photos to come! Thanks for visiting.

Pugs and kisses,
Nancy

I like Thursdays: Almost Wordless

My friend LeeAnna who blogs at Not Afraid of Color hosts a weekly I Like Thursdays theme. NOTE: you don't have to actually like Thursday, rather it's more of a recap of capturing joy during the week.

How can you not love these two little faces? And check out Caesar's snaggle tooth... adorable.

Life with the Pug Pack is always interesting. Caesar is a funny little love bug and he will get his own blog post soon. LarryPug remains our extremely neurotic but lovable little dude.

I also like that it is fall in New England, yet it has remained unseasonably warm. I'm not admitting to liking Global Warming, but I am enjoying still wearing sandals and shorts in late October. I can't remember a fall this warm.

I like returning to blogging and the kind words from my blogging friends.

Marion and I went to a quilt show and a bead show last weekend and I'll post some pictures soon. I'm still trying to get back into a crafting groove. I'm working on a baby quilt and a kumihimo bracelet.

More later.

Pugs and kisses,
Nancy

Back from Outer Space

Sorry, I've been a little tied up lately...

I've been posting sporadically for the last few months and I hope that this post marks the return of a more regular schedule. Since May I have been working on four major projects for my real life job and they are finally nearing completion. These projects sucked the life out of me. Most of the summer I would come home late from work (usually the last one out of the parking lot, except for the cleaning people), eat dinner and go to bed. On the weekends, I did laundry and napped. I barely touched my sewing machine or my beading projects. I apologize to my lovely husband, family and friends who put up with a very grumpy and depressed PugMom for far too long. Ironically, the less I wrote, the more followers joined my blog...

Here's a few highlights to get you caught up.

On August 5th, Caesar joined our family. He is four years old. We adopted him through New England Pug Rescue (PRONE).

On October 2nd, Elvis had a big birthday!

He turned 15, which is 105 in dog years. And yes, we had a party for him!

I got to meet Natalia (JMag) who appeared on Project Runway Season 15. She did a lecture for Marion's sewing guild at the Framingham Public Library. She was just delightful. We got to check out a rack of her hand-made clothing items. She also shared some of the Project Runway behind the scenes dirt with us...

I've finally started sewing again. I'm making a quilt out of my birthday blocks.

Thanks for visiting!

Pugs and kisses,
Nancy

Brown Bagger Babies

I have been remiss in sharing the latest crop of Brown Bagger grandbabies. Today, we'll show off the 2016 models.

This is Rex. He is Kim G.'s grandson. He is a very happy little guy!

This is a recent photo.

In this photo, Rex is a little younger, but I thought everyone would enjoy seeing some of Kim's beautiful quilts.

This is Madison. She is Terri's granddaughter. Terri is bringing her to our Brown Bagger meeting today, so hopefully I can get a picture where she is awake.

Sleeping beauty!

The 2017 models are just in! On July 27th, Eden Lee was born. She is Debbie's first grandaughter. And on Thursday, August 10th, Ryan Michael was born. He is Sue's third grandbaby, and second grandson. Congratulations Grandma Debbie and Grandma Sue! Hopefully I'll get some pictures soon.

No word on any pending 2018 models yet, but Joan S.'s son got married in May, so who knows...

Thanks for visiting!

Pugs and kisses,
Nancy

I had a dream...

The other night I had a funny dream. In my dream, I promised my husband Mike that I would finish 100 craft projects using my existing Stash before I bought anything new. I was relieved to wake up since I had plans to go fabric shopping with Marion on Saturday.

This is a true story. I'm wondering if I should use my dream as an inspiration for a challenge...

What do you think?

Thanks for visiting.

Pugs and kisses,
Nancy

Taking Val's Piggy Bank Challenge again!

Just wanted to drop by and let you know that I am taking Val's Piggy Bank Challenge again. My "piggy" is actually a bear!

This past month, I emptied my Bear and took my savings to the Coinstar machine at my local supermarket. If you exchange your coins for a gift card, there is no charge to sort them. So it was a no-brainer to get an Amazon gift card.

I then used my Amazon gift card to buy myself some gold sandals because a girl can never have too many shoes or too much fabric!

Thanks for visiting!

Pugs and kisses,
Nancy

What's New Pussycat? A Quilt for Angie

Angie turned 5 last month. She wanted a quilt for her big girl bed. She loves cats and the color red.

Here is the finished quilt.

When in doubt, I always turn to Yellow Brick Road which is my TNT (tried 'n true) pattern. It goes together quickly and allows me to use a myriad of fabrics, patterns and colors. I had been collecting cat fabrics for Angie but as usual, I had collected more cat fabric than I could possibly need...

I think that little kid quilts should have lots and lots of colors and patterns to look at. The quilt looks a little garish in photographs, but I think it will be a hit with Angie. The quilt is en route to Oregon, and I'm waiting to hear how she likes it.

Here's a close-up of some of the cat fabrics. Most of the red fabrics are ancient fat quarters from my Stash.

I use some large pieces of cat fabric on the back. There is more feline fabric left over so Angie will definitely be getting some kitty cat pillowcases soon.

The quilt was machine quilted by my friend Val. She even did a kitty cat pantograph.

Here is Angie's baby quilt which I made in 2012 which was the year that I started blogging.

Thanks for visiting.

Pugs and kisses,
Nancy