Hey, Hit the Highway!

Every April, quilters of Nebraska herald the coming of Spring by loading coolers with ice teas, sodas, juices, sandwiches, and other nibbly bits into our vehicles and heading out to see just how many quilt shops we can visit in a ten day period.

Mischief and mayhem reign as we covertly slip items into one another's shopping baskets, encourage our friends to built their fabric stash beyond several life expectancies, and add new favorite shops to our list. Welcome to the 11th Annual Nebraska Shop-Hop.

My darling mother and I have made this a mother-daughter tradition. We usually only travel on weekends and this year, one weekend was plenty of fun. I usually do the driving and she's my navigator. Um, yes, there are still places in Nebraska in which your onboard nav system will simply say, "Abandon hope, all ye who dare to enter here." This year, we reversed rolls. I did not get as many photos as I would have liked because a certain wee seventy year old was on my case to get back in the car! "Time's awastin', ya know!"

Our first day, a Saturday, we explored the Southeast corner of Nebraska. We visited two shops in Omaha, one in Plattsmouth, two in Auburn, and one in Falls City, the hometown of Larry the Cable Guy.

Here are some shots of the amazingly well stocked "Heavenly Treasures" of Falls City. The nice lady who owns this shop could not stand the idea of this vintage church being torn down so she rescued it and no doubt hides her stash from her husband here.

More to come!

Wouldn't this be great?

I found this long display counter while antiquing with my mom. Can't you just picture it with fabrics stashed on one side, yarn on the other, that nice long cutting surface, and room to layout and design... It's really long. Like maybe twenty feet or more. Eventually, I hope to finish my very pointy attic and move my craft explosions up there. I don't think this will fit through that tiny attic door so I guess I will have to build my own.

Sigh!

Time to catch up to the Quilt-A-Long

Here are my fabric choices for the Quilt-A-Long over at Oh Fransson!

If the wee grey paw and the little grey head seem too far apart or oriented at an odd angle, it is because there are two kitties involved in the naughtiness, with promises of more help - every stitch of the way.

I've changed my mind about the Flea Market Fancy. I just might do a second quilt but the green seemed more springy (as opposed to summery).

Block Six - Magic Bunny

A fussy cut from a garage sale find, two floursacks, and some stash scraps including a little plisse for texture.

Block Five - Garden Walk

Block Five - Garden Walk, originally uploaded by OrgandyCupcakes.

Feed and Flour Sacks with other vintage fabrics and a few new scraps.

Block Four - Olivia!

Block Four - Olivia!, originally uploaded by OrgandyCupcakes.

Featuring Olivia, three vintage fabrics, and a few repros.

Block Three - My Bike

Block Three - My Bike, originally uploaded by OrgandyCupcakes.

One repro fabric, Heather Ross (from "lightning bugs"?) numerous feed and flour sacks, and some stash scraps.

I really did have that bike and I loved it! It was my tenth birthday present, resplendant with a sparkly, red "banana" seat, red paint, and red and white streamers on the handlebars. My best friend and I exchanged secret messages by hiding them inside the handlebars so the grip on the left side got a little loose.

Block Two - Marmalade Cat

Block Two - Marmalade Cat, originally uploaded by OrgandyCupcakes.

Embroidery salvaged from a very tatty pillowcase, four repro fabrics, stash scraps, a 40's feedsack, swordfish from a friend's old shirt, and mermaids from old pj's.

I'm in!

Block One - Blue Bird, originally uploaded by OrgandyCupcakes.

Just dropping in quickly to say I'm still alive.

For some reason, neither playing music nor knitting have held any interest for me,, since my treatment began. This is a big deal. Really big. I mean, if you know me, you know that music and knitting are normally a part of every day for me.

I have, however, been piecing quilt blocks. Piecing them in a fashion which really isn't usual for me, i.e. without much of a plan. I have to say that I am really happy with them. I think this will be a fun quilt. So many different fabrics and salvaged pieces of vintage linens and embroideries. Have you ever been home in bed, with a miserable cold (or something worse), and spent hours staring at the drapes or your bedclothes? This is the kind of quilt that gives you lots to look at, to soak in and enjoy, to soothe your frayed nerves. At least, that is my hope.

I kept thinking I needed to bring a little order to this obsession.

Et Voila. Elizabeth is holding a Quilt-A-Long! She has already shared so much good information. If you are new to quilting, you will find the posts soooo useful.

I have had a complete set of Denyse Schmidt's original "Flea Market Fancy" fat quarters, from her first line since, oh, probably the day they became available. I have jealously hoarded them and never found a project exciting enough to entice me to cut into them. I think now is the time. And I just bought a lovely red chinese latern/dragonfly fabric at Hancock Fabrics recently. I wasn't sure what I would use it for but I think it would be great for part of the backing. Maybe all of it, since it is a print, I don't think I want a different print below the strip of blocks and I have PLENTY of the lantern fabric. Pictures soon.

In the meantime, here's the first block of the scrappy, part courthouse steps, part log cabin, somewhat looney, quilt in progress.

I feel better already!