Selvage Cuteness

Isn't this the cutest selvage? Berenstain Bears!

Friends In High Places

My new friend Kathy (the one I mentioned in my previous post) and her husband Jim are some of the nicest people I have ever met. Jim works for Wegmans (the absolute best grocery-store chain in the world) and gifted me with a lovely basket filled with Wegmans' goodies.

And...after reading my rant about Domino Sugar a few weeks ago, they came bearing even more gifts -- four 5-lb bags of Wegmans sugar! (BTW...I emailed Domino Sugar about my dissatisfaction with their decision to make only 4-lb bags, but I haven't received any response...and I'm not holding my breath...)

For those who don't live in this part of the country, you're missing out on a very good thing! I just wish we had a Wegmans a bit closer to my house; right now I have to travel either 40 minutes north or 60 minutes south to get to one....but it's so worth it! If only I could convince Jim to convince the management at Wegmans to build one in Wellsboro!

Thank you so much, Kathy and Jim (and Wegmans)!

As a side note...it's always bugged the heck out of me that there is no apostrophe in the Wegmans storename, but they have an explanation for it on their website.
 

Star Struck

My guild had a special guest for our program this month -- Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville fame! My internet friend Kathy came all the way down from the Rochester, NY area especially to hear the lecture and see the trunk show. Bonnie walked in while Kathy and I were in our LQS, Needles. So, of course, I had to get a photo. From the look on my face, you'd think I was meeting David Cassidy or Donny Osmond or something! (I'm the one in the middle).

It was a great evening with Bonnie...be sure to check her blog to read up on her visit to Wellsboro. And I'll have more pictures coming up on my guild's blog soon.

And thank you, Kathy, for coming down (and to your hubby for helping make it happen)! It was great to finally meet you.

Modern BOM Block 12

I finally got around to making block number 12 of the Modern Block of the Month Sew-Along from the Sew, Mama, Sew blog.

Here's a photo of all twelve blocks on my design wall. Now I have to work on how to set them all in a quilt. No straight row settings for this one...

Right Side Triangles Completed

It's kind of hard to see some of the quilting, but if you click on the photos, you may be able to get a better view...

A few of my quilting friends got a sneak peak of my quilt in person last week...I'm so glad I showed it to them because they gave me a lot of good input on finishing things up. I can't stress enough how important my local support group has been...as well as my cybersphere cheerleaders. Thank you all!

Passing Time

All of that quilting on my Jane Stickle quilt (with a gazillion thread changes) means that I will be spending quite a bit of time burying the threads. So I'm armed with my favorite snips, my favorite self-threading needle, and one of my favorite TV series -- The West Wing. From the looks of the back of the quilt, it's going to take several episodes...but that's OK...the writing on that show is superb, so it will be time well spent. And the end result will be worth it.

Birthday Boy

Happy 20th to my son Nick!

There is only one pretty child in the world, and every mother has it.  ~Chinese Proverb

Left Side Triangles Completed

(all of my blog posts are starting to look alike, aren't they?)

Again, the photos are a bit blurry because they were taken in low light to show the quilting. Click on the photos for a larger view.

I'm not going overboard with the quilting -- I'm trying to keep it minimal in order to keep my sanity....

Warning -- Rant Ahead!

This is a non-quilting rant, so be warned....

I was in my grocery store yesterday when I noticed that Domino Sugar is no longer available in 5-pound bags, but is now sold in a 4-pound bag (which looks exactly like the old 5-pound bag). Here's what the company said on its Facebook page --

 We recently switched to a 4 lb. package because many private labels (store brands) have gone to the 4 lb. package. When consumers compared the price of our 5 lb. bag to the price of a store brand 4 lb. package, they were not happy with the price difference. The only way for us to bring the prices closer together and make it easier for consumers to choose the brand they know and love was for us to offer a 4 lb. option.

What a bunch of hooey -- (and that's being polite) -- This is done to deceive the consumer and make more of a profit for the company. Period.

And for now, since my local grocery store brands still come in 5-pound bags, so you can be sure I won't be buying Domino anymore....

It's more of a continuing trend...and not for the better....

Happy Fourth of July

Go ahead...sing along....

Bottom Triangle Row Completed

Again, mostly minimal quilting.

Click on photos to enlarge...

Row 13 Completed

The last row of blocks is finally quilted!

It looks a little crooked in the photos, but in real life, it's fine. The photos aren't real sharp, but I had to take them in low light in order for the quilting to show.

Click on the photos for a larger view....

Now all that remains to be quilted are three sides of triangles and the scalloped border. I hope I finish this up real soon -- too many other projects are calling my name...