Lavender Fields and Gossimer Wings

Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to participate in two days of "retreat" at my favorite LQS, Quilting Adventures.  Not to be repetitive, but this is really one of my all-time favorite places to shop, and Joyce and her staff are *so* helpful, encouraging, and fun to hang with!  Any time you are anywhere near Richmond, Virginia, you definitely need to make the time to visit QA.

Lavender Fields:  Anyway, I go to retreat days not only for the access to technical help on projects, but also for the fellowship and camaraderie.  And I go for the time to work on projects without the distractions of every day living.  This weekend, I had five different projects with me, three of which are pretty small and were quickly abandoned when I really got in a groove on some larger quilts.  I've been working on another log cabin quilt - this one for my DM's birthday (which is the day after Christmas).  I'd found a strip set that I really liked, but found that I also needed to augment the blocks with two additional strips all around to make a quilt that is the size I want it to be.  I was able to finish the quilt top and get the backing sewn together, so it's off to the quilter tomorrow.  I'm titling this "Lavender Fields" (she and my DD own a lavender farm!):

Here's a close-up of the individual block:

The top of the quilt ends with the blue border - what you see underneath it (besides the bedspread) is the backing, a fun batik of trees!  The print is greener (like the quilt block) than the photo shows, but I do love the design!!

Gossimer Wings:  So yesterday, I got to the point of being ready to move onto another project, even though the "Lavender Fields" wasn't quite finished.  Last year, I'd purchased a bunch of 4" squares of different fabric with butterflies on it.  My plan was to make something lovely for my MIL... and that was about the extent of my plan!  While "retreating" this weekend, I happened to see a shop model of a "window pane" quilt that really got me thinking about options for these butterfly squares.  I took advantage of "retreat" access to Joyce (shop owner and quilter extraordinaire) and worked about a great plan for a butterfly window pane quilt.  Here's a quick small sample of what I'm working towards (ever square will be surrounded by black), and today, I prepped 90 squares - still need about 40 more, but I really love the direction that this quilt is going!

With a little direction and encouragement, I very quickly overcame inertia and am having a lot of fun preparing the quilt squares - planning on this being a Christmas present.  What do you think?

Okay, last quick item for the day - stopped at JoAnn's to pick up a few DMC skeins and found this fun-looking batik Halloween fabric.  Isn't it great?!

Have you had time to take up your needle and sew?!
Becky