I love this fabric!

For photo purposes only. Ellie is too bad to ever be back on this quilt. 

The fabric on the header of my blog has now been made into a quilt that resides in my upstairs bedroom. I loved these medallions in Sandi Henderson's Secret Garden Collection. It was pieced and designed by me, and beautifully quilted by Chantay Rhone of Cotton Treasures.  Quilting is so fun!

Chantay's handiwork

National Quilters Month celebrated with two groups

The Loose Threads Quilters, based in Harmontown, were invited to a meeting of Patches and Pieces, Tate County's quilting club,  Thursday, March 22 at the Tate County Extension Auditorium.

Members from both groups brought projects for the others to see. Those examples ranged from a 140-by120-inch T-shirt quilt to a Baltimore Album hand appliquéd quilt. Others included queen-size quilts, a Butter Fly Garden hand-colored and hand-embroidered quilt, to smaller projects such as a “kitchen quilt” hot pad, table runner and even a denim hat.

The projects were as varied as the women who gathered. Different ages, different races, quilting at different skill levels and bound together by this social art. 

Members of Patches and Pieces and Loose Threads quilting groups gather for a joint meeting March 22 at the Tate County Extension Auditorium. The groups exchanged ideas through a show and tell session and reported on club projects.

Both groups are interested in giving something back to the area. Members of Patches and Pieces showed off pillowcases made for the Ronald McDonald House, while Loose Threads members displayed an example of one of the Comfort Quilts they are making to donate to chemotherapy patients at West Clinic in Southaven.

It was a good time for the two groups to meet since March is National Quilting Month. Established by the National Quilting Association, NQD is the third Saturday in March, but quilters are flexible and love a celebration — especially when fabric is involved! So over the years, observance of National Quilting Day has unofficially been expanded to the whole month of March, according to the National Quilting Association website.

Members from Patches and Pieces included Leader Margie Rutherford, Sharon Forte, Doris Schultz and Ethel “Pee Wee” Ferguson of Coldwater; Sue Burton, Carolyn Rhodes, Robbie Green, Carieann Howell, Rosa Pollock and Carrie Maples of Senatobia; Sandra Farrow, Olive Branch; Ann Staples, Hernando.

Loose Threads Quilters present were Pauline Kirby and Genell Clayton, both of Sardis; Virginia Hendren, Waterford; and Nancy Patterson, Senatobia.

Mountain-top quilting retreat stitches together friendship

The slogan on the T-shirts we brought home from our quilting retreat in Scottsboro, Ala., at Grand Oaks said, "Creating a Patchwork of Friends and Memories." That's exactly what we did.  Eleven quilters from various locations in Mississippi and one from South Carolina gathered for five days of total relaxation this past week.  "A quilting retreat?," you might say. How boring.  Quilting was just the icing on the cake.

Just one of the great views from our retreat.

We were located in a beautiful three-story lodge retreat at the top of one of Alabama's mountains, looking down on mountain lakes where fishermen in boats were out in full force. Beautiful plants peeked out from beneath great boulders, and a colorful array of chickens strutted around the property.

Besides quilting, we slept, we read, we shared ideas, and we talked—endlessly.
I came home a little spoiled after being called to wonderful home-cooked meals by the tinkle of a bell every five hours. We had snacks in the craft area. And to top off a wonderful week, we had a massage therapist who came to us.   Wow!

One of Cindy's "ladies"

A trip to nearby Arab, Ala, to visit a local quilt shop, resulted in my group being trapped between two wrecks on the highway. That was also an adventure. While at a standstill, we saw on our left a pasture of beautiful Belted Galloway cows. Making the scene perfect was a Great Pyrenees dog, guarding his herd and walking quietly around them, making sure they stayed together.

Belted Galloway cattle, "oreo cows."

It's amazing how after five days, you have at least started, made progress on, or finished a quilt, and made a friend that you never knew this time last week. Remember, "Friends are like fabric, you can never have enough."

Eleven tired and happy quilters

Afternoon Stroll with Lily

This afternoon I went for my stroll without dogs. So did the geese at the lake. They are beginning to get used to being followed by me with my camera.

I found the promise of spring as the trees are just beginning to bud.

Budding tree with moon

I never go anywhere totally alone. This calico cat, Lily, who we have had for six years, has always been aloof and didn't care if she saw us or not unless she was hungry. She has now decided to be my new best friend. She lets me pet her, and today went walking with me. Never give up on an animal.  Always room to love one more.

Taking a blogging break to go on my quilting retreat at Grand Oak Retreat.  I'll post a few pics from Alabama.