Last week I started working on my unfinished

 'Cowgirl Quilt' (see my sidebar tutorial) from a year ago...and to my surprise, a couple days later Brigitte had made mention on her blog about 'Cowgirl'.  

As you can see, i have pieced together my

 red 'cowpies' 

 and my blue 'cowpies'

I find the easiest for me is to piece the quarters together with the seams facing down.  I don't need to pin and the seams match up. 

 and of course...chain piecing makes the job go by quickly.  I have all my red and blue cowpies pieced and will post the finished quilt top soon. 

Today I finished Carol's baby quilt.  

Nice work Carol!

(click on the photo for a closer look)

 Yesterday in the mail, i finally received my Primitive Quilt magazine.  I was beginning to worry if i would get mine since it seemed that everyone except Cathi of Shakerwood Quilts and myself had received theirs.  Cathi...has your's come yet???

Nothing but FUN

I ended my week with a quilt retreat at church. To begin, my friend Cindy showed me her grandmother's hand pieced Dresden's...35 in all! It is amazing how many treasures are just stored away but given to the right person...

these treasures come alive again.

At the retreat, I finished all my Cowgirl quarter circles, too many to count! Now the fun of sewing them all together, adding the inner and outer borders!

my last stack of blues....seam ripper never far away!

This is Jan's quilt. She simply saw a small photograph in a magazine a year ago and figured out how to construct this beautiful quilt. She's almost finished!

Our new addition to the quilt club. Little Rafe born two months ago. Six days after a c-section delivery, Kora brought Rafe to our last monthly quilt gathering to show him off. Here they are at the quilt retreat. He already has that look "pleeease, not another quilt shop!" on his face.

Marylou and Jan....serious business!

Diane, Susan and Laura. The last sewing machine with the empty plate is mine...someone brought carrot cake. Yep, I ate most of it! You can see a bit of wool flowers laying around. Vicki who claims she can not sew, brought wool appliqué.

Cheryl and Judith....Cheryl is working on a secret quilt...Judith is working on a beautiful alter cloth. I should have taken a picture of that!!! Oh, Judith...what about beading on the cross for embellishment?

At the beginning of my week, I found myself in Marysville, Washington buying a car from this man. And he was so proud of the personalized plates he made for my new car. This man is my little brother David...need I say more?

So, I'm leaving the dealership with my friend Cindy and this noise started up...I thought perhaps it was just another vehicle so I kept heading down the road. Just before I entered I-5 south bound, the high pitched screech continued. Okay, my new car is a 2007 Subaru with 21,000 miles. Great deal...but still used. My heart sank thinking I needed to turn around and take this lemon back.

Fortunately I did not drive it back to the lot. I discovered the emergency break was on. Ooops

Next, I headed east to Snohomish with my friends Cindy and Marcia. Lots and lots of antique stores. My favorite was the

Speckled Hen Country Store

complete with a tiny little room full of fabric.

This was a find! Rather on the loved side but worthy of a photo or two.

My two purchases.... #1. This old suitcase. Ever feel like running away from home? Like Laura in Little House on the Prairie?

Needs a bit of cleaning up...but thought it's a good home for my wool projects

#2...this bobbin. It stands 16" high and the ends measure 7" in diameter. I think it might find it's way on my wall with a runner hanging from it.

Week Twenty Nine: July 19th-25th

1. Heading to my Promised Land. Bend, Oregon for a few days

2. My aunt and cousins from Texas arrive

3. Leah comes for a second visit

4. Quilting....always

Cowgirl Quilt

This quilt sampling is one I am designing using Elisa's Backporch Small Paths Template. It is an adaptation of a quilt I saw a few years ago. I organize a local quilt retreat at my church once a year and this is the quilt some of us will be making. I named it 'Cowgirl'. I grew up on a farm, loved the cows...even shared their salt lick....yep! And this time of year I always think of our baby bull born in June back in 1967 or '68 named Shortcake.

There is a blue bandanna fabric used in the quarter circles...makes for fond memories

Here is my attempt at a pictorial tutorial....how do you like that?

but...If you go to Elisa's blog, she has a wonderful video!

It would be best if I had a very small rotary cutter and a swivel mat...however, I don't. So I carefully use my regular rotary cutter and rotate the fabric. You could also trace and use scissors!

Next, I finger press and line up the centers right sides together

Then I pin the center

And carefully pin the sides

Sometimes I get to doing each task more than once. cut, finger press, pin,...then sew a bunch and start over again....

This is how many pins I use.

Then with template "A" side up (or the background fabric)...I begin to stitch. This is the side with all the ruffles that you do not want to turn into pleats!! Just take it slow and easy and one stitch at a time. I leave the needle position down and sometimes need to bring the pressure foot up, rotate and straighten just a bit.....but it does work!

This is how it looks from the back...

and now the front. I press the seam toward the quarter circle. So when selecting fabrics, keep this in mind. However, one can press the opposite way, I just find it easier my way...hum...

I will post more pictures as I continue creating 'Cowgirl'

Stay tuned!

Week Twenty Seven: July 5th-11th

1. really....I have no idea

2. Just know I have much to do

3. yes, stay tuned