Scrap Basket

I had my DH pull a name this morning for the box of scraps and he pulled Allegra's Mom, Jacque!
Please send me your address and I will get the box right out. My sewing room is looking very clean and organized these days. I can't sew if it is not. I wonder why I am that way with sewing, but not the rest of the house. I was really neat and organized when I taught school also. Go figure. LOL

I am doing my second craft show in a few weeks......I did one about 29 years ago and didn't sell a thing. :-( Hopefully this one will be more successful. It is at the Retirement Community where my daughter works. I am making key fobs, tissue holders, coffee sleeves, little note pad holders and will take my quilts. Is there anything else that I could make that would possibly sell well? After this, I think that I am going to take a break trying to sell things and just make things for the enjoyment.

My 100th post is coming up, wow, how did that happen. I was going to give away a quilt, but may need to change that to fabric instead.

Have a great day, it is rainy here, just the kind of day where a date with my sewing machine is the answer.
Cathy

South Carolina Writers' Workshop Conference

The voices in my head are singing The World Spins Madly On by The Weepies.

What I'm reading: Even by Andrew Grant

Warning: Do not start reading this book if you have no choice but to put it down and go to work, feed your kids, or head to your mani-pedi appointment. David Trevellyan will haunt you until you pick the book back up. It's that good.

I just got back last night from the SCWW conference in Myrtle Beach. (I haven't even blogged on Bouchercon yet, which was fabulous--more on that later. I know, I'm behind again!)

I arrived in Myrtle Beach on Thursday so I could stare at the ocean and sip mango daiquiris for a day. (My own brand of therapy.) This was a perfect beginning to the weekend.

The conference was awesome. For the first time in three years, I was able to attend without worrying about whether the AV was right in the meeting rooms, all the faculty flights were on time, the critique room stayed on schedule, etc. (As most of you know, I was the conference chairperson in 2007 and 2008. I learned a ton, and had a ball doing it, but it ate into my writing time too much.) Kudos to Carrie McCullough and Lateia Sandifer, this year's chair and co-chair!

I can't begin to cover conference highlights, because there were so many. Every workshop I attended was time well invested. But faculty introductions were a riot...

While the rest of the faculty lined up and took their turn at the mic for introductions, Janet Reid watched from her table sipping something cold. Maybe the second agent at the mic asked, "Why doesn't Janet have to do this?"

The next agent in line introduced himself as Janet Reid. I think that was Jeff Kleinman. That was followed by a series of, "I am Janet Reid...no, I am Janet Reid" introductions--all in good fun.

Then there was the three-way introduction routine that Jenny Bent, Barbara Poelle, and Holly Root performed with flair, followed by the real Janet Reid taking the stage.

As you can tell, we had an awesome faculty and a lot of fun. The keynote speaker, Steve Berry could not have been more gracious, approachable, and encouraging.

Every faculty member (around thirty of them in all) went out of his/her way to encourage writers in all phases of their writing journeys.

I'm home today--first time in a month. I'm digging through laundry and notes from two conferences, but, yes, Julie, I will be on the dance floor at 5:40.

Peace, out...

Susan

My scrap basket overfloweth......

I really want to be good about saving and using scraps, but they just get out of hand before I do. So, if anyone likes to make scrappy quilts and would like a a medium sized flat rate box of them, please let me. Mostly Moda, no surprise there. ;-)
If more than one person is interested, I will have Molly draw a name.
Take care,
Cathy- who is sad that Inspector Lewis isn't on PBS tonight.

If you give a girl some stencils.......

she might just get a little "letter happy"! Add some Steam to Seam lite and a sewing machine, you can just go crazy.
This little pillow is for my great niece to go along with the quilt at the bottom of this post.
Baby Benjamin's name pillow......loved making this one!
Bib for Benjamin ;-)
Baby Maggie's quilt made with "Bubblegum Basics" . This has been the best fabric line for making baby gifts. I was able to make both boy and girl presents.
Up close and personal.....
Have a great day,
Cathy

Beanie Love and Name Pillow

Can't seem to stop crocheting!!! I am a knitter, not a crocheter, but these little beanies are so darn fun to make and quick!! So much faster than knitting. I can make one in about an hour and with Knitpicks wonderful yarn prices it works out great. I am giving some to my new great nephew and great niece to be and then donating the rest.This is my favorite so far.
This is a name pillow to be finished with piping as soon as I get my butt out of my recliner and upstairs to my sewing room. I don't feel so guilty when I am crocheting- which is probably my secret to so many completed hats. LOL

I am also making another with the name Benjamin, which was a little tricky fitting all the letters on.
I want to apologize for not being good about responding to comments lately.....I feel bad about it and am definitely going to work on that.
Have a great Tuesday, it is sunny and suppose to be 70 here today,
Cathy

Lap Dog?

We like our "lap dogs" big around here!Must share the lap!
More pictures (quilt ones) later.
Cathy

Bad Blogger ;-(

I have been a very bad blogger.......I need to try to update at least once a week. (New Goal)
But, I have been busy making lots of things to blog about.....just can't seem to do both. LOL
My daughter designed this placemat and I made 4 of them for her. Isn't it cute? The only time consuming thing was all the quilting. But my walking foot and guide made it easy.

Then I made a little notepad holder to keep in my purse. The fabric is "Park Slope" by Erin McMorris....one of my favorite fabrics this year.I made a quilt top using 2 1/2 strips.....I will show it after I get it quilted.

I hope that everyone is doing well and was able to get some sewing in this weekend.
Take care,
Cathy

Older Nolting Hobby Quilter-Has Found a New Home

This may sound strange, but I am going to give my Nolting Hobby Quilter( 16") away. It is one of the older models and even Nolting calls it noisy, but I quilted probably 20 quilts on it and it did a beautiful job. But, about 6 months ago it messed up and I was not able to have it fixed locally so I bought a Hinterberg Longarm so I could keep quilting.
The Hobby Quilter has been sitting in a corner of my bedroom while I have tried to decide what to do with it. It needs repair work done, it could be as simple as the timing or it could be something else. I do not in good conscience want to try to sell it when I don't know what is wrong with it. So I decided to try to find someone who would like to have it. It would need to be picked up (Richmond, VA area) since it would be very expensive to ship. If you know anyone who would like to have it, would you please pass the word on. The quilting frame would not go with it, but they are pretty reasonably priced.
Thank you,
Cathy