I want to play with wool

I don't know if its the slight chill in the evening air or the schedule change at work that has allowed me to have my relaxing evenings back, but I was really needing some wool time. So I have been working on this penny rug and its finally finished!

I have learned a few things, which is always a good thing, and I realize now that I need to throw my wool back in a hot washer for another go around, its really not as felted as I thought with just one trip through. I need to continue practicing my buttonhole stitch to work to get a more even consistent stitch width and length. But all and all, I'm pretty pleased with the result.

Stuff

The countdown is on! I have about 2½ weeks to prepare for the retreat in September. I have been cutting kits and gathering fabrics to hopefully finish loads of tops during the five day quilting extravaganza! But I have managed to complete a few things.

A chili pepper potholder made from a pattern found in Pam Bono's Big Book Of Rotary Cutter Quilts for a swap at Mailblocks. Lotto blocks using Marcia Hohn's pattern for Starflower from Quilterscache.com for lotto blocks.

UFO or UFOs?

So I did it, I backed a UFO with another UFO. I'm really pleased with the way it turned out. Scrappy and fun...I'm smiling!

Back is Turning Twenty from homespuns.

Front is Wonky Houses from quiltville.com with some free formed wonky looking trees and geese all around.

Just a little time...

Last weekend my mom, sister and I all met in Gatlinburg, TN for a mini girls only reunion. We had lots of fun talking and exploring Smokey Mountain National Park. What a beautiful area, I know I will be returning as soon as I can! It was a great way to spend the first part of my vacation.

The second part has been spent doing a little tidying up around my sewing area and trying to get caught up on some swap/lotto blocks.

This first pic are my Blocks in a Box from The Golden Thimble.com Aren't they fun? Super easy and a nice size at 9" they will work up into a couple of quilts very quickly.

These are Bear Tracks blocks from Quilterscache.com Talk about a really nice autumn quilt for the winner Genevieve!