The past several weeks I have attended 2 workshops.  It’s funny how they come in clusters like that.  My first workshop was at the Birds of a Feather longarm quilting workshop.  I was fortunate that this year is was held only 15 miles away from home and that one of my all time favorite quilters was teaching.  As soon as I saw Linda Hrcka listed as an instructor I was registered!

Linda’s business is The Quilted Pineapple…check her out online, blog and instagram.  She has only been longarming for 5 years or so and she has a fabulous style and eye for design.  I learned so much from her…she is my kind of quilter, very down to earth, friendly, and willing to share her talent.  I’ve been admiring her work for the past several years and especially her work that she does for Lisa Bongean of Primitive Gatherings.  I was a student in 5 of her 6 classes.  Now the hard part is putting what I learned into action!

My other workshop was with the rug hooking guild in Richmond.  Again a fabulous teacher, Lisanne Miller, from P is for Primitive.  She helped my color plan and guided me in hooking a rug that has been on my To Do list for a long time….My Beloved.  I made good progress during the 3 days but there’s a lot more to hook.  I’m hoping to have it completed in time for the Virginia Rugfest in April.  Here’s my “work in progress”

My plan is to hang this rug above our bedroom fireplace.  This is a Lori Brechlin design by Spruce Ridge Studios.  We did some modifications on the heads of the people to make them look more realistic.  This is mostly #8 cuts with some 4, 6, 8.5 mixed in and about half of the wools I’m using are my own hand dyed.

Other works in progress:

“Bee Garden” by Maggie Bonanomi.  This will be a fireplace screen, again for the master bedroom.

Prodded flowers that I will mount on old bed springs and used as door prizes for Rugfest.  2 for rug fest and 2 for me!

And a Rebekah Smith mystery project!  It’s a private group on Facebook and we have been forbidden to show photos of the ongoing project…and I’m a rule follower.  I did some reading on her method of embroidery while on a quick trip to Orlando, FL with my husband.  We get monthly installments of the pattern…I’m currently waiting on the second month and almost finished the first month of the pattern.  So far it’s a tree…but no photo!  This runs for a year so it will be interesting to see how this pattern develops .

We did arrive home from Florida in time for me to get one day at the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Fest.  As always it did not disappoint, lots of beautiful quilts on exhibit and in competition and tons of vendors.  Yes, I came home with many supplies and few extra projects too.

This time of year is not my favorite…so many difficult memories.  Charlie and I have lost 3 of our parents February 17, March 9 and March 29.  I look forward to the days when I don’t shed tears.  On the bright side, the weather has brightened here and my daffodils are starting to bloom.  Dana, our Kappa Delta girl, will come home at the end of the week for her Spring Break.  She has blossomed at college and it’s wonderful watching her bloom.  Her grandparents would be very proud of her.

Times a-wastin’ and I need to get back to work….taking an iquilt class online with Judi Madsen and long arm quilting.  I’ll be showing you my practice blocks soon!