I hope everyone had a very pleasant and safe Thanksgiving. We had an incredible week here at the Hive. It was wonderful having all our family together. Although, I will say it was quite loud and crazy at times. But that is part of the fun. It is snowy and cold here in Utah as we start counting down to Christmas. Of course that is to be expected right now.
Here is a peek at my new quilt. Is just a flimsy today but I'm going to take it to be quilted as soon as possible. The quilt is called "Dreaming Princess". You can probably tell it is appliqued crowns set on point alternating with 16 patch blocks and sashing.
The fabric is a bit of a departure for me. I am a fan of Amanda Herring of Quilted Fish. She is the designer of the fabric made by Riley Blake. When I saw Amanda's fabric I was inspired to design and make a make a crown quilt. I think Riley Blake's fabrics are refreshing and since they are a local company for me, I have been wanting to design a quilt around their fabrics for a while now.
I contacted Jina Barney and picked up the Sweet Divinity line of fabric and got to work. Because of the holidays and other projects it has taken me a few weeks to get the quilt top completed but I'm very happy with it and I hope to have the pattern out by the beginning of the year. The quilt will be perfect for any little girl's bed with an optional baby sized version as well. I am going to embellish each little crown once the top is back from the quilter. I have lots of ideas for jeweling up the crowns. Riley Blake has so many wonderful trims and notions. They really inspire me.

I really enjoyed dreaming of crowns and working with Sweet Divinity. I think the colors and patterns in this fabric are sweetly divine. I hope you do too.

-nanette

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Wishing everyone a happy and thankful week for you and your family.

-nanette

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When I got into my holiday fabric box I rediscovered a Christmas UFO. Funny how tucking a project away for a year changes perspective.
At first, I only slightly remembered making this little table topper last Christmas season. Then after looking at it I remember thinking it was "too busy" and didn't finish it. However, looking at it with fresh eyes, I decided I like it.
I still think it is busy but as a fan of most things busy I decided it wasn't overly so. I'm going to machine quilt it, bind it and finish it up for a gift. I do wish I had put a chimney on the house though. What is Santa going to do without a chimney?
I've been wanting to send my cousin in Florida something for the holidays and this little project may work out for that. It won't take long to finish. I'm pretty glad I didn't throw it away because I've been known to do things like that.

Hope your Thanksgiving week is going well.

-nanette

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I like to keep fabric that I've recently acquired, or fabric that is inspiring me at the moment out on my cutting table. I'm sure some of you do that too. Lori has a big vintage bowl on her cutting table where she places her latest inspirations. So I'm going to show you today what I have out to inspire me.
First of all I took my photos on this red gingham. It is more of a cherry pinky red. I love that color. It looks perfect with all my fabrics today. I really love gingham. It goes with everything I do. This little pretty pack of fat quarters came to me courtesy of Mel. Mel is a great gal I first encountered when we did the Christmas Cottage swap years back. I had the opportunity to really meet her the first time last week when we both taught at the event at Alpine Quilt Retreats. Isn't that fat quarter pack adorable? I love the twill tape it is all tied up with. So cute.
It is funny because all 3 of these fabrics are ones I've seen online but haven't encountered yet in a fabric store and all 3 are ones that I wanted to get. This first fat quarter is from the new Dear Betty by Darlene Zimmerman line. I really love all those fabrics but haven't seen them first hand. This aqua might be my favorite of that line.
Robert Kaufman really has some great new fabrics out and this one by Laurie Wisbrun is very cool. I am using this in my very next project, which is a quilt I'm going to make just for me.
I really like the colors used in these mixers. They are retro but hip. The pattern is a novelty kitchen fabric lovers dream. This is another Robert Kaufman print from the Metro Cafe line. Thank you so much Mel! I really love them all.
I have this thicker cotton weight fabric on my table because I can't put it away. It is just so me. You know I have a thing with strawberries and the use of scale and space on this piece is really perfect. This is a thrifted piece given to me by another friend. I'm going to use this in my next quilt too.

I have a very busy weekend ahead, as I'm sure everyone does. I need to Thanksgiving shop, try to finish a quilt, and most importantly my daughter and son-in-law from Oklahoma (Tracey and Eliot) come to visit for a week!. We are all very excited to see them. Have a nice weekend everyone.

-nanette

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I have my entryway set up with my favorite fall quilt that I usually hang at Thanksgiving. I really love that novelty print in the border. It is my VERY favorite vintage fabric. Front and center on the side board is my "Hall's" pitcher. Freda, my mom, had a few Hall's pieces that we used at Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and other holidays or when guests ate at our home. Seeing that fall dish pattern makes me almost smell turkey baking. I'm pretty excited to have all the family home at least for some or most of next week. That doesn't happen all that often anymore. It is a time to celebrate. We love Thanksgiving. Speaking of family..............I had to sneak one more pic of Allison in. Since she was at our house last week we have a bunch. That girl is on the move. You can see my little retro children's china hutch in the background.

-nanette

PS: I decided every quarter or so I have to get my Google Reader to 0. Yesterday was that day. Going into the holidays I know it will fill right up and I won't get it back to 0 until next year. Thanks blog friends for being patient with me.

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As I posted yesterday, I participated at a day event at Alpine Quilt Retreats last Friday. It was really a fun event and one I think we'll repeat in the spring. But I have to tell you how really lovely the rooms and accommodations are at Alpine Quilt Retreats. Every room is so incredibly lovely and filled with the most wonderful quilts.
This is my favorite bedroom. And it might be because I'm so in love with this quilt! Look how cute it is finished off at the peak and valley border/binding. I really love fans, especially 2 color fans. I've made a child's 2 color fan quilt before and loved making it. I don't know about you but I can't take my eye off this quilt. I want to sleep in this bed. This room has it's own fireplace too!
This is a shot of the white beds along the wall opposite the fireplace. The linens mix and match and the pillows are all very sweet. Syd has a great eye for color and design. The rooms couldn't be cuter.
This is my 2nd favorite room. Look at those beds! And mixed with the gingham pillow cases it makes for such vintage sweetness. Everywhere you look at this retreat destination you are met with inspiration and attention to detail.
I showed you the work room yesterday. It is a quilter's dream. Look at the tables all fabric covered with mixed prints.
There are vintage and new quilts stacked and accented as well as wonderful art. I didn't get photos of the fantastic (real) artwork on the walls.
There are ironing stations everywhere and track lighting in the work room. I really need to book a play weekend with friends.
Syd has design walls around the workroom. So perfect for progressing on a quilt.
The main floor kitchen has 2 dining rooms with fireplaces everywhere. Syd and Laura do the cooking or eat out. Laura teaches a cooking class as she makes dinner for retreaters. I think having a personal retreat chef sounds amazing. That is Syd with the camera. She's the hostess.

I know I'm slightly gushing but really, this is a perfect quilt vacation spot. I want to move in and sew. Don't you?

-nanette

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Friday was the Quilter's Harvest Event at Alpine Quilt Retreats. I think it was a big success and I had a wonderful time meeting new people and being with old friends.
My mini class was making button rings. These are super simple to make and is a great idea for Christmas.
Prep was pretty simple. I brought the ring findings, fabric and hardware to make covered buttons.
I also had clip and pin hardware in case the girls wanted to make something other than rings.
I brought lots of little bits of fabric to fussy cut.
Here is Shannon. I met Shannon when I taught my "Mixed Bag" class in Panguitch.
Here is Sandy. Sandy is a darling girl and she won my ticket give-a-way for the Quilter's Harvest retreat event. It was really great to meet her. She was a lot of fun.
Here we are in a flurry of activity making rings in the wonderful big room at Alpine Quilt Retreats.
Here is Rae Ann with the gals in the class.
The rings turned out so cute. Look at the great work tables, too.
All the women were very fun.
I loved seeing their finished projects. It makes me proud.
My class was only 1/2 hour but it was the perfect time to make 2 covered button objects.
I hope they all had a good time because I thought it went really well.
Rae Ann and Dianna finishing up their projects. It was a good day making fun things.
I zipped home in the afternoon to be with Allison. We were watching her for a few days. It is always fun to have her. Here is Chelsey holding Allison. Allison's hair courtesy of Laurie.

More on the mini retreat tomorrow.

-nanette

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Being At Lori's House the other day seeing all her wonderful vintage treasures reminded me that it has been a while since I've shown vintage on my fabric Fridays.
Kitchen prints are the most dear to my heart novelties and this one brings me right back to the Freda's kitchen I grew up in. I really love the color and whimsy of the cherries and strawberries. What would a vintage kitchen be without gingham?
This slightly more modern kitchen print shows the change in a graphics within a decade or so. It feels like a sheet.
Going back in time the cabbage rose was a staple of any vintage home. I love roses. I realize most of my florals center around roses.
Then stepping forward again is this 60's rose. Oh how I remember a rose dress with this sort of sketched rose print.

Busy today with my Quilter's Harvest at Alpine Quilt Retreats. I expect to be making some new friends.

-nanette

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My life is so full. I'm very blessed. I have a family, job, business, hobby and wonderful friends. I'm also very busy, but that comes with the territory of having a full life. My BFF Lori Holt is also an extremely busy girl with a full life. When we can make time together it is really fun.
Lori invited me for lunch and to spend a few hours with her in her home and studio. Here I am with camera in hand snapping away. Since most of you will never make it to Lori's home I had to take as many photos as possible, and there was so incredibly much to capture and show you.
I love Lori's china hutch. I could take any and all of it home with me. Hint to my family: If you want to know something to get me for Christmas, look above. Unfortunately you can't just walk into Target and buy these things. This is a collection of a lifetime.
Is that tulip bowl just the cutest? And look at the little girl figure. Sigh. So so cute.
I've been wanting a vintage canister set for a long time. I wonder if Lori locks her doors?...?....
Everywhere you look there is just such cute stuff. I loved just standing and walking around taking it all in. Note to family: WANT this vintage scale!
Lori just happened to walk into my camera lens as I snapped this picture. Look how she uses her quilts! I tend to fold mine up and tuck them away. Lori uses her quilts everywhere in her home. I need to do more of that. After all, isn't that the point? - using our quilts.
Lori's style is very cottage and very sweet. Her antiques are placed everywhere and I especially enjoyed looking at her dishes. I love dishes too.
Speaking of dishes - red and white definitely works for me. What a pretty collection.
Fiesta ware and pitchers - darling. Like I said, everywhere I looked I wanted to take a photo.
Her vintage child's chair doubles as a stool. Lori is so clever. I can learn so much from her.
Lori and I both made this basket quilt. Her family room shows more examples of her using her quilts. They are tucked here and there. Lori's studio is an organized wonder. She had so much to show me that I sorta forgot to take many photos and some of the photos that I did take didn't turn out.
I loved how Lori uses space and takes advantage of showing her collections.
Her cutting table is fabric and batting covered so she can iron and work on it with her cutting mat at one end.
More cutting table. So cute.
A large bowl sits on her cutting table with things she is getting ready to use or things that are inspiring her at that moment. The vintage bowl is lovely.
Here is another corner where usefulness, vintage design, and eye candy meet.
Lori's back yard is just a glance away from her studio and family room. While I was at Lori's house there was a very light sprinkle of snowflakes coming down. It made her yard look magical almost.
This is the quilt in Lori's entry. It is really beautiful. It makes me happy that Lori and I have so much in common. I have a dishes quilt too that I hang in my entry. This quilt above is Lori's design. It makes me want to go home and start making this quilt immediately. I want it.
This is the gift Lori gave me during our visit. It is a vintage heart box with sweet yellow roses on it. Adorable. And look at this fantastic feed sack underneath the box. Lori knows what I like. The feed sack is so sweet and it is in perfect condition.
With just Lori and me together there wasn't anyone to take our photo so we took the picture in the mirror in Lori's living room. We had such a lovely time together. Thank you so much Lori, for a wonderful time.

-nanette

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