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Cheddar Egg Drop

I just love what looks like a cheddar egg dropped right in the middle of the flower on today’s block. It gives the block such great charm. Are we looking down inside a tulip? Did they have tulips in 1854? That’s too difficult a question for this time of the morning.

The Bop Around The Bay begins today at three local quilt shops. The stores are open until 8 PM so I hope to visit them after work tonight. I’m working all day tomorrow so it’s tonight or bust.
I didn’t finish my charity block in time to have it voted on at the shop during the Bop but I’m happy with it. Now I wish I had yards and yards of the background fabric I used and a few yards of the pink Cherry Baby fabric wouldn’t be bad either. I didn’t have my Perfect Circles with me at work when I added the cherries but they didn’t turn out too bad just backbasting them.

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Enjoy today’s block -

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Sally Post Floral Sampler Block 9

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Flower Mix

This block is a great combination of ???
I’m not quite sure what this group of flowers represent. I do like the split color bud and windblown tulips Sally included.
You would think because I already have the antique quilt I’d have no desire to work with these blocks but each time I look at them I dream of color combinations and have purchased fabric twice. This could get very expensive before the end of May!

Some of you have asked why Blocks 1, 2 and 3 are still available when 4, 5, etc. are not. I decided to leave those first three blocks on the Sally Post Floral Sampler Block of the Month page because they were already there before I started the Applique in May celebration and thought they would be a nice bonus for someone who’s just starting to collect blocks.

Here’s today’s unusual flower mix-


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Sally Post Floral Sampler Block 8
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Today’s block reminds me of a wild rose in full bloom with a little bud off to the side. We’re a long way from seeing the wild roses here in Michigan but before long I’ll have beautiful pink ones along the shoreline. They’ve been there since I was a little girl. I sometimes wonder how they survive but they’re there year after year without fail.

Another gloomy day but I’m working on a block for charity quilts at a local quilt shop. We were challenged to use the Cherry Baby fabric line from Lakehouse. Did I piece a simple star? No, not me, I’m doing hand applique and today’s the deadline. I’ll take a picture of the block for you before I turn it in. The block is from a new pattern I’m working on.

I hope you have a great day and here’s Block 7


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Sally Post Floral Sampler Block 7
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I’m starting to retire blocks today except Block 4 which had some problems yesterday so if a link doesn’t work, you’ll know why.

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Applique in May Block 6

Looks like a gloomy day here in Traverse City. That makes it easier to go to work this morning and Clutch needs to recover from his hour and a half running around the woods yesterday while I did some raking and moved a few Trillium around.


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Trillium are protected wildflowers here in Michigan so I’m extra careful when spreading them around the woods. They multiply so at some point I hope to see those beautiful white blooms everywhere.

Here’s our block for today.

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Sally Post Floral Sampler Block 6
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Applique in May

Here we are on day 2 of “Applique in May”. It’s a rather Fall looking block today but it’s easy to tell what Sally was trying to represent in her quilt. Looks like oak leaves and the birds flying south to me. Did you notice the placement lines on yesterday’s block? They were a wonderful suggestion from one of you. I’ll be including them from now on. I really appreciate all of your comments and emails even if I can’t answer each one.
Clutch and I are heading back north today. It’s sunny and beautiful in Grand Rapids so I’m looking forward to seeing the sunlight sparkle on the lake when we arrive.

This is the 5th block from the quilt. If you’re just getting started, Blocks 1-3 are on the Sally Post Floral Sampler quilt page of the web site. If you scroll down, you’ll find Block 4 within yesterday’s note.


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Sally Post Floral Sampler Block 5
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Applique in May

It’s hard to believe it’s been over two weeks since I’ve posted but a lot of things have been sucking up my time.

It was a frustrating experience getting the internet service back online at the cottage. They kept trying to tell me it was our equipment and I kept trying to tell them it wasn’t. In the end, it was theirs! Once that was taken care of, I lost the internet service at the store. I really couldn’t complain since I was tapping in on an unsecured network at the hotel next door.

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We’ve also had another tree come down during a thunderstorm. This one on a Friday evening and landing across the driveway. It was a big monster and I had to work the next morning so there was a little panic in trying to fine someone on a Friday night to come over and cut up the tree. All ended well that night and I was able to get to work Saturday morning.

My grandmother passed away the following Thursday. She was 103. I was close to her growing up. We had lunch at Herpolsheimer’s Tea Room almost every Saturday and then went shopping. She was always ready to lend a hand. Scrubbing my first house from top to bottom and peeling apples every year when I froze applesauce, corn, green beans or whatever. She bought my china when I got married and lent money to our struggling young family when our furnace needed to be replaced and we were still paying hospital bills from the birth of our son. It was difficult being in Traverse City with all of the funeral arrangements in Grand Rapids.

I drove home on the first to take my Mom to the doctor for a physical and check up for me. Seems like she fared better than I did. No tests lined up for her but I’ve got a blood test on Monday and then a chest x-ray and MRI in the next week or so. I’ll have to come back to Grand Rapids for that but guess it’s time to really find out why my arm keeps going numb. It makes it tough to even brush your teeth not to mention stitching.

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Sally Post Sampler Block 4
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Now for happier things - today is my 30th wedding anniversary and as I said in the newsletter I hope everyone received, I thought it would be fun to have 30 days of applique in honor of the anniversary. We can all get a jump on the blocks for the Sally Post Floral Sampler quilt. They are small enough to make a great hand project for the summer. I’ve seen some of your blocks and they are so beautiful! I’m going to get working on the gallery so they can be shared with everyone. It’s wonderful inspiration. If anyone has pictures of projects from the site they’d like to share, please email them to me. I’ll get them online.

There will be one block from the quilt each day for the next 30 days. I’ll leave each one up for 24 hours because we’re working with so many time zones. I’ll allow some extra time for the first two posted so everyone has time to get in the routine of visiting the site to pick up their pattern. Each day on the front page of the web site within that day’s post you’ll see a picture of the block for that day. Click on the block name under the picture and the pattern file will open for you to print or save.

I’m back on the road tomorrow to Traverse City and Rob celebrates his birthday. How many people can say they were born on 5-5-55?
I’ve lots more to share but everyone is outside enjoying the weather without me so it’ll have to wait.

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On The Road Again

On the road again
Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway
We’re the best of friends
Insisting that the world be turnin’ our way
And our way
Is on the road again
Just can’t wait to get on the road again
The life I love is makin’ music with my friends
And I can’t wait to get on the road again

That was a family favorite as we traveled the United States for a few summers with a group of six families all in our motor homes and campers. I can’t help but think of it as we all leave here for destinations from Elkhart to Belgium. What a bank of sisters we are.

I don’t have much time this morning for sharing stories and photos. I’ll stop in Grand Rapids to pick up Clutch and then it’s on to Traverse City. SPECIAL NOTE: I won’t have internet service until Monday night so please don’t worry when the Midget Block is late and you don’t hear from he.


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I’ve been participating in a 3″ block exchange the last two retreats and these are the blocks I handed out this time. Each one had a significant meaning this time. The tree in the snow if for my struggles getting in the driveway this spring. The blue basket is for all of the things I’ve hauled between Grand Rapids, Traverse City, the rented house and back to the cottage again. The polka dot heart is for the holes in my heart when I’m away from my friends. The pink and brown Crazy Rails is for feeling like a crazy woman half of the time and riding a rail to I don’t know where! The Wild Goose Chase strip as I call it is because I’m usually running around day and night not always knowing what’s coming next. The last is my signature block for everyone and I made it from 1930s fabrics because that best reflects my favorite fabrics.

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These are the fabrics I’m using for the first section in the Shipshewana Amish Mystery Quilt. The photo doesn’t reflect the true colors as I see them so I may give swatches to Paul and have him professionally photograph them so you can print off a chart.



The email system yesterday had a few glitches and it would have been nice if I’d thought about putting a link to the web page in there. I’ll get the hang of this yet. Right now I need to finish packing and say some tearful goodbyes to wonderful friends and begin my travels home. I can’t wait until Clutch sees his now giant polka dot minky blanket!

Say a prayer for me that the pump takes its prime on the first try and the hot water heater lights in a snap. If not, pray for a clear path to the shore so I can get buckets of water to at least flush the toilet.

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Saturday Blues

We all have a tough time today knowing it’s the last day of the retreat. Several of us had a lovely dinner at the Blue Gate before Show and Tell last night with Rebecca Haarer, whose shop you’ve seen pictured here several times, and Jeanette Yoder from Yoder’s Department Store. We had so much fun we’ve decided it should be an “every retreat” event.

I’m going out this morning to make a final decision on the background fabric for the Shipshewana Amish Quilt. Now don’t go running out to the store just yet. I haven’t decided if I’m going to use all of the fabrics listed below but you can print the pattern for the first section today.

I have chosen mostly Kona solids and purchased 1/4 yard pieces of:

  • Teal Blue
  • Cadet
  • Burgundy
  • Windsor
  • Sage
  • Spruce
  • Bayou
  • Crimson
  • Rich Red
  • Brown
  • Indigo
  • Coal
  • Charcoal
  • Ash
  • Espresso
  • Brown
  • Dark Teal
  • Hunter Green
  • Mahogany
  • Indigo

Some of yesterday’s highlights:

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Eye candy in the windows of Lolly’s Home Store.

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Eye candy in the windows of Lolly’s Home Store.

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There have been lots of ladies fishing in Lolly’s fat quarter boat.

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Here’s my catch from yesterday!

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Everything from fish to Santa Claus

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Some beautiful neutral color batiks from Yoder’s Department Store where I’ve been getting my solid colors for the Amish quilt.

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Feedsacks from our exchange



I have done quite a bit of sewing while I’ve been here. I made thirty six 3″ blocks for a block exchange, a few midgets and a new blanket for Clutch. Pictures to come………

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Good Morning, or should I say nearly afternoon. I stayed up way too late last night and it’s nearly 11am. I have one block set of my 3″ exchange squares (remember those from the last retreat) to finish and I’m not going to leave the building until they’re done. Despite my occasional appearance of chaos I do take my commitments very seriously and besides those blocks are too darn cute. No pictures this morning but I give you an update either later tonight and in the morning. It’s supposed to be 67 degrees here but with really strong gusty winds. I put on my hairspray helmet but am really not worried about having a bad hair day. Too much fabric to think about. I have my shopping list of necessities (wants would be a better description) and after several discussions on the appropriate colors for the Shipshewana Amish Mystery quilt, I think we’ve finally come to a consensus on the background choice. I know I said it would be black but we’re talking Indiana Amish her so we have to step outside our comfort zone and look at the world through their eyes. I have been keeping a list of the color names I’m selecting for the project. They are all Kona Cottons which I won’t be happy appliquéing with but I wanted to be consistent in an available line of fabric for everyone in case you have pieces in your stash or don’t want to purchase a kit.

There have been a few 3 am sewing nights and I’ve seen some of the cutest Sew So Easy Schlep Bags coming together. My friend Nancee made one she wasn’t too sure she liked but we all thought is was really cool. I’ll see if she’ll let me take a picture of it. She had a diamond fabric for the bottom section and worked really hard making the shapes come together nicely. I have my two quilts for show and tell in a Sew So Easy Bag. How cool is that? Two bed size quilts fit in one.

Gotta go.

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Sorry this has to be such a short note this morning but it’s already 9:30 am and I’ve got places to go and people to see. One of the things on my list is to put together the first installment of the Shipshewana Amish Mystery quilt. I’ll upload it later today.

There have been a few changes around here. A new water park and visitors center have opened. Never thought I’d see the day when a water park would be here but here it is!


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I couldn’t resist stopping to watch (and listen) to the chickens and roosters running around this Amish family’s farm, right on a major highway.

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I spent a lot of time at Lolly’s. What a feast for the eyes. If you can’t put fabrics together for a quilt there - no problem! Check out just some of the beautiful kits they have. You too can have a little piece of Shipshewana with just a phone call and the swipe of a debit/credit card. Since I’m not dressed yet I don’t want any of you calling there before I drive over and pick up the kits I can’t live without.

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Beautiful batiks!

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Hot summer colors!

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Cool in the country!

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Seasonal serenity!

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Thimbleberries and Layer Cakes!

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Patriotic pride!

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Baby days!

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Glowing butterflies!

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Carolyn’s Creative Designs

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The food market!
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Civil War

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Wonderful wool!

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Mary Englebreit - too cute!
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Dimensional pinwheels and little flowers!

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You will not find a nicer family owned quilt shop than Lolly’s Fabrics. Kris does a fantastic job or choosing fabrics, putting together beautiful display and kitting the most wonderful designs in sizes we can all accomplish and be proud of. All of this while raising 5 wonderful children and giving back to the community in a multitude of ways. She had good teachers. Her parents, Alvin and Elsie Miller work tirelessly to make the Davis Mercantile a place where there is something for the entire family if you come to visit Shipshewana. For all of that and more, we are grateful beyond words.

So much for a short note!

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