Vacation Part II

41 comments
I know for sure yesterday's vacation saga left you wanting right at the stitching part. A cliff hanger, right!
Well we had 3 days more or less of hand work together. Every year the gals get together to make something. I think this year was the most successful yet. We are gathered in the cook house where we ate our meals and spent lots of time together.If you remember I made table runners to give sisters/nieces at the ranch. Stitching day one had me teaching/reteaching hand stitching the binding to the back of the table runners. I had the runners all done except for that very last step. Left to right holding their table runners are sisters Michelle, Polly, and nieces Tricia and Tana. I don't know where my sister Teri was for this picture. The girls stood on the bench to model their runners. Tana's runner is a cheater cloth version from Jennifer Paganelli's new line of fabric. I just followed the hexagons and machine quilted it. I think I want an entire quilt made like that. I really like Jennifer's new fabric but I can't decide which color way to make it in.
Teri is back for the sister picture. Left to right Teri, me, Polly and Michelle. I was really happy that the runners went over so well and everyone liked them. They were very fun to make.I also made Michelle a cowboy themed table topper. It only turned out so-so I thought. I tried a new stitch for machine quilting and wasn't too happy with it. It was just "ok".When I saw Elizabeth's Pears Tutorial last month I knew it was the perfect project to take to the ranch with me. So before I left I prepped the towels. I used different fabrics to dress up the plain flour sack towels. I just sewed a strip of fabric across the width close to the bottom of the towel. Some of the towels I added a line of rick rack. This went really fast and I think I ended up taking a dozen flour sack towels.
Here is Michelle with her first pears all hand appliqued. You can't really see the yellow rick rack with the red dot very well. Kind of PamKitty colors.This is Michelle's 2nd towel she finished. She used Elizabeth's quick fuse method to make her 2nd towel.
Not a great picture (sorry Polly) of one of Polly's towels. I think this was taken before we pressed it.
Here is Polly's other towel. Super cute. And she did such a nice job. I was so proud of her since she doesn't sew.
Here is Tana's towel with pears. Tana was working on some embroidery on her other towel. I didn't get a picture of that one. Tana is always smiling. I don't know how I got a picture without a big grin.Here is Tricia's towel. She used Snippet's fabric. I brought fabric for everyone to pick out their own pears. This orange turned out so so cute.Ooops. Another not so good picture. Sorry. This is my sister Teri. She enlarged some cherries in my Pink Book to applique. I thought they turned out really darling.
She coordinated them with her table runner. Recently Teri remodeled her kitchen and it is beautiful. These will really be lovely in the new kitchen.
Among other projects I took for myself to work on was this applique/stitching. I went a little different direction for some variety. I used Lori Holt's Grandma's Kitchen pattern and hand appliqued the lemon juicer with some detail embroidery. It was so fun.
Then I picked a relatively simple layered applique out of my . . .
Sunbonnet Sue book and I appliqued a towel for myself. I need to take a class in layered applique. This went ok but I want to get better at it. If you look closely you can see I really didn't get her feet in the right place to make sense with the rest of her body. She looks like she may be falling backwards. But I really want to make a whole Sue Quilt so I have to get better at this.

Shelbie made a really cute towel with appliqued apples (Shelbie I don't have that picture-you must post it) and Natalie was working on her cactus blocks.

It is always fun to learn new skills and share skills. I had fun teaching beginning applique to my sisters and nieces. Next year we are going to make my Doll House Potholders and I'm going to teach them beginning machine quilting. I can't wait!

Happy Birthday today to Mr. Hive. July 15!

-nanette
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41 comments

Annette said...

What a fun family get-together. The towels are darling! And the runners as well. I think you do very well at applique. Your little bonnet girl is so cute.

Kim Walus said...

I'm glad you, your sisters, and nieces are having such a great time sewing together. What wonderful memories for all of you. The scenery looks pieceful and rejuvenating. When do you come home? I need to talk to you about next week. Call me.

PamKittyMorning said...

That looks like so much fun. All the towels turned out so cute. You always have fun Nanette!
Love the little SBSue book there, I'm not a Sue fan but even that book tempted me.

*karendianne. said...

Oh Nanette, you've created such a special memory here. I love it. It's something right out of a Storybook. How wonderful for you to share this with us, these very treasured moments. I've said it before, I'll say it again - I love your creativity. I especially enjoy and love how you reach out and share it with everyone, the World! Bless you. :)

Ulla said...

Sounds like you all had a lovely and productive time together!

Michaela said...

Polly's Pears are adorable!

Mushyhed said...

Can I be your adopted Asian niece and join in all this fun? Love, love, love all this great eye candy!

Cathi said...

What a wonderful time you all had -- and what fabulous photos to have for a keepsake!

Betsy said...

Nanette what beautiful creations. Today is my sons birthday too.

Rumi said...

Looks like a fun time was had by all!

Martha said...

Thanks for sharing all the pictures. We love Wyoming. My son and DIL graduated from UofW and law school in Laramie. What a fun week for you and your sisters.

Dionne said...

What a fun family get together! You are so very blessed with such wonderful sisters, they are lucky to have you. I LOVE the runners!

Sherri said...

Looks like sew much fun...love the show and tells...and I'm going to have to make those pear dishtowels!

Jane's Fabrics and Quilts said...

Happy Birthday to Mr. Hive!!
It looks as if that was such fun for all. What a perfect vacation, loved ones, food, quilting, and fresh air! sign me up!!

pratima said...

Wow, so many cute projects. what a fun gathering! It is so nice that you do it every year :)
Those pears look very tempting! Love your sweet sue. A quilt full of them would be really cute.
A very Happy Birthday to Mr.Hive :D
Have a lovely day!

Candace said...

What fun!!! Fishing and fabric - doesn't get any better than that, Nanette! I love the cottage house table runners - you're giving me ideas!!
Cheers!

Calamity Jane's Cottage, Bonnie said...

First, Happy Birthday Mr. Hive!!!
Nanette you and your family had to had the best time. What a great place to get together and enjoy each others company. Better start cutting those kits for the potholders.
Keep Stitchen'
Bonnie

Micki said...

Glad that you are having such a wonderful time and thanks for sharing it all with us!
Micki

Carrie P. said...

How much fun!! You and your sisters are all so cute. Thanks for all the show and tell and the link.

Kaaren said...

What fun! And what wonderful keepsakes for a perfect vacation.

Thanks for sharing, Nanette.

Happy birthday, Mr. Hive!

Eileen said...

All of the handiwork is just beautiful. And you sisters and nieces.. if you are all reading these comments.. I have to say you are all such a LOVELY group of gals.
Nanette.. you did a great job teaching the hand appliqué. Hope your family appreciates you as much as we do. :-)
Happy Birthday Mr Hive! Bee Happy!

Dawn said...

It looks like everyone had a great time stitching. What a great project!! Love those pears. I'm going to have to make some myself!!

Pat said...

LOVED looking at these photos. And...I think Sue looks fine....never realized about the placement of her feet until you mentioned it. I think it just looks like her dress caught a breeze and was starting to blow up in front of her!

Anonymous said...

V. here... What a wonderful time to share your talents with relatives. A reunion and retreat combined at a beautiful place. I loved seeing all the towel appliques. Your house table runners are great. I 've got to try your house tutorial. My list of to-do is so long. v

Nedra said...

Tell Dave I say Happy Birthday!
It looks like you had so much fun with your sisters. I agree, the tea towels is a perfect project. I especially love the Lori Holt design with the lemon. Great job on the table runners too!

Mimi Sue said...

Happy Birthday to Mr. Hive. Those towels are so cute. I've been wanting a simple little project. You guys are so lucky to have that big place to have fun. Mimi

Cheryl said...

Such great memories and so many wonderful projects.

Cheryl said...

Such great memories and so many wonderful projects.

Lori Holt said...

Hi Nanette-
YAY- your back and you had a great time....I loved seeing all of you stitching away...how fun, everything turned out so cute.
It was fun to see the juicer and lemon on your towel.
Your back and now I'm leaving!
I leave friday and come back after the 24th.
I'm still planning to get together in August...how about you?
Lori

Unknown said...

You all had so much fun and were so productive. Now that is a vacation. Beautiful land and wonderful, plus sewing to boot!! Happy Birthday Mr. Hive!!

Anonymous said...

It sounds like you had a wonderful trip! Star Valley has to be one of the most beautiful places on the planet - and to quilt in Star Valley! Well, that's a dream vacation for sure! Lucky you!! Glad you're back! xo, The Other Nanette

Little Lady Patchwork said...

Look like you guys had a great time together!

The tea towels are my favorite!

Jan said...

Ohhhhhhh what a wonderful family get together! It's obvious you all made yourselves some "beautiful memories" along w/all those "beautiful towels!"

Momoo said...

Looks like you had a great vacation and even got some sewing done. Family vacations are the best.

dotti white said...

I love the way that you create the beautiful items together. Love, love, love that way of working as a family!

strawberrycream39 said...

Nanette, can I join your family? I mean, I love mine, but maybe just as a side thing? LOL Looks like lots of fun and everyone's runners and towels are just gorgeous. You look beautiful too!

Browndirtcottage said...

Oh wahhh....can I be adopted...you gals surely had sooo much fun with all the stitching. Everyones towels are just darling...and your
table runners just turned out w-a-y
too cute!

Red Geranium Cottage said...

What a fun time. I love all of the projects you girls finished. Your little houses are always sooo cute and I love them in a tablerunner.

Red Geranium Cottage said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the king of the HIVE!!!

Di~ said...

Everything and everyone looks so fun. I think it is awesome that you get together with your family every year. I loved seeing your photos, thanks for sharing it all!

Elizabeth said...

I've been away too long!! Those towels all turned out so great--loved seeing them!