Runaway Quilter's

Yes, that's right. I ran away from home and quilted! I posted about it here before I left.


I was supposed to post my Dazzling Dessert on the 20th of September. However, things changed. I decided to "runaway" instead. I'm sure Holly told you how she couldn't find me. She sent out the quilt police!
**Edit: I sent Holly an e-mail telling her that I would be out of town the day she scheduled me to post about the dessert. She accidentally overlooked the e-mail, so she called me and asked me to do it another day. :)**

After a few days of searching. the quilt police turned me in. There I was in the hills of Kentucky quilting to my heart's content. Holly assured me that everything was okay. She was just glad that I was safe and doing something fun. Holly said I could post my dessert on the 27th. She thought it would be fun for me to give you more information about the retreat and the teachers that teach.

As I said before, the retreat is held at a Convent. It is still a convent, but it also has Mount St. Joseph Convention and Retreat Center.


Runaway Quilters started out as a "teaching" retreat. The purpose was to teach people methods and ideas on how to go back to their Guilds to teach others about quilting. Now it is just for fun and enjoyment for the 120 quilters that come every year.

The teachers that teach at Runaway are either quilt shop owners, teachers in their guilds, or home extension agents. I have taught at Runaway several times. It is a very rewarding experience, especially when your students bring their finished projects to show and tell the next year.

The retreat has classes all day Wednesday and Thursday, and half-day classes on Friday. If you choose not to take a class you can Sit and Sew on your own project. I prefer to take a class, but that's just me. I meet more people that way.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner is served by the wonderful cooking staff at the center. This makes it so nice: no cleaning, no cooking. You truly feel like you are "running away".

So, now that I have told you a little bit more about Runaway Quilters, I will show you what classes I took.


This is Betty Cummings. She owns a fantastic quilt shop in the quaint little town of Boonville, Indiana. which is 20 minutes from Evansville, IN. I have been shopping with Betty for the past 11 years. We have become great friends while helping me choose fabrics for quilts. I have learned so much from her. She will be updating her website soon. Her husband no longer has the tearoom, but he did make a cookbook with his fabulous recipes. My favorite dessert was his Italian Cream Cake, which is what I chose for my dessert for Holly's blogable feast!

The quilt Betty and I are holding is Cottage Flower from Thimbleberries. Betty had this quilt on display in her booth when she was a vendor at a quilting event. She had kits, so I bought one. When I saw she was offering this as a class, I was excited because I didn't have to go out and buy anything!

Here are my friends, Mari Lynn, and Dawn and Marilyn (mother and daughter).





The other class I took was "Trail Mix". This is a Mabeth Oxenrider design. You may know Mabeth as a quilt designer for American Patchwork and Quilting This design was in the magazine, and then she made it into a pattern.

My friend, Jean Shaw, taught this quilt. Jean has been teaching at Runaway for the past 11 years. She is the former owner of The Quilter's Attic in Goodlettsville, TN.

Here are Terry and me sewing away on our little trails.

The following are quilts that have been taught at past Runaway Quilter's.

This is Monterry Medallion taught by Jean Shaw, made and quilted by Terry.



This is Wedding March. This was taught, made, and quilted by Terry.


This is Triangle Parade. Terry did this as a mystery quilt. Terry made and quilted this quilt.

I truly had a fun time at Runaway Quilters. We did, as we always do, stay up late and sew. After I got home I felt like I needed a vacation from my vacation, but it was great fun.

Be sure to read my next post about my Delicious Dessert. It's quick, easy, and tastes great.

My Dazzling Dessert

Thanks to Holly for hosting this blogable feast!

I'm not a designer like most of the other bloggers who are participating, but I love fabric and I love quilting. Thank you to those of you who are a fabric designer, pattern designer, and quilt shop owner who help me to make beautiful quilts to decorate my home, keep my family warm, and help to keep my creative mind busy!

My dessert recipe comes from the December 1999 issue of Southern Living Magazine. My favorite quilt shop, The Village Mercantile, is a quilt shop downstairs, and an adorable tea room upstairs. My favorite dessert there is the Italian Cream Cake. It is truly a 3-layer delight! When I was this recipe in the magazine, I just had to try it! Sure enough, it tastes just as good as the tearoom's! I make it when I invite my quilting friends over for my annual Christmas Fat Quarter Exchange. A Christmas Fat Quarter Exchange??? I'll blog about that in another post, soon so you can host one for you and your friends.

Quick Italian Cream Cake

Taken from "Southern Living Magazine", December 1999.

The article is "Holiday Cakes in Less Time".

1 (8.5 ounce) package white cake mix (Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe)

3 large eggs

1 1/4 cups buttermilk

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 (3 1/2) ounce flaked coconut

3 Tablespoons rum (optional)

2/3 cup pecans,toasted

Cream Cheese Frosting

Beat first 4 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer for 2 minutes. Stir in coconut and pecans. Pour batter into 3 greased and floured 9-inch round cake pans.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15-17 minutes or until a wooden pick comes out clean. Cool pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks. Sprinkle layers evenly with rum, if desired; let stand 10 minutes. Spread frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake. Chill 2 hours before slicing. This makes 1 (3 layer) cake.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened

1 (16 ounce) package powdered sugar

1 cup chopped pecans

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Beat cream cheese and butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Stir in pecans and vanilla. This makes 4 cups.

My project that I am currently working on is a fall leaf quilt, Turning Leaves, from the 2002 issue of Quiltmaker Magazine. I love the Fall season, but I don't have a lot of Fall quilts. I saw this, and thought it would be perfect with my collection of batik fabrics. If you love the pattern you can buy it here.

In choosing fabrics you must have a lot of contrast between the lights and darks or your leaves will fade away. It's easier if you coordinate your lights and darks first. For example, each dark fabric needs a light fabric that looks good with it and contrasts.

After I fuse and cut my leaves, I then applique the light one to the dark contrasting fabric, and the dark one to the light contrasting fabric.




Since I am working with so many fall colors, I decided to choose a variegated fall themed thread to use for my button hole applique.



After I applique them, I cut them apart and sew the dark half to the light half.

Here are some of the combinations of lights and darks that I chose. I have already cut them apart and sewn them back together again, but I guess I forgot to shoot their picture! Oh well! The top will be finished, soon.

Until then, I hope you enjoy this quilt that I made to celebrate both of my daughter's birthdays. I hang it up during the week of their birthday. The pattern is called " Shopping's Done! Gift's Wrapped!" by Piece of my Heart pattern company.




Each present is wrapped with luxurious fabric from Holly that I bought at Tammy Tadd's booth when I first discovered her at booth at the AQS quilt show in Nashville a few years ago.

Thanks for visiting my blog!

Off and Running Away!

Yes, that's right...I'm running away to my favortie quilting retreat, Runaway Quilters. Three of my friends host this event every year, and have for the past 21 years. People from Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Missouri, Georgia, Alabama, come to take quilting classes, relax, and have a great time.

Runaway Quilters is held at a Convent in the rolling hills of Kentucky. I love it because I don't have to travel far, and it is so peaceful and beautiful there. It's fun to sew with my friends, to see friends I have made, and to make new friends.



Part of the fun, too, is that my friends and I sleep in a dorm. It's one big room with 12 beds. It's like one big slumber party! We all bring a quilt to cover our bed. Here's mine. It's a Turning Twenty made with novelty prints of sewing notions.



I found this cute print of women who love to sew. Terry and I had fun trying to figure out which of the characters looked like our friends. We laughed when we saw this one. It looks just like Terry and me. Terry is the one with the pony tail and a lime green shirt. There's me with a pink dress on, a coffee cup, and dark curly hair.



Along with my quilt that I made, I also made a pillow case, and I borrowed a cute little flower pillow from my daughter.



And, since we are in all one big room together, and we have been known to wander outside of our dorm to socialize or do some late night sewing, cute pajamas are a must have! I just love the pale pink leopard print.

When I get back, I'll show you what classes I took, and of course, pictures.

Dessert Time!

Starting today you can go to Holly's blog to find out who's dazzling Delicious dessert is posted on their blog today. You better go check it out! It looks great.

You will also get some eye candy, too, when you see what her latest project is.

Have a great weekend!

A Dozen Delecious Dazzling Desserts

This is so exciting! Holly Holderman of Lakehouse Drygoods invited me to be a part of her Blogable Feast. She has asked 12 quilt related bloggers to post their favorite dessert, and the project they are currently working on. How fun is that??? This will be great for you because not only will you get recipes for twelve delicious desserts, you will also get to see new ideas, and be inspired to make a quilt or two!

This is how it will work...Starting September 14, go to Holly's blog. She will tell you whose blog to visit that day to get a Dazzling Delecious Dessert recipe. Each person is to post photos of their dessert, the recipe, and photos of what they are working on whether it be a quilt, a new fabric line, or some other exciting quilting idea.

Let the fun begin! As Holly says, "It's all about the food." Yummmmm.

Blogable Feast

You may have noticed this cute little button on my sidebar and said to yourself, "Hmmm. I wonder what that's all about?" Well, you will soon be finding out. Let's just say there will be lots of great ideas, wonderful things to eat, and so much more.

Let the fun begin!

Apron Day at Quilt Guild

I have been a member of my local Quilt Guild for the past 11 years. Out of those 11 years I have been a director(advisor) for two years, the Program Chairperson (coordinates a monthly workshop, and other fun stuff)for 2 years, and secretary for 1 year. I have been the chairperson of 2 quilt shows (my third one is coming up in June 2008), and I have chaired two large events called "Quilter's Day Out" in honor of National Quilting Day, which is the third Saturday in March.

The past two years, however, have been the most rewarding and most exciting for me serving as President. Talk about fun! We have 160 of the most talented, creative, intelligent women that I have ever met (and then there are all of you guys in blogland). Yesterday was my last full meeting to be President. Yesterday was the last time they will hear me say, "Meeting Adjourned".

I had to go out with a bang. I had to let my last day be memorable for me, as well as for my members. At the August business meeting I told them to bring or wear their favorite apron. They just sat and stared at me. I don't think some of them knew that aprons are making a huge comeback as something to make, something to wear, or even something to collect.

Well, yesterday they surprised me. The response was so exciting. They shared their aprons, their stories, and they loved showing them off. It brought back a lot of memories of their mothers, grandmothers, and even wedding presents from 50 years ago!


Here is a picture of mine (pink) and Anna Ruth's aprons. She saw mine, and said it was like hers! Sure enough, the stitches are almost the same. Her apron was her Mom's, and my apron was my Mom's. The stitching on them is almost just alike. We laughed and said that it was probably in a magazine or something.



At our guild meetings we always have a devotional before the meeting starts. Doris was supposed to do the devotional, but Joyce did it instead. She wore her fancy, frilly apron. We call her Miss Fashion because she always dresses so cute and quilty! Anyway, her devotional set the mood for the entire meeting. She read a poem about aprons, mom's, and grandmothers.



Nell is my Vice President. Her mother recently passed away, and while she was going through her mother's belongings, she found a lot of aprons. She had mentioned that she did a presentation of her Mom's apron collection at a Homemaker's meeting. I told her I thought that would be fun to do for the Guild. Here I am getting my picture made with Nell while she is giving her presentation. The apron she has on won first place in the county fair; the judge (a man) was impressed with all of the bias tape trim. How funny is that?



One of my favorite aprons was this one with the appliqued cherries.




While going through her mother's apron collection, she also found a pattern for an apron out of newspaper print. Terry is holding up the apron Nell's mom made with the pattern. Angela has on the same apron. It was one that someone made for her as a wedding present 50 years ago.

I will miss being President. However, I am looking forward to a new person being in charge to see what fun and exciting ideas she has for our Guild. Change is good, and one that I hope everyone will accept. I have them spoiled rotten, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I love them all.

Woo Hoo!! Nashville was so Much Fun!!!

My trip to Nashville to the American Quilter's Society Quilt Show was so much fun. I went with about 40 ladies on a bus that we chartered. When everyone saw the bags I brought in for Terry and me they thought that either I was planning to move there, or buy the place out. Well, I didn't move there (wish I could), but my bag was overflowing just a little. Thank God the sewing machine is being shipped by UPS!



The first booth Terry and I visited was Tammy Tadd's. Isn't she beautiful? And she's so sweet! Terry and I called the girls that worked for her the "Woo Hoo Girls". Every time we visited their booth (about 4 times) they would holler "Woo Hoo"! They are so fun. I have always loved Tammy's booth, but since I feel like I "know" her now, I love it even more. I didn't think that could be possible! I guess you could say my first visit to her booth was a "meet, greet, and take our picture".

My second trip to Tammy's booth was to buy this gorgeous fabric from Holly and the purse pattern on the left.







The other two patterns I bought because I love Snowmen and the quilt pattern will work so well with the "Tickled Pink" (Robyn Pandolf) fabric I bought in the next picture. I already have 7 yards of the large pink floral in the Tickled Pink that I bought at Hobby Lobby for $4 a yard. It's one of those fabrics that I love, and had to have, but didn't know what to do with it. I think the pink floral will be so pretty down the two sides, with all of the fat quarters for the rest of the blocks. I had that "ah ah! moment" while I was all alone in my sewing room, which doesn't happen very often these days.






I bought this adorable Christmas Table Runner kit. Pieces of My Heart makes such adorable patterns and I just love Sandy Gervais's Holly Jolly fabric collection.




I can't go to a quilt show and not buy gadgets. The first one is a scallop maker. Terry and I watched the demo last year, got distracted (I think it was a cat quilt from another booth) and forgot to go back to get the scallop maker. We regreted that. I don't know why because neither one of us made a quilt where a scallop maker was needed, but now we have one for "just in case!"

Don't ask me why I bought the yo-yo maker. I think it is because the girls over in Pat Sloans group were talking about it. I dreamed about it one night, and I guess I thought that I really needed one. Pat says we do, so now I am ready to add yo-yo flowers to my creations.

Pat likes beading, too. However, I think she sews most of her beads on. Terry and I found this really cool gadget where you take little beads, put this heat thing on it, and the beads stick FOREVER. Sparkly quilts: Here I come!!!




My third trip to Tammy's booth was to buy fabric for my daughter, Julia, to make a pillow in her fashion and design class. She said she would be happy with fabric at Walmart, but I told her if I bought fabric of Holly's at Tammy's booth it would be unlike anyone in her class! She is going to make two pillows for her bed.

I thought since one of the requirements for her class was to have a sewing machine available to her at home I should buy her this cute Janome. I have 6 sewing machines, including first one I ever had, but I thought she would like her own. I even bought a 1/4 inch foot just in case she wants to make a quilt some day. Who knows?




I ran into my friend, Judy, while she was eating an ice cream cone. This really isn't a very good picture of me because I was laughing too hard. I was teasing Judy about being a quilting celebrity. She has her first book out. I am so happy for her!

My fourth, and final trip, to Tammy's booth was to hug her good-bye. Terry and I were the last ones on the bus, which is the way it always is. We can never have too much fun, fabric, or (for some odd reason) sewing machines.

Why didn't I think of that???

Uggh! I have my post all ready to talk about my trip to Nashville, but blogger isn't uploading my pictures! I'll work on that later.

Oh well. My friend, Judy, has blogger and her pictures are showing up just great. Today she has a wonderful tip that she has shared with everyone about fanning seams so your seams aren't bulky.

Go check it out, and have a wonderful Labor Day!