Wisconsin!

I have been so busy running all over to be sure to see everything, I haven't taken many photos or posted on the blog. Mr Wazoo has been quilting up a storm at home and finished all the work I left for him to do. He told me last night that he will be in the yard today. Must be true, as my morning phone call went to the voice mail box! Good for him.
I got here at 9:30 Monday, and left my sister's by 10 AM to go to DeForest and see my friend from high school. We had a wonderful time. She drove me to Lodi, then to Baraboo (home of the Ringling brothers circus) to fabric shops and an antique store. I added to my stash, and also scored a 1940s Dresden Plate quilt with only minor damage. I'll need to replace two blades, but otherwise, it is pristine! The back has some light stains, but no holes! When I get a good photo, I'll post it.
We rode the Merrimac ferry across the Wisconsin River, stopped briefly at Devil's Lake State park, and to a wonderful store in the Dells called the Red Shed. It was closing time there, so I went back with Marcia the next day and bought Mr Wazoo a kinetic garden sculpture. (Also, pictures later...)
I spent a day with my son, his wife, and Grandsons, and we had fun looking around Madison and going out for Thai food. The next day, I went to my daughter's volleyball match (they won!) and met her friends there.
Back to my sister's for a fabric shop hop to three stores, to Farm and Fleet for the Alfred Dunner clothing sale, then to Woodmans for Madiera wine. I use it for cooking and haven't been able to get it in GA.

Having fun with Marcia on the ferry.

Geezer selfie...why do I always look stupid in selfies!?

The river is really high. Wisconsin has had a huge amount of rainfall this summer.

The name of the ferry...Colsac III

My sister's house. I got stopped in DeForest by a cop who thought I acted suspicious at a stop sign. I had sat there a few minutes because my GPS took my down a cut de sac! I fixed the GPS and took off, and was lit up immediately after turning the corner. One time being an old lady paid off. I told him I was lost and he became very helpful, getting me to the highway and back to Janesville. At least I didn't get a ticket for being suspicious!

At the Red Shed, they also had these Christmas ornaments made from yo-yos and buttons. I thought I could make some for the boutique! Wow! I sure won't charge $4!

In Madison, I went to a quilt shop called Blue Bar Quilts. It is a big, well lit, fabulous shop! Loads of more modern fabrics there, as well as a sale room for quilt related items, a big classroom, and a gallery hall with traveling quilt collections rotated every couple of months. 

The gallery, with Olympic quilts on display.

Three courts of volleyball in full swing.

Then, this happened! A bunny got in somehow, and stopped all the action for ten minutes while the ref chased it all over and finally out a gate. It was the highlight of the night when it ran to freedom, raising a big cheer from the crowd in the bar. Gotta love Wisconsin!!

I had a wonderful time with my HS friends at lunch in Monona on Wednesday. We laughed and chatted for  a few hours, then said our good-byes and see you on Facebook!

Today, I'm off to the west side of Madison to meet my son and go to the huge sunflower field. Later, we're going to Whitewater to have fish fry at the local supper club with my brother. I'll post more pictures next time.

On the road, I was behind this truck with the weirdest thing on the back. It looks like there is a little door with a guy in a turban peeking out. What's that about? I took a picture just because it was strange.

See you later, alligator.

progress makes me happy!!

Oh boy, am I a happy girl! I left you with the triangle quilt center finished. Ta Da!! The borders are on and I have made and sewn the top border details. Great progress here at Wazoo.

End of day one: Borders on

End of day two: all the elements copied, fused, cut out and ready to go

At the end of today, I had the elements in place and sewn down. Yippee!
Only three more borders to do...

Meanwhile, I quilted this beautiful, modern shibori quilt. I love the inset Kaffee Fassett fabric strips.

The customer had a pack of 10 inch squares of shibori fabrics and inserted the Kaffe strips improv style.

Panto: African Samba

The backing is shibori, too.

We took in six quilts today! I'm always glad to see my quilting friends and customers and find out what's going on in their lives. Everyone is so friendly and happy. Now, I just have to quilt them all...

On the garden front, Mr Wazoo has been like a pig in mud these last few days! The weather has been lovely and sunny, so he has been puttering around outside digging, planting and mowing. He even painted the jacket on our new gnome. The gardens are so pretty right now. I'm lucky to have someone who loves to garden as much as he does.

What a gorgeous day!

Here really is a pot under there!!

Peas in a pod!

The butterflies are back and as colorful as ever. 

Black eyed Susans blooming again

Sven now has a blue jacket to go with his red hat.

These hydrangea are called Strawberries and cream. When the bloom starts to fade, it turns this pink and white combination.

Aren't they pretty!

Tomorrow, I'll be doing laundry, making a lunch for the cooler and packing for my trip to Wisconsin. I'll be gone a week, but will be enjoying a nice visit with my family and friends. Molly will keep an eye on Mr Wazoo for me, and together they'll hold down the fort here at Wazoo.

I think she suspects something...

Moving along with triangles

 I sewed the backing and quilted a charity quilt for my evening guild today. That gave me the time to finish the applique on the triangles and sew the rows together. Some of my points are nipped and some don't match up perfectly, but I am tired of this project and want it to be finished!! Tomorrow, I will add the outer border and do the applique on it.

The quilt top was made by a member of the guild

I made the back and quilted it with the panto, Chantilly

The backing was way too small, so I added a long, wide piece down the center.

I put the blocks back on the design wall to get the setting right. I liked this enough to go ahead and sew them together.

The middle is sewn and the setting triangles are on. Tomorrow, I'll do the outer border!

I also finished sewing down the trees and bears. Ready for quilting!

On the way home from the memorial service, we stopped at a lawn ornament place and perused the statuary. Mr Gnome came home with us. Today, Mr Wazoo painted his hat red. I think he's awfully cute. Another gee-gaw for the back yard.

A Quilts of Valor day

We were biding time until we go to NC tomorrow, and quilted up some Quilts of Valor. Even Mr Wazoo had a good day! We finished the three QOVs for the guild group, and then did whatever we wanted to do. A good day!

I quilted this one

Panto: Simply Stars...my favorite QOV pattern

Wow! That's a lot of stars!!

Mr Wazoo quilted this one.

He used gold thread and the panto Square Spiral.

This one is really pretty.

The butterfly bush finally has butterflies! Can you spot three?

I am really moving along with the triangle applique blocks. I have three more to finish.

Well, three...and one bit of stem I missed on number four.

These are finished!

We'll end the post with St. John's wort. I don't get why someone named it that, because I think its beautiful. Ponder that.

I hope they don't get any bigger!

Today I quilted one quilt. I started loading it at 11:45 and unloaded and trimmed it at 6:10pm. It was that big. Wow. Fortunately, it was pretty square and three out of four borders flat. Because I have the Millie, I was able to do some machine applique at the Bernina while computerized machine chugged along on the giant quilt's rows. It turned out nice, and someone will be kept really warm at night! The batting was a thick cotton, and the quilt weighs a ton.

I have to applaud the quilter for the amount of piecing she did on this project.

It didn't all fit in the straight-on photo, so I took a profile, too!

Panto: Woven Wind

The best part for me were the Minions on the back!!

Mr Wazoo stayed inside most of the day quilting a QOV for me. He thought it was supposed to rain again, so he opted to quilt.

Once again, he took a wonky picture. It is a lovely quilt, but the photo was taken with it upside down. This quilt was also made by the quilter who made the giant quilt I did today!

Patriotic backing

Panto: Square Spiral

I remembered to take the panto and backing shots of the memory quilts. They are going home next week.

The bigger quilt (with Travis Tritt) got the panto Twinkling Swirls.

The doll quilt was a quick meander.

Here are the cute birds I used on the back.

Tomorrow we get the house in order, take Molly for an overnight with Winkie, and prepare for the speed trip to Southern Pines, North Carolina. We'll see Tim's sister and her family as well as the many people his mother touched during her 30 years teaching at the same Christian school. I was lucky enough to work in the classroom next to Pam for seven years before going off to nursing school and my whole new life adventure. I met Mr Wazoo after I had already been friends with his Mom those seven years. We've been married for almost 38 years now, and I have been so thankful to have Pam as my mother-in-law. We will miss her; but she is joyfully singing with the heavenly chorus now.