Wisconsin trip and busy days quilting

 We have been gone for a week to Wisconsin where we held my Father's memorial and burial. It was lovely, with perfect weather for the graveside part. We all went to lunch locally, and I caught up with my cousins over a delicious Ruben sandwich.

Here we all are at the cemetery, a group of mostly overweight mid-westerners. I love these people!

On the way to Wisconsin, we stopped for the night in Champagne, Illinois. The hotel was outside the city in huge field with other new buildings clustered on the flat landscape. The assortment of shops, apartments, restaurants and a huge clinic looked like Oz...but with corn fields instead of poppies!

The complex was well thought out and the buildings very modern and beautiful. Really quiet for sleeping, too!

Just outside Metropolis, I spied Superman at a rest stop.

Even the man of steel has to pee...

Our hotel in Champagne

Across from the hotel was a restaurant with people eating outside in the mild weather. We decided we'd give it a try and walked over for dinner.. All the buildings have apartments above the shops and eateries.

Mr Wazoo had the Frida Kahlo salad

I had the fish tacos.

Everything was wonderful at El Toro!

Staying on the hotel theme, the one we stayed at in Whitewater, Wisconsin was lovely, too. I especially liked the artwork on the walls outside the elevator. It was made of circles of wood fitted together, sort of like scales on a fish. The wallpaper in the hall had the same design. Really cool!

This is so cool! I'd love to have one of these pieces in my house.

They are pretty big, though.

Then, there is the wallpaper...Somebody did a good job decorating.

Now, if they would only get rid of the big, heavy duvets...horrible.

One day we went to town in Madison and walked over to the Memorial Union on the UW campus. It was a cool, breezy evening and people were relaxing on the terrace in those famous sunburst chairs. I love Madison and all the beautiful parks and the lakes. It was my stomping ground for the biggest part of my life. I miss it.

The ivy covered walls are gorgeous.

The rathskeller still has the dark moody look it had back in the 60s. this room is usually packed with students; eating, chatting, and enjoying a break from their studies.

The Library mall and fountain are lovely with the Presbyterian church towering over them.

Lots of the buildings on campus were built with the limestone bricks, so they always look bright and clean.

Lake Mendota was so calm, the wind-sailing guys were continually falling over. 

My son, his wife and my grandson took us out for bratwurst.

The elderly couple were a bit out of place in the company of the lively young people.

Don't worry! I did get in some quilt shop fun, too! While we were there, it was the all Wisconsin shop hop.  My brother took me to the three closest shops to our home base hotel. One in Whitewater, one in Milton and another in Janesville. I bought this year's Wisconsin themed fabrics for a quilt as well as the collection from two years ago. You will see those quilts later, when I have time to make them. One shop had this awesome steam punk quilt. I bought the panel and the supporting fabrics to make a quilt for my 25 year old grandson. He'll love it.

The quilt was hanging too high to get a better picture, but I have the free pattern to help sort it out.

This is the pattern.

We got home last Wednesday and I went straight to work in the studio. Here are the quilts I worked on this week.

I made this quilt from a jelly roll to be a signature comfort quilt for the evening guild.

The panto is pretty and calm.

This customer quilt is from my favorite quick pattern, Boxed Squares

I used a butterfly panto to compliment the butterflies in the fabrics.

The other quilt was made by my sister. This one is mine. It's the one that had a hole from dragging a needle in it in error. All patched and finished.

It had a geometric pattern for texture.

And my label!

This small quilt is a panel. It is Minkie and really soft.

The maker is waiting for her first great-great grandchild!! Wow!

The swirly panto adds a nice feel to the quilt.

This customer doesn't like her quilts trimmed, so the backing is showing all around.

She wanted a flowery panto, so I chose Flower Spray.

This customer stepped out of her box with this lovely Kaffe Fassett quilt.

I used the panto Splat with bright fuchsia thread.

Many years ago, we gave my brother our small carved bear when we moved to Florida. We had it at our Door County log home, and it didn't fit in at a Florida bungalow. Over the years, it sat outside his front door where it got blistered and cracked in the sun and snow. It was stolen twice by college students and lost a good part of one ear in the process. My brother is planning a move, so we got the bear back and brought it home. It will be much happier here in the mountains. Mr W spent some time on Youtube, and learned how to do the needed repairs from a wood carving professional. Here is where we are today. It looks scary, but it is just like the guy showed him. Today, Mr W will cut the shims down and shave the ends smooth. Then the bear will get a much needed coat of paint. I hope he'll be ready for his debut this week!

Mr Bear looks like he's been in a bad fight! He had a huge crack through his head, down his body and into the base he stands on. He is carved from one big stump, so probably would have cracked in two if we hadn't intervened.

It looks a mess, but is exactly like the one in the video.

Mr Wazoo, patiently fitting and glueing the pieces in place.

I've gone on long enough. Our yard and pots are beautiful and it is good to sleep in my magic bed. I'll be busy this week, but will post next Sunday. Have a wonderful week and do something creative with your time.

Birdy, the Phoebe, has returned with his wife and built another nest on the yard light. I enjoy watching them while drinking coffee on the back porch in the morning.

I got my grandson this cute pot and a little plant for their new apartment.

He wasn't feeling well while we were there, but we had fun despite his coughing and nose blowing.

It was so good to see him and give him hugs. I just hope I don't get what he has...

Retreat Fun!

 I got home from the small guild retreat, and had a surprise waiting for me. Mr Wazoo received the motors for the Handiquilter carriage and installed them! At the retreat, I made a couple of tops, so I loaded one up and took the machine for a test drive. Not a hiccup after we tightened up some loose connections. There was a horrible moment when I left the needle down and pushed the 'resume' button in error...it tore a 1 1/2 inch hole through all three layers of the quilt!! I did a cobble-job repair on the fly with Misty Fuse between the backing and batting and the top and batting and resumed quilting. Last night, I sewed patches over the repair and will bind it today. Wow, that's an OOPS! of the highest magnitude. I'm glad it was my quilt and not a customer one. When I get the binding on, I'll show you the whole quilt. This is just the patching.

The oval patch on the back...

...the two patches I repaired on the front.

From a foot away, they are hardly visible. I don't think I'll quilt over them along the original lines. It's a utility quilt, not a work of art.

Back at the retreat, everyone had a fun and relaxing time. Loads of laughter, plenty of delicious food, and near perfect weather for eating al fresco. No TV! Conversation and sewing were the main events. I didn't take a huge amount of pictures, but you'll get the idea from what I did catch.

There is a huge patio with views of the mountains and a beautiful fire pit.

This photo shows the mountains in the other direction, and the tallest one is Blood Mountain. We have to go over it every time we go south for anything. Almost everything we need is south!

I wish that power pole wasn't there...

Here is the lodge. Our room was where the French doors are on the far left bottom floor. The main part of the house is where the deck is, and we ate on the deck every day! The sewing room was just outside our bedroom door so we had only a few steps to get to our sewing. I did a lot of steps getting up to the main floor for meals and the top floor when both other bathrooms were occupied and I really had to go!

The biggest sewing room had spectacular views. Mary's blocks are up on the design wall between the big windows.

The room I sewed in didn't have windows, but we weren't unhappy because we were busy sewing! Every wall had a design wall. Jacquie's quilt blocks are the blue and white ones between the two other quilts. Where I stood to take the picture is right outside the door to our room. How handy is that?!

When Jacquie started sewing her blocks together, I put my blocks up so I could distribute the lights and darks before adding the sashing and border.

On the main floor, there was a great room with massive windows looking out over the valley and the distant mountains. The whole house is decorated with beautiful quilts. Here, you see the entry door below and the third floor above. It's a big place!

From the sitting area, the dining room and kitchen are along one side. We made our plates buffet style around the spacious island. Some ladies ate at the dining table, and some of us ate out on the deck.

This is a picture of the mountains, mist in the valley and a spectacular sunset from the deck.

Really lovely.

While we were there, two of the ladies had a birthday! Here are the two Marys and Debbie partying.

Betty, Karen and Jacquie look festive in their pointy hats!

Rise,(pronounced ree-suh) with the purple gloves, made our meals and kept us full and happy. It was Gaye's birthday and they had a laugh in the kitchen. I think Rise looks like a cute lady gnome in that red hat!

Lauren and Vicky look on.

The birthday girls, Judy and Gaye. After supper, we all had cake. Yum!

A good time was had by all! Here are (L to R) Judy, Gaye, Leslie, Mary, Debbie, Mary#2, Betty, Martha and Lauren.

Vicky is a newer quilter, and made this pretty quilt top.

Judy finished her Seminole pieced top from the row-by-row tutorials at the guild meetings.

Here is everyone but Vicky, who is taking the picture!

Front row L to R: Lauren, Judy, Leslie, Betty, Me, Debbie.

Back row L to R: Martha, Jacquie, Gaye, Karen, Rise, Mary, and the other Mary!

Here's Vicky in the front row while I take the picture

Mr Wazoo was busy while I was off having a good time. He planted these two new hanging baskets and one of the big blue pots outside my studio. I love the hangers he found for the baskets.It is finally looking like summer!

This hanger has a little bird on top.

This one has a jaunty squirrel eating an acorn.

Soon, the plants will fill in and trail over the side of the pot. He has a few more planters to do. They are always beautiful and colorful.

Before the retreat, I went to Mr W's barber and got a haircut. I was so unhappy with the mess the last stylist left, I had to do something before our trip to Wisconsin. I'm going back today to get another inch off the back because the sides are so much shorter than the back. My bangs are also in my eyes, so they will also get a trim. Another few months and it should be evened out. Why does it have to be so hard to get hair to look right?! I am severely hair-styling impaired, so it has to be wash and wear.

We're off to Wisconsin this week for my Dad's burial and memorial service. Everyone will be there, and I will be so happy to see little Dechen for the first time in three years! Covid threw a monkey wrench in our holiday gatherings, and we have been staying in touch via Face Time. It will be good to see my cousins and two of my kids.

 I'll try to post my retreat projects before I go. I have a dentist appointment this afternoon to fix a chipped front tooth  I have been living with for two weeks while he was on vacation. Tomorrow, I see the ENT doctor for a follow up. Every day I lose my voice by the end of the day in the studio. I never had a problem at the retreat, so it is related to something in my sewing space causing it. I have a new nose spray that is working well to stop the drainage and drippy nose, and it is helping with the laryngitis, too. Hopefully, this will be the fix and I won't have to go to the next step of wearing a mask when I work. Yuk! I don't want to have to do that. We'll see.