Musings on getting older - knitting giveaway

My birthday was yesterday and I'm happy to say that this is one of the first birthdays I've not agonized over.  I generally don't want to celebrate the date since to me it's only a sad reminder that I'm getting older.

But I'm not sure why this year was different.  I wasn't upset.  I actually feel pretty darn lucky to be my age (64 !!!) and healthy, feel great and 99% of the time am very happy! I have wonderful friends and a beautiful family. I always love the expression, "this is as good as it gets" and it's really true. Who could ask for more???

I'm curious how the rest of you cope with birthdays.

I haven't done much sewing since we got back.  Best part of the birthday is that we got to have darling Emma with us for a few days by herself!  We are actually going to have the other 2, including baby Jack, tomorrow until the weekend. How lucky are we???

I've done some knitting, believe it or not... 
I have way more yarn than I will ever use so if any of you are knitters, drop me a comment with your philosophy on getting older and I'll draw a winner Monday and send off a bunch of yarn!!

Top done

Here is the finished product-- just need to add borders!

Pretty fun, don't you think??

Don't think I can cross this off my UFO list since it wasn't on my list!! Vbg

New favorite vintage machine

I have been a true Bernina lover forever, owning several vintage machines including the 932,  the 1080, 1130, the 1260 and an 830.  A couple of years ago I broadened my horizons and acquired a Singer 301 mostly for my friend DarLynn, who raves about this. I hadn't really used it very much (I'm not sure I ever did more than turn it on!) until recently when Bonnie and I spent a week together last month and she rejected the Berninas in place of the 301. 

I figured if it's good enough for her, I'd have to give it a try. Claire opted for it as well over the Bernina. Let me tell you that if you want a machine that sews fast, this is the one for you!! And you can get one on eBay for under $200 (my sewing machine guy has a couple for sale now, if you're interested!)

I've really enjoyed it!!

As for what I've been working on, let me show you some of the blocks:

My friend Debbie had bought all the fabric and pattern years ago but never really loved it so she gave me all the strips and pieces last month. I've almost got it all together and will post the finished product later this week, hopefully. I've got a UFO in mind to give her when I go back to Wisconsin next month!! It's only fair, don't you agree??

Quilt show pictures

Here are some of the quilts I liked best this year. One of my favorites is very unusual: looks like 3 chairs!!  I think it's using Kaffe Fassett fabrics as is the stool I just loved. 

I loved this hodge-podge of blocks:

This spool quilt was awesome:

Fun fabrics!!

I generally prefer traditional quilts but I really enjoyed this bike scene:

This is a simple 4patch but it doesn't seem like it:

I loved the border on this Irish chain:

This is a Bonnie pattern and I loved it! The fact that she used my friend's pattern only made it more attractive to me!

This is going to be one of my next projects using a jelly roll:

This is a traditional pattern with modern brights:

This is the block:

I have a friend who sails and I took this picture for her. Very clever:

Thrn after a hard day of looking a quilts, we were ready for a beer! Here is Lori enjoying a beer sampler !

Here are the 3 of us:

It was a great week with very special friends! We are already talking about a challenge using orphan blocks for next year!

And the winner is....

So many wonderful comments from so many eager quilters.

The winner of the giveaway is:

LIZA

Can you send me your email address so I can get your mailing address, please?

Thanks to everyone who sent me a comment.

quilts from the show will be posted later today!!

Quilt purchases

Our first stop at the antique quilt booth was a big success. We brought our quilts back home and laid them out on my bed to admire. I think we all loved what we bought.

I bought this one and just love it. It's even  brighter now after I washed it! 

 Back side and quilting detail

This one is so sweet!! Not a ton of quilting but the appliqué is great!

Lori found this gem and it's awesome! Great quilting and wonderful design!

Lori's other find! 

Very interesting design!

The quilter embroidered her name on the front. I really like the idea!

This is beautiful!

Very unusual fabrics and great piecing, although we couldn't decide if it was pieced or appliquéd. 

I still need to show you quilts from the show... Coming next along with the winner of my giveaway. Stay tuned!!!

Antique purchases

Our first stop in Sisters has always been at a small antique quilt booth. We have all found great bargains and beautiful quilts over the years. This year is the last time our woman is doing it and I think the word spread because the booth was really busy even at 8:30

This is an overview of what was on display:

 The woman on the right is Anne, who we've bought many treasures from over the years. 

This is Lori holding on to her first find of the day!

This is a better look at what she found. Isn't it gorgeous!

This is the other seller, Barry, who is also retiring.

I think Claire snatched this one up.

I got this one! I love it. More photos later during our show n tell on my bed!

I almost bought this one and I'm really sorry I didn't. It's gorgeous!

I did get this one which is a "cutter" quilt but the bargain of the day!! $40!

Another view of the displays.

You can see why it was so hard to decide! They Are all fabulous! Mind you this is all before we started looking at the show! Kind of put us in the mood!!

I will show you what everyone got later today.

Sisters quilt show

Here is a view of the Main Street of Sisters, which is closed for the day.

It is beautiful but hot!!

One of my quilts did sell early on. The second one hasn't sold yet although I think it's not in as good of a location.

This is the side of the Stitchin Post with the employee challenge.

Here are Lori and Claire early on!

I have lots of pictures!