I am here and still quilting!

I haven't posted for awhile, mostly because I was working on gift projects and I couldn't show pictures!  Part of it was just laziness though and busy with lots going on.  I have gone on a retreat, two quilt shows and done yardwork along with working full time.  I guess I do have some excuses!
I still have two projects I can't post, but the recipients should have them by next week!

This is the last of the samples I made for my friend's shop.  Yes, I used the same pattern with lots of panels.  She provided all the fabrics.

I went to a retreat at a new to us retreat house.  I was with 8 friends.  We were in a farmhouse across the road from St. Gertrude's Monastery. I walked around the grounds a couple of times. 

This photo is in the backyard of the farmhouse.  I love the big old barn!  The bookcase quilt is a gift quilt I made for my late son's roommates.  He was a groomsman in their wedding almost 8 years ago.  The husband commissioned me to make this for his wife for her birhtday/mother's day.  He said she loves to read and loves shades of blue.  See below for other pictures.

I took this photo on one of the beds.

 Excuse the wonky photo.  I embroidered lots of things on different light colored books.  Their names, names of their three kids, wedding date, genres of books, etc.  I had a lot of fun learning my new Brother Innovis Quilt Club series sewing machine!

I finally have all the blocks assembled for my Sew Many Strips quilt from American Patchwork and Quilting.  I am working on piecing borders, although I don't have the blocks sewn together into a top yet.  This will be a queen size quilt made of 1 1/2 strips so it is taking a long time!  That is a LOT of sewing.  The blocks finish at 8" and have 32 pieces in them.  Thank heavens for strip piecing!

I captured some apple blossoms in my back yard.  The apple trees are VERY old.  We live on an old homestead site, but built a new house in the mid 90's.  I look forward to showing the other projects I have finished soon!  Plus I started a couple other projects at quilt retreat!

Linking to Design Wall Monday.  Check it out!