Here’s a look at the car just before I left yesterday. It was packed to the roof with fabric, fabric and more fabric! There were a few clothes in there but it was mostly quilting things for summer work and fun!

The minute I open one of the passenger doors Clutch and Zoe jump in and refuse to get out. They’ll sit there as long as it takes for me to load the back. I guess they want to make sure they don’t get left behind. We had a nice drive and everything is unloaded. It’s not all put away but that can be part of today’s project. SPOILER ALERT: The quilt in the basket in front of Clutch is one of the 1930s Wurzburg kit quilts. Believe it or not I’m going to use it a jumping off point for a lap quilt using some of the Kaffe Fassett fabric I packed!

Brenda took special time out of her caregiver schedule to put together today’s pattern for you. There’s not much time for stitching right now. She spends most of her day with her husband at the nursing home. She said it’s our prayers that are getting her through all this so please join me in lifting her up with a special prayer.
Today’s block is an easy paper pieced block. I don’t think we’ve done any paper piecing yet so I think you’ll really enjoy it.

If you’ve missed any of this year’s blocks you can get them in the online store – HERE. The blocks for last year’s quilt are on THIS PAGE. I’ve seen some beautiful quilts made from the Just Takes 2 designs! I hope you find time to take a stitch or two today. If we can do just a little bit each day we’ll have a quilt made before we know it.

Just Takes 2™ Schoolhouse Quilt
Block 8 – Click here

There’s snow is several places around the private drive but we’re lucky ours is gone.

There just isn’t much going on anywhere you look.

One thing there’s lots of is water! It’s the highest I’ve ever seen it.

Today is also a Just Takes 2 day and there’s a new block to add to a schoolhouse. You’ll have this one sewn together in no time at all. A few little four patch units and some half square triangles and you’ll be done.

This is Block 7 in the quilt and Brenda said it’s called Prairie Queen.

Can you see those simple little units?

There’s a couple of sweethearts watching over my shoulder as I work on this. They’re waiting to get out and enjoy the sunshine. It’s going to be almost 80 degrees today. That ought to melt the last of the snow. Since our jury duty was canceled I think we’re going to get out there and soak it in. I can clean on a rainy day!

It’s May Day today too. To celebrate if you use the discount code MAYDAY during checkout in the Online Store you’ll get 25% off any of the digital patterns. If you’ve missed some of the schoolhouse blocks or want to start on last year’s quilt this is the time. Maybe there’s another pattern you’ve wanted to add to your collection. Go ahead and celebrate May Day!

Speaking of last year’s quilt, if you haven’t seen Barbara Black’s version and the beautiful quilting being done by Joyful Quilter, you need to take a minute and check it out! It’s wonderful for Brenda and I to see our design translated to cloth in such a beautiful way. Nice job ladies!

Just Takes 2™ Schoolhouse Quilt
Block 7 – Click here

You’ll start with squares of the three fabrics used in the block. You’ll get two quarter square triangle units from the two red, one white and one red print fabric shown. Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the red solid squares.

Sew 1/4″ away from the drawn line on both sides of it. Cut on the drawn line to get the half square triangles we’ll use in the next step.

Press the seam allowance toward the red solid fabric.

Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the red and white half square triangles. Match them with the red solid and red print ones. You’ll see how the seams just nestle together for a perfect match.

Stitch 1/4″ away from the drawn line on both sides of it. Cut the units apart on the drawn line.

Voila! Quarter square triangle units with three colors of fabric and they’re all in the right place for putting your block together.

Here’s a closer look at the block. You can see where the quarter square triangles go.

Let’s get stitching -

Just Takes 2™ Schoolhouse Quilt
Block 6 – Click here

P.S. If you’ve missed any of the blocks you can purchase them HERE

Almost forgot……It’s Clutch’s official birthday today – he’s 9 years old and I’m feeling a bit guilty about not being there but knowing him he’ll forgive me. Don’t forget to get today’s Sally Post Floral Sampler block too!

I don’t mind admitting I’m a little tired tonight and ate too much for dinner. I had taco pizza followed by frosted cinnamon bread sticks. Both were wonderful! I’ll get some sleep and be back out shopping in the morning. I think a visit to the Antique Mall is a good idea and I want to go back to Yoder’s for some flannel. It’s been quite a while since I wanted to make a flannel quilt, especially with summer coming but the collection of fabric I saw really inspired me. I need to head back to Lolly’s Cuddle Corner and have them cut me a kit for another cuddle quilt. The new colors just scream “make me for the cottage”. I show you a picture tomorrow.

Let’s start with a look inside Lolly’s Fabrics. I saw so many new and beautiful fabrics I couldn’t begin to take it all in. There were lots of new quilts to see too. I believe most of these can be ordered as either the pattern or as a kit. Trust me…………go for the kit! Call them if there’s something you like. With all the quilters coming to town this week these won’t last long.

Be sure to check out the article on the Quilt Gardens in the Shipshewana area in the April/May No. 433 issue of Quilter’s Newsletter Magazine. It’s fantastic and so inspiring!

Not taking time to edit the photos so I hope you can see everything okay. If you have a question about anything just call the shop and describe the picture. They’ll be able to look at the post too and can help you out.

My next stop was to Rebecca Haarer Art and Antiques. The shop is filled to the brim right now so look at the pic carefully.

I found lots of treasures including another quilt from Rebecca’s bed that is going to make the most fantastic pattern. It’s one of the most unique quilts I’ve seen in a long time and can’t wait to try the design in different fabrics.

Remember the Shipshewana Scraps Quilt? That was drafted from another quilt off Rebecca’s bed in the shop.

That’s it for tonight. I had a fantastic dinner with friends and have spent most of the evening uploading these pictures. The menu was liver ‘n onions, mashed potatoes, gravy and buttered carrots. Pie? you bet……..German Chocolate!

Things move more slowly in Amish country and picture uploading is no exception. I’ll do my best to post more tomorrow. I’m heading to Yoder Department Store, back to Lolly’s and the Antique Barn. The retreat starts at 3:00PM so there will be some sewing tomorrow!

I took this project (for a new pattern) last time and never even touched it.

I have more than one pattern idea that would use these 1930s scraps. Should I take these along?

There’s also a last minute order for Victorian Ladies I want to ship before I leave the office for a week and I’ve got Zoe stuffed in a tote bag around my neck because she just won’t leave me alone. Clutch has already spotted the sewing machine case in the hallway and is determined to crawl inside the minute I unzip the top! Do I sound frazzled? I guess I better admit – just a little! If you’ve got half a brain you’re probably asking why I’m wasting time writing this post instead of finishing my packing?

It’s because I always wish I could take you with me to experience a place like Shipshewana. Until you’ve been there I’m not sure you can understand what I mean.

I’ll be reporting on all the great things I find on this trip. You can see some of the sights from previous retreats by putting “Shipshewana” in the little search box just above the picture of Clutch and I. It should bring up all my previous posts and videos for you to look through. If you’ve heard of Shipshe and there’s something you’d like to see or hear more about, send me an email and I’ll do my best to get it on here for you.

If you have the time and want to “retreat” along with me check out the Shipshewana Amish quilt. The patterns are free and it’s a fun project.

Okay………..I’ve had a little break – I feel better…. Zoe is sleeping in the tote bag ( who knew a Schlep Bag would work as a dog pack ) so I’m going back to my packing and plan to be at Rise ‘n Roll Bakery in time for a Cinnamon Caramel Donut and morning coffee. I might stop at Cinnamon Stick in Middlebury followed by JoJo’s for a pretzel at lunchtime. A latte’ from Kitchen Cupboard should get me through a little shopping at Sarah Davis Ltd. and Lolly’s Fabrics before I had over to Rebecca Haarer Art and Antiques. Yoder Department Store is open until 5:30PM so that’ll be my late afternoon stop before a dinner of liver ‘n onions at Blue Gate Restaurant. Then…………I’ll collapse into my room at the Farmstead Inn and count my blessings!

I can’t believe I haven’t posted anything new since I did the last block for Brenda two weeks ago. I guess I’ve been busier than I thought. Today’s block is another classic pieced block you’ll have no trouble putting together. Here it is already sewn in a schoolhouse.

If you’re on Spring break this week I hope you’re having a wonderful vacation. I’m organizing and packing to head off to Shipshewana next Tuesday for the Dear Jane Retreat. I can’t wait to see my retreat buddies, eat pie, go shopping and maybe take a stitch or two in something.

Just Takes 2™ Schoolhouse Quilt
Block 5 – Click here

I wish I had time to make lots of these. I think they’d be adorable set together with sashing between them. Even as a two color quilt they’d shine!

No time for chit chat today. I’m off to the grocery store before it starts snowing in a couple of hours. It will be Zoe’s first time in her crate. I know I won’t like it and I doubt she’ll like it either but she’s just not old enough to be on her own in the house with Clutch. Scroll down and there’s a link to get today’s block.

Just Takes 2™ Schoolhouse Quilt
Block 4 – Click here