A Judy Workshop!

Friday, Saturday and Sunday was a workshop with Judy Niemeyer at Quilt Country in Lewisville. I really look forward to these workshops. I had hoped for a wedding ring class, but not this time. It worked out for best as Judy has redesigned her Wedding Star and will be teaching a workshop in January. Sandy, the owner of Quilt Country, and her wonderful Supergirls created quilt kits for the class. The kit includes 2.5 strips in 88 bali fabrics that Judy picked out. The are absolutely gorgeous.

In this class I worked on the Sand Devils pattern, which has lots of curved edges. Not to worry however, with Judy's tips for sewing curves it's a piece of cake. Her technique works very well. I had used it in my Hawaiian Star quilt. I had bought this pattern in my last workshop. It will a gift for my brother. I've made good progress in my 3 days.


Corner piece

Border and small arcs



Most of the class were working on star pattens. The brave ones were working on the amazing Amazon Star. It's so large and has many Lone Star pieces. I'm not sure I want to try a Lone Star again.

These workshops are an opportunity to make new friends. I remember some of the ladies from the previous workshop. The quilters directly across and next to me were great company. Time just flew as we chatted and sewed on our lovely quilts. We each were working on different pattens. One was working on a new pattern not yet published, there was a soothing purple and green Dragon Star and a lovely Christmas tree skirt. I look forward to seeing them again in the Wedding Star workshop.

A Great Day in Sports

Where to begin? The afternoon started off with the Red Sox and Braves playing on a cool misty day in Boston. Tough weather for Wakefield's knuckleball. He got off to a rocky start, but his teammates came right back to take the lead thanks in part to a Big Papi's home run into the Monster seats. After that he cruised into the 7th. From there the lead seesawed and was tied going into the bottom of the 9th. Nick Green (SS) was the hero with a solo homer.


Nick Green watches the ball head around Pesky's Pole.

While the outcome of the baseball game was in question, the finish of the Tour de Suisse was pretty much a forgone conclusion. With a TT in Bern (Cancellara's home town) as the final stage, the GC contenders needed to put minutes into Cancellara. However Saxo Bank ushered Cance up the mountains, so he was firmly ahead of the competion going into the TT. It was enjoyable to watch him just blow away the field to win the TT and the Tour de Suisse.


Fabian Cancellara wins the Tour de Suisse

Cancellara is back!

The Tour de Suisse has started and Fabian Cancellara crushed the competition in the opening Prolog. He is still in the Yellow Jersey after the second stage. He is finding his form leading up to the Tour de France.

Update (Friday 6/19): Cancellara is sitting in 2nd only 9 seconds back. If he doesn't get dropped on tomorrow's (Saturday) stage to Crans Montana, he will be sitting pretty for the last stage which is a Time Trial.

Turquoise Colorblock

My 20 colorblock blocks for the Four Season Quilt Swap are finished. There are several variations, but the 2 below are what most of the blocks look like.



On a personal note, the surgery to my left knee went well. It is rehabbing quicker than the right one did. Another few weeks on the stationary bike and then the freedom of my road bike. No tennis until late August though. That is only if things continue to go well. The Corporate Challenge tennis matches are mid September, so I probably will be a little rusty.

On a very happy note - the Red Sox swept the home series against the hated Yankees. They have started 8-0 against the Yankees this year. Big Papi may not be playing well when it comes to the rest of the teams, but he still can hit against the Yankees.

Big Papi and J.D. Drew