Miss Sassypants Vents

It started when I opened my email this morning to see an announcement about a Halloween Mystery Quilt from a big quilt shop far away. I just finished my first mystery quilt, and it was fun, so I thought, let's check this out.

So I went to their website to find that the mystery quilt is part of an event they are throwing on Halloween. You can come in and work on the mystery quilt (clues given throughout the day). Halloween themed kits for this quilt will be available shortly ($$$). Okay, I can understand they want you to pay for the pattern, not a big deal, to be expected. But there's no mention of fabric requirements, so that you can bring in fabric from your stash, which makes me think you're expected to buy the kit or the fabric from them, on the day of the event ($$$).

Wear a costume for a chance to win a prize...a cauldron of quilting goodies. Sweet! Who doesn't love a drawing. Mentions that there will be fun and games throughout the day (no mention of prizes for these...just fun activities). And, there's a pot luck lunch, everyone brings a dish. Cool!

All for the mere cost of $25 participation fee.

Whoa! Back it up! You can work on a mystery quilt, but you'll likely have to buy their kit. You can have a free lunch, but you have to bring your own food. So, what is that $25 for? Could they be expecting you (their loyal customer who probably drops a bundle in this place throughout the year), to pay them to entertain you, and to obviously cover the cost of the gift basket they filled and are raffling off (which at $25 per person ought be one sweet $500 gift basket)?

 

Obviously this shop is on a mission to prove that 'there is no such thing as a free lunch'.

This is strikingly similar to the 'pick your own' berry farm--where we go and pay 2 times per pound more than what they sold those same berries to the grocery store for yersterday, after they also paid someone to pick them. (Okay, I get it, it's not supposed to be economical...you're paying for the experience of seeing why Cesar Chavez' birthday is a holiday in some states. Just making a point.)

I just think that if you're going to charge your customers $25 to participate in a fun-filled day that you've arranged for them, then don't tell them to bring a dish. Sheesh! At least spend a little of their money to have it catered.

Another September Finish....An OCTOBER Banner!

It's my wool applique banner for October, and it's even got a hanging sleeve sewn on! A totally and officially complete project ready ahead of schedule.  Woo hoo.

My friend and neighbor Ann and I were at Chartreuse last week. She spotted this and said it made her think of me:

I've asked the hubs to make me one.

What should I finish next? Decisions, decisions.........

September Finishes.....not exactly quilts

 

It only took me three years (I started making these guys the Fall of 2009, but quilting got in the way of crafts so their little faceless bodies sat on my workbench begging for attention. Now they're done. Of course, all that rusty wire, rusty nails, and rusty safety pins are probably why I should go get a tetanus shot tomorrow (include in that equasion the fact that I sliced both my fingers open at our neighborhood picnic taking the foil lid off a pain of ravioli) prior to playing with rusty nails.

 

While I was in a finishing mood (truth be told, I was more in the mood for something sweet and those unopened packages of Peeps in the workroom were calling my name), I figured it was time to make a marshmallow Peeps wreath. I picked up these ghost and pumpkin Peeps a few weeks ago. It'snow  hanging on the pantry door (and the few that were leftover were tasty).

I even updated last year's Fall wreath and hung it on the front door this morning. All in all, a productive day in the craft department.

Hello, It's Me (Again)

Been lazy (it's those dog days of summer), been busy (Labor Day dinner for 20), and now I'm ready to hunker down and stitch.

These would be the 4 blocks (2 of each) for Vintage Rouge. Rather than embroider 'Love', 'Hope', 'Peace', and 'Joy' in the center of them, I futzed around with some free-form applique. This way I'm not limiting this to being a 'Christmas' quilt. Next installment in this quilt begins on Saturday. There's a lot of applique on the borders, so I'll be busy.

On Sunday I'll be in a workshop with Rita Hutchens of 'Totally Tubular' fame. Should be interesting. We don't really make 'something', we learn a technique, but I suppose I'll have to work it into something. (Looks like Suz Zwizzle, Art Quilter will be paying a visit.)

 

 

I just need to decide which set of fabrics I'm using and get my homework cut out. Which colors would you choose?