Two days in a row - we're heading for a new record!

I forgot to tell you about Sisters this year!  It was a blast!  It was hot - can't deny that, but the evenings were cool and there was usually a breeze.

I got to go early and share a cabin with 5 other crazy quilters.  There was great food, show and tell and a whole lot of giggling!

We stayed out at Black Butte.  And there is always something going on around there.  Quilts in the Lodge and five swimming pools!  -alright, true confession, we only talked about going to the pools this year!  But last year when our family was there, we hit all 5!

I told you we ate (and drank) well!  We had a magical refrigerator, it never seemed to empty!  AND the freezer was full of ice cream!! These are seriously my kind of people!

Here is our intrepid group.  We were from Idaho and all over Oregon.  These ladies are rad!

View of the work space from the sleeping loft!  It's a quilty heaven!

Last year they exchanged strips and each made "Many trips" -  a pattern and technique by Bonnie Hunter.  I tried to claim one (all) of these, but no luck.  Darn, I'm going to have to make my own.  Next year the challenge is Hexagons!

One of my favorite things at Sisters this year was the Jenny Doan Lecture (Missouri Star Quilts)  we went to.  She filled the HS auditorium to the max.  OMG!  She is the best speaker.  It's like you've known each other forever and she's just catching you up on the news!  We laughed, we cried, we all enjoyed her.  Her dear husband was her stage helper and he is such a good sport.

They have 7 kids (in 9 years!) and Jenny said when she introduced him, "This is my husband, I didn't even know he could talk until the kids left home!"

She told how she got started with Jelly rolls and pre-cuts, couldn't afford to buy bolts!!  I wasn't a groupie before hearing her.  I have lots of stash and thought (erroneously!) that pre-cuts were too expensive!! She showed me the error of my ways!

She uses the patterns she demos online for her charity and gift quilts.  Genius!  AND she doesn't give a bed quilt for a wedding present.  She makes a good-sized square quilt, pairs it with a picnic basket and gives the happy couple a card that encourages them to go out and make memories!  What a great idea!

She talked about the surprises running this business.  With all of her tutorials online, we has many children and handicapped quilters following her.  They may not be able to get out for classes, but they can watch the tutorial and rewind it as many times as they want.  It has changed lives.

Most of their children are involved in the business.  There is one son in NYC.  Her favorite call from him was, "Mom, you are on the front page of the Wall Street Journal!  What's going on out there!!!"  She laughs every time she remembers that call!

We stood in line after the lecture and got the latest "Block" Magazine autographed.  I asked her to sign mine - "Pick your first quilt out of this" for Miss P who turns 12 this weekend.  Of course, she has many quilts, but this year we are going to SEW one TOGETHER.  She picked 3 favorites, settled on one and I ordered the Layer Cake!  Next time we get together, we'll start.  Miss P's a little nervous, and so am I.  But, it'll be great!

We were there Saturday at the crack of dawn, it was still cool then!

There were a lot of text quilts - always my favorite

 Everybody matched this quilt!  So Photo-Opp!

Just 2 Stashbusters present for pictures this year!  But we had a good visit and enjoyed looking around the show together.

Well, two days in a row.  Can you stand 3???  We'll see!