Table Trails

 Created for Project Quilting 12.4 Snail's Trail challenge.

I figured a simple table runner fit my bill for this week. I started some blocks and soon realized that a snail's trail block is a pineapple block with a different coloration. Why did I never notice that before? I decided to use strips of varying widths because snails never travel an even path, just like many of us. 

Created by Diane Lapacek in rural Poynette, WI.

16" x 32"

Monticello Hexies Bag

 Created for Project Quilting 12.3 Virtual Vacation challenge.

Virtual Vacation was an interesting challenge for me this week.  First of all I was off for a three day road trip to pick up jars for Lapacek's Orchard. We can lots of applesauce, apple pie filling, apple butter and jams and jellies at the end of every season. We were out of jars, so we made a trip to the manufacturer in Arkansas to pick up more. Not the most exciting road trip ever, but better than any other road trip I've been on lately.  I have been making some hexies for a future hexagon quilt and packed them up to work on while in the truck. Great idea! Problem is I forgot to put glue sticks in, so I didn't get alot done. Oh, well. 

Anyway, I decided I could use a better bag to keep my hexie project in while on the road. A bag was quick and easy, so it fit into the rest of my week, which should have included a day babysitting for my littlest grandbabies, but Frank had to spend 5 hours clearing the driveway this morning so we could get out. No grandbabies for me today.

My daughter heard about this challenge and she told me I should use Monticello for my virtual vacation theme.  She lived in Virginia for 10 years and we took road trips to see her 3 times a year. Coming and going we passed close to Monticello and I said it was something I thought would be interesting.  I'm a gardener and we have a family orchard, so I thought it would be my kind of thing.

There is a standing joke in my family that Frank's idea of sightseeing is to drive past. So, we were near Monticello a few years ago and Frank said we could check it out. We pulled into the parking lot and there was half an hour to closing.  Obviously, this would not be worthwhile. But Frank now says we were there. (No wonder I've stuck with this guy for 44 years!)

I found some scraps of upholstery fabric I had dyed for a previous project and made a bag. My hexie supplies fit in it perfectly and I made sure to put in a few glue sticks. It's ready to go when we head for Monticello. Or maybe I'll work on those hexies when we go to watch the granddaughters play basketball or to babysit the little grandbabies or even just to the store. I believe this will be a long term project.

Created by Diane Lapacek near Poynette, Wi.