Quilting

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  Waterrose Handcrafted Obsessions

• Waterrose Blog Anniversary Giveaway Week One!

  Waterrose

  8 Feb 2010 | 7:00 am

  Yay it's the first week of my blog giveaway....come and get your scoop!The giveaway begins today, Monday, February 8th and the grand prize will be selected on Monday, March 8th!Each week there will be a giveaway of advertising on my blog.All entries will have a chance to win my Queen Anne’s Lace cuff. So here’s the first ice cream scoop!Scoop One! (February 8 - 14th)You win a free month of

• Waterrose Two-Year Blog Celebration & Giveaway!

  Waterrose

  7 Feb 2010 | 7:00 am

• The Enchanted Rabbit

  Waterrose

  6 Feb 2010 | 3:05 pm

• Etsy Project Embrace & Valentines Day

  Waterrose

  5 Feb 2010 | 12:55 pm

  These shops are part of Etsy Project Embrace and they each donate a portion of their sales to the American Cancer Society. Beautiful creations....wonderful cause.by: GlitzGlitterby: JaneElizabethsby: Btaylorquiltsby: RhondasOriginals

• McCormick Recipe Inspirations...A Quick Homemade Dinner

  Waterrose

  4 Feb 2010 | 12:13 pm

  There are times that I really need dinner to be simple and easy to fix, but still tasty and homemade. I was at the grocery store and came across these McCormick Recipe Inspirations. I think there were six dinner choices. Each one comes with all of the spices in individual packets to make a delicious meal. On the back of each is a list of ingredients you need to have to make the entire dish.

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  Cottons 'n Wool

• A couple of answers

  30 Jan 2010 | 8:57 pm

  I got a couple of questions from readers who were “no reply”, so I’m answering them here.  I showed this picture of a quilt Marsha made when I was at her house for Christmas.   She also made me one.   Some of you wanted to know what pattern it was. Here’s the quilt at Marsha’s. And here’s the one she made me, hanging in our den. The pattern can be found in this book by Art to Heart.  (thanks for the info, Marsha) Then I was also asked what the pattern is for the quilt on the design wall next to my CHAIR! ;-) The pattern is by Bits and Pieces and…

• Joe Joe worked his Mo Jo

  26 Jan 2010 | 12:01 am

  Back at the end of December I blogged about the Joe Joe that Candace sent me which is supposed to bring good luck selling a house.   I had put my Mom’s house on the market at the beginning of December.  My brother lives in the same Del Webb Sun City development that she did, so I sent Joe Joe home with him after Christmas to place in my Mom’s house, hopefully bringing us some good luck.   I suspected that he might keep Joe Joe for himself since his house was also on the market.   Well, just one week later we got an acceptable offer on her…

• Good grief

  24 Jan 2010 | 3:30 pm

  It’s been so long since I posted that I almost forgot how. I’ve been experiencing the January “blahs”. No blogging, very little blog reading, no sewing, little e-mailing etc. You get the picture? Anyway, I’ve been trying to pull myself out of this hole and I think I’ve finally done it. A couple of things have me lookin up!First of all…some reorganizing. I realized that one of the things I’m unhappy with in my sewing room is the lack of comfortable seating. When I do my hand stitching, I only have a computer chair. So, I got to thinking…how about making room for a REAL chair.

• More Christmas

  2 Jan 2010 | 12:01 am

  I know…I know… Christmas was over more than a week ago and it’s now 2010, but I needed to share the gift exchanges from the party. We always either make or buy the same gift for everyone.  We used to make them, but as we’ve gotten older busier we seem to take to local stores or the internet for our purchases.  This is what I got for everyone. Patty got each of us these adorable snowman pictures. Cathi gave us each a treenware bowl with a berry ring and candle.   (you might want to click on the picture to get a better look) Marsha MADE these adorable little quilts…

• Happy New Year and…

  1 Jan 2010 | 12:01 am

  Go Ducks!

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  Simplify

• My middle name is Mom

  Camille Roskelley

  4 Feb 2010 | 1:04 pm

  Yesterday was a particularly hectic day. Hectic to the point of borderline overwhelming. Not that I am complaining, I enjoy being busy, and am extremely thankful for the many opportunities I have been given, but still... a bit overwhelming. The...

• Where?

  Camille Roskelley

  2 Feb 2010 | 6:35 pm

  In an effort to tame my inbox in one shot: Shoes: Nordstrom Rack- just a lucky find Dress: Target, where else? Kid: Yep, he really is that happy. (Oh, and thanks, girls. I'm blushing... :-) ...and so are my heels.

• Heels

  Camille Roskelley

  27 Jan 2010 | 10:28 pm

  Today, I am content. You see, today I got to spend time with my family, sew with a friend, find a great deal on pair of comfy shoes (not the ones in the picture- they are definitely not comfy), ruin...

• So- a needle pulling thread

  Camille Roskelley

  22 Jan 2010 | 4:01 pm

  Saw this in an email today and it made my Friday. Which is tough to do. It is Friday, after all. I'm so moving to Belgium. Anyone want to join me? Happy Friday! note: Want something else to make you...

• My job

  Camille Roskelley

  19 Jan 2010 | 8:18 pm

  When I was a kid we had a running family joke about my mom's business. You see, she has been the brains (and the talent) behind her company Cotton Way for 20 years now. (Mom at market) Anyway, we used...

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  Just Us Quilters

• the quilt

  2 Feb 2010 | 6:01 am

  Hello fellow quilters!I've decided to put the quilt up for sale. So if you are interested or know anyone who is, I have it for sale in MY ONLINE SHOPPE I hope everyone is staying warm this winter and getting lots of quilting time in! http://www.nikissewcountry.com/

• New quilter's Pillow!

  25 May 2009 | 2:44 pm

  I just finished up a lovely mod quilt pillow! A sweet Annie holding her own quilt. I know you're a quilter and you'll enjoy this! Head on over to my Niki's Sew Country site for purchase infohttp://www.nikissewcountry.com/I'm calling this one THE NIKI PILLOW! cute eh?

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  The Quilt Rambler

• Spend a Moment Looking Over My Shoulder

  3 Feb 2010 | 10:11 am

  I'm trying something new - took this video with my Verizon Wireless Droid and trying to figure out how to get it online...it's not the best quality or content, just my first attempt at Rambling while I quilt.. this was the quilt on the frame today and I was in the mood to play (grin).Let me know if this sort of post is interesting or beneficial and I'll do my best to learn more about this media - and quilt with darker thread and better light (grin) so you can actually see what I'm doing!Please give me feedback as to if this is working or not - I'm clueless (grin)

• Road Trip....And New Tote

  31 Jan 2010 | 4:38 pm

  What's better than a Shop Hop? Warehouse shopping of course!And what a way to end the first month of a new decade - a road trip with a side trip to my favorite fabric manufacturer, P & B Fabrics in Dallas!Okay, so my new A-1 Quilting Machine customer lives in Stephenville, that's just a little southwest of Dallas right? Close enough for a detour - when fabric calls my name I listen (grin).Imagine walking through a working warehouse with row upon row upon row of luscious fabric collections begging to jump into your rolling cart. Truly overwhelming to the first-timer but so welcomed to a…

• A Time of Distraction, Discovery and Delight

  24 Jan 2010 | 7:13 pm

  It's been a while since I've rambled, well, online at least!I've been delightfully distracted lately. In several ways actually. I'll share just a few.I don't think I can count a lunch out with my youngest son as a distraction, but it was a delight as we enjoyed a Sunday lunch together. And a rare photo op so thanks for indulging me (grin)I've discovered something this week. A new use for tearaway stabilizer - and I don't even own an embroidery machine! I actually have several ideas for this product, Stabilglider Embroidery Stabilizers: Fil-Tec's Tear Away Backing, but one I'll share in this…

• Extended Lunch - taking advantage of the sunshine

  12 Jan 2010 | 3:58 pm

  If you've been following my blog then you know how much I love going to Galveston. Since Hurricane Ike those visits have been few and far between, at least the day time visits when I have time to walk on the seawall - as I do go to the Island Quilters Guild evening meetings as much as possible.Well, today was just too nice of a day to stay inside - I was tempted by the offer of an "extended lunch" and I was most eager to head south.It's always fun to see the positive changes each time I visit the island post Ike. Today was no exception. After a wonderful lunch at The Spot it was time to walk…

• The First Week of the Rest of My Life

  9 Jan 2010 | 7:01 pm

  I love the opportunity for new beginnings. Sundays are my all time favorite day of the week because that is my time for refreshing and worship. I count Mondays as good too because even though technically they are the second day of the week I think of them as the first day of my work week and I'm always eager to see where the week will lead me. The first of a month is fun because I get to turn to a new page on my calendar, there's a whole clean slate and days waiting to be filled - an opportunity to write my own history. New years are the epitome of newness. All of these are opportunities to…

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  All Things Quilty

• Nature Studies

  9 Feb 2010 | 5:49 am

  Yesterday, I devoted the whole day to my "homework" for Pamela Allen's online art quilt workshop, "About Style." This week's lesson is about creating flowers, leaves, and trees that are not generic daisies, elliptical leaves, or "lollipop trees." So much good advice about composition and creativity goes into these lessons! And the classwork posted by the students in the class is turning out fabulous!The first part of our assignment was to find artwork or photographs that featured different types of flora and fauna, and then to create six small studies in fabric on white backgrounds. All of…

• Squaring and Binding

  8 Feb 2010 | 8:02 am

  I decided to tackle the squaring up of this old quilt this weekend. I knew it was going to be a hatchet job because the quilt was so dreadfully uneven, despite the additional strip of muslin I added to each side. Thank goodness for that, or the star points would have to be amputated! Now I have quite a few quilted strips about an inch wide that can be made into bookmarks, cuffs, or something else. I will not throw away all that quilting!I chose a blue for the binding, which blends nicely with the blues in the star points, and is the Carolina Blue of my brother and sister-in-law's alma…

• Two Cool Web Things

  6 Feb 2010 | 8:56 am

  Snowy again today...but we are not getting the two plus feet of snow that has dumped on parts a little farther north, like the Washington, D.C. area. Perfect afternoon to stay in and sew.Here is a web application that someone in our guild posted. I think it is a fabulous way to look at the color wheel and all the different types of combinations!http://colorschemedesigner.com/ And this is pretty cool...talking text-writer. Type something in the text box, then click "Say It" and she reads what you typed, her eyes look around...and you can change the avatar, add special effects...good way to…

• Baby quilt and Quilt Tops from the Bee

  5 Feb 2010 | 1:43 pm

  We had a great bee meeting last night at Irene's house. Lots of good show-and-tell...I was not the only one sewing during the snow days!Here is our hostess, Irene, with a fabulous stars quilt that was from a Bernina Saturday Sampler. The stars really pop on the blue background. Kathy had us drooling over this Thimbleberries quilt top. The materials were donated to Kathy's church, and she is making it into a raffle quilt. She asked me if I would quilt it for them. I will indeed!Here is a little quilt for a baby boy who will turn two on Sunday. His grandmother made this little monkey/jungle…

• More Charity Quilts from our Bee Sew-In

  4 Feb 2010 | 2:30 pm

  My bee, The Whacky Ladies, meets tonight, so I finished two more of the charity quilts that the ladies made at our sew-in meeting in January.The first one is made from a kit that I put together with homespun, flannels, and a novelty fabric that has a camping theme. I just had to put leaves all over, including some pine branches, to represent the outdoors. This one is so soft and cozy, and would be appropriate for a man. It will go to one of our area rest homes for a wheelchair-bound resident.The backing s also a soft flannel plaid, which shows up the quilting very nicely.Although I often show…

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  Hanne's Quilt Corner

• Melancholy

  4 Feb 2010 | 1:33 pm

  My mother died in her sleep today, 70 years old. I wish things could have been different, and that she would have chosen her grandkids and family, instead of alcohol and pills, many years ago, when she had the chance. I am glad I  had the strength to be strong for my girls, and that they have not had to live through the hell with alcoholism and drug abuse! I have often missed you and the relationship we could have had ! Rest in peace mum.

• Salg på Trådsnella i dag

  4 Feb 2010 | 1:19 am

    I dag, 4 februar, gir Trådsnella, Lørenskog,  50 % avslag  på alle quiltestoffer! Butikken har åpent til kl. 19. Today my local hobby shop Trådsnella gives 50 % off all quilting fabrics.

• Monday again

  1 Feb 2010 | 2:59 pm

  Mondays are nice - like white paper and new crayons, ready to be used ! I like weekends too, just in case you think I don't :-) Today the sun has been shining bright, and even if it is very cold outside, -17 C, it brings promises of spring. The beloved furball has been sunbathing in her favourite cardboard box and chasing her tail like mad. Maybe cats are not as smart as one thinks  ;-) I am done with all the previous focus projects, so today I have picked new projects to focus on for the next 2 weeks:   My Gail Pan BOM - I am done with the stitcheries for January and February, but…

• Hand piecing is so nice :-)

  29 Jan 2010 | 10:35 am

  I have had a mishap with the shoulder that get inflammations very easily, so I am taking it very very easy with the sewing machine until the muscles and ligaments have calmed down again. Hand sewing with a short thread is perfect relax work :-) 3 more blocks to go - 1 appliqué, 1 English Paper Piecing and 1 for the sewing machine - foundation paper piecing I LOVE how this BOM is coming together :-) Hanne

• Thursday's add on

  28 Jan 2010 | 1:49 pm

  I could not help myself - just had to make one more block today :-) 5 more blocks to go, and these are the more work intensive ones - 1 applique, 1 English paper piecing, 2 hand piecing and 1 machine piecing ( foundation paper piecing). Hanne

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  Little Quilts

• Have A Heart Sew-in this week!

  9 Feb 2010 | 10:47 am

  It's a rainy day here in Marietta, GA but we're gearing up for our Have A Heart Sew-in this Thursday, February 11th from 10am-8pm.  We hope some of you can make it!  We'll be making pillowcases for Sheltering Hands Battered Women's Shelter and The Fisher House, a home away from home for families of military men and women being treated at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center in Fort Gordon, GA.If you can't come sew with us, you can still take part in the One Million Pillowcase Challenge... simply send your completed pillowcases to the store during 2010!  We'll tally…

• Show-n-tell

  7 Feb 2010 | 5:10 pm

  Our customers have been busy bringing us their finished projects!  We love to see what everyone is wokring on!  It's especially fun to help a customer pick out fabrics for their projects and then see the finished project when they are done!We loved this pumpkin table mat that Bonni Brooks brought in. The mat is done in wool with beautiful buttonhole stitching and embroidery. The pattern is from Primitive Gatherings.We had a great time making snowball blocks at the Great Snow Event in January and just wanted to show you a quilt made with snowball blocks. Staff member Linda Rice…

• And the winner is.....

  7 Feb 2010 | 3:58 pm

  Congratulations to Becky Hall, she won our bundle of new Little Quilts Shirtings!  Becky is working on doggie bandana's with hearts on them for some people that are very close to her family right now.  It was fun to read about all the great projects you're all working on right now.I'm sitting at home right now watching the Super Bowl and I can't stop thinking about all the great things we've got going on at the store right now!  We hope you'll make some time to swing by... we've got tons of new fabrics and great project ideas.Keep checking the blog!

• 14% off coupon valid February 8th-13th

  6 Feb 2010 | 7:35 am

  Click the coupon to print and bring to the store.

• Super Cute Socks, Hats and Scarves!

  6 Feb 2010 | 7:00 am

  For a rainbow of fun, try out our new mismatched socks, stocking caps, and scarves. These are knit in North Carolina from recycled cotton that comes from Vermont. The socks are available in adult sizes as well as Pair and a Spare for Children and Two Pair and a Spare for babies. Very bright, very colorful, very FUN!I got a pair and i can't wait to take the hat to Colorado with me next month!  I love thet the kids socks come with one extra sock... that way, when you lose one in "washing machine sock land" you still have an extra pair!

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  Common Threads

• books for Carissa

  3 Feb 2010 | 4:02 pm

  I agree with Jess...I totally want to make one of these quilts for myself. I had fun digging through my stash to find fabric strips for this. I think this ended up being a little bit longer than 30", so I had just the right amount of white for this block.

• Books for Carissa

  3 Feb 2010 | 7:41 am

  These three blocks are various widths. I found my blocks became wonkier the wider they got, so I kept them in three shorter lengths that Carissa can combine with others however she likes.I love this idea. I am seriously thinking about using this design to make a quilt for my son’s Kindy teacher (she is a book lover). Also, Carissa sent her fabric in the cutest packaging ever! It was very popular with the monster-loving little boys at my house.

• All Caught Up

  28 Jan 2010 | 12:02 pm

• January...Peace and Comfort

  27 Jan 2010 | 4:58 am

  My fabric is on the way to you. In your package you'll find some muslin/kona bone and some red scraps. I am planning a quilt inspired by this one. I would love for you to make me one or more red cross blocks. I'd like the blocks to be 6.5" square. The crosses can extend to the edge of the block or they can float in the muslin...they can be centered or not...fat or skinny or a combo of both. The crosses can be a combination of the fabrics, pieced or one fabric. Feel free to innovate the shape of your cross. I love the curvy, improv feeling of these crosses. As long as it reads as a red cross,…

• Squares for Rebekah

  27 Jan 2010 | 12:17 am

  Originally I had not planned to do any embroidery, but after I finished the blocks, I felt that they would probably benefit from a little more embellishment. So I added a little running stitch around the maroon solid. I’m happy with how they turned out.I did not add much of my own fabric to these blocks, because the fabric Rebekah sent was so pretty together already. I did add a few little bits – I have to admit that I love the tiny black polka-dot square (see pic below).

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  Stitchin' Friends

• And the winner is..........

  7 Feb 2010 | 5:30 pm

  I interrupted Fred's Super Bowl game long enough to draw the winning name, and Mary, he said to tell you that you owe him $5! I'll bring it to you at our Saturday meeting, and Congratulations!Today I finished the Heart and Home wall hanging I have been working on. On the last post, it looked like this. As you know I was not at all happy with this design. Sooooooooooooooooooo.......After several revisions (or I should say rippititions) it ended up like this. The saying that I put on it says "It takes hands to build a house, but only hearts can build a home." I found that on the internet and…

• Ice Day!

  31 Jan 2010 | 7:44 am

  We had a beautiful ice fall yesterday and last night. This morning the trees looked beautiful with the sun shining through the ice - just like glass trees. I must have a hundred or more pictures of trees like this over the years, but they still just leave me in awe of the beauty of nature. Here is my baby girl Ellen(she's 24) getting in some sledding. I spent my time cleaning, sewing and napping - now this I could get used to! I finished up the Gail Pan Christmas Wish stitchery. I have not quite decided how I will used these yet, but I am thinking they would make a pretty garland with brass…

• How many squares can fit in a 6" block?

  24 Jan 2010 | 6:43 pm

  In this block, you get 169 squares in the 6 inch finshed block. I recently purchased Terrie Sandelin's book, Miniatures in Minutes, and while it took me many minutes, it was fun to do. This particular block is not in the book, but I used her method and my design to make it. You start with a 13 x 13 inch grid and lay out your colors the way you want, and since I want a small wall hanging for Valentine's day, I came up with this pattern. I like most of her technique, except she uses glue to hold the fabric pieces in place before you sew them. I found this messy and made removing the paper…

• Anyone interested in a purple fabric square swap?

  21 Jan 2010 | 5:25 am

  I have received a chain letter where you send 2 six inch purple fabric squares to 7 different people (the 7 includes me). If the chain is not broken, then you should eventually receive 72 squares. I normally do not do chain letters - they die when they reach my house, but this one actually sounds fun. I don't want to send it to someone that does not want to join though, so thought maybe I could find 6 people on here that would want to play.If you would like to participate, please send me an email with your address and I will send it on to you.Teresa15210

• Its moving time again......

  17 Jan 2010 | 4:34 pm

  We have been working hard to get my Mom's house cleaned out and ready for my neice to move in next week. Now by cleaned out, I mean clean out the closets, clear space for my neice's furniture, move out some of the stuff, but leave most there. I am bringing to my house some rather large pieces of furniture that my Dad made, including a 6 foot Buffet, 7 foot china hutch and a 6 foot dresser with mirror. We got the buffet moved up yesterday and here is a picture. Daddy's trademark was the cracks that always appeared in his furniture after a few years, and sure enough, both doors have cracks…

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  Quiltville's Quips & Snips

• Home from Alabama!!

  8 Feb 2010 | 6:49 am

  I made it safely home from Alabama last night......was wondering if I was going to GET to come home....my flight out of Huntsville was supposed to leave at 6:20...and about 2pm they called (or the computer called cuz it was not a real person on the line) to tell me that my flight to Washington-Dulles was cancelled.I turned right around right then and called the United number, while Teresa who was driving me headed straight to the airport in case there was another flight I could take.We got me on a flight from Huntsiville to Chicago instead....and then Chicago to Greensboro......longer time in…

• Sew Day Snow Day!!!

  30 Jan 2010 | 6:12 am

  This is nothing for those of you in Northern Climes, but to be dumped on in January even worse than we were dumped on in December...IN THE SOUTH...it's quite the thing. It's all anyone has been able to talk about! Last night on the TV scrolling at the bottom all night long are all the CHURCH closings for Sunday....being closed ahead of time on Friday night!We don't have the equipment necessary to make transportation safe, not for plowing every street, or even major thoroughfares. The only thing I saw anyone doing was spraying the road ways 2 days ahead of time with salt brine. So 2 days after…

• Busy Year Ahead!!

  29 Jan 2010 | 2:12 pm

  A couple of the venues planned for this year include Quilt Odyssey in Hershey PA July 21-25, and the NC Quilt Symposium Jun 3-6!!I'm teaching Crumb Piecing and String Spiderweb in Charlotte for the NC Quilt Symposium!I'm teaching Crumb Piecing, Basketweave Strings, and Happy Scrappy Houses in Hershey at Quilt Odyssey!If you've always wanted to take ANY of these classes and you find yourself somewhere nearby....both venues are getting close to having sign-ups available on their respective websites.In fact....this logo was sent to me by the NC Quilt Symposium gurus today asking if I would put…

• Wednesday is Soup Day!

  27 Jan 2010 | 12:52 pm

  I have a friend who LOVES to cook. And truly, I envy the meals that they enjoy because it's a bit tricky with my family. When someone says we are having "Lentil Chili" or "something something prima vera" Not only am I JEALOUS, but bummed....because you see, even if I *could* cook that way, and I would love to cook that way....my family would turn up their collective noses and ask where the nearest hot dog is instead.This past summer I watched and listened to the tales of which garden grown yummies were going into what fabulous meal or side dish.....zucchini this, home grown string bean…

• Book Review -- Amish Abstractions!

  26 Jan 2010 | 11:09 am

  How appropriate! After my last post about loving to work with solids, look what I've got here to review!There is a new book out called Amish Abstractions, published by Pomegranate Communications. You can look at their website HERE!If you love antique quilts, antique AMISH quilts especially, as I do....you need this book in your collection. I've got a large selection of books on Amish quilts, but this one really really pleased me! The quilts shown are from the collection of Faith and Stephen Brown. More than 75 quilts originating in communities throughout PA and the Midwest from 1880 to the…

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  Threads of Friendship

• Quilts, quilts and more quilts!

  7 Feb 2010 | 9:40 pm

  Yesterday my daughter and I headed to the town of Loch for the annual quilt hanging. It was a girl’s day out to remember. Emily had a lovely time and by the end of the day was expert at working out if a quilt was hand or machine quilted. She also was amazed how many quilts were made of diamonds and triangles. These were two of her favourites and she wants to start one like the latter, later this year…  Perhaps I shouldn’t have said, “This would be a good design for a first quilt”!    These were two of my favourites, I decided I’d like to make a three coloured quilt…

• Cake and hammers!

  31 Jan 2010 | 1:19 am

  It was time to celebrate Oliver’s birthday with friends and family today. It was a 10 day wait for Oliver, a long time when you are three four. He requested a rocket party with woodwork and real tools. Here is the birthday boy with his tools, thanks to nana!   We visited reverse art truck to get all the wood off cuts and the empty knitting machine cones which the children used. They had a lot of fun making rockets, space ships and even a castle!! The afternoon finished off with birthday cake and ice cream in cones (It was a very hot day!) This year it had to be a rocket cake with three…

• Sweet Dreams little monkey!

  25 Jan 2010 | 8:25 pm

  I have a little boy who has just turned 4. He is blessed with a very cheerful disposition, has so much energy for life and so much curiosity for learning, that at times I struggle to keep up! He is happy almost 100% of the time – what a gift! So what fabric does one choose to make a quilt for their  happy, cheeky monkey? With a summer birthday, I couldn’t resist the bold, bright colours of Malibu Monkeys by Michael Miller. I love the beach ball fabric. It measures 45” by 68”, just smaller than single bed size, but small enough to wrap around the shoulders of my gorgeous 4 year…

• Bright Sunshiny Days

  22 Jan 2010 | 6:58 pm

  We have been thoroughly enjoying the Summer School holidays – sleeping in and catching up with precious friends. Jenny and her gorgeous kids came over for a day of sewing and fun. Amy has just started sewing lessons and showed me the selvedge pin cushion she had made. So I got my stash of selvedges out and started sewing them together – it is VERY addictive. I hope to turn this lot it into a bag (eventually). The kids also found a picture of babushkas in the newspaper and made me a card too, Miss Georgia is the model. Thank you very much, I love it! Look who is staying with us for the…

• We’re all going on a summer holiday!!

  17 Jan 2010 | 3:40 am

  I am just back for two days of stitching in peace and thought I’d share some of our holiday fun… There was a day picking strawberries and of course eating them. I recommend the chocolate fondue at Sunny Ridge Strawberry farm. Delicious!! The beach was beautiful and so refreshing after a hot day and extra special when you’ve never built a sand castle there!       I got home to a parcel at the door and waited very patiently until children were in bed to open it… I had spent some Christmas money at Hancock’s sale and it was all sooo cheap (less than $6 a yard!) and…

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  Canton Village Quilt Works

• Sweet Baby Dreams

  8 Feb 2010 | 2:45 am

  Hello Everyone,I have to say that this month I am just tickled pink!! I am excited because my shop is featured as the exclusive shop to kit this wonderful quilt below. It can be found in Quilt Magazine. The quilt is called Sweet Baby Dreams and is just that, sweet! It features 1930s reproduction fabrics from the Storybook VII line from Windham Fabrics.Here is the quilt, designed by Karen Bennett. I just love pinwheels.Here is the fabric that you can find in the kit. It includes 15 different 1930s fabrics, Kona Cotton Banana, and Kona Cotton Asparagus for the binding. Gorgeous right?Here is…

• An Angel From Panama

  6 Feb 2010 | 2:45 am

  Hello Everyone,Like many of you, I follow many different blogs. But there is one I have been following for sometime now. Carol from Panama, has a blog called Postcards from Panama. If you haven't seen it, you must go visit her. She is a very talented lady and it really shows in the work she does.Well, she also started reading my blog and also exploring my website. She had e-mailed me on several occasions and expressed how much she liked the longarm quilting that I do for my customers. She asked if I would like to quilt her Angels quilt that she has been working on.I was thrilled. This quilt…

• Colors of Peru Quilt

  4 Feb 2010 | 2:45 am

  Hello Everyone,Some of you who have been reading my blog for a while may remember that in August of 2008, my mother, my daughter, and I took a vacation of a lifetime to Peru. You can read about it in my blog posts here. Make sure you come back quick though. Do you see what I mean by the color?Anyway, when I started to make that striped quilt from Kaffe Fassett's book, I kept thinking that all the color reminded me of Peru. So I have decided to name the quilt, "The Colors of Peru". The quilt isn't even done yet! But I have made progress. Lots of progress. I finished everyone of the blocks.Here…

• What Do All These Fabrics Have In Common?

  2 Feb 2010 | 2:45 am

  Hello Everyone,Well, we have a little bit of...KaffeBrandonMarthaand Philip!And these are all NEW ARRIVALS in my shop!! You can find yardage and fat quarter packs too!! Die cuts will be coming soon. Also, due in later today more Kona Cottons and Essex Cotton Linen blend (new colors). So stop by and have a look!Until Next Time...**Edited as of 11:00 AM.... The new Essex Cotton Linen Blends as well as some new roll ups and Kona Cotton has been added to the site.**

• More Layouts

  31 Jan 2010 | 2:45 am

  Hello Everyone,I wanted to share with you a few more examples of the Hunter's Star. These are some photos that I took while at class at QBTY.This first photo is a 3 color or 3 fabric version of a Hunter's Star. Laura (our teacher) made this table runner to demonstrate using the 3 colors for this pattern. It looks much different than a 2 color or 2 fabric version. Just lovely!Here is my friend Maria modeling one of her completed blocks. She chose to make a 2 fabric version. If you click on the picture to enlarge you will see that the fabrics she chose are tone on tone. She is making a lap size…

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  Highland Quilter

• A Week at Beautiful Bridport

  22 Jan 2010 | 9:34 pm

  We are all home from a very relaxing and restful week at Bridport. This is the 3rd year that a group of us have shared some of our summer holiday together. The group started at my previous teaching school. A few of us taught together and also had children that were friends so we decided it would be lovely to holiday together. The group has grown to include our families and other friends and each year we spend a great week at the beach.This year we shared our holiday with about 40 people. The view from the Living Area Balcony....The Beach where we spent most mornings....A relaxing swim......

• Block Roll

  14 Jan 2010 | 5:27 pm

  Just a quick post to show what I have be working on in my sewing room. I used a tutorial that Teresa had placed on her blog. This Block Roll was very easy to make. Here is the finished Block Roll in use. I finished the stitching on this Quilt Aid block last night....only 2 blocks to go.Below is a small project that has been in my "Kit Box" for a few years. It was one of those projects that you just have to have when visiting a Craft Fair..... It is my aim to make up many of these kits this year and get rid of them, so to speak.... Well back to the beach and sun....we are having a week at our…

• Holiday Stitching

  8 Jan 2010 | 12:52 pm

  Being on holidays is wonderful as you can do what you love most. This week I have read, sun-lounged, stitched, watched DVD's, napped and generally been a holiday slob! Bliss! I have managed to completed my FIS birthday stitchery and framed it. This year the Friends in Stitching online group I am part of is running a BOM. The first block is January's block and its called Capital T. The Dresden Plate block was just me being inspired by the gorgeous fabric!I have been working on my Quilt Aid quilt whenever I have a spare moment. I have 3 of the 12 blocks to complete then the middle and side…

• Happy New Year 2010

  1 Jan 2010 | 11:18 pm

  I hope you have all had a lovely Christmas and a great New Year's. We have been very family focused this year. Spending Christmas lunch with my sister Fiona, and Nathan, Issi and Ruby, Mum, Dad and John. We broke from tradition and had a BBQ and it was so much better. After lunch we all enjoyed playing on the Play Station that Issi and Ruby received from Santa. For dinner that night we went to a BBQ with Andrews brother, John and his extended family. On Boxing Day we had a "Left-over" BBQ at Mum's.New Years Eve we went to a BBQ with friends at the Tiffin's and New Years Day saw us having yet…

• A Crafty Christmas

  29 Dec 2009 | 12:37 am

  I hope you all had a lovely Christmas. I certainly did even though Christmas Day seemed to stretch over 2 days this year. The festivities are almost over and I am heavily involved with cleaning and sorting out my house. (a ritual I tend to do between Christmas and New Year..) Once my house is in order I am then free to stitch and "play" with fabric til my hearts content....This year I was involved in 2 Christmas Swaps. The first swap was Chookyblues SSCS. Below is a picture of the gifts that I sent my SSCS partner Marica in Sweden.Below is my SSCS gift that I received from Caroline in the…

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  Quilter Going Bananas

• Saturday Sampler Series

  6 Feb 2010 | 9:51 am

  I'm pleased to start the next Saturday Sampler series featuring blocks from this bookcalled Sylvia's Bridal Sampler by Jennifer Chiaverini, author of the Elm Creek novels.Here's a block I finished several days ago, called Album I.Look for more blocks from SBS soon.I'm going to lay on the couch now. Yesterday I woke up with a horrible cold and I have no energy to do anything. Ugh!  I hate it!  Go do some quilting for me, okay everyone?Until next time...

• Goals for February

  4 Feb 2010 | 9:12 pm

  It's that time of the month to say what I'd like to accomplish for the month of February for Like the new logo, Kelly changed it up for us!Okay so first is piecing block #8 from the FQS Designer Mystery BOM #2.Then I want to piece blocks #5 and 6 from the Green Piece BOM.  And continue working on the buttonhole stitch around the wool appliques for those blocks of this BOM.I did not get to the pattern Madeline from the Year of Schnibbles.  The pattern for this month is called Sunday Best.  So which Schnibble will I make?  You'll have to wait and see at the end of the month,…

• January Finishes

  31 Jan 2010 | 8:06 pm

  So what did I get done for January for the following challenges?First I finished Block #7 from FQS Designer Mystery BOMI got Blocks 3 and 4 pieced from the Green Piece BOM. I am currently working on the 4 wool blocks, getting the buttonhole stitch by hand on them.And lastly here comes the finished quilt...Half Pint!  Quilted and bound this month.  An OPAM finish and a PhD finish in one! WooHoo!Until next time...

• Saturday Sampler Series

  30 Jan 2010 | 2:40 pm

  I know last Saturday that some of you were expecting a new installment in the Saturday Sampler series.  I've shown you the blocks of the first sampler quilt I made.  So what's next?  Well, maybe some blocks fromone of these books? or both books?  Tune in next Saturday to find out!Until next time...

• Spark and Tuesday Finishes

  26 Jan 2010 | 12:56 pm

  Here's a peek at some of the sewing I got done today...The block on the left is the 7th block from Fat Quarter Shop's Designer Mystery BOM.  The block on the right is the exact same block using bright colours.  This is my block that will go into a quilt we're making for a very dear friend who is seriously ill and who attends our Wednesday night quilt get-togethers.  We miss her a lot!  If you want a closer look click on the pic.  I love the cheery floral print and the pink!Thanks to all of you who responded positively about the Spark People website and the contest in…

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  A Quilting Life

• How About a Giveaway?!

  8 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am

  Isn't this a great bag? I fell in love with it right away! It's a brand new pattern...not even released yet...and is called "The Tiny Clutch." Tiffany from Tiny Seamstress Designs has made this clutch, and one reader of my blog can receive it! Tiffany is heading to market for the first time this spring, and the pattern for this clutch will be one of her pre-market releases.To enter...head on over to Tiffany's blog, then scroll down to look at her other great bag designs. Come back here and leave a comment letting us know which is your favorite. The giveaway will stay open until Wednesday…

• February Plans

  6 Feb 2010 | 2:52 pm

  We're having a wonderful rain today--perfect weather for sorting through the sewing room and setting my February sewing goals. (Because of the clouds my pictures aren't as bright as I'd like--these fabrics are so much more gorgeous in person).I've finished piecing the top for my Verna version of "Jelly & Jam"...so now she needs borders!So, goals one and two are to get borders on my two large Verna quilts (the other one is "Piece of Cake" that I shared here). Just this week I was able to order Verna yardage from Kelly...her prices are great, and her shipping was super fast! Goal number…

• Wordless Wednesday

  3 Feb 2010 | 8:06 am

• Another little quilt...and Winners!

  1 Feb 2010 | 5:20 pm

  I have to share one of my favorite little quilts made with the wonderful Fig Tree line, Patisserie. No, it's not a "Schnibble," but it is from a pattern by Carrie called"Opening Day." I had to make this miniature version last spring (actually this option is shown on the back cover of the pattern). I really want to make the full-sized quilt as well...I'm challenging myself to use only fabrics from my stash--but this was one of those patterns I just couldn't wait to start, and thus this little quilt. Oh...and a few "Schnibbly" winners to share today too...Carrie has chosen two winners...one…

• Schnibbles Day!

  1 Feb 2010 | 8:00 am

  It's February first (can you believe it?)...and here is the February Schnibble--"Sunday Best!"I made mine out of Verna (by Kate Spain for Moda) and absolutely love it! You might notice I made a scrappy binding...the yardage is available now but wasn't when I was finishing my quilt...but I kind of like the scrappy binding! This quilt just says "spring" to me (although I'm rather liking the cooler temps right now...no hurry for summer).A big thank you to my friend Gail who quilted it this week for me (last minute, no less)! "Sunday Best" is a nice sized quilt-- 37 by 37, using 64 charm squares…

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  Anyone Can Quilt

• She's 2!

  AnyoneCanQuilt

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:06 am

  Our sweet little Rosie is two years old today.  I can't believe how the time has flown by.  We are so happy to have this baby in our family.  She is a funny, sweet, snuggly little monkey.  And did I mention that she's patient... She's looking around for someone to save her from this embarrassment... "anyone?...helloooooo?...."Uh-oh, now she's plotting her revenge. Don't worry, we'll make it up to you Rosie.  Lot's of extra snuggles and kisses on your soft ears.  And we won't make you wear this hat again.... until…

• My green winter socks

  AnyoneCanQuilt

  22 Jan 2010 | 10:13 am

  I just finished my second ever full pair of socks.  Glory be.  The second sock has been sitting in my knitting bag for a loooooong time.  Once I decided it was pathetic and time to get the little fella finished, it went so quick!  Why didn't I finish these last year?  They are so comfy and cozy and I love them.   Taking pictures of socks while you're wearing them is a little tricky.  But I rolled up my pants and gave it a go.  My kids think I'm weird.So does Cowgirl Rosie.   Have you noticed my beautiful bag in the…

• Summery stitching in the rain.

  AnyoneCanQuilt

  17 Jan 2010 | 3:11 pm

  Last night I finished my vintage sheet quilt.  You remember, the one I wanted to finish last summer.   The one that has been quilted and has had naked edges for months... that's the one.  I suddenly got the urge to finish her.  And I'm so glad I did.  She's brought some sunshine to the gray days of my Oregon winter...And has made me think of "The new Jan Brady" and her fake boyfriend George Glass.Before the unveiling I'd like to share a quick binding tip with you.  I love a nice hunky binding.  Empty feeling binding makes me…

• Me, trying to get up.

  AnyoneCanQuilt

  13 Jan 2010 | 10:11 am

  This is what my mornings look like lately.  Not wanting to get out of my cozy bed, content in the covers.  Partly because it's been so gray and wet outside.  Partly because I don't have to be anywhere early in the morning.  One of the perks of homeschooling my girls.  Mornings aren't stressful, we get to linger over breakfast, and heck why not do school in our pajamas and poofy robes today.   Ok, I'm crawling out.  We do have work to do after all.  When school is done I'll get to play in my sewing room while listening…

• Me? Finish something? What?

  AnyoneCanQuilt

  10 Jan 2010 | 11:32 pm

  Oh boy oh boy I've just finished something!!What could it be?  Does it look familiar?  Maybe...yes...no....It's a new coffee cozy design!  The Cottage Coffee Cozy.  Here's another one, a yo-yo one!!!  I love yo-yos.And then there are scallops...I really enjoyed designing and making these!  So much so that I went totally out of character, the procrastinating one, and made a pattern.  You heard me right.  I have the Cottage Coffee Cozy PDF pattern for sale in my Etsy store as we speak.  Yay! Next step is to finish some more…

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  Cherry House Quilts

• What does modern quilting mean to me?

  Lizzy House

  9 Feb 2010 | 11:08 am

  Have you popped over to the Modern Quilt Headquarters in the last few days?  Opinions are being sought, and the question being asked is "What does modern quilting mean to me?" I've read a few of the responses, which are quite varied and interesting.  As I read the responses, I wasn't quite sure where I fit into the mix, but then I thought, "Maybe that's okay, maybe that is what the whole movement is about".  It's about doing our own thing, about not conforming to any particular set of rules.  The funny thing is, in some respects I am very traditional, in terms of the whole 1/4'' seam…

• I love color!!!

  Lizzy House

  7 Feb 2010 | 7:16 pm

  I'm only afraid of about a million things, but there is one thing that I have no fear of; and that is COLOR! Beautiful, glorious color...beautiful colors can bring me to tears, whether it is fabric, flowers, the sky, I just cannot contain my love for it!  I used to drag my children out of the house after a storm to come look at the colors in the sky; sweet little things would come outside, and say "yeah Mom, that is beautiful", "No Mom, we've never seen the sky that color before".  As easily as it comes to me, I know some quilters get stuck on the subject, probably the same way I get stuck…

• Calling all future fabric designers

  Lizzy House

  3 Feb 2010 | 8:44 am

   Lizzy has written the most helpful, most informative, and most beautiful book on the subject of becoming a fabric designer in the quilting industry.  She hopes this book will be a helpful answer to all of those wanting to break into the industry, but have found so little guidance. This book has been a labor of love for fellow artists and quilters, and an acknowledgement and thanks to all of those that have helped her, on her journey.  This comprehensive book will remove the mystery that seems to shroud fabric manufacturers, designers, and quilt market. If being a fabric…

• Fabric time is here (sung to the tune of Christmas time is here)

  Lizzy House

  28 Jan 2010 | 5:56 pm

  Keeping with the Christmas theme, it was like Christmas time for me today!  When I got home, on my door step was a big box of fabric from my dearest friends at Robert Kaufman with Amy Schimler's newest fabric line On A Whim 2.  I'll tell you a little secret that Amy doesn't know; at our house we call her 'little Amy Shim Shim'.  Become friends with us, and your name is definitely in danger of being strangely modified.  So here's a little peek, actually it's not a peek at all, it's the whole freaking quilt, who am I kidding here?  Hope you like it...the pattern will be out as soon as…

• Modern Quilt Guild Phenomenon

  Lizzy House

  20 Jan 2010 | 11:52 am

  Have you seen all of the Modern Quilt groups popping up all over the place?  It is something that I have been watching gain momentum for several months.  I first noticed it on the Flickr Fresh Modern Quilt Group, quilters asking other like minded quilters if anyone else in their areas were interested in getting together to quilt.  Alissa @ Handmade by Alissa seems to be the godmother of this marvelous occurence, with little baby groups sprouting up, not only all over the country; but around the world! Just today over on Elizabeth's blog I saw her calling for quilters in Portland, and she…

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  Red Fish Circle

• Help Is Here For Wanna Be Fabric Designers

  7 Feb 2010 | 5:35 am

  Rock star  and personal favorite fabric designer Lizzy House (of Red Letter Day, Lizzy Dish, and upcoming Castle Peeps fame) has written an e-book all about the how to's of fabric design. The book, "How to Enter the World of Textile Design" is for sale here. She demystifies the process in a clear and stylish presentation. It even includes a forward by moi. You simply must check it out.  It is a must read if you are a wannabe fabric designer. If you just love fabrics, beautiful photos, and are curious about the business of fabric design, it will not disappoint.

• Winner

  5 Feb 2010 | 6:15 am

  It seems like the three most asked for fabrics were the birds on cream, the owls on white, and the cats on pink.  The winner of this contest is Mamaspark who won a yard of the owls on white. Congratulations! Thanks to everyone who entered, I wish I had enough fabric to send something to all of you, but I do promise more give aways in the future.

• Sewings On

  1 Feb 2010 | 5:31 am

  Haven't featured your lovely creations in a while so here we go:Pin CushionBumbo Seat CoverSkirt

• On A Whim 2 Give Away

  28 Jan 2010 | 6:17 am

  THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSEDNow that we are getting a bit closer to the release of On A Whim 2, it seems a good time for another fabric giveaway. I thought it might be fun for you to choose your fabric this time. So just leave me a comment telling me which fabric you would like and I will send the winner one yard of their pick. You can see the fabrics here (just be sure to describe the theme and color, i.e. "blue owls"). Good Luck! I will announce the winner next Friday.

• New Scarf

  25 Jan 2010 | 2:16 pm

  I just sewed this new scarf using linen, chenille, and some fabrics from the On A Whim 2 fabric collection coming to stores in another month.

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  Candle Lite Quilter

• Pretty Snow

  8 Feb 2010 | 12:15 pm

  This ... is what it looked like in Findlay, Ohio this morning ... We're suppose to get snow all day tomorrow (Tuesday) and in to Wednesday and they are calling for 12+ inches ... i can't wait, i hope we get it all and then some!!Tonight ... hubby's working and i'm going to clean like a mad-woman so tomorrow night i can sew, sew, sew while i watch it snow, snow, snow! Happy Monday everyone!

• Matthew ... Bad Day

  6 Feb 2010 | 8:58 pm

  Last Wednesday wasn't a good day for Matthew. I don't quite understand what he was doing, something about jumping on something then hanging from something then he either let go or slipped and landed on the ground, thus fracturing his elbow .... OUCH! He was at the ER until about 1 am Thursday morning then to the orthopedic surgeon's on Friday for another x-ray and then on to get a CT scan because they didn't like how the fracture looked. I think it was near his growth plate so they wanted a better look at it so he goes back Monday for the CT results...so here's a picture of matthew with his…

• Snowy Saturday

  6 Feb 2010 | 2:32 pm

  It's a Happy Snowy Saturday in Ohio!!! We didn't get a whole lot of snow in my area, just about 4 inches, but the blowing was terrible! Lots of big drifts and a great day to stay inside, bake some cookies and take a nap! Here's a picture of my car snowed in with the drifts...only about 4 inches of snow, but the 40 mph of winds was the kicker... Well, I haven't done any sewing this week so i thought i would show you some of my recent purchases...I think the Sent With Love line is so girly and cute ... i'm going to make the Schnibbles called NASH with it...Check out Kim's finished Valentine's…

• 1 Million Pillowcase Challenge

  31 Jan 2010 | 3:34 pm

  Well this weekend i finished my pillowcases for the 1 million pillowcase challenge. i made one dozen pillowcases, 4 of each pictured. I'm going to donate my pillowcases to Red Rooster Quilts in Dublin, Ohio. OH! and have you checked out Moda Bake Shop lately? There is an adorable new pattern posted today called Vintage Inspired Bear Paw Quilt that I'm going to do in my muted florals (pictured below). I've had these fabrics for over a year and they're drivin me nuts so i think they would be very pretty in that pattern with an ivory background. I also did some quilting on my red white and blue…

• New Cookbook ... YUM!!

  29 Jan 2010 | 5:41 pm

  I can't believe it's been over a week since i blogged! Holy Toledo! I've been too busy EATING to have time to sew :O) Last Saturday I bought Ree Drummond's book and it is FABULOUS! I think there is two or three receipes in the book I would probably never make, but everything else looks so yummy and the things i've tried are great!!! If you like cooking from scratch and all the fattening things in life ... then this is the book for you! I've promised my husband i'll only make one of her items a week from now on, but oh how i could make something different every night! This weekend hubby works…

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  Contemporary Traditions

• Eight Point Star

  7 Feb 2010 | 3:19 am

  Remember the Eight Point Star I posted on last week? Here is a shot of the quilting on the back. The backing material is a cotton flannel and the batting is cotton also. I wish these computers had a touch feature so you could reach into your computer and feel how soft this quilt is! Related post: Eight Point Star

• Adding Dimension to Your Quilt; The Ruffler

  31 Jan 2010 | 3:55 am

  Last week I looked briefly at using the automatic ruffler to make ruffles. This week I’d like to look at the settings on the ruffler to adjust the closeness and depth of the ruffles. The first setting I’d like to look at controls how close together the ruffles are. At the top front of the ruffler there is a plate that has four slots. The slots are marked “0”, “12”, “6” and “1”. A little metal

• Interpret This Reveals

  29 Jan 2010 | 4:45 am

  Have you been to the Interpret This Reveals? A group of gals are revealing self-portraits this week for the Interpret This group. There is some awesome work coming out of that group. If you have some time stop by and take a look!!

• Eight Point Star

  27 Jan 2010 | 3:09 am

  My friend Linda pieced this lovely lap quilt. It features an Eight-Point Star set on point inside a plain block with an Irish Chain surrounding it. I love the color scheme she chose for this quilt; cranberry reds, asparagus greens and a bit of cheddar cheese thrown into the border. Delicious!

• Adding Dimension to Your Quilt: The Ruffler

  23 Jan 2010 | 3:01 am

    The ruffler is a great little attachment I have for my sewing machine that makes ruffling fabric a breeze. The ruffler looks somewhat complicated, takes some effort to figure out and get used to and it can be pricey but, believe me, it is worth it. A ruffler is the easiest way to get the best ruffle. I have a Husqvarna Viking sewing machine so I bought the Husqvarna ruffler to go with it.

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  Barn Quilt Memories

• Lewis, Iowa

  6 Feb 2010 | 3:10 am

  The town of Lewis, Iowa is a quiet community located on a hill top overlooking the Nishnabotna River Valley and the Lewis Cold Springs Lake. A population of 444 people enjoy a rural location with a rich historical background, surrounded by abundant agricultural endeavors and a vibrant community organization. Active church groups, a great school district and goals to improve the looks, pride and housing in the area make for continuing motivation for a thriving environment.They currently have over 30 Barn Quilts in Lewis... with only 444 people living in 0.5 Square Miles! I have not found a…

• NJ & NC & Ky

  5 Feb 2010 | 9:01 am

  The Garden State (New Jersey), has been listed on the side-bar as having one web-site. There does exist enough information to list several of the individual counties. The Barn Quilt Association of New Jersey is a program of the New Jersey Museum of Agriculture. They are off to a fine start and have created their own 2010 calender. The New Jeresy counties now listed are MiddlesexSussex, and Warren. Efforts are being made in a few more counties, and I will try to keep my eyes out for them as they come on-line.From the Asheville Citizen-Times: Barbara Webster, executive director of Quilt Trails…

• Barn Quilts are Art

  4 Feb 2010 | 7:10 am

  I interject the following to provoke thought ...http://www.artlex.com/ elitism and elitist - The belief that certain persons deserve favored treatment by virtue of their superior artistic or intellectual accomplishments, or because of some other real or perceived status. People and things reach various levels of achievement, of success, and for better or worse, people judge the qualities of other people and things. But elitism is a tendency to codify levels of artistic sophistication into a hierarchical system that some would call pretentiously exclusionary, and others realistic. Elitism is…

• Easton, Md

  23 Jan 2010 | 2:02 am

  January 28 at 1:30 p.m. at TCVAC (storm date Feb 4)!!!! Art Talk !!!!'The Barn Quilts of Western Maryland' It's not what you think!Dolores Andrew will talk about how gloriously innovative Western Maryland artists are and what they are doing to save the local culture in the most creative of ways. Barn Quilt Art is now found in 23 states and in Maryland in Garret County, which even has a Barn Quilt Art Trail. "Barn Quilts are public art that celebrates the place people call home. They make people feel good about themselves and where they live."- Donna Sue Groves, visionary of some of the first…

• Random happenings...

  19 Jan 2010 | 4:26 pm

  I want to share with you all, several items of note. I will be out of town for a few days which often means out of web-sight.When you have time, visit Jen Buettner's blog: http://www.cre8tivequilter.blogspot.com/. Jen has this wonderful Barn Quilt Block of the Week going. She is a talented quilter (& EQ artist), photographer and blogger.Watch the Barn Quilt Trail video from The Old Mission Peninsula at: http://www.mefeedia.com/watch/27868944. Enjoy the stories that go with the barns...I was fascinated when I stumbled across the following: CSA (community supported agriculture) farm - Crown…

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  Art and Quilts, cogitations thereon

• Simplicity

  Elizabeth Barton

  8 Feb 2010 | 7:13 am

  One of the things I like to do is to photocopy pieces I really really love and then look at them all lined up and think what it is about them that grasps my attention so intensely.  If I want my work to have that effect, then I want to know how others did it to me!  How’d they do that? I realize I’m drawn to work with a strong clear message, this is just my personal taste but it would be nuts for me to want to make work that wasn’t My Personal Taste, right?  Clarity of message mean that there should be no doubt about what I’m trying to convey. Every time I’ve made…

• Intuition, continued.

  Elizabeth Barton

  5 Feb 2010 | 7:11 am

  I had so many fascinating comments on the Intuition post, plus Terry Jarrard-Dimond’s  thoughtful blog today, that I thought the topic worthy of further cogitation, if not agitation! There have been studies  on intuitive behaviour, e.g. that shown by the police when they talk about “a hunch”, or a rock climber “intiutively” picking the best route.  They show that while at the time of making the quick decision they might not have been able to consciously state what that decision was based upon, when they were asked to think it through slowly afterwards they could…

• Intuition

  Elizabeth Barton

  1 Feb 2010 | 6:22 am

  I’ve been thinking about the place of intuition in art making after hearing a friend who makes wonderful work wishing that she could work more “intuitively”. Intuition is knowing or understanding something without having apparently thought about it. This could be solving a mystery (but don’t you just hate those cheap mysteries where the detective solves the crime through “intuition”!! Poirot would be turning in his grave if he had one, as would dear Sherlock). It could also be expecting rain or a storm..some people “intuitively” know a storm is coming. Or it could be in…

• Festival of Quilts, UK

  Elizabeth Barton

  29 Jan 2010 | 7:21 am

    I just received word that I will be giving a two day workshop on design, and a lecture at the Festival of Quilts, in Birmingham, England this August. Design and Composition in Art Quilts (2 day class)  Tuesday 17th and Wednesday 18th August 9.30am to 4.30pm Working in a Series (lecture)  Thursday 19th August, 11.30am to 12.30pm.   Then, with Dominie Nash, I’ll be showing quilts in one of the galleries at the Exhibition site: from 10am to 5.30pm on Thursday 19th through to 5pm  on Sunday 22nd August. This will be my first time working in a big Festival so it will…

• Recycling clothing into art

  Elizabeth Barton

  27 Jan 2010 | 7:07 am

  I went to an interesting talk last night at the Art Dept of the University. Amongst the many discards of modern society are clothes.   Our foremothers, and some present day folk , but alas not enough, recycled clothing into quilts.   Before synthetic fabrics, the clothes would be divided into wool or cotton and the fibres reclaimed and remade into a lower quality, but still useable, fabric of some kind.   But now there are way too many discards for any number of quilters to remake!  And the fibres are too mixed for the natural ones to be reclaimed. …

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  Sunrise Quilt Studio

• Wedding Gown Quilt Revisited

  9 Feb 2010 | 6:14 am

  I received a question about the wedding gown quilt that I worked on last year so I thought I would post about it again.This dress was pieced into the top by the customer. I'm not sure how she did it, but the objective was to keep the dress as whole as possible - not cut it into blocks and stitch them back together. What I believe she did was to take the dress apart and rearrange the pieces of the skirt, sleeves, and bodice to make the top as you see it here in the photo.For quilting the dress we used silk for the backing fabric. We also added a layer of underlining fabric underneath the dress…

• Teaching Left-handed Needlearts

  7 Feb 2010 | 9:43 pm

  My husband and daughters are all left-handed. There have been challenges over the years teaching the girls to tie their shoes, write their letters, cut with scissors, and now - how to crochet and knit.My 14 y/o daughter decided she wanted to crochet a new hat. So yesterday we got out a skein of bright red yarn and a large crochet hook, and I attempted to teach her how to crochet left-handed. I finally gave up on that. I realized that my brain just won't work in the left-handed mode. So I found a video on You Tube made for left-handed crocheters.Hannah still found crochet to be difficult, so…

• Freehand Feathers

  5 Feb 2010 | 6:40 pm

  This is a current customer project. A set of 7 panels to make tote bags from. I quilted freehand feathers on this one with the black fabric using Signature 100% thread in Dusty Rose.This picture has better color. It looks like I'm needing a new camera :(  This is the same tote panel with the pieced block. I did a feather in the star, line dancing in the background pieces, and L's and E's in the pink border.

• Snip, Snip, Snip....

  30 Jan 2010 | 11:03 am

  I'm trimming trapunto batting today and my fingers are getting sore :( The pain and suffering of machine trapunto! I'm finding it more difficult to trim the 80/20 batting than the poly batting, but I think I'll get the result I'm looking for.Now to find that box of bandaids so I can cushion my thumb.

• Plan B

  28 Jan 2010 | 10:32 am

  Yesterday, I measured the 2 quilts for AAQI to make sure they fit the size requirements, but this quilt with the butterfly and coneflower is 1/2 inch too wide. Rats! I'm debating on whether to take off the binding and cut it down,  or make another quilt. I'm leaning towards making another quilt. I don't have much room to cut this quilt down on the sides without the binding running into the appliques.I have a wholecloth quilt on the machine right now, getting ready for the trapunto step. The top is loaded, but the trapunto bat is not. I've been debating on what batting to use for the…

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  Susie Can Stitch

• Floral Granny Squares - Wool

  7 Feb 2010 | 11:32 am

  I had fun making granny squares with acrylic, but the yarn was so scratchy, I yearned for a more satisfying fiber to work with. I took a trip out to one of the Big JoAnns stores (my local one is one of the small ones, fortunately it is always pretty busy), and I found an endcap of all natural Stitch Nation Yarn. We just saw this yarn debuted at CHA. There is 100 % Peruvian wool, an alpaca/wool blend and a very soft bamboo/ wool blend. Each lovely skein is only $5! Not even the tiniest bit of synthetic fiber is in this yarn, the 100% wool is a squishy singly ply, and I don't have to go to a…

• Granny Square Explorations - Acrylic

  6 Feb 2010 | 7:10 pm

  I am inspired to craft again since CHA! Last week I got out my crochet hooks and started crocheting floral granny squares from this pattern at Lion Brand HERE.First I played with Red Heart Acrylic because I wanted a stack of pretty scrubbers and I have a lot of that scratchy yarn to use up. They are super bright.I dug up these old ones I made 3 years ago with Caron Simply Soft. That yarn is more like sport weight than worsted so these are much smaller than the Red Heart Acrylic ones. I'm pretty sure I made a few scarves in some nice colorways as gifts one Christmas. I don't always photograph…

• Professional Quilting

  5 Feb 2010 | 2:26 pm

  Finally! It's quilted!I went over to the professional quilters house a couple weeks ago to drop off this quilt top I've had finished for at least a year.Alice has a ton of space to give over to her hobby in her basement. Here we laid out the quilt on the floor to be sure our backing and batting would be sufficient:Look at how gigantic her machine is!It's a Gammil Optimum which is a top of the line model. Her husband is a carpenter so he understands about nice tools. They bought this for a retirement hobby.She's like me in that she likes to make things for the joy of it and not so much to…

• CHA 2010

  26 Jan 2010 | 10:14 am

  I just got home from CHA. What a show! Our Craft Critique reporters are still hard at work covering this amazing trade show. There is a ton of patterned paper and cutting systems at CHA, but we spotted lots of other kinds of crafting too. Read our coverage HERE.I spotted a few craft celebrities at the show. Last year, amusingly, Paris Hilton was hawking some stamp designs and paper. I don't think that worked out too well for her with stores looking for crafts to buy, but she was a bit of a sensation.We didn't have that level of "celebrity" this year, but I totally got butterflies when I saw…

• Still making things, but slowly

  19 Jan 2010 | 8:10 am

  I like winter, but I do get kinda lazy during these darkest days. It is clear that I have been neglecting my blog. My son, husband and I have been retreating into our XBox. We do play together and talk about all the gaming strategies and game plots, so it is sort of a family "activity" for us. I did make some cute things for Christmas, but I never photographed them! They were a cute apron and two sets of very cool potholders for my Mom. I'll try to get a photo sometime later when I'm at her house..Yesterday my kids were home for MLK Day and fighting over control of the television. (They are…

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  The Quilter

• So I Told Myself

  7 Feb 2010 | 5:17 pm

  stop whining already and make one for yourself. What, you might ask, is she talking about? Why, a new weighted pincushion, of course! Isn't it cute? I have a lot of pincushions but they either have magnets in them or they are too lightweight. So I made my own pincushion and weighted it with crushed walnut shells. My pins slide right in, the weight keeps it handy and stable and I do not have to worry about magnets near my sewing machine. Isn't it a cutie?

• Repairing a Quilt

  31 Jan 2010 | 5:36 am

  The large hole turned out to be the easiest to fix and was it located fairly close to a corner. With the quilt washed, I removed the label, the quilting and all the binding in both affected corners. By removing the quilting stitches around the hole all the way to the edges on both sides, I could 'peel' back the layers. The backing was easy to do, as I just cut a new piece of the very same backing fabric large enough to cover the hole and extend off of the two sides. I ironed under a 3/8" seam allowance and top-stitched the large patch in place through the backing and the batting. Then I got…

• What type are you?

  27 Jan 2010 | 5:00 am

  You know that I used to be a typographer, right? I love the smooth, sensuous curves of Bauhaus. And then there is Korinna with it's beautiful U and C that just makes me drool. I have never met a typeface (font) that I did not like. So what do you think of circles? Exciting? Maybe not one circle by itself, but add a couple of more and it will start to speak.So when I saw this link on Sophie Junction I just had to play. My arm was twisted, really.My result totally made me laugh out loud! Dot Matrix! Remember the old impact printers and their dot matrix font?You can go to What Type Are You? (the…

• Making Something From Nothing

  26 Jan 2010 | 5:30 am

  Wow, what an overwhelming response. I didn't think there would be that many of you wanting to see repair work on this quilt.I do want to point out that this is a quilt that I personally made so I was fully aware of where the bias is located in those blocks. I had forgotten, however, that the strings were sewn to a fabric foundation and the foundation was left in the quilt. I now use the Kabinet Sandwich Paper (I get it at Sam's Club) that Bonnie Hunter talks about on her site and then I remove the paper before assembling the quilt. Go to Bonnie's String-X site and look at how the individual…

• Bad Dog!

  24 Jan 2010 | 5:00 am

   Here is Little Sister's nibbled quilt. I made this quilt for my Little Sister in 2002 using Bonnie Hunter's String-X pattern. I love this pattern because it uses up those oddball scraps. Anyway. You can see the hole the dog chewed in the first photo and the corner and binding he nibbled off in the second photo. He missed the label on the back of the quilt by about one inch.Sidebar: I used Sakura Micron Pigma Pens when I inked the label. The brown is still very good and readable. The green, on the other hand, bled and faded in a very unacceptable manner.Since this quilt is so scrappy and…

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  Giraffe Dreams

• Quilts and Snow - Lots of Each!

  8 Feb 2010 | 8:35 pm

  Uffda! Will it ever stop snowing?? It's beautiful, but give-us-a-break! The driving is horrible. One lovely bonus is that Dear Daughter decided to stay at our place tonight, as it is a shorter drive here from her job than to her place. Fun!! I love having her around for the evening. (We watched "The Bachelor" together. I hate to admit it, but I do watch that extremely stupid show.) Newsflash! She fixed my messed-up knitting! Hooray! I'm back in business!Meanwhile, I've had a few quilts come across my lap and have finished a couple, too. I had a nice chunk of sewing time on Sunday. I love to…

• Photo Hunt: Average

  6 Feb 2010 | 10:06 am

  An average day at Lake Superior is usually way above my typical "average" day. Go here to see other photos of the concept "average."

• Through the Kitchen Window

  5 Feb 2010 | 7:19 pm

  Fresh snow fell yesterday and during the night. It was so beautiful this morning! This is the view through our kitchen window. I took the picture before heading off to work.After that short moment enjoying the beauty of nature, my day was a whirlwind of activity. Busy, busy, busy, during and after work.The next time I was able to sit down and take a breath was 7:20 P.M. when I finally got to check my e-mail and found my sister on FB for a fun, impromptu, live chat.Now it's bedtime. So it goes.At least I took the few moments of time to enjoy the gorgeous view of our back yard. Later while I…

• Where Does Time Go?

  4 Feb 2010 | 6:58 pm

  Prague Astronomical Clock, photo by Wolfgang StaudtTime. It moves way too quickly. Each day is too short, especially the hours from after work until I have to go to bed to prepare for the next work day.The evening fills up with errands after work, reading the day's mail and email and facebook and blogs, making and eating dinner, doing dishes if we're motivated (or the next day we get to do a double load), perhaps an evening meeting at church, exercise session at the Y, check-in with hubby on how our days went, read a few more emails, look up something on Google, do a load of laundry, prepare…

• Wall Hanging

  2 Feb 2010 | 2:43 pm

  This is the wall hanging I finished this week. It is made from leftovers from this quilt:The quilt went to a veteran somewhere in New England. The wall hanging is headed out there, too, to hang on the wall in a vet's home, named for the son of a quilter friend. He died in Afghanistan. In fact, all the quilts I make for this group are in memory of Evan, the fallen soldier/beloved son.The quilt above was made for a challenge, and a bunch of vets got to vote. I tied for 3rd place and got a cool prize! Another challenge is coming in May. I need to get started making that one soon.

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  Wild Thread Studio Art Quilts

• 3 Feb 2010 | 5:59 am

  3 Feb 2010 | 5:59 am

  All together now.....awwwwwwwww. What stories are hidden in an old, worn pair of baby shoes? The unconditional love, the hope, the promises, the devotion, the paths that will be traveled.

• 1 Feb 2010 | 4:20 am

  1 Feb 2010 | 4:20 am

  Work in progress....What is sweeter or tells a better story than an old worn pair of baby shoes? I hope I can do them justice - stayed tuned.

• 28 Jan 2010 | 5:28 pm

  28 Jan 2010 | 5:28 pm

  I actually did some textile work the other night. I started free motion quilting on some surface designed silk and it seems to be coming out kind of well. I plan to finish for the gallery show in March. Meanwhile I'm on such a pastel kick. I can't put them down. Pastel dust is flying all over the sun room. Finished this bleeding heart interpretation tonight.

• 24 Jan 2010 | 6:17 am

  24 Jan 2010 | 6:17 am

  Hayrolls in a Shawangunk Ridge field. Fortunately these agricultural icons can still be seen around this area in the summer and fall. These provide such a nicer view than a strip mall or a new house devoid of character. Now I'm going to try a presentation experimentment with ATC's. More to come.

• 22 Jan 2010 | 4:38 am

  22 Jan 2010 | 4:38 am

  In the Hudson near West Point, there is a castle on what is called Bannerman's island. The Bannermans built the castle as both a summer home and a storage facility for their ammunitions buisness (!). The castle is in ruins and will cost millions to repair but holds a fascination for most people in the Hudson Valley. I did this pastel painting from a photo my multi-talented friend Canace took when she was given the honor of being allowed access to the island. There is something beautiful in the process of disintegration and I tried to capture that in this painting.

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  Textile Art Quilts

• Seeds of Hope One and Two

  12 Jan 2010 | 11:33 pm

  I made these two art quilts in October 2009. How I neglected to post them here I do not know.The larger of the two is 31" X 31.5"I enjoyed using my embellishling machine to felt the wooly bits that make up the flower heads and stems. The sky and fence are hand painted cotton fabric. A heavy textured fabric makes up the border. It is both machine sewn free motion style and hand embroidered. Approximately 1000 beads are hand sewn on the fleece background.The Seeds of Hope I31" X 12" Click photos to see enlarged detailsBoth art quilts hung in my Solo Show in Davis, CA in November 2009and at Mojo…

• Mixed Media Quilted Wall Hanging

  5 Jan 2010 | 8:41 pm

  Click to see details and colors:A long weekend of paper bead and wire making, followed by a day of collagraph plate creating, another day of sewing beads to paper and fabric, cutting up painted c. plate, positioning them all on a rose cotton fabric; hand embroidering around it all..machine and hand quilting... happy with the textures and colors flowing thorough ...These 2nd two photos show the truest colors... liking the way the paint dried on the crinkled paper and fabric, candy wrappers,and snaps...lace and Velcro,to make up this whole of 22.5" X 17" wall hanging On sale in my ETSY store…

• Mandala Challenge Met for Quilts Around The World Blog

  31 Dec 2009 | 3:04 pm

  The group Quilts Around The World is a group of women art quilters from around the globe, (Australia, The Netherlands, Europe, USA)...who take up a challenge every three months to make a small art quilt and post it on our blog. http://aroundtheworldin20quilts.blogspot.com/Go there to see ALL the quilts as they are terrific...The most recent challenge was to make an art quilt in the theme : Mandala!Mine is this machine felted velvet butterfly on a substrait of hand painted muslin, machine sewn free motion style and using some fancy machine stitches. Embellished with glass beads.Click on the…

• Simply Dreadful

  4 Dec 2009 | 7:19 pm

  I made this portrait art quilt for my 19 yr old grandson for Chanukah. He does wear his hair in dread locks, and leads a hippie-like life style. I took artistic licence to color them brightly. The dreadlocks are made from rolled up hand dyed repurposed dryer sheets. The face is made up of layers of cotton fabrics, the base is hand dyed cotton by Chris at Dye Candy.The substrait fabic is brown felt, bound in cotton. I have top sewn the entire background in swirls using brown varaigated and gold metallic threads. Some of the swirls are painted with paint sticks. I love the 3-dementionality of…

• Solo Art Show A Huge Success!

  19 Nov 2009 | 9:01 am

  On November 13th, I had the honor and excitement of seeing my art hung for the 2nd Friday Art About at the Paint Chip in Davis, CA. We had a nice reception and a very good turn out.Maia, the owner of the store, said I'd had by far the biggest turnout of any artist she had hosted to date. Friends and strangers came through and spent long periods of time looking at, talking about and asking questions about each piece. It felt so good to have other textile artists there whose work I admire and respect giving mine so much attention and affirmation.I was invited to hang my art at another studio…

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  Art-Quilt-Works

• Yesterday I felt a little like Dora the Explorer

  31 Jan 2010 | 3:35 pm

  I lived in Louisville, KY for most of my life except for the time I lived in NYC while in high school. Then there was my three year stay in Columbia, Mo. I was well into adulthood before I ventured into the "wilds of Kentucky" For that matter I went no place south of the city until the early 70's and only as far east in Kentucky as the outskirts of Lexington. I never traversed the state by car on the way south to someplace else until 1968 and then it was a straight shot down Interstate 65 to Nashville, TN.It's not that I never left the state. I flew out of it on the way South a number of…

• Rolled, wrapped, boxed and gone. Now what?

  27 Jan 2010 | 3:22 pm

  Thirteen quilts for Flora, Flora, Flora art quilts by Juanita Yeagerhttp://www.ns.umich.edu/htdocs/r_events/events.php?se=18492Sorry I can't make the link work.I so love the Home Depot here in Florida. They cut my slats to order. No more paying for left over pieces of wood I can't use. Not sure if this cut to order service is available elsewhere since I have never been a Home Depot shopper. For some reason, I guess convenience; Lowe's was where I have always purchased the strips of wood I both in KY and MO that I use to display my quilts. But here, the Home Depot is closer.So off I went on…

• Was it a week ago

  22 Jan 2010 | 8:15 pm

  well yes. Time fies when....Last Saturday Rene and I went to the Home and Garden Show at the Orlando Convention Center. Here are a few things that caught my eye. Love the faucet and it would work well with the Farmhouse sink I can see in my remodeled kitchen. The chandeliers were gorgeous, but my new place is not going to be any where close to needing that kind of lighting. I am going for the simple, comfy, mo muss no fuss look. Saw a cute 48"restored claw foot tub, but ruled it out when I tried to swing my leg up and over the rim. I had one of these in my very first, just got married…

• On Wednesday

  22 Jan 2010 | 7:58 pm

  I drove an hour to teach a class in Kissimee at the Queen Anne Lace Quilt Shop. I wish I was more of a shutter bug, the downtown was quite charming, which is where the shop is located. The manager and staff at the shop were super and I plan to return there to teach again. If you are in the area, do drop by and tell them I said, Hi. And no the cat didn't participate in the class. He just made me sneeze and cough. I'm allergic.

• I really shouldn't be surprised

  22 Jan 2010 | 7:23 pm

  after all I can not tell you how many times my thoughts or my wishes have been spoken that they materialize. And so it was in these two instances. Back before Christmas I was on the hunt for a small back pack or back pack type purse to put my camera in along with my journal, a pen, maybe a cup of yogurt and a bottle of water so I could strap it on, and wear while I did my morning walk about the lake. I spend a day walking from store to store and through the mall without finding what I wanted. So often I had wanted these items so I could sit by the lake at the end of my walk and take in the…

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  Barbara Strobel Lardon

• Publications

  29 Jan 2010 | 7:00 am

  I thought it would be nice to know from everyone out there what publications they most enjoy and feel really help them grow as quilt artists.My favorites right now are:Quilting ArtsSAQA Journal (have to be a member)Machine Quilting UnlimitedAmerican QuilterandAmerican Art ReviewWhich ones do you feel are most worthwhile?

• The End of a Commission

  27 Jan 2010 | 2:15 pm

  For 5 months there were quilts under the needle.....Many days the studio was in utter chaos.....There was constant work going on.....There was no time to worry about fashion or hair.....The Pfaff kept on ticking.........And the Bernina did too.......Many needles were changed and changed.......and then...35 quilts got packed and shipped.Now there are only photos and wonderful memories.I must thank five people & groups:1. Nellie Durand for giving my name to Kathy which led to me getting this Commission.2. Bob, my husband, for picking up the slack at our business as well as at home so I…

• "Washday With Frieda" Finale!

  18 Jan 2010 | 12:42 pm

  "Washday With Frieda" - No. 35Although I have not quilted this yet, the design is finished and this is the last one for my commission.There is a story with this quilt. When I was growing up we lived next door to a rather wealthy family who had nine kids, just like my parents. Unlike them, we could not afford a housekeeper. Their housekeeper's name was Frieda. She was a plump woman who was alwaysloving to us as well as the children she took care of. For some reason, as this quilt progressed, I was drawn to those early memories, perhaps in search of simpler times of running in and out of the…

• Seabirds & Cattails

  15 Jan 2010 | 2:24 pm

  Seabirds & Cattails - No. 34I just finished quilting "Seabirds & Cattails" my 34th quilt in my Commission.One more quilt to make and it is complete!I had an interruption this week when my husband came down with what we thought was the a stomach virus Saturday. So I went to our store and worked, leaving him home to rest and get better. That did not happen. Instead he got worse on Sunday. So early Monday morning it was off to the doctor who immediately sent him to the hospital. He had an infection that had his white blood count twice as high as it is supposed to be.After lots of…

• Summer Fields

  2 Jan 2010 | 12:44 pm

  No. 33 "Summer Fields"This is a sure sign I am not enjoying the winter weather!Still on the design wall but ready to quilt.Then there are two more to go.

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  Art @ The Hermitage

• Dmitri

  8 Feb 2010 | 1:51 pm

  Our beautiful, special little boy left us on January 13.

• Whine. Whimper. Grouse. Grumble. Groan. Moan. Kvetch. Snivel. Complain. Bitch. Bitch. Bitch. etc..

  7 Feb 2010 | 2:55 pm

  Over four weeks since cataract surgery and my "new" eye is driving me bonkers. The major problem is I don't have glasses that work for my new vision. The old eye is fine with distance and fuzzy with close-ups, while the new eye is great with close-ups and fuzzy with distance. Light is so much more intense to the new eye, that light from outside coming in the windows is dazzling to the point of being painful. It's a beautiful, sunny day, but I'm constrained to having the curtains and shades half closed to keep the house dim enough so I don't get a headache from the glare - a problem which has…

• Q: What does 4 cubic inches of fun look like?

  22 Dec 2009 | 4:02 pm

  A: Like this...Q: And what does it look like when you take the lid off??WOW!Here's 4 cubic inches of HOT...And here's 4 cubic inches of Black & Silver, after having been put through Francie's Anal-izing process - each piece unraveled, straightened, finger-wound, filed in it's own compartment, and RTU! Each cube has 50-60 yards of gorgeous fibers inside... and there are cubes in many other colors... blue, green, purple, gold... O be still my heart...!

• Keeps on keepin' on...

  19 Dec 2009 | 12:16 pm

  It's been cold and foggy every day, we've hardly seen the sun for a week, the drip system is broken, the weeds and the leaves from the deciduous trees are six inches deep everywhere... and still the roses keep going. My mother fussed over her roses like they were infants; my grandmother basically ignored hers and left them to their own devices... both women wound up with spectacular roses that won prizes in local garden shows. Given my own lazy streak, I've chosen to follow Grandma Catharine's path, and, hot dang!... my babies look pretty good too!Here's Leonidas...

• New Beauty in the Greenhouse

  16 Dec 2009 | 8:17 pm

  Here's the Chanukkah addition to the Greenhouse in the Loo. Don't know her name... and don't care, as usual... I just know she's one classy lady, and she whispered "Buy me", when I walked by her in the supermarket nursery. One of these days I'll get around to looking her up in my orchid dictionary, but for now, I'll call her Helen, after my classy mother.

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  Artwork by Jamie Fingal

• Metal Frugue

  8 Feb 2010 | 4:10 pm

  Metal Frugue50Hx16W(pronounced froog; meaning - free form dance)part of my "Heavy Metal" seriesDetailThere are more views of this piece under "sneak peeks"

• Rock n'Roll Studio Clean up

  2 Feb 2010 | 5:37 pm

  The main room; stuff piled on the floor from workshops, and art supplies from homeNow cleaned up and put away. The floor is beautifully clean and ready for visitors.Design Room - the accumulation of stuff. This room was not working out well with the futon that you can barely see, since it became a place to put things.Oh the beauty of the floor...clean for now! An extra table could be set up in here now for larger projects or visiting artists.Futon is moved out, cabinets moved to underneath the stash shelves, making it a more efficient space.

• Colorful One Foot Squares

  27 Jan 2010 | 12:52 pm

  Exuberance abstract with detail below; Mistyfused hand dyed fabrics, free motion machine quilted Spring! floral - with detail below; Mistyfused hand painted flowers over a blue batik, free motion machine quilted

• Pretty Little Mini Quilts at the CHA Show

  25 Jan 2010 | 9:43 am

  I am standing in the Lark Books booth at the CHA Show in Anaheim, holding a copy of "Pretty Little Mini Quilts." Sarah Ann Smith's work is on the cover. Here is the page my art quilt is on! So exciting to hold it in my hands. The book doesn't officially come out till March!

• Tote Tuesday - February 2nd

  22 Jan 2010 | 9:23 pm

  front of bag (above)back of bag (below)Tote Tuesday to benefit the American Cancer Societybegins on Tuesday, February 2ndbidding information on Virginia Spiegel's blogThe Embellishment Tote - Raised $200 for the American Cancer Society click this to see bidding info Tote Tuesday informationEverything you need to embellish a quilt with treasures collected by Peggy Calvert, Cindy Cooksey, Anne Copeland, Jamie Fingal, Stacy Hurt and Julie Schlueter of the Cut-Loose Quilters of Orange, CA

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  Me & My Quilts

• Paper Schmaper ~ Give Me COLOR!

  9 Feb 2010 | 3:00 am

  This was the scene when we woke up Monday morning (remember, we live in the mid-SOUTH). Schools were closed, the courts were closed, doctor and dentist offices were closed, & at least one local university was closed . . . but were DH's or my office closed? Nooooooooo . . . Over the weekend, we had finally figured out why Miss Angel hadn't been eating well . . . a broken/infected tooth! So, we were off through the snow to the vet for a 9 am appointment. Diagnosis? The tooth had to be removed (they cleaned the tartar and plaque off the rest of her teeth while she was sedated) and her…

• Top of the List

  8 Feb 2010 | 3:00 am

  It is threatening to take over my life . . . between what accumulates in the kitchen, what is stacked on my desk upstairs, and what is lurking in the boxes we brought from MIL's house . . . I am drowning in paper (a nightmare that woke me over the weekend made me realize it was way beyond time to deal with the nagging issue)! I spent a large part of the weekend capturing random scraps of information in my electronic calendar and address book before joyfully tossing those many sheets of paper, but I'll need to spend many more hours to work my way through what has gotten so far ahead of me. No…

• Name Quilt No. 70

  5 Feb 2010 | 5:06 pm

  I took AAQI Name Quilt No. 70 to work earlier this week and asked my co-workers to help inscribe the list 55 names. [each photo will enlarge when clicked] In a firm of 12 attorneys and 10 staff, eight of us had immediate family members whose names appear in these photos (including one family with twins and one of their sisters). I kept the flimsy at my desk along with the list and all day people stopped by to add a name or two. For those who have not yet had a close encounter with Alzheimer's, it was an eye-opening experience to see the two-page list of names. And even more sobering when I…

• Collage Class - Day Four

  5 Feb 2010 | 3:00 am

  This was Susan's Day 4 piece - Billie (our instructor who calls herself a subliminal, interpretive painter) calls this triplication and says she cannot keep these pieces in the galleries. Again, we spent time searching for images from the studio's stash of old National Geographics, architecture, and fashion magazines. Susan had a head start since she brought most of her altered book ephemera and has a strong sense of what appeals to her. [her squares measure 3" x 3"] This was Lynette's piece. The first step was to choose an image that would be lopped into three pieces and the rule of threes…

• Collage Class - Day Three

  4 Feb 2010 | 3:00 am

  This is the front of our classroom ~ that overhead mirror was essential. Billie (instructor, in denim) was helping Susan (in brown) with her composition and design.Again, more reasons why we love the area . . . Finally, this project ("whimsical") involved what each of us had perceived as 'collage.' Late the day before, Billie shared her Studio Goddess collage with us (above) and I knew exactly what I wanted to create! We spent the entire morning of Day 3 flipping through magazines as we searched for bits and pieces that spoke to us and fit the overall needs for layout and design (actually, DH…

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  About.com Quilting

• Scrappy Basket Quilt Blocks

  8 Feb 2010 | 7:30 am

  Quick pieced half square triangle units make up the majority of this scrappy basket quilt block, with rectangles and single triangles completing the mix. The block goes together quickly and pieces are small enough to cut from patches in your scrap bin. © Janet Wickell Scrappy Basket Quilt Blocks originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 15:30:40.Permalink | Comment | Email this

• Hopscotch Baby/Toddler Quilt Pattern

  5 Feb 2010 | 12:29 am

  Just a quick link to the Hopscotch Quilt Pattern. It's a bit larger than a typical crib quilt, but still a good size for a baby or toddler. The quilt contains no triangles, so it's easy for beginners who might want to stick to straight edge pieces for a bit. I'm off -- we're in the middle of an ice storm and the power is flickering. Once it goes, we'll be on a generator, and the device I use to buffer the generator's uneven power doesn't seem to be working quite right, so computer use will be minimal. Click through to see a photo of the quilt, and learn more about it. Hopscotch Baby/Toddler…

• Easy Applique Medallion Quilt

  3 Feb 2010 | 2:00 am

  Here's a little 24" square wallhanging that might come in handy the next time you need to make a quick project for yourself or someone else. It could also be used as a colorful throw pillow cover, or to decorate the top of a table. The pattern instructions walk you through the process of appliqué using fusible web. If you're not into fusibles, use your favorite technique to appliqué patches to the background. Janet WickellEasy Applique Medallion Quilt originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010 at 10:00:31.Permalink | Comment | Email this

• Floral Snowball Quilt

  31 Jan 2010 | 7:11 am

  I'm ready for spring. How about you? We're snowed in for the second time this winter, and hoping this batch of the cold stuff won't last as long as the drifts from our December storm. Working with florals is one way to help combat spring fever, and Snowball blocks are so easy to make that you can assemble buckets of them in no time. Sort your florals and make a scrappy quilt in any size you like. Blocks are a finished size of 6" x 6". Janet WickellFloral Snowball Quilt originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Sunday, January 31st, 2010 at 15:11:15.Permalink | Comment | Email this

• Patchwork Hearts Quilt Block & Quilt Patterns

  28 Jan 2010 | 12:00 am

  Forum members designed this pretty 6" heart block for a 2008 swap, and it's a natural for a Valentine's Day wallhanging or baby quilt. The block is assembled with quick piecing techniques, so it's super easy to make. For the swap, a different focal fabric was used in each half of the block (two pinks or two reds), but choose another combination if you prefer. You'll find instructions and yardage for a small heart wallhanging on the last page of the pattern. Photo © Sophie Patchwork Hearts Quilt Block & Quilt Patterns originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Thursday, January 28th,…

• 
  Bunny Tales

• Good Bye and Hello!

  Anne Sutton

  20 Jan 2010 | 8:18 pm

  We've moved! You can find us at: www.bunnyhillblog.com

• Linen

  Anne Sutton

  10 Jan 2010 | 2:02 pm

  I’ve got this “thing” with linen lately.  Well, not lately, I guess I’ve always had it.  But now that  French General linen is available from Moda I’m a bit more obsessed than I was before.  I love linen and I’ve spent the weekend with it! I made myself a linen heart sachet to hang in the studio.  Something simple.  Something linen.  It’s hanging on a wall next to my computer, from an old window.  And then I made a new prototype bunny from my pattern “Five For Brunch”.  She’s linen of course and I gave her lop ears.  I…

• I love a good start to a New Year!

  Anne Sutton

  5 Jan 2010 | 12:14 am

  It’s January 5th and I’m so excited I can hardly stand it!  Jumping for joy over here at Bunny Hill!  It’s time to introduce my newest Free block of the month! It’s my way of saying THANK YOU to all of you wonderful blog readers, customers, quilters, friends,  animal lovers, and just plain nice people out there!  Thank you for reading my blog, buying my patterns, buying my fabrics, putting up with my attempts at being funny, listening to me go on and on about my pets, my life, and myself LOL! Thank you dear readers for being who you are!  Each of you unique…

• Welcome 2010!

  Anne Sutton

  31 Dec 2009 | 9:47 pm

  I really thought 2009 would bring a new addition to the studio.  It was such a good idea, adding on an extra 400 square ft. of working space.   I began to doubt it several months ago, when plans failed to arrive, deadlines weren't met, and frustrations began to build.  When the plans finally arrived, and the bids came in, the cost was outrageous.  Seems California will never change.  Things here cost more.  We haven’t learned a thing.  It’s a crazy business this one called construction.  Crazy.  So we’ve said no to the addition with…

• Christmas Day

  Anne Sutton

  27 Dec 2009 | 7:01 pm

  Christmas day brought turkey, stuffing and those oh so good mashed potatoes.   My son Doug and his fiancé Elke arrived from Germany on Christmas Eve.   Luggage was lost, but the Christmas spirit was not.  Lufthansa delivered the lost luggage to our house 6PM Christmas day!  They tried really hard to get it here, and we live a good hour 1/2 from the airport!    The Christmas table was set by Doug and Elke.  The table cloth is a gift made by my friend Barbara, who blanket stitched trees, reindeer and Santa's around the border!   And, next…

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  Thimbleanna

• Springtime in Paris

  Thimbleanna

  7 Feb 2010 | 6:33 pm

  I have to tear myself away from the Superbowl — it’s too stressful!  (Ok, I’m kidding — I’m going back in a minute!) Yesterday was our (MeMum and I) annual visit to the kids’ old school to sneak a peek at their big yearly auction and dinner.  The theme this year was Springtime in Paris.  Our sneak-in-excuse is that we want to view all the things that are being auctioned.  There were lots of cool things to buy — items ranged from a real puppy (this year a golden retriever) to a trip to Paris.  MyDadLovesMeBestSister works at the school and she and…

• Cupcakes in a Hurry

  Thimbleanna

  4 Feb 2010 | 7:30 pm

  So. I was happily minding my own business, having a very boring week (wondering what I could possibly blog about, I might add), and when I got to work this morning, there was an e-mail announcing that we’re going to have a potluck lunch tomorrow in honor of the Colts playing in the superbowl on Sunday. (In case you don’t know, we do live in Indiana.) Apparently the stars were all aligned because I just saw this post last night. I really don’t care much about football, but cupcakes…cupcakes are another story! I’ll go for any excuse to make cupcakes! So, at…

• Soap Bottle Love

  Thimbleanna

  31 Jan 2010 | 10:47 am

  Everyone having a good weekend???  A certain little someone is having a birthday today!  {Pssst….run over there and wish her a Happy Birthday and maybe she’ll post that Spanish Rice recipe that I keep nagging her about!!!} Happy, Happy Birthday Brigette!!! While Brigette has been celebrating her birthday weekend, I’ve been wasting my time keeping myself busy making little hand soap/sanitizer bottle covers.  (Otherwise known as avoiding the real work that should be done around here.) Here’s a little close up of some of the details.  Look at that ADORABLE little…

• We Need A Cat Whisperer

  Thimbleanna

  27 Jan 2010 | 6:29 pm

  Last week, we experienced a little hijinx around here.  It seems that someone has developed a fondness for my sweaters.  ????  Every night when we came home from work, we found one of my sweaters in a crumpled pile on the floor, in a different room of the house.  (And just for the record, I don’t leave them thrown all over the house — they sit folded on a shelf in our bedroom closet.) We narrowly escaped disaster on Tuesday — that sweater was halfway to never being seen again.  Given extra time, it could have been sucked into the abyss-under-the-bed.  The first few…

• Curious Cables

  Thimbleanna

  24 Jan 2010 | 6:21 pm

  A month ago, I read this post over at Karen’s and saw the prettiest cable socks ever! I commented and asked Karen if the pattern was available on Ravelry. Not yet, she said — it’s her own pattern and would I like to test it for her?   Would I???  I jumped at the chance, as I’m a BIG fan of cables. So, I set about test knitting and had the best time. I had big plans to be able to take the sock pictures in our pretty snow, but it’s been raining here and the snow is almost all gone. I was able to muster up enough for a little bitty snowman. With a little bitty…

• 
  Don't Look Now

• And then there were none :(

  Kellie

  31 Jan 2010 | 4:28 pm

  Do you remember this .... this was poor Joshua about 10 months ago when he realised that he wasn't going to be starting school that day .... it's a long story ... Anyway ... today I got up very early and packed 4 lunch boxes, filled 4 water bottles, laid out four school uniforms and yelled four children off to school!  and then there was just me :( ..... it hasn't been just me at home for 10 1/2 years this is going to take some getting used to! I am going to miss your incessant conversation! I am going to miss you singing along to James Taylor in the back of the car! I am…

• Joseph's Coat - finishing the ends of your rows & the edges of your quilt top

  Kellie

  25 Jan 2010 | 6:31 am

   It has taken me a little longer than I had expected, however, I have finally finished off piecing together the first 14 blocks of my Joseph's Coat. I have broken this stage down into two steps. You can find the first step covering - Joining the first 14 blocks so that they form 2 vertical rows - here. The second step will be covered in this post and will detail Adding the 1/2 blocks to the ends of the rows and finishing off the edges of rows 1 & 2. This is what your rows should look like so far ... You will notice that each…

• Joseph's Coat - piecing together Rows one & two

  Kellie

  7 Jan 2010 | 7:32 am

  Now for the long awaited and heavily contemplated piecing together of rows one & two!!! Just a couple of things before we start ... These instructions cover making up Rows one & two - it is important to remember this as the other rows will be put together slightly different. You don't have to do this step now! You can save up all of your blocks and piece your rows once you have finished all of you blocks if this suits you better. I would particularly recommend this if you are trying to graduate the colour across your quilt top. The only reason I am doing this now…

• I'm back!

  Kellie

  4 Jan 2010 | 12:37 am

  Hi guys ... sorry for the unexpected and rather longer than anticipated break in transmission! December proved to be a very busy month for Don't Look Now and even busier for the Don't Look Now family! I hope you all have had a terrific Christmas and safe New Year! So many things happened here throughout December but it all seems so long ago now that I will just skip it and give you all just one Christmas morning photo ... We took a short break away in Warrnambool from Boxing day until yesterday. I really love spending time here ... not only is it a beautiful town .... but it is…

• Little Monsters, Hetties Patch, Josephs Coat first month round up ... topped off With Love!

  Kellie

  1 Dec 2009 | 6:51 pm

  Those of you who have been visiting mefor a bit would remember this quilt ... This is what I spent much of my time working on earlier in the year ....  It's called Little Monsters and you can find it in this months Homespun Magazine. You can also read a little more about it here .... I made it for my littlest monster!!!!! Joshua finally has a quilt for his bed!!!  I spent last weekend in Adelaide at Hettie's Patch teaching another great group of women... Top row from left to right - Valerie, Gai, Julie, Lisa, Julie, Helen, Carolyn, Meredith, Linda, Danielle, Jann, Vicki,…

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  Ava Landen: Modern Quilting

• Day 23: Binding… Pt 2

  Ava

  24 Jan 2010 | 1:24 pm

  The first post was getting kinda long, so I broke it into 2 parts. Part 1 ended with attaching the loose ends of the binding to the quilt and part begins with trimming the batting to 1/4 inch away from the quilt top. Trim all the way around the quilt. Then press the binding open. After you press [...]

• Day 23: Binding

  Ava

  24 Jan 2010 | 7:55 am

  Today, we start on the last step of our Quilt Along — the binding. The first thing we are going to do is fold the binding in half (wrong sides together) and press. Step 1: Pinning the Binding Starting in the middle of one side, align the raw edges of the binding to the raw edge of the [...]

• Day 22: More Quilting and Cutting Binding Strips

  Ava

  23 Jan 2010 | 7:31 am

  Good Morning, Quilters! How’s it going so far? Are you starting to dream in gridlines yet? I know I am This morning we’ll finish up any necessary quilting and cut the binding strips for a double-fold binding. Tomorrow, we will attach the binding and wash. And we’ll have finished our first quilt this year [...]

• Machine Quilting

  Ava

  18 Jan 2010 | 11:24 am

  This week we are  machine quilting. (Yippie!) For this quilt, are going to sew a simple straight stitch along both sides of the seam line. Now, a walking foot is traditionally used to sew a straight stitch because it ensures that all 3 layers are moved through your machine at the same time. But you don’t [...]

• Basting A Quilt

  Ava

  17 Jan 2010 | 2:00 pm

  There are several ways to baste a quilt, but we are going to use safety pins. With your quilt laid out on the floor and starting along one of the edges, place a safety pin in the center of a rectangle. We are placing all of the safety pins in the center of each rectangle because [...]