Quilting

• 
  Waterrose Handcrafted Obsessions

• Brides Wedding Cuff and an Heirloom

  Waterrose

  15 Nov 2009 | 5:35 pm

  This is one of my favorite cuffs to make. I imagine the bride that will wear this heirloom piece and the memories it will provide.Hydrangea are the centerpiece of this cuff with three Swavroski crystals placed to give just a glimmer of sparkle. Periwinkle, magnolia and petunias using silk, linen, metallic, and cotton embroidery thread. Open bead work on each side of the floating panel encircle

• Generous Etsy Sellers

  Waterrose

  10 Nov 2009 | 12:02 pm

  Each of the following Etsy sellers are members of Etsy Project Embrace (TeamEPE) and have donated or are donating to The American Cancer Society in honor of Laura Slocum. All of the shops on TeamEPE have creations that will make beautiful gifts during the holiday season. Just search under TeamEPE on etsy to find all of the generous shop owners: by: Little Bay Clayby: The Peach Treeby: Knot

• Big Horn Sheep

  Waterrose

  2 Nov 2009 | 5:35 pm

  During our whirlwind trip we visited Zion National Park in SW Utah. It was absolutely incredible and pictures will never convey the beauty and awesomeness. Before I show you the park in an upcoming post....let me share with you what we came upon aswe rounded a bend!Since I couldn't get far enough away, the pictures are a bit deceptive on how steep and precarious the rocky slope they were walking

• Did YOU Vote Yet?

  Waterrose

  30 Oct 2009 | 8:57 am

  My Snow Candy cuff is in the current Etsy Voter.I would be ever so happy if you would stop by and vote for my cuff. I can't promise to lower taxes, raise wages, or fix the economy or health care, but I will be grateful! Don't let chocolate candies or skull cookies win! Thanks for your vote!

• It Doesn't End With October!

  Waterrose

  27 Oct 2009 | 1:42 pm

  While many of the advertising and awareness campaigns may slow down at the end of this month for Breast Cancer Awareness, the need doesn't end here. Hopefully one day fighting for this cause won't be necessary. But while it does, please help support us by visiting all of the other Etsy Project Embrace shop owners who are donating their creations to help support research. I've decided, since I

• 
  Cottons 'n Wool

• Liberty Star

  17 Nov 2009 | 12:01 am

  The designer behind this pattern company is none other than the talented, sweet, generous, warm, down to earth ( that’s alot of well deserved superlatives) Renee Plains.  I bet there isn’t anyone who has met her that doesn’t feel the same way. Her newest designs are wonderful.   And…she’s going to have a new book coming out in the spring through Kansas City Star publications. Congratulations Renee.  Well deserved.  

• Lynette and Debbie

  14 Nov 2009 | 12:01 am

  Before Market started, I got an e-mail from Debbie at Woolen Sails telling me to check out some of the punch needle samples she had worked on for Lynette Anderson.  That was an easy task to do, because a couple of markets ago, Lynette was right down the aisle from the Bunny Hill booth and we all became fast friends.    This is her cute son, Eddie.  Such a good sport to put up with all the craziness of quilters. Doesn’t Debbie do amazing work?    Check out the close-ups. And here’s that cute Lynette wearing the nametag Debbie made her…just because.

• And another project for us all!

  11 Nov 2009 | 12:01 am

  So, one of the days before Market started, while everyone was still setting up, I happened to walk down an aisle and was stopped dead in my tracks. I saw this quilt and immediately got on my cell phone and called Karen to let her know that I found her next Block of the Month. This little goodie is only 16 INCHES x 20 INCHES big (or should I say small). The pattern is by Lori Smith and it’s all done in wools by Mary Flanagan. I can’t even begin to tell you how gorgeous it is. The lighting wasn’t very good for picture taking, but trust me, it’s a beauty. I told Karen to run, not walk,…

• A little bit of Quilt Market

  8 Nov 2009 | 3:06 pm

  I know you’ve all seen tons of pictures of quilt market so I won’t bore you with more of the same. Instead I’ll just show you a few of my favorite quilts in some of the booths. I absolutely fell in love with this one from The Buggy Barn gals. They are featuring it as a new Block of the Month. I immediately came home and ordered it. I can’t wait to get started. The picture doesn’t do it justice at all. It is just stunning. Wanna join me?Every time I walked past Marcus Brothers booth, I had to stop and take in these 2 quilts. Loved em. And a Bonnie Blue quilt that I wanted to take…

• Tisket a Tasket – November block

  5 Nov 2009 | 12:01 am

  It’s hard to believe that Halloween is over and Thanksgiving is right around the corner, isn’t it?  Our night time temps sure feel like it though.  We’re having some below freezing nights so the electric blankets are now on the beds.  I love the colors at this time of year and the newest block from Anne really let me have fun pulling from my wool stash.  I love the way this block turned out.  While we were at quilt market, I bought a fat pack of the new Primitive Gatherings plaids called “Simple Gatherings”. Anne and I had fun picking out the sashing and…

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  Simplify

• Create

  Camille Roskelley

  18 Nov 2009 | 10:06 am

  I don't have anything to blog about. There, I said it! I mean, I'm busy, probably too busy! I have deadlines, and orders, and a house to clean, kids to feed, and laundry to fold. Life is good. Aside from...

• Morning-ish?

  Camille Roskelley

  13 Nov 2009 | 1:36 pm

  Looks like I'm not the only one who has a thing for blocks! Wow! And you were all so fast. Thank you to everyone who entered. (Hey, it's still morning-ish right?) It also looks like the winner today is.... Eileen...

• Block party

  Camille Roskelley

  11 Nov 2009 | 11:16 pm

  It's a good day! Today is my day on Quiltmakers 100 Blocks blog hop. It is called Top 100 designers. What in the world am I doing there? I'm wondering that too. Just don't tell them, or they might change...

• Overwhelmed

  Camille Roskelley

  10 Nov 2009 | 9:14 am

  What can I say? Just... thank you. That seems so simple, but really, thank you. I never in a million years could have guessed that we could raise that much, that the auction would be so successful. Thanks to you,...

• Silent Auction for Benson and Claire

  Camille Roskelley

  1 Nov 2009 | 9:11 pm

  You know, I love my kids. They drive me crazy, they make me smile, they tug on my arms constantly, and they give the best hugs. There isn't anything I wouldn't do for my kids. When I first heard about...

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  The Quilt Rambler

• What makes me smile

  21 Nov 2009 | 5:37 pm

  It's been a long couple of weeks since I've last blogged. I've wanted to, really I have...just not enough hours in my day....have had some really cool things going on that I'd love to share about in more detail....touring a batting company (lots of photos), visiting with two of my long distance quilting buds and seeing their studios, going with hubby to the Texas Motor Speedway for a NASCAR race, and working on some incredibly beautiful customer quilts (including some that took an incredible amount of time to complete). But alas, as I posted on my FaceBook status "put a fork in me, I'm…

• Ode to the Unknown Piecer

  3 Nov 2009 | 4:19 pm

  By definition an ODE is "a lyric poem expressive of exalted or enthusiastic emotion"I'm not a poet, I'm a rambler...but this post does have what I hope to be enthusiastic emotion.As a longarm quilter for hire, it's my job (and my joy) to assist piecers (quilters) in the finishing of their masterpieces. Sometimes the owner of the quilt top isn't necessarily the one who pieced it, sometimes it's an inherited top, or even a special purchase from an estate sale or antique market. Sometimes I don't even know the story, as in the case of the quilt I'm working on this week.One of my faithful…

• Accessorizing At It's Best

  1 Nov 2009 | 3:12 pm

  Of course the photo of Pixxie on one of Ma-ma's quilts has nothing to do with the title - but as a certified rambler I'm allowed to jump around with my thoughts! The other day I was really missing my grandmother so decided to cuddle up in one of her quilts while I read my One Year Bible reading for the morning....later I saw that Pixxie was also enjoying good memories...Okay. On to the real story. Well, one of them at least.In last week's episode (sound like a bad TV announcer don't I?) if you remember (if not read the post below) I spent my "day off" quilting some yardage...a test of new…

• A Little This, A Little That - Time to Ramble Again!

  25 Oct 2009 | 4:55 pm

  But the Lord has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge. Psalm 94:22Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation, let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song. Psalm 95:1-2Surly God has refreshed me during my time of "hibernation." I wish I could say that I just laid around the house watching old movies and eating chocolate ice cream, but I have been busy. Taking a little time away from my online chatter (in various forms) has freed me to complete much needed projects so I can again get "back to…

• Time to Hibernate

  20 Oct 2009 | 1:27 pm

  Be still and know that I am God....sorry this is so small, but I took it with my phone this morning and the transfer just came out little (sigh)Just wanted to hang up my sign that says "hibernation" for a little while - I've had lots of personal emails requesting tips, suggestions, information, etc and I just can't devote the time to answer properly right now...please forgive me...but with the weeks of work missed due to the death of my grandmother, the 10 days at market/festival, the two days I've spent digging out and the next couple of ones that I need to finish trying to find my machine…

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  All Things Quilty

• A Smile for You

  22 Nov 2009 | 8:40 am

  Just because you deserve a smile today! My favorite is the black lady in the flowered skirt."Dance like no one is watching. Sing like no one is listening. Love like you've never been hurt and live like it's heaven on Earth."— Mark Twain

• Mouse Tales

  21 Nov 2009 | 7:16 am

  There is a mouse in my garage.At least, I hope it is just one mouse.We have had assorted animals in our garage over the past fifteen years, including hummingbirds, squirrels, toads, and the amusing five-lined skinks. And the neighbor's cats. We live kind of in the country and have woods and fields nearby.None of the above have been much of a problem. The cats and squirrels quit coming in when I put the dog food and bird seed in a big Rubbermaid container.But I do not want a mouse in my garage. Ewww...I thought I saw one the other day skittering behind my recycle bin in the garage. Brown.

• Layered Waves Workshop

  20 Nov 2009 | 3:51 pm

  I have enjoyed a lot of quilting activities in the last two days. On Thursday night, I met two friends from my bee for a Mexican dinner in Raleigh before we attended the Capital Quilters Guild meeting with Karen Eckmeier as guest speaker. We had the largest Show-and-Tell that I can remember in my twenty-one years of guild membership. What talented quilters! Then, we presented Mike Dorman of Military Missions in Action with a check representing the proceeds of our Heritage Day quilt auction and raffle: a whopping twelve thousand dollars! I am so proud of our group for making this donation…

• Buried Treasure

  19 Nov 2009 | 8:49 am

  Yesterday was my reunion with my good friend, Marcia, who was back in Raleigh for a few days. The weather has turned rainy here, but our leaves are still pretty. All these trees are near the State Employee Credit Union on Wake Forest Road. Marcia had her mother's fabric stash, minus a car load that another quilter drove away with in Greensboro to donate to their guild charity. What was left were five or six of those plastic boxes that fit under the bed, all full of fabric. And a few baskets and tote bags...Marcia's mother was an excellent hand quilter who can no longer sew due to medical…

• Wednesday Work-in-Progress: Flower Garden

  18 Nov 2009 | 5:19 am

  Okay, back to quilty subjects. I did get all of last Wednesday's WIP blocks and sashings pieced together. I like the way the greens in the sashings blend the assortment of varied green fabrics used in these exchange blocks from the late eighties or early nineties. The blocks had every shade of green from mint to emerald to khaki.I also like the crispness added to these old blocks through the use of the black "coping strips" and posts, and the bright new fabrics used in the outer borders of each block. I think I am still going to add another border of the Moda rose fabric, which will make this…

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  Hanne's Quilt Corner

• Mini class at my guild tonight

  18 Nov 2009 | 3:04 pm

  This was the class sample - a toothpick keeper - pocket /purse size   Kitty and I had everything ready to roll - glue stick, scissors, thread and needle + the kit we all could buy at the guild, containing thin cardboard, thin batting and fabrics. We both enjoy having nice clean teeth, so we finished the project and stocked it with our favourite toothpicks, the plastic kind. This is row 6 on my hexagon quilt, ready to be joined. 12 hexagons to go - I have to redo a couple of the background ones, due to an accident I can tell you about some other time. Hanne

• Days flying by

  18 Nov 2009 | 2:46 pm

  It has not been laid back, believe me :-) Here is a sneak peak of a quilt that is now at the machine quilter's, since yesterday evening. I have used 2,5" stripes, like you can find them in Jelly Rolls. My strips are cut from my beautiful Japanese fabrics collection, amongst others, and I have also put in Japanese homespuns for a touch of masculinity. I have to mention that DH commented on this quilt, unasked, and gave his approval :-) I will show you the whole quilt when it is back from the machine quilter and preferably bound. It has been raining cats and dogs for a few days, and nobody…

• Things to be happy about

  14 Nov 2009 | 4:47 am

    Tilda kits for half price at my local hobby shop.       A cute elephant pin cushion I got from Elin last weekend A brand new weekend suitcase. Red off course. I think I need a red bag to go with it :-) I got a suitcase ripped at the airport last weekend. This is the replacement. An extra hard disk for my computer. I have backed up all my files now and I have a plan to back up my files every week. Burnt child and all that…….. I lost a lot of photos and some documents in a double computer crash recently. First my laptop and next my desk computer.   Hand…

• Cat report

  11 Nov 2009 | 11:30 am

    Never take luggage checking lightly!       A long nap is good for you!   You know you get exercise points for streeetched sleeping positions ? I am just nap testing the table runner - testing 1, 2, testing 1, 2….     The house seamstress is getting back to her to do list - someone has to accomplish something around  here - I am in the R&R dept.  this week. Purr purr :-)

• On the wings again :-)

  11 Nov 2009 | 10:42 am

  Oh, what beautiful mountains - what a majestic view! At the end of this water Marie is living on a farm at the foot of the snow clad mountains, right under one of Norway's famous glaciers. Elin and I spent a lovely Friday afternoon in Marie's house. Thanks for your heart warming hospitality Marie!   15 creative ladies attended the toiletry bag class in Gloppen  on Saturday, and a lot of lovely bags they made! Visit the guild blog for more photos.     The stitcheries and other decorations were made in advance. Some have used my butterfly stitchery, and some had made other…

• 
  Little Quilts

• And the winner is......

  17 Nov 2009 | 6:11 am

  Congratulations Pokey!  It was so fun to read about what inspires you all as quilters.My inspiration is looking at antique quilts and trying to reproduce them with today's fabrics.  I started quilting in 1976 after I saw Jinny Beyer's Radiant Star Quilt.  There were no books and patterns on quiltmaking at that time so I learned from reading magazines and cutting out squares.  Now we have such a wealth of information from books, patterns, and quilt shows!  I'm happy to be a quilter now with all these resources, rather than back in 1976!Keep Quilting!Mary Ellen

• November Alternate Blocks - Second Saturday Sampler

  15 Nov 2009 | 12:37 pm

• Tanyard Creek Give Away!

  14 Nov 2009 | 5:04 pm

  We hope you're enjoying our new line of fabric as much as we are!  The Tanyard Creek line is so versatile and can be used for so many different projects.  It's time to GIVE some of it AWAY!  The winner will receive a bundle of 6 fat quarters AND a free Hospitality pattern!  Each comment enters you in our random drawing.  The contest runs through Monday (11/16) night and the winner will be chosen randomly!Post your comment on:Who has been your biggest influence as a quilter?One entry per blogger ~ International winners will pay shipping ~ Anonymous entries not entered

• So Many Trunk Shows, So Little Time....

  14 Nov 2009 | 12:27 pm

  This must be the season for Trunk Shows!  We've got 3 fabulous trunk shows going on now at the store.  We hope you can stop by and see these great things in person; and if you're visiting our blog from far away, enjoy the pictures and project ideas!VINTAGE CHRISTMAS by Wagon West Designs"Wish You Were Here" was inspired by the author's grandmother's kisses at the bototm of her cards and letters.  What a perfect quilt to make for that special someone you wish you could be with over the holidays!  This quilt measures 86"x86".  The book, Vintage Christmas, is for sale at…

• Fundraiser Quilt from Srapbasket Quilts

  14 Nov 2009 | 12:04 pm

  This quilts was made using a pattern in the book, Scrapbasket Quilts.  It was miade using 2 1/2inch strips.  Linda Wirtz made this musically themed quilt for a fundraiser at her son's school.  The lucky winner was a band parent!

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  Common Threads

• blocks for rossie and amy (finally!)

  2 Nov 2009 | 8:23 pm

  first, since she's been waiting longer, here are my squares for amy. i had lots of fun working with the fabrics she sent and adding in my own pieces as well. i especially love the center block featured above with the center of the flower. oh, and the tiny blocks were surprisingly challenging! who knew it would be so hard to sew a small block? fun, nevertheless! here's another shot where you can see all five blocks i made:tonight i finally finished rossie's blocks!my phrase is "be peace" which are the same words printed on my favorite necklace. they are also a shortened version of gandhi's…

• Rebekah's blocks for November

  2 Nov 2009 | 4:35 pm

  I mailed out the fabric for my month this evening, so here are the directions for the blocks.I'd like you to make a 15" block that features squares and rectangles, but is not made with nesting squares or log cabins. Here's a mosaic of quilt inspiration.I included 5 different prints and 2-3 solid fabrics in each package. One of the solids is a large piece, so if you could make the large piece that you receive the predominant color, that would be great. I'm going to be putting the blocks together with a grey solid once I receive them all.If you want to add some embroidery or machine stitching…

• Blocks for Amy and Rossie

  2 Nov 2009 | 4:29 pm

  I got down to business yesterday and made these blocks for Amy and Rossie.Three blocks for Amy (12.5, 6.5 and 3.5)And one long strip for Rossie. I was wracking my brain trying to come up with the perfect quote and I even browsed the Yale Book of Quotations, but I couldn't find any good short phrases. I think my cats were trying to give me some hints because they were climbing on my lap and sewing machine while I was trying to come up with a quote. So, the blocks say their names: "Shinji" and "NukuNuku." They are japanese names, so I thought they'd work with a quilt by a japanese designer. I…

• October for Rossie

  2 Nov 2009 | 11:20 am

  It was deciding on a phrase that stumped me on this one, but Halloween night as I was staring at the fabric it came to me. Common Threads. So here you go. I didn't put it together because it's longer than you requested. Actually, much longer. I thought maybe you could put them like this to make the phrase. My mistake...i thought...two word phrase...I can make the blocks 6 inches. I hope you can use them like they are.

• Pura Vida

  16 Oct 2009 | 11:02 pm

  I finished up Rossie's blocks today:Aloha...and Pura Vida....(I had to fold this phrase up to fit in the picture)I made 5" blocks for Aloha and 4" for Pura Vida - this was so fun Rossie!I can't wait to see your quilt!

• 
  Stitchin' Friends

• Closing it down....

  20 Nov 2009 | 2:42 am

  Life is just too demanding these days and I am going to shut this blog down until after the new year. I have enjoyed reading your blogs and sharing my quilting days and life in general, but for now, there is just not enough hours in the day to do all that is required.A note about the previous post, which I have deleted. Noah is a real child and my daughter confirmed with the principal at the school that they were in fact collecting cards for him. His family recently requested that no more cards be sent though, as Noah's days were drawing to a close. They expressed their appreciation for all…

• Jack and Jill

  8 Nov 2009 | 6:33 pm

  I thought I would share another quilt with you tonight that my mom made. This quilt is at least 62 years old as she made it when my oldest brother, Michael, was born and used it with each of us after that. Then as her grandchildren came along, each of them got to lay on the quilt as well. I have the youngest child, and so it became mine. My grandchildren have also lain on this quilt and it is so precious to me. Mom and Dad were Marines when they met and married shortly after being discharged from duty at Pearl Harbor during WWII. The yellow border on this quilt is made from a windsock from…

• 8 Nov 2009 | 2:43 am

  8 Nov 2009 | 2:43 am

  Here's an opportunity to help a young lady accomplish a great thing in Africa and possibly win this lovely quilt. Go to the Welsh Quilter blog to read all about it. Teresa

• Trick or Treat!

  1 Nov 2009 | 3:46 pm

  Meet my two grands - Tess and Timothy. They showed up with big smiles and big pumpkins - the only two trick-or-treaters I had come by the house last night, so they got extra helpings. Not to worry - Timothy did have shoes on - but he kicks them off as soon as he comes through the door and I had to get them to back up for the picture. Do you get the Fons and Porter Love of Quilting magazine? Its one of my favorites and the November/December 2009 has this great wall hanging on the cover. I just love the center block and the looks of the trees - but I really wanted a table runner. So I decided…

• Setting-on-Point

  25 Oct 2009 | 3:22 pm

  First I have to give those of you who have been praying for and asking about my mom an update. We admitted her to rehab on Monday night and she is doing pretty good now - ready to come home. She is walking and feeling better, although still not strong enough to be on her own. My mom is determined though and I so admire her for her strong will to get better. Thank you all for your prayers.I have done a little sewing this week, and completed a quilt top for my new granddaughter, due to arrive November 20. Her name is Taralyn, which I think is a sweet name, and of course she has to have sweet…

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  Quiltville's Quips & Snips

• Feeling Somewhat "Normal"!

  21 Nov 2009 | 4:39 am

  It's Saturday morning and I am HOME! I woke up this morning not able to think what day it was....as I look back at my calendar, I haven't spent a Saturday home in months!Last night I sat and watched a movie, cutting up the last of the shirt parts (mostly collars, cuffs, yokes, with a few sleeves thrown in for good measure) That Bingo-Bonnie sent me months ago! (yes, Bingo-Bonnie, the box is empty now and I've got a whole pile of usable pieces and strings!) I'm cutting 2"X5" strips from them to do a braided border on a class sample that has to be done by March. I figure that will be my…

• Oscar Update

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:22 am

  Here's Oscar on a pile of newly aquired, not yet washed shirts! I forgot I had this pic in my files, and it's a good one for this post, even with the red-eye going on.I got the call from the vet. He does NOT have leukemia. It still doesn't explain the mass in his lung (it showed up in 2 views....)and so, we continue on antibiotics to see if it is indeed just a pneumonia thing and not a cancerous mass thing. A week should tell.He is under the weather, but I can say I didn't hear him cough today, and he's only been on antibiotic 24 hours, so.....cross fingers and we shall see!!Today....I sew. I…

• Veggie Burgers are THIS Bad??

  20 Nov 2009 | 5:06 am

  I came upon this chart....GOODNESS, I don't think I'll ever order another burger anywhere ever again! You may have to click the pic to get it full screen size and to be able to read it....The one that amazed me most was the Veggie Burger at the top left. a "healthy" alternative?? I don't think so!Back to ordering Salads....dressing on the side....unsweet tea.....and back to the gym I go!You know the foot is still bothering me a bit. It's tight in the mornings, stairs are difficult until it gets warmed up and stretched out. No running,jumping, jarring, and still going to take a lot of time to…

• Simple Things....

  19 Nov 2009 | 11:44 am

  Simple Quilts with lots of color make me happy!!! For those of you wondering what to do with those leader/ender 4 patches that have been stock piling up....look at this antique! It has fabrics dating through the 1950s..but look at that solid red for punch! I also love how the darks in the 4 patches do NOT go all the same direction but look like they are moving around....I love how the binding changes color half way down the left side. Maybe that's two different pieces of backing fabric folded around to the front? Come to think of it, with a closer look, the binding is different on ALL…

• Kitty Troubles....

  19 Nov 2009 | 9:09 am

  I need good thoughts for Oscar, my kitty.He was coughing a bit when I left for Littleton, Rocky Mount, and Elizabeth City. I got home from Elizabeth City yesterday afternoon. Today was the first chance I could get him to the vet.The vet heard wheezing while listening to his breathing, thinking it might be asthma, she suggested xrays.The xrays show a mass, which might either be pneumonia, or cancer.We did a leukemia test...I'm waiting for the results on that. In the mean time he has been started on an antibiotic in case it IS pneumonia....which is the best case scenario.If leukemia is ruled…

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  Threads of Friendship

• Another Author, and her handbag

  20 Nov 2009 | 6:02 pm

  On Wednesday Clarry (from my book club) and I went to a literary morning tea with Paullina Simons. It was a slightly smaller crowd than the last event – 73 women & 2 men, compared to 248 women & 2 men for Diana Gabaldon! Clarry, Paullina and Me We had a delicious morning tea whilst we waited for the guest of honour to arrive. We chatted with the fabulous people at our table and discussed our favourite books. Apart from ‘The Bronze Horseman’ series/trilogy, the next favourite of Paullina's books was ‘The Girl in Times Square’ – which is now on my bedside table being…

• Crazy?… maybe…

  16 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am

  I am almost there with the Christmas wreath – just need some red velvet ribbon to finish it off. Until then I’ve dug out another wool felt project. About three months ago I started making a  fairytale type toadstool house. I had done the basic cut out and started stitching on some details such as ivy, but that’s were it stopped.   Last night I decided it was time to dive in and finish it off. I was going to try wet felting the roof, but decided to needle felt it instead. But first I needed a base to felt it over. So out came the bread knife… It’s a good thing that there is…

• Fresh from the Market

  13 Nov 2009 | 10:29 pm

  As in - I’ve just got back, fresh from the Inglewood Artisan Market. Kay and I had a very successful morning, I sold several bags/notebooks and key rings – My mother even bought a bag! (I will squirrel her money back to her, I can’t have my mother paying for a bag). I still have some bags for my Pay It Forward girls, they will be going in the post this week – and just in time too. I had a year to make & deliver my gifts from the 19th November 2008, talk about cutting it close. Here are some photos from this morning…   My Bags -  PVC Totes & Shoulder bags Kay’s…

• in a cupboard…

  8 Nov 2009 | 7:59 pm

  Cleaning through the upstairs cupboard I happened across a quilt I began making for a friend’s wedding about 11 years ago. I think it may have been my first attempt at quilting (and it was queen size!!). Anyway it didn’t get made in time, and just got abandoned until this week. I was meant to be making curtains for a our new bedroom… BORING, so instead I decided to quilt it and put on the binding. I just did a simple diagonal across the blocks – enough to hold it all in place. It was a challenge to even do that much as it only just fitted in my machine…  Once the checked…

• Surprise, Surprise!

  5 Nov 2009 | 7:24 pm

  I was looking through this  months Homespun magazine (Vol 10.11) when I discovered this: I wasn’t sure that my email had even reached them as I hadn’t reduced the file size of the photo and it seemed to take a long time to send. That was a lovely surprise. There’s a couple of lovely quilts in this month’s edition that I might try too. Maybe I’ll use some of this fabric that arrived in the mail today… I thought we needed a holiday quilt – I can imagine holiday photos and memories being built with such a quilt as a common thread!… And I couldn’t resist the HAPPY CAMPERS…

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  Canton Village Quilt Works

• There's an App For That....

  20 Nov 2009 | 3:42 am

  Hello Everyone,So for all you iPhone junkies, like me and Ms. Zombie, take a look at this really great Quilty App!!It is the best!! It is a block calculator and "figure outer" all at your finger tips. So many blocks to choose from in so many sizes. But the best is the cutting directions are included!! How cool is that. The app is available in the iTunes app store for $3.99. That's a steal for what it will do for you. It was made by C & T Publishing. You can check out their blog post about it here. I know you won't regret it!!In the meantime, check out recently added photos of quilts here…

• Bead Obsession

  17 Nov 2009 | 3:42 am

  Hello Everyone,You all know that I definitely have a fabric obsession, but what you may not have known was that I just adore beads. Really any kind of bead, for embellishment on a quilt or just to wear. I own many kinds and all colors. This post, specifically, I wanted to share with you my Troll bead obsession. My hubs purchased a Troll bracelet for me one year for my birthday. For those of you who do not know what they are, they are a bracelet that you add beads to at any time. You can go to their website and see.I know I am getting wordy, sorry. But I found this great artisan on Etsy. Her…

• It's Official!!

  14 Nov 2009 | 3:42 am

  Hello Everyone,First I need to acknowledge all the wonderful ideas that you all had about what to do with my dyed selvages!! You are truly a creative group. Thank you so much!! I am not sure which I will choose, because they are all great. I will be sure to let you know.Now, for those of you who haven't heard, I have added an ONLINE FABRIC SHOP to my website!! I am so excited about this new venture! I purchased lots of fabric while at market. Here are a few teaser pictures:Beautiful Kaffes, Philip Jacobs, and Brandon Mably!Aunt Grace Authentics 1930s Reproductions!More Kaffe Collective…

• Dye Candy Selvage Suggestions, Please???

  11 Nov 2009 | 3:42 am

  Hello Everyone,I am sure that most of you are familiar with Etsy? Well, this year I had been looking for some great hand dyed fabrics and there are tons of people out there on Etsy that sell them. I have purchased from three of them and everything that I have received I have absolutely loved. Very high quality and these ladies take pride in their work.So one of these individuals, Chris, not only has an Etsy Shop, but a blog called Dye Candy that I follow too. She carries wonderful suede look hand dyed fabrics. I am very happy with mine. Recently she sent me a package, just for me and to my…

• Kaffe HST Quilt... Pieced, Quilted, Bound, and Complete!

  8 Nov 2009 | 3:42 am

  Hello Everyone,As promised, I am back with some Kaffe goodness. If you remember THIS post, I had completed just the top. Well, I am now completely done with this quilt and I just LOVE it!! The color, the design, just everything. So I wanted to share my quilt joy with you. I hope you like it as much as me.We had a rather sunny day so I took advantage of the good lighting and took the quilt outdoors.Here is the quilt draped across the deck railing.A close up of the quilting. I just love the little ribbon inside the feathers. It was fun quilting this quilt.Another view.For the backing, I chose…

• 
  The Quilting B

• Here I am...at last!

  15 Nov 2009 | 3:13 am

  Well I have survived my first semester at uni.....almost! Just a little 2 hour psychology exam tomorrow. I figure if I don't know it by now I am not going to know it so I am rewarding myself with a night off. So much has happened in the past few months. I opened bloglines this week and started trying to catch up on everyone's blogs, however with over 10,000 posts I don't think it is going to happen especially with this rotten dial up. It has started me thinking about doing some crafty things though after months of nothing but study and research. I had to drop off a quilt which was long…

• I am off to Uni!

  18 Jul 2009 | 9:09 pm

  Yes that's right, I am heading off to Ballarat University. I received my offer in the mail on Friday of a place in the Bachelor of Arts Rural Social Welfare and I intend doing the psychology major. I am feeling a bit nervous but also excited. I will have to have a rethink on some things and probably my custom quilting will be one of the things that will go as I just won't have the time. I am working 22 hours a week at the moment in my non quilting job although it's more like full time but that will cut back to 12 hours after the 10th August for two weeks then after that I will be back to my…

• A break from the NZ photos!

  18 Jul 2009 | 7:39 pm

  Way back in April and May I did some work on a lovely quilt of Yvonne's. The quilt is a Robyn Falloon pattern, Joie de Vivre. Yvonne did a lovely job and I really liked her colour and fabric choices. As I didn't get a full view photo of the quilt when it was finished these first two were before it was totally finished but you will get the idea.

• Kaikoura to Franz Josef

  21 Jun 2009 | 4:22 am

  Unfortunately for the two nights we spent at Kaikoura the weather was very cold grey and windy so the boats for the whale watching weren't going out as it was too rough. We did however get to have crayfish or lobster. We also had the best fish and chips from a little shop in the main street, lovely freshly battered blue eye cod and crumbed hoki, my favourite was the cod. I also managed to find the patchwork shop where I just had to buy a tiny bit of fabric. Kaikoura is a very pretty place with the mountains right near the ocean. Very early in the morning (6.45am) we left for Franz Josef as it…

• I'm Beck.

  17 Jun 2009 | 4:09 am

  Please excuse the attempt at a kiwi accent, did it give you a clue to where I have been? Yes beautiful stunning New Zealand. This was our second trip to NZ, we loved it so much the first time (2004)that when I saw a package deal in January for flights and car hire we just had to revist. The worst part of the trip was that we had to fly into Auckland so we spent the first two nights very briefly in firstly Taupo then Wellington the second night so lots of driving to be on the ferry bright and early after the first two nights. We had previously spent two nights in Auckland and parts of the…

• 
  With Needle in Hand

• My How Time Flies!

  27 Oct 2009 | 6:01 am

  It was 25 years ago that this young couple met and fell in love. They met at a church singles bowling league on June 24th. Their first date(July 7th) was a very special occasion with dinner out and a trip to Galveston for a moonlight walk on the beach. They were engaged on August 10th over a romantic steak dinner and movie (Somewhere in Time). Can you tell he's a romantic?She had just graduated from college and was "supposedly" home for the summer and then on to seminary in the fall. But that's not the way it happened.They married on October 27, 1984.And have lived happily ever after!!

• A Glimpse of Africa

  17 Oct 2009 | 7:09 am

  This song rings true in my heart. Sara Groves has taken her experience in Rwanda and put it to music. The images are the same as Uganda so I thought I would share this beautiful message with you.Thanks for stopping by. More to come!!

• My Ugandan Treasure

  12 Oct 2009 | 7:50 am

  One of the treasures I brought back with me from Uganda is the memory of this precious woman. This was taken at a women's meeting we held on our visit to Llolwe Island. What a blessing to be able to share with the women of the Island as well as listen to many of their stories.Just look at that smile. You would think that this woman didn't have a care in the world. But she did. She began her story by telling us that she was the mother of nine children. She had buried eight of them. Her nine year old had just been buried the week before we arrived. Now look again at her smile. She exudes joy.

• Now for the Nitty Gritty

  10 Oct 2009 | 6:25 am

  Ok, so now I'm going to share some of the nitty gritty facts about Uganda! I know you have been waiting!! I've already shared that we had no privacy whatsoever while on the islands. There were kids everywhere and most times they were peeking into the windows anytime anyone was in our "room". The reason "room" is in quotes is because it was a classroom which had been cleared out for us to sleep in. Here is my "home sweet home" on Llolwe Island. I shared it with Deb and Jo. There were also two other tents set up in here for the other ladies on the trip. Ah, the comfort of concrete floors!!Since…

• Taste and Touch of Uganda

  8 Oct 2009 | 11:03 am

  You feel the constant sticky heat and excessive humidity and wonder why the people of Uganda wander around in winter coats.You are pressed on every side by the wall of people in the city or the scurry of never-ending traffic mostly consisting of taxi vans overloaded with people or Bota Bota’s (motorcycles used as taxis) carrying two or three passengers along with their belongings.You were surprised as the sudden rains of rainy season drench you as you go about your day or the dusty roads that don’t seem to even acknowledge the rains.The many dirt roads that rattle your bones to your very…

• 
  Highland Quilter

• Rosalie and Leanne's Campania projects

  5 Nov 2009 | 8:20 pm

  Above is a picture of Rosalie's display. Such gorgeous things. I am really keen to make the Dolls House quilt....will add it to my growing list! Rosalie's Christmas Snowman stitchery. This stitchery is cleverly mounted onto a canvas.... a good idea!Another stitchery from Rosalie....so pretty and bright.....I would like to do this one too!!Leanne's Craft and Needle bag.This was the project that I worked on for the day.My version of Leanne's bag.It was a lovely project to work on.....

• Campania

  4 Nov 2009 | 12:41 am

  This Saturday saw many Tasmanian ladies head off to Campania for the 6th Gathering held by The Quilted Crow ladies. A terrific day was had by all. The guest tutors were Leanne Beasley and Rosalie Quinlan! While the day was all about Christmas there was a definite Halloween theme in the air. The date of this gathering was infact Halloween. Dierdre displayed her amazing collection of Halloween related craft and several bloggers arrived dressed in witchy outfits!! The beautifully decorated hall. A Halloween Tree. My favourite Halloween quilt. (apparently the pattern for this quilt was in…

• Stitching Angel Surprise

  27 Oct 2009 | 11:45 am

  I had a very pleasant surprise in the mail yesterday! All of these beautifully wrapped gifts arrived from my Stitching Angel. I don't know who my angel is, only that she lives in Salt Lake City.....very mysterious and sneaky! And these are all the gorgeous black and white goodies that my Angel sent.....A large black and white bag, a very cute cherry fabric bag, a pin cushion, a needle case, plus fabric, buttons, cottons and other notions....The inside of the needle case...Thank you So much Angel. I love black and white things and I love all of the things that you have sent! I have been very…

• A Stitching Angel

  24 Oct 2009 | 2:43 pm

  It has been more than a month since my last post. Very slack I know!!I have been busy stitching during this time. I have almost completed 2 Christmas swap gifts, made 4 Quilt Aid blocks and stitched for my Stitching Angel partner. Above are the gifts that I made for Jo. I thought it was very funny when I opened the email from Helen and it said that Jo was my partner. It was even more amusing because the weekend after that email I went to Hobart and stayed at Jo's house for 2 nights. I was so tempted to leave "Stitching Angel" messages around Jo's house but I thought that might have been a bit…

• Raggy doll swap

  24 Sep 2009 | 1:21 pm

  I have had an extremely busy and tiring 3 weeks, however a few positive things have come from it. The first is that my back-yard is now under control. Andrew and I worked tirelessly to reclaimed the garden beds and found the plants in amongst the weeds!! The other more exciting news is I have changed my work-load and I am now working .8 again. This means I now have Fridays off and only work an 8 day fortnight. Hopefully I will now have more time for me. I intend spending my Fridays catching up, hopefully going for a nice long walk in the mornings, spending more time in my sewing room,…

• 
  Quilter Going Bananas

• Old Stuff

  22 Nov 2009 | 10:40 am

  A couple of weeks ago fellow bloggers Crispy and LeKa showed pics of some of their older projects. I thought it was a great idea. So now it's my turn to share. Here's a pic of one of my older projects...This was a hand applique piece that I made as a gift for my mum several years ago. Mum likes Asian design for it's simple lines. This pattern is from an amazing book called Fabled Flowers by Japanese author Kumiko Sudo. The patterns in the book were inspired by the Japanese traditions of origami and sashiko. The pics in the book are eye candy, let me tell you! Until next time...

• Saturday Sampler Pic

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:01 pm

  Here's the twelveth installment of the Saturday Sampler series.Check back here for the first installment if you want to read it from the very beginning.This hand pieced block is called Turkey Tracks. I thought it would be a good one to show for all my American friends celebrating Thanksgiving in a few more days. Until next time...

• I Couldn't Help It!

  17 Nov 2009 | 10:01 pm

  I have a problem. A big problem. You see I'm addicted to fabric; yardage, fat quarters, charm packs, jelly rolls, layer cakes...you name it and I want it! So when I saw pics from Fall Quilt Market of this fabric pack I knew I was in deep trouble. So what caused my heart to go aflutter?The Sampler Moda Bake Shop Box. Lots of goodness in there. Click on the image to get more info. I purchased mine from the Fat Quarter Shop. I can't wait to get my hands on it! Until next time...

• New Pattern

  15 Nov 2009 | 10:01 pm

  Take a look at this new pattern I got in the mail recently (click on the pic for a closer look)...Adorable koala bears from Australian sister design duo Melly and Me! Check out Melly and Me's blog here. They've got wonderful stuff animal patterns and purse patterns and more.I've never made a "stuffy" before so I want to give it a try. Any suggestions for me? Tips? Tricks? Any advice would be appreciated! Now I have to figure out what colours they should be; the boy's name is Bonzer and the girl's name is Beaut. Priceless or what? I just love them! Until next time.....

• Saturday Sampler Pic

  13 Nov 2009 | 10:01 pm

  Here's the eleventh installment of the Saturday Sampler series. Check back here for the first installment if you want to read it from the very beginning.This hand pieced block is called Lover's Knot, it's a Drunkard's Path variation. Hand piecing those curved pieces together is the only way to do it! LOL Until next time...

• 
  A Quilting Life

• Table Topper Tutorial

  21 Nov 2009 | 4:52 pm

  Well, I've been busy this week with pattern testing and bindings...but I did want to share the instructions for this fun table topper with you. I didn't take enough pictures while I was making the Verna topper, so I made another using my Martinique squares. I actually constructed the topper a little bit differently the second time, so I'll provide directions for both methods. The Verna topper was actually constructed by making four blocks and then sewing them together, while the Martinique topper was put together in rows, making one large block. The borders are exactly the same for both…

• Verna, Mail, and Other Things

  17 Nov 2009 | 8:07 am

  I heart these fabrics...all 40 of them! I don't have a favorite yet--don't know if I will ever be able to choose just one--they're all wonderful! I had to use them right away, and I wanted to use all 40 squares in the same project. So I designed this fun little table topper (tutorial coming soon)! The fabric came from my Moda Sampler Box and is Verna by Kate Spain (who has a blog here). I love this line...as in Fat Quarter Bundle love this line! Seriously, how much can you treasure 40 2 1/2" squares of one line of fabric. It's going to be hard to wait until next year for this line because…

• "Love" this bag...

  12 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am

  I finally had a chance to finish my little project with the Amy Butler "Love" fabrics I picked up. Well, actually a couple of projects...but they go together. This is the front of my new bag along with a smaller bag to go inside. I used every print in the collection--and doubled up on a few of my favorites. This is the back of the bag...don't know which I like better! I used Nanette's pattern again...I return to her pattern again and again because I love both the shape and size...and because it showcases fabrics so well! Okay...well that's all for now...back to sewing! Have a great day!

• This and That

  10 Nov 2009 | 2:30 pm

  A rare occasion today...a picture of food on my blog! I'm not a wonderful cook, so you won't see this often...but yesterday my kids wanted homemade pizza for dinner...and I could not find my pizza dough recipe...anywhere! Luckily, I had just finished reading The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl by Ree Drummond and remembered there was a pizza dough recipe in the book. Anyway...it was wonderful pizza dough...and the book is wonderful as well...I read it cover to cover the day I received it! Since one of these Moda Sampler Boxes is on it's way(thank you for the…

• Whew!

  4 Nov 2009 | 3:55 pm

  Finally...although I don't know why...I'm feeling like things have slowed down a little...never mind that Christmas is on the way and I'm behind on all my projects...for whatever reason things seem a little slower this week. What was it about September and October? They seemed so rushed! Just this afternoon I finished my Cameos Christmas quilt top...the colors in the photo didn't come out as bright as they actually are...the pictures when I first posted this are a better representation of the true colors. Last month I completely missed the boat on my Charming Girls' Quilt Club…

• 
  Anyone Can Quilt

• sick day, sewing day

  AnyoneCanQuilt

  17 Nov 2009 | 1:53 pm

  Big Sis is a but under the weather today.  So lots of cartoons and cuddling, 7up and dry toast.  And of course mama waiting on her hand and foot.  But best of all today seems to be this.Priceless puppy therapy. While everybody is snuggly, comfy and content, I am stealing away to the sewing room throughout the day.   I can't wait to get this quilt top finished.  These are the blocks I worked on at the retreat.  They are so pretty, and each one seemed to take forever to finish.  But I got all nine of them done.  Phew.

• The most fun ever.

  AnyoneCanQuilt

  9 Nov 2009 | 12:22 pm

  I got to go on a quilting retreat!!  Four days of non stop sewing, eating, visiting, laughing, sewing and eating some more, more laughing... you get the picture.  And my mom even got to come with me.  We had an absolute blast.  Guess who my next table neighbor was...Here's a clue: Here's another hint: It's my friend Monica of Happy Zombie!  She is so fun.  And her sewing table looked just like you would imagine it to.  Full of Happy... and booze.  Ok, not full of booze, but there were cocktails and fun snacks.  We…

• Happy Halloween!

  AnyoneCanQuilt

  31 Oct 2009 | 4:07 pm

  Have a nice, cozy, yummy and creepy night friends!  We are busy rushing about this evening.  Getting pumpkins carved, pumpkin seeds roasted, costumes assembled... Whew!  I don't have any costume pictures for you yet.  But if you'd like, please take a stroll back in time to here.  It still cracks me up every time.  Can't wait to show you what we cooked up to humiliate her this year.  Stay tuned friends, there's nothing like the look of embarrassment on a dachshunds face.  Merry Halloween! x

• Once upon a time...

  AnyoneCanQuilt

  22 Oct 2009 | 5:46 pm

  ... there was a shiny new sewing machine.  Fresh out of the Elizabeth, NJ factory in 1923.  She was a sturdy gal, and ever so lovely.  She was powered by a treadle, and was always reliable while mothers made clothes for daughters, and patient while little girls spent hours learning to sew.  She was loved for many years and was brought from house to house and even traveled all the way across the country.   She was happily handed down to grown up daughters.   When this precious sewing machine was about 50 years old, she was sold to a new…

• A Quickie Post, you know, to let you know I'm alive and all...

  AnyoneCanQuilt

  12 Oct 2009 | 8:24 am

  First of all, my bread was smiling at me last night.   Yes my friends, this is the sort of thing that cracks me up.  Only I can't show you how I carried it around to my family making it talk and sing... Then my kids wanted to know which grilled cheese sandwich had the face on it because they didn't want to eat that one.  Moving on.I know my poor blog is feeling lonely and neglected as I try to get myself into a nice life/blogging groove this fall.  So I decided to walk around and snap a few pictures of my early morning to do a little post.  I…

• 
  Cherry House Quilts

• Take a peek!

  Lizzy House

  22 Nov 2009 | 11:42 am

  Here's a peek at City Green, one of the quilts in my new book City Quilts.  This photo was taken of the quilt on the design wall, pre borders, pre quilting, pre being finished, but I had to capture these clear, beautiful colors.  I can't say enough about the beauty of solids, I think they almost have the effect of colored glass.  Yesterday, I was searching around on the internet for something, and found a link to the work of Josef Albers...whose work I was a little acquainted with, but not very well.  I found this, which I thought incredible, and a little like my quilt.  It…

• Fruit Stripe Gum Part 2

  Lizzy House

  19 Nov 2009 | 9:51 pm

  Ready to sew...here we go! Here are the cut NFNW interfacing squares Take your sorted strips of fabric (remember to sort by color) Take a square of NFNW interfacing, lay it down on the flat surface, on the diagonal. Place a white fabric strip in the center right side up, and lay a colored strip on top of it, right side down, stitch (1/4'' seam allowance), press open. **Important note: Reduce the heat of the iron to medium when pressing open the strips.  A too hot iron will cause the NFNW interfacing to shrivel. Add another strip of white, stitch, press open Continue to add fabric until…

• Look at what you made possible

  Lizzy House

  19 Nov 2009 | 12:24 pm

  Yesterday was the delivery of all of the quilts to Fort Hood.  There was an informal gathering to photograph the quilts, before presenting them to the hospital Chaplain.  Even among the tough military personnel, at the sight of all quilts; tears were shed.  Luke had the honor of handing out the first quilt to one of the wounded in Darnell Hospital.    Thank you so much to everyone for your individual and group contributions!  lots of love, Cherri

• News, News, more News...the happiest news in all the land

  Lizzy House

  16 Nov 2009 | 12:33 pm

      Dear Quilty Friends, I am so excited to tell you that I have written a book with C&T Publishing!!!!!!!!!! As you can see right over there <---- it is called CITY QUILTS - 12 Dramatic Projects Inspired by Urban Views 12 quilts - all solids, nothing but beautiful Robert Kaufman solids!!!! This project has taken 1+ years, and it has been the best, hardest thing I have done, aside from raising my children. I hope you will love it, and I hope you will buy it!  As Linus says to Charlie Brown about the Great Pumpkin, " He'll come here because I have the most sincere pumpkin…

• Fruit Striped Gum Quilt Along...all the details

  Lizzy House

  15 Nov 2009 | 10:13 am

  Ready to get started on our Fruit Striped Gum Quilt Along?  Ready to use up those scraps?  Here's how we will get started... Gather all of your scraps in white - whether solid, tone on tone, any thing in this neighborhood - you will need lots of white fabric Gather all of your pastels...anything really light to medium in color  Sort the scraps into color families...all the yellows together, all the pinks, all the greens, purples, blues, etc. Length of scraps 4'' to 15'' Width of scraps 1'' to 3'' How many scraps?  Lots and lots...there is no definitive answer to this, remember it started…

• 
  Quilt News

• Teach a New Class

  admin

  11 Nov 2009 | 10:20 am

• How Many Days Until Christmas?

  admin

  4 Oct 2009 | 10:52 pm

  Stock up now on this great pattern by Ruth at Arbee Designs.

• Tangletown

  admin

  4 Oct 2009 | 10:32 pm

  Stop by Jamie’s Kalvestran’s place and check out her variations on this great bag pattern!

• Botanical Art Quilts

  admin

  4 Oct 2009 | 10:11 pm

  Hold on tight to summer with Janet Rice-Bredin’s collection of Botanical Art Quilts. From her blog you can tell she has a wonderful garden to pull her inspiration from.

• LizzyB Creative

  admin

  4 Oct 2009 | 10:06 pm

  If you haven’t been over to see what the gals at LizzyB are up to lately, jump on over for a peek!

• 
  Red Fish Circle

• Inspiring Words

  20 Nov 2009 | 5:48 pm

  "You do not need to leave your room. Remain sitting at your table and listen. Do not even listen, simply wait, be quiet, still and solitary. The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked, it has no choice, it will roll in ecstasy at your feet." - Franz Kafka

• So Cute!

  19 Nov 2009 | 5:04 am

  KrazyBear on Etsy

• Pears and Kangaroo Paws

  18 Nov 2009 | 6:08 pm

  New Painting - Pears and Kangaroo Paws.

• Minky on Etsy

  16 Nov 2009 | 6:57 pm

  I found my minky fabrics on Etsy for those of you that might be interested. These are the same designs in the Creatures and Critters collection with Robert Kaufman - larger scale and new colors.And here are photos of a blanket made with the minky fabric by minkybabyblankets on Etsy. Cuddly cute!

• Cynthia Toops

  16 Nov 2009 | 6:39 pm

  I thought I would share the work of one of my favorite jewelry artists - Cynthia Toops . She works in fimo clay creating folksy mosaics and majestic beads.

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  Candle Lite Quilter

• Different Nov Schnibble Fabric

  20 Nov 2009 | 2:29 pm

  It's sure a good thing that I can change my mind because I'm pretty good at it! Remember this fabric ... well it was suppose to be for my November Schnibble ... but the other night i got to thinking that i would rather use some of my scraps for this schnibble and keep this 1930s for another one... So this is the fabric i'm using for the baskets on the November schnibble ... And this is the fabric i'm using for the flowers on the November schnibble...i just think using these bright colors will really make this pattern pop. So this evening I'm going out to dinner with the girls and then i hope…

• Not Much Goin On!

  19 Nov 2009 | 1:08 pm

  Hi everyone! Well, i don't have much to blog about because i haven't done anything! Monday night i put up the Christmas tree (pic below) and the lights outside and that is about it! i haven't even started my November Schnibble, but hubby works this weekend so i'm sure i will be working on it a bunch then if i'm not Christmas shopping or out to dinner with the girls which is the norm when the boys are working :O) Hopefully i'll have something more to post about this weekend, but until then, happy stitching!

• Veteran's Day

  11 Nov 2009 | 5:54 pm

  Today is Veteran's Day. The 11th day of the 11th Month. For those who have served and those who are currently serving ... we thank you!

• So Much Accomplished!

  9 Nov 2009 | 12:15 pm

  What a great week-end! I got so much accomplished! Binding is on everything and i even had time to make a Christmas table topper. This week i'm going to get that quilted and bound and then i hope to quilt and bind my red white and blue table topper that has been haunting me! Here is a picture of the Christmas topper and it was so quick and easy to make! You can find the free pattern here. Just scroll down towards the bottom and click on Free Patterns...ENJOY! Oh yeah ... and i need to get started on my November Schnibbles. Here is the fabric i'm doing it in. I decided to go with 1930's type…

• Giveaways Galore!

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:19 am

  There are some great give-aways going on out there and below are 2 of them. This month is my Blogiversary so hopefully in the next few weeks I'll have a give-away for that, but in the meantime, be sure to check out the below give-aways! Quilt Hollow is having an awesome give-away! Make sure you stop by and join in on the fun! Sunflower Quilts is having a Blogiversary Giveaway! Look at the wonderful items she's giving away! Be sure to check out her blog and sign up!! Oh, and one more thing ... check out the yummy cookies Amanda has on her blog...they look so good! I am soooo glad it's Friday…

• 
  Contemporary Traditions

• Be Attitudes

  28 Oct 2009 | 5:44 am

  One of my customers brought this quilt to me for quilting . It is called the Be Attitudes quilt and comes from Art to Heart. I love the quilt so much I bought the book and started on a couple of the blocks in my spare time. Enjoy the photos…     

• Kaleidoscope in Greens and Purples

  19 Oct 2009 | 4:57 am

  I quilted this top for the local quilt shop. Isn’t it lovely? I like how the top seems to sparkle with all of the different colors and values. I quilted continuous cures in the center using light and dark green threads. The light green border has hibiscus-like flowers in it.

• Eye Candy

  1 Oct 2009 | 4:24 am

  I have some eye candy to share with you, but first I want to post a link to an interesting news article I read. In studying the History of Art I've always wondered why it is so many of the Masters were so disturbed, or disturbing (Van Gogh, Picasso, and others). Is the disturbing aspect what made them Masters or did being a Master make them disturbing? Or is it just that their disturbing work

• Civil War Sampler

  22 Sep 2009 | 3:59 am

  I recently finished quilting this Civil War Sampler for a friend. Isn’t it lovely?   I quilted a Baptist Fan on it using Signature 100% Cotton thread.

• Rain Lilies

  2 Sep 2009 | 5:01 am

  My yard is sprinkled with Rain Lilies this week. Rain Lilies lie dormant for most of the year below the grass. A few days after a rain they appear like magic. The blossoms open slowly at dusk, gradually expanding during the night to appear in full flower the next morning. Both the rain and the lilies are welcome sights here in San Antonio.

• 
  Barn Quilt Memories

• Share your news...

  2 Nov 2009 | 3:09 am

  I have been spending much of my time dealing with family issues, but continue to search for Barn Quilt (Quilt Barn, Quilt Trail), news...This coming Saturday (November 7), the Quilt Trails of Western North Carolina will sponser it's first Quilt Trail Road Rally. The object is to connect 15 Barn Quilts with the least mileage. Proceeds go to Habitat for Humanity.Truman, Minnesota (Martin County), repotedly has a Quilt Trail, but I am not sure how many there are, or if a map is available.The Wardsville (Ontario, Canada) Community Association has plans for a Quilt Trail, but there does not seem…

• Grand Traverse County, Mi

  27 Oct 2009 | 12:40 pm

  Several months ago, I mentioned what was going on around Traverse City, Michigan. Read about their Quilt Trail (below). I am adding Grand Traverse County to the sidebar. Part of the county is also known as the Old Mission Peninsula. For much more information on all of these barns, refer to the book BARNS OF OLD MISSION PENINSULA AND THEIR STORIES, written by Evelyn Johnson.You can get more information by visiting: http://www.barnsofoldmission.com/ or http://mibarn.net/Events/QuiltBarnsofOldMissionPeninsula.htmlMike Norton has written the following for the Traverse City Convention &…

• I do have roots in South Carolina, and now...

  24 Oct 2009 | 4:59 am

  Oconee Heritage Quilt TrailSouth CarolinaText below is from: http://www.oconeeheritagequilttrail.com/The Blue Ridge Arts Council is taking the lead in bringing the National Quilt Trail to South Carolina. The Quilt Trail began in 2001 in Ohio when Donna Sue Groves installed a painted quilt design on her barn to honor her mother, a fifth generation Appalachian quilter. From that simple act, the project has spread to more than 2,000 colorfully painted quilt designs on barns and other structures in twenty-four states.The popularity of the quilt square design trails has grown as communities see…

• Ar, Randolph County

  21 Oct 2009 | 12:54 pm

  I have added Randolph County, Arkansas to the sidebar...

• McDowell County, NC

  14 Oct 2009 | 10:47 am

  Another North Carolina county (McDowell), has created (work in process), a Quilt Trail. Anyone interested in creating their own Quilt Trail might enjoy checking out their blog at: http://mcdowellquilttrail.org/ . They have a good start. I certainly hope that they have a warm place to paint this winter. I have added a link to their web-site on the Barn Quilt Memories side bar...Also read: The McDowell News Published: August 31, 2009

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  Art and Quilts, cogitations thereon

• Fresh and Loose

  Elizabeth Barton

  22 Nov 2009 | 7:02 am

  When I was a girl at a convent school being either fresh or loose was not considered a good thing!  but in art terms those are great qualities!  I’ve been reading about the last years of Matisse.  It’s so encouraging that there are so many examples of artists (in many media) producing wonderful work in their 70s and 80s.  No longer is commercial success a consideration.   At this time, a lifetime’s experience plus, strangely,  physical disability (e.g.having to paint with the brush attached to a long pole) leads the artist to produce work that is…

• Stitching and stretching not cogitating!

  Elizabeth Barton

  19 Nov 2009 | 1:02 pm

  Well I’ve been working on a couple of small pieces for the Elusive Beauty show at the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham, UK.   Dominie Nash and I are showing work together so we decided to share some of our fabrics and also to work some of the pieces to a standard size so that they would hang well together.  We picked a fairly small size: 18” by 24” partly because then the work can be grouped easily, but also because shipping work overseas is getting more and more expensive. I’ve just about finished one piece this week: here’s my sketch based on a photograph I took…

• Some thoughts on Colour

  Elizabeth Barton

  16 Nov 2009 | 7:02 am

  I’ve always believed I’d make a more coherent piece if I planned my colour scheme out before laying scissors to fabric…but there is so much more to colour!  The more I look at and read about colour, the more I realise there is to learn – it’s a fascinating topic. It’s one of the first things that people respond to- in many situations, so how could we use it more effectively?  Charles Hawthorne, a much beloved art teacher, continually impressed on his students that they should “see color simply” and stay with simple color forms trying to create beautiful relationships…

• The Enigma of subtlety: adding mystery

  Elizabeth Barton

  14 Nov 2009 | 7:33 am

  A friend (thank you, Terry!) suggested I consider adding more mystery  to my work .  While I love intrigue and obfuscation, I have often been told I should be more subtle!   So I starting cogitating upon how this could be done…I’ve come up with a few ideas but would love input!! Lost edges/dissolving A technique much beloved of painters, where the edges of a form within the paint dissolve into the background.  Paula Nadelstern uses this method to disguise the real edges of her wonderful snow crystals. I used it in several of my shibori/discharge pieces. In…

• Knowledge is Queen

  Elizabeth Barton

  12 Nov 2009 | 8:39 am

  The dancer and choreographer Merce Cunningham believed that artists should learn and take inspiration and understanding  from all art forms.   He collaborated with Robert Rauschenberg and John Cage to create exciting and innovative pieces.   As art quilters  (i.e. those who design their own compositions)  we are developing a relatively new art form and we can learn so much from the vast knowledge available to us in painting, music, sculpture, fashion, architecture and poetry as well as  textile traditions from around the world and the centuries. I’ve…

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  Sunrise Quilt Studio

• Block of the Month

  18 Nov 2009 | 7:27 am

  I joined the Saturday Sampler at my local quilt shop for the first time. I've always lived too far away from the LQS to join until now. This is the November block. Quilting sampler quilts is always interesting. I like to quilt something different in each block so they take more time to do, but I love the result. I have a sampler on the machine right now that I've been working on for almost 2 weeks. Of course I can only quilt part-time since I homeschool my girls, so you have to take that into consideration. The quilt is nearly done, though

• Background

  17 Nov 2009 | 9:08 am

  I finally decided to make a pieced background for the lilly appliques since I didn't have enough of any one fabric to use for this "trial-run". It needs more work, but this is a practice piece so I can have fun and play around with it without any pressure.

• Fabric Dyeing Experiment

  11 Nov 2009 | 11:05 am

  Sunday afternoon I decided to try dyeing a piece of white cotton to another option for the lilly quilt. I use Procion MX dyes and sometimes Rit dyes for fabric, but I didn't have orange or red & yellow to make orange of either of these dyes. My solution was to use my Setacolor fabric paints.I mixed up the red and yellow to make a medium orange, then thinned it with water and painted it onto the wet fabric with a 2" sponge brush. My piece of fabric is 36" x 60" and I had to really spread that paint out to cover the entire piece. The color was too light so I mixed up more paint in a larger…

• Auditioning Background Fabrics

  9 Nov 2009 | 7:38 am

  I'm working on a new quilt and making a test-run of fabric colors. This will also be a test-run to see where I need to tweek the design to get the shading right. The final quilt will have different fabrics in it, but with similar colors. I don't have enough of those fabrics to make 2 quilts, so I'm making due with other fabrics. This test-quilt is also 50% smaller than the final quilt will be.Last night I finished making the lilly appliques and can see where I need to make changes to get the shading to look better. I'm also auditioning backgrounds to see where I need to go.This is my first…

• Color Play

  3 Nov 2009 | 1:53 pm

  While on vacation at the beach last month, DD's and I did some painting with water colors one rainy day. These photos are some of what I painted. They are lessons out of "Color and Composition" by Katie Pasquini Masopust & Brett Barker. It was an exercise in non-representational design using a triadic color scheme. I made 3 paintings using a different triadic color scheme in each one.Of course, these exercises were to be done with fabric, but I didn't have any with me. Watercolors was the best option at the time. I didn't take a lot of time with these either, so they are pretty loose. It…

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  Susie Can Stitch

• Snowflake Crochet Pillow

  21 Nov 2009 | 8:28 am

  I stitched this Snowflake Crochet Pillow this week. Fortunately, it isn't that cold here yet, but it's time to retire some old holiday pillows I have for some new winter decorations.The pattern was in Crochet Today last winter, but I found the pattern online. Click HERE.The snowflake was kind of hard. I kept getting mixed up and ripping it out until I started using the chart provided with the pattern. It took a long time to applique it onto the pillow!Crochet Today is published by Coats so the projects are mostly using their inexpensive yarn like Red Heart acrylic or Aunt Lydia's Crochet…

• Sharpie Tie-Dye

  11 Nov 2009 | 8:17 am

  You have to do this project. I saw this on Happy Things. She saw it on Steve Spangler Science.You draw on fabric with Sharpies (I suppose you can also use other types of permanent markers. I happen to have a lot of Sharpies.) Draw a design that is at least an inch in diameter. More ink bleeds more. Drip rubbing alcohol into the center of the design and watch the ink bleed out to beautiful effect.I probably have a medicine dropper somewhere, but we just used a straw as a dropper for the rubbing alcohol. Let them dry completely. After a few minutes, we laid ours out on an old towel to dry. To…

• Gift Mascots

  10 Nov 2009 | 8:48 am

  It was my birthday over the weekend. My daughter found a project in my felt mascot books and made this for me: Cute! I love her running stitch in a contrasting thread! I'm wearing it on my jacket for fall. My mascot books are all in Japanese, but we aren't intimidated!A few weeks ago I helped her make this elephant as a gift for a little sister of her close friend: The little girl reports that she sleeps with her little blue elephant every night.Here is the creator with her creation: My husband and son got me some Gingher embroidery scissors and water soluble transfer pens. Husband has…

• Kawung Style Embroidery

  3 Nov 2009 | 6:35 am

  I reviewed Dritz Mark-B-Gone Marking Pens for Craft Critique. Click HERE to read my article.I also finished my last stitching for my Tea Towel Tour swap at Craftster. Click HERE to see our gallery. Find the "See Images Only" tab to edit out the chit-chat.Kitten Wrangler indicated that she was interested in traditional Indonesian design so I did some research. I found mostly batik designs, but a motif I thought would translate to embroidery was this style of interlocking circles called "Kawung".It is a beautiful loose weave linen cloth, so the circles came out very slightly wonky. Batik motifs…

• Halloween: The Aftermath

  2 Nov 2009 | 2:03 pm

  It was cold here! My son has decided that he is too old to trick-or-treat, so he stayed in and handled the door while we watched a "scary" movie. (Poltergeist made him jump a couple times, but he declares he wasn't scared t all.)Lots of people were out-of-town, and we live on the side of the street that gets less trick-or-treaters. I have never ever had an impolite kid come to the door. My husband took my daughter around and it seems she knows every kid in the neighborhood. She's our little extrovert in an introverted family! I let her design our doorway display. Her costume is a vampire bat…

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  The Quilter

• Journal Covers

  20 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am

  I have been busy in the sewing room, can you tell? It seems that MagicLady and I use the same style calendar. My calendars take a lot of abuse so I have always made covers for mine. This year I made two and in the process used up 3 orphan quilt blocks. Pretty neat, huh?There are spaces in the flaps to store business cards and papers and to hold a pen or pencil there is a simple loop of elastic next to the hook and loop tape on the strap. To be able to find your place easily a ribbon is sewn in at the spine. Over the years I have perfected what I want in my cover and long ago decided that I…

• Being Grateful

  18 Nov 2009 | 7:18 pm

  The dictionary defines grateful as being appreciative of benefits received. Yes, I am grateful. Grateful for the roof over my head, the food that I eat, my job, and family and friends. That last is what has prompted this post. CarGuy learned that a sibling was living out of a pickup camper in a Walmart parking lot. That sib is now staying with us until enough money has been saved from the sib's part time job to get back on her/his feet. Can you just imagine trying to not only obtain a job but keep it when one does not have the basic needs and facilities met? After the first night here, the…

• Perseverance

  16 Nov 2009 | 5:34 am

  I have somehow ended up owning some vintage thread crocheted potholders. One of my favorites is this round white potholder with the pink satin ribbon laced every other row. It's a simple pattern, really, and I decided to document it by writing the pattern down. So I hauled out the stash of crochet thread, made a cuppa tea and started in on it. I have the general principle but haven't yet gotten it to lay truly flat.One day I will, though, with perseverance.

• The Iris Garden Quilt

  12 Nov 2009 | 6:05 am

  Just to show that I am actually working on a quilt, here is a picture to prove it. Do you remember the Iris Garden Quilt? You can read about it here and here. I am doing machine applique on this quilt. Can you see the stitches in the stem below the pinned piece? The technique I am using make the applique stitches almost invisible. The white lines on the green leaf are both embroidery embellishment lines and placement lines for another piece. The blue lines are placement lines for applique pieces and also include the number of the corresponding applique piece. The blue dots are quilting lines.

• It's the Simple Things

  9 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am

  Bathing by Robert LakstagalaMany years ago, in fact too many to even remember, Plantwoman sent me a greeting card with this picture. She doesn't smoke and never has, nor does she have hair like this but still this reminds me of her. Why? It's the bathtub. She lives in an older house with a small bathroom and a tub exactly like this one: perfect for soaking. I matted the photo and put it in a frame and it now graces a wall in my bathroom. Every time I look at it I think of my BFF.

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  Giraffe Dreams

• Tired But Happy

  21 Nov 2009 | 4:38 pm

  Friday night and today, Saturday, I was one of several vendors at a home holiday boutique. Andrea hosted this sale at her home, and it was a smashing success!Andrea is a gifted hostess, which really helps. People knew it would be worth showing up, just for the snacks, if nothing else. Her house lends itself very well to a boutique sale, and it was all quite comfortable.Here you see the hand-painted glass that Andrea sells, and then Andrea herself, the hostess with the mostess.I sold several items; my time was well compensated. I'm happy! I came home early, after I'd begun to run out of items,…

• I Know Everything

  19 Nov 2009 | 4:12 pm

  Thanks to my friend D. I now know everything. She gave me a book: The Knowledge Book, Everything You Need to Know to Get By in the 21st Century. It's fun to flip through and just skim, finding fascinating facts. It's a National Geographic book.And while I skim through it, I enjoy yummy melty chocolate given to me by my friend H. What more could a girl ask for?I am going to share some knowledge with you and see if you are as know-it-all as I am:1. Western philosophy began with a quest to understand what:a] divine influence on realityb] beliefs and superstitions of humanityc] platonic loved]…

• Sharing Quilts

  17 Nov 2009 | 9:17 am

  I love sharing quilts! Last week I sent this quilt top to Margaret's Hope Chest, to be given to a child in Michigan. Read about the organization at the button on my sidebar. I ran out of time to get it quilted, which she said was fine, but I wanted to be helpful. Wish I had managed to do so.This week I gave away my scrap quilt. It was a door prize and a challenge at my guild's retreat. Last year I won a Bag O' Scraps purse... full of scraps that had been generated during the retreat. I also won the prize that the previous year's person made... a cute, scrappy purse (I won a purse and a…

• The Winner Is...

  16 Nov 2009 | 8:08 pm

  MaryK! Mary has politely declined the prize, so I'm adding $4 to the pot. I will donate one dollar per comment, or $28 plus the extra $4 -- so I will donate $32 to Pennies for Peace! Our students will appreciate the extra money for their collection!Thank you so much for your kind comments and your kudos for my 700th post! I'm glad to have so many of you pitching in and your willingness to help a good cause. If you have not read the book about Greg Mortenson and his work building schools, please do. It's called Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace, One School At A Time. He…

• #700! Whoopee! 700th Post and a Giveaway!

  14 Nov 2009 | 5:00 pm

  I have arrived at Post #700! Whoopeee! That's about 695 more posts than I predicted I would write back when I began this blog. It has been so much fun! Thank you for being my blogger friends. Who knew there was a world of readers and writers that I could hook up with from my little computer while wearing my pajamas!?Last time I had a post milestone, I pledged to give some money to Ampersand Families for each comment I received. I think I ended up sending them about $50.This time I am going to do a similar thing, but for a different group. Here's my plan:1) I will draw a name of someone from…

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  Third Girl From the Right

• The Best Laid Plans

  28 Oct 2009 | 7:51 am

  Okay, I admit it, the garage sale did not happen. Instead of doing something new I reverted to my usual modus operandi with one small twist. I gave stuff away to family and friends, sold a couple of big ticket items through craigslist and word of mouth, and I've started listing things on freecycle again.Oh how I love freecycle. I figure that anyone who is willing to take the Subway, walk or ride their bike across to town to pick up one or two Piano Primers deserves them! There have been two small disappointments on the road to decluttering. We have each discovered that our treasures are not…

• Giving Thanks and Giving Back Garage Sale Saturday October 10th

  26 Sep 2009 | 6:31 am

  As we prepare to move into our new home, and as we enter the season of Thanksgiving we realize that we are blessed by an overabundance of possessions. For a number of years our "Family Charity" has been the Therapeutic Clown Program at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children, fondly referred to as Sick Kids. To quote Flylady we are going to Bless our home by getting rid of the things we don't need and Bless the Therapeutic Clowns by donating all the proceeds to their program.Please consider digging through your closets and storerooms to help make this event a huge success. Contributions of…

• Celebrating Mishpochah

  11 Sep 2009 | 6:30 am

  I was so touched and proud to hear that my beloved Auntie Eleanor has been reading and enjoying my blog. When one sends these rambling thoughts out into the ether there is no knowing who (if anyone) will show up. What a wonderful word mishpochah is. I love the fact that there are a dozen different spellings, just as there are dozens of different ways people can be connected to you to count as part of your mishpochah.Yesterday I attended the funeral of my cousin's cousin's mother. My Dad's sister's SIL. A woman who proudly laughed back in 1982 that her BIL's, BIL's, BIL's BIL and her BIL's,…

• I Must Be A Gemini

  26 Aug 2009 | 2:29 am

  My interests shift and change. Gardening got me through last summer,designing and making charity quilts and Judaica was my passion over the winter. And now I am obsessed by tables, couches and colour as we prepare to move to our new home. Our lifetime home. The house is beautiful and old with a rich history (fitting since one of the present owners is named Rich). I'm told that the house was originally built on spec for Lawren Harris I feel a responsibility to the house and to my family to make it lovely and welcoming. A simple colour scheme, comfortable furniture, a hidy hole for each of us…

• Artists For Change

  17 Jun 2009 | 11:55 am

  I just joined Artists For Change a Kiva lending team.You can go to Kiva's website and lend to someone across the globe who needs a loan for their business - like raising goats, selling vegetables at market or making bricks. Each loan has a picture of the entrepreneur, a description of their business and how they plan to use the loan so you know exactly how your money is being spent - and you get updates letting you know how the entrepreneur is going. The best part is, when the entrepreneur pays back their loan you get your money back - and Kiva's loans are managed by microfinance institutions…

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  Wild Thread Studio Art Quilts

• 19 Nov 2009 | 4:30 am

  19 Nov 2009 | 4:30 am

  Started laying in some flowers last night. Hopefully I'll some energy tonight to continue. This painting is taking me a long time. I'm a ponderously slow painter. I am always amazed at those artists who just - confidently - start putting the brush to the canvas (or the pastel stick to the paper) and go at it! I always have to think and look and think some more and look some more....and then do some laundry and then think some more and then get a snack and then look some more...get the picture? Of course there are those moments - those moments where it all flows and I am in the right side of…

• 15 Nov 2009 | 9:28 am

  15 Nov 2009 | 9:28 am

  Dropped in a bit more handstitching last night.....more to come!A photo for inspiration! Seedlings traveling their path....

• 14 Nov 2009 | 5:03 am

  14 Nov 2009 | 5:03 am

  Was inspired to start some hand stitching and appliqueing on this piece last night. I didn't get very far but really enjoyed the meditative time spent with the needle and thread. My mind just seems to ease as time passes. One of the best drugs in the world! Today Melanie and I are meeting at the Dia Center in Beacon. We'll take in some art and then spend time over a slow lunch in order to put down on paper the guts of a syllabus for a multi-displinary kids arts program connected to the Hudson River & Hudson Valley. I've already been in touch with Mike & Ruthy and they're in for the…

• 12 Nov 2009 | 4:26 am

  12 Nov 2009 | 4:26 am

  Did some more work on the pastel painting last night. I use very rough, sanded paper because I add lots and lots of layers that are smudged and rubbed together. I need to use a surface with a lot of bite in order to hold these layers. I'm developing callouses on my finger pads as a result of this - really. All that remains to be done is to lay in the flowers (darks then lights) and this piece should be finished. Shawn told me she sees a gothic quality about my paintings. I have to say I agree with her....a kind of gothic, primitive feeling...perhaps due, in part, to the dark saturated colors…

• 11 Nov 2009 | 3:55 am

  11 Nov 2009 | 3:55 am

  Breakdown printed silk cloth overlaid with dyed organza - with a few painted eggs. I'm toying with the idea of securing this to a painted canvas but I'm not sure. If this piece turns out well it will be go into that show I've committed to doing in March. A few textile pieces, a few pastel paintings and a few acrylic abstracts....what a hodge podge...but I'm working towards tying the whole show together with the theme title 'Glimpses'. Wish me luck.

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  Textile Art Quilts

• 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…

• Earth, Water, Air and Fire

  28 Sep 2009 | 11:26 am

  I recently made four art quilts using hand dyed paper towels and dryer sheets. I then stitched the small paper quilts to painted canvas. These represent the four elements of Earth, Water, Air and this one is FIRE.Click on photos to see details.EarthWaterAirThese are for sale in my ETSY store, but could go on display before they sell.

• How Does Your Garden Grow? Sold on ETSY Today

  15 Sep 2009 | 11:45 am

  The woman who purchased this art quilt from my ETSY store left me this thank you:"oh my gosh, this piece is such a BEAUTY, i can't stop holding/looking at it. it is bringing me joy!!!!thank you so much!!!!"Well, what a joy it was for me to find this feedback. There is nothing greater than making something and having it appreciated by the reciprocate. I made this sweet quilted wall hanging using remnants of fabric from curtains, ribbon, muslin, Terry Busse's "Woolly Bits", metallic, cotton and rayon threads.It's partly machine felted, partly top sewn machine free motion styleIt's 27 and a…

• "!"

  11 Aug 2009 | 2:08 pm

  This is my latest art creation and for now I am calling it: "!"This is two three day weekends of mono print painting, cutting, sandwiching, sewing around each piece, top sewing each piece, then painstakingly sewing each to the other to get this wall hanging. I'd guess I put in approximately 65 hours into this baby.In person it is full of texture, bright color and sparkle!Size: 26" height X 34" width To see a video I made about the mono print makinggo to http://lynn-nonameblog.blogspot.com/and scroll down to August 5, 2009 post orclick on "short movie" in the next line.The mono printing shown…

• 3-D stuffed Fish Quilted Wall Hanging

  1 Aug 2009 | 5:14 pm

  This fish has been "caught" by Sylvain in my recent blog Give Away on Lynn-Getting My Feet Wet Blog.I had great fun yesterday constructing this 18" stuffed fish! I used cotton fabrics left over from my Gold Mountain Wall Hanging Quilt seen below(some hand dyed) and ribbons with lots of frayed edges and sewed them on thick felt with a felt backing.Here it is in it's "Look what I caught!" position!Here it looks like it is swimming in a stream (sort of, use your imagination)!Ribbons swim behind him.Layers of ribbons made his eye and nostril. Do fish have nostrils? LOLAnd look closely it is…

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  Art-Quilt-Works

• It's done, but don't

  17 Nov 2009 | 6:25 pm

  judge it by the photo image of it, My photography skills or sorely lacking in this case and it is really square and not at all distorted as the image suggests. For one thing, I haven't found the right spot in my place where I can take a good photograph. The design wall is lighted well enough for me to make good color fabric choices, but not quite right for photography and when I turn on more light and stand back from it I create a shadow on the work. When I turn of the lights then there isn't enough light and the flash washes out the color. To take this picture I pinned it, well sort of…

• Busy quilting

  12 Nov 2009 | 8:21 pm

  and not much else. I knew the days would come when I would wish for a sweat shirt, well today was the day. So not having one I skipped my morning lake walk both yesterday because of the rain and today because of the low temperature settling instead for the treadmill. I don't think it got much above 60 degrees today which wouldn't have been so bad if only the sun had broke through the clouds. For the last few days the ground crew has been busy in the garden, pulling weeds, mulching and planting what I think of as spring flowers in the large pots. Spring flowers and Christmas trees,…

• Oh what a three day weekend I had

  8 Nov 2009 | 6:02 pm

  that began after I got out of bed for the second time on Friday morning. The first time was at 5:15 AM to drive Rene to the airport. Of course as soon as I got back home I climbed back into bed and pulled the covers up to my chin which was easily accomplished since I went to the airport in my night shirt, SHHHH don't tell anybody.After my daily walk around the lake I decided that instead of working on either one of the two project I have in progress I should go exploring. Quilt shop hopping. I started in Apopka; driving 13 miles on SR 436 to get there and with the help of the GPS I found 2…

• My day didn't go as I had

  5 Nov 2009 | 5:09 pm

  thought it would when I put my feet on the floor first thing this morning. I had planned to do more dye painting today, in fact I thought that I would get most of the background done, but NO.I went to the lake to walk as usual and was for the second day detoured to a different pathway because there was a large crew of workers in the park moving about like industrious ants setting up the Holiday decorations. One part of the pathway around the lake when completed will give you the impression of walking down lollipop lane.CUTE... There will be lighted figures afloat on the lake as well. I have…

• Day three and

  4 Nov 2009 | 5:49 pm

  this is what it looks like today. It is not necessarily as I imagined initially.The additional flowers on the right side makes it more balanced. I had thought about and wrote in my journal that I would try for a grayed blue/purple color for the background, but just could not make myself go that blah, especially when the sun was shining and the sky outside my window was so clearly blue today. The piece as pictures measures 45 square inches and will more likely than not finish about three inches smaller, width and height after quilting and the edges are finished with a facing. Will let you know…

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  Barbara Strobel Lardon

• The Hammock

  18 Nov 2009 | 12:10 pm

  "The Hammock" is No. 26.This one took me longer to quilt than I thought. I have two left to do. One is started on my design wall....with 12 days left, I should make it on time. It is closer than I would wishbut......it is all about making it to the finish line.

• "The Egg Gatherer"

  9 Nov 2009 | 2:44 pm

  "The Egg Gatherer" is No. 25.Libby this is your suggestion, I hope it does justice to your idea.

• ....and it goes on!

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:15 am

  "The Swing" is no. 21."Sunset in the Birches" is no. 22"The Shore" in No. 23 The comment from my art director was this looked too lonely so Iam thinking of what I can add to eliminate that feeling. Any ideas?"Harvest Moon" is No. 24. It is on my design wall now and I am trying to decide if it is finished. The quilting will add some texture and furrows to the foreground so I think I am finished with it.Four more to go and still some bindings and sleeves to put on plus all the labels and more hanging rods to make.I feel confident I will make it on my deadline now and that takes away much of the…

• Changes - Continuation - New Direction

  26 Oct 2009 | 4:32 pm

  It has been a while since I posted. In those weeks I finished No.17 "The Trellis" which is inmy two colors of slate blue and yellow. The trellis is self created and the flowers and birds are broderie perse. It was a lot of quilting and doing the small meandering stitch almost drove me crazy but I got it done.The art director I am working with decided we needed to change directions now. She wanted more abstract quilts. In some ways it was a relief as I was beginning to burn out on mother and children themes. So I made "Sprigs" and quilted it today, No. 18.Then i designed "A River Runs Through…

• No. 16 - "The Fawn"

  16 Oct 2009 | 12:01 pm

  I was not going to post this one since the photo turned out horrible, but since I have the time right now I did it anyway. It is really dark in this photo where in reality it is much brighter.The border is a slate blue and there is seafoam, lavender, yellow in this. At least you can see the composition. I will retake the photo and post it at the end of this series when I show the entire 28 with bindings added.

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  Art @ The Hermitage

• More sewing ahead...

  16 Nov 2009 | 4:08 pm

  Last week I made a remarkable find in my studio... as part of the great re-organization campaign, I discovered a huge container of wool fabrics I've collected over the years with the intention of making coats and other cold weather stuff. Alas, moths have also made their own discoveries, but, for the most part, they haven't done too much damage. Once having discovered this fabric, I realized I needed some more patterns, and, wouldn't you know it... McCall's came up with a pattern sale. Now it's definitely time to stop collecting patterns and hit the sewing machine. Two of these patterns claim…

• In which a friend leads me astray...

  9 Nov 2009 | 5:01 pm

  But, what are friends for?? you ask... Exactly my point!Years ago, in the dark ages before the internet and e-mail, my friend Rosalie published a newsletter called, "Art You Wear". It was geared toward, if you hadn't already guessed, the then small, but growing, wearable art community. I enjoyed the newsletter very much, but one day it stopped showing up. I missed it, but didn't pursue it as I was busy with other stuff in my life - being a free-lance musician, working with the local artists' guild, and just beginning to learn the ropes about being a multi-cat-mom. Recently, as I was chasing…

• Roses Still Going Strong...

  15 Oct 2009 | 5:22 pm

  In spite of the constantly changing weather in recent weeks, including that bucket-brigade style deluge earlier this week, my roses seem happier than ever, and are starting to bloom all over again. Many of them are full of new buds, and I need to get out and groom them to make way for new blooms. Here are three of them showing off:New DayFalling In LoveChris Evert

• Goodbye, Emma...

  11 Oct 2009 | 8:19 pm

  Emma Allebes, one of my favorite people, crossed over last week. Emma was a woman of extraordinary talent and creativity in the fabric art world. She made some of the most wonderful quilts and wearable art I've ever seen - colorful, imaginative, flamboyant, sometimes silly, always excellently crafted, and, most definitely, never boring! I met her many years ago when I was just a novice at art quilting, and used to attend quarterly meetings of the NorCal SAQA group. I've been unable to attend the meetings for quite a while, and have missed the group very much - the inspiration I got from…

• 25 against 1 - and guess who's ahead?

  5 Oct 2009 | 11:58 pm

  We have a mouse living in our kitchen and one would think, with twenty three cats and 2 humans, the mouse wouldn't last long... but it's been three days and Ms/Mr. Mouse is still running the show. The cats have practically destroyed the kitchen - knocking stuff off the counters, breaking dishes, burrowing under small appliances, rummaging in cupboards, ripping up plastic bags. Still the mouse endures. The two humans have set up the Tin Cat and loaded it with a big, yummy dollop of peanut butter and some cat kibble, but so far it hasn't had any affect on the mouse, although the cats sure are…

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  Artwork by Jamie Fingal

• Work in Progress

  20 Nov 2009 | 10:59 am

  This is cool stuff from Strueter Technologies - Aluminum Glue Foil that you can emboss and iron onto your art quilt. It is available at Soft Expressions in Anaheim I ran a few pieces - one at a time through my Cuddlebug embossing machineand this is how it looks after it is embossed. I will cut out smaller pieces and iron them onto the art quilt that I am working on now.This is one part of a 6-piece zipped together art quilt that is part of my "Heavy Metal" series. I am free-motion machine quilting all of the fabrics to wool felt. The continuing theme through all of the pieces is a circle. I…

• Embellishments

  12 Nov 2009 | 11:50 am

  I am gathering my embellishments for my next "heavy metal" series piece. On the right hand side, I am knitting fine aluminum wire, then flattening in a book, that I will later sew onto my piece. My first piece in this series is the next post down.

• Heavy Metal - SOLD!

  9 Nov 2009 | 10:16 am

  Heavy Metal 2006; 29.5H x 20.5W; First in a series by the same name. This piece and I have an emotional connection because it is where I found my voice as a fiber artist. It juried into SAQA: Transformations: Reverberations '07. The collection traveled to Festival of Quilts in Birmingham, England - Quilt Indulgence Festival in Australia - Crooked Tree Arts Center, Michigan - Quilt Visions Gallery in San Diego and Cornell Museum of Fine Art in Delray, Florida. A complex self-portrait of who I am - part punk rock - dark fabrics and a display of metal, with just a tweak of bright fabrics that…

• Work in Progress

  7 Nov 2009 | 3:10 pm

  My new piece is coming along. Still in the designing stages, with some free motion machine quilting done. Now I am adding some more pieces to create balance. Then I will sew them together with ring trim and zippers. Some possible embellishing too.

• Inspiration

  4 Nov 2009 | 10:26 pm

  Ceiling of a pool houseInteresting angle of these trees in Lithia Park, Ashland, OregonLove the contrast of this tree taken at Pelton House in Ashland, OregonGardens at Stanford Inn by the Sea in Mendocino, CAPeace sign drawn in the sand

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  Me & My Quilts

• Ice Cream Social

  21 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am

  This quilt has now been gifted to its new owner. (made with Moda's Posh fabric collection and my own liberated version of a Yellow Brick Road On Point layout) Before shipping it off, I took it to the park for an early morning photo shoot. You can view the full album here ~ enjoy!Quiltdivajulie------------------------"A gift is never about need. It's about thanking people." (Lash Fary)

• Not Quite So Furry Friday

  20 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am

  This is where we've been for over three months now . . . devoting countless hours, significant dollars, and considerable effort of all kinds to help MIL's cats Rufus and Star thrive and become full-time members of our household.Sadly, despite our best efforts, the kitties themselves have helped us make the final decision. Angel is losing weight and has become tentative and evasive. Despite his early adventures, Rufus has been staying in the laundry room and kitchen, rarely venturing more than a few steps into any other room before racing back to his hiding spots. Star, at 18, seemed to handle…

• Thinking Thursday

  19 Nov 2009 | 6:56 am

  In our newspaper yesterday, we found an announcement article about a new Medic Alert program for those diagnosed with bipolar disorder. (As many of you already know, our younger son was diagnosed just weeks before he started college.)What a difference this program demonstrates between the attitudes of just ten short years ago and today . . .Quiltdivajulie------------------------"Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed but in what is still possible for you…

• Wordless Wednesday

  18 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am

  * * * * * * * * * *p.s. If you have any available selvages from DOG-themed fabrics, please leave me a comment (if you are a no-reply blogger, please include your e-mail address). I have lots of CAT-themed selvages (for obvious reasons), but the quilt I'm working on is to be gifted to a DOG owner . . .

• 'Tis the Season ???

  16 Nov 2009 | 5:00 am

  Can you guess how we spent much of the weekend? Apparently there is something in the air since Lynne and Chris and Gari and several others have posted very recently about their cleaning out/re-arranging projects . . . it's AUTUMN, so why are so many of us SPRING cleaning?!?!?!? Quiltdivajulie

• 
  About.com Quilting

• NEW: Fabric Postcard Show & Tell

  20 Nov 2009 | 2:41 am

  The new Show & Tell feature is pretty cool. There are four categories so far, with more coming. The most recent, added just yesterday, is a place to submit your fabric postcards. The link in the title leads to the actual submissions, but you'll find a button within each of those pages that takes you to a form you can use to submit your own. I still have to approve them, but it's an easier process than what I use for our galleries (I have been sorting through about 400 photo submissions this morning and plan to work on those over the next several days). There are just a few postcards so…

• Easy Pillowcase Pattern with French Seams

  17 Nov 2009 | 11:57 pm

  You can make this easy pillowcase in no time at all. Its seams are all enclosed, with no ragged edges to fray out in the wash. French seams are used to contain the frays along the side and bottom of the case, and a folded-over cuff does the trick at its opening. The steps to create enclosed seams might seem confusing if you've never used either technique, but the methods truly are simple. Make a novelty pillowcase for a child or adult, or stitch cases that coordinate with your quilts. Use the pattern to become accustomed to the basic construction method, and check back for a pillowcase with a…

• Beverly's Variation of the Pitchers for Tildy's Cabin Quilt

  16 Nov 2009 | 11:00 pm

  It's fantastic to see the results when someone takes one of my patterns and makes it her own. Like this little quilt from Beverly. The original is designed on-point, with partial Courthouse Steps blocks used as setting triangles. Beverly straight-set her quilt blocks, which completely eliminated the need for pieced triangles. Her color value placement is just right -- it makes some pitcher blocks appear to be on-point and gives visual movement to the pitchers in general, because they no longer appear to be in a straight-as-a-string line. And notice how the dark Courthouse Steps logs form…

• Christmas Orchard Quilt Pattern

  12 Nov 2009 | 9:11 am

  Christmas Orchard is made from two traditional blocks, Snowball and Practical Orchard. It's super easy to assemble -- even if you're a beginning quilter. The size works well for a child's quilt, so change the fabrics if you want to alter the theme. You might also shift some of the color values around to make different components pop out in the quilt. Like the yellow squares and/or triangles -- the quilt would look very difference with a dark fabric sewn in those positions, especially if you lighten-up the squares that are currently green.Christmas Orchard Quilt Pattern originally appeared on…

• Stretching to the Stars Quilt Pattern

  9 Nov 2009 | 10:50 pm

  Stretching to the Stars is an easy quilt that's assembled using strip piecing and quick piecing techniques. The design is a good choice when you want to stitch a patriotic quilt, but a simple fabric switch can make it suit any theme. My sister made a cuddly baby quilt from the pattern, using soft pastels and neutrals. You'll assemble two block sizes, one 8" square and the other 4" square, to help you practice working with smaller and larger components. Beginning quilters might want to brush up on their rotary cutting and pressing skills before beginning. Quilt by Janet WickellStretching to…

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  Bunny Tales

• Turkey in the oven…almost!

  Anne Sutton

  21 Nov 2009 | 7:01 pm

  So, back to tradition.  I really am a Thanksgiving lover and yes, I’ll be cooking just like most of you .  As of today, it’s a bit questionable who I’ll be cooking for.  Both my grand-daughters just came down with the flu, now my son has it too.  So far my daughter-in-law is fine, but from what I’ve heard of this nasty bug, she may be next!  I don’t know if it’s the swine flu.  They no longer test for it. Have any of you had this horrible little creature visit your home? On a happier note, If you haven’t entered a name for the little squirrel, you…

• I’m skipping Thanksgiving

  Anne Sutton

  19 Nov 2009 | 3:18 pm

  I’m think I might just skip Thanksgiving.  Haven’t told my family yet, but when they all show up,  wouldn’t it be great if I handed each one a box of Christmas decorations?   Get to work and they’ll  get a “bite” to eat later;  maybe a pizza or something like that.  These little guys are just waiting for them, along with hundreds of other ornaments packed away in the garage! Think how fast it would all get done!  No dreaded day after Thanksgiving, when my husband drags himself out to the garage,  groaning the whole time,  to get…

• Photographing Chelsea

  Anne Sutton

  17 Nov 2009 | 8:48 pm

  Digital Cameras are so wonderful! They open up a new world! To think that we can take as many photos as we want, and simply delete the ones we don’t like. I was working away at the computer today and I happened to look over and see Chelsea sleeping about 2 ft. away. I decided it was a photo moment. Camera was right next to the computer so I grabbed it and did some practice shots!Here she is, sleeping in her little bed. Cute photo, but too many distractions in the background. That sewing machine cord looks unattractive and yes the window is blurred, but still not the best frame for the…

• I Love That Color!

  Anne Sutton

  14 Nov 2009 | 1:29 pm

  What’s in a color?  Amazing when you think about it! Do you say “I HATE that color” or “I LOVE that color”? Click here and see how you respond to this color wheel.  (There’s an iPhone color app on this link too!)  Have you painted a room one of these colors?  Are you a brave red type or a shabby pink? As the new studio addition draws near, I’ve been thinking about wall colors. Lurking nearby in the garage, we have CANS of paint. Palest of pinks, the freshest blue, a green I’ve decided I “Hate”. Test colors, used colors, colors we bought too much of. My…

• Project week

  Anne Sutton

  11 Nov 2009 | 8:48 pm

  It’s project week at Bunny Hill.  The tables are a bit cluttered, and there’s fabric everywhere, but that’s a good thing. It means I’m working!   I never have enough room.  If there’s a spare inch of table space I fill it with something.  Things look orderly in my photos, but if you could see what I copped out you’d laugh! Here’s the fabrics for a new quilt I’m working on.  It’s the new line from the French General & Moda Fabrics called “Rural Jardin”.   I’ll add some basics and a few other fabrics and maybe, just maybe,…

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  Thimbleanna

• Socketty Socks

  Thimbleanna

  20 Nov 2009 | 4:33 pm

  Haha — that was some serious fun, reading all the comments on my last post.  I really enjoyed seeing where you all stand wrt the holidays.  There are a few of you over-achievers who are all done with your shopping (!), but I’m happy to say, I’m not the only one still sitting around waiting for the lightening bolt.  I will say that I’ve at least…Oh Wait.  I can’t say anything — there are big eyes lurking and I wouldn’t want to give anything away.  Oh well, it wasn’t anything earth shattering anyway — just a little start. In the…

• Just Waiting Around

  Thimbleanna

  17 Nov 2009 | 6:45 pm

  Wow! Thanks for all the nine-patch love! You guys are the best! Well? How’s it going out there? Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Time’s Slipping Away. I’ve just been sitting around thinking. Surrounding myself with books and ideas, just waiting for lightning to strike. I want ideas to fall in my lap! I feel like I should be working on something, because I know when the big pinch comes, I’ll wish I’d started earlier. It’s like having restless leg syndrome. All jittery here. Afraid to buy a gift — what if something I like better comes along? Afraid to start a…

• Aaaatttt Laaaassssttttt…

  Thimbleanna

  13 Nov 2009 | 7:21 pm

  I’ve had At Last running through my head all day long.  At Last.  At Last!  I’ve finally finished CrazyMom’s nine patch. As a two-time flunkie of her quilt-along, I’m feeling  very happy to have finally finished this quilt.  And I promise, those edges aren’t wavy — it’s just the way it’s laid out on the grass.  I couldn’t find anything tall enough to hang this quilt vertically.  It seemed like it took forever to finish.  The day job is really crimping my style.  (Though, not as much as unemployment would, I’m sure, so…

• Muffins and Veteran’s Day

  Thimbleanna

  10 Nov 2009 | 8:33 pm

  Not much happening here in ThimbleannaLand this week. This seems to be a bit of a recoup and plan week. There’s so much holiday inspiration popping up all over in blogs and magazines and I’ve just been taking a little extra time to read and decide how to go about organizing any projects I might want to do this year. I feel so unorganized! Anyway, there’s definitely been NO time for sewing or knitting of any kind. I spent ALL weekend cleaning up the leaves in the yard. It was beautiful out there, so I almost didn’t mind all the work. My ribs are a little sore though…

• Just Playin’ Around

  Thimbleanna

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:24 pm

  A few weeks ago, I won an adorable brooch kit from Dear Fii. It arrived a few days ago and I couldn’t wait to sew all the buttons on my little kit. Looking at the picture of my brooch, I realize that a) I need more practice to become as good as Dear Fii, and b) my brooch needs one more button there in the middle, to cover up that little gap. It was super fun to sew this little brooch together. Thanks Fiona – I just love it and it will look so pretty on my winter coat! Speaking of winter (oh, wasn’t that a sad segue?), I always want to knit more in winter. No time lately to…

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  crazy mom quilts

• 600

  21 Nov 2009 | 2:35 pm

  this is my 600th post. i can hardly believe it. as a little thank you to you, my dear readers, i'm giving away a fat quarter of each of these prints. i'll pick a random name on monday evening, november 23. one entry per person please. since i like to leave a question for you to answer when i do a giveaway, i'd love it if you let me know what kind of christmas gifts you are making (or meaning to make) this year. thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for reading, commenting and following along with me as i quilt. it means so much.

• blueberry pie

  19 Nov 2009 | 1:26 pm

  Continuing the blue theme... I finished this quilt on January 2nd of this year, so I can't cross it off my current WIP list. I haven't blogged about it until now because I was thinking of using it for a quilt in a bag pattern (much like this set). But that idea has come and gone. This quilt was donated to Margaret's Hope Chest, which surpassed their goal of collecting 400 quilts for homeless kids, by the way. Woo-hoo! It measures 64" square. I stippled it and bound it in a blue stripe. The back (which I didn't get a decent photo of) is a light blue dot.I like this quilt, but it is a good…

• sue likes blue

  17 Nov 2009 | 11:27 am

  Another one off the "in progress" list. I'm down to 17! Woo-hoo!This quilt is made up of all solids. I LOVE solids so much. This is probably one of the final versions of this quilt that I will make. I've already made it in orange, green and aqua. I've made variations of it in orange and grey, too. IF I were to make another version of this, I think I'd do it up in reds and browns to match my living room. It doesn't sound like I'm ready to be done with this design yet, does it? :)This is the back. I love to make two sided quilts. It gives me a good excuse not to label it, because I'd hate to…

• circle time

  16 Nov 2009 | 7:48 am

  Circle time is finished! I LOVED using circles. It was a nice departure from all the squares and rectangles I use so frequently in my quilts. The fabric is Woodland Bloom by Moda and I used two charm packs. Thanks Sherry!!To make the quilt, I first cut out circles using a CD as a template. Then, I laid out the circles unto a plain white sheet, using a very unscientific method of measuring. I used sashing strips and strips of paper (both 2.5" wide) to measure the spacing between the circles. I started from one edge and worked my way to the other side. I'm sure things aren't perfectly straight,…

• using it all

  12 Nov 2009 | 9:27 am

  I love using up every last bit of fabric whenever I can. It has become a sort of personal challenge for me. Or you could say that I'm learning to fully embrace my craziness. :) This includes using the leftover triangles that you trim when you join binding strips* together. I keep them in a little drawer on my desk. I've collected quite a few, so I've come up with a few projects to use them in. *I cut my binding strips at 2.5" wide.This is the start of a little quilt using the triangles. To make it, I started with 49 white 3.5" squares, and added a triangle to one corner of each block. It is…

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  Don't Look Now

• This little quilter went to market ...

  Kellie

  20 Nov 2009 | 12:28 am

  .....well to be perfectly honest ... I am not so little after making sure I was so very well fed during the winter months ... but that's a whole other story!!!! Anyway as I was saying I had my very first stand at the Australian Quilt Market held here in Melbourne last weekend .. and you would have to say that it was a very successful weekend.   I could not have found a more supportive or enthusiastic helper than I did in the gorgeous Jan from Sewjourn Set up was interesting & exhausting .. it took 3 attempts to finally have everything looking OK in…

• Joseph's Coat - Placement of applique shapes & finishing your block

  Kellie

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:55 am

  Now this is the fun part! Grab a cuppa, your petal shapes, a 12" square of your background fabric, glue stick, applique pins, needle (size 11 straw), threads, scissors, a light box ... if you have one ... and lets go! Placement of your applique shapes ... You will need to position the placement guide, that you made in step one, on a flat, firm surface where you can place your background fabric over it and still see your placement makings through the fabric. Obviously, the easiest way to do this is by using a light box but if you don't have one there are other ways to do…

• Joseph's Coat - Cutting your fabric & making your applique shapes

  Kellie

  3 Nov 2009 | 3:05 am

  So are we having fun yet???? I am purposefully dragging this out a little as so that I can organise a bit of a head-start ... I have managed to finish off 7 blocks ... which will hopefully give me a good buffer should the wheels fall off while we are making this quilt!!! I have had a couple of questions already about cutting such large expanses of fabric ... don't fret too much ... I can't cut a straight line to save myself!!!! The cuts that we make in the background fabric don't need to be precise you wont be piecing these squares! Providing you…

• Joseph's Coat - Drafting your block, creating a placement guide & template shape

  Kellie

  31 Oct 2009 | 10:38 pm

  Drafting the block... Go make yourself a cup of tea or a glass of wine, get comfortable and take some deep calming breaths ... this part of the project is going to involve a little geometry ..... You are going to need a sheet of paper about 22" square ... join together some smaller sheets if you have to. I suggested using A3 sized paper ... for those of you who aren't familiar with A3 paper ... it is twice the size of an A4 sheet of paper ... does that help? ;) Which ever way you manage to come up with your big piece of paper to draft your pattern onto is really irrelevant ....

• A weekend in Hettie's Patch!

  Kellie

  28 Oct 2009 | 7:18 am

  But first the giveaway winners ... Random Integer Generator Here are your random numbers:191 62 107 179 164 Timestamp: 2009-10-26 14:59:48 UTC So these are the names that go with the numbers ..... Sylvia from Sylvia Stitch (62) Jeannet from Serendipidy Designs (107) Blogless Dianne left the 164th comment Blogless Lyn Smith left the 179th comment & Blogless Lisa left the 191st comment Oh so frustrating ... so what to do about the other two parts of the giveaway? ..... I collected the emails that were sent to me telling me of their link to the ppost and pulled out ....

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  DreamWeaver's Quilts Quilt Epiphany Blog

• Quilt Marking Roundup: Stitching Through Paper

  Nadine

  21 Nov 2009 | 4:23 am

  I’m currently teaching Machine Quilting—Master the Basics online at QuiltCampus.com, and one of my students said that the hardest thing was to figure out how to transfer the quilting design to the quilt. I really can’t disagree with that! Quilt marking methods are many and varied as are the tools, and it’s different for every single quilt you make, so it’s not like you can just figure it out once and run with it. It’s a “figure it out” process over and over and over again. Over the years, I’ve used many different methods, so I thought…

• In the Groove, Sort of…

  Nadine

  13 Nov 2009 | 7:23 am

  Last Sunday, I did a little dusting and cleaning up in the studio, and then decided that what I really wanted to do (or needed to do, as the case may be) was some free motion machine quilting. Free motion quilting is something that I find pretty relaxing actually; I can just get in the machine quilting groove and I can let my mind wander a bit while I do it. Seemed like the perfect thing to do since I still couldn’t figure out what I needed to be doing and get back into the groove with everything else after returning from the States. I purchased a couple of wonderful preprinted blocks…

• Motivational Difficulties

  Nadine

  7 Nov 2009 | 11:09 am

  I’ve been trying to get back into the swing of things here, with very little success. Ever since I got off the plane on Tuesday morning, I’ve been trying to “get it together” and “get back to normal” and I can’t figure out why I’m not getting there. I just don’t feel like doing anything. Except reading. That’s about it, truly; I just feel like reading books. Which makes me feel like a total slacker… Perhaps it’s because I’ve spent the last year and a half or two years being horribly busy all.the.time., with never…

• AQS Quilt Expo wrap up

  Nadine

  4 Nov 2009 | 5:35 am

  Wow—what a bad blogger I have been! Time has gotten away from me, and ten whole days have gone by without a blog post, though I won’t admit to being a complete lazy slacker since there were extenuating (and exhausting) circumstances to contend with. And now that I’m home there’s so much to tell, I’m left wondering exactly where to start! I headed toward Des Moines, Iowa for the AQS Quilt Expo on Monday, 26 October after visiting with family in Nevada and Utah since leaving Quilt Festival in Houston. I say “headed toward” since of course, American…

• Machine Quilting–Master the Basics Online Workshop

  Nadine

  4 Nov 2009 | 1:59 am

  Just a quick note to let you know that I’ll be teaching Machine Quilting—Master the Basics at Quilt Campus starting this Saturday! This is a great beginning machine quilting workshop that you can take online from your own sewing studio. The workshop is presented in four lessons over four weeks, with plenty of opportunities for discussion and feedback with your fellow students and me in the online forum! See more about the workshop on the Workshops page, and then visit the registration page at Quilt Campus to sign up now! Stay tuned for a post filled with info and FUN about the Des…