Quilting

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• catching up

  crazy mom quilts

  14 May 2012 | 8:43 pm

  oh mylanta.there is so much to say....i got home last night after a great trip to a happy and healthy family. what a blessing! i have the BEST family ever. (these photos were taken during homework time tonight....we had fun with the camera.) my kids were so happy to have me home. i had a fabulous time away. this was the view at the retreat. sigh. it was so beautiful. the retreat itself was AMAZING! the book signing went very well, too. thanks so much to everyone who came out to both. you ladies were so much fun!!! it's always so good to go, but it's so good to come home,…

• Ina Index

  Thimbleanna

  Thimbleanna

  12 May 2012 | 9:55 am

  Ok, so raise your hand if you’re an Ina Garten fan.  Anyone?  I’m a big Ina fan — I don’t think I’ve ever made one of her recipes that I didn’t like.  And over the years, I’ve collected all of her books except the last one, Barefoot Contessa How Easy Is That?  As much as I love her books though, I can’t ever remember which book contains the specific recipe I’m looking for, and it drives me crazy.  So, when I just have to make her Blueberry Coffee Cake, for example, I have to drag all the books out and check the indexes.  The recipe I…

• We Love Color Winner

  Oh, Fransson!

  Elizabeth

  15 May 2012 | 12:10 am

  The winner of a copy of We Love Color is Julie, whose favorite Kona colors are Ash and Tangerine. Thank you all so much for playing! Things are going to be quiet around the blog this week as I prepare for and go to Spring Market, but I'll have all kinds of fun stuff to talk about when I get back!

• A Mint Romance

  Waterrose Handcrafted Obsessions

  Waterrose

  27 Apr 2012 | 8:45 pm

• Country Homecoming #2

  Cottons 'n Wool

  10 May 2012 | 8:00 am

  We have 2 bloggers who have decided to join us on our journey to complete this quilt in a year.    Paulette Sweet P and  Mary Quilt Hollow are now part of the “group”.  It’s not too late to join us.  The blocks are super easy to make and you can whip up 3 of them in no time  and be all caught up when we post pictures next month.   (Easy for me to say, huh?  LOL) So, here we go.   And here are both of mine together. It’s amazing how much you can get done when there is peer pressure involved!  If you missed the first post…

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  Waterrose Handcrafted Obsessions

• A Mint Romance

  Waterrose

  27 Apr 2012 | 8:45 pm

• Are You Ready For 2013?

  Waterrose

  30 Mar 2012 | 6:02 pm

  Don't you just love beautiful hand embroidered creations for your home? Or, do you love to give fun gifts that your crafty friends, mom, sister would enjoy making? Perhaps you like to gather together with like minded people, or want to learn a new craft?  Is 2013 a special year for someone....a new baby....a wedding....special anniversary? Over the last couple of months I have been designing

• Featured in Cross Stitch and Needlework

  Waterrose

  28 Mar 2012 | 6:24 pm

    I was  so excited when I was contacted by Cross-Stitch & Needlework for a "Fab Find" feature in their May issue!  This feature is for my Wildflower Romance Cuff Kit.  This kit includes all of the materials and embroidery floss to create this cuff yourself.  This would make a great gift for mom, sister or best friend. However, if you don't have the time to create your own cuff....you can

• eReader Kindle Bags and Hand Embroidery

  Waterrose

  20 Jan 2012 | 2:48 pm

  I've been looking for larger platforms to do embroidery and create something that is useful as well.  I decided that ereaders needed a handmade/artsy carrying case to give them a bit more charm. These ereader bags have a shoulder strap that allows you to carrying across your body, or over your shoulder. I've padded them so that they also protect your ereader when you set it down. I

• Vintage Costume Jewelry Finds Eisenberg and Trifari

  Waterrose

  13 Jan 2012 | 9:39 pm

  I attended an estate sale a couple of weeks ago....look at some of the pieces I ended up with....    This is an Eisenberg Ice Brooch  Possibly a D and E,  Juliana Piece  A Mother of Pearl Cameo ....it's beautiful!  Trifari Royal Coronation Brooch from the 1950s  Vendome Pearls and Gold Brooch  Warner Cushion Brooch  Not sure of maker, but it has grey and gold

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  Cottons 'n Wool

• Country Homecoming #2

  10 May 2012 | 8:00 am

  We have 2 bloggers who have decided to join us on our journey to complete this quilt in a year.    Paulette Sweet P and  Mary Quilt Hollow are now part of the “group”.  It’s not too late to join us.  The blocks are super easy to make and you can whip up 3 of them in no time  and be all caught up when we post pictures next month.   (Easy for me to say, huh?  LOL) So, here we go.   And here are both of mine together. It’s amazing how much you can get done when there is peer pressure involved!  If you missed the first post…

• Comfort and Joy

  24 Apr 2012 | 11:00 pm

  Block 1   A couple of months ago, Karen and I were talking about working on a quilt together and treating it like a block of the month.   We chose “Comfort and Joy” by Pat Wys and BJ Laird of Silver Thimble Quilt Co.   Sandy (no blog) and Sharon said they wanted to join us.   Our goal is to be finished with it by October in order to get it quilted by Christmas.    Being accountable to other people always helps get things done.   (one of the reasons I joined Weight Watchers and attend the meetings….but I digress!)  Anyway, we…

• More embroidery

  13 Apr 2012 | 2:01 am

  While we were stitching away last week, one of Linda’s former students came in with her quilt top to look for border fabric.  When I saw her colors for the “Susan’s Dresden Plate” pattern, I instantly fell in love with it.   I love the colors she used.   She picked out a pretty green floral fabric for the outer border.  It’s amazing how projects can look so different just by changing the colors and fabrics.   Linda was working on more little floral blocks. And I finished up 2 little stitcheries.   Not sure what I’m going to do with…

• Country Homecomings

  11 Apr 2012 | 4:31 pm

  Anna, Sandy (no blog – but should have one) and I saw this quilt and we all liked it and decided to challenge ourselves to get one block done every month.  If we have each other to be accountable to, then maybe we will complete it and not have another UFO laying around.   It’s from this book (which I think is now out of print).   But, if you have the book or can find it on eBay,Amazon or etsy, we’d love to have you join us.   We think we were all drawn to the quilt because of the homespun fabrics, so all of ours will resemble the original.  …

• Embroidery

  31 Mar 2012 | 2:01 am

  I’ve recently joined an embroidery group that meets on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month.   We meet at Sew Many Quilts (where I used to work) and we are headed up by Linda, one of the employees who is an embroidery “guru”.     She showed us a new technique (new to us, anyway) of doing the satin stitch.  This is the front of the design…typical satin stitch.   Here’s the back.   Now, I don’t know about you, but when I’ve done the stitch, the back looks like the front.   She starts her design by outlining with what she calls…

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  Simplify

• Last minute stitching

  Camille Roskelley

  14 May 2012 | 11:56 am

  Quilt market is this week. THIS week, people. Yikes! I'm working like crazy over here finishing everything up. Printing has arrived, quilts are all quilted, catalogs are shipped. Bindings are almost all stitched on, but may have to wait for...

• Out of the office

  Camille Roskelley

  9 May 2012 | 10:40 am

  Just a little note to say I will be out of the office until Monday. All orders for paper patterns will be filled then, and then next week I will be at Quilt Market so all orders next week will...

• My life lately, according to Instagram

  Camille Roskelley

  2 May 2012 | 10:56 am

  It's May? Honestly, I don't know where time is going. But good grief, it is going fast! I have been up to my eyeballs in sewing, pattern writing, proofing, binding, and everything that goes with getting ready for Quilt Market...

• Today

  Camille Roskelley

  17 Apr 2012 | 10:20 am

  You can find me buried in a pile of this, sewing my exhausted little heart out. And also at a baseball game or two. I can't complain. :-) Marmalade - Showing at International Quilt Market next month in Kansas City...

• Did you hear?

  Camille Roskelley

  9 Apr 2012 | 5:09 pm

  A couple of things... Ruby is the winner of the 2012 Modern Madness! Wait, what?? I can't believe it either! Thank you so much to everyone who voted for Ruby, we are just so thrilled. Such an honor! Sorry this...

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  The Quilt Rambler

• Finding a Stream in the Desert

  9 May 2012 | 10:42 am

   I've been thinking lately how terrible of a blogger I've been...and wondering how I would re-enter this world. What would I share? Tales of my family? The recent wedding? My out of town trips to set up new A1 Quilting Machine owners? My recent cruise? Or what about all the beautiful quilts that have graced my frame on the rare days this year that I have been in the studio?Actually, I've been too tired to think about blogging - or much of anything else for that matter. Kinda hard to be encouraging when you can't think (grin)Yep, when I woke up this morning I really didn't have much get…

• My Girls

  2 Apr 2012 | 6:39 pm

  I have loved being the mother of two sons. God knew what He was doing when He entrusted us with boys. Boys are fun. Boys make funny noises.Boys know how to make anything into a little putt putt car or a cowboy pistol with the appropriate sound effects.Boys are rambunctious, adventuresome, imaginativeBoys don't hold back any punches, you never know if they are going to walk up to you to hug you or slug you - at least when they are little.Then all of a sudden they are driving. Not too mention dating. The song Sunrise, Sunset comes to mind.(Tevye)Is this the little girl I carried?Is this the…

• Returning with Ribbons, Raindrops and a Rehearsal!

  27 Mar 2012 | 8:18 pm

  I know, I've been a bad blogger.Sigh.But I'm back - well, at least with a short ramble to catch up on the latest highlights.March was kind to Quilts 'N Kaboodle - my original "Texas Pride" quilt was chosen to represent Galveston County in the 2012 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Quilt Show - AND! One of my customers, Mary, had her quilt chosen to represent her county - we both came home with a ribbon! I'm so thankful that Mary went to the rodeo on opening day and text messaged me the photos of our quilts on display - gotta love technology! Alas, too many calendar conflicts for me to attend…

• Bridge to Nowhere

  5 Feb 2012 | 7:03 pm

  By definition "fog" is a collection of liquid water droplets suspended in the air at or near the Earth's surface. Fog is a type of stratus cloud but the term fog is typically distinguished from the more generic term "cloud" in that fog is low-lying and the moisture in the fog is often generated locally from a nearby body of water. Fog is distinguished from mist only by its density resulting in a decrease in visibility (Thank you Wikipedia)We tend to use words such as this to express our emotions. "She has her head in the clouds" meaning perhaps that someone is soaring so high in their…

• Merry Christmas

  24 Dec 2011 | 9:37 pm

  Here's to all the friends who are hurting this holiday season. Perhaps they are alone because their family lives far away, perhaps their loved ones have to work in this 24/7 society, or perhaps they are separated by death from someone very precious in their lives. Here's to all the friends who have hurtful relationships, illness, loss of job or serious calamity in their lives this holiday season...My prayers for you (and me) is that we would see Christmas for what it truly is - not the expectations, not the disappointments - but the awe and wonderment that God took on the form of mankind in…

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  All Things Quilty

• Mountain Update

  15 May 2012 | 9:35 am

  When I signed off on my last post, we were in the mountains looking forward to the arrival of Dave, Emily, and grand-dog Roo.   Friday night Emily and I were in the kitchen cooking tacos when our other son Bryson, his fiance Melissa, and their three kids walked in!  You could have knocked me over!  It was a wonderful surprise for Mother's Day weekend to have my whole family!The kids love to be in the mountains and run around in the meadows.  My nephew Jason and his family also came up, so we got to play with their daughters Lacy and baby Holly.  Here she was…

• Mountain Beauty

  11 May 2012 | 10:05 am

  We are in the North Carolina mountains, soaking up as much natural beauty as we can!  The native "flame" azalea is in full bloom, lighting up as the rays of the sun find it in the hidden mountain glades.We actually arrived here Wednesday night, driving up through a thunderstorm.  No more rain is expected until Sunday.  The mornings have been chilly, and the afternoons warm and sunny.  We had a wonderful ride across the mountain on our Gator yesterday.Of course, our little dog Kasey is full of joy as she runs freely on the mountain trails and through the Christmas tree…

• Pretty Contemporary Quilt

  6 May 2012 | 1:54 pm

  Just finished a very simple but lovely quilt for my new customer, Sara.  She had accumulated many modern fabrics in shades of yellow, green, and blue.  She took inspiration from some quilts from The Pottery Barn that were simple squares sewn randomly together.  I would call her colors analogous, as they are next to each other on the color wheel.  Aren't they refreshing!I quilted in lots of leaves, flowers, and swirls.  The pale yellow thread blended so well that the quiting does not show very much.I really love some of the fabrics in this quilt.Charlie and I stayed…

• Some Quilts from the Whacky Ladies

  4 May 2012 | 5:59 pm

  Last night was the monthly meeting of my local quilt bee, The Whacky Ladies.Show and Tell is always fun, and that was the case last night.Carolyn made a tote bag from a Bali Pop bundle and used it on a trip to Texas last week for a high school reunion.Carolyn also showed a Work in Progress, a Basket Lattice project.Sharon is working on an interesting Mystery Quilt.  The setting is quite unusual, and Sharon is altering it a bit from the instructions.Here is a detail from an art quilt by Janice Badger.  The flower is formed from a silk hanky.Janice spotted a product of mine in a…

• Merlefest Fun

  1 May 2012 | 5:16 pm

  We got back yesterday from a fun-filled mountain weekend.  We went to Merlefest all four days and listened to lots of great music.  We got to see and hear blind guitarist and singer Doc Watson perform twice, and at age 89 he still sounds great.  In this picture he is performing with Sam Bush.One of our favorite groups, The Kruger Brothers, performed on both the large stage and the auditorium.  They are fine musicians and singers.The  crowds were large and diverse.  By Saturday and Sunday, there were long lines for food and bathrooms.  Everyone still had a…

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  Hanne's Quilt Corner

• Travelling stitches

  29 Apr 2012 | 1:38 pm

  My travel work for the last 3 weeks has been stitchery. It travels well, and I can visit and stitch at the same time :-) I wish I could stitch while being in the passenger seat of the car, since we travelled a lot, but no such luck.I was planning to stitch while crossing the Atlantic too, but Air Canada does not have a overhead reading light anymore and the light in the plane was turned off for sleeping.As you see I am working on Life Is Beautiful, by Helen Stubbings of Hugs 'n Kisses, and I enjoy the process and the sayings.8 of 32 done :-) Two snowflakes from Scandinavian Christmas are also…

• There and back again :-)

  27 Apr 2012 | 9:53 am

  March was super busy with a lot of fun stuff and a lot of sewing going on.April 4th the travel for Canada and USA began:I came home yesterday afternoon and I do have a lot of photos to go through. The suitcase and backpack got unpacked yesterday. The laundry is done, and it is time to sort and put my purchases away: My fabric treasures absolutely gives away my fabric taste, don't they??Civil War reproduction fabrics - yes indeed :-)Mostly Fat Quarters + a few larger cuts in the background. I visited several shops, but most of all Lolly's in Shipshewana, IN.The atmosphere and service there is…

• Long time, no crochet

  1 Apr 2012 | 1:39 pm

  On Friday I got a drop dead gorgeous kit of Laurel Hill ebony crochet needles as a gift.I had to try them out at once and they are smooth as silk to work with, with a very good finger grip.I grabbed some baby wool and started first one preemie hat, and then another. First I embellished the red hat with a self composed flower, but I have since then learned that the small babies skin are to delicate for embellishments, so I will save the flower for a future baby afghan. It looks good though, so I will keep the idea in mind for other future crocheting too :-) Can you tell I am a little restless…

• Tuesday class with Gail and Helen

  1 Apr 2012 | 1:17 pm

  What a wonderful day - 2 teachers, 2 classes, in the same room - and we were there to enjoy it all! Gail and Helen divided the room between them, and my part of the room had Gail's class first, doing applique. We were a lovely gang around our table, learning, chatting, laughing trough the day! I love both Gail and Helen's designs, and have several of them from before - both single patterns and books.Adding their smiles, their voices and pleasant personalities to the mix just adds to the good things, making me wanting to do more of their designs in the future. After a good lunch our table did…

• Gail and Helen's trunk show

  1 Apr 2012 | 12:11 pm

  Åsne is introducing Gail and Helen. It was a GREAT Show&Tell, with a lot of showing and telling, and both Helen and Gail taking turns showing their wonderful work and telling lovely details about their designing.It was hard to take good photos from a distance, but we were allowed to take more photos and touch the goods later :-) Showing May Britt's quilt above :-) Showing my quilt above :-) I hope you enjoyed these photos :-)More in the next post! Hanne

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  Little Quilts Blog

• Hearts Quilt

  15 May 2012 | 6:44 pm

  Charlotte is on her way back to New York, but stopped by to learn how to put a scalloped edge on her quilt. She did a great job with her first scalloped edge project and the scallops are perfect with her beautiful heart appliqué blocks.

• Everything Old is New Again

  11 May 2012 | 9:09 am

  One of our customers, Roylyn brought in a very unique quilt top. It came from Boston and the photography was transferred to the fabric around 1910!   

• Rug Braiding Excellence

  7 May 2012 | 7:39 pm

  Several weeks ago we showed you this Braided Snowgirl, an original project Ann did for a challenge at the Valley Forge Rug Braiding Guild Braid-In. The challenge was to braid something with a weather theme. We’re happy to report that Anne won First Place at the Braid-In! We were certain that such creativity would not go unrewarded! There are five basic rug braiding techniques and Snowgirl showcases all five techniques which made it a favorite with the judges. Way to go, Ann!

• Doesn't Look Like A Beginner Quilt

  5 May 2012 | 5:34 pm

  Melanie just finished the Beyond Beginner class and this is her finished quilt top – well, almost finished, she plans to add a border!

• 2007 Second Saturday Sampler

  2 May 2012 | 8:54 am

  If you are on the fence about starting Second Saturday Sampler...let this inspire you....  This is Trisha's 2007 Saturday Sampler quilt. It is our same setting but looks so different with the gold. Great job!

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  Stitchin' Friends

• Twilling

  28 Apr 2012 | 10:02 am

  I have been in Port Huron, Michigan visiting a friend.  This is a view off her deck and we saw lots of these freighters passing by.  Far in the distance you can see Canada.  We had  a great visit, and while there visited the Sew Elegant quilt shop and got the supplies we needed for Twilling!I have been seeing other sites talking about twilling and was anxious to try.  The three of us watched the YouTube videos, read the tutorials and finally came up with our version of the stitch.  I found this pattern on the internet and enlarged it to 8" square .  The…

• My new "Bag"

  9 Apr 2012 | 8:34 pm

  Is it a pocketbook, purse or just a plain "bag" - I never know quite what to call these things that are all the craze to make these days. Since bag is the easiest to type, that is what I will use. I have a terrible time finding pocketbooks to meet my needs - either too many inside pockets that I lose things in, outside pockets that look like sadde bags or cigarette pockets, straps too short, too small to hold my stuff or so big I can't find anything.  Anyone else have this problem?  So I have been looking for a new summer bag, and having no luck when the new Fons and…

• Happy St. Partrick's Day

  17 Mar 2012 | 3:55 pm

  Hi, and I hope your St Patrick's Day weekend is as great as the one I am having.  We are at North Myrtle Beach enjoying fantastic weather this weekend - just perfect.  My brother and his wife, and very good friend and her husband and my hubby and I are all here, just having a fantastic time. We started our day by going to a St. Patrick's Day parade.  This was so much fun.  I had not been to this type of parade before, and we really did enjoy the 2 hour long parade.  Lot of bagpipes, fancy cars, bands, horses, corvets, Shriners and most touching of all to me - the…

• Projects, projects everywhere.....

  7 Feb 2012 | 4:58 am

  Hope you are all enjoying the new year and making good progress on your projects.  Progress is about all I can say, since I have not completed much to show.  I did get my class samples done for a workshop I will be doing in the fall and that is a relief to have done.Here is are just a few things that I have going:First up is this cute block of the month being offered FREE on the website of Shabby Fabrics (Just click on the name for the link). This is block one and the new block comes out on the 7th of each month - so don't miss out.  I had to hurry and finish this one last…

• Oooops

  4 Jan 2012 | 8:02 pm

  Have you ever done this??I like to test my tension before I start machine quilting and I just sandwich a small piece to sew on until I get it right.  So, my little test piece, unbeknownst to me, got under the piece I was quilting.  Now you would think I would notice that the fabric had gotten much thicker - but nooooooo. I mean really, this was not just one layer of fabric, it was two layers of fabric and one of batting - how did I miss that??  Didn't see it until after I finished all the quilting and turned the piect over to "admire" my handiwork. …

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  Quiltville's Quips & Snips!!

• iPhone-o-Gram! Long Grove Confectionary!

  15 May 2012 | 4:28 pm

  Because life sometimes requires just ONE chocolate dipped strawberry!! Life is good in Illinois!

• iPhone-o-Gram! Hello, Chicago!

  15 May 2012 | 10:54 am

  It was a gorgeous morning for flying! It's sunny and warm in the windy city---and yes the wind is blowing, but gently. We flew in to a beautiful view of the coastline. And how lucky is this?? My bags were the first to be delivered at baggage claim! Just waiting for Pam to pick me up---everything made it for my lecture tonight! Yay!

• The Minister’s Quilt --

  15 May 2012 | 6:23 am

  I could have spent my whole time on Huguenot Street with just this ONE quilt. It was that amazing --- Like many gift quilts of the era, blocks were gathered to honor a Minister who served more than one local church building.Ministers would often travel from place to place to deliver their sermons and serve their congregations. This congregation was from a Methodist church in Ramsey, NJ. The

• iPhone-o-gram! Uh oh!!

  14 May 2012 | 9:13 pm

  Reasons not to leave a bobbin in your pocket--- It will come out of the laundry looking like this!!

• Taming of the Strash!

  14 May 2012 | 5:11 pm

  So many have asked HOW I start to deal with two trash bags full of random scraps in different sizes of hunks and chunks and strips and pieces ---that I thought I’d show you what I’ve done so far.((The original post, A Gift of Strash, is found HERE.)) I was SUPPOSED to be packing for my flight to Illinois tomorrow, but you know? I couldn’t make myself just put the strash back into the black bags

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  Canton Village Quilt Works

• Serengeti Serenade Revisited

  14 May 2012 | 4:45 am

  Hello Everyone,It has been a long time since I spoke of this quilt.  The last post I did was in November, you can click here to read it.  There is a bit of a backstory about the quilt.  Since November, I quilted, bound, and gifted it to my hubby for Christmas.  So it is time to show you the finished quilt.It was a beautiful day on Saturday, so I took it outside for a photo shoot.  But not until after I de-furred it from the cats laying all over it... black fabric and cat fur don't really mix well.A close up of some of the African fabrics that I have collected along…

• Happy Mother's Day

  13 May 2012 | 4:45 am

  Hello Everyone,Wishing all Mothers a fabulous Mother's Day!My red Azaleas in bloom.Until Next Time...

• What Do Strawberries and Kiwi Have In Common?

  12 May 2012 | 4:45 am

  Hello Everyone,Aside from the fact that strawberries and kiwi are both fruit, they have been used in this next little project.Aren't the trimmings yummy??A great little pile of HSTs (Half Square Triangles).  I used my tutorial which you can find it here.These HSTs were made for Nifty for the Two's Company Bee.  May is her month.  Her block was not really a traditional block, she requested a strip of HSTs in greens and reds.  Most of you know me and how I love bright saturated color, so it wasn't hard for me to find these colors in my stash.Here is Nifty's strip of HSTs.

• Lunch Anyone??

  11 May 2012 | 4:45 am

  Hello Everyone,First things first... I have the BEST READERS ever!!!  I loved reading every single one of your comments on my last post.  I smiled and laughed through everyone of them... I am NOT alone.  If you haven't read the post, just click here and don't forget to read the comments too!In the last post you may have noticed my design wall with a project in progress.  Well it is now finished, sort of... it isn't quilted yet, but the excitement is building.I paper pieced four placemats and a table runner.They were made from a Bali Pop (2.5 inch pre-cut strips) that were…

• Confessions of a Messy Quilter....

  9 May 2012 | 4:45 am

  Hello Everyone,Have you ever been so busy that you just start piling things in places that they shouldn't be normally?  That happened to me last week, actually this particular problem happens to me regularly.I just start piling things on my ironing board because it is usually empty.  I have several projects that I cut and put there... obviously hoping that I would get to them soon... that is wishful thinking.  But I am going on a retreat in a few weeks, so just maybe?Do you see any place to iron current projects, like the one on my design wall?  Nope, so you know what that…

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  A Quilting Life

• Twelve

  Sherri

  15 May 2012 | 12:11 pm

  Number 12...finished! This month's block (the final installment of Fat Quarter Shop's 2011 Mystery Designer Block of the Month) was designed by Sandy Gervais. What is it about twelve finished blocks that just brings a bit of happiness? Is it the accomplishment of a year's work on one project? Or is it the endless possibilities for setting the blocks together that inspires us?

• Bee Blocks...and a Winner

  Sherri

  14 May 2012 | 10:01 am

  First, thank you so much for the wonderful comments on the Sunwashed and Marigolds quilts post...I'll be responding to comments and questions today! More Bee Blocks have arrived in the mail!  I love this flying geese block from Sinta! I also received this gorgeous block from Calli...love this one too! Seems that each time one arrives I have to get them all out and look at them

• Sunwashed and Marigolds

  Sherri

  11 May 2012 | 2:15 pm

  (Lots of pictures on the post today...just couldn't decide which ones to use...so I used them all!) So...today I can share a little of the behind the scenes sewing...and the pictures on this post were all taken by Joanna, so you're in for a real treat photographically! Over the last couple of months I shared some of my progress while working on my California Girl version of Joanna's

• Hello Again!

  Sherri

  10 May 2012 | 11:31 am

  Hello...I know I've been a little absent here...but I've just finished some marathon sewing...9 secret projects since the end of March...with the last one finished at about 2 a.m. this morning. They were all so much fun...but it's a wonderful feeling to be caught up and to get to work on some projects I've been waiting to sew for friends, family, and me! I'm especially excited to work on

• A Little Farming

  Sherri

  6 May 2012 | 10:16 pm

  I've really missed working on my Farmer's Wife blocks...so I'm renewing my commitment to work on them each week!  Okay...I wrote that on my blog, so I'll be holding myself to it! This is block #63, Ozark Maple Leaf...I used two different yellows from California Girl. And this is block #23, Country Farm. I also used prints from California Girl for this block. I only finished two

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  Red Fish Circle

• Girl's Bathing Suit

  12 May 2012 | 2:25 pm

  Found this sweet little girl's bathing suit with one of my butterfly designs at Babies R Us in Union Square in NYC a couple of weeks ago.

• Happy Mother's Day

  11 May 2012 | 3:30 pm

  Every Mother's Day I add to my salt and pepper collection. This is what I will be getting this Mother's Day. Love! Hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day!

• Etsy Finds

  5 May 2012 | 12:21 pm

  Fly Away pillowcase dressCreatures and Critters quiltOn A Whim and On A Whim 2 quilt

• maggie and milly and molly and may

  23 Apr 2012 | 9:16 am

  Had the opportunity to illustrate this wonderful poem by e.e. cummings. It is in the May/June issue of Spider Magazine.                   click on image to zoom I will be taking a little blog vacay - back in a week.

• Fly Away Name Pillow

  23 Apr 2012 | 7:01 am

  This is too sweet. A personalized "Fly Away" pillow for your little princess:)) on Etsy.

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  Candle Lite Quilter

• 22 Apr 2012 | 6:20 pm

  22 Apr 2012 | 6:20 pm

  Happy Sunday Evening!!!  All i can is i have REALLY missed sewing!  I'm not sure where the time has gone, but I'm definitely going to make a better effort at making more quilts once again!  Here is the quilt that i finished today...i spent 4 hours squaring up the blocks, putting the top together, cutting and making the borders and getting them attached ... this is done in my Kansas Troubles scraps and i luv it! This week i hope to get the backing for it in flannel...the front is cotton but i think i'm going to put flannel on the back ... i've never done it before, so if you…

• 28 Feb 2012 | 9:14 pm

  28 Feb 2012 | 9:14 pm

  Finally, the three baby quilts are quilted, bound, washed and on their way to the babies in Texas :O)

• Baby Quilt #3

  5 Feb 2012 | 2:14 pm

  So today I made my third quilt for the babies at Brooke Army Medical Center. I just luv pinwheels and am excited to get the three quilts I made this weekend quilted and off to Texas...thanks so much again Terry for posting about the need for these blankets... Hope everyone has a great Sunday evening and GO GIANTS!!!

• Baby Quilts

  4 Feb 2012 | 7:58 pm

  What a great weekend! Woke up to SNOW...YAY! Then spent the morning sewing, went to luch with the hubby for wings and fries ... came home and spent the afternoon sewing some more.Today I worked on some quilts for the Neonatal ICU at Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston. Terry posted about it the other day and it sounded like such a great thing to do ... so i put my personal quilting on hold to make a few for the babies! I have 2 done and fabric pulled to make another two. I hope to get some of the quilting on them done tomorrow while hubby is on the picket line ... Thanks for the…

• KT Scrap Quilt

  1 Feb 2012 | 5:56 pm

  Hi Everyone! Gosh it has been a while! But i've been doing a little bit of sewing! I just finished a baby quilt but can not show it yet as it hasn't been given to the new baby ... but hopefully i'll be able to post it soon :O) But besides that I have been working on a scrap quilt in Kansas Troubles ... i just LUV that line and i think the Butterfly Garden collection is my favorite! This will be the 4th quilt i have done in KT and i see many more in the future. These blocks i took from Piece N Quilt's blog ... they are just adorable! this block is one of my favorites and i'm thinking of making…

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  Art and Quilts, cogitations thereon

• The Importance of Art in creating behavioural change

  Elizabeth Barton

  8 May 2012 | 10:35 am

  So, what is Art  about? Why do we do it?  Some would say they make art to please themselves, some make it to please others,  some to find expression for their observations and emotions and visual cognitions.  Others for the fellowship (there’s nothing like trying to speak at a guild meeting to know just how much fellowship exists!).  Personally, I love being able to learn new things and to feel like I have some expertise in making something. There are many reasons for making art and one of the most powerful and, probably, the most ubiquitous  is…

• Working in Series – a new workshop is starting

  Elizabeth Barton

  1 May 2012 | 10:42 am

                I’m starting a new session of my workshop Working In Series at Quilt University.com this Friday and I’ve had quite a few emails asking me questions about it, so I thought I’d take the opportunity to describe it a little more fully. Firstly if you’ve never taken an online course before, Quilt University is really the best place to start.  The classes are extremely reasonable: $36 for 4 fully downloadable lessons plus an online discussion group where people ask questions and I answer to the best of my ability and  you have your…

• Practical Matters: Pricing and Scanning, and the Drink of the Gods.

  Elizabeth Barton

  24 Apr 2012 | 8:13 am

  I know I often witter on about more philosophical or esoteric points such as composition, cogitation or combustability (rarely spontaneous!) but, let’s face it, much of art is related to practical matters of which recently pricing and scanning (not necessarily in that order and not really connected, except both being part of the substructure of art) have recently been of concern. Scanning I had to retrieve images of some older work and discovered how poor some of my original slides were!  Some due to the deterioration of age, others due to (what looked like) drunken camera work from…

• a point of view?

  Elizabeth Barton

  16 Apr 2012 | 6:47 pm

  Maybe I’m strange, but I do think a work of art has to be about something.  The “something” doesn’t have to be a concrete object like a flower or a building or a boat, but could be about light, about layering on color after color (Rothko), or an abstraction about the mechanization of modern life (Mondrian) , or the mark of the hand as shown by the texture of a monoprint (Nancy Crow’s new work).  I always start with  a spark of an idea….could be the way the light falls on the edge of a building     or how many shades of grey there are in a city  …

• Artistic Identity

  Elizabeth Barton

  11 Apr 2012 | 6:09 pm

  At the recent SAQA/SDA conference in Philadelphia, I moderated a panel of three artists Dominie Nash, Emily Richardson and Lorraine Glessner who each discussed their development as artists outlining some of the major influences and key experiences of their career. I was very struck by Dominie’s presentation and asked her permission to reproduce it here.  She was originally a weaver but has been making quilts for a long time now.  When we first met, at Quilt  National in 1995, she was working on her Peculiar Poetry series, subsequent series have included Red Landscapes…

• 

  - The Quilter -

• Quilting Results

  14 May 2012 | 2:18 pm

  So I finally got around to trying the free motion quilting on the Singer 66 treadle sewing machine. I had a this little piece that was already drawn (with black pen!) and sandwiched and I thought it would be perfect for this test.I put the plate and foot on the machine and started quilting. First off I realized that it was a bit 'sticky' and I should have put down my Supreme Slider before starting. And I should have worn quilter's gloves too, just to make it a bit easier. It looks okay on the front (white side) but on the back side (black) you can see that there is a major tension problem on…

• Praying for a Miracle

  12 May 2012 | 9:40 pm

  Please help Michele's sister-in-law.

• Redbud

  10 May 2012 | 8:38 am

  Another quilt from the Denver National Quilt Festival VII is a lovely little quilt from Denise Killingsworth of CA called "Redbud".It is nice and serene, isn't it? What caught my eye is the way she constructed the "buds". My guess is bias tubes tied with overhand knots and then cut. Two tubes crossed over each other and stitched on with a bead. Very creative!

• Wordless Wednesday - Lilac

  9 May 2012 | 10:15 am

• Love for a Lifetime

  7 May 2012 | 8:13 pm

  At the quilt show this past weekend I saw this quilt by Peggy Parrot entitled "Love for a Lifetime".I really like this quilt as it reminded me of George Lundeen's sculpture "Valentine".Love is ageless.

• 

  Giraffe Dreams

• Driving a Long Arm

  15 May 2012 | 6:04 pm

  Today I had my big lesson on how to use a Statler long-arm quilting machine. I am now "certified!" It was fun! I did a border design, custom designs in individual blocks, and an edge-to-edge section. Now I can take on the world! Or at least an occasional quilt. Next week I'll go back and do a Quilts of Valor quilt. I can do these for free, for practice, and a soldier gets a quilt: win-win. After

• Fare Well

  14 May 2012 | 10:48 pm

  Got a giant hug from Favorite Son as I dropped him off at airport. Here he is hugging the cat goodbye. (Yes, it's a big cat, but he's just a big marshmallow. Not a mean bone in his body.) Giant hugs from one's adult children ROCK.

• Marvelous Mother's Day!

  13 May 2012 | 10:15 pm

  The weekend started off in a lovely way, meeting with my knitting group -- always a fun and refreshing time. What a neat bunch of women! Son has been home for a few days; it has been GREAT to see him again and have him around the house. It was his first visit home after moving to California 7 months ago. He has been very busy visiting friends, so in and out of the house a lot. That was expected.

• Friday Books: Gnothing Gnu

  11 May 2012 | 6:49 pm

  I used to know a joke about a gnu whose name was Nothing. And the punch line was "Nothing gnu under the sun." I really suck at telling jokes, so I have forgotten the details, lucky for you. I am reading two books but have not completed either one, so I will not report on them until next week. One is called The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt. I am about 60% through that one. I am reading it

• Good Guild Meeting

  8 May 2012 | 11:18 pm

  We had a good guild meeting tonight... shared some fun, some laughs, and some beautiful quilts. First we had a "bed-turning" with quilts that had a story. Most were older quilts made by various family members; it's fun to hear about the emotional ties people have to quilts. They are so much more than just blankets and are treasured by those who inherit them. Often we don't know the stories

• 

  Denise Aumick ~ Wild Thread Studio Art ~ Life Among Many Mediums

• Show and Tell

  11 May 2012 | 6:35 am

  This pod vessel came out of the wood kiln this past Saturday. Those black textured looking marks towards the bottom are what's left of the copper wire I wrapped around the piece before it went in the kiln. This measures about 5" x 5", so not large. I like it.I painted this last night. Seems to have lots of imagery. Where that comes from is anybody's guess. This is acrylic on heavy paper and it's large, 23" x 30".So glad it's Friday with all the great promise of the weekend hanging in the wings.

• 29 Apr 2012 | 4:00 pm

  29 Apr 2012 | 4:00 pm

  Hand built pod that was glazed, gas fired and over painted. Complete with antique hat pins. I'm going to try offering some of my ceramic art as sculptural pieces. Someone recently told me their beauty could stand alone without much adornment. I kept trying out different mounting possiblities and adornments for this one but ended up with this very simple presentation. It measures about 4" high and about 4" at its widest part.

• The Rising

  22 Apr 2012 | 11:17 am

  I have been indirectly yet oddly effected by two deaths this week. We have many moments and elements that makeup our lives and help to define who we are as people. Levon Helm's music has been a part of my life since the early 70’s. When I asked Steve why I was so strongly effected by his passing, Steve (in his way of sometimes getting right to the heart of the matter) said “because he is of our generation and our time is ending”. The man speaketh the truth. Rest in peace Levon, you helped me carry The Weight many times and, I suspect, will continue to do so.

• Abstract for a Sunday

  15 Apr 2012 | 12:40 pm

  Sketched out the basics of this abstract during the week and started painting it yesterday. My husband really likes it. I think I do too. It's acrylic paint on 140lb watercolor paper and measures 22" x 30".

• 14 Apr 2012 | 1:53 pm

  14 Apr 2012 | 1:53 pm

  This pod vessel is glazed and wrapped with copper wire getting ready to be placed in the wood kiln. I'm hoping the copper creates flash marks on the surface. We shall see. Above is a flask vessel also ready for the wood fired kiln. I have visions of this opened pod with an assemblage 'crown' placed on the inside. Of course I still need to learn how to solder in order to make the assemblage crown.And this is the Tony Moore's wood kiln in Cold Spring that will fire for 4 days burning a number of cords of wood in the process. The second opening towards the back is the wood chamber. That's where…

• 

  Art-Quilt-Works

• Spring time is neat it up time

  10 May 2012 | 11:03 am

  both inside and out.   Here I am with a letter that needs to go in the mail but in my effort to neat up the area around my desk I have some how misplaced my book of stamps. Drat!  Oh well, maybe when it is all askew again, the stamps will reappear.  No I am notgoing to waiting to mail the letter until that happens, I'll just buy more and get it gone.Not just to the area on and around the desk has attention been applied.  I've been neatening up other parts of the apartment too, especially my ironing, cutting catch all put it done flat surface…

• Here I am... the First Saturday in May

  5 May 2012 | 7:14 pm

  watching the television and screaming for a horse running in the Kentucky Derby as if I had lots of money on its nose.  Well I didn't, but it is always fun to pick one and root for it, why else would you watch a horse race?I love May in Louisville, the flowers blooming and the winter sky a thing of the past.  Here the flowers bloom all the time until it get too hot outside for man beast or plants.  But 5 days into May it is still really nice here and I  an noticing how fast this year is going by. I am back from teaching and I am all packed and eager to take…

• It feels so good to have something finished

  26 Apr 2012 | 12:23 pm

  No name for it yet and no sleeve or label.  Just finished hand sewing down the facing.  With no destination in mind for it, It will live in the closet for now.One thing I did learn as I was quilting this piece; I do not like using two layers of batting instead of my usual one layer of Warm and Natural and layer of wool blend felt.  I had to move up a needle size from my usual size 11 embroidery needle to a 14 because the thread kept shredding.  Using the 14 solved the problem but before I decided that it was the needle size that was the problem I changed needles…

• A little of this...

  12 Apr 2012 | 10:54 am

  and a whole lot of that is what my life has been about for the last two weeks or so.  The image above is what the last of the three painting looks like with the flowers added.  I didn't get to the other two I had planned to paint before something else intervened.  And what that was I can not remember.Here is a look at a piece of fabric I was playing with, testing the paints and brushes, even an artist dipping pen used with ink to test my hand writing on fabric.  Words seem to be everywhere, incorporated in all forms of art, but I am not sure if I want everywhere to include…

• A really productive week at the easel.

  30 Mar 2012 | 9:04 am

  Next week I will be quilting, quilting and quilting.I have two paintings finished.  Of course there will be some working back into them with more water color paint, inks or pencils once the quilting is completed.In thinking of my painted quilts, I have decided for at least these three pieces that I want to stay very close to the look of traditional botanical drawings and paintings, which is to make the flower the focal point and present it simply and colorfully on a background that is not demanding of the views attention. I am trying different ways of handling backgrounds and tried…

• 

  Barbara Strobel Lardon Art quilts

• Coneflowers Added

  14 May 2012 | 10:01 am

  Began adding coneflowers to my 12X12 quilt .  These are the background ones so I made them darker.Fun to be working on coneflowers again.  It is lone of my favorite flowers.

• HAPPY MOTHER's DAY

  12 May 2012 | 6:51 pm

  A very happy Mother's Day to all Mom's.  I hope your day is full of happiness and fun!

• Coneflowers Started & The Wonder of Nature

  11 May 2012 | 9:23 am

   I am beginning work on my next 12x12 quilt.  This one will be full of coneflowers.   I begin by taking my quilted background and cutting strips of grasses to add to it. As I fuse on the grasses I quilt them.  This makes it so much easier once they start overlapping each other.  No stopping and starting over and over. When I am happy with the layout and the amount I stop and now I will start making the coneflowers that will be on top of this layer.I heard about a Redtail Hawk and Great Blue Heron nests that Cornell University Ornithology Lab had put…

• Stepback

  7 May 2012 | 1:26 pm

   Here is our new "pantry".  It is an 1850-70 stepback cupboard.   We first loaded the old Pastry Cabinet that was there into the pickup truck.  It actually was done in two trips to our store.  We set it back up there and priced it before we came back here.Then we lifted the top half up on the bottom.  I am good at lifting but the bottom half is chest high solifting it up there was a challenge but Bob is strong and kept it steady.  Then it was time to fill it up.  It took all that I had in both the pastry cabinet and the bookshelf plus one kitchen…

• Crow On Limb

  6 May 2012 | 3:50 pm

   After our "great adventure" this morning (I will tell you about it later) I got up in my studio and began construction on my Crow.  I started with a black background using the outline of my drawing.I drew out all the shapes of the feathers from my drawing and selected fabric in the shades and tones that I needed building the bird in layers starting with the bottom layer which in this case is the tail feathers.Once I was happy with the fabric selection I fused it down and placed it on my background.  This entire process took me about 1 1/2 hours.    I added a few…

• 

  Art @ The Hermitage

• Aida and Amneris in Glastonbury

  7 May 2012 | 2:07 am

  My "sistah" donnio, is a photographic genius. Here, she's depicted my beautiful little daughters in a halcyon setting, based on a totally ordinary iPhone photo with an innocuous background. The Girls look so content in their secret cave... far more interesting than a dull blanket on the desk in my office!BTW, here's the original...

• Beverly

  14 Apr 2012 | 7:14 pm

  Once upon a time, a litter of kittens was born to a mama cat who lived in a laboratory facility at a major university medical center. One of the kittens in this particular litter was an adorable little "tabico", with a coat of riotous calico colors and tabby stripes. Genetics, for whatever reason, had been unkind to this sweet little baby, for she was born with only a stub where her right front leg should have been. She was a happy little girl, and didn't seem to miss her leg as she stumbled around the cage where she lived with her mother and siblings. Things went along okay for a few months,…

• Aida

  21 Mar 2012 | 12:38 am

  We've certainly taken on a serious challenge with our newest rescue! This little girl is so wild and skittish, it's hard to believe she'll ever be a pet, let alone a lap cat! She IS making progress, but it's happening in such tiny baby steps we can hardly measure it. Her sister, Amneris, is so totally tame and calm it's difficult to think of them being litter mates. After four weeks with us, Aida still won't let us touch her, and while she no longer runs and hides when we come into the "nursery", she doesn't make any overtures in our directions. For the first few weeks, we kept her confined…

• Amneris

  4 Mar 2012 | 9:10 pm

  This little girl has totally won my heart! She's one of the sweetest kitties I've ever known. But then, I think I've said that at least once or twice about other fur babies who've shared my life... for now, she's definitely one of the front runners. Above, she's in her second favorite place - my desk chair, and below, she's in her most favorite place... my lap. I'm spoiling her rotten, but neither she nor I care one bit!We decided on names from the opera, Aida... lovely music, not so lovely story (that's opera for you), but one of my favorites.

• New kid on board...

  5 Feb 2012 | 5:06 pm

  This is our newest family member... rescued from our neighbor's back yard. Her brother and sister are still at large, and, unfortunately, have become even more evasive after seeing their sister disappear. She's still pretty feral, but definitely loves being petted - after just a few strokes, she turns the purr machine on full blast. She just came home from the vet last night, after having her operation, and getting shots and blood work done. She's a little sore, not to mention freaked, and, I'm sure she misses her siblings as well. We have her confined to the computer room, and I'm spending…

• 

  Twisted Sister

• Girl Scout Birthday Art Quilt

  14 May 2012 | 5:00 am

  Celebrating Girl Scouts 100th Birthday.  Original watercolor transferred to fabric, Mistyfused to wool blended felt, framed in Hoffman Batiks, and free motion machine quilted.  It measures 15x18 and I am donating it to Girl Scouts of Orange County, for their adult recognition event in June. closer view

• SAQA One Foot Square Auction

  9 May 2012 | 5:00 am

  "Bliss" - my donation for the SAQA One Foot Square Auction; made with silk, commercial cottons, polka dot sheer and the silk circle sheer.  Mistyfused onto wool blended felt, free motion machine quilted and painted using a polka dot stencil.

• The Purple House - Part 10

  6 May 2012 | 6:44 pm

  Thank you for coming on this journey with me from start to finish on the design and making of this art quilt.  I have enjoyed the process and the comments from you, the readers of my blog."Make a Wish on the Purple House" 24W x 60H is my curators quilt for the upcoming exhibition "Rituals."  My art quilt is all about a ritual that my daughter and I enjoyed for a few years, when I was driving her to school in Old Towne, Orange.  There was this wonderful purple house in the midst of gray and brown houses, which we both felt was rather magical.  Everyday - as we drove by - we…

• Purple House - Part 9 - Quilting!

  2 May 2012 | 5:36 pm

  Let the games begin!  The purple house is ready to be quilted.  Since my long arm is occupied with another quilt, I am going to quilt this on my Bernina,  The quilt is 24" wide by 60" long.  The word unwieldy is coming to mind.I have rolled up the lower portion so that I can sew over the top of the house, and there is nothing fancy at this point.  Just sewing the house down, with free motion machine quilting in the straight stitch, as well as, the zig zag.As I sew, I am thinking in my mind of the way I will quilt the sky, vines and flowers.  I think it would be…

• Painting Up a Storm!

  2 May 2012 | 5:00 am

  I've been enjoying drawing and painting with watercolors this past week.  This one was for The Sketchbook Challenge's April theme "Open."  Open Communication.My salute to Girl Scouts and celebrating their 100th year.  This will be photo transferred onto fabric and made into small quilts, and possibly some note cards.Words to Live By - My Mantra - This will hang in my studio!Please do not copy my artwork, without written permission!

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  Me and My Quilts ~ Exploring the Possibilities

• Afterglow - The Quilt

  16 May 2012 | 5:00 am

  Afterglow,my liberated wedding ring quilt, is finished!!(inspired by the work of Gwen Marston and Freddy Moran)Last October,Chris handed me a box full of scraps leftover after making her Borealis quilt.(now named Free Spirit - custom quilting pending)My challenge was to make a companion quilt.Chris custom quilted Afterglow,using multiple threadsand some wonderful ideas.(photos will supersize for detail viewing)I especially love how she selectively quilted the borders.Instead of seeing rows of flying geese, there is a border full of wonderful geometric shapes.(very hard to…

• Playing with Orphans and Strings

  15 May 2012 | 3:00 am

  First, I played with some of my red stringsto make a small mat to go underneathone of DH's recent woodturnings.(and I tested the new binding method)Then I taped up all six boxes going to the museum in PA,and attached their UPS shipping labels.They are now well on their way . . . (breathing a BIG sigh of deeply satisfied relief)Next, I pulled out the last few orphaned segmentsfrom Lynne's Hidden Potential quiltto make another small mat to go on an end table.This is the back - I really DO love the new method for doing binding without pins!(see yesterday's post for the link)Best…

• Let the Binding Begin!

  14 May 2012 | 3:00 am

  I'll have outdoor finish photos in a few days.(if it stops raining)But, in the meantime,you NEED to check this out.I do my quilt binding with the machine.(no more hand stitching due toarthritis in the thumb joints)I have now upgraded my process based onthis post . . .It works!!!-- NO PINS NEEDED --(my hands are doing the happy dance)I have two more quilts ready to bind ~Amish Strings and Afterglow.I can't wait to use this new methodagain and again.(and again)Quiltdivajulie

• Sharing the Vibe

  11 May 2012 | 3:55 pm

  * * * Our office receptionist has this quotation tapedabove her telephone:"All animals except man knowthat the principal business of life isto enjoy it."Samuel Butler* * * I couldn't agree more!* * *Be back soon with more colorful quilty content.Quiltdivajulie

• April Fool's Day - The Quilt

  9 May 2012 | 12:38 pm

  Ta-da!Finished and hung on the wall at work!I love how it brightens the walland my co-workers really like it.Chris did some of her amazing free motion quilting ~echoing the petals of the sunflowers.(Double click to supersize)* * * Mandala, which used to hang at my desk,has been relocated to the desk of a co-workerat the far end of the office.It's all good!Quiltdivajulie

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  About.com Quilting

• Album Star Quilt Block Pattern

  15 May 2012 | 1:00 am

  Album Star was one of the patchwork quilt blocks used in the Scrap Happy Sampler quilt. I love the many possibilities this design offers for color placement...Read Full Post

• Picnic Time Quilt Block Pattern

  14 May 2012 | 2:30 am

  Picnic Time is based on a traditional quilt block that's very pretty, but has lots of set-in seams that make it more suitable for hand piecing than for assembly with rotary cutting techniques. I divided a couple of the original block's patchwork areas to make this new version a cinch to sew....Read Full Post

• Patchwork Table Runner Pattern

  9 May 2012 | 1:00 am

  This colorful table runner is made from four 10" square blocks placed on point and surrounded by setting and corner triangles. Two borders finish the layout, one cut from narrow green strips and the other from wider pieces of a floral -- both areas repeat fabrics used in the quilt blocks. The runner finishes at about 22-1/2" x 65", but you can easily change its length or width....Read Full Post

• Flying Dutchman Quilt Block with No-Waste Flying Geese

  8 May 2012 | 3:48 am

  Make the Flying Dutchman quilt block with any combination of fabrics you desire. Try holiday prints, and sew a group of four or six blocks to make a wallhanging. Or sew a string of them together to create a quick table runner. We'll use a simple no-waste Flying Geese method to construct the block....Read Full Post

• Which Way Do We Go? a Strippy Set Quilt Pattern

  6 May 2012 | 12:00 am

  I designed this quilt to work with a brightly colored Alexander Henry border print that was passed along to me after the death of my sister, Carol. It took me awhile to decide how to use the print, but this strippy-set quilt seemed to do the trick -- and it's a quilt that most everyone has enjoyed. Read through the pattern a few times before you begin making the quilt, just to make sure you understand the steps, and assemble a few of the Winged Square blocks before you make the units for all of them -- in case you need to make sewing adjustments... Which Way Do We Go? pattern...Read Full Post

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  Thimbleanna

• Ina Index

  Thimbleanna

  12 May 2012 | 9:55 am

  Ok, so raise your hand if you’re an Ina Garten fan.  Anyone?  I’m a big Ina fan — I don’t think I’ve ever made one of her recipes that I didn’t like.  And over the years, I’ve collected all of her books except the last one, Barefoot Contessa How Easy Is That?  As much as I love her books though, I can’t ever remember which book contains the specific recipe I’m looking for, and it drives me crazy.  So, when I just have to make her Blueberry Coffee Cake, for example, I have to drag all the books out and check the indexes.  The recipe I…

• Quack Quack

  Thimbleanna

  7 May 2012 | 9:45 pm

  Hidy Ho Neighbor! Thanks for all the May Basket love — you guys are the sweetest. Did you have a good weekend? It was beautiful here in ThimbleannaLand. And pretty busy — that’s what happens in the spring — lots of yardwork to do. So, no real quilting to speak of. I’ve been hankering (yes Barb, that’s my inner Ellie Mae speaking LOL) to start a new quilt project. Something that will be portable and fun. But I can’t seem to make a decision. I finally decided this might not be a great time to decide — maybe I should wait and see if something…

• Happy May Day!

  Thimbleanna

  1 May 2012 | 7:42 am

  Can you believe it?  It’s May already (not that I’m telling you anything that you don’t already know). For May Day I made a little quilted bag for MeMum.  Just a little something to hang some pretty flowers from her doorknob this morning. It’s hard to see from the picture, but there are grommets in the sides so that I could tie the ribbon to the bag. And what better flower for May? Lilacs are a favorite of ours — I’ve often wondered if it’s because the name contains the name of MeMum’s mother — Lila. So pretty!  (And they smell soooo…

• A Question of Pattern

  Thimbleanna

  28 Apr 2012 | 11:38 am

  A month or two ago, my long-time blog friend Jody posted some cute Cath Kidston shoes on Pinterest.  “Ooooh, those are cute” I thought to myself.  And then I clicked through to the Cath Kidston site thinking it might be fun to have a little look around.  Oh. So. Naughty.  For I had a weak moment and clicked all the way through to the shopping cart and ended up with these little tennies.  (Not the same ones that Jody originally pinned, but I felt the darker color would be safer for picking up dirt.) They’re terribly comfy, but now I have a dilemma.  Nothing to go with…

• Birds in the Air

  Thimbleanna

  22 Apr 2012 | 8:37 pm

  Poor, poor little neglected blog. It’s been so boring here lately that there hasn’t been much point in blogging. Not that nothing has been happening — it’s been very busy, but there just hasn’t been much blog-worthy to report. Lots of cleaning, errand running, cleaning, visiting, cleaning — with all that cleaning, why doesn’t it look much cleaner around here? That drives me crazy — you work and work and work and things still look much like they did. At least there’s a big pile of garbage in the garage to show for the efforts. Too bad the…

• 

  crazy mom quilts

• more small projects

  15 May 2012 | 6:41 pm

  I am slowly but surely making my way through my small projects list. It feels good!First off, I made these lanyards for me and my sister at wear to quilt market. A patchwork lanyard has been on my list for over 3 years. Probably closer to 5. I'm so glad that I finally got around to it. Sheesh, that took long enough!Look at all that patchwork. It makes me happy! I didn't use a pattern, just made them up as I went. I wouldn't recommend the method I used to anyone. ha! They will work, nonetheless.Also, I made close to 20 of these babies. Thread catchers, tiny trash cans, whatever you want…

• catching up

  14 May 2012 | 8:43 pm

  oh mylanta.there is so much to say....i got home last night after a great trip to a happy and healthy family. what a blessing! i have the BEST family ever. (these photos were taken during homework time tonight....we had fun with the camera.) my kids were so happy to have me home. i had a fabulous time away. this was the view at the retreat. sigh. it was so beautiful. the retreat itself was AMAZING! the book signing went very well, too. thanks so much to everyone who came out to both. you ladies were so much fun!!! it's always so good to go, but it's so good to come home,…

• happy

  9 May 2012 | 6:03 pm

  Today I learned that Sunday Morning Quilts is already headed for it's second printing. What?!?!?! It was only 2 short months ago that the first batch arrived on my doorstep. This whole book experience has been quite surreal. A big THANK YOU to all of you who have supported us throughout this journey. It means so much. Really. I would be remiss if I didn't say a big THANK YOU to the folks at C&T, who have been aMAZing to work with. Seriously amazing.I found a bit of time to play with some scraps today, just for fun. That totally made me…

• a dozen pin cushions

  5 May 2012 | 6:28 pm

  I've been having a lot of fun with my small projects list. These pin cushions are proof positive of that. They are small-only 3.5" finished. The more I made, the cuter they looked. :) I may have squealed (a lot) when I was making these. I had to make myself stop at a dozen and move on to the next thing on my list.I wanted to say thanks a bunch for all the sweet comments on my dress!!! You all sure know how to make a girl feel good. :)---------There are a few giveaways going on right now that you might want to check out. *Notions (the Connecting Threads blog) is doing a giveaway…

• dress!!!!!!

  3 May 2012 | 4:49 pm

  I finished my dress! And it fits! I LOVE it!!!I'm very happy that it won't be graded by a Home Ec teacher because I don't think I'd get a very good grade. BUT...it fits, AND it's wearable...even out of the house! I'd call that a success.Pattern: New Look 6557Fabric: clearance cotton ($3/yard)Total cost of fabric, pattern, zipper and supplies: less than $20Not. Too. Bad.

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  Snip-Itz

• Blasting Off

  whimziequiltz

  29 Apr 2012 | 7:08 pm

  With a Rocket Powered Quilt Project… Fueled by a vision of a united future, The Dream Rocket Project is inspiring people from all over the world to create nearly 8000 quilts that will be stitched together to ‘wrap’ a Saturn V rocket at the US Space Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Girl Scout troops, classrooms and individuals from across the United States and the globe are making fabric panels featuring the theme “Dare to Dream”; fiber artist Jennifer Marsh will then coordinate the installation. Covering the 365-foot tall rocket will take more than 32,000 square…

• Star Gazing :: Custom Star Block Quilts

  whimziequiltz

  17 Apr 2012 | 7:02 pm

  From the basic 4 pointed corners of a FRIENDSHIP STAR block to the 264(!) points in a single TRIPLE FEATHERED STAR, sometimes it seems there are more star-based quilt blocks than there are stars in the sky. I often recommend SAWTOOTH STAR quilts when customers want a traditional design; for a more contemporary look, STAR OF HOPE or SUNRAY STAR blocks are go-to options. The bright blue and yellow SAWTOOTH STAR blocks in Twinkle Twinkle Great BIG Star made this one stellar baby quilt. But star patterns also look great in red, white and blue for a July 4th picnic blanket or in school colors for…

• ‘Knot’ Your Everyday Quilt Designs

  whimziequiltz

  30 Mar 2012 | 7:30 pm

  One of the most popular trends in applique quilts today is Celtic quilting, done by continually weaving thin fabric strips into a decorative geometric pattern that seems to have no beginning and no end. Such interlace or endless knot inspired designs have been around at least since the Roman Empire, but it is the Celts, a Germanic people who settled the British Isles, who are identified most often with this art form. During the Dark Ages, Celtic artists incorporated continuous line designs into everything from castles and monuments to the margins of bibles – the Book of Kells an…

• Quiltin’ o’ the Green :: Custom Irish Chain Quilts Quilts

  whimziequiltz

  16 Mar 2012 | 7:27 pm

  Are Irish Chain quilts only a wee bit Irish? Quilt historians now believe that the Irish Chain block, one of the most popular quilt designs ever, was actually created in America.  An 1814 example from the United States is the earliest known date of this traditional pattern. I often recommend an Irish Chain quilt when customers want a design with several repeat images – the ‘chain’ of squares frames the images and links them together nicely. That was the idea behind this Go Red for Women quilt, where the customer wanted to highlight the initiative’s red dress logo…

• Die, Sunbonnet Sue, Die!

  whimziequiltz

  28 Feb 2012 | 6:54 pm

  The Sun Sets on Sunbonnet Sue… One of the most famous applique quilt designs of all time is Sunbonnet Sue, the darling little youngster with her face hidden under a huge hat. Based on children’s books from the early 1900s, Sue is the probably the most adorable quilt pattern ever created. And that’s the problem – she can be a bit too cutesy for some people. By the 1970s, a group of quilters from Lawrence, KS (my old home town) determined they’d had enough of sweet Sue and they decided to kill her off. Each quilter created a block showing Sue meeting her demise in…

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  FaveQuilts.com Articles

• Heidi Ferguson

  11 May 2012 | 5:31 pm

  I never really thought I would ever be a quilter...I always thought quilting was for old ladies sitting around in group circles gossiping about their neighbors. But guess what--quilting has changed from the old days and I'm all about it!

• Raggedy Basketweave Quilt

  11 May 2012 | 5:30 pm

  The Raggedy Basketweave Quilt is a creative quilt pattern that combines elements of rag quilting, quilt-as-you-go methods, and cheater quilts. Rather than piecing the top , you'll weave strips of fabric together and then quilt them to the batting and backing. The whole process only takes a few hours!

• Sunni Bolger

  11 May 2012 | 5:14 pm

  Hi, I'm Sunni from Love Affair with my Brother. No! I'm not immoral. I just have a close relationship with my sewing machine, a Brother! I was bitten by the quilting bug in the summer of 2011, and it has become a passion.

• Retro Cottage Quilt Block

  11 May 2012 | 5:08 pm

  When traditional house quilt block patterns just won't do, try the Retro Cottage Quilt Block! This kitschy, colorful cottage looks like it came right out of the 50s or 60s. Use it give a special quirk to a more subdued house quilt.

• Bonnie K. Hunter

  11 May 2012 | 12:26 pm

  Bonnie K Hunter is passionate about quilting, focusing mainly on scrap quilts with the simple feeling of making do. She started her love affair with quilting in a home economics class her senior year of high school in 1980 and has never looked back.

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  Best Quilting Solutions

• Digital Art @Google Rachel Armstrong & Mitchell Joachim

  Admin

  15 May 2012 | 8:13 am

  From October 1st 2010, Rachel Armstrong and Mitchell Joachim talk about their art in the current Digital Art @Google art show (“We Write this to You from the Distant Future”) on view in the Chelsea market lobby. First, Rachel Armstrong talks on “Living materials for the built environment” then at 37:40 Mitchell…

• Free-Motion Stitches from Machine Quilting: Free-Motion and More with Wendy Butler Berns

  Admin

  15 May 2012 | 8:13 am

  Click: www.craftsy.com to read more and get a 50% discount for Machine Quilting: Free-Motion and More with Wendy Butler Berns! Craftsy is the fastest-growing online craft community, is free to join, and features thousands of projects with free patterns, tutorials and more. Craftsy’s Online Classes give you unlimited access to learn on…

• How to Make Pinwheel Blocks and Flying Geese Units

  Admin

  14 May 2012 | 1:19 pm

  Marianne and Mary demonstrate how to make pinwheel blocks and flying geese units using special rulers. To watch this great quilting video and many more, visit: www.qnntv.comVideo Rating: 0 / 5

• Mason Dixon Log Cabin Baby Blanket – Fini

  Admin

  14 May 2012 | 1:19 pm

  I only need to add a few details to this Log Cabin style baby blanket.Video Rating: 5 / 5

• Cutting Blocks and Triangles with Specialty Quilting Ruler

  Admin

  13 May 2012 | 11:58 pm

  Some of you may have read about the baby quilt contest that we ran in our magazine and it produced hundreds of wonderful quilts. We liked some of them so much we’re sharing them with you today. In this episode we’ll show you how…

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  The Q and the U - Quilting Blog

• Wordless Wednesday: Quilt Top Complete

  Riel Nason

  9 May 2012 | 6:13 am

  Posted by Riel Nason on The Q and the U

• Brandon Mably Patchwork Squares

  Riel Nason

  30 Apr 2012 | 12:11 pm

   A few weeks ago I was out fabric shopping at Marden's in Calais, Maine (my favourite fabric place!)  I had no plan in mind about what I might want/need, but ...  ... then I saw all this crazy, colourful, bold Brandon Mably fabric -- just my thing!  I had never seen any of this fabric "in person" before and it was kind of WOW.  The store had a huge selection from various older lines so I started filling my cart.  I bought 1/2 yards of almost every bolt they had.  I think I got 29 different fabrics.  (At $4.99/yard the price was right)  This is the…

• Happy Earth Day: Recycled Selvage Quilt

  Riel Nason

  19 Apr 2012 | 6:41 am

   Happy Earth Day!  My Recycled Selvage Quilt is all done.  I am very happy with it.  As I mentioned in my previous post about this quilt, it is an idea I've had forever and I'm so glad it's finally done!  It only seemed right to make a recycle symbol out of the ultimate recycled quilting scraps -- selvages! It is 36 inches square.  I actually have it hanging up in the house.  I am not much of a quilts-on-walls person at all, but I guess this is the exception.   I quilted it with a pointy angled stipple type design.  I think my…

• Quispamsis qplex Mini Quilt

  Riel Nason

  15 Apr 2012 | 5:19 pm

   The pictures tell most of the story.  The building in these shots is a beautiful new facility that was opened in our town last year.  It is called the qplex.  From the very first time I saw the stripes I was completely enamoured and knew I would have to make a quilt! This is just a little mini quilt.  And I actually have had it done for a while.  I made it for my son's 7th birthday which was more than a month ago.-For the design, you can see I was 100% inspired by the building.  Love the colour and the modern look! Since this quilt is just a…

• I'm Back: Green Hexagons

  Riel Nason

  13 Apr 2012 | 2:39 pm

   So who figured I couldn't really stay away?  Although I am working hard on the new novel, of course I am still doing a few little sewing/quilting things and wanted to report in.  Little, that is, like these hexies ... -(See the Grinch up there?  My daughter's favourite.) These are 3/4 inch hexies, slightly smaller than the 1 inch ones I've made before.They are all done in green. I am using scraps and having fun doing some fussy cuts. There won't be any repeats. I may use these for a challenge project my guild has going for the quilt show this year, we'll see. If I…

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  Miss Print

• The Geese Have Landed!

  Kaye Prince

  12 May 2012 | 10:54 am

  So you remember those snaps I shared a couple of weeks ago of a new quilt I was working on? You know, before my machine decided to conk out on me? Well, now that I have my machine back, the quilt is done - woot! Wanna see?"The Geese Have Landed" features a variety of prints from Tula Pink's Prince Charming and one from Plume, a variety of prints from Joel Dewberry including Modern Meadow and Aviary, two Patty Young prints (one from Flora & Fauna and one from Sanctuary), and four solids. Actually technically six solids if you count the background and binding fabric which is Kona Coal and…

• This Past Week + the Giveaway Winner!

  Kaye Prince

  10 May 2012 | 8:16 am

  Hello all! Well, what a week! First off I'd like to take a minute to welcome my newest sponsor Southern Fabric (you can see their button over there on the right)! Even if you're not in the market to buy any fabric right now, you should definitely check out their site - they carry some excellent fabric, the site is well planned out, and I think the design is very pretty and fun!So this week has been quite interesting - first, there was being in Stitch Craft Create (which I talked about in my last post) and then I got my sewing machine back! Hurray!Welcome home Genevieve - I missed you! Some of…

• Mini Quilted Trio

  Kaye Prince

  3 May 2012 | 11:54 am

  I've been keeping this under wraps for a little bit now...one of the many little secret things I've mentioned... and I'm so happy that I get to share it with you now!I have a pattern in the Summer 2012 issue of Stitch Craft Create magazine!! You may remember that I shared this little sneak peak a couple of months ago...My pattern in the Mini Quilted Trio, a series of three mini quilts that each use the same number of pieces and techniques to form three different traditional quilt blocks framed with a log-cabin style border.These three mini quilts include instructions for making the…

• It's Giveaway Time - Amy Webb's Blogger's Choice!

  Kaye Prince

  27 Apr 2012 | 3:25 pm

  So, y'all ready for another giveaway?! It's that time again - I've got another fabulous bundle from the folks over at Fat Quarter Shop to give away. This time around we've teamed up to give away Amy Webb's Blogger's Choice Fat Quarter Bundle - so, so, so pretty!The Blogger's Choice Bundles are exclusive to FQS and include 12 prints and 3 solids chosen by some of your favourite crafty bloggers. This particular bundle was put together by Amy Webb of amylouwho; Amy is a prolific blogger and all around crafty-type person.Isn't it just so pretty? Amy's picks are just perfect for Spring (although…

• The Week so Far + the Giveaway Winner!

  Kaye Prince

  25 Apr 2012 | 4:32 pm

  So, I know in my last post I said that I would be sharing a completed quilt with you this week...well, that just ain't gonna happen! Over the weekend my sewing machine decided to throw an unexpected tantrum (snapped thread, skipped stitches, etc) and is currently in the shop waiting for the Janome man to fix her. Ho hum. This is the first time in many years that there has not been a sewing machine in my house and it is making me quite sad - on top of that I'm on deadline for some publishing stuff and may just have to hand sew some projects together. And no, I'm not talking the "fun" kind of…

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  Lost Quilt Come Home Page

• Recovered! Quilt left at Panera

  admin

  12 May 2012 | 8:10 pm

  Ginny Feikert hoped had someone found a quilt that she was currently working on. She accidentally left it in Panera (St Louis) Bread Co at Mid Rivers Mall in St Peters, Missouri. It was not turned in to their lost and found. It was last seen on July 7, 2011. On May 12, 2012 she rejoiced, "The quilt has been found! I was sure I had taken it with me to Tulsa, but since it was not in the car when I got there, I assumed that I must have left it at Panera. It was in my sewing room the whole time, and I am too happy to be embarrassed!! Praise the Lord. I am going to name the quilt 'Amazing Grace'…

• Coastal Life

  admin

  30 Apr 2012 | 7:56 pm

  Barbra Torgusen is asking that everyone be on the lookout for this called "Coastal Life." It was made by Barbra and members of the CCQG. The quilt was last seen on April 14, 2012 in San Leon, Texas. It was one of two quilts in a handmade quilted bag that was on the back seat of Barbra's car. The car was broken into while she was staying at the Windmill Gardens Inn during an American Legion Convention. A police report was filed. This quilt is about 45" by 60". The main colors are reds and blues. Each block is different and encorporates a wide variety of quilting techniques. It was made from…

• Recovered! Floral Sampler

  admin

  30 Apr 2012 | 7:31 pm

  Deborah Kemball's quilt, Floral Sampler, disapppeared after the 2011 Spring Quilt Market in Salt Lake City, Utah. This original quilt is 28" by 42.5". It is featured on the cover of the book, "Beautiful Botanicals." On April 30, 2012, C&T joyfully announced that all four missing quilts have been found!!! They had been carefully packed away in a mistakenly labeled, long-term storage box.

• Recovered! Sweetwaters Table Runner

  admin

  30 Apr 2012 | 7:31 pm

  C&T Publishing was searching for a gathered table runner made by Sweetwaters. This 42.5" by 16" quilt disappeared, along with three other quilts, during May 2011 from Spring Quilt Market in Utah. On April 30, 2012, C&T joyfully announced that all four missing quilts have been found!!! They had been carefully packed away in a mistakenly labeled, long-term storage box.

• Recovered! Crazy in the Garden

  admin

  30 Apr 2012 | 7:31 pm

  Allison Aller was hoping that someone had found her missing quilt called "Crazy in the Garden." It was last seen on May 14, 2011 at Quilt Market in Salt Lake City. It was in the C & T Publishers booth, but it never arrived back at C & T's headquarters after the market was over. This original quilt is 46" by 46". This heavily embellished quilt features garden colors; blue, green, pink, orange, and purple dominate. The quilt is covered with three dimensional flowers. It also has appliqued, machine embroidered hummingbirds and butterflies. There are several beaded butterflies as well. This is…

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  Threads - All featured posts

• Parson Gray: A New Menswear Fabric Line

  14 May 2012 | 6:00 pm

  Posted by annieoconnor New cotton fabrics for fashion, quilting, and home decor from David Butler (Amy Butler's husband)

• How to Make a Lovely Pleated-Ribbon Trim

  11 May 2012 | 5:00 am

  Posted by KennethDKing Kenneth D. King demonstrates how to make this creative embellishment.

• Book Giveaway: "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty"

  8 May 2012 | 1:36 pm

  Posted by amm Learn how you could win this amazing book.

• Use Stripes to Create a Mitered Design

  8 May 2012 | 1:02 pm

  Posted by stitchhappy Turn mitered stripes into a design element with the technique from the latest issue of Threads.

• Sew a Slick Satchel

  4 May 2012 | 3:25 pm

  Posted by stitchhappy Get that patent-leather look using vinyl.

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  C&T Publishing Blog

• Listen to Your Quilt is here….plus a giveaway!

  friendlywendy

  14 May 2012 | 7:03 pm

    Barbara Persing‘s latest book, Listen to Your Quilt, is here and offers a tight little process to Select the Perfect Quilting Every Time * 4 Simple Steps. In prepping to write this post, and having seen only the cover, I will say, the teensiest bit of skepticism had come up (terms like “Perfect” and “Every Time” and “Simple” all in the same place just do that to me sometimes). My trusty Bernina 1180 has seen me through piecing and quilting of several dozen projects, and I’ve “hummed along” through a scant amount of hand…

• Congratulations Andy!

  Lynn Koolish

  11 May 2012 | 2:15 pm

  Congratulations to Andy LaFaille who just marked his 20th anniversary with C&T! Woo Hoo! Andy is the Fulfillment Manager who supervises the warehouse to make sure that all the wonderful C&T products get shipped out on time and accurately. You couldn’t find a nicer guy. Andy’s request for his celebratory lunch was a company potluck. Needless to say, we all loved that idea. Lining up for the potluck buffet Andy reading from the thank-you note that accompanied his anniversary gift A delicious time was had by all.   No related posts.

• Looking for a developmental editor with quilting experience

  Teresa Stroin

  10 May 2012 | 1:19 pm

  I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that one of our developmental editors is resigning. We are going to miss her! The good news is that she’ll be staying in the C&T Publishing family as a freelance editor. Then I have more good news: this means there is a job opening for someone new (perhaps you?) at C&T. We are searching for that certain someone who has editing, writing, and organizational experience and skills combined with quilting, sewing, and soft craft knowledge. Visit our website, www.ctpub.com, and read the developmental editor job description. If…

• Free project: Fabric scrapbook layout

  Lisa Fulmer

  6 May 2012 | 9:57 pm

  Yesterday I was a guest demonstrator on two different all-day live webcasts, Creative Edventures and The Odd Show. Both webcasts were celebrating National Scrapbooking Day. At each show, I shared some techniques for using Lutradur, Ultra-Light Lutradur, and fabrics in a scrapbook layout, with fast2fuse as the page’s foundation. The collage-style process is fun and easy – it’s just layering pieces together using fusibles. This little girl is Isabella, the daughter of one of our sales reps, Tina. Isabella was one of the models in the new Stash Books release, Hat…

• Buy a charity raffle ticket for your chance to win this quilt!

  Lisa Fulmer

  2 May 2012 | 6:56 pm

  Slice Quilt 2012 - 86" x 68" Last year, a group of C&T staffers got together to create a gorgeous slice quilt based on Van Gogh’s painting, Bedroom in Arles. It was auctioned off at the NAMTA show as a charitable fundraiser for art education, grants, and scholarships. This year our team did it again, using Van Gogh’s painting, Wheat Field with Cypresses as inspiration. Click the image above to zoom in on all the amazing detail. Our last post introduced you to the artists and showed just the quilt top, but now the talented Sue Fox has quilted it with incredible…

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  The Quilts of Ann Brauer

• flying without a net

  Ann Brauer

  15 May 2012 | 7:01 am

  OK--I finished doing my Happy Dance. As those who also follow me on Facebook or Google+ know, my quilt ancient light found a wonderful home. Yeah!!!ancient light--45 x 45"--copyright Ann Brauer 2011But now I need to make a quilt to replace it. I know--high class worries isn't it? You see, I support myself making and selling quilts. And one of the tricks of the trade is to have quilts available in the colors that usually sell. Customers do like choice, you know. And many of them like to actually see the piece before they purchase it.Sure I do still have autumn. Lovely quilt. Simple and…

• Focused on the Future

  Ann Brauer

  8 May 2012 | 6:50 am

  Seems like so long ago doesn't it?  August 28, 2011--a date that I shall always remember. I know exactly where I was when I learned that my beloved pink studio had floated down the river during Hurricane Irene. I was at the American Craft Exposition in Evanston, Illinois.  My article "Focused on the Future" about relocating my studio was just published in the Summer edition of Studios magazine. There it is--in black and white and living color. I wrote the article myself.  Well, actually when I found myself getting too edgy thinking about that day, I let the editor do more of…

• the quilts of Ann Brauer--the merry month of May

  Ann Brauer

  7 May 2012 | 6:03 am

  Well finally I am getting a chance to write my newsletter for the month of May. Yes, I know it is almost a week late. No excuses but finally the sun has been shining and I have been working in my garden as much as possible. Isn't it lovely to be outside and look at the little pea seedlings coming up in the garden?In the studio I have been working hard creating some really wonderful new pieces-- oh I can't wait to finish them and see what you think.Meanwhile the first of my articles is either out--or coming out this week. It is in Studios magazine and called "Focused on the Future" about…

• it's five o'clock in the morning...

  Ann Brauer

  2 May 2012 | 9:13 am

  Don't you just love it when you wake up at five o'clock in the morning with the design of a new quilt in your mind? It always looks so clear and so easy at that hour as you lay in bed mulling it over--at least it does for me.Of course when I started to make it there were elements of the design that needed to be resolved. Next time maybe. I need to study that first quilt more before I write about it.But that hazy design of a quilt let me on to this little gem--it is only 12 x 12 inches.  Isn't it great though? Wondering if I should frame it?  If only I had three of them. If there…

• the poster--thoughts on branding

  Ann Brauer

  27 Apr 2012 | 6:34 am

  Now those who know my studio know that I had to put up reflective film on the lovely south facing windows to protect the quilts. Made it much nicer inside but harder for the casual tourists to come and see my quilts.Life in Shelburne Falls changed and suddenly I was not selling enough to pay rent out of the studio--that is always my goal, you see.  But as the saying goes--I don't get mad, I take action. I want enough people to visit that I make money but let's face it, I don't need everyone to come in.A poster or two in the window.  A friend had suggested that. Who cares if that…

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  Oh, Fransson!

• We Love Color Winner

  Elizabeth

  15 May 2012 | 12:10 am

  The winner of a copy of We Love Color is Julie, whose favorite Kona colors are Ash and Tangerine. Thank you all so much for playing! Things are going to be quiet around the blog this week as I prepare for and go to Spring Market, but I'll have all kinds of fun stuff to talk about when I get back!

• We Love Color

  Elizabeth

  9 May 2012 | 5:48 pm

  I received my contributor copies of We Love Color today! In case you haven't already heard, We Love Color is a collection of quilt patterns using Kona solid fabrics. The contributors are: Cherri House, Amy Ellis, Alissa Haight Carlton, Rita Hodge, Jean Wells, Emily Cier, Kathy Mack, Jennifer Sampou, Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr, Kajsa Wikman, Valori Wells, Lisa Call, Malka Dubrawsky, Jacquie Gering, Betz White, and me. The book also includes an interview with Denyse Schmidt.   Here's a peek at my quilt, Ladders. And here's the back. (Unfortunately, the book doesn't show the…

• Madrona Road Winner

  Elizabeth

  7 May 2012 | 11:06 am

  Thank you so much to everyone for entering the giveaway and for your nice words about the quilt and Violet's fabric. The randomly-selected winner of the Madrona Road/Cotton Couture charm pack is Berley, whose favorite print is Haystack in Slate. (Berley, I've sent you an e-mail asking for your mailing info.)  Thank you so much to everyone who entered!