Birthday Presents

Actually my Birthday was a while back and these gift were received some time ago but I never got around to showing them to you.  My sister sent them to me.  Aren’t they cute?

Thank you again, Melinda.  I love them both.

Enjoy,

Friday Frenzy

I’m suppose to be working on samples for Spring Quilt Market but instead I’m supervising my Granddaughter Emily’s quilting project.  On Wednesday I blogged about her picking out fabrics to make a Wacky Devine Nine.   Yesterday she went to the beach so today she was determined to quilt it. 

I have a very old Handiquilter that we can setup in the garage so this morning that’s exactly what we did.  I quilted the first row and then from there she took over and meandered away.  Her back hurt from standing and leaning over but she got it done, just in time to head to Track and Field practice (just one of three High School sports she’s involved in).   Here she is quilting away.

As soon as I picked her up, she was determined to actually finish the quilt.  She had made the binding yesterday (before the beach) so it was ready to sew on.  Here she is with her nose to the grind stone sewing away.

I can’t believe it but she got it finished before her Mom (my Daughter) came and picket her up.  

 

She’s happy and pretty darn proud to have it completely finished. 

Here’s a close up of the quilting and the backing.

The backing is a nice soft flannel.  Her friend is a Colts fan so we think she’ll really like the backing.

Now it’s back to working on my stuff.  Thank goodness spring break is over, I don’t have much time left. 

Enjoy,

Trunk Show Thursday–April 28, 2011

This is my “Bricks and Mortar” quilt designed by Mary Ellen Hopkins.  This was one of the first quilts that I made at at my very first Mary Ellen Hopkins seminar (retreat) back in July 1999.  I had not idea what I was doing.  Typical Mary Ellen, we were told to bring a variety of reds and a neutral that kind of disappeared.  My sister and I each brought a bunch of reds and shared.   I needed a birthday gift for my Mother that year so this was her gift.   Bless her heart, she used it just about everyday to take a short afternoon nap with.  After she passed away I brought it home and it is now part of my trunk show showing Mary Ellen’s take on all reds go together, even those orange/reds. 

Enjoy,

Wacky Devine Nine

Yesterday I told you I received more fabric in the mail from Clothworks.  Here is a picture of some of it. 

This is from their Night and Day line with a little red Laurel Burch thrown in.  I got the top all put together but forgot to take a picture of it before I got it all put together for my quilter, Sue.  I wasn’t as thrilled with the top as much as I usually am.  I think it was a little too black and white with out any medium.   So what to do?  I think I’m going to add a big red flower to it along with some lime green leaves.  My oldest granddaughter, Natalia, was here and she is quite an artist.  She said it needs great big leaves instead of the little ones I was going to use.  I think she’s right but I’ll wait until after it’s quilted to add the flower and leaves.  

With all the sewing going on my youngest granddaughter, Emily got inspired.  While I was busy elsewhere, she was digging through my stash.  She wanted to make a quilt as a graduation gift for one of her friends. 

Here’s what she came up with. 

Pretty nice.  But check this out.  She started at 2:00 yesterday afternoon and only had to add the last border when she got here this morning. 

She’d like to guilt it tomorrow, but we’ll see.  I have a very old Handiquilter that she’s used before but it has to be set up in the garage.  Like I said, we’ll see. 

Enjoy,

I Love the Mailman

Yesterday was a great mail day. 

I was surprised to find an envelope from Moda (stuck in between all the ads).  I couldn’t imagine what in the world they would be sending me. 

I had forgotten all about the two blocks I had sent as part of the Just One Star project and I certainly didn’t expect anything in return.  But low and behold this thank you was sent out.  It’s the cutest little set of 42 – 2 1/2” square “Lily & Will II” fabric squares.   Thank you, Moda. 

Next there was a box from Quiltmaker.  As mentioned before, I had submitted a block and a quilt for volume 3 of their 100 Blocks magazine.  I already received my magazines and my quilt back from them so I couldn’t imagine what was inside the box.  How great is this?

And this.

The button is huge.  I’m planning on hanging my quilt from the magazine in my booth at Spring Quilt Market (Booth 2446) and I think I’ll pin that great big button on it. 

Last but not least, I received more fabric from Clothworks, but more about it tomorrow when I’ll have a quilt top to show you. 

Enjoy,

Design Wall Monday–4/25/11

I’m caught up (so to speak) this Monday morning so there is absolutely nothing hanging on my design wall.  I finished another Letty’s Bag yesterday.   This one is made using Clothwork’s Hydrangeas line by Sue Zipkin. 

 

 

 

 

It still needs the perfect button so a trip to the store is in order today. 

Judy’s a little behind this morning posting her list of Quilter’s Design Wall’s but I’m sure it will be there soon. 

Enjoy,

Check One More Off The List

I managed to check one more project off my list yesterday.  I finished the “Five, Ten, Twenty” quilt using using Paintbrush Gardens by Sue Zipkin from Clothworks.  Even the backing is sewn and ready to go.  It doesn’t look all that great right now but I’m sure once Sue (my long arm quilter) does her magic it will look much, much better. 

I’m expecting more fabric to arrive tomorrow so I’ve got another Letty’s Bag all cut out and ready to sew today.  Hopefully I can get it finished before all the family arrives for Easter dinner. 

Happy Easter to you all!

Enjoy,

Two Down–More to Go

I finished two Letty’s Bags for Spring Quilt Market.  One of them will be in my booth (2446) and one will go to Lizzie B Cre8tive for their booth.  I’ll let them pick which one they want.  I think they both turned out real cute.  I need to make a trip to the store to find just the right buttons for the front pockets.  BTW, these are both made using my “Letty’s Bag” supplement cutting instructions.  If you own the pattern and would like the supplement, just email me and I’ll send it right out to you. 

The fabric is really cute.  It’s “Tucsadelphia” by Lizzie B. Creative for Henry Glass and Co. 

Now it’s time to work on a quilt and another Letty’s Bag.  This time both projects will be for Clothworks.   The first set of fabrics is for a “Five, Ten, Twenty” using Paintbrush Gardens by Sue Zipkin.   Here’s a picture of the “10” fabrics plus the backing.

Thank goodness the quilt goes together pretty fast and my friend Sue has agreed to quilt it and as long as I get the binding sewn on, my sister will sew the binding down on the drive to Salt Lake City. 

Clothworks also sent me fabric for a Letty’s Bag. 

This is from their Hydrangeas line by Sue Zipkin.  Now I have to figure out which fabrics to put where?  Any suggestions. 

OK, I better get going.  I’m expecting more fabric in the mail either today or Monday. 

Enjoy,

Friday Funny–April 22, 2011

Quilters by the Sea Website

It’s hard to believe but this was me a few years ago.  I decided our quilt guild needed a website.  At that time I had no idea what I was doing but that never seems to slow me down or for that matter stop me.   After maintaining it for a few years my friend Deb took over as webmaster, thank you Deb.  She has done a great job and it still looks just about exactly the way I created it way back when. 

You can see it here www.quiltersbythesea.com.  

It’s amazing what you can do when you don’t know any better. 

Enjoy,

Truck Show Thursday–April 21, 2011

I know I’ve shown this before, but I can’t resist showing it again.  It just seems like the  right time to do it.

It brings back fond memories.   This was made while visiting my niece Christina in San Francisco.  My sister was there and the three of us each made an Easter Egg Table Topper.  

Enjoy,

Busy, Busy, Busy

I have started my three week countdown until I leave for Salt Lake City and Spring Market.  I thought I had everything pretty well under control and then I received a call from Clothworks in Seattle.  For some unknown reason my name was left on Joyce’s desk and we still don’t know who or exactly why other than my booth is right next door to their booth.  To make a long story short, bless her heart, Joyce had to search for a phone number for me but she found it and called.  That was just two days ago.  Since then I have agreed to make a couple of quilts for them and a couple of Letty’s bags.   The fabric is on it’s way so I’ll share it with you when it gets here.

In the mean time, that meant that although I didn’t have a lot to do, I still had two additional Letty’s bags to make using “Tucsadelphia” by Lizzie B. Cre9ive for Henry Glass & Co.  Guess I better try to get them done before the other fabric arrives.   The fabric is all cut out and ready to start sewing.  I’ll be making one for them and one for me.   I’ll keep you updated.

In the midst of all this cutting and organizing.  Guess what arrived……..

 I didn’t make the cover but I have a block and my quilt is in it.  Out of 100 blocks there are 14 quilts showcased and yours truly has a quilt in the magazine.  I am so excited but I can’t share it wthl you just yet, but soon.

The quilt is on page 18 and the block is # 271 and is on page 61. 

Just to add excitement to the day I had to go to the dentist.  I had a root canal a few weeks ago and today they prepared the tooth for a cap.  More Novocain, a lot of drilling (hate that sound) followed by a temporary cap.  Two more weeks and I’ll get my permanent  cap and be done with it.  

One last thing.  After yesterday’s post about laminating my own fabric, someone left me a message letting me know there are two different kinds, gloss and matt, DUH!!!!  No wonder my “Click-it” bag came out sort of dull.  So on my way home from the dentist I swung by Jo-Ann’s and this time carefully read the end of the bolt.  Sure enough they had two and other than a little sticker on the end, you’d never know they were different.  Here’s the end of the glossy bolt.

And here’s some fabric with it applied and a piece of the original fabric.

I think they both have their place and purpose but for what I’m currently using it for, I like the gloss.  I’ll make another “Click-it” bag as soon as I get those two Letty’s bags made. 

Whew, I’m tired just writing about everything going on so………off to work.

Enjoy,

Laminated My Own Cotton Fabric

At our last Two Wacky Women retreat, Bonnie showed me a cosmetic bag that she had made using a laminating material that she bought at JoAnn’s.  Last week Marilyn and I were out and we stopped at one of our local JoAnn’s and I found it so I bought some to try.   Finally, yesterday I tried it out and here is the “Click-it” bag I made. 

The outside is an old Alexander Henry fabric that I left just plain cotton. 

Here is the inside where I used the laminate.  It was easy to use.  Not nearly as nice as the new laminated fabrics that are starting to pop up everywhere, but it’s OK and definitely makes the fabric water resistant. 

Mine came on a bolt and I found it with the interfacing and fusible fleece (near the cutting table). 

Just like the interfacing and fleece, it has the instructions printed on plastic that is wrap with the product. 

I will no doubt us it again but probably not on the outside.  It’s a little wrinkly and slightly dull (not as shiny as I’d like), but I still like it. 

Enjoy,

Design Wall Monday–4/18/11

What was I thinking?  I actually put this old, very old UFO on my guild challenge list.  It must be at least 9 or 10 years old.  There are only 8 blocks so I’m thinking about turning it into a table runner and will probably un-sew some of the blocks so that I can use them as set-in triangles.   This one is due in June, but with everything going on, its going to be here before I know it. 

Wish me luck.  Check out Judy’s Patchwork Times Blog to see what others are working on. 

Enjoy,