Christmas in July

In October I will be teaching "Christmas in July" a 3-D Christmas tree wall hanging. The class is being offered by Seashore Quilters Guild in Los Alamitos, CA.

Robin

This and That

Sometime back I made the decision to let my website go. In many ways I miss it but the cost just didn't justify it. So I decided to revise my old Blog and see what I can do to make it work for me and maybe you.

It has been a very long time since I've updated my blog. Much has happened but I believe the time has come for me to rejoin the quilting community and peresue what I love. Stay tuned, hopefully more to come soon. Robin

Pretty in Pink

Last summer I taught a new tutorial of mine to a group of friends in Las Vegas.  I called it All Roads Lead to Las Vegas.  I then taught it to a group of friends at a Big Bear Retreat and called it All Roads Lead to Big Bear.  While in Big Bear I started working on this quilt using a layer cake of Kaffe Fassett fabrics that are primarily pinks or in the pink family. 

I finished it while at a retreat in Temecula (maybe that makes it All Roads Lead to Temecula?).  Vivs at Bears quilt shop added the quilting for me and this week I completed the quilt by adding the binding. 

Here’s is my original sample, a giant floor pillow.

I love them both.  I just may need to make another one.  Maybe queen size next time. 

Enjoy,

Christmas Placemats

My friend Pat and her husband Jim deliver Meals on Wheels once a week.  Several of us thought it would be really nice if we made Christmas placements that can be delivered to some of their meal recipients. 

I decided to make 4 of them and here they are. 

I used a simple stitch and flip method so I didn't have to add any additional quilting. I also used my faux piping binding to finish them.  I think they came our really cute and hope they bring a smile to others. 

Enjoy,

Fabric Bouquet - Block 8 - Pat Sloan

It's that time again.  Time to post my week 8 block.

I like this one even though it's a whole bunch of half square triangles. 

Now it's time to get back to cleaning my sewing room.

Enjoy,

Catching up - Pat Sloan Fabric Bouquet

For some reason blogging has gotten away from me.  I’m not sure where I left of but this is an attempt to get caught up.
 
Pat recently released 2 different layouts for her block of the week “Flower Bouquet”.  Since she shared how to sew the 1st 5 weeks together (1/4th of the quilt), I decided to do just that.  Here it is.

I have so much fun working on this every week.  Thank you Pat Sloan for all you share with us.

Enjoy,

2/16/18–Test Blog Post

I’m having a problem posting my current blog post.  Sorry for the test blog. 

Robin

Design Wall Monday–January 14, 2019

As I’ve mentioned before, I am participating in Pat Sloan’s block of the week which comes out every Wednesday.  While poking around her website I spent some time looking at her block of the month “Out of this World”,  It just started the beginning of January and looks like a lot of fun.  I’m not 100% sure I will do the entire BOM but I decided to make the first block.It’s a nice big 16” block.  I’m thinking I will try to use the bright floral throughout the year in each block, but we will see.

Have a great week.  It’s raining here and is suppose to continue off and on all week.  For those of us in Southern California this is very unusual.  We need the rain but we are terrible drivers in it. 

Stay safe.

Enjoy,

And Now For The Hard Part

I mentioned the other day that a request (one that I couldn’t say no to) was made of me to make a flannel rag quilt using Day of the Dead fabric.  After searching the internet and my local fabric store (M & L), I realized if Day of the Dead flannel exists it’s doing a very good job of hiding.  So it was time to go to plan “B” (remember this is one I can’t say no to). 

What is plan “B” you ask?  I have lots of Day of the Dead regular cotton fabric so I decided to put it on one side.  The back of it is black flannel and then each square has a colored piece of flannel as the middle layer that will hopefully show better once it’s clipped, washed and dried.  The blocks are cut at 10” but using 1/2” seams they should measure 9” before it is washed and dried.  Who knows how much it will shrink up but it’s starting out 72” x 90”.  Nice and big to nap on the couch with while snuggling with the doggies.

Tonight is family dinner night, guess what we’re doing after we eat…………..clip, clip, clip, the hard part. 

Enjoy,

Block 1–Pat Sloan’s Block of the Week–Flower Bouquet

If you’re a fan of Pat Sloan you probably already know about her new block of the week that just started this last Wednesday. 

I’m not sure I love my fabric but I made my first block anyway. 

You can check out Pat’s instructions here. 

Enjoy,

Welcome–2019–I’m looking forward to fun and hard work!

This year my sewing room is going to be shown as part of the Orange Grove Quilter’s Guild quilt room tour and luncheon  I am looking forward to a fantastic year of being creative but because I’m just a little (or a lot messy), I have my work cut out for me.  Hopefully, everyday I can make a small dent in getting it presentable. 

Of course while this happens, several things are on my list that I really need to get accomplished.  First things first.  My step daughter recently got married.  Although they have been together for 11 years they surprised us with getting married suddenly a few weeks ago.  So of course I need to make them a wedding quilt.  I’ve started it but it will take me a while.  The plan is a double wedding ring (sort of) using the Metro Ring pattern along with their curved ruler. 

But, isn’t there always a but?  In the mean time I they want an old fashioned flannel rag quilt with Day of the Dead fabric.  Sounds simple enough except for the life of me I can not find flannel Day of the Dead fabric.  So my backup plan is to use regular cotton Day of the Dead fabric along with a bright colored flannel in the center and black on the back.  Thank goodness my entire family will help with the clipping but in the mean time I am sewing away. 

Have a great year and stay with me for the journey of cleaning my messy sewing room.

Enjoy,

P.S.  I have until June 22 to get ready for the tour.  Wish me luck and send prayers and empty boxes!

Am I seeing double???

As usual on a quiet Sunday morning I am sitting here checking my email and visiting Facebook to see what everyone is up to.  Today is tamale making day at my house so it’s about to get crazy.  Yesterday was tamale making day for my cousins in San Diego and of course they posted pictures. 

So why am I seeing double???

This is a quilt that I have hanging on my wall in my living room.  It was made by Frances Moore (I love Frances) and I purchased it during a quilt auction many years ago.  According to the label it was made back in 1999.  Every Christmas I pull it out and display it. 

So what a shock it was when I saw this picture on my cousin Stephanie Landa’s Facebook page this morning.

Now I bet you are seeing double. 

Enjoy,

Five of a Kind - 2018

A while back I shared the the 5 travel cases I made for the “Five of a Kind” Christmas gift exchange that I participate in each years.  Once again, here’s what I made. 

Today was the day for our exchange and luncheon.  Want to see what I received????? I did good.  I’m very pleased. 

Here we go.

First up, this darling little wall hanging made by Justine Gentile.  It will look great on my front door in February. 

Another wall hanging but this one is made from wool.  See that big bell on his hat?  This was made by Lynette Ashton.

A beautiful hand stitch eye glass case (or maybe a case for my rotary cutter) was made by Christi Kolisnyk.

Pat Adair made this wonderful wall hanging to celebrate St. Patrick’s day.  This one may be a little large for my front door but I will definitely find a place to hang it in March.  Love the label Pat. 

Last but certainly not least is a candle holder with a battery operated candle.  Nancy Post made this using the bottom of clay pots for the base and the top told.  I guess she glued them in place before painting the entire this.  It is really well made. 

I guess that it until next year.  I’ll start thinking about that after we get through the holidays. 

Enjoy, 

Design Wall Monday – December 3, 2019

It’s been a while since I’ve posted a picture of my design wall but here it is, a Poinsettia for my front door.  

I am getting ready to make a queen size quilt using curved piecing so I though this was a nice way to practice.  This is a free pattern available on the Sew Kind of Wonderful blog using their Quick Curve Ruler. 

I still need to add the binding before I can hang it on my front door and hopefully that will happen today.

Enjoy,

Five of a Kind - 2018

I am part of a group of 12 women that celebrate a Christmas gift exchange each year.  Instead of making 12 gifts, we each make fivK, hence the name Five of a kind.  This year I’ve made travel cases.  I started with a pattern by P3 Designs and made a few minor changes.  I changed the size slightly and added the hexies, triangle thread catchers and little pin cushions that can Velcro to the front when the case is open. 

Of course I had to make a sample for myself.  Here’s mine all loaded up.  Everyone won’t get all the goodies like mine, they will have to add their own supplies, but I did include the small cutting mat and a small ruler. 

The little triangle thread catcher folds flat so it can be tucked inside along with the little pin cushion. 

I  love mine and I hope the five that receive one like it too.  The exchange is on Friday the December 7th.  I’ll share the five gift I receive after that 

Enjoy,

Sweet Lily–Becomes a Wedding Quilt

I just put the finishing touches on this quilt.  It’s been waiting for the binding to get added and I finally finished sewing it on this morning. 

This was a kit I purchased quite a while back from Quiltique in Henderson, NV.  At the time I didn’t have a plan for it but as it turns out I think it is a perfect wedding gift.  I was told they like neutrals with just a little bit of color added so I think this works. 

Here’s a close-up so that you can maybe see the color. 

Soft but pretty I think. It has wool batting so the quilting really shows up nicely.   Here’s the label that Bear’s Quilt Shop added for me and as always they did a wonderful job quilting it for me. 

As you can see the wedding is next weekend.  It is being held at a Vineyard out in Temecula, CA.  We are really looking forward to going. 

Until next time,

Enjoy,

Retreat Quilt

I just got home from another wonderful retreat at Vina de Lestonnac, a retreat center in Temecula, CA.  I have been fortunate to stay two times in the same sleeping room and it is one of rooms that has quilts on the beds.  I fell in love with this quilt the last time I stayed in the room and again this time. 

It is twin size and has very thin batting in it.  It is quilted with an all over meander that is fairly small.  I’m sure it’s been washed many, many time and it is extremely soft and comfy.  I have no idea who made it and if it’s an actual pattern but it’s easy enough to duplicate.  I checked for a label but unfortunately I didn’t see any indication of who made it. 

I’m pretty sure I see this one in my future, I just love it.  I may change up a few of the blocks but I love that they are set on point and how the border sets it off. 

Enjoy,

Design Wall Monday–September 3, 2018

Nothing new on the old design wall but I did finish another new skirt.

I’m slowing getting rid of some of my old skirts and replacing them with new.  It’s fun and a quick and easy project. 

I’d like to get a quilt top layered so that I can start quilting it.  We’ll see maybe it will happen over the next few days.

In the mean time…………………….

Enjoy,

My Yellow Skirt

I’ve been wanting to make a “retro” looking yellow skirt for a while.  I thought the fabric would be easy to find........not!  I finally found this one and only fabric at M & L.  Fortunately it was exactly what I was looking for.  I’ve had it cut out for a while but finally sat down and sewed it together this morning.     Enjoy,