Quilt Show Day 1

If you're reading this on Sunday - I'm on a plane to California to visit my kids. While I'm gone, I've set up posts for the next 2 weeks so you can see all the beautiful quilt tops that were completed on this year's retreat. Eleven quilters and 26 quilt tops! Enjoy the show!!

"Gypsy Girl"

"Short Story" from the Schnibbles book (done by me)

"All Wrapped Up" using Freebird by Momo (also done by me!)
Cute Snowmen!

"Sweet Pea", pattern by Heather Mulder Peterson.

Read More

Winner! and More!

Thank you to all who left a comment! It seems like everyone loves precuts for the variety of fabrics and ...well, the fact that they're "pre-cut". I wish I could send everybody a book! The winner, chosen at random is Hillbilly Handiworks! Send me your address and I'll get the book out to you right away!

The night before retreat, I finished the binding on this wall hanging.

When I got home, this was at my door step!

There's always a little fabric shopping to and from retreat. I picked up a little Riley Blake Christmas.

Some teals and browns.

Some fun "Halloweeny"fabric.
Over 20 quilt tops were completed by our group on retreat this time. Stay tuned - there's a virtual quilt show coming!!

Read More

Off Again!

My bags are packed and I'm off to a quilting retreat again this week! Though it will be hot outside, we'll be buzzing away on our machines in the cool AC. Can't wait!

I've got 3 major projects. Two from the new Schnibbles book. A little Short Story using "Fandango". Just happens to fulfill my Year of Schnibbles for August, too! Another quilt from the book using Kate Spain's "12 Days of Christmas".

And this fun quilt - All Wrapped Up, using "Freebird".
I'll be back Friday with a winner and lots of pictures!

Read More

My "Slushie" and a Give away!

I've hinted about this quilt and give-away recently. Well, it's finally finished - slowed down by a couple of yards of missing thread!

The fabric line is "Hunky Dory". The pattern "Slushie" from A Baker's Dozen, written and published by Martingale and Company.

I just love how the design used a wide border around each of the alternate blocks. With this awesome floral to work with, the blocks look like matted and framed pieces of art.

I did lots of custom quilting!

A Baker's Dozen is filled with great projects using popular pre-cuts. You may think there are 13 projects, but no, these nice bakers give you 14! All beautiful! And the generous people at Martingale donated a book for me to give away. Just leave a comment - maybe you can let me know why you like to use pre-cuts. I'll draw a winner next Friday Aug. 13th. It may be your lucky day!

Read More

To Do List

160 Flying Geese - Oh My!

Come up with the perfect project for Meadow Sweet 2...

Wait for more thread to quilt 12" of this border to finish this quilt and offer a give away.

A little experimental machine quilting...

Follow in Shannon's footsteps and make some of these blocks!

Read More

Joy Luck Schnibbles

My Year of Schnibbles quilt, Joy Luck, is done and quilted! I love, love, love this pattern. It's a variation of a coin quilt with a little twist. A bit tedious sewing 4 little squares to each of those rectangles, but quilting is sometimes (many times) tedious. I read that someone in the group got her whole family to help with the pressing and the trimming. Why didn't I think of that?

Here's a close up of the quilting. I really like how the border came out. I did just 3 wavy lines - unmarked - and it was easy-peasy.

Most of the fabric is from Hunky Dory. I used one of the big prints on the back and just love this print. Makes it a reversible little table topper.

A peek at our hummingbird population - lots of them! We have one red throated male who sits on the hook and guards the feeder for himself. This poor little bird is trying to get a snack while he's away. Better make it quick!

Read More

Paperweight

A pattern I picked up from Aardvark Quilts called Paperweight. It's my latest attempt at some more modern looking designs using more modern looking fabric. This quilt had 2 of my least favorite techniques. Cutting with templates and set-in pieces.

I never cut with templates (I know, I should never say never). I make the template, and find a ruler that has the same angles as the template.

Then I use a glue stick to glue the template to the back of the ruler and cut away! Here's the 45 degree angle,

And the 90 degree angle.

The pattern had you piece each of the hexagons then set in the background shapes. Instead I was able to make square blocks by splitting the octagons in quarters.
And the air is back on! Hallelujah! Still too hot to be outside. I'm finishing up my machine quilting project this weekend. Come back next week to see it - and for a give-away. Have a cool weekend!!

Read More