shellys quilts

Good News!

2011-07-22T14:12:00.000-07:00

My Tuscan Vines quilt has been accepeted into the Houston IQF show. Yipee!

Have a great weekend and Happy quilting!

What is wrong with this picture?

2011-07-03T13:19:00.001-07:00

What is wrong with this picture?

Half-square Triangle Weekend

2011-06-11T13:55:00.000-07:00

Half-square triangles make my skirt fly up! I luv em!
Happy sewing!

Teacher Gift

2011-06-03T13:19:00.000-07:00

It is the last day of school and this is the gift my daugher gave her teacher. Thanks for a great year Mrs. Miller. You ROCK!

And So It Begins

2011-05-20T13:59:00.000-07:00

And so it begins, or at least it continues. I started this little tree block in New York when I went to visit Victoria.

Didn't it turn out cute? It is based on this block from an antique quilt Victoria bought in Houston two years ago.

And yes I was with her when she bought it. I have always LOVED this quilt. I thought about how to "accidentally" pack it in my bag to come home with me. But truthfully, I love V more than I love this quilt and I can just make myself one. So I am!!!

Have a great weekend and Happy Sewing!

My New York Trip

2011-05-04T15:17:00.000-07:00

After getting up well before the crack of dawn and then nearly missing my flight on Friday morning (my flight left Austin at 6:30 am and I was the last one to board after 6:15 am), I did make it to New York to see my fabulous friend Victoria. We had a great time!!!

We ate fabulous food,saw an amazing play,shopped at the City Quilter, laughed so hard we nearly wet out pants on the street (and not one person passing by blinked an eye at us!). Rumor has it, we were laughing like this because I had accidentally grabbed her boob. Well, I did! And I gotta tell ya it ain't that big!

We even managed to get a little sewing in. Yipee!

Have no doubts that Victoria is absolutely the "Hostess with the Mostess"! And if she ever invites you to New York City, you are gonna what to say yes! However, just keep one thing in mind, that guest bed at her house has my name on it!
Thank you V for a truly amazing time!
I'm looking forward to your visit to Texas in the fall!

Quilter's Rorschach

2011-04-25T12:15:00.000-07:00

When you see this, what do you think of?

Do you see this?

Or this?

Me? I see tulips!

The sight of this makes my friend V salivate (and I mean girlfriend drools like a teething baby!)

The possibilities are endless!

Happy sewing!

5 Little Trees

2011-04-21T14:27:00.000-07:00

My 5 little Trees of Life are done! It sure does feel good to finish a project! And I am so happy about the way they turned out.

The quilting looks GREAT! (If I do say so myself, which of course, I do!)

And know they are ready to go off to their new homes.

I wish you all a good holiday weekend and Happy Finishing!

I'M BACK!

2011-04-18T13:56:00.000-07:00

Hello friends! Contrary to popular opinion, I have NOT fallen off the face of the earth. Almost but not quite! However, my life (after completely falling apart) is so different now. First of all, after 15 years of marriage (and more years than that together), two children, one dog and a life, my husband and I have gotten a divorce. NOT A BAD THING AT ALL. It is however different and I have had an adjustment period, to say the least. In the 11 years that I have been quilting this is the very first significant break I have taken from it. I had definitely lost my MOJO. But as the phoenix rose from the ashes, I am doing better than I have in a long time. My kids are doing much better since I am happier. And I recently started quilting again! And it feels GOOD!

I started these little trees, 5 of them, before Christmas but I just couldn't get them finished, until this past weekend. They look great and I'll post more pictures when I get the other bindings finished. (Hopefully while I'm watching Dancing With the Stars tonight.)

And, of course, I have pieced the backs! Hey, I may have undergone some major life changes but I'm still me and I LOVE a pieced back!

Happy sewing, my friends!

Merry Christmas Quilting

2010-12-23T14:31:00.000-08:00

My Christmas tree!

A Little Saturday Sewing

2010-12-18T11:44:00.000-08:00

Too Cold to Run

2010-12-17T09:06:00.001-08:00

What do you do when it is too cold to run? Why sew scraps, of course! I got up and got ready for my day and had an extra hour this morning that I spent with myself, my sewing machine and my beloved batik scraps. A great way to start a Friday! I highly recommend it!

I hope you get to spend some time communing with your sewing machine today!

Happy Sewing indeed!

My Tulip is Quilted

2010-12-09T15:27:00.001-08:00

My scrappy tulip block is quilted! Doesn't it look cute? And ya gotta luv a striped binding!

I heavily quilted the red background with a hot pink thread for texture and a little bit of contrast.

I hope my friend likes it! She is getting it tonight!
Happy quilting!

Ichy Sewing Fingers

2010-12-08T12:05:00.000-08:00

Hello! I am alive and well out in my real life and I have had some itchy sewing fingers! What's a girl to do? Start sewing that's what! I zipped this little thing together last night.
The truth is I've been wanting to make one of these Scrappy Tulip quilts for a long time. I have seen several of these out in blogland. LeeAnn at Nifty quilts has made a cute one! Girlfriend used a red polka dot, isn't she sassy? This little block is being made as a gift for a friend but I do intend to make a lot more of these blocks so I can make a quilt for my bed.

And guess what I'll be doing tonight! Happy sewing!

Oh Yeah, My Quilt is Here Too!

2010-11-05T19:07:00.000-07:00

I almost forgot! My red quilt is here too!

We're Here!

2010-11-05T18:29:00.000-07:00

Victoria and Shelly and I are here in Houston at the "Big Show". If you see us, come say "hi"! We've already talked to quite a few quilters and it has been fun! Hey Roseanne, you rocked! Happy quilt showing!

A Pretty Pink Quilt

2010-10-30T12:49:00.000-07:00

Finally a finish! To say I have under gone some life changes is an absolute understatement! And as a result I have not had much time to sew. However, I did finally get this cute little pink quilt finished. (And not a minute too soon. I the tiny recipient was born in Dallas, Texas a week ago.) Yipee!

And of course, I pieced the back!
It felt really good to be sewing again. After taking an unintended breather, (Your life falling apart usually makes that happen)I'm back to sewing my brains out whenever possible.

And more exciting news? My girlfriend, Miss V,Is coming to Austin on Wednesday. We are going to Houston for the BIG SHOW on Friday. (Yes, that's right 5 days of quilt stuff together! Yipee!!!) So if you see two tall women (I'm 5'8 and she is 6 ft) with short hair at the quilt show in Houston, it could very well be us. So, come say "HI"! We'd luv to visit ya!
Happy sewing!!!

Another Wednesday

2010-09-15T09:10:00.000-07:00

The top is finished. Yeah! Crazy busy with not time to quilt. Rats! Going to try to steal a few moments here and there. Yeah! I've got a plan!
Happy quilting however you can manage!

Happy Labor Day

2010-09-06T08:20:00.001-07:00

Happy Labor Day! Can you believe it is September already? My kids have been in school for two weeks already and I still am amazed at how time flies. It has been crazy busy here (both good and bad crazy) and I can't believe how long it has been since I have posted. I may not have been posting but I have found the time to squeeze a little sewing in. Hallaleulia!!
I started out with a few strips.

Put them together.

Then put an inner border on it. It's getting cuter isn't it! I'll border it today (something pieced of course.) And then it will be ready to be quilted.
What a great way to spend a Monday! Happy quilting!

HAPPY FRIDAY!

2010-08-20T06:39:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday, indeed! Why so happy? I have an abundance of reasons today and I'll start in not particular order. First of all, this is the last Friday before school starts. Yipee! My little angels will be in school bright and early on Monday morning! Hallaleulia!! I am going on a "soul retreat" this weekend and I'm so, so, so looking forward to it!! Yipee!(again) And lastly, I finished my summer crochet project. I sewed the flowers on last night. This bag is HUGE! (It reminds me of a giant pair of granny panties. You know what I'm talking about, a pair of panties that are so big they just make you giggle.) I got the pattern from Lucy at attic 24. I don't know why mine is so huge (could it be because I used cotton yarn?) but I don't care, I LUV it!

And because I like the rhythm of crochet I made this little cutie too. I had some yarn left over and this was fast and easy. I glued a pin on the back and it makes a cute brooch! (I'm thinking these would make great teacher gifts!)

And last but certainly not least, I have NOT given up my obsession. This is the back of a little something I'm made for Amanda Jean. I know I've said this before, but I LUV a pieced back.
Have a fabulous weekend and happy sewing!!!

A Friday Finish

2010-08-13T06:53:00.000-07:00

I actually had this quilt finished earlier this week but have had no time to post. It has been a very busy but very good week! So in celebration of a good week and an even better weekend to come, here it is! Tuscan Leaves. If you are in Austin, Texas the weekend of September 17, 18 and 19, you can see this quilt in person. It will be hanging in the Austin Area Quilt Guild Show. It will be a great show!

And of course, I pieced the back! How could I not? I LOVE a pieced back! It just makes my skirt fly up!!!
Have a great weekend and happy quilting!

Radiant Tree of Life

2010-08-08T06:21:00.001-07:00

It has been a crazy-busy week here. In the middle of it all, I managed to zip up this little cutie. It is made totally from my scraps (a recurring theme in my life and definitely not a bad one.) It is a Radiant Tree of Life, made to go in a silent auction that benefits an organization I'm involved in in Austin, Tx.

Didn't it tun out CUTE! And guess what? It ended up going home with my friend Doug and his amazing wife, Allison. (Doug is the person who inspired this little piece.) Isn't that FABULOUS! Enjoy, my friends!

I hope something or someone inspires you today! Happy sewing!

Dresden Plate, A Class Sample

2010-07-29T13:41:00.001-07:00

I've been thinking about what class I'd really like to teach this fall at Sew Much More in Austin, and I decided to make a Dresden plate. They are so much fun and really not that difficult. First, pick your fabric.

Next, put it together. Not sure? Come take my class!

Once it is together, there's nothing to be done but to quilt the dog out of it!

Doesn't it look good!!! Just looking at it makes me so happy! Quilting is awesome!

My leaves have veins

2010-07-17T14:44:00.001-07:00

All my leaves have veins! Halla-freakin-leulia!! (Yes, that is a word in Texas.) Yes, I know there is something very wrong with a person that would cut-out 300 leaves, machine applique' them down, quilt around them and then put veins on them. But don't they look GOOD?!! Yipee!!!

Now this quilt just needs a binding. But not today.

Cause we are headed to the pool! It is 99 degrees here today. Happy Quilting!!!!!

A Confession

2010-07-14T14:02:00.000-07:00

Okay, I've done it. I've cheated on my obsession. That's right, I've been making granny squares. After being inspired by Lucy at www.attic24.typepad.com I had to make some. Have you been to her blog? Girlfriend has a way with color that makes my skirt fly up! I have to say, once I got the hang of it, I can see the appeal of crocheting. It can be relaxing, plus you can do it at the pool while the kids are swimming. (And don't worry about that about those folks that are staring at you while you are crocheting at a pool. They don't think you are a FREAK at all. They wish they could do what you are doing.)
But don't think I have given up quilting.
No, no, never! I'm still plugging away at this quilt.

I'll have a bigger picture and more to say in a few days. For now, I can say, it is almost done! Hallaleuia!!!!!

Happy sewing!

Red, White, and Blue

2010-07-04T11:14:00.001-07:00

Happy 4th of July!

Machine quilting, Fifteen Minutes and More Retreat Musings

2010-06-26T09:26:00.000-07:00

Halfway through machine appliqueing 300 leaves it occurred to me that I would have to quilt around each of these leaves. Actually, my thought was, "Holy smokes! What WAS I thinking?"

However, I am now almost at the halfway point of having quilted around them and they are looking GOOD! Yipee!

I have been managing to get a little 15 minutes of sewing in. So that this pile of scraps is becoming these.

Aren't they looking good? I plan to make one of those string appliqued tulip quilts from these. I'm thinking ahead.
At our retreat, one of our discussions was about how far 15 minutes of play could take you (both creatively and just for getting something finished). I have done this before and it is addictive! Try it! Sometimes it is hard to stop!

I also had a few more tidbits about our retreat that you may not know. Rene' had the cutest pajamas you have ever seen (and she snores.) Amanda Jean sometimes buys and uses JoAnne's solid white instead of Kona. And Grubers quilt store in St Cloud, Mn will probably have sold more fabric in June than ever before, simply because Doris and Toni did some "serious" fabric shopping.
Happy sewing and enjoy your 15 minutes this weekend!

Home Again

2010-06-23T13:40:00.001-07:00

I'm back from retreat and to say it was wonderful is an understatement. It was beyond FABULOUS! We sewed alot, talked alot and laughed a whole lot! The most fun you can have with your clothes on! I met some amazing women. I hope I can do them justice with my descriptions.

First of all, there were Toni and Doris. These two ladies come from one of the "I" states and they are NUTS! (Luv y'all mean it!) You don't want to get in between these ladies and fabric. It won't be pretty. However, don't worry, you will hear them before you see them.
Next,was Terri. She makes beautiful bags and the woman is another serious fabric shopper. If you meet her in "real life", check out her purse, you will be impressed!
And then there is Rene', she is a lovely, lovely person. She was also the only other southerner at this retreat (which was a good thing, because although we were all speaking English, there are somethings that need translation.)
Next is Shelly. She is a genuine cowgirl and she has a cowboy named Scott and a pair of pink cowboy boots to prove it!
And then there was Mary. Mary has a pretty new grandbaby and the pictures in her purse to prove it, too! Mary's sister lives near me and when Mary comes to Texas I'm taking her to my guild for show and tell. Yipee!
And then there wasAndrea. Andrea is a beautiful, sweet Mormon girl and she is a "sick ticket". If you see her on the street, ask her what Pilates can do for you. She is also a good quilter on her way to being a great quilter and I can't wait to see what she produces on her journey.
And then we had the amazing Amanda Jean. Do you want to know if she is really crazy? She is! Hey Amanda, you know I think you rock! I can't wait to see what you do with your batik scraps!
And last but certainly not least, was my fabulous friend Miss V. What can I say about her that I haven't said before? You are an amazing quilter, a wonderful friend and an incredible person and I sure am glad I know you! (Especially since you are the one that invited me on this trip.)
It was an incredible weekend, ladies and I can't wait to do it again next year!
Happy quilting!

Visiting the Border

2010-06-02T08:28:00.001-07:00

I spent Tuesday at the border. No, I didn't go to Mexico and I wasn't walking that thin border between sane and crazy. (Although I have been there a few times lately, but that is a story for another day.) I was putting a border on my quilt.

Looks good doesn't it?! And it will really look good once it is quilted! But first I have to go piece the back. (I can't help myself, I LOVE a pieced back!)

And lastly, do you like my new blog look? I have to thank my fabulous friend Miss V. Isn't she great! As if she didn't have enough to do. (Believe me!) Thanks Victoria, you know how much I appreciate you!

Know I gotta go piece a back. Happy sewing!

Musings of a TOTALLY Self-taught Machine Quilter

2010-05-28T09:01:00.000-07:00

Recently I have read a lot of commentary by quilters that are hesitant to quilt their quilts (for a number of reasons), and as a TOTALLY self-taught machine quilter I felt the compulsion to comment myself. Here are a few things I've learned in 10 years of machine quilting.

1. The ONLY way to get good at machine quilting is to quilt your quilts, both big and small.

2. Forget the notion that you will screw up the top by quilting it. If your top is folded on a shelf, it is not a quilt and you are not enjoying it.

3. Machine quilting is a process. You have to start somewhere. The first quilts you quilt will be just as important in your journey as the most recent. Ask a mountain climber which steps are the most important in climbing a mountain. The answer is it takes all the steps to get to the top.

4. Pin baste very close (every 3-4") and do your stitch in the ditch. Now you can take alot of the pins out and do your free-motion. After taking the pins out you quilt will be lighter and easier to maneuver.

5. Stitch in the ditch is the underwear of your quilt. It simply a foundation for you to come back and do the curvey, pretty stuff.

6. The middle of a big quilt is a bitch to quilt. (I can't lie you you.) However, once the middle is done and you move over just a little bit it gets a lot easier!

7. Ripping out stitches is just another part of the process. I have ripped stitches out of every top I've ever pieced and every quilt I have ever quilted. Sometimes it feels like you are ripping more stitches than you have sewn.

8. Managing your bulk is half the battle. Make sure you have a surface to the left of your machine that can hold all of you quilt. (A portable table is excellent for this.)

9. Tell that little voice in your head that tells you "you're not good enough" to GO AWAY!

10. Perfection is overrated. Good quality work is not.

11. Don't hunch your shoulders and BREATHE. Stick the girls out, you can't hunch your shoulders if the girls are out!

You can do this. Machine quilting is not rocket science but it is a skill that is learned. And it is not always easy but you CAN do this. It certainly isn't as hard as being up with a sick baby in the middle of the night when you have the flu yourself.

I have quilts on every wall and bed in my house and not all the quilting is great but I can appreciate each one for what it is. (Do you love that dirty faced, stinky little kid any less than the the sweet faced, scrubbed clean one you let run outside for "just a minute" right before you were leaving the house to go see relatives?)
Okay, it is not exactly the same thing but you get my drift.
So quilt your tops and do something amazing for yourself. And I guarantee after you quilt a king-sized quilt you will be doing the Rocky dance cause you will have accomplished something hard and wonderful!
Now, I'm stepping off my soap box to go sew my brains out! So, happy quilting!

Oh My Stars

2010-05-21T06:28:00.001-07:00

You know those quilts that just "have to come out"? Well this was one of "those" quilts for me. I was inspired by an exhibition of Amish quilts at the Houston Quilt show. I came upon a red quilt with scrappy stars and lots of quilted feathers and I was mesmerized. (Red, stars, feathers are all some of my favorite things!)

And when I quilted this quilt, I went really "went up" a level. So, if you have a quilt top that is something special to you but isn't quilted because you are afraid you will mess it up. Get that quilt out get it pin basted and quilt it! You may surprise yourself and do something FABULOUS!! Happy quilting!

A Pieced Back

2010-05-20T14:15:00.000-07:00

What's not to love about a pieced back? Makes my skirt fly up!

The Last 15 Minutes

2010-05-07T05:59:00.001-07:00

Here it is, 4 days of 15 minute sewing. It looks interesting and my scrap pile is now very small. This has been alot of fun! I can't wait to see what Victoria does to it next. (Trust me when I say she is salivating over this.)

Have a great weekend and happy sewing!

15 minutes, Day 3

2010-05-06T07:41:00.001-07:00

I'm on day 3 of my 15 minute sewing exercise. This is addictive. I just want to keep sewing. But I can't, don't have time. This little scrappy piece is coming right along, though. One more day of "15 minutes" and this little thing will go in the mail, where the fabulous V will do her thing! Yipee! Quilting does make my skirt fly up! Even if it is for just 15 minutes!

And look, my scrap pile is getting smaller. And that is definitely a good thing!
Happy sewing!

15 Minutes More

2010-05-05T07:31:00.000-07:00

15 minutes yesterday, 15 minutes this morning, 15 minutes tomorrow and then 15 minutes of sewing on Friday and this little piece, that is just a "found time" sewing project, will be sent to Miss V in New York, where she will give it her 15 minutes of fame.

And look my scrap pile is getting smaller!

Happy sewing!

15 Minutes

2010-05-04T09:14:00.001-07:00

Time, have you got any? Time seems to be in very short supply for me lately. I never seem to have enough of it. However, I've been inspired once again by my fabulous friend in New York. (Hey V. I know I've talked to already today and now I'm talking about you.) So with just 15 minutes to sew, I had this pile of little scraps.

Now I have this and a smaller pile of scraps that I'm going to sew on tomorrow for 15 minutes. Sure did make me want to sew longer. But, alas, had no time.
Happy 15 minutes of sewing!

Just Another Wordless Wednesday?

2010-04-28T05:49:00.001-07:00

Just a little pin basting going on here.

Happy quilting!

Blue Wednesday

2010-04-14T06:34:00.000-07:00

Blue quilts.

Blue toes.

Blue bonnet.

Happy Friday and Machine Applique

2010-04-09T05:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday! This week has flown by for me. Maybe because I've been doing alot of this, machine applique.

And this. Doesn't it look good!

Even the back looks good!

And a little sneek-peek of how this quilt is coming together.

Quilting does make my skirt fly up!
Have a great weekend and happy sewing!

In the middle of a conflict

2010-04-07T07:37:00.001-07:00

I've been in the middle of a conflict between my "real life" and my "quilting life". Guess which one has taken precedence. Yes, I can hear the collective gasp out there and if you are thinking, "How rude!", that is my sentiment, exactly.
Let me tell ya, no time to quilt and PMS are not a good mix! But I just kept telling myself, "This too shall pass." And guess what! It did! I found some time to quilt Sunday and Monday.

And Tuesday I had these little units laid out ready to be put together.

My last setting strip (of one inch squares) is together! Yipee!

Today, I'm fusing down leaves and getting some machine applique in. And I'm forgetting all about my hectic (last)week and that nasty PMS.
Isn't quilting fabulous!
Happy sewing!

A Fabulous Weekend

2010-03-22T06:58:00.000-07:00

The plan was to meet my girlfriend and her daughter in Dallas for the weekend and what happens? It snowed! It was very freaky!
However, it was a great weekend despite the fact that this is what we woke up to Sunday morning. Snow in Dallas, Tx in March! How did that happen? It doesn't snow in Texas in March, but it sure did. The good news is that it all melted by the afternoon.

Guess which one of us was prepared for the weather?

It was a great time! We shopped for fabric, ate Mexican food, laughed til we cried, let the kids run wild, and we even went to Target and bought some Liberty of London "stuff". It was great while it lasted! V, thanks for coming to visit and y'all have a great spring break!
Today, spring break is over and my kids are back in school and we are back to our "real" life. Time to cut this fabric up and sew something! Happy quilting!

Happy Weekend

2010-03-19T09:54:00.001-07:00

My bags are packed and I'm headed out for the weekend. Where am I going? I'm going to my mother's house in Dallas. And I'm meeting my friend, Victoria. We are planning on doing some fabric shopping, chit-chatting and good eating this weekend. Yipee!! I have a few things that I will be sending home with my friend. These cute little houses, made out of my Jennifer Paganelli scraps. Aren't they cute?!

I also have a little stack of "stuff" that I'm sending home with Victoria.
Isn't quilting fabulous?!

Almost Wordless Wednesday

2010-03-17T06:02:00.001-07:00

Finally, I have managed to get a "half-way decent" picture of my dresdan plate quilt. Not perfect, but the best picture I've managed so far. This quilt is my original design, it has more than 1,000 pieces, is 96" x 96". I got immense satisfaction standing in front of it this weekend. It looks GREAT!
I have posted a few more pictures from the show on flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/34225151@N08/
Happy quilting!

Sneek peak Monday

2010-03-08T10:44:00.000-08:00

Here is a little peak at my quilt that is leaving me very shortly to hang in the Dallas quilt show this coming weekend. I have never shown a picture of the entire quilt for the simple reason, that I can't get a decent picture of it for the life of me. I'm not sure if it is the lighting, the camera, the quilt or me. I have changed every variable except the quilt.
I usually do one "big" quilt a year and this was the quilt I made last year. It took me 9 months and has more that a thousand pieces. (It took me as long to make it as each of my children.) Funnily enough, it started because I wanted to make a dresden plate quilt. I am very glad it is done and I have some distance from it and am able to look at it with a different set of eyes. It does make my skirt fly up!
So, if you have an idea for a complex quilt, go for it! You might just surprise yourself and not only will you have a fabulous quilt but you will feel invincible!

Happy quilting!

It must be a sickness

2010-03-02T13:34:00.000-08:00

This must be a sickness! This obsession to cut up perfectly good fabric into little pieces and sew them back together. First I cut strips, then I sewed them together, and then I cut them into these little units, then I decided that instead of 3 squares across they really needed to be 4 squares across (with each square finishing at 1"). See I told you, it is a sickness!

And to make it worse, I still have three more piles of these to sew. I don't think any mental health professional who is not a quilter can truly understand this obsession.
The good news is that there are pink blossoms on my Japanese maple! Spring is really going to show up after all in Austin, Texas! It is truly GLORIOUS today!
So, I guess I'll go sew some more of my 1" square units together, because the only way to truly satisfy the "beast" (my nickname for my obsession) is to make quilts!
Happy quilting!

44 is FABULOUS!

2010-02-24T13:34:00.001-08:00

Today I'm 44. Don't get me wrong, the forties are fabulous but I look at that number and think, "Holy Smokes! How did I get to be that number?" By living my life, I guess.
Last year I posted a list of what I had learned in 43 years. This year I'm posting this picture of a quilt made by my great-grandmother. I come from women who sewed on both sides of my family and this is a picture of my roots. Grandma made string quilts from the scraps of all the things she made (curtains, tablecloths, aprons, shirts, dresses, pillows, you name it she sewed it.) My Mother calls the quilts the memories of her childhood. So thank you Grandma for the memories. What memories do you have sewn in patchwork? Happy memory-making!

An early birthday surprise

2010-02-22T07:13:00.001-08:00

Last Wednesday, my girlfriend Victoria called me to say she had just put something in the mail for me and I should be on the look out for it. She made it sound like it was just some fabric for a block exchange and a little something for my daughter. On Friday, as I was just about to leave town for the weekend, I checked the mail and low and behold look what I got! It is a little tile quilt in my one of my very favorite color combos! Isn't it darlin?! And that wasn't all she sent me. She made a really cool card and included some of her "killer" brownie mix (trust me when I say these brownies are FABULOUS) and she wrapped it in her quilt wrapping paper she didn't want to part with. Thank you so much Victoria! I can't tell you how much I appreciate you! I can't wait to see you next month! You are FABULOUS, my friend!

It was also a very good weekend for quilt book finds! Barnes and Noble, Half-priced Books and Paperbacks Plus, I made the rounds. It was great weekend!
Happy sewing!

Passing it on

2010-02-19T11:32:00.001-08:00

I don't know about the rest of y'all out there in blogland but a lot of "stuff" has come my way just because I'm the quilter in the family. This quilt top came my way along with a couple of others and some of the ugliest fabric you've ever seen and a bunch of yo-yos. The fabric went to the "free table" at my guild, the yo-yo's went to a friend that makes yo-yo's, and one of the quilt tops I quilted for my step-father for christmas a few years back. Another of the tops is a HUGE (120" x 120") string pieced top that I have plans for if I ever find myself without a project. (As if that will ever happen.) And then there is this top. What to do with it? Well, my girlfriend, who shall remain nameless (Hey V) likes what she calls "ugly tops" and this one surely qualifies. So before I send it to it's new home in New York City, I thought I'd take its picture, for postarities sake. So if you have a quilt top in the closet that you will NEVER do anything with, send on to someone who will. You never know, they may do something real cute with it (or maybe not), but you will have more room in your closet for new stuff! Happy sewing!

Snippets quilt again

2010-02-16T10:15:00.001-08:00

My blue Snippets quilt has a new home. I made it for my friend Heather, who is about to have a baby. I saw Heather last night and wanted to get her picture with the quilt but my camera batteries were out. And I'm pretty sure the next time I see her, she will have had her baby. She is very pregnant. The kind of pregnant where you can't see your feet pregnant. So in lieu of a very pregnant Heather, here is the Snippets quilt on my driveway. Good luck Heather, I'm sending you only good thoughts!

And Of course, I pieced the back! Happy sewing!

Making leaves

2010-02-11T05:59:00.000-08:00

One hundred twenty-five leaves made (and wonder-undered) and ready to go. One hundred seventy-five to go, but I'm out of wonder-under. So, a trip to The Quilt Store and I'm back in the leaf making mode. Happy quilting!

The Anatomy of a Process

2010-02-05T06:28:00.000-08:00

When I start a big project, this is how it happens. First, it starts with a rough sketch. (I have my sketch, but it is not photographing well.) Next comes picking the fabric. (This might be the most fun part!)

The first cutting and piecing starts. (I don't use alot of brown, but for this quilt I am.)

Next, I made bias. I need stems!

Pinned and ready for machine applique. My favorite way to machine applique is to use the buttonhole stitch on my machine and a varigated thread. Luv it!

Today, I'm spending the day with wonder-under. I'm making leaves! Yipee! Being in the "zone" is fabulous! Happy sewing!

Blocks that come back to you

2010-02-03T07:08:00.000-08:00

Beware of blocks that come back to you! I sent these little half-square triangle blocks to Victoria, because I frankly needed the little buggers gone from my life. (They where the kind of block that make you nuts.) What does my friend (and I use this term loosely) do? She calls me and says she is sending me something (and she doesn't say what it is) and I should do "whatever" with it. Am I game? ABSOLUTELY!

And this is what she sent me. It is really cute!

And this is what I'm sending her with a note that says "Tag, you're it!"
The quilt's in the mail, V!
Happy sewing!

Potholders and Snippets

2010-01-29T12:03:00.000-08:00

Since I'm still on this scrap kick, I zipped up these potholders with just some left over blocks and strips. The problem is they are too cute to use. (I'm still using my old ratty ones.) And since I really like the quilting stitch I used on these, I was anxious to do something larger that I could use this on. (I call it a funky zigzag. The other times I have seen this stitch it has always been done on a Bernina. Although I could very well be wrong.)

I put this Snippets quilt together last weekend and I thought it would be the perfect project for this funky zigzag quilting. While I think this kind of quilting is fine for this type of quilt, it is a little uniform form me. So, I will probably save the funky zigzag for my future potholders. (The next set I make won't be this cute so I won't want to not use them.) Happy quilting!

Ahhh, Monday

2010-01-25T09:51:00.001-08:00

Ahhh, It's just another Monday, or is it? I had every intention of sitting down to post this picture and talk about the mini sewing retreat I went on this weekend. Instead, the school nurse called me at 9:00 am this morning to tell me my son had thrown up and to ask me to come and get him. Absolutely! I went and picked him up, came home, got him settled on the couch. The phone rings again. The school nurse calling to tell me that my daughter had just come to her office complaining of a stomach ache. So, at 9:20 I was at the school signing her out. After I got back home and got her settled, I called my mother to tell her all about my morning and she just laughed and laughed like something was funny. So here I am making chicken noodle soup and jello and I'm hoping (probably against hope) that the little rascals haven't given their little stomach bug to me. Happy sewing!

Free piecing finish on a glorious day!

2010-01-21T13:15:00.000-08:00

It is a glorious day to be alive in Austin, Texas! Sunny, 74 degrees, and clear blue sky as far as the eye can see! Yipee!
A perfect day to show some free-piecing finishes. If you've got fingers that are itching to sew and no project in mind, pull out those scraps and make a little something.

And of course, I pieced the backs! Cause what's not to like about a pieced back?

Makes a cute table runner or wall hanging. And it eats up those scraps. Yeah!
Happy quilting!

Quilting while pondering quilting

2010-01-15T13:42:00.000-08:00

While sewing together these little stars today (from my scraps), I pondered a question I was asked earlier in the week. "What is "modern" quilting? Is it rectagular shapes and minimal pattern? Is it "free piecing? What about the intricate and innovative? And what about color and texture?
Jaquie @ Tallgrass is doing work that I would consider modern but she uses traditional blocks alot. What about Victoria? That Kitchen sink of hers is certainly funky but that type of quilt has been made before. I'm not saying Victoria isn't doing her own thing. She is! I've seen her in action in the flesh and she's awesome. And me? I may not have reinvented the wheel but I'm certainly rolling it down a road I paved myself. (And I'm singing my own song while I'm doin it!)
So, I guess "modern quilting" is really like pornography. You may not be able to "define" it, but you sure know it when you see it!
Happy quilting!

Quick and cute

2010-01-13T13:44:00.001-08:00

Isn't this the cutest table runner? And when I tell you how fast it went together, the cuteness factor will go up another notch or two. Monday, in between folding many loads of laundry, I pieced these log cabins (from scraps of course). Monday night I did a little stitch in the ditch quilting. Tuesday, in the hour I had free before I had to make dinner, I did a little free-motion quilting on it. After dinner was over I put the binding on and I tacked that binding down (by hand) while I was watching The Good Wife.
It is one of those pieces that just make me smile. And tomorrow I'm giving to my friend Ann (cause it looks like her and I luv and appreciate her).

And of course I pieced the back.
Happy quilting!

Brrrrrr! It's Cold!

2010-01-08T12:09:00.001-08:00

Brrr! I's stinkin cold outside! And if you want to complain about the cold, and you are in Austin, Tx, you might want to be careful who you complain to. For instance, if you are calling your friend up to tell her you are sending her something and the cold just happens to come up (Mostly cause you just can't comprehend how people live in this kind of cold) make sure she
A) doesn't live in New York City and B) isn't from Minnesota.
Not that she wasn't perfectly sympathetic and lovely, until she realized that it wasn't under zero degrees and there was no wind chill. She even asked me if we had coats here. (Of course we have coats here. Well, they are actually more like jackets.) The good thing about the cold is I've been home sewing all day. Yipee! There's always a silver lining! And the sun is out and it is above freezing! Double Yipee! (I know I sound whiny, but if it were a hundred degrees outside and I had a little patch of shade and a glass of iced tea, I wouldn't even break a sweat.) And because I adore my friend Victoria, I'm sending her all these little half-square triangles for her Kitchen sink quilt. (I'm also sending these cause I need them gone.) Now I think I'll go sew a little more.
Happy Quilting!

New Year, New Project

2010-01-05T13:46:00.001-08:00

There is something about the beginning of a new year that makes you want to start a new project. My first project of 2010 is another collaboration withVictoria. It will be our 5th. She sent me some fabric. I then added a few solids and made these blocks.

After trimming the triangles off the snowball blocks I sewed these little rascals together. And made these little blocks with the rest. Next, I'm sending these blocks to Victoria and they are hers to do with them what she wants. She will then send the top back to me and I'll quilt it.
Have you got a friend you like to sew with? Y'all divvie up some fabric, agree on a few basic guidelines and make something fun!
Happy quilting!

More Jennifer Paganelli quilting

2009-12-22T14:29:00.001-08:00

If you are thinking I can't get enough of this Jennifer Paganelli fabric, you are right. I had to make two baby quilts (both girls) and these JP fabrics lend themselves perfectly to that end. This quilt is the fraternal twin to the one I finished earlier this month. I cut enough star parts for two quilts at once and pieced all the stars at the same time. And although they are put together similarly, I had to do something a little differently the second time around. It sure did turn out cute. I had delusions of getting this quilted before Christmas (yes, I was definitely delusional or real drunk), but that didn't happen. But hey, there is always the week after Christmas. (Hope springs eternal here in Austin, Tx.) Merry quilting to you all! Me? I'm cleaning bathrooms, cause I got company coming.

The cutest teacher gifts, ever!

2009-12-18T10:56:00.001-08:00

Back in May, I made some cute teacher gifts. I thought they were pretty stinkin cute. However, I have made the absolute cutest teacher gifts in my own history of making stuff (and I've made alot of stuff). I, of course, started out with a quick little sketch, pulled some scraps and I had something going. (I so want to mention that the red solid was a remanent that I paid $.99 for, Yipee!)

I machine appliqued these babies up lickety-split! And it didn't take a hour to machine quilt both of them!

I there anything about quilting that doesn't just make your skirt fly up?
Merry Quilting and happy teacher gift making!

Counting my blessings

2009-12-13T08:49:00.000-08:00

I try and count my blessings every day and today I thought I would share a few of them. First on the list, sunny 70 degree weather. Yipee! It has been soupy and in the 40's for days (which would be fine if this were Seattle, but this is Austin, a place known for friendly people, live music, good mexican food and SUN!) Second on the list, a finished quilt. Quilted, bound and washed, it looks good!

Third, feathers. Luv em!!

And lastly, in my world a quilt is not a quilt if the back is not pieced. Oooh, what is not to luv about a pieced back?
Enjoy your blessings today and merry quilting!

Balance

2009-12-08T13:32:00.000-08:00

Life is all about balance and being out of balance makes it difficult to get everything done. I have been out of balance but I have taken steps to get back into balance. And hurray! I'm back with a post!
You didn't think I had completely given up quilting, did you? Absolutely not! I still found time to squeeze it in. One of the things I did as a stress reliever was what I like to call "itchy finger sewing". I made a quick sketch. (Didn't spend more that 2 minutes on it.) I then took some of my favorite (of the moment) scraps and came up with this little cutie!

I zipped this up in a few hours and then it took maybe an hour to machine quilt it. And it is CUTE!!

The scraps for this were made from leftovers from these stars.

That went to make this quilt. A baby quilt for a new baby girl.

Happy quilting!

More Machine quilting

2009-11-09T08:11:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it has been two weeks since I have posted. Yikes! I have had some stuff going on in my personal life and sewing has been hard to get to. (I have been sewing a little bit, I just can't seem to get anything finished in a timely manner.) This quilt is finally finished! The quilting looks good but I can't seem to take a decent picture to save my life. So for better or worse, here it is! Happy sewing!

Home from Houston

2009-10-21T07:15:00.001-07:00

The Houston Quilt Show is a spectacular show every year and this year was no exception. Especially since I got to see the show with Victoria. Funnily enough, this quilt was probably the favorite for both of us. (Great minds think alike.) The maker was Japanese (and I wish I had gotten her name) and it was spectacular! It had the look of an old hankerchief and the hand work was STUNNING. And although this is not necessarily the direction my work is going, I loved this quilt.

Two other quilts that literally stopped me in my tracks were very vibrant and colorful. What's not to like about a quilt that has movement and an "in your face" color palette? Makes my skirt fly up!

This quilt was made by Roberta Horton and hung in a special exhibit. In my opinion, this quilt was just about the best use of fabric I've ever seen. The design was really simple, the quilting was okay (it worked for this quilt but was nothing special), and the fabric did all the work. I LOVED this quilt!

And then there was this antique quilt. It hung in a special exhibit also. I loved this quilt!! (Hey V, how many times did I say I loved this quilt?) I love a quilt that looks like the maker had a great time making it. It made me smile. There's alot about quilting that does that to me.
Happy quilting to you!

My Process

2009-10-03T10:27:00.000-07:00

I'm working on a quilt that is absolutely not "me" and very much "me" at the same time. How can that be? It is the process, my friends. I work like this on almost every quilt I make, especially the bigger projects. It starts very often with a rough sketch on paper. (I have sketched on napkins, backs of envelopes and backs of greeting card.) This particular quilt is for my step-sister. It is much more structured but at the same time I tried to give it movement within the structure.

And then there is her color palette. She is an "Autumny" person. She likes the warm browns, golds, and greens. Not really the colors I work with alot, however when I went to put colors together, the ones I chose look like a collection I would put together. (Am I speaking Greek?)

And of course once this quilt started coming together, it looks like my work. And after I quilt the dog out of this top with some feathers, it will look like "me" but in a different direction. So if you are sewing today, do something that is not "you". It feels really good. Happy sewing!

My trip to New York

2009-09-28T06:50:00.000-07:00

I'm home from my trip to New York. I went to stay with Victoria and spend the weekend sewing. We had a fantastic time! Victoria is absolutely the "hostess with the mostess". So that being said I thought I'd share a few things about my friend that you may or may not know. First of all, she lives in a loft in New York City and it is incredible! Her husband, Micheal is also fabulous. He is very charming with a slight British accent and the man can tell a good story. They make a very cute couple. Victoria's daughter "B" is a great kid. She is smart, creative, interesting, beautiful and precocious, definitely her Momma's daughter.
And now for Victoria herself, she is tall, thin, and beautiful and as great as she looks on the outside she is even more fabulous on the inside. We had more fun than the law should allow. Andrea came over and we sewed and ate and chit-chatted and then we realized something was missing, shopping. So off we went to The City Quilter, where we each made a fabric purchase and then we went back to V's and sewed some more. (Definitely some of the most fun you can have with your clothes on.) And amid all this sewing we did manage tiny bit of sight seeing, (this was my first time in New York.) Here we are in Central Park. Don't we look like we're having fun?
Thank you again Victoria for a fabulous weekend. I'll see you in three weeks in Houston, my friend. Yipee!!!! Happy sewing!!!

Tara's crooked little house

2009-09-23T09:33:00.000-07:00

I'm packing my bags today, because tomorrow my machine and I are getting on an airplane and going to spend the weekend sewing with Victoria. I'm so excited my face hurts from smiling. We don't know what we are sewing but we are going to sew. Woo-hoo!!
I've had a lot of stuff to get done before this trip but I did manage to sew this cute little block for Tara. It is a little crooked house on a little crooked road. Hope you like it. It was alot of fun to make! So if you are looking for something fun to make try this little crooked house.
I gotta go finish packing. Happy sewing!!!

More flying geese

2009-09-14T07:11:00.001-07:00

My flying geese are quilted and bound and cute as all get out! The smaller one is for my girlfriend Kristee. We have been friends since before we could drive, over half our lives. Today is her birthday. Happy Birthday, Kris. I luv ya more than my Bernina, my friend! So, if you have some scraps laying around and you want to make something quick and cute, sewing a bunch of flying geese and put them together. It is small enough that you can quilt it without having to worry about managing your bulk. And since I love a pieced back, of course I piece my backs (with scraps of course.) Happy sewing!

Itchy fingers and flying geese

2009-09-02T14:56:00.001-07:00

Do you have fingers that are itching to sew but you don't have a specific project in mind? Try flying geese. All you need is a pile of scraps to start with. They cut very quickly and sew up lickety-split. Then the fun comes. The first one I like. The second needs more work. Still isn't there but I'm not done yet. It definitely has possibilities. Don't ya luv it when your project talks to you? I'm still having a conversation with this one. More to come on these geese. Happy sewing!

Doll quilt ready to go

2009-09-01T09:03:00.001-07:00

My Doll quilt is done and ready to be sent to its new home. I sure hope my swap partner likes it. I really tried to make something that was in line with her likes and still was very much me. I sure had a good time making it and it went together very easily. I pieced the back using some of the left-overs from making the top. I couldn't help myself, I had to make it a little funky. (I gotta be me, what can I say.)
And then last night after dinner was done I cut a few triangle, cause I have a "hankering" to make some flying geese. I'll have to see where this leads. I have no idea, but it sure is fun! Quilting makes my skirt fly up! Happy sewing!

Back to School

2009-08-25T05:36:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the first day of school and just look what I got done! It is amazing what you can get done when you don't have any children, "Momma, Momma, Momma-ing," you. I started out with an idea and some solids and this is what I came up with. It is freakin cute! Today I'm piecing the back and getting it pin basted so I can quilt some feathers on it. What's not to love about the first day of school? Happy quilting!

First Day of School

2009-08-24T13:55:00.000-07:00

Yipee! Today is the first day of school! My beautiful babies, scrubbed and shiny as new pennies, headed out the door and I gotta tell ya, I was glad to see the back of them. So what did I do to celebrate? Why sewed my brains out in between loads of laundry. I have to make a doll quilt for the doll quilt 7 swap. I have a whole bunch of solids and an idea in my head. (My inspiration is a Gwen Marston quilt.) That being said, my swap partner is not the lover of bright in your face color that I am, so I'm having to choose my colors a little differently. Normally, I like brights, mediums and darks with a few lights thrown in for movement. However, for this project I'm using lights and mediums with a few darks and brights thrown in. Funnily enough it doesn't feel as odd as I thought it would. And here is my first set of blocks. I have a few more sets to go. Happy sewing!

2009-08-19T11:47:00.000-07:00

I can't believe a haven't had time to post in so long but school starts here on Monday (THANK GOD!) and between wringing the last bit of summer out that we can and getting everything ready to go back to school, there just doesn't seem to be enough time in the day. However, on Monday my mailman brought me a happy surprise. I am participating in the Doll Quilt 7 Swap and my swap partner sent me this delightful little quilt. It is cute, cute, cute! Thank you so muchJodi. It is already hanging on a wall in my house. I also managed to put together these two blocks for Victoria for her Pixiedust quilt. (See her blog for details.) V , they are going out in the mail today. Happy sewing. Me? I can't wait til Monday!

Quilting the middle of a king size quilt

2009-07-31T09:38:00.000-07:00

The hardest part of quilting any quilt bigger than a throw is the middle and that is especially true of a king sized quilt. The middle is a bitch! However, once you get the very middle out of the way is does get a little easier. And after you've finished the middle part, and your forearms feel like Popeye's, and you lay it out on the bed to take a good look at it and it looks FREAKIN' GREAT, you can then jump up and down with glee cause you have just done something hard and you have done it well! Yipee! and Yehaw! Quilting makes my skirt fly up! Now I'm off to quilt some more. Happy Quilting!

What you do when it is 100 dgrees in Texas

2009-07-27T15:59:00.000-07:00

What do you do when it is 100 degrees in Texas? Why go camping of course! And before you jump to the conclusion that I am nuts, there were bunches of folks with the same idea. We definitely had adventures. The first thing that happened is there was a mix-up with our state park reservation and they had no campsites with electricity. All booked up. (Did I mention that it is a hundred degrees here?) So we thought we would head to River Rd in New Braunfels and surely find a place to stay. Nope, not a thing. Meanwhile, my brother is on his computer at home getting us phone numbers of camping sites so we don't have to stay in a hotel. The good news is we found a place near Canyon Lake and it was great! (We got there last site available and manager stayed late until we could get there.) We had a fabulous time! We had a group of 15 and 5 of them were teenaged girls, and they were all on their periods and believe it or not there was minimal drama. The big deal for my 7yr old daughter was the makeover my 17yr old niece gave her. She was all dolled up for floating down the river, and 4 hours later she still had plenty of makeup on despite the fact she had her face in the water much of the time. My big drama was leaving my wallet in my mother's car and not realizing it until the day after she left with it. So I headed home yesterday with no drivers license and not cash and no credit card. We made it home just fine. (I met my mother for lunch today so I have it back.) Today was devoted to mountains of laundry (how do I have mountains of laundry when we spent 4 days wearing swimsuits?), but tomorrow I am quilting! Yipee!

Quilt received!

2009-07-14T06:52:00.000-07:00

The mailman delivered Victoria's quilt yesterday so I can finally show the whole quilt without ruining the surprise. She sent me a bag of scraps and this is what I sent her back. I probably used too many of my own scraps in the construction but this quilt kept telling me it wanted to be green. So what could I do but make it green. When I went to quilt this little thing, I hadn't quilted anything in over a month and I was rusty. Imagine my surprise! Anyway, I have never quilted a quilt where I haven't ripped something out and this one wasn't any different. I hope she likes it. It sure was fun to do. So if you get a chance to sew with someone else's scraps, DO IT! You will be in for some surprises. Happy quilting!

Back in the Zone

2009-07-10T10:20:00.000-07:00

I'm back in the zone, baby. That is not to say I haven't been sewing, I just haven't been in sewing nirvana. How did I get here? Funnily enough, I cleaned out my sewing space. Who new a little cleaning would make me open my eyes this morning at 6:30 this morning with one thing in mind. Quilting this quilt. It has been folded up in the corner for a while waiting. So here is a little sampling of want I have been doing. Yipee and Yehaw! The zone feels fabulous!! My skirt is flying up!!!!

Spike in Austin

2009-07-07T12:37:00.000-07:00

Last night was the July meeting of the Austin Area Quilt Guild. Spike Gillespie was our guest speaker. She was witty and fabulous. She read from her book, "Quilty as Charged", told some funny stories, and showed some some quilts. You can't beat that combo with a stick. If you haven't read her book, she talks alot about the "counter-culture world" of quilters. Very well done. She has also quoted a lot a members of AAQG. My quote is on page 59. So if you are looking for some summer reading or are looking for a good speaker for your guild, give Spike a go. You won't be disappointed.
And in case you were wondering what I've been working on. The quilt in the background is a scrap swap that I owe Victoria@Bumblebeans. It will be off to her via the US mail tomorrow. Hope you like your sneek-peek V. Happy Quilting!

Happy Independence Day

2009-07-04T10:53:00.000-07:00

It's the 4th of July and the peach cobbler is out of the oven, the beer and Koolaid are packed in the ice chest and everyone in our family is dressed in red, white, and blue. We are off to celebrate with friends. Brisket, beer, homemade ice cream and kids with Sparklers, is there a better way to celebrate? Happy Independence Day!

Good things come in the mail

2009-06-19T08:43:00.000-07:00

The mailman brought me a wonderful surprise yesterday. Victoria @ Bumblebeans and I each put some scraps in a bag and exchanged them. The idea being to do "whatever" with the scraps we each received. I got this little cutie from her yesterday afternoon. Her machine quilting looks fabulous. Well done, V. Where is the one I owe her you ask? Not quite finished, however, I hope to have it done and in the mail next week.
I thought once school was out things would be a little less hectic around here. That has absolutely not been the case. But funnily enough I actually have some time today, so with that being the case I think I'll go sew! Yipee! Happy quilting.

School is out!

2009-06-05T11:30:00.000-07:00

Our last day of school is done! Yipee! And both of my little angels have matriculated. (Yes, you heard me call them angels. They are each in separate rooms doing their own things, apart. Not fighting.) My life has left very little time for sewing this week. The last week of school is busy! I would like to report that my teacher gifts were very well received. (Not that I thought that they wouldn't be, but everybody has their own taste.) The girls in my son's class were nuts about them. It has been a great day for all.
Since I haven't had any real time for quilting I thought I'd post a picture of a little wall hanging I did a few years ago. It is one of a series I did of flowers. I may have worked in a series but all three pieces were very different. I definitely need to do some more series work. (One more thing to add to my list this summer.) So happy summer vacation and happy quilting to all!

Teacher Bags

2009-05-30T09:32:00.000-07:00

My teacher gifts are finished. Yipee! I have been quilting for 9 1/2 years and I have made some really cute stuff (and not so cute), but I have to say these bag are just about cutest things I have ever made. They are so stinkin cute, they are off the cuteness chart!!! And they are made with just "stuff" I already had. Well, except for the buttons that I got yesterday for $3.79. Yipee and Yeehaw! And that my friends is what pushes them beyond fabulous. I made 4 bags. One for each of my two darlings teachers, one for myself and one for my friend Kristee's teacher. Kristee and I have been friends since before we could drive. That is over half our lives. Needless to say, we have buried some bones together. So when your one of your lifelong friends asks you if you would mind making her a teacher gift too, you say "Absolutely my friend, no problem." I am thrilled with how these bags turned out! Quilting makes my skirt fly up constantly!!! Happy Sewing!!!

Collaborative Improv # 2

2009-05-21T08:46:00.000-07:00

Yipee! It got here yesterday and it is CUTE! Victoria@Bumblebeans and I did this little improv swap, where we each quickly pieced a small top together (out of scraps) and then sent it to the other to do "whatever". This is what I sent her and just look at what she sent me back. It is darlin!!! Not only did she quilt the dog out of it. She HAND QUILTED the dog out of it! And she did it in about a week. I have been staring at it since I got it yesterday. Luv it, luv it, luv it! Thanks V, you rock!!!!! And since this has been so much fun, we have a little something, something to come. Yeah!!

Coming up roses

2009-05-20T11:29:00.000-07:00

It is that time of year again. The end of school is soon and I need teacher gifts. So in between all the non-quilting things I have had to do this week, I started putting together bags (with one for myself.) These are just body of the purses but I wanted show how cute these flowers were. I gotta tell ya, they are so stinkin' cute, they are off the cuteness chart!! These flowers are made from old t-shirts and I just cut up old blue jeans for the denium. (I don't want to tell how long I have been holding on to the jeans I cut up.) I'm going to line them with leftover fabric. So when I'm done, I'll have super cute purses made out of just "stuff" I had. Doesn't make me feel quite as bad that I haven't cleaned out my closet for a while.
I do want to add that I got the idea for these cute little flowers from Penny @ Sewtakeahike. She had a tutorial a little while ago. And after seeing it, I thought these flowers would be cute on a bag. And they are!! And alot of fun to make! Happy Sewing!

Red and White blocks

2009-05-13T15:41:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd give you a quick look at the red and white square-in-a-square blocks I zipped together for my block exchange. They were due this morning and I had them finished in plenty of time despite the fact I started cutting them up and sewing together on Mother's Day. A very good way to spend a Mother's day, I might add. The exchange was 14, four block sets (2 red and white, and 2 white and red.) Are you wondering where the blocks I received are? They are in a sack in the back of the closet, where they are going to stay until I get a) my big quilt finished and b) another little project I'm going to work on the summer going. In the mean time, they will be just fine living in the closet until their "time" comes. Happy quilting!

My Baby Boy is Ten

2009-05-12T04:39:00.000-07:00

Holy Smokes, time has flown. It just doesn't seem possible, but I'm the mother of a ten year old. Ten years since I went to the hospital and had him and my brother came to see us and and I let him hold my precious bundle you joy and he said, "Sister, you have had a nose with a baby underneath." And since my brother has been agrievating me all my life, I, of course, ignored him. Until a week and a half later, when the pictures arrived in the mail. Yikes!! I had a nose with a baby underneath! Hey coming out the birth canal is a rough ride. And by the time those pictures arrived he was perfect and beautiful. And as I look at this tall, skinny, goofy, freckled face kid I can still see that chubby little baby I bathed in the kitchen sink.
The very first quilt I made was for him. He still sleeps with it on his bed but he also sleeps under "the coolest quilt ever", a Texas flag quilt. Probably not the last quilt I will make him. So happy birthday, my darling boy, and happy gave birth day to me. Hey, I think that is appropriate after what my body went thru to have him, especially my bladder.

The eagle has landed

2009-05-11T12:21:00.000-07:00

Yipee! Victoria got her quilt today and she loved it! I really not sure which one of us is more excited! Anyway, here it is and it turned out cute!! Can you see her daughters hand and foot prints? That is bobbin work. Very easy to do and looks great! Quilting is an awesome thing!!!!

Sneek-peek Monday

2009-05-11T08:36:00.000-07:00

Victoria @ Bumblebeans and I are doing a little improv collaboration. Here is what she sent me with her blessing to do anything my heart desired to it. (She is FABULOUS!) And here is the sneek-peek I sent her yesterday. I could not help myself. It is the back of the finished quilt. I put this little cutie in the mail Friday, so hopefully she will get it today and I can show the finished "product" and a few steps in between. Happy quilting Monday!

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-10T14:20:00.000-07:00

What a fabulous day. First of all, I haven't cooked a meal. (And I'm not planning to.) I have spent my day cutting up fabric for a block exchange I'm doing in my Bee. Fifty-six red and white square in a square blocks are due on Wednesday morning. (I won't tell you how long I have had to get these babies together.) So, all the pieces are cut and there is still plenty of daylight and I don't have to cook dinner, so I'm thinking I'm gonna start sewing. Yehaw!

Show and Tell

2009-05-05T07:07:00.000-07:00

What is the best part of a quilt guild meeting? Why Show and Tell, of course. That is certainly true at the AAQG. At last nights meeting that was certainly true. I do want to add that I enjoyed the speaker as well. She wasn't doing what I'm doing, but I could certainly appreciate her work and let me be honest, I like anyone who can tell a good story.
My show and tell last night was my improv piece that I put together lickety-split. Here it is after it has been quilted (and washed to give it that drawn up look.) I liked this piece before I quilted it, but I gotta say the quilting has added so much texture that this piece is really singing now. Luv it, luv it, luv it! Quilting is awesome!

Matisse Inspired Improv Piece

2009-04-30T17:55:00.000-07:00

Last week Victoria@Bumblbeans proposed an improvisational challenge using a Matisse painting as the inspiration. She did hers very quickly (about 3 minutes?) making yes or no decisions instinctively. I work like this a lot, so of course I was absolutely interested. I decided that I would use only batik scraps I had left over from a previous project. So with that in mind, I studied the painting for a minute or two, put it away and then started putting together this top. It took about 2 hrs from the time I dumped my scraps out on my work table to the time I squared up this 25" x 20" top. And it is CUTE! And while I was doing my thing, my 7 year old daughter got the paints out and painted this picture. She does everything rainbow and has since she was 2 years old. How that came to be, I can't imagine. And as my mother would say, "She is quite obviously a double genius just like her Gran." Absolutely! Now my fingers are itching to machine quilt this little cutie! Happy quilting!

Pins

2009-04-28T10:55:00.000-07:00

How many pins does it take to pin baste a king size quilt? This is how many and I still have probably a hundred in the center. But the good news is the stitch in the ditch is done! Yipee and Yeehaw!!! Now I'm ready to do the fun stuff, which is the free-motion. Halla-freakin-lleuia!!! And as the icing on the cake, I see slivers of blue sky out my window. (It has been rainy and overcast here for the last 3 days. But I'm not complaining, cause we need the rain.) So I'm going to go put on my sports bra and my running shoes and run 3 miles while I can. Yeah!

Mountains of laundry Monday

2009-04-27T12:11:00.000-07:00

It's Monday. It's raining. It's laundry day. Augh! The good news? I won't have to think about laundry til next Monday. I hate laundry.
Okay, I have whined enough. I have gone a little crazy with these Spring Chickens. They don't take that long to make. I only used scraps I had laying around. (I've got lots of those.) They make me smile cause they are just so cute! Gotta go fold, the dryer just finished. Ick!

Bloggers quilt show

2009-04-17T07:06:00.000-07:00

Amy @ Park City Girl has organized a quilt show for bloggers. Can I resist this? ABSOLUTELY NOT! I have a lot of quilts to choose from (hey, I've been quilting for 9 yrs.) So, how do I choose? Which one of your children do you love more? Can't choose between them. However, there are days when you like one better than the others. I chose this quilt because it not only makes my skirt fly up (yes, most of my quilts do that to me) but because it was complex and I really started making these stars without a plan as to how I was going to put this quilt together. I really stayed "in the moment" with it as I made it. If you have not tried this, I highly recommend it. It will take you to a destination you had never dreamed about and the process is highly satisfying. (It is like good sex or a really long run. When you are done, you exhaustedly think, "Wow, I should really do this more often.")
So, here is my "Starry Night" quilt. The picture was taken 3 yrs ago so my children are no longer that little and definitely not that sweet. (Well my daughter is, but my son, not so much. He is, however, bright, funny and creative, just not so sweet as he used to be.) Enjoy, I'm going to go look at more quilts. Show and tell makes my skirt fly up!

Issues, issues and more issues

2009-04-16T14:05:00.000-07:00

In the words of Loretta Lynn, "I'm not running my life. My life is running me." I am having issue after issue. First computer issues, then email issues, printer issues, husband issues, children fighting issues, pms issues, I can't find time to sew issues (which is really "the main issue.") The good news? I did manage to make a spring chick (pattern found on the Sew mama sew blog.) And I have to say it sure is cute. Just looking at it makes me smile. I do want to add that my spring chicken is not exactly the same as the pattern. My printer isn't working and I just freehand drew the patterns and low and behold he sure is a cute little thing! More good news? I found a chunk of time yesterday and am still quilting my big quilt (the stitch in the ditch is about half done). Even more good news? Report cards came home yesterday and my son made the A Honor Roll. Yeah! Now if I could just get him to be nice to his sister. I'm gonna go squeeze in a little quilting before it is time to start dinner (and so I will be much more pleasant to be around.)

Finished Demo

2009-04-09T13:21:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I have waited this long to post about my machine quilting demo on Saturday. (I wanted to have the binding on my sample and then I went ahead and washed it so it would have that drawn up look that really highlights the quilting.) It went FABULOUSLY. I had over 30 people signed up before Saturday and about 50 on the actual day. And then, the fantastic folks at Sew Much More took my initial sample I made (the pink one) and a list of tips I had emailed them and made up this beautiful page for note taking during the demo. And then, I proceeded to machine quilt my blue sample while I talked to this group of women. I gotta tell ya, I had a GREAT time and my quilting looks great too. What can I say, I'm a multi-tasker. I have to say there is nothing like the feeling that you are doing exactly what you're supposed to be doing at the moment in time you are supposed to be doing it. (I'm talking Zen.) I gotta tell you, it is just about the most fun you can have with your clothes on.
Now my daughter and I are going to go make spring chickens for Easter. (Sew Mama Sew has a free pattern and these chickens are very cute.) Happy Easter if it's a holiday you celebrate and Happy Sewing if it's not.

Odds and ends in blue

2009-03-31T12:21:00.000-07:00

How long does it take to machine quilt a quilt it took 4 months to piece? Alot longer than one week, that's for sure. (It will take at least 3 weeks. I haven't even finished the stitch in the ditch.) However, I did take a little respite for my big quilt today. I am doing a machine quilting demo at Sew Much More in Austin on Saturday, so I need a sample. So, I just got out some odds and ends in blue and made one. It was so much fun to whip up something quick after the time and intensity of this big ole dresdan plate. I'll post pictures of it quilted later. So if you are in Austin, Tx on Saturday, come by and see me at Sew Much More from 2pm-4pm. I'd luv to see ya.

Forgotten camera

2009-03-27T08:23:00.000-07:00

The corner of my brain that says to me "Hey don't forget the camera." has turned itself off. Augh! I went and taught a class last Saturday (forgot my camera). I was the guest speaker on Monday night for the Killeen guild and I forgot my camera. Last night I had another class (ladies, y'all were great) and guess what? I forgot my camera! This is getting ridiculous. I guess I have too much to remember and not enough gray matter to hold it all. Or maybe I need a glass of wine and a little peace and quiet. The good news? My husband and kids are going to West Texas for the weekend, so it is going to be just me and the dog. Yipee! I am going to turn up the music, turn on my machine and sew my brains out! Yee-haw!
However, I do have a quilt to show. The quilt above was a block exchange I did a couple of years ago and gave to my mother-in-law. She graciously let me borrow it for a couple of trunk shows I did, but it is going back to her this weekend. (Thanks Ruth, I love and appreciate you!) I'm off to sew. Happy Quilting!

Free pieced block

2009-03-23T08:09:00.000-07:00

Spring break is over. Yeah! It was fun while it lasted but I'm glad the kids are back in school and I can get some things done. I've got to get this quilt quilted.
However, I did get a little something done this past week. I made this block for Jacqui (at Tallgrass). I just pieced it with left overs I had and it was so much FUN! The possibilities were shouting at me the whole time I was piecing this block. I am definitely coming back and doing more of these after I get my big quilt quilted.
Now I'm going to get ready tonight. I am the guest speaker for The Crossroads to Texas Quilt Guild tonight. Yipee! I am taking 30 quilts and I get to talk about my favorite subject (quilting) and they are going to pay me! Yee-haw! I'm living my dreams today! I hope there are others out there doing the same, cause this feels great! Happy Quilting!