Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Baby Quillts

I made a couple of baby quilts for friends who are turning into Grannies. 
This one already has a baby...teeny tiny Evelyn Stephanie. 
All different polka dot fabrics, cause I love polka dots. 

This one is still waiting for baby Moose to arrive. 
He's due in early October.
Both are easy piecing patterns and are quilted with loopy loops. 
I don't know why, but I always put loopy loops on baby quilts. 
Making baby quilts is my favorite ... they're done so quickly.
The whole time I imagine a little nugget snugly warm under there. 
Or laying on top for diaper change...
Instant gratification & baby dreams....what could be better?

Spread kindness like confetti.
(I remembered this time!)

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Sunday Funday


Working on my sorry Quilty mojo with a bit of precision paper piecing. 
Cowboy boots. 
Twas fun. 



Wednesday, August 5, 2015

WIPs & a Review

...Spread kindness like confetti....
I saw this saying on a sign in Marshalls & love it. 
I'm hoping to remember to sign off each post with it. 

Well...after Quiltweek Syracuse, I was determined to feather a flimsie.
I have been decent at making the feathers for a long time (read years) but just never use them.
So, I just went for it...
I was shooting for a ginkgo look, which I didn't achieve, but I still like it. 
With all Christmas flimsies I've got, I have lots of feathering practice ahead. 

I had a few tension issues that I had trouble figuring out.
I had a pin stuck in my handle that was catching in the thread path. 
<<<<insert face palm>>>>
Once I removed it, all was right with the world. 

I also dicked around with a new QST tool I got at Quiltweek.
It's called the Whirlwind Whiz.
It does make accurate QSTs.
It's a lot of steps...and trimming. 
I made a few blocks from scraps. 
All but one were perfect.
VERY LITTLE FABRIC WASTE, which I love. 
I give it a B.

We traveled to Michigan this past weekend for a wedding.
I'll blog about that soon. 
Make it a good one!

....Spread kindness like Confetti.....
(I remembered!)











Tuesday, August 4, 2015

AQS Quiltweek Syracuse

When I first heard AQS was coming to the Cuse, I couldn't believe it. 
Oddly, there isn't a whole lot of quiltiness up here...at least not what you'd expect with the cold temperatures. 
I watched and waited...
And I signed up for classes THE SAME DAY THEY WERE ANNOUNCED!
I also told Barb and she came up for a couple of days of classes.

Wednesday, I took 2 half day classes with Karen Stone. 
Karen Stone is the artist who made my favorite quilt of all time, Cinqo de Mayo!
It was so cool to meet her in person and see some of her work up close. 
She has an amazing eye for color.
Her work is magnificent, although I have no photos of it. 
I did get the paper piecing template for Wild Women and hope to make that with Kaffe or Kaffe-like fabrics. 
Barb took a Build a Stitch class with Karen Marchetti.
That night, We sat chatting on the patio with Jim & Taylor. 
We may or may not have had a few too many cosmos.

Thursday morning we were feeling it, but we pressed on.
We took a piecing/appliqué with the longarm class with Karen Marchetti. 
It was fun...and the technique will come in handy for me when I return from my annual migrations and need to get reacquainted with Lola.
Here are Barb & I standing in front of my piece from that class. 
I'll finish it someday...really, I will.
That afternoon, we walked the show and looked at the quilts. 
I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the quilts that were entered. 
Of course, I didn't photograph any of them. 

Barb left Friday, and I took an all day Feathers & Fillers with Karen Marchetti. 
I loved this class...it was great for my confidence. 
And I learned a few new things, too!
Here's some of my piece from that class...

I also have to acknowledge how well the machines ran in the longarm classroom.
It took me a bit of time to get used to the hand controls, but I didn't have a lick of trouble with my machine.  Nor did anyone else in the class.  That's a lot to say.
Hats off to HandiQuilter for the great set up!

Friday night, Murray, Jim, Taylor & I went to John & Jenns to watch the wedding video and then out to eat.  The video is awesome and it was great to spend some time with our newlyweds.

Saturday morning I was TIRED....my arms hurt, my feet hurt, my brain hurt!
BUT THAT WAS MY SHOPPING DAY SO I HAD TO CARRY ON!
And carry on I did. 
Here's what I bought. 
I'm sorry, but isn't that fish fabric is RIDICULOUS?  
I wish they had more of it...I would have bought YARDS.
The jury is still out on the cordless iron...stay tuned. 

And I WON this!
Well, I won the ruler and pattern, then went to buy the book!
I mean, since I had the ruler, I NEEDED book, right?
I watched the demo...rotary cut and lazy, I mean machine, appliqué is the only appliqué for me.

I also visited the Pineapple Fabrics booth....I loved their stuff.
They have these awesome fabric packs, just enough for your project. 
I didn't buy anything, even tho I really wanted to. 
I also wanted to buy an ironing board extension table, and a Binding Foot for my Bernina...but I didn't. 
I am the epitome of self restraint!

I spoke with Linda from Quilters Corner (they vended at the show) and she told me the show will be back next year!
She said the vendors meeting went well, most were pleased and will return.

I took another lap through the show quilts...and then I came home. 
I loved having all that quiltiness in Syracuse. 

Be kind!
XO

Saturday, August 1, 2015

It's me again

For assorted reasons, I've been a bad blogger. 
Here's what's been happening.

Florida was the place to be this winter, for sure!
I thoroughly enjoyed avoiding the cold.
Here's a picture recap of a bit of it.
Some flimsies were constructed & I've used almost all of my Christmas stash!
Here are a few...
I hope to post more when they're all done!

I spent time with some of my favorite peeps....

 
I love Florida. 

This didn't happen...
I'm still a little sad about it.
But, I'm sure there will be another baby for me one day. 

I took a class with Pat Sloan at Barbs guild in PA. 
I didn't think I was going to like it.
I was wrong.
Here's my WIP from it...
I also bought a few of her books. 
When she comes your way....take her classes. 

This happened, too.
Herman tied the knot!
Our family is growing & we're all thrilled that Jenn has joined our clan!

We went to Michigan and celebrated the newest Kissells...
As you can see, a good time was had by all!

Brucefest happened....

Bruce is a Yankee Doodle Dandy so I made him this quilt...
Claire was there, too!
After Brucefest, I headed to the beach for more Claire time.
We made drippy castles, hit the boardwalk & had lotsa pretending. 
Claire does not disappoint...she's a blast!

Syracuse had its first ever Quiltweek!
But that, my friends, needs a separate post. 
I'm hoping to get back to more regular blogging, so, stay tuned. 

In closing, thanks to all of you who have reached out to me to say you missed me or were worried. 
Your kindness means a lot!