Valentine Quilt....

Well, I finally finished the UFO "Heart Crazies" that I bought as a kit years ago.....This is the pattern.

I'm not into the folksy kind of quilts, so I wouldn't have bought the pattern based on the picture.  But it was already made up at Quiltique and turned out quilt nice, I thought, so I bought it.  The pattern is from Buggy Barn.

Here is my finished quilt top....

And an up close....

I had already purchased the backing, binding, and border fabrics so this quilt was essentially FREE!!  I'm going to have it quilted by the quilter who did the one in the LQS....Hopefully we can both recall how the first one was quilted since I want it done just the same!!!

I didn't get much sewing done because of Jamie and Claire (Outlander series....).  And we went on a Dam Tour Wednesday....I'm going to post some great pics of that tomorrow!!!  It was pretty Dam awesome!

After Christmas Sale at Quiltique...

10 fat quarters for $10.  Seriously.  End of bolt fat quarters (aka....clearance), but still....so I bought 30 that I thought screamed "modern" and some Kona solids to match at our new Hobby Lobby.

 And some aqua/lime fat quarters....

I usually don't show my purchases because I'm a closeted hoarder of fabric....but aren't they cute?  I'm off to finish my Valentine quilt top and then maybe move on to something "modern".....LOL!

Happy Holidays...

Hopefully I'll get in some sewing today, but this morning started with decaf tea and pizzelles...

Grandma came over and Ryan opened his presents.  Santa still comes to visit here so there were a lot of presents for him to open...Buddy got a new toy and I'll make him a small braided pull toy from some jelly roll strips later today.  He has such a small mouth that he needs a little, soft pull toy!  Plus he is old came from a hard life before our house....he doesn't have as many teeth as he should.  But he is happy to be here and he is loving all the attention he gets during Winter Break!

Happy Holidays to you and your families....Enjoy!

Buggy Barn "Heart Crazies"

Let me tell you....those ladies at Buggy Barn are just amazing!! If you haven't made a quilt using the Buggy Barn method, give it a try! It is kind of like stack, whack, shuffle and sew....but a whole new level. You usually layer about 10 (or more) layers of fabric and lay a freezer paper pattern on top with the design penciled in (by you....from the template they provide).

Then you cut, shuffle, shuffle again and start sewing.

You will get the wonky, modern look of something that is either free form or paper pieced...but without all the hassle. There is a little trimming involved after each bit of sewing, but very little fabric is wasted.

Then I trimmed to a consistent size...9" x 14"....Tada....

I bought this kit at Quiltique (years ago) and am just getting around to sewing it together. It need to hang in the dining room after Christmas so I'd better get on it! It will really be more like Feb/March before it gets quilted, I'd imagine. Sadly, I can't really remember if there was an inner border, then an outer border?  Anyhow, I'll post a pic once the top is completed...however that turns out!  Tonight I'm going to put all the blocks on my design floor and pin the top....;-D  More pics tomorrow....

Quilts of Christmas Past...

This Grinch quilt was made for my son when he was about 4 years old.  There is a matching one just like it for my daughter...maybe the border is a little different.  Since I'm lacking in anything really good to show you, this will have to do...

It was made from the Grinch line of fabric that Jo-Ann's sold in the early 2000-ish years.  I had acquired so much fabric (like 30-40 yards of it) intending to make a few more quilts, but I never got around to it.  I gave all the fabric away to someone on one of my quilting forums.  I hope she made something nice with it....Anyhow, we got a new camera (ours was dying and taking worse pictures every day).  Hopefully, you all will get to see the actual colors that my quilts are....not the darker colors that were coming up lately!  Anyhow, this was a test....

Caffeine is a gateway drug....

for me.  My morning coffee leads me to something sweet, like a doughnut, then some chocolate, then an afternoon Coke, some more chocolate, and eventually an evening cup of coffee (which doesn't keep me awake...it just keeps me alive).  If I can't get a caffeine fix, I usually go for some form of sugar to try to perk me up....Nonetheless, I'm overweight.   I need to lose some weight in the New Year, so I'm giving up caffeine--and hopefully all the other sugary items that go with my caffeine addiction.  It isn't pretty, but I'm getting it done.  I have 16 days of Winter Break to straighten up before I have to rise and shine at 5am for school.  ;-D  So that is my major project right now....

Yesterday I got a surprise in the mail from the UK.  Sue over at Quilt Times sent me a little mug rug for participating in the Christmas Quilt Along this fall.  Isn't it wonderful?

I will use it to set my decaf Earl Gray tea on this morning....with a little honey and milk, just like "across the pond"--isn't that what we should say???  Thank you Sue!  I've never gotten a quilty gift in the mail....how exciting!!!  And I'm definitely in for the Christmas Quilt along this coming year....all year long.  Do I use the same button?  I should go back and re-read that post on your blog ;-)

For anyone who is wondering....I got a lot of Christmas stuff done because of the quilt along.  I made and quilted the tree skirt, and did the big Christmas quilt.  I honestly never would have found the time if I didn't have the CQA to motivate me. 

I'm working on a Buggy Barn quilt right now....Here is a sneak peek, but I'll do a post on it tomorrow. 
Happy Quilting!!

Las Vegas Modern Quilt Guild?? Yes!!!

Well look at what I found?  I've been kicking around the idea of trying to get a MQG started here in Vegas...and it turns out someone else had the same idea!!!  Yeah...The first meeting will be Jan 27th at Quiltique.  Hmmmm....I want to branch out in to to some more modern stuff.  This is the push I need!!!

I'm so happy right now.  Like Santa actually exists....and wants us to have a MQG in Vegas ;-D

This did involve the purchase of a bit of fabric.....but I'm sure you knew that already!!!

Lucky Stars quilts....

This pattern is called Lucky Stars, by Atkinson Designs.  I love how it turns out...and it pretty quick to boot!  I've made it in two colorways....one patriotic for my nephew in CA.  And then my Christmas quilt this year.  Both are made from vintage shirts--upcycled shirts???  LOL....

Though it doesn't look it from the pattern pic, it really is quite nice for a boy's quilt.  It is made with the stitch/flip method for the triangles so there is a little waste...but it is a good beginner's quilt.  Anyhow, we've been so busy around our house lately that I haven't done any sewing or blog posting!  I'll work to improve, I promise...hopefully!!  Happy sewing...

Black Friday purchases...

I thought I'd show you my Black Friday purchases....
First, six layer cakes from Green Fairy Quilts....they were on sale for $22.95 each!!

I'm planning on making charity quilts from the Pure, City Weekend, and Dream On.  I'm going to make something for my Mom from Maison De Garance.  And I'm giving Joyce the Whimsy and Breakfast at Tiffany's (for the charity quilts...or whatever she wants).  Anyhow, it was an online deal so I didn't have to go out at all...

Also, 20 yards of backing fabric for 3 quilts.  All on sale 30%-35% off.  ;-D  That is all I got....

I hope your Black Friday was full of bargains and fun stuff!!

Happy Thanksgiving from sunny Las Vegas!!

Well, I'm thankful for lots of things...where to start?

1.  My family is all healthy and happy ;-)  Rebecca says "fat and plumpy"....LOL!
2.  My dog is spoiled and makes us all feel so loved....thanks Buddy!
3.  We both have teaching jobs that were relatively unaffected by the recession--we still have our house and savings!  Our careers are fulfilling and we make a difference every day!!!
4.  We have enough leisure time to pursue hobbies:  quilting, scrapbooking, blogging, excercising....
5.  Everyone is content and satisfied.

We are very lucky and sincerely hope that you and your family/friends enjoy a Happy Thanksgiving!

ps.  On a more shallow note, I'm thankful that the quilt shops are having big sales tomorrow and Saturday!!  I'm just buying backing fabric, I swear!!!

To Do List....

Well now, I need to prioritize my list of "things of to do"--quilting-wise, that is.  The Valentine top is pieced and will be sent to the quilter next week.  So what to do next? 

Not in any order...

1.  Piece the quilt top for the dining room--for after the holidays.  It is a Buggy Barn pattern and I purchased the kit a year or so ago, cut the pieces last summer, and then left it in a container, untouched, for months.

EDIT:  I can't get a good pic today, but maybe later this week!


2.  Bind the tree skirt.  That is important....Maybe I should work on that today.

3.  Make the anime quilt for my classroom--inspired by this one on Flickr.  Fabrics have come in from all over--maybe I have enough?

4.  Day of the Dead wall hanging...how cute would that be?  Love that theme.  Have already purchased some fabric...is anyone surprised?  And I made a bag out of it last year....

5.  Vintage plaid shirt quilt for my Dad's cabin.  I have lots of leftover strips from Ryan's quilt and a nice quilt for my Dad's guest room is in order.  He is currently using a peach/brown quilt that I made in the early 1990's....I think it is my duty to retire that quilt and make a new one!!  I'm thinking "log cabin" pattern, since it is going to be in an actual log cabin.  But is that too obvious?  Maybe a string quilt??  Love those....hmmm...I've got enough strips that I could probably do both....LOL!

6.  Vintage plaid Halloween quilt.  I have all the fabrics, just no motivation.  Hmmm....

7.  Finish Alli's Halloween quilt.  Prior to the nasty split with my ex, Allison was working on a Yellow Brick Road Halloween quilt.  It is almost done.  I should just finish it, but it is like pouring salt into an open wound right now.  Maybe I'll put that off until next summer.

9.  Kaffe quilt.  I bought a lot of Kaffe fabric last summer and I'm anxious to cut into it.  I have many quilts in my head....which one to do???


10.  The 3-D shadow quilt.  This seems kind of cool...I bought the background and shadow fabrics, and I have tons of fabric for the squares, so what is my problem???  Get busy, Vic!

11.  I just ordered a Pure layer cake from Green Fairy Quilts.  Free shipping this weekend.  I need to make a quilt to match my couch.  Not that Valentine isn't appropriate all year 'round, but why not have something that matches???

12.  Finish Rebecca's name quilt.  Maybe this weekend?  I just need to quilt it--how long can that take?  I have the binding ready to go...

OK, this list doesn't even dent what I have going on around here, but it is a start.  Wish me luck!!  Also, look at what I saw when I went into Ryan's bathroom last night after he brushed his teeth...

Did you know that Listerine can get a "foamy head" like a glass of beer?  Upon further investigation I found Ryan giggling about it in his room--he wondered if it would explode like a can of soda!!  OMG, can you imagine the blue mess if it did actually explode??  What a cutie pie ....LOL...

Valentine blocks are finished...

So I've been working on the log cabin blocks for the Valentine Quilt.  Here they are....on my "design floor" waiting to be pinned...

Anyhow, just thought I'd give a teaser.  I should have the quilt top pieced this week.  I'm doing a "show and tell" at school because the inmates are curious about how a pile of fabric becomes a quilt.  They've now seen pieces (logs) and the blocks....next, I'll bring in the top, and batting and the back to show how it gets assembled into a "blanket" (gasp!!).  LOL....more to come!

Quilted Tree Skirt...

So I stayed up late and got the skirt quilted.  It did involve a lot of marking, but the sewing was surprisingly easy and relaxing.  I picked a center point in the circle and then connected to a mark along the edge of the quilt.  Since the top was 36" square, I marked every 2" along the edge.  I backstitched at each beginning and end....this is wash out marker...I just didn't have time to learn to stipple, though that has now moved up on my list of things to do.  I really wanted to just send it to a longarmer, but I persevered.  This sort of quilting is a big pain on the longarm...but perfect for a regular sewing machine.  ;-D  A decent choice...

 After I finished I soaked it in the washer, cold water, let it spin and then took it to the dryer.  I was admiring my work when I noticed some BLEEDING from a red.  Well, all the pieces from one particular red shirt.  Bleeding to the front, back and anywhere it touched during the spin cycle.  PANIC!!  I Spray 'N Washed the affected areas, rewashed it, mostly by hand, and got out the bleeding.  Then into the dryer with a few big fluffy towels so dry.  I did end up with a little bleeding on the back side, but you don't need to see that!  The front looks good.  The scary part is that I know I used that particular shirt fabric in my big Christmas quilt that is at the quilter right now.  Darn it....that will trouble for years to come.  Maybe I'll get some Retayne (or whatever that product is that prevents bleeding).  I have color catcher sheets....but the problem is when the top is spinning and sending out dye to everypart that it touches....not really "free floating" dye in the water.  It just needs to be bound and it will be done!  I was leaning toward a red binding (will I ever learn??)....

While we were watching Robin Hood, and then a few episodes of Modern Family, we set out the pieces for the fruit/veggie quilt.  It will only be 51" by 51" when it is finished.  But then we had to stay up late pinning it so the dog wouldn't destroy it!  My design wall is the carpet in my living room!!! It is definitely very festive...

Well, that is all I have to share.  I need to check out the other quilts from the quilt along.  Have a nice Sunday!

Quilting Along....Update #2

Well, I have 3/8 of the tree skirt quilted.  Check it out.  I'm going to mark the rest and then quilt when Ryan goes in the shower.  It is movie night and he doesn't like it when I sew and distrub the movie.  Darn picky kids!!  LOL....Who is this fat girl quilting on the tree skirt?  Why, that is me?  I must diet.... ;-)

On to more marking!!!

Two finishes....and an adult beverage!

So we have two finishes for today....first, the purple/aqua quilt came back from Merrie Berrie Quilting.  She did an allover pattern (she doesn't panto...don't be jealous of her skills!! LOL)....I had it bound in three days!!  It has been washed and dried and mailed out to NY!!! 

Then, Rebecca finished clipping the Syracuse quilt and it got washed and all raggy...

I had to whip up the adult beverage to get me through the quilting on this tree skirt.  I'm doing radiating lines from the center...all must be marked, then sewn.  ;-D

Yep, wild cherry Kool-Aid.  How cool is it when you are old enough to make Kool-Aid in the winter??

Anyhow, I'm back to quilting.  Another post later to see my progress!!!

Christmas Quilt Along--tree skirt!

So I drug out the tree skirt that I made in September and I basted it.  My plan is to quilt it on my Juki.  Here is my proof....

But I usually send my stuff to a longarmer and I'm baffled by this idea.  Maybe just straight lines?  Or cross-hatching?  Or I could practice some stippling and try that?  Hmmm....so here it sits!!! I must run a couple of errands but I'll come back to it later today--I've been sick this weekend so I have a lot to catch up on!!!

Oh yeah, dogs like Butterscotch suckers...at least Buddy does!!  I always get the "beggin' paw" (one paw raised so he is standing on 3 legs) when he wants something.  The first pic is when he wanted pizza...then the sucker!

He has us so well trained.  And NO, I didn't put the sucker back in my mouth.  YES, we did brush his teeth after that snack.  NO, we don't frequently feed him candy....But it was sort of cute! 

No, it's not gay pride...but it is fruity!!!

Oh my....I need to come out of the closet about something.  I've bought fabric recently while on my moratorium.  Yes, I suck.  Yes, it was a lie of omission.  But here it is in all it's glory.....fruit/veggie fabric!!!

This fruit stand fabric was just calling my name the other day at the Christmas Goose.  I bought about half of it there, then ordered more online from Fabric Paradise.  This will make the cutest little wall hanging for my classroom in the spring.  I have 16 different prints....Any idea for a quilt pattern?  It has to fit in a 48" by 48" space.  And I don't want the pieces to be so small that you can't tell what fruit/veggie it is...I was thinking about some sort of rainbow rail fence??  Hmmm....I'll work something out in EQ and let you know....But if anyone has a killer idea, please let me know.  I could even do an "around the world" type of quilt....I have 1/2 yard of each fabric....Maybe that is the winning ticket?

And I must also come out of the closet about the anime fabric I purchased.  I don't have a picture, but I did buy about 8 yards of fabric to make an anime quilt.  And because I'm working on my Valentine quilt, and I didn't buy any fabric for that, I feel slightly OK about my purchases.

I determined that the deal with my daughter, as depressing as it is, probably sparked the fabric buying binge.  I was doing just fine until that point, then I sort of went a little crazy.  But I'm back on track now...back on the wagon, as they say!  ;-D  Happy quilting.....

Christmas quilt top FINISHED!

Last weekend, on Halloween, I was busy piecing together this top that I've been working on in the Christmas Quilt-Along.  It is all made from vintage shirts....

Here is Ryan enjoying some time with Buddy...

I've been cutting strips for my Valentine quilt.  Hopefully I'll get some more done today and I can begin sewing soon.  I also must confess that I bought some fabric online.  I'll share more of that later. ;-D  So much for the moratorium!!!

Today is the baby shower for a colleague so I've been busy making games, buying prizes, cooking and preparing appetizers, etc.  Thankfully I already had the gifts made!  I hope you all get some sewing time in today....Happy Quilting!!

Be nice to your longarmer... :-D

Let me tell you what inspired this post.  I used to be a longarmer--I've owned several longarm machines and quilted for others as well as myself.  Honestly, I hated quilting for others.  It is very difficult to see a quilting design in some quilts...they just don't sing to you.  Or the piecer has one idea for quilting and you have another.  Or you can't execute what they want done....or you can do it, but it will take so long that you will never make any money at it.  Etc, etc, etc.  Longarming is a very difficult business...unruly quilt tops, clients, tension/machine issues, low pay, etc.  And do you know how much stress there is when you are trying to figure out what is going to make the customer happy....what if they don't like it?  Ack...stress, stress, and more stress!!

Here is a fact:  one minute of longarm quilting can take up to 15 minutes to remove (if you mess up and have to frog, or rip out, the stitches).  Nobody pays you to remove errant stitches....Honestly, I think I made less than $5 per hour quilting.  I'm not joking.  And I needed to pay off a $17,000 machine, and all the supplies that go with it, etc.  My point is that quilting is not just a "fun hobby" turned profit.  Quilters work hard to make quilts that are beautiful, affordable, and durable. 

Today, I was speaking with a longarmer friend of mine in another state (she quilted the two tops above).  I've been sending her quilts for years...probably 10 years or so.  Her work is wonderful...she is very accomplished and she can look at a quilt and know just what to do with it.  I trust her and have never been disappointed in her work.  Her tension is always "spot on" and her designs are executed with ease.  I love her work!  She has a distinctive style that works for me....Today she called me because she received a quilt that I sent her in the mail.  But she was distressed because a client wrote her a nasty e-mail complaining about the quilting that she had done on a quilt.

The piecer requested "all feathers" and the longarmer told her that because of some elements in the quilt top, "all feathers" wouldn't be possible so she suggested another option.  The piecer agreed...but then came unglued when she received the top back in the mail (she mailed it to the longarmer in another state).  The longarmer feels hurt, and shocked, because she thought they both had agreed to the quilting plan.  She is worried she might not get paid...and she is upset that the piecer is not happy with the quilting.  Picking out all the quilting on the top and quilting it again is not possible.  Apparantly, the e-mail was alarmingly mean.

My thoughts:  it is just a quilt top.  Yes, it might take a long time to make the top...and yes, you might have a vision and it might not be perfectly what you want.  But it is what it is.  I've had a top quilted with the wrong panto.  I've had a top quilted with a brand of thread that is so thin that it actually broke in several places while the quilter was quilting...the only thing holding the "sort of" quilting lines together is the Super Glue that I applied to glue the quilting to the top and prevent a massive unraveling.  I've personally picked a color thread that ended up being way too dark and made the quilting look like crap.  I've thought that "variegated" thread was so cool and found out the hard way that it made the quilting look choppy.  So I've experienced my fair share of crappy quilting...but we still love those quilts and they adorn my sofa and Buddy doesn't give a care about the quilting (or the piecing for that matter).  Try out different quilters until you find one with a style your appreciate.  Or use one for pantos, a different one for custom...a different one if you need one super fast, etc.  Tell your longarmer what you want...and if she can't do it, get your top back and go somewhere else.  She'd want you to be happy...she wouldn't be insulted, and she might even be relieved that she doesn't feel pressured to do something that she can't/won't be able to execute.  It is only a quilt top....

So don't sweat the small stuff!!  And it is all small stuff....

Just my two cents....

Quilt Festival...Dahlia

I'm sharing my quilt for the Blogger's Quilt Festival...

This was made from the Quiltsmart Dahlia pattern.  The pattern had a bunch of foundation fabric, premarked with fold and sew lines.  I bought it at the quilt show in Las Vegas one year and then took a class on how to use the pattern at Fabric Boutique in Vegas.  Though I like how it turned out, it was a TON of finger pressing.  The pattern fabric had some fusible aspect to it and so it couldn't be ironed.  Anyhow, I used 1930's fabric and it was quilted by Kalynda Klemmer.

I'd recommend this pattern if you aren't into curved piecing...and you have a lot of time!  I've also seen it done in batiks and it is absolutely stunning.  ;-D  I hope you enjoyed my quilt show...