Thursday, August 1, 2013

Where Am I?

I guess it has been longer that I remembered since I posted on this blog!  It's time to bring things up to date.

A few months back hubby and I took a short weekend trip to Sedona, AZ.  That is a beautiful red rock area tucked into the hills just southwest of Flagstaff.  So many sites to see and photo's to take.


Never pass up a quilting store...


These little quail were so cute and the pattern was a reminder of the weekend we spent in Sedona


I also saw this little Antique Ornament  that I couldn't rest.  It is a little kit and this is what it is supposed to look like.  Hope mine comes out as good!


Happy Quilting!  Til next time....

Friday, April 12, 2013

Cleaning the Studio

Hi all:

I always try to straighten up my sewing room,  as many of you do, after each project is completed.
Since I am the Queen of Procrastination, I can always find an excuse for not completing the job!  Like the following excuse:

Don't Wake the kitty...Shhh

No More Photos Please!
  Ok then, I will move to the other side of my room and work on that for a while....



No time now to do anymore cleaning....Hubby will be home soon and he will be hungry.  What shall I make for dinner?

Till next time...Happy quilting!

Friday, March 22, 2013

Feathers

Hi Friends:

Another day, another opportunity to quilt!  What am I doing?  Well, I am trying to post something before I leave for the weekend with hubby!  I quilt, he photographs.  We are going to the breathtakingly beautiful area of Sedona, AZ.  

Haven't started any projects as I am not sure what I want to do next...so in the meantime, I keep doodling until the inspiration hits me and I decide what comes next.   I titled this post "Feathers".  I practice quilting designs sitting in front of the TV in the evenings.  So, I have never quilted an all over Feather motif but I have been practicing...on paper....

Not Bad For a Pencil and Paper


Keep going....
Goofy Feathers


Standout Feather
And then I like this one best....

ALL OVER FEATHER


Now if I could only do this on fabric I would be HAPPY!  Practice Practice Practice, they say!

Happy Quilting All!

Monday, March 18, 2013

Mug Rug Swap Received!

Hi Quilting Friends. . .

Today I received my Mug Rugs from my secret partner...not secret anymore, Susan from Mississippi.  Thank you Susan!  They are darling!  I especially like the owls and the dark blue starry night fabric.  Nice choice!  Oh, and the backing fabric was perfect, more owls!  The Winter Mug Rug was also very nice.  I think I recognize some of the same fabric in it that I used in my partners swap.  Can you tell which one was the same?  Look further back in my blog to check it out...



Thanks Susan.  They will sit here on my craft/cutting table and I will use them every day!


Susan also sent along a postcard from Mississippi.  Why didn't I think to do that when I sent mine to Dubai?  Next time...





Happy Quilting!  Till next time.....

Sunday, March 10, 2013

FMQ ... Quilting Practice

Hi Everyone!  Time for another post.  I am practicing my free motion quilting.  Haven't done enough practice so I used some sample 5" squares from Bernartex to make a baby size quilt to practice that FMQ!

What I came up with was "Sunshine and Flowers".  Hope my little phone camera got enough of the detail for you to see the designs.  I used Superior's "So Fine" thread.  I know the stitches aren't even and perfect but that's why it's practice!  I don't have a long arm machine so I have to rely on my Bernina Artista 630 to get the job done.  I know there are many quilters out there using the same domestic machines as me so I know it can be done and done well.  I just hope I get there sooner than later!

Sunshine


Flowers

Leaves and Vines all Around

And you put it all together and you get  "Sunshine and Flowers"!



See you next time...Happy Quilting!

Sunday, February 24, 2013

2012 Christmas Quilt

Well, I barely got the quilt done in time for me to take it to my daughters house for Christmas!  But,  I must say it was a lot of fun to do.  The pattern for this quilt is from Nancy Halverson named "I Believe"

What's a Christmas Quilt with out a SANTA...



And there is always "HOPE" for the world to be a better place...



And, Christmas time is for fun and LAUGHTER too...



Ok, enough of the blocks.  Lets see the whole quilt..."I BELIEVE IN. . ."



What shall I do for next Christmas....Hmmm, I will have to think on it.  Until later, Happy Quilting!

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Grandma's Gift

Last year my granddaughter Poppy celebrated her 18th birthday and graduated from High School.  I wanted to make a quilt for her, one she would love and cherish for years to come.  After much thought, I came up with a "Hello Kitty" theme.  She had always loved "Hello Kitty" and still does today so this seemed like a natural.

I didn't buy the printed fabric with the Hello Kitty on it already but rather made appliqué of Kitty on large blocks.  I took the basic HK shapes and changed them up to fit my granddaughter's life.  For instance, Poppy played softball throughout most of her school years.  So, I made the HK figure with her #10, added an MVP to the shirt top and put on a baseball cap with her signature bow.



Next, I thought about her Graduation and made HK a cap and gown!



Now that she has graduated and is beginning the next phase of her life, I saw her as the young woman she has become.  What woman doesn't have a Little Black Dress!  Check out her jewelry and that rhinestone in her nose!


The rest of the images were pretty much standard HK.





I added a Minkee back in a soft pink and this is what I ended up with.



Needless to say, Poppy LOVED the quilt!  I plan on making a quilt for each of my children and grandchildren.  Oh how I wished I had started quilting earlier!  I've got a lot to do....better get back at it!  Have a good quilting day!  Thanks for visiting.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Rug Mug Swap

I joined a Rug Mug Swap through the "Quilting Gallery"Newsletter.  It was quick and fun.  It's a secret swap so I don't know who is sending me a swap but I am sure it will be beautiful!  My swap partner lives in Dubai, UAE.  I sent hers off today.  I hope she likes it.  Take a look at them:



These are small little rugs around 6" x 9".  Which one is your favorite?  I'll post the swap I receive when I get them.  Have a great rest of the week!  See you next time.

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Just a few more...Projects!

Well, I can't believe it is February already!  This year is already off to the races and I still have some UFO's from last year that I am trying to get done.  Before I get to those, let's look at some more of my completed pieces...

Colors of the Fall
Table Runners are fun and quick to make.  I love them and try to make them for each season.


Holly in the Round

This was fun and easy to make, one of the first I did.  Got the pattern for this from one of the Fons and Porters Celebrations magazine.


HO HO HO . . . Who Wouldn't Go !
This adorable wall handling was from a pattern by Nancy Halverson.  Also the two following pillows out of the same book.  I think I love appliqué.  I seem to gravitate towards those patterns.  Some day I would like to do a Baltimore Album Quilt...I must be crazy!

Singing Pillow

Happy Misletoes

Thanks for joining me today.  There's more to come but I promise, there is an end...at least until I get some UFO's done!

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

More Projects

This quilt was my first machine appliqué project.  It was a wall hanging.  I remember going to my local quilt shop, Quilters Ranch, and needed help picking out all the different fabrics.  The sales lady, Beth, helped me so much.  She and I pulled many different bolts and came up with just the right colors.  She was so patient with me.  That's what I love about quilters...they are so giving and helpful!  I know it's her job but I could tell she loved what she did.

Flower Garden


For my Daughter in Law's Birthday gift I made some placemats.  I used colors from her kitchen and tried to make them with a modern look.  I was afraid to do much quilting on them because I thought I might mess them up so I only did minimal quilting.






"Let's Eat!"



I like to try all different kinds of projects.  I have a book on fabric bowls and thought I would give a couple of them a try.  The blue bowl was the first one I did.  The yellow bowl was 2nd and made from fabric I bought while in Kauai.















Also while in Hawaii, I bought fabric for a wall hanging.  I wanted to have a piece that would remind me of the island we visited.  Hawaiian Quilting is beautiful and involves hand applique.  I wanted to make the quilt just as they do in Hawaii.  The following picture is the finished piece, a pineapple, the symbol of hospitality.




Memories of Kauai



Everyone needs a door stop sooner or later.  I chose a Rooster....




More to come next time.  Thanks for joining me!


Belated Happy New Year 2013 !

I started this blog last year, got the shell up and then...nothing.  Call me the "Queen of Procrastinators"!  This year I am going to do better.  That said, I'm going to post some pictures of my previous projects completed since I started quilting a couple of years ago.  OK...there's not that many!  Enjoy.



My First attempt at quilting.  I love their eyes....it was really fun.  
I learned a lot on this one.