Something New

On a whim, I decided to start this new applique' quilt.  It is very bright and happy.  I will share more of my intent as I move along.  Numget looks perplexed and concerned.

  I am reprising a quilt I made in 2009.  I will be making a few changes in the design.

I have finished my top for Cecile and Corrine's Quilt Along.  This is my first idea for  machine quilting.  Too fussy and fancy I think.

I decided to do a simple 45 degree cross-hatch.  It is one of my go to straight line quilting designs.  Better.  Don't you think?

I have taken two more trips up to the New England Quilt Museum.

A fun girl trip my sewing buddies from New Jersey.

Here is a visitor to the museum inspecting my quilts.   I love to watch people look at my quilts.  I wish I could read their mind. Sometime I talk with them, sometimes I just leave them to it.

I went up with my husband and son.   It was a special trip.  My family  are my biggest fans and supporters.

It is funny, they live with me working on my quilts, but I don't always tell them everything about them, so they enjoyed reading the placards.

I had the opportunity to teach them about thread painting and other art quilt techniques.

This is one of my favorites.  Sorry!  I didn't get the info card.

I watched the Academy Awards Show and what can I say?   Adults need to act like adults.  There were many inappropriate things done and said.  Why can't they just stick to honoring film making and the movies??

Have a great week!

xo

Gwen Marston & Quilt Along

Good Monday Morning!

I received a nice note from Gwen Marston about her one woman show at the Dennos museum in Traverse City, MI.  The exhibit is stunning and gallery space is perfect for showcasing her work.   She sent me a link to a slide show with 100 photos.  Click HERE to see them.

If you've read my blog for awhile, you know that I consider Gwen a mentor as well as a friend.  Her philosophy and work ethic has informed my quilting journey.  Thanks Gwen.

The museum recorded Gwen's 45 minute lecture and it here it is.  How wonderful that we can enjoy it from our couch.   I've heard Gwen lecture many many times but I am always inspired and awed by her insight and point of view.

Make a cup of tea and enjoy!




Hooray!  Lori is presenting another quilt along for us.  Join in the fun.  It's always fun to have a new little project.  Click here for the link to MidWinter Blues.

Here are my sets -

I've decided to double down.  I've made 2 sets and will make 2 little quilts.  I plan to set them with different colors.

Fabric ABP!  My Mothers Garden quilt was saved by a generous woman in Michigan.  She sent me some of the background so I could finish my quilt.  She is desperately searching for this fabric.  It is from the Windham Presidents Collection line.  Do you have any?  Please leave a comment and I'll get you her info.

Please search your stash for this:

How can all this primrose beauty cost me only $1.67 at the grocery store?

Thanks Stop and Shop.   Have a great Week everyone!

Pink Lemonade

Happy Friday!

I finally finished the Pink Lemonade quilt along that Lori hosted.  I wanted to make 2 so I made a smaller version.

Here is the first one

The back

The second one, which I changed up using the little shirting print.

And the back.

Since I used fabrics on the back that both had a china them, I decided to quilt the tea cup design.

I used this template.  It was a little large for the size of the quilt, but I thought it worked well enough.

The thing I love about this design is that it appears circular, but I machine quilt it with my walking foot.  Here you can see by doing serpentine lines, you achieve the circle.

Thanks again for a fun quilt along, Lori!



Have a Fun Weekend!
Go Oscar!

this, that, the other (again)

Thank you all so much for positive comments and encouragement on my Jubilee quilt.  It means so much to have a cheering section!

Several people commented on my Eagle quilt so I thought I'd review this quilt that I finished in 2008.

It's called "Obama For President" but I had to change that to "Olympic Eagle" (to be non-political) for the Vermont Quilt Show.  It is, to this day, the only eagle quilt I know featuring black eagles.  I named the quilt just after he spoke at the democratic convention...

It's a pattern from "antique quilts and how to make them".
I started it during the opening ceremonies of the winter olympics in Turin, Italy.  Another commemorative quilt?  yep. I guess it's one of my thangs.

I put an Olympic ring in each of the beaks and one of his tallons.

Here is a photo of me at the Vermont Quilt Show, 2008.  It was awarded a blue ribbon - very exciting!

So, what am I up to?
A little (more) of this-

And some of these-

And finally, how fun is this?  Beth is having a pincushion parade!  My pincushion cup runneth over!  Thank you to all my friends who have contributed to this collection.

Have a fun week!

Tea Time!

Happy Friday from Snowy Northern New Jersey!

***Added on Saturday - I forgot to include information on where I got my thimble - thanks Glenn!  here is a link to T.J. Lane's marvelous thimbles.***

Last weekend I brewed up some tea to dye muslin.  My friend, Wendy, first inspired me with her homemade dyed fabrics.

I used Moda muslin and made loose gathered balls.

I brewed up a pot of strong tea, using flavors I don't fancy.

Submerge muslin and steep for about 20-30 mins.

rinse in cool water, dry and iron and viola!  New newly modeled fabric is on the left - hard to get a good photo - it's a little sutle.

Here is another shot with a little more contrast - my drink mat.

I also aged my vintage santa redwork.  I used a spray bottle with first tea, then coffee.  I'm pleased with it - again a little hard to see it.

the spray bottle gives it a really authentic look of aging.

I have also been making rag balls.  I saw then on Lucy's Blog and I thought they were so charming - I plan to make more of them.

I think they are addictive.  I used homespun and next time I think I'll rip the strips for a little fraying.  Thanks Lucy!

I'm embarassed to say I'm behind on my quilt along - here is what I have so far - hopefully this weekend I'll finish it - I really like it - thanks again, Lori!



Have a great weekend everyone!

Progress Report

Well, I guess I give myself a B-
(full report at the bottom of the post)

I am supposed to be working on UFOs, but I got totally caught up in this:

These are mostly all Judie Rothermels fabric selvages that Kathie of Inspired By Quilts sent me - thanks again Kathie!  I thought they looked good used together so I decided to make a few string doll quilts.

After working on a project with Jill on Monday, I came home with a whole new collection of repro selvages and made some more string sets.

I also set the first three with different color combinations.  It was great fun.  So fun, that I plan to make three more with three different combinations.

Progress on Lori's Quilt Along.  Aren't those little flying geese too cute?  I have some trimming yet to do.

This is a UFO that I found in a box.  It's not on my side bar, but I did sew a few together.  I think I'll find the ruler I used to cut these and try to remember to cut a few once in a while.  I think I'll make a table runner of this one day.

My daughter gave me the "Whoopie Pie" book for Christmas and we made classic chocolate, with salty peanut butter filling -  yum!

With the New Year, I'm trying new recipes.  I get so stuck in the rut sometimes.  Whenever I ask Rich what he wants for dinner it either, pasta, tacos, or fajitas....what a range.  So here is some inspiration that I'm using.

Progress Report:

A   for working on the hand quilting of Mother's Garden
A   for keeping up with Lori's quilt along
C   for working on a UFO not on the list
C   for starting 6 doll quilts, not UFOs
D   for eating too many whoopie pies

final report:  B-

Just Stuff

Hello!
I really am trying to pull it together.   I feel like I'm going in a million directions and getting nothing done.

This is a weird post with lots of unrelated things.

Progress on "Mother's Garden". 

The battle to control the universe is on.  Andrew and I have been playing Monopoly since he was little.  We have many versions and this is his new one from this Christmas. 

I think this was my favorite Chirstmas vignette this year.  My Charlie Brown tree, my leg lamp, Lori's quilt along quilt, Strawberry Wine and 2 sock monkeys that I made some years ago.  They're holding hands.  That is not a real mouse on the fez, but one of about 40 that we hide around the house for Christmas.  I'll miss on the way to bed at night.

Hooray!  Quilt along time with Lori, of Humble Quilts!   It's not to late to join the fun!  The mo, the mo better.   I haven't quite decided on colors yet, but I'm going to start this as soon as Christmas is away today or tomorrow.

Coco snacked on my ipod, which I use everyday to listen to books :(
Santa got me a new, tiny, pink one for Christmas, thanks Santa! :)

Here is what I'm listening to at the moment.  I am almost finished with Remarkable Creatures and I really enjoyed it!

Okay, back to housework.  Have a great weekend everyone!