A March to Remember!

My son got married!

And what a wedding it was.

Full of love and fun times!

I am in the eggplant dress

(someone should have reminded me NOT to hunch over!)

The lovely lady on the right inspired me to quilt and taught me all I know about 

color and fabric selection.

And I am back at my machine.

Joined Quirky Little Quilts QAL,

a Temecula Quilt Co. project.

Super excited!

Alison Lang brought me her newest design in her 

Flock of Many Colors series.

I will make my sample and write the pattern this summer.

Her other patterns have been a huge success.

And finally,

The Olde World Quilt Shoppe was going to close at the end of March;

but one of the Woolie Bees, 

a group that stitch together at the shoppe on Fridays,

decided to buy it.

Hooray, my LQS will be around a while longer.

Like I said, this was a March to remember.

It has been awhile...

so thank you for still following my blog,

We have moved back to the cabin for the summer,

 so perhaps I will have some time to actually write a few more posts.

I have been busy since I last posted.

During the 9 hour car ride to the cabin,

I sewed the bindings onto several quilts.

A Stroll through the Garden,

by Norma Whaley.

Okay, this has got to be one of my all time favorites and I am not a 'prim' girl.

Desert Dwellers, the row I designed for TOWQS Arizona Row by Row Experience.

Sorry for the poor picture.

The Saguaro cacti are chenilled.

The applique is wool.

Thank you to my co-worker, Lin, for such a great idea for our row.

I am making the shoppe sample of Merrie Halloween, 

designed by Buttermilk Basin.

It is offered as a BOM.

I am not known for my embroidery skills, but you know something...

I am really starting to like it!

I was blessed to be able to attend Spring Quilt Market in Salt Lake City in May.

One of the things I enjoyed most was hopping to all the quilt shops in the area.  The ladies at My Girlfriend's Quilt Shoppe in Logan were so nice and boy, oh boy, do I envy their space!

However, Village Dry Goods in Brigham City was my favorite.

Why? 

They had a wall of reproduction fabrics that made my heart skip a beat.

American Quilting was inspiring as well. 

 Their workroom was to die for.  

Has to be when you have hundreds of participants in your Mystery Sampler program!! 

A lot of my time when I work is spent making kits.

Yikes, I cannot imagine making hundreds of them.

The one thing I came home very excited about was Kim Diehl's latest book,

Simple Christmas Tidings.

It was so exciting for me to meet her.

You all know how much I love her designs.

I actually brought home an autographed copy of the book.

And I had to rush home and start making projects from it. 

Luckily, I had the same fabrics she used in her originals.

I want to make almost everything in the book!

I also came home with new projects from My Red Door Designs and 1894 Cottonwood House.

I made two of My Red Door Designs projects.

One here and one is on display at the shop.

I have not made my Jack from 1894 Cottonwood House yet,

but I will share when I do.

The last two things I came home with were a Sue Spargo Embroidery book...

I told you I was getting in to it...

and the pattern, The Raven, by Blackbird Designs.

Yup,

I am in my middle childhood again...

so full of enthusiasm and creativity. 

Heading back to the valley of the sun on Sunday for a few weeks.

Excited to welcome my son's second son on Tuesday.

Cannot wait to meet him!

(oh yeah, forgot...I also joined Panama Pyramids on Facebook.  My magazine should be at the house when I get home.  I have not bought the templates yet.  Want to place wagers on if I ever start them. Love the quilt and what a great use of scraps.  Besides, picking different fabrics for each pyramid is right up my alley.)

The Stages of Life

Recently,

I have contemplated the stages of life

 as they relate to my quilting endeavors.

First, is the infancy stage...

I am so full of hope and vitality that
I buy multitudes of new patterns and want to make each one.

Just a few in my queue and
I am anxiously awaiting a few more from My Red Door Designs this week.

Then comes middle childhood, where my imagination and creative juices go wild,
 hence working on several projects all at once.

My Garden, by Kathi Campbell of Heart to Hand,
is a new BOM program at The Olde World Quilt Shoppe.

Another Kathi Campbell project, October Garden.

During my adolescence,

I have a great passion for the project and make good progress.

Just the binding to go on this wall hanging,
Home is Best by Norma Whaley of Timeless Traditions Quilts.

Then the project moves into early adulthood where I see it as a responsibility; 

but I want to make my mark,
so I actually finish a few things.

Heart Table Mat, designed by Norma Whaley.

 Flower Baskets, by Lisa Bongean.

Coxcomb Medallion, by Lisa Bongean.

In the midlife of the project,

I start to contemplate whether completing the project will truly enrich my life.

Scrap Basket Blossoms,
from Kim Diehl's book, Simple Applique.
Two of the side borders are quilted, but I doubt I will finish the other two.
I made this quilt while teaching Kim's applique technique.

As a benevolent, mature adult,

I consider donating the project to raise funds for a worthy cause! 

And in those last few years,
I am sure wisdom will help me let go of the projects that just don't matter.

Another One Bites the Dust!

'Christmas Magic'

from Kim Diehl's book,

Simple Seasons.

I can take this one off the WIP list...hooray!

Of course, it is just a flimsy, but in the hands of the quilter.  

When it returns, button embellishments will be added.

I plan to display it on my kitchen table top and cover it with my snowman collection.

And, as always, I did work on something new.

F-A-L-L,

from Heart to Hand.

It currently hangs from the mantel at TOWQS.

I am back working part time at the shoppe, loving every minute of my time with my quilting community.  I'll be teaching an applique series in November, so I am busy preparing the samples for that.  I am also waiting on Lisa Bongean's new book, Little Gatherings, to arrive. Who knows what trouble I will get into once it arrives.

Finally, a WIP is done!

And here it is...my version of Pennies from Heaven.

Off to the quilter she goes!

This will be a perfect spring table topper or a permanent display in my green guest room. I will add some beading after it is quilted. Most importantly, it is a flimsy!

I have finished a few other projects for the clubs at TOWQS.

The December Basin Banner.

A big thank you to my go-to-gal for stitching and embroidery, Debbie, 

for all her help with these little guys.

And this one is my favorite!

The December Petite Patchwork quilt from Lori Smith's Quilt Squares #3.

She is in my quilting queue, and will be finished soon.

I am excited to get these projects done because I can hardly wait to start working on a new BOM that will be offered at the shoppe:

We will be starting the BOM in early Feb. 

Woolen applique on homespun backgrounds. 

I want to make that winter red barn today!

Geez, it is mid November already.

I might have to start getting ready for the holidays, which I will host at my home this year. My mother is coming to visit for the holidays, so probably not much sewing will get done once she arrives.  I don't know though...she sleeps in and I am up in the wee hours of the morning!

My favorite time of day.

Are you ready for the holidays?

Around the World Blog Hop

I was invited to join in on the Around the World Blog Hop by Michele of Island Life Quilts. I have been following Michele for a long time and enjoy seeing her bright, modern quilts. I especially love all the little bags she makes.  The quilting motifs she uses to quilt her own quilts are always inspiring.

Why do I create?

For one thing, it keeps me off the streets and out of the bars...LOL.

But really, I just love it.  

My favorite part is selecting the fabrics for a project and then I like the challenge of piecing the quilt as best I can. 

Quilting also provides me with a community.

What am I working on?

What am I not working on! I just want to make them all. 

Here is a sampling:

'All Hallow's Eve'

This is a Sew Along I designed for The Olde World Quilt Shoppe blog. 

Anything small really makes me happy!

I am a big fan of Kim Diehl and just finished stitching down 'Penny Garland.'  Wool applique has really become a favorite medium for me. Here is another work in progress designed by Kim Diehl and using wool applique.

Finishes are not my forte, but here is a recent one that even has a binding...my least favorite part of the process.

'Snowbound'

Oh, the list of projects is endless, and I always have a new one brewing in my mind.  I recently took on a part time job at my LQS and my duties include selecting patterns and fabrics.  Boy, am I in heaven!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have time today to stitch and create too.

Another AMB giveaway!

In an effort to promote the Farm-to-Fabric Challenge, the folks of AMB would like to run another giveaway.

Stop on over at their site and read all about it. Leave me a comment with a fact from the info provided and I will draw one winner of this adorable market bag. Drawing will be on Monday evening, July 14th. Make sure I have an email address to contact you with and you must have a US mailing address.

Now what have I been doing...

riding my bike all over Normandy and Brittany!

Visiting Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery was very moving!
I was thrilled to see American flags next to the French flag in all the villages we rode through.  The Norman school children adopt a fallen soldier and honor them with flowers on their graves. They truly remember and are thankful for the sacrifice Americans made for their freedom.


But now, I am off to the quilt shoppe to pick up my kit for Laundry Day, the first quilt we will be making in the Kim Diehl Simple Whatnot's Club being offered at TOWQS starting in October.  If we get participants that do not live in the area, I will run tutorials on the shoppe's website for making each of the quilts.

If you want to learn more, go here.
Golly, I love being home in my sewing room!

Seeing Stars!

This week has involved making a ton of flying geese!

Either for star points on sawtooth stars...

Star Spangled Banner,

a sew along pattern for a patriotic door banner coming soon to TOWQS blog.

AND more sawtooth stars....

for a Dr. Seuss themed baby quilt.

Then there are those blocks for my red and green quilt...yes, I did get at least one made for this month. Three out of four goals achieved!  No complaints. 

No flying geese involved in these stars!

The final phase of my Mystery quilt.

I hope the ladies like it.

Marching Along!

I have somewhat accomplished my February goals.

The next Le Jardin block.  

I chose this one because there were very few pointy leaves!

A Rainbow Garden is half quilted and my hope is to get it finished this week.

Another row is done for my red and green quilt.

I do have another pile of blocks made for Christmas Magic, but they do not make for an interesting picture. 

I did not make any progress on my red and white quilt, but...

worked instead on the long overdue wedding quilt. I also added a dozen or so of the joining hexies to the pile. Hoping this quilt will become my summer finish.

It is not too late to enter the drawing for the Easter Baskets kit.

Just head on over to The Olde World Quilt Shoppe blog and leave a comment.

And remember, if you are a no-reply commenter, there is no way I can notify you if your name is drawn, so your name is not in the drawing.

Easter Baskets Kit Giveaway!

Easter Baskets

26" x 26" 

Here is my little quilt I designed for the quilt along over at The Olde World Quilt Shoppe.

To get the quilt along started,

they will be giving away one kit.

The kit includes all the fabrics to construct the flimsy, the Triangles on a Roll paper for the half square triangles and the binding.  

To enter the drawing, just leave a comment on the Shoppe's blog letting me know you want a chance to win. 

I am sure they would appreciate it if you subscribed to their new blog by email!

I will be drawing the winner on Friday, Feb. 28th.

If you have a blog, please help me spread the word about both the quilt along and the giveaway. Leave your comment here about your post and I will enter your name a second time.

Hope you join me!

Instructions will be posted every Friday, starting the 28th, on the Shoppe's new blog.

A new year and a new project!

 Another Geoff's Mom pattern.
Karen, the Log Cabin Quilter, is where I first saw this quilt and then my friend, Lin, also made it.  Her's hangs at TOWQS and has been a huge success. The kits for the quilt have been flying out the door!
 I will be helping a group of ladies construct this quilt over the next 4 months and this is my first row.  The lettering is done in wool and I used Aurifil's Lana 12/2 wool thread to machine blanket stitch it down. I had wanted to try it and this was the perfect project to do so.  It handled so nicely and did not fray or break. It made quick work of what could have been a very long process if done by hand. I will be machine appliqueing this one as well.  You can see the full quilt here. My version will not be as prim as I will be using more cotton prints and fewer homespuns.

We spent the first week of the new year in Colorado rollicking in the snow. I purposely left all my sewing projects behind, but managed to make a little progress on a McKenna Ryan landscape quilt I have been working on for several years.  It is made from batiks and is all raw edge applique. Really just lots of detailed cutting, but choosing the fabrics is the best part. Sorry, I did not take any pictures of it.  I won't work on it again until this summer.  

Here is the stocking my DD and I designed and constructed for my granddaughter in those last days before Christmas.  Quick, simple, but we love it.

During the holidays, I loved seeing all the red and green quilts in blogland and on Pinterest.  Therefore, I have added one to my blockhead projects and will start on the first block today.  I have the solid red and cream fabrics, but have not found a perfect green yet.  Any suggestions?
Here is the EQ7 image.

The perfect pairing of piecing and applique for me.  It was inspired by Kim Diehl's Idaho Lily.  I am still keeping my eyes open for her new club. 

Oh, it is nice to be home in my sewing room! 

Just Plain Nuts!

Better known as what a woman of a certain age does with herself at 2 am.

This is a 6 1/2" unfinished block.

It is one of my favorites from Liz Lois's book,

Just Plain Nuts.

My enabler, Debbie, sold me on the idea of returning to my first love, 

small scale piecing.

There have been requests at The Olde World Quilt Shoppe for a class on piecing miniatures.  Do you think I will find some other thoroughly insane quilters to join us in this venture?

I also finally put the binding on my daughters modern nine patch quilt, so I can take another WIP off the list.  Phew, just in time! Always have to finish something before I add another project to the list.

Saltbox Sampler

I knew when I saw the delicious, vibrant reds in Judie Rothermel's fabric line,

Party of Twelve, they would be perfect in...

Saltbox Sampler
by Kim Diehl

Of course, the bubble gum pink and poison greens were the icing on the cake!

(I hope I got those hue descriptions right.  I am still learning the reproduction lingo.)

And I cannot resist a 'house' quilt, especially if it has a scrappy pieced border.

Those of you with good eyes can see that there is a border missing...

waiting for a perfect toasty piece of Jo Morton to arrive at TOWQS.

We spent last week celebrating my granddaughter's 1st birthday...

jeez how time flies,

especially when you are having so much fun!

Now to resume working on a few projects on my WIP list...

the first being a quilt for my granddaughter!

Fall Frenzy!

Our weather here in the desert southwest has finally gone into cool down mode!

Our nighttime temps are in the 60's and our highs are under 3 digits!
The next 8 months are why we tolerate our sizzling summers.

To celebrate the arrival of FALL,

I have gone into pumpkin overload.

October Brings,
by JoAnn Mullaly,

graciously gifted to me by my friend, Deb,

is in the process of being machine quilted.
Wish you could see the stitchery better.

Primitive Pumpkins,

designed by Rita Briner, of the Quilters Station,

is officially a finish and

adorns my dining room table.

I purchased #308 Punkin Seeds

from Little Bits by Joan

and plan to start on it soon.

Should be a quick and fun project and will look great on my sideboard!

TOWQS has samples of several of her framed wool creations on display
and I want to make one of each!

Amidst all this fall frenzy,

I continue to stitch away at my Pennies From Heaven BOM.

Introduced the first aqua wool in block #3.

Did you notice I actually did a little embroidery...the stems.
The inner black circles are not embroidered yet...I am a chicken.
Struggling with the little lazy daisy stitches.

I have also started on Izzy's park quilt...

one cannot live on handwork, quilting and binding alone!

Inspired by Lee Heinrich's interpretation of the Cathedral Square block,

#469, from the Quiltmaker 100 Blocks Blog Tour.

I don't know how many blocks I will make or how I will set them yet,

but I am enjoying playing with bright fabrics for a change.

Lee plans to publish a pattern for her setting in the future.

Last week we took a needed vacation on Maui.
The diving was not all that great,
but that is the foot of my flipper in the upper corner
and I hope you can see the dolphins that swam next to us.

What a thrill!
However, the best part was getting to see my granddaughter experience the ocean for the first time.