My Sister and I

My Sister and I

My sister, Dale Walker, is an artist.  I should restate . . . She is an amazing, talented and beautiful artist.  

This is a Pegasus she drew in 1984.  I'm sorry if my picture doesn't do it justice, but the detail and the creative flare she brings to her art amazes me.  She loves horses and I used to watch her draw when we were growing up and envy the beauty she could put on a piece of paper.  Even when we were little, I was always amazed at how she could even color better than I could.  Her Barbie coloring book was always way more beautiful than mine.

So, when Dale asked me to make something for her using the my art of quilting, I was proud, honored and very anxious to try to create something very beautiful for her.  I so wanted to impress my big sister.

Dale fell in love with the artist, Laurel Burch when I made her a small lap quilt.  When Dale and her husband, Charlie purchased a horse trailer with living quarters, she asked if I could make her a quilt using Laurel Burch fabric if she supplied the fabric.  YES!!  What quilter doesn't love the fabric being supplied and knowing exactly what your finished project will be used for? 

Soon Dale started shipping fabric.  And more fabric.  And more fabric.  And more.  I had enough fabric cover the State of Texas with a quilt!!  What fun this would be.  I took inventory of the miles of fabric Dale purchased and started looking around for a pattern I liked.  Nothing really jumped out at me.  She wanted the quilt to center around a specific panel she loved and I couldn't find any pattern that I liked to suit the panel.  There was only one solution and that was to come up with my own design.

I started with the panel as the center and decided to build out from there.  The horses need a pasture, so outside the panel is a border and a flying geese block because to me the horses looked as though they wanted to fly right off the fabric.  Then came the hard part.  Dale sent me fabric that wasn't just brights, but also fabrics that had subtle tones that I needed to work into the quilt.  I solved that problem by putting the olive green in with the bright purple flying geese.  I liked the progress, pinned it up on my design wall and waited for more inspiration.  Those horses spoke to me.

I had a beautiful large print that I felt needed to be sent on point.  It seemed to me that these horses were so beautiful that you would want to try to cage them, so the split rail block worked well.  I broke up the split rail because you realize something so beautiful can't be penned.  But something needed to stand guard as a Sentry to these horses. 

Beautiful embroidered horses to watch each side of the fence.  Blocks on the outside showing flying horses and a border of more brights.  I loved it.  I stood back and tried to decide whether I should pay my sister for all the fabric she sent or send her the quilt.  But I didn't feel like I was done.  Remember, Dale sent me this MOUNTAIN of fabric and I still had a foothill left.

So she got two throw pillows.  I had small scraps left over from the quilt and made prairie point pillows.  Didn't use much fabric there so . . .

Gotta have pillow shams for your quilt.  That used up quite a bit of fabric, but I still had more.  Not only did I have more, but I also had so many beautiful Laurel Burch embroidery designs that I hadn't used so . . .

Pillow cases.  Six different horses on each pillow case, although you only see 3 here.  Still had fabric.  I know what you're thinking and no I didn't make sheets!!

But I made a bag!!  I thought this would work good as an overnight bag or for whatever she would like to use it for. 

I decided that I would have the quilt appraised so that Dale could see that her fabric money was well spent.  Dancing Horses appraised at $2,200.  I packed everything and shipped it to California.  I was so sad that I couldn't see her open the box, but her repeated "Oh My God" told me she loved her quilt.  Enjoy Dale.  Love you.

 

American Quilt of Valor

AMERICAN QUILT OF VALOR

The Quilt of Valor of Foundation is a wonderful organization that provides handmade quilts to American servicemen and their families that have been touched by war.  You really must check out their website at qofv.org.  Make sure you go and check out all that this organization does for those in our military and their families.

During QFL (Quilting Football League) at my local quilt shop, Piece by Piece, we decided that our project this year would be to make a Quilt of Valor for this organization.  Kathy Schmidt, Brenda McFaul, Vicki Verbrick and I all pitched in to piece this quilt together with Marcus Fabrics American Valor Fabrics collection. 

The pattern for this quilt was downloaded from the Marcus Fabrics website.  In one evening, Kathy, Brenda and Vicki helped cut the fabric and we nearly got the top done.  A couple more hours of outside work, and it was complete.

Then off the the fabulous Julie Zimmer who quilted this with a gorgeous pantograph.  Our thanks to her and to Piece by Piece for donating the fabric for the backing.

If you have a moment, please go to the Quilt of Valor Foundation website.  If you sew or know someone who sews, please make a quilt for this wonderful organization.  It doesn't have to be fancy, just heartfelt.  If you don't sew, there are other ways to help or donate.

Thank you to all the ladies that pitched in to make this quilt.  I will keep you up to date when we find out who the recipient of the quilt is and more information should you wish to pitch in.

Over the Rainbow

When I was growing up, the Wizard of Oz was my very favorite movie.  I can remember gluing myself to the TV for the annual showing of the classic.  It seemed no matter how old I was or how many times I saw that movie, that witch scared the crap out of me.  I can probably recite all of Dorothy's lines.  "I'm Dorothy Gale, from Kansas."

So, when a local quilt shop went out of business about four years ago, I bought up all of the Quilting Treasures line of Wizard of Oz fabric they had.  They didn't have everything in the entire line, but it was quite a bit.  Approximately 2 or 3 different panels and about 12 yards of other coordinating fabrics.  I had hit the mother lode!! 

I brought home my treasure of childhood memories and put it all together in my big bin marked "kits" to make later.  Okay, it was much later.  I pulled out the fabric, looked it over and decided now was the time to do something with my stash.  I looked online for patterns as most collections come with patterns and found that I either didn't have one fabric or not another.  I could have hit myself with a broom.  So, the only thing to do was just wing it. 

I gathered the panels and cut the panel into the pictures that I definitely wanted in my quilt.  Then, I added some basic blocks that fit my theme, such as snails trail, nine patch walk, and Kansas trouble.  The quilt grew, and grew, and grew.  If I only had a brain, I would have thought it through more carefully.  Suddenly I had a queen-sized quilt. 

I put the large panel blocks that I had together in story order.  Added some sashing strips and borders and suddenly there was my movie.  I loved it.  The problem was I had fabric left over that I also loved and didn't know what to do with it.  It seemed silly to make a bag and not have it with the quilt.  I couldn't carry that huge quilt around with the bag.  Then, after that enormous project, I summoned my courage to make . . .

Pillow shams!! The shams do not match, but I felt this was part of my "wing it" theory.  I love how it turned out.  I so wanted to use the rest of the fabric because I didn't have the heart to part with it. 

It now lays in Annie's room (homage to AnnMarie) where I am quite sure that Copper will probably lay amongst its poppies and sleep. 

Now that I have quilted across her face, that witch doesn't seem quite so scary.  (Actually, she stopped be scary when I found out she was Cora in the Maxwell House commercials that were on TV in the 70's.)

There's No Place Like Home

By the way, if you haven't seen the movie in a while, give your self a treat and sit down and watch it.  It really is a wonderful classic.

UFO's

No, not the "Close Encouters of the Third Kind".  All my quilting friends know exactly what a UFO is . . . those UnFinished Objects.  How many are in your closet?  I'm not telling.  But, I did finish a couple from a quilting retreat I went to at Piece by Piece in FEBRUARY!!  Let's see . . . February, March -- yeah, seven months ago!!  I thought I should get them finished before starting two more projects at the retreat this weekend. 

TOO MANY SNAILS

Too Many Snails from the Hooked on Three Colors book was the first one I had done.  I love the look of this quilt and have never done the snail's trail block before.  I got that out of my system and probably won't make another snail's trail block again.  Why?  Trimming, trimming and more trimming.  Unless you mark each triangle you add perfectly to your block you have the inevitable trimming to make sure that this block stays square.  If you don't mind trimming, then by all means snail away!!  

This quilt is going to be set aside for a special friend for Christmas.  I'm not saying who in case my special friend reads this.  Could it be you????

MINUS ORANGE

Strange name for a quilt.  Let me explain.  This is a simple borgello quilt (sew strips of fabric together into rows; sew the bottom row to the top row, right sides together to make a tube; cut the tube into sections; use seam ripper to open tube and sew in order desired).  I had all my strips sewn together in sets and had cut all my sections.  I was happily sewing away when Kathy looked under the table and said "whose orange strip is this?"  Yes, it was mine.  Dropped it on the floor.  Didn't make it in the strip sets.  Didn't make it in the quilt.  Lots and lots of expletives.  More expletives.  Potty mouth quilter.  So, this quilt is actually 2 1/2 inches too small on all sides.  Kathy and Brenda love looking at this quilt as asking me, "Isn't something missing?"  I think I should give it to one of them for their birthday.  Smartypants.

Another quilt retreat weekend will hopefully yield two more projects.  Hopefully in less than 7 months.  I have a really, really good excuse for being behind. 

Find out what it is in a post soon to be called "My Sister and I".  I am very excited about this project, and will be happy to share it with you soon. 

Mom, could you please . . .

My son Brandon's girlfriend, Amarra, had a birthday on Friday.  On the Tuesday before her birthday (that's right, I said Tuesday), Brandon asked if it would be possible for me to make her a bag for her birthday.  Tuesday request . . . Friday birthday.  So I said sure!!

Then, as all you creative types and fashionistas know, what follows next is a laundry list of questions.  What's her favorite color?  Does she like a big bag or small?  Long strap or short?  Yadayadayada.  I told Brandon that I would leave a stack of patterns on my cutting mat and directed him to my stash closet.  He did tell me that Amarra's favorite color was blue, so I put a big post it so he could see the stack marked "light blues" and the stack marked "dark blues".  He was told to pick a pattern and a fabric and meet me at Piece by Piece after work. 

I found out two things about Brandon.  First of all, he has excellent taste.  I thought he would pick out a pattern for a trendy hipster bag or something similar.  Nope, not my Brandon.  He picked out one of the most expensive, most difficult and classiest looking bag in the pile of patterns.  Amy Butler's Sweet Harmony Handbag was his choice.  Good taste, right? 

The second thing I found out about Brandon was that he has expensive taste.  The fabric he chose out of my stash was one of the most beautiful and expensive blue fabrics that was in the pile.  You know, the one fabric that you keep setting aside and say to yourself, "I really have to make something special with that one day."  What's more special than making something for your son? 

Armed with a pattern and our focus fabric, we are standing in Piece by Piece to pick out a coordinating fabric and lining.  With the help of the fabulous Vicki and Lisa, mission accomplished in about two minutes.

Home after our shopping trip, I sat down to read the pattern as I had never made this bag before.  I discovered that it was not going to be difficult, just tedious.  Lots of cutting.  The pattern recommends two layers of fusible interfacing and two layers of fusible fleece.  I checked my supply of both and decided that one layer of each would be fine.  I just chose a heaver fusible interfacing for stability. 

After a total of three hours of cutting and three hours of sewing later, the bag was finished on Friday morning.  Whew!  It was beautiful.

The bag has two wonderful, big outside pockets.  Inside one of the pockets, I put a cell phone pocket.  No girl wants to go fishing around in her bag for her cell phone.  It must be handy.

Inside is two large spaces and of course, a zippered pocket. 

Brandon saw the bag and smiled.  A result worth the fabric, time, and effort.  He was happy with the bag and I even got a "Wow".  He met Amarra and her family for dinner for her birthday.  Brandon gave her the bag and I got a text saying that everyone loved the bag.  Brandon was kind enough to take a picture and send it to me.  Judging by her smile, I think Amarra must love the bag, too.

Happy Birthday, Tim . . . and Thank You

I am in the process of designing and constructing a quilt for my sister, so I have nothing new to report.  I have been working on a few UFOs when I come to a creative block.  I will keep you posted and show some pictures.

So, I will take this opportunity to give a nod to my husband, Tim.  Tim is very supportive of my quilting hobby (more like obsession).  As I am supportive of his biking hobby (also more like obsession).  He doesn't really complain when I come home with an enormous bag of new fabric, as the reverse is true when he needs new biking gear.  I go to quilt retreats.  Tim goes on rides.  Long, long rides.  He has a 150 mile ride for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society coming up in just a couple of weeks.

Recently Tim, turned 50.  (By the way, I am much, much, much younger than Tim.  That's the story I'm going with anyway.)  Brandon and I threw him a 50th Birthday party.  It turned out to be a little larger than expected, and we all had great fun.  We requested that the invitees not bring gifts as we knew Tim would rather enjoy the day with people he cares about than getting more "stuff".  However, he did get one gift from Brandon, which I would like to share with you.

If you have 8 minutes, please enjoy this video that Brandon made for his father for his 50th Birthday.  There wasn't a dry eye in the house.  Those who know Tim know that there is nothing more important in Tim's life than Brandon.  So, for Tim this is the best gift he has ever gotten . . . ever.

So, I post here and now, Happy Birthday and thank you to my husband Tim, for our beautiful son, for our many adventures, and for all he does. 

Graduation

Think teenagers really don't care about quilts?  Well, that couldn't be further from the truth.  I think everybody has a little "Linus" in us.  All Graduates love cash . . . we all know that.  But they also love something that is distinctly theirs.  I have made quilts for kids graduating high school and the look on their face is priceless.  From the girls, a look of glee.  From the boys a look of, "Quilts can been cool?  Really?"

Chad graduated last year, but I didn't have a "boy" quilt to make this year, and I wanted to show you one.  We gathered up those t-shirts that they can't bear to part with.  You know the ones that are shoved in the back of a drawer and are so wrinkled they are hardly recognizable as a garment anymore.  When you tell your kids to clean out their drawers for Goodwill, they say that old shirt is one of their "favorites" and won't part with it.  I used a template to cut out the shirt and backed it with a woven fusible interfacing.  This stops the shirt from stretching and it will stay square.  Chad loved this t-shirt quilt so much that he refused to take it to college where it may be ruined.  The smile on Chad's face in this picture was not fake.  He genuinely was excited to get this gift.  It was well worth every minute of making this quilt.

Becky is truly a girly girl with three brothers.  A t-shirt quilt just wasn't going to do for her.  As a matter of fact, I don't think I've ever seen her wear a t-shirt other than as a uniform for softball.  Regardless, making a quilt for her was a snap.  She loves purple -- all shades of purple.  This quilt was amazingly easy to make because you didn't have to match one seam!!  There are patterns out there that are young and hip and not your grandma's quilting.  Becky tells me this is going on her bed in college.

It is truly a privilege to share your art with kids.  They love having something that is distinctively their own.  Oh, and yes, I gave them some cash, too.

Memorial Day

I know I'm supposed to be writing about quilting and sewing and other crafty things.  But on certain days I feel introspective.  Memorial Day is one of those days.  So, I take the liberty of using my blog for something other than what is was created.  I guess that liberty is what Memorial Day is really about.

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service.  When watching the news about Afghanistan and Iraq and I hear about the fatality count for the day, I think of the son or daughter that was lost.  The brother or the sister, the mother or the father.  I think of how I would feel if that were my son, my brother, my sister.  I can't even bear the thought.  I don't know how I would live the reality.

Today I also think of my father.  He was a WWII vet and because I am 49 years old, you can surmise that he did not lose his life in the line of service.  Or did he?  I believe a big piece of him died in the Pacific Theatre.  He never spoke about the war or what he saw, but I do know that the Navy vet that returned was not the same boy that left his Indiana farm.  I once asked him why he didn't talk about the war.  He said there are things you don't want to remember. 

My father joined the service at the age of 17.  His older brother had already enlisted and was an Air Force pilot during WWII.  I remember my grandmother telling me that my father insisted that she sign the papers so he could enlist, or he would leave home.  I just see him saying that.  My father was very, very "ornery", to say the very, very least.  Could I sign those papers if it were my son, even with a threat of leaving hanging over my head?  I don't know that I could.

Tom Brokaw said that the sons and daughters of WWII was the "greatest generation."  I read the book and by all accounts, never was there ever before then such a sense of patriotism by all persons, not just those in the service, but also those at home.  This book is worth a read.  My grandmother had two sons at war.  She was very proud of her sons.  How does one bear that?

So, to all those who we have lost, no matter during what war or conflict, and to those who watch their loved ones serve our country, I thank you.

Extreme Makeover -- Sewing Room Edition

The new floor is installed.  The new sewing cabinet is in.  Time to add the equipment and fabric!!  It's hard to imagine that I sewed for so long on a dark green carpet.  The room now feels so much more open and airy.  I feel like I'm in a whole new house!!

Thanks to Tim, Dan and Brandon for installing this floor in one Saturday morning.  The cabinet was in after lunch on Saturday afternoon.  That was my Mother's Day gift.  I am the luckiest mom . . . ever.

My new desk area is no longer that dark green and horrible orange color that it once was.  I now feel like a sewing princess!!

I diligently folded and refolded my fabric stash to fit in my closet just the way I wanted.  Like colors together, themes together, etc. etc.  I discovered that I have way too much fabric.  One tip that someone gave at a seminar was if you find fabric that you love buy it.  Buy it all!!  Yikes!!  Where would I put it?  New plan . . . pick out coordinating fabrics from my stash and find a pattern to go with it, instead of the other way around.

I decided to put my design boards around my desk area and save my room walls for quilts.  I have so many folded in the closet and decided it was time to display them.  Here's the desk area.  The design boards act as a great "sound insulator" for the TV.  I just have to figure out a way to make those unsightly TV cords not so ugly.  Any suggestions?

Now for the best.  If you have two sewing machines, the Koala Craftpro IV is the best.  It is counter height so the extensions serve as a cutting tables.  One on each side!!  Tons of storage.  Everthing that was laying around is now stored neatly on the shelves under the cabinet.  You don't have to take up wall space for bookshelves or put in an extra cabinet for all those notions!!  I died and went to sewing room heaven!!

There is even now a wide open area to move around.  Lay your blocks out on the floor, and an ironing board.  My father-in-law made me the big board to go over my regular ironing board and the quilt hanger that you see.  It's wonderful to be in a family full of handymen!!

From Sewing Room to Sewing Studio

When we built our house 8 years ago, the room I now use as my sewing room was a designated "play room" for my son.  He picked out the wall color, carpet color, etc. etc.  It showed.  At that time he was  in love with the Packers.  So there we were. Yellow walls, dark green desk area, dark green carpet.  Not exactly conducive to a sewing room.  Nonetheless, when he got his drivers license, he was rarely home anymore.  So, I stole the room. 

Out came the Playstation, drum set, futon, and rock star posters.  I was so anxious to have my very own sewing space, I didn't bother changing anything.  Have you ever sewed for very long on a dark green carpet?  Not good.

I put on my best "pouty" face and told my husband that my sewing space needed an extreme makeover.  Reluctantly and with his best "pouty" face, he gave the green light.  Here's the progress:

Here's the first "before" picture.  See the beautiful dark green carpet and those vibrant yellow walls?  I cringe just looking at it.  As you can see, I tested out paint colors.  It couple me a couple of tries, but I finally found something I truly loved.  It's funny how colors look so different in the store than at home.  Thank God for those wonderful paint samples they have now. 

And here's the dark green "cubby" area.  You can see more paint tests.  This is a great area to set up my computer and store my books.  As it was it was way too dark.  I'll fix that!!

And so it began . . . paint samples . . . standing back.  Hmmm.  Brenda's opinion, Annette's opinion, Tim's opinion.  First I got the ceiling painted.  Feeling like Michael Angelo, I stood back and admired my handy work.  That was last weekend.  This weekend the walls. 

From this picture it is hard to tell, but the walls are now a light and airy shade of pale green.  The room looks so clean and bright.  I already feel inspired.  And as for that cubby:

It is now a light sage green.  For a nice pop of color, I painted the desk a marine blue.  The red paper you see on the floor is the next big step to be completed next weekend.  Hardwood floors.  I am so excited I feel giddy. 

So what am I now using for my sewing room?  Well, my poor dining room looks like an explosion, but I am able to satisfy my need to sew little projects for now.

Needless to say I haven't invited anyone to dinner in a while.  I'll keep you up to date on the construction. 

Oh, by the way.  A beautiful Koala cabinet will be going in my space.  Check it out.  It will be the CraftPro Plus IV.  Check it out at http://www.sewingandcraftclub.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=2919&category_id=303

Instant Gratification -- Compliments of Amy Butler

Sometimes when I work on a lot of quilt tops, I need a break.  It sometimes seems like I have nothing "finished".  When I feel like that, I look for something that will give me instant gratification.  That is usually a bag or tote. 

A couple of weeks ago I had to take a trip to Madison.  On the way home I stopped at Nancy's Notions to look for some inspiration or a new idea.  I came across a book full of bags by Amy Butler.  I LOVE her designs.  They are creative and original.  Not the same old bag, know what I mean?


Before I buy a book, I have to leaf through it and see if there is more than one pattern I want to make.  When I leafed through this book, there wasn't one pattern I DIDN'T want to make!!  I felt immediate inspiration!! I wanted to make them all . . . that day.

I finally settled on a pattern called the Fringed Hobo.  It was so much fun selecting the fabric for the outside, and I was able to find the lining in my stash.  It was really, really fun to make this purse.  I do, however, recommend finding a decorator weight fabric.  You want this purse to be able to maintain its shape. 

I sort of chose things backwards.  I found a trim that I really liked, and the selected the fabric to go with the trim.  The best I have to choose from is at my local Joann Fabrics store, and the selection there is not exactly primo, but adequate. 


What's up next?  Well, my sewing room is currently being gutted.  My husband is treating me to new paint, flooring and even a Koala Suite!! 

Stay tuned for the progress . . .

Look Before You Leap . . . or Applique

About a year ago, I signed up at my favorite local quilt shop, Piece by Piece, and signed up for an absolutely beautiful Halloween Block of the Month.  For those of you who love to applique, Baltimore Halloween will be right up your alley.  A word of warning for those not so good at applique, like me, or those who want to ease into applique, this quilt really is . . . scary.  I have eight of thirteen blocks now under my belt.  Yes, I am a bit behind.  The first few, not so daunting.  Absolutely beautiful when put togther.   Remember, I got behind, so when I picked up Block #13, I opened it with glee thinking that this is really, really gonna pull this all together.  That's when Baltimore Halloween got really, really scary.  Nearly 200 pieces in the center block to applique.  Yep, you read right. 

Okay, okay.  I did cut some corners.  I looked at the candy corn and decided to make little strips sets and then cut out the pieces.  So, instead of making the candy corn 3 separate pieces of white, orange, yellow, I made strip sets and cut curved triangles.  Then there were other ways that I cut corners by making things that should have been more pieces just one piece.  I thought I would just use my thread for definition.  It actually worked out pretty well and I was pleased with the result. 

This quilt is going to be absolutely beautiful when it is done.  Definitely a great wall hanging as it finishes out at about 58 x 58.  I have more stitching to do.  My ghosts need faces.  But I have definitely learned a lesson.  I have about 9 hours of work in this one 20 x 20 block.  Look before you leap . . . or applique.

2011 Quilting and Sewing Expo in Oshkosh, Wisconsin

I'm back from more learning!!  I LOVE taking classes, and I encourage all crafters to take as many classes as they can.  It is so much fun to learn new ideas and listen to others in the classes share their ideas.  I always get a refreshed urge to create!!  Great instructors and a variety of vendors.  Reasonable cost.  Five classes, breakfast and lunch was only $60. 

First class of the day was Threads Untangled with Chris Lynn Kirsch.  Not sure what to piece or sew with?  What the heck is thread weight?  What is color fast?  What is ply?  This class answered all my questions.  The instructor was fun and informative with many examples to show.  If Chris is in your area, make sure you check out her class.

I had Chris again after lunch for a class called Parallelisms.  LOVED this class.  I now look at my stash closet in a whole knew way.  I buy fabric.  Lots of fabric.  Some fabrics in my stash have been waiting for a quilt pattern with big blocks because I didn't want to cut up such a beautiful fabric.  Now I want to cut it all up!!  In tiny pieces!!  Look below to see why!!

This is what Chris calls Parallelisms.  The concept:  take interesting fabrics and add layers.  Some layers are cotton, some silk.  She even adds layers of sheers such as tulle.  Check out the bottom left corner of this quilt.  Gorgeous!!

The second thing introduced in this class was what Chris calls Concentrics.  Instead of straight lines, add curves and other shapes for interest.

These quilts have so much interest.  This ain't your Grandma's quilting.  Afraid of trying?  I was, but my stash is large and mighty!! So, if I mess something up I guess its a great excuse to go shopping for more!! 

For the more traditional quilter, she had a display of adorable children's quilt.  So much fun and not hard!!  I highly recommend you check out this artist and author.
You may also want to check out her website.  You can find her at http://www.chrisquilts.net/

Another great class was Organizing Your Studio by Linda Halpin.  Boy, did I need assistance with that!!  Lots of ideas and an enthusiastic instructor.  I have two pages of my notebook filled with tips and ideas for organizing.  Who doesn't need help with that?  Linda's favorite item:  a labeler.  Take a trip to the Container Store, Ikea or just an office supply store.  But, don't forget to label those containers!!  I have the labeler she spoke about and love it.  But, you have to hide it from your husband and kids.  I have in my sewing studio two sets of 10-drawer organizers, all of which have a label on them.  Soon, it's off to the Container Store for me.  I will undoubtedly have to label all those containers!!

Now, although I enjoyed all of those classes and very much enjoyed all of those instructors, by far the most entertaining of the day was Fun & Done with Joyce Clark.  Joyce is a 14-year quilting and sewing instructor at Fox Valley Technical College.  She knows her stuff.  She is smart, funny and has a lot of moxy.  Fun & Done is a method that enables you to quilt your block sandwich.  Then you can sew them into rows, then rows into your whole quilt.  Done!!  Now you don't have to take that large, basted quilt and hassle with all that fabric while you try to quilt!   One block at a time . . . that's it!! 

I immediately went home and threw a sample together so I could remember how to do it.  It was easy!!  Check your local quilt shop or technical college for a class on this method.  You won't be disappointed.  There are no books out on this method, so a class is necessary.  Joyce also teachers a class called Cotton Theory.  Same idea, but you create a more dimensional look.  I found an entire list of Joyce's class.  Just go to http://www.fvtc.edu/public/content.aspx?ID=1801&PID=53.  A list of Joyce's classes are in the middle of the page. 

Many lessons learned . . . so much fun.  If you get a chance, try to participate in something like this in your area.  It really is great fun and you come home energized!!

Japan . . .

It's St. Patrick's Day.  I'm supposed to be thinking of Ireland, shamrocks, green beer, parades, etc., etc.  I can't seem to get in the spirit.  My mind and my heart keeps taking me to the haunting, sad and horrific pictures of Japan. 

I was in my sewing room, which is such disarray that it is hard to create.  So, I decided to do some organizing before starting anything else.  I went through the pile of new fabric I had just purchased and carefully folded each piece in a way it best fits on my shelves of stash.  My stash closet is organized in various piles.  Blacks, whites, florals, Christmas, etc.  I then came upon my stash of Asian fabrics and I immediately had tears in my eyes. 

As I am sitting on the floor of my in-tact and heated home, I think of those whose houses in Japan that are leveled.  Someone in one of those homes may have been doing what I was doing just the day before this disaster.  That someone may no longer be there, or may not have a home. 

I find that the older I get, the more introspective I become.  As I watch the news and see the video of earthquake damage, tsunami damage and now the possibility of a Chernobyl-like disaster, I think of how I may or may not relate to any of those disaster victims.  I think of the people who have perished and the loved ones left behind.  How would I handle such sorrow, or how would I be remembered?

If I had lost so much, would I be as gracious as the Japanese people?  I have not heard one report of looting.  I have had the good fortune to travel to Japan and can tell you first hand that this is a country of people who are kind, gracious and generous.  They are a people who seem to relish in giving.  It shows in the news reports.

So, here's a thought.  When we think of what is going on, not just in Japan, but in other disaster areas, do we think, "I wonder if they had designer clothes?"  "I wonder if they were a size 4?"  "I wonder if they drove a Lexus or Mercedes?"  I know I don't wonder those things.

If I were to perish suddenly, how would I want to be remembered?  Would I want to be remembered for what I had?  I think I would want to be remembered for what I gave.  Because I quilt, I think that I would like to leave a little "piece" of me wherever I can.  Yes, I donate my work to charities.  I've made quilts for victims of the Haiti earthquake, the Linus Project and other things.  It feels good to give. But could I do something more?  What other "pieces" could I leave?

When I was getting ready to go to my office this morning, I grabbed my coat and a green scarf knitted by my friend, Colleen.  This is a piece of her life she has left with me.  Colleen is also a teacher, which I consider to be one of the most noble professions.  Each and every day a teacher like Colleen leaves a piece of herself with each and every one of her students, whether she believes that or not.  We all leave pieces of ourselves.

With each disaster that I see, I feel the need to do something bigger than myself.  I think the challenge is to get more people to do something bigger than themselves.  I don't think it has to be a "change the world" action.  But I think that if we all think of something that leaves a little piece of our self; hopefully a piece of our best self, it can change our world.

Goosetracks Block 1 -- Done and Fun!!

I  finished my first block on my Hoop Sisters Goosetracks block of the month.  It was fun!! Fun!! FUN!!  I also love the way it turned out.  What's your opinion?

The only thing I would do differently is to try to find a fabric that was not quite so mottled.  I used batiks for all of the fabrics, but I think a more tone on tone would have worked better.  Some of the embroidery stitches got a little lost.  I still love it and can't wait to do next month's block. 

One down . . . nine more to go!!  Stay tuned . . .

Lovin' Me Some Magna Hoop

I am  not a very good free motion quilter.  Okay, I'm a terrible free motion quilter.  I have taken classes and I think I am getting a bit better, but truth be told, I still suck.  Frankly, who wants to spend all that time and energy creating a quilt top and ruining it with crappy free motion quilting.  I envy those who do this well.  It is truly an art.

After I purchased my Baby Lock Ellegante 2, which has many quilt stitches on it, I thought this would be great!!  I can quilt my own quilts and have them look like a pro did the stitching.  The problem:  hooping a quilt.  What a drag.  Especially when the quilt comes unhooped from wrangling it into the machine.  This happened more than I care to count.  I began to cuss like a sailor.

I thought I had the answer.  Sticky stabilizer!! I wouldn't have to hoop the quilt if I used sticky stabilizer!!  Great concept, crappy results.  First of all, that stabilizer isn't cheap.  Second, if you have an intricate quilting design, you can be picking stabilizer off the back of your quilt for hours.  No fun. 

So, I went to my Baby Lock Dealer and asked (okay, I begged) for help to resolve this issue.  There had to be a better answer.  So, here it is:

This thing worked great.  You can get it at your sewing machine dealer, or on Amazon for about $150.  (The cost of having a full-sized quilt done by your long-arm professional).  Magna Hoop use your own hoop (make sure you have the correct size as stated on the side of the box) that you can simply leave in your machine.  Mark your quilting area on your quilt, slide it over the hoop, and a set of magnets placed on an acrylic frame will hold down the your quilt.  I did a quilt border on a 64 X 80 quilt in the time that it had taken me to do one side in my previous, awkward hooping system.  No hoop burn, nothing to pick off the back of your quilt, no cussing.

I AM IN LOVE!!!

Bright, Bold and Modern

I had time to kill before I went to my Embroidablock of the Month Club, so I decided to drop in on a new shop that opened up last spring that I hadn't visited yet.  Keep Me In Stitches is uniquely different from any of the quilt shops in the Fox Valley.  Located at 3402 North Richmond Street in Appleton, the shop and its fabrics are bright and modern, loaded with fabrics from Kaffe Fasset and Amy Butler.  The shop is small, but nicely appointed and laid out in a way that makes you want to create. 

The staff is pleasant and helpful.  I loved browsing there without being "sold".  I love going to a shop where you can just casually browse, but if you have a question, you can get help from a friendly and helpful staff. Congratulations to Jackie and her new shop.

Quilting and Embroidery -- Oh My!!

I own two sewing machines.  The first really great machine I bought was the Baby Lock Espire.  I love it so much I hug it every time I finish using it.  Then I thought I would like to do other things as well, so I purchased the Baby Lock Ellegante 2.  I embroidered a few things - shirts, napkins, etc.  I also use it to quilt blocks and borders on small quilts.  It's pretty awesome for doing that as well.

But anyone who knows me knows that I have to figure out how to take it to the next level.  Here it is.  I have no idea what I'm doing, but I'm jumping in feet first.  After all, what do I have to lose except some fabric from my stash, miles of embroidery thread and my dignity of being in a class with seasoned embroidery people.  I'm just hoping no one throws rotten fruit at me for slowing them down.

This is called Goose Tracks from Hoopsisters.  http://hoopsisters.com//  It's a block-of-the-month program that I will be starting tomorrow at Sew and Sew in Appleton, Wisconsin.  This is a Viking Husqvarna shop and they are graciously allowing this Baby Lock user to join.  There's a $20 per month fee, but it includes instruction by the amazing Bonnie, who is the shop's owner.

Wish me luck!!

Quilting and The Budget Repair Bill

WTF?  Really?  Quilting and the Budget Repair Bill?  What is this woman thinking?

Quite frankly, that's all I've been doing is thinking.  I've been thinking about all of the people who are affected by this bill, all the people who are not affected by this bill and all of the people who are willing to go to the Capital to voice their opinion, whether in opposition or in support.  Will this change my livelihood?  No.  Do I have any children in any public school?  No.  Then what's up?

I am not a public sector employee, but several of my clients are public sector employers.  I have many friends who are public sector employees and I see how this bill is tearing up both sides.  I struggled with my own views and how to put them into perspective and finally figured out that perspective.  Quilting.

I wondered what would happen if I suddenly had to pay an additional 5.8% for fabric (for public sector employees this would be the equivalent of the retirement benefits).  Would I stop quilting?  Probably not.  Then I asked myself how I would feel if I had to pay an additional 6% to 12.6% for thread, notions, etc. (for public sector employees this is the equivalent of health care costs)  Would I stop quilting?  Probably not.  But then I dug a little deeper.  What if my choice of patterns was taken away?  Would I then continue to quilt?  This is getting a little dicey.  Now, let's assume that not only was my choice of patterns taken away, but I could not have a say in my fabric, thread, and how and when the quilt was going to be completed.  Further, if I made a mistake, my quilt could be taken away and discarded and there was nothing to protect the work I had done.  Now would I continue to quilt?

I began quilting because others who participate in this hobby were enthusiastic and shared their enthusiasm with me.  How enthusiastic would they be if there was restricted choice, or no choice at all, on their creativity.  Furthermore, my love for quilting grew the more I learned about this art.  People like my mother-in-law Sue, who taught me basic rotary and piecing skills.  Or Vicki from Piece by Piece who taught me how paper piece.  There's also the many, many teachers and instructors who taught me free-motion quilting, etc.  Now I teach others because I am enthusiastic.  My enthusiasm stems from choice and a voice of how, when and what materials I can use to make my quilts and bags.  How enthusiastic and eager would I be to teach with limited choice?

So there it is.  What is the incentive to become a teacher in Wisconsin?  What will happen to the enthusiasm that I have seen on the face of so many good teachers?  What will happen to an education system that claims it wants the best and brightest, but snuffs out opportunity with such disregard for the best and the brightest.  Giving our public sector employees the right to bargain their rights is no different than giving any other person in any other profession, art, hobby, etc. the right to expression.  Such expression in no way will adversely effect any budget.  What it will do, I fear, is make very ugly, plain quilts with no color or creative threads. 

I always remember that it was because of a teacher (Gerald Steinacker) that told me that I was creative.  It was a teacher (Susan Gift) that taught me to write well.  It was because of education that I was able to leave an impoverished childhood and be whatever I wanted to be.

Back from the Launch

THAT WAS SO COOL!!  I had never seen a shuttle launch before, and Tim and I were lucky enough to see the last Discovery launch on February 24, 2011.  Other launch veterans told us it was disappointing because of low clouds, but I thought it was pretty amazing.

My trip to Florida also allowed me a trip to a quilt shop called Boutique 4 Quilters.  This is a beautiful shop in West Melbourne, Florida.  Easy to find, this place has plenty of inspiration for everyone, and it was busy.  Must have been full of us snow birds.  Great service and their prices are in line with most quilt shops I have visited.  I purchased a bag pattern, hardware for the bag (d-rings, purse feet, etc.) and a yard of fabric for just under $40.  If you are looking for traditional fabrics (such as primitives and civil war), this is not the place for you.  This shop's theme is mainly bright and modern with plenty of Amy Butler fabric and other brights.  The service was amazing with a gorgeous, sweet 10-year old Golden Retriever greeting me at the door.  She also puts her front feet on the counter when you check out as she gets a treat anytime she hears the register.  Check out this shop at http://www.boutique4quilters.com/.  If you are on the Space Coast, stop by and you won't be disappointed.  Plus, just two doors down is a little bar where the husband can get a beverage while you shop!!

Our next stop was Orlando.  Tim and I then ventured on to Orlando for the remainder of our trip.  We went to Universal City the first day and enjoyed something from nearly every bar there.  Margaritaville, Hard Rock, etc.  We were such tourists!! 

The next day it was into the park.  We ventured into the park and did everything a child and adult would want to do.  We must have picked a great time of year, because the longest wait we had was about 10 minutes.  We enjoyed dinner at the Hard Rock cafe.  We highly recommend their macaroni and cheese.  Yummy. 

That evening was a BLAST!!  First came the Mardi Gras parade that began at around 8:00.  We got so many beads that my neck was sore.  Please keep in mind that this is Universal Studios, so the parade was G rated.  Then off we went to see the Blue Man Group.  Front row seats included a poncho.  I was nervous.  This was sooooooo much fun.  From the great percussion, to the comedy, to their really amazing band, this is a must see.  You can bring kids to this and they would enjoy it as much as we did.

Sunday evening . . . relaxed in our suite with Chinese take-out and the Oscars.  Ahhhh.

Next adventure . . . March 26, 2011 Quilting and Sewing Expo at the Fox Valley Technical College in Oshkosh.  Brenda and I are taking classes from Fun and Done (quilt as you go) to organizing your sewing room, which I so desperately need  If there are any amazing tricks or tools, I will definitely share them.

More from the sewing room later!!

Quilting Retreat at Piece by Piece

Busy, busy busy.  On Friday, February 18 and Saturday, February 19, I attended an in-store retreat at Piece by Piece in Appleton with my girls Kathy and Brenda.  We had a blast and got MUCH done!!  I finished the top of a king-sized quilt with a pattern called Labyrinth from Calico Carriage Quilt Designs.  The designer is Debbie Maddy.  It's gorgeous and I'm posting a picture of it.  This quilt finishes 118' x 118', but all sizes are included in thie pattern from lap to king.  Super, super easy.  The whole thing is squares and half-square triangles.  There are NO Y seams!!  You can see my dog in the bottom right corner just couldn't help himself and had to be in the picture. 

Piece by Piece is an amazing store with an amazing group of women owners.  Anybody traveling to northeast Wisconsin should do their best to hit this store.  Check them out at http://www.piecebypiecellc.com/

I highly recommend going to a retreat with other women, whether it be for church, a women's club, or your favorite craft.  There were women of all ages at this retreat.  Each of them amazing in one way or another and full of life experiences to share and to learn.  The one thing I did learn is that all women basically think the same and want the same things, no matter their age, size, education level or their station in life.  If you aren't a member of a guild, craft club, church club or women's club, I highly encourage you to do things that occasionally surround you with women.  What an amazing group!!

I am off today to sunny Florida.  We are going to visit another amazing woman, Jan, and hopefully, weather permitting, watch the shuttle launch.  I will, of course, check out some Florida quilt shops and give you my critique.  Hopefully I will find something I can't live without. 

Sewing with Brenda

Yesterday I spent the day sewing with my friend, Brenda and her mom, Pat.  The project I took was a paper piecing project from the book Spellbinding Quilts by Maaike Bakker.  This books of full of wizards, witches and other really cool characters.  I HIGHLY recommend this book for the paper piece lover who may want to do a one of a kind quilt for any child.  Especially those Harry Potter fans.

But, alas, I was unable to finish.  Brenda and her mom were struggling with a project they had started in November.  Pat was making six, yes I said SIX, bags for her friends from a pattern called the Sonoma Swing Bag.  This is a Pink Sand Beach Designs pattern #108.  This is an adorable bag.  I have made several of them, but not SIX AT A TIME!!!  My review of this pattern is that the directions are not very clear, especially when putting in the zipper and lining.  However, if you make this bag, plan on making one as a prototype, mark down what you did, and then make a second that looks really, really great!!  To make a long story short, five are now finished.  One more to go, but not by me.  I think Brenda will need a new seam ripper as her was used so much it is now renegotiating its labor contract.

As for me today, I am off to finish at least one dragon!!!  Stay tuned . . .

Getting Started

So, I just decided to write this blog because my family and friends are so sick and tired of me showing and telling them about my quilting and my bags.  So, I will just send this out to the great unknown to see where it goes.  It is a great release.  No one says "uh huh, but you're in front of the TV" or the gratuitous "yeah, that's nice".  So cyberspace, here it goes.

I am off this morning to my friend Brenda's to sew for the day.  I have packed two machines.  I have a "loaner" machine that all my friends use when theirs is in the shop or "not quite working right".  My loaner machine is a New Home HF3000.  I have no idea what that means, but someone told me that New Home is a Janome brand.

The second machine I am taking is my Baby Lock Ellegante2, which I love and adore.  I love it so much that I hug it after I am done sewing for the day.  I am taking this one because my Baby Lock Espire is in for cleaning.  Yes, you guessed it, I am a Baby Lock freak!!! 

Today I am doing a paper piecing project from a book called Spell Binding Quilts.  I will post my dragons later.  Off we go!!