4 Blue Ribbons, 1 NQR

This year at the local fair, I entered 4 items and won 4 blue ribbons. Yea!

In the "Large Quilt Category," my designer BOM (from an on-line quilt shop,) received 1st place,
(ok family and friends, this one needs a home)

In the "Holiday House-Other Category," (all Christmas items are placed in "Holiday House,") my Santa Quilt placed 1st, (I'm keeping this one, don't even ask)

1st place in the "Quilted Kitchen Item Category," was my poppy table runner,

and the NQR item which won a blue ribbon in the "Crochet-Work-Fine Category," was a cream colored doily.

If you've never entered your work in a competition, consider entering your local or state fair. Who knows, you might win!

On the design wall.....

Long before this guy was spotted in my back yard,

one of my favorite quilt blocks was bear paws. Another favorite of mine when it comes to quilts is the color electric green, or as I call it,  "slime". Throw in one of my favorite designs of fabric, "dots" and you would have the trifecta of my favorite things to be in a quilt.

You can imagine my delight when I found a kit that incorporate all of these three things. My color choice was gold/brown or blue/green. You know which one I chose. Now this is on my design wall

 

along with this

 

 If thinking about making this kit, "Eldorado Canyon" by Chris Hoover/Whirligig Designs, let me offer a few suggestions.

First, cut the HST's just a skoosh bigger than called for. That way after the sections are sewn together, the pieces can be trimmed to exactly the correct size. As hard as I try, my HST's come out a little crooked and trimming them fixes that problem.

Second, pay careful attention to fabric placement in the bar block. There is a right direction and a wrong direction. After the block is sewn together, trust me, it will slap you in the face. Time to do a little un-sewing.

And third, pay close attention to the pressing direction. Another one of those things that will jump up and bite you.

 

I made how many HST's?

Happy Birthday Mom

As February approaches, I am always in a quandary as what to give my mother for a birthday present and this year was no exception. She's one of those people who is very hard to buy for. I called my sister and asked what she was doing. Wouldn't you know it, she has already been shopping.

Several years back, I made a pillow from a family photo and I decided to do the same thing again, only this time I used the photo of an adorable two year old who is now "forty-something." (That's right sis, you've only got a few more years where you can truthfully use that "forty-something" line.) I hope mom likes it.

Remember: Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer you get to the end, the faster it goes.

Recycling a few Patterns

The other day, gal pal Linda sent me an email. (Yes, she is the same Linda who is in my book and she does exist.) Anyway, she suggested that I should start referring to the over-stuffed sewing closet which I am trying to clean out as the "The Resource Center." (Check out the previous post.)

In the resource center, I have quite a selection of used patterns. These are all patterns which I have purchased, either as BOM's or complete project kits and I no longer want or need them. These are patterns only; no fabric, no buttons, no panels. Just patterns which could use a new home.

Top: 6 issues of Quilts with Style. Issues Feb, April, June, Jul/Aug, Sept/Oct, Nov/Dec from 2005. These six issues were needed to complete the Tuscan Garden quilt by Schwartz & Seifert.
Bottom Left: All 6 patterns to complete the Sew Spooky Quilt by The Quilt Company.
Bottom Middle: All the applique and block patterns to complete the Classic Santas by Quakertown Quilts. (Check out the previous post.)
Bottom Right: All 12 patterns and finishing instructions for the 2013 Designer Mystery BOM  from the Fat Quarter Shop.

Once again, these are patterns only. If you would like to have any of these, free of charge, please leave a comment stating which pattern you want and then send me an email or give me a call.

Being unemployed does have a few benefits.......

With not having a job, I decided it's time for a few projects to get done around here. I've painted the ceiling on the porch, worked on my landscaping and have begun one of the most dreaded tasks ever created by man........cleaning out the closets. One of which is jammed with nothing but fabric or projects that were begun a long time ago and then abandoned for some reason or another, a.k.a., UFO's. (UnFinished  Objects)

About eight, yes EIGHT years ago, I started a BOM which consisted of 12 inch blocks, 6 inch blocks and 12 inch appliqued Santa blocks. Somewhere along the line, I lost interest and placed everything as I received it in a plastic storage container and banished it to the sewing closet. Two months ago, I found the container and decided it was past due to finish this thing up and now that I have the time, NO MORE EXCUSES. I drug the container to the living room and placed all the completed blocks out on the floor and looked at them for well over a week. I had 8 more appliqued Santa blocks to finish, along with 3 of the 6 inch pieced blocks. Looking at the back of the pieced blocks, my techniques and accuracy have improved over the years but my applique blocks still look about the same.

On Monday, I finished assembling all the pieces. I can't tell you what a tremendous accomplishment this is and tomorrow, the top goes to the LAer. She said it may be back in time for Christmas. Even if it's not, one more year isn't going to matter.

Stay tuned. More UFO's to come.

Another Win......

Participating in the Peachtree Road Race and completing it is an accomplishment all in its self. After 6.2 miles and receiving the t-shirt, you feel exhausted and I don't know about you, but I'm looking for a bottle of Gatorade, (or something a little stronger).

After a few years of taking it to the streets of downtown Atlanta, I finally had enough t-shirts to make a quilt. This quilt is one of my favorites and this past week, it won a first place ribbon.

Christmas Block Swap Update

I received two blocks from my August swap partner, and they are lovely. Thank you very much Jen. The one on the left looks to be a variation of a bear paw which I had never seen before and the right one is a star. (Jen, if there is a name for the bear paw variation, please let me know what it is.) The fabrics are beautiful and I am very pleased.
(UPDATE: The name of the block is bear tracks.)

My swap partner for September is Carolyn and I asked if she would like a broken star in red and green with a cream background. Off to the sewing room and here is her block.

When participating in a block swap and after creating the quilt, do you add all the names on the quilt label? What would you do?

Block Swap

I've signed up again! (I need therapy)......(no, wait....sewing is therapy!)

After being disappointed in so many swaps and telling myself that I will never do it again, last week I signed up for another one. This time the swap is for Christmas themed blocks.

My swap partner for this month Jen, requested a log cabin block, red on one side, green on the other with a center of gold. After ping-ponging a couple of emails, we decided to swap not one, but two blocks. Here are the two blocks I am sending to her. The left one, a little more scrappy and the right one, a little more formal using one red fabric and one green fabric. I hope she likes them.

After finishing up Jen's blocks, I decided to make a couple of blocks for myself. I was thinking that my next swap partner could check my blog and that would give them a better idea of what I'm going for. I reached into the scrap box and pulled out some of my all time favorite fabrics by Nancy Halvorsen and here's what I made for myself.

The left block is a broken star and you might recognize the one on the right as the design next to my profile filling in as  my photo.

For those of you reading my book and asking for chapter 2, here it is.

Been away too long........

Sometimes life throws you a curve ball and you just have to roll with it. That being said, I believe that everything happens for a reason.

.......meanwhile back in the sewing room........
Linda at the quilted pineapple emailed me this morning with pictures of my quilt. They are breath taking and she is one very gifted LAer. (Wish I could do that.) Anyway, here are a few snapshots of my latest, almost complete project. (69)

You can quote me on this: "This is the second time I have made this quilt and I will not be making it again." My sister claimed the first one and I am going to keep this one.

For friends who have been asking, click here for Chapter 1 of my book and I'd love to hear what you think.

Getting Ready

While my pecan pie bakes in the oven for tomorrow's festivities, I thought I would do a little cleaning. The problem is, I have way too many quilts around here. It's time to give some of them away, so family and friends, decide which one you want and let me know.

The left side, is what I am giving away. The right side, I am keeping.

Quilts on the left side, starting from the top are: Thorn in My Side (58), Bali Stars 2 (65), Paper Plate Adventure (66), Bubble Gum Fiesta (61), Scrappy Pineapple (64), Scrappy Log Cabin 2 (67) and Scrappy Log Cabin 3 (68).

Happy Thanksgiving and btw, my pie smells wonderful.

Two More Ribbins, Actually Three

The state fair is over and I am pleased to share my latest winner with you. The name of this quilt is Water Lilies and is completion number 62. It placed first in it's division and won an Award of Excellence. The quilting is feathers and pebbles where every inch has quilting on it. This quilt is absolutely beautiful.

Many of you will recognize the cherry and key lime pie bali pops. When using the bali pops, enough blocks are created to make two quilts and the other sister quilt is out being quilted.

 

BTW: Another entry, Scrappy Pineapple, placed third. (Completion number 64.)

My Inner Geek

One of my favorite TV shows is about a couple of geeks and their lack of social skills. I have noticed that one of the things in their apartment is a Rubik's cube tissue holder. Since I need another tissue holder, I decided this would be the model for my next little project.

In order to make sure my color placement was correct, I went diving into the storage boxes in the basement to find a cube as my model. I would hate for some cube  aficionado to say my color placement wasn't possible.

Yes, the geek in me has come out again. Gotta put the kibosh on that get back to quilting.