Tuesday, October 18, 2011

A new post!

Well, once again it's been a very long while since I have posted much as to what I'm doing inside my neck of the woods.  Here are the latest projects I have recently finished...

 This is the Oak Park bag pattern made out of Circa fabric...I donated this bag to an auction for "Girl's Council"...empowering girls to become STRONG women!  I love a good cause!
 This is the knot tie bag made from Hometown fabric by Sweetwater.  I love this bag and I love this fabric. :)
 This is my first "Don't Look Now" pattern.  I chose a simple one to start with...love the raw edge applique and had a lot of fun practicing my free-motion quilting.  This was very inspiring to get busy and quilt some of my unfinished quilt projects!
And here it is finished as a pillow. I chose to leave off the binding as the pattern calls for.  I think I'll add it on my next one...was ready to be done with the project when I had finished the quilting.

And that's what I've been up to!

More soon...

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Raising money for the guild...

Our local quilt guild is having a sale soon of handmade items to sell in an effort to raise money for our quilt guild.  I've been looking around for some ideas of easy and useful items to make for this sale.

ANY IDEAS??????

I love how so many people have tutorials for everything under the sun out there.  Thanks to all who create them!!  :)  I love getting ideas...

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

It's been one of those months....

that just flys by.  Where did the time go?

It's been a while since I posted here so I thought I'd say a quick hello and share a tidbit of happenings.

This month I took classes from Tula Pink in Sisters, OR.  Great times...Tula is awesome and I love her fabrics.

 Tula holding her amazing "Modern Alphabet" quilt.  Her quilter is AMAZING...
 Tula taught us how to bleach and dye fabric.  This fabric turned out amazing in every color...wish I had more of it!  If you know what it is and who makes it, please let me know!
Started my "Cartwheels" quilt pattern by Tula Pink.
 And finished 2 blocks in class!  I really love this quilt pattern.
 Last class I took was the Modern Alphabet.  I'm using Christmas fabric.  This photo spells out "DONT"...just need the apostrophe!
 Joined my first quilting bee.  I had month #1 and chose to use this merry-go-round pattern.  It's a fantastic block.
 Also part of another quilting bee and made 3 blocks.


 Went on a fun road trip over the river, through the woods, and to the city I go...really great trip with great friends.
Heard some Kenny Chesney and friends...
Good times.

Had fun doing another photoshoot for some pattern testing by my friend, Kristen...

...it's been a very busy month and I feel like I've hardly sewn!   Time to change all that!!!

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

4-Patch trip...quilt top almost complete!

 I finished this top tonight...still have borders to put on it and then the rest of the goodies to quilt/bind, etc.  I LOVE these colors and the black and white.










I think my favorite part is the outer edges...love that black/white fabric with the skulls!

After I took these pics I realized I sewed my pieces together incorrectly...grr...oh well...not sure I care that much since it's just for me...might take it out...we'll see if I can problem solve!

Sunday, June 12, 2011

I love flowers...

Summer feels like it's finally here!   I've been busy with the usual yard work, gardening, and flower shopping! I've also been busy taking photos...for fun of course...it's one of my many passions.  I probably need to learn how to place a watermark on my photos (so if anyone wants to share a fast way of doing this, please send me an email).  I think I tried it once using picasa but I rarely use that program...I have much to learn in the blog world!

Well...here they are.  (Please do not copy my photos without my permission!!  Thank you.)

I've fallen in love with poppies this year.  Last year I bought this one...and am so happy to see it return this year! :)  I love perennials!










This makes me want to hop on a plane and fly out to Hawaii!  Anyone want to join?!  :)  wishful thinking...!


 I love flowers in the daisy family...anything with lots of petals and large centers!  (I wish I knew my plant/flower names better!!)

Purple....ahhh...I am using this color a lot more lately in my quilting.  Quilt inspiration...visions of sugarplums dancing in my head!!!
















I think this one is becoming one of my favorites!  I love the colors...truly amazing how each flower is so brilliant and unique.










And now for the reveal of my favorite part of flowers...the inside center.  I find there is often a surprise waiting, something that I may not observe until I take time to actually stop and "smell the roses"! This is the inside of a poppy.  Oh just lovely.  (kind of reminds me of a hedgehog or porcupine!).














The best part of my photo adventure was spending time with a friend.  I am a lucky girl to have some very amazing friends.  ;)  Thanks friends for everything...xo!

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Laughter makes the day so much better!!!

I have had so many good laughs tonight...thanks friends!

And my blog friend, Rachael, has posted a fun adventure you must check out! (click here for a fabric adventure) and prepare to at least chuckle!

Laughter is certainly the best medicine and certainly a heart warmer!  I hope you find something that makes you laugh today.  It's one of my favorite things to do... ;)

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Pile o' fabric =


a whole lotta 4 patches...can't wait to show you!!!

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

If I had a girl...

I'd be sewin' up a storm of these!

Tonight I took a sewing class from one of my favorite teachers.  I learned how to make this super cute little girl's dress that can easily become a shirt as they grow.  And the best part was learning how to do a french seam...will be using this and many more easy tricks very soon!

I don't have my own kiddos so I will be outfitting my family and friends with these this summer!  And I think I'm just going to have to make one or two or three for myself...pull out my favorite fabrics and put them to good use!

Starting a new quilt tomorrow...more sewing with friends.  I pulled a bunch of my favorite colors/patterns off the shelf...so hard to let it go and cut it all up...almost thought about putting it back on the shelf...maybe a bit of my fabric hoardiness (is that a word?!)...and knowing that some stuff I can't find ever again.  More posts tomorrow as I cut and cry!!

That's all folks...til another time!  Sweet dreams!

Monday, May 30, 2011

Sewing with friends...

My good friend, Tami, came to visit this weekend.  A few times a year we get together and sew all weekend long while watching chic flicks and other movies we've seen a million times!  (I'm finding I have to watch movies I've already seen or I don't get much sewing done!!)

I finished my "Big Bang" quilt...started this project last summer in a class I took at my local quilt shop.  I've had most of it completed for a while...just had to sew the 4 big pieces together!  Can't wait to get this one quilted!









Finished the embroidery and piecing on this pillow (Pattern and fabric by Aneela Hoey "Little Apples" by Moda).  I got this cute pattern and tiny square pieces at quilt market.  The pattern is adorable and goes together so easy!
 And here is the back...
 It was such a nice weekend...cool and crisp with fabulous sunshine (and a little rain!!).   The Shedders were quite happy to perch in the open windows, one of their favorite things to do.   And there is still more time left in this weekend...so I'm off to go do some more sewing.  Hoping to get a few more started projects finished! :)

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Exciting news...

I have a strong passion for photography.  I take photos of what seems like everything and always wish I'd taken more.  My favorite things to photograph are finished projects (of course!), people, bugs, flowers, the shedders, and things that remind me of places I go and things I did!

Recently my friend, Kristen (find her here),  was a pattern tester for Patty Young's new pattern "Kyoko" (as announced here)...and I was quite excited when she asked me to take photos for her.  


Unfortunately it started raining 5 minutes into our photo session... location change!  But we still had a blast! :)

Patty's pattern has been released!!!!!   I had my first look the other day and wooooohoooo - there are quite a few pictures from our shoot!  It's quite exciting to see my friends on printed pages!!!  And I am inspired to keep learning more about my camera and how to get better photos (I don't like to edit and rarely do!).

















And I even made my own shirt (see left!)...needs a few adjustments on the next one I make but so easy and very comfortable!!  And I'm not so afraid of sewing with knit anymore!!! :)  (Self portraits can be tricky!! lol!)


Find a Kyoko pattern ASAP and make your own!!  
And thanks Patty Young for another great design!

Monday, May 23, 2011

Quilt retreats are awesome!


This past weekend I went on a quilt retreat into the country to spend marvelous hours sewing! I LOVE travel and I LOVE sewing...how perfect! Here are a few pics from the weekend! (above photo: Quilt pattern called: Hercules from a book called "Big Print Quilts"

Relaxation...

Color...

Time getting to know others...


Getting out the old things...

and finishing them!
(photo below: Argyle quilt - made with French General fabrics)


Monday, May 16, 2011

Returned home from Quilt Market today!

Whew...380 photos later...

What an awesome time...I had such a blast and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to go to market. It's quite an experience.

Met some of the bloggers I have been following for a while now...
Julie - Jaybird Quilts

Do you recognize these people?!!!
Inside market was a whole host of fun stuff. One highlight for me...trying on Kay Whitt's, Serendipity Studio, jacket! I put the jacket on and felt like it was pretty snug around my waist...then heard a terrible "riiiiipppppp"...eek! Luckily only found out it was just pinned to fit the super skinny manequin...felt much better knowing I did not tear her jacket! whew! And now I know my size for her patterns!
Quilts galore...I'll show you a few of my favorites...then it's time for bed!
Tula Pink's "LOVE"...gorgeous quilting...

And this was in the Kona Cotton booth....I love bright cheer colors...and also amazing quilting!!Ok...time for bed...maybe I'll post more tomorrow! :)

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Checkin' off the list...

A friend asked me to make her this grommet bag a year ago...I'm so happy I finally have it complete!!!



One more project checked off the list...how does the list get so long?!!! (There are so many fun things I want to make!) I'm so thankful for people who have inspired and encouraged me to sew - true gems!

Monday, April 25, 2011

The Power of Words


Very good clip...so powerful.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Random fun stuff...

I was just looking over my blog and realized it's been forever since I've posted anything! I have been having loads of fun...some sewing, some traveling, some eating, and lots of brainstorming...

This is sewing!!! Finished my quilt top called "2+ Two" by Colleen Blackwood. Pattern can be found at Stash. This pattern calls for 2 jelly rolls and 2 yards of fabric. I love how this Sweetwater fabric "sun-kissed" turned out with the pattern. It's now all layered together and ready for quilting...can't wait to have some better pics to share!!

Completed a purse...

Travelled to Georgia and North Carolina to see friends and eat some fantastic food at 12 Bones in Asheville, NC.....wow....amazing ribs (and I don't usually eat ribs)! The corn pudding and sweet mashed potatoes were so YUMMY!!!! And I loved cheerwine. Tried sweet tea in Georgia...the waitress thought it was crazy that I'd never tasted sweet tea before!

This is brainstorming....

And yesterday I had the pleasure of trying snow shoeing. I LOVE it! Can't wait to get a pair!!

And the best news...I'm going to Quilt Market in Salt Lake City in May!!! So excited!

Creamed eggs over toast was thoroughly enjoyed this morning with my family. May you and yours have a splendid rest of a wonderful day! Happy Easter...