Wonky Panel Quilt

I made this quilt in 2011.  It was for a class at the store that I work at on improv piecing.  I also discussed how to figure out some simple quilt math to finish quilts to the size you desire.  I finally was able to bring the quilt home with me last week.  I always enjoy bringing quilts home after they have been shop samples.  I almost feel like I have a new quilt to cherish. 

This quilt was quilted by the amazing Angela Walters.  I was fortunate enough to snag her to quilt this shop sample.  She quilted some frames that mimicked the wonky blogs in the empty blue space of the quilt. I took this as a perfect opportunity to frame off some of my favorite characters from the Appleville panel by Suzy Ultman (by Robert Kaufman, don't know if it is available anywhere anymore).

I had a lot of extra fabric.  I seem to always overestimate when I make a quilt with no pattern.  I used the remaining pieces for the back. I pieced in some of the panel scenes as well.  

Here are a few more close-ups.  I love how much texture the quilting gives it.  Angela is AMAZING! 

On another note, I purchased Wreck this Journal by Keri Smith today at my local Barnes and Noble.  I am really excited to start this journal.  Have you heard of them?  There are a few in the series now. I have been longing for one for a while.

Basically, you do as the book tells you.  Each page is different.  The tasks range from drawing with glue to smearing dead bugs on the pages.  I started today with a simple one:  spray a scent on the page.  My book now reeks of Hynotic Poison by Dior.  I figured I would give it a nice scent as I am assuming it will get pretty stinky by the time it is finished.  Should be fun! I will let you see my progress.

Later this week I should have together my next sample for Fabric Fest.  Can't wait to show you!

In Transition...

Want to see something frightening?

This is my sewing room's current state.  Yup, it moved.  I currently sew at my mom's because, well she lives down the street and I have NO room.  None.  Well, she moved and so did the sewing room.

I have a lot on my plate so this mess has to get organized soon.  It scares me....

The good news is that this room is larger than the previous room and it has an amazing shelf that goes around the entire room! I can picture it all adorned with handmade goodies from my fellow sewing buddies and myself.  I only have one day off this weekend so I am assuming the next week will involve little to no sleep.

I am thinking of opening an Etsy shop to start purging some of my unused fabric and some pre-made scrap bags.  I have lots and lots and lots of scraps...some of which need to be turned into a Scrappy Trip in the next week or so..yikes.  Thinking of all of this is making me anxious.  I hope everyone else out there is sewing pleasantly, in their nice happy sewing rooms.

Anchors and Babies

Have you seen this quilt? As soon as I saw this quilt I KNEW it was the perfect birthday gift for my friend.  I have been sewing these 2 inch squares like a mad woman lately, and well, I love it so much I am making another one for myself - someday.

My friend's birthday is Thursday and this is still this:

UNQUILTED. Oh and it measures 90 X 96 inches, so I will be quilting it on the longarm.  I have nowhere to baste anything this size together.  I pieced the back together but I still need to embroider a quilt label.  Do you think non-quilty friends appreciate that you just managed to get the quilt top done in time for the birthday?  I am sure quilty friends do. I am hoping the pure thrill of getting this quilt will take the fact that it is not finished yet away.  She has no idea I made this for her. I don't think she has any idea I have this blog so I am not worried about her finding out.

Anyways, I will show her the top and explain that I will have to quilt it next week. 

The plan was to quilt it this weekend, but other things got in the way..

Like taking photos of this cute little Easter bunny.  I need major photography help! Especially when your subject is three weeks old, hungry and not too happy about being outside the comforts of her dark, dark, very photo unfriendly home.

This is what 99% of the photos look like.  That or dribbles of milk all over her mouth.  It was the only thing that made her stop crying.  At least my sister has a couple that she can use for her Easter cards.  

Curved Piecing

The second class I will be teaching at Fabric Fest is "Curved Piecing for the Modern Quilter".  The fabric featured in my sample is Riley Blake's Indie Chic.  This may be my new favorite line. I am so in love with the navy blue rose print.

Anyways, in this class I will teach how easy it is to piece curves, do not be afraid!  I used to be myself.  This quilt uses the Creative Grid Split Seconds ruler.  I am so in love with all of the wonderful curved rulers out on the market right now.  They make it fail-proof, which every quilter needs. You can see more information on the specific classes here.  

My first niece was born last weekend and I have not had much time to sew.  This weekend after taking some baby announcement photos, I hope to get back into sewing full force.  My projects are starting to pile up - majorly...not good.

Riley Blake Fabric Fest

Big Stitch Quilting Pillow

I will be teaching at Riley Blake's first ever Fabric Fest!  It will be held here in Las Vegas and I am thrilled to be chosen as an instructor at this event. In fact, I am still feeling the need to pinch myself over it.  

I will be teaching two classes:  Big Stitch Quilting and Curved Piecing.  I have been teaching at Quiltique for the last four years and 'Big Stitch' is always one of my most favorite to teach. I will be showing my curved piecing sample in the next couple of weeks. I have some days off this weekend and plan to get a LOT of sewing in so stay tuned.

I am still in a haze thinking that I will be teaching with the likes of Eleanor Burns, Lori Holt (I LOVE her fabrics and patterns) and...NANCY ZIEMAN. 

If you are interested in attending Fabric Fest head on over to the website, registration is now OPEN! See you there!

Fabric Fest Information

Goals.

Goals. Since a child, I have always had goals that I would strive to accomplish.   I never had them written down, I never called them "resolutions" as many people would.  I just had these goals in my head that were always there and I would always fulfill them.  Getting good grades, getting a college degree, exploring my creativity, learning a new craft, etc.  I always had them there in my head.  The past few years I feel they have been on the back burner.  

This year I am focusing on myself again; myself and my goals.  Amazingly, some may be coming to fruition.

 

It is very easy to get caught up in life in the small things that can take you away from the much larger things that may be more important.  This year I am working on the larger things.  I am taking less responsibility in some areas to focus more on my goals.  

Just a thought for today.  Oh and by the way these amazing photos are of my "big stitch" quilted pillow were taken by the wonderfully talented Camille Roskelley of Thimble Blossoms (you may have heard of her :) ).  I can't thank her enough, they are so perfect and they do relate to a goal. 

 One more.  It is nice to know one of my projects has been "Camilled".  Enjoy.

Baby Madness

I may have been absent on here for awhile, but I can tell you it is not because I have not been making anything. My sister is having a girl in March and I helped her with the nursery.  And by help I mean lots and lots of sewing and decorating.

My sister pretty much let me take control of the nursery.  She wanted it in pink and grey chevrons.  That was all she said.  I used the pattern from Amy Butler's Little Stitches for Little Ones to make the crib bedding. You cannot see the bedskirt in this photo but it is just big grey and white chevrons. 

We purchased a mobile on clearance and I stripped it of its former being.  I hand stitched elephants out of felt and decorated them with ribbons and buttons.  So far, it has been the hit of the nursery.  It is cute, if I must say so myself.  I didn't get a close up of the mobile with my camera, so the cell phone photo will have to suffice.

The baby shower was on Saturday and it had a "Breakfast at Tiffany's" theme.  The baby's name is Audrey as my sister has had an Audrey Hepburn obsession for a while.  My sister also has a love for anything Tiffany & Co. so it was a perfect fit for her.

Pinterest is a horrible thing when you are planning parties.  You see all these wonderful ideas and feel you have to do them.  Above is the tea party table. 

 

My cousin made these wonderful Tiffany box cakes.  They were perfect.  The Tiffany punch is just Blue Raspberry Hawaiian Punch and lemonade.

We also had a candy buffet that was a huge hit. I found this perfect vase at Target.  I love robin's egg blue so it will be a permanent feature in my house, now.  All in all everything went perfectly.  The baby is already spoiled (first grand-baby for my parents).  I also made her a dress with the tutu bottom and a few ruffled minkee blankets.

I have a lot of quilting projects on the horizon to share on here soon.  Now that the baby preparation is pretty much over I can get back to quilting.