Under The Evening Star

The Measure of a Year

2012-01-01T23:32:00.000-06:00

We said goodbye to 2011 and welcomed the New Year pretty quietly. We celebrated a little friend's birthday and visited with very dear friends.

I spent a few days thinking about my VERY long list of sewing and quilting projects I still want to do and feeling a little like I haven't gotten much accomplished this year. Especially after I read last year's post about all I wanted to do and learn this year. Then I went back through some of my posts from this year I couldn't help but realize how blessed I am.

I look at the projects in the mosaic

and remember...

a sister who is so generous and shares my love of fabric...

my mom and dad who welcome me home and encourage my love of sewing...

handpiecing hexies on one of our last trips with my mother-in-law...

firsts, lasts, finishes, starts, struggles, triumphs...

the friends I've made and challenges I've accepted with the Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild. Being part of KCMQG has stretched me, inspired me, and helped me grow in ways I would have never imagined possible...

my daughter who's growing by leaps and bounds every day and how I love sharing this passion with her...

collaborating with Camille, Sheryl, Darcy, Diane, and Lydia to create a quilt I find truely amazing, as well as making new friends in our little sewing group this year...

my friends Leslie, Laura, Anne Marie, Ingrid, Teresa, and so many others I know from Stitch-On. Spending time with them at the shop and at the retreats are such pleasures I look forward to...

how sewing and quilting can help us all share joy, grief and comfort...

what a wonderful, supportive husband I have who never raises an eyebrow when I bring a(nother) bundle of fabric home and realizes how much joy I find in creating by sewing two peices of fabric together...

the connections and friendships with others across town, country and world that are possible because of quilting and how technology (Flickr, Pinterest, email, blogs, etc) can make it so much more FUN!

So I've realized that instead of measuring this year's success by the number of projects completed or skills gained, I'd much rather measure it by how all this sewing has enriched my life. My cup runneth over!

Potholder Swap

2011-12-20T06:00:00.000-06:00

I'm sneaking on the computer one more time before Christmas to show you this little potholder. I made it for a swap the KC Modern Quilt Guild had with the Portland Modern Quilt Guild after Susan Beal came to speak at a meeting. I really liked the construction of this potholder and I hope I can remember how I did it so I can repeat the steps again. I quilted the front and back separately with batting on one side and insul-bright on the other. Then I sewed right sides together and turned in inside out, top stitching all around. I guess I do remember!

I'm loving Basic Grey's Grunge fabric right now and used a nice lime green for the back. My partner was Elsa Hart and she said she loved lime green, yellow, orange and grey so I included most of those colors. I thought being in Portland, sending a little "Sunshine" would be nice so I found a scrap of that too!

We could actually use a little sunshine here in Kansas about now. It's been dark, cold, and rainy for so many days. I'll share the potholder I received after Christmas and hopefully we'll have some sunshine so I can get a good photo or too because it's just beautiful!

Take care and have a very Merry Christmas!

Christmas Table Topper

2011-12-19T10:45:00.000-06:00

I have one more little Christmas item to show you. Another quilt that's been on the UFO pile for a good, long time. It was a UFO back in 2009 when I first blogged about the things that got me stuck. Then I finished the top and got stuck on how to quilt it. I passed it off to Angela sometime earlier this year to quilt and was so happy to sew the binding on over my Thanksgiving trip to Texas.

It's fun to look back and read what I was struggling with and how far I've come in the last couple of years of sewing. I remember picking out every piece of this fabric at Stitch On. I think it may have been the first project I chose individual fabrics off the bolt. I was so nervous!

The pattern is Christmas Cookie Crumb Catcher from Chickadee Hollow Designs. I decided to omit the applique and embroidery. The embroidery was what drew me into the pattern initially but when I was actually finishing the top I wasn't really interested in doing either.

I knew I wanted something interesting quilted into the center square which is really beyond my abilities at the moment. I think Angela did a beautiful job highlighting the center and I love all the loops in the different borders.

I'll leave you with this picture of Jenna with her Gingerbread house. We've made a tradition of going to see the Gingerbread House display in Lawrence and then making our own. It's so much fun to work together on it. I pipe the icing and she places all of the candy. Teamwork!

Well, I'm off to to do some wrapping and laundry and work on one final present with Jenna since she's on Christmas Break now.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!

P.S. Laurie is the winner of the Sleigh Bells Stockings Pattern. Thanks to everyone for playing along!

Sleigh Bells Stocking Pattern Giveaway

2011-12-16T10:27:00.001-06:00

Thought I'd take a moment to pop in and share a couple Christmas stockings that are new to our house this year. We've been enjoying some fluffy red and white stockings from Target the last few years which were great but I'm so excited to have something I made waiting for Santa this year.

Shea from the Empty Bobbin Sewing Studio asked me earlier this year if I'd like to test her new Sleigh Bells Stockings pattern and of course I jumped on the opportunity. Even in the testing phase, her patterns are so well written and I just loved the designs.

I chose Basic Grey Grunge fabrics. I love that they read as solid but the distress print gives a bit of dimension and illusion of texture. I tried a little hand stitching around the circles and absolutely loved the way it turned out. The detail of the white trim on the cuff gives it such a finished look.

Jenna claimed this stocking as soon as she saw it and I'm so excited that she loves it. She was a little unsure about sending it off to Shea to photograph but I promised her it would be in good hands. In fact, this stocking got to take a trip to Houston to hang in Moda's booth at market this fall which was pretty exciting! It's back home now and I can't wait for Santa to fill it. It's such a good size and I think Santa will find the shape of it easy to work with since the toe points at such a great angle.

This is the other style I tested. I really liked all the little piecing on this one. As part of the testing process, the blocks on my stocking ended up smaller than the actual pattern. I just quilted it along the seam lines where the blocks join. My husband will get to dig into this one Christmas morning.

Here's a peek at the back.

So are you wondering where my stocking is? Life has been a bit hectic the last few weeks as I've been teaching a little more, volunteering, finishing up a great college class, recovering from bronchitis, and preparing for guests, a trip and Christmas. I'm so glad I had a chance to work on these earlier this fall before the pace of everything picked up so much, but my stocking will have to wait until after Christmas. I'm sure Santa doesn't mind waiting until next year to see it! I'm going to try star blocks in the same colors of fabric.

Shea's been showing some great versions of these stockings on her last few blog posts: half square triangles, Kelly's raw edge applique, and Lisa's silk stockings. The wonderful thing about Shea's patterns is that she includes so many color photos of options in the actual pattern that you can be inspired to create something that's just perfect for your own taste in fabric and design.

So....How would you like your own copy of The Sleigh Bells Stockings Pattern? I have one to give away if you'd like to join me in some more Christmas sewing!

One entry - Leave a comment telling me if there was something you always found in your stocking Christmas morning. I remember an apple, orange, nuts, and a big bag of M&M's at the bottom of my stocking every Christmas with some other fun goodies mixed in of course.

Second entry - Follow my blog or let me know you're already follow.

You have until midnight Dec 18 and I'll post a winner on Monday. Good luck!

Happy Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-24T22:33:00.001-06:00

Hello, everyone! I hope those of you here in the US have had a great Thanksgiving and that everyone else is having a great week so far. We've spent our day very quietly with just the three of us at home after visiting family in Texas last weekend. We had some very simple meals and just enjoyed being together. Watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and some football was high on the agenda. I'll treasure the memory of teaching Jenna to do a little needlepoint with a plastic canvas and needle while I worked on a cross stitch project. She was so disappointed that it wasn't finished before she went to bed tonight. So sweet! I hope she'll be eager to pick it up again tomorrow.

I thought I'd share my very first and looooonnnngest quilt project. The pumpkin wall hanging you see above was started in the fall of 2001. We had just moved in with a friend since our house had sold while we were still building our new one. September 11th had just shocked us all. And I had just started my first year as a Reading Teacher after teaching 1st grade for a couple of years.

I took a class at Quilting Bits and Pieces in Eudora, KS and the fabric was included in the class kit. I remember being so thrilled that it had some purple in the fabric. The teacher was wonderful and patient and very knowledgeable. I do remember my mind glazing over while we were standing at the ironing board and she started talking about fractions...1/4, 1/2 inches, seam allowances, etc. I just have to laugh at myself now.

The pumpkins, stars and vine were all hand appliqued...over the course of a few years. I was busy teaching and each fall I'd take it out and stitch a little more. Then it would find it's way back into the closet. I finally finished the top in 2009 and got stuck because I didn't know how to quilt it. Luckily, I met Angela Walters not long afterwards at the Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild and she agreed to quilt it for me. I just love the pebbling she did inside the pumpkins!

There's some of that purple fabric I thought made this stand out from other traditional fabrics. While it's much more traditional than what I love now, I'm so happy to finally have it finished and displayed because I learned so many skills working on it and it was the beginning of my love for sewing and quilting.

Have a great weekend! Anyone braving the craziness of Black Friday? I have to say that late night hours of shopping interests me more than getting up early on Friday but it's just not my thing. If I lived closer to my sister I'd go with her to cheer her on because she loves it. Have fun Viv!!

Take care and I'll be back soon with some Christmas fun!

Halloween Pillowcase

2011-11-02T16:08:00.003-05:00

I whipped up this cute pillowcase at my retreat in September. A friend of mine made a couple in this fabric gave me the extra to try out the Roll It Up pattern. It's very easy and includes french seams which gives it such a nice finish even on the inside. Turns out, it's the same pattern my mom uses to make pillowcases for Jenna.

The little skeletons are cute instead of scary and have little hearts, so we say they are very kind. The are also glow in the dark which is pretty fun!

Stitch On, one of my local quilt shops, is gathering pillowcases to give to a charitable organization at Christmas. They have around 800 families in need. So I searched through my stash and found 3 yards of this stripe fabric that I purchased last year hoping to make a valance in my breakfast area off the kitchen. I'd forgotten that the living room had striped curtains and the fabric really didn't work to have two different kinds of stripes. Not enough fabric for our office window. So it sat waiting until I realized it would make great manly pillowcases. Stitch On had the brown that I thought looked great with the stripe. So three pillowcases are added to the list of projects I need to complete very soon!

For my family in Tennessee, I have to show a picture of Jenna in her Halloween costume. She came home from school one day in September and announced that she'd told all her friends she was going to be Fancy Nancy for Halloween. You can bet this book loving mama was excited that she'd picked a book character all on her own. I ordered the costume online and it arrived way to short. So I dug through the dress up clothes and found a purple skirt to layer and my mom sent a tiara (and Cinderella dress that she'll wear next year). Jenna commented several times during the day in amazement that she felt so beautiful...It cracked me up!

Now we are trying to recover from all the candy. The dentist is having a swap tomorrow so hopefully we can get her to part with most of it. I need it out of the house!I'm hoping to show you a little Christmas goodness if I the sun will come out this week for me to get some photos. It's supposed to snow a bit tonight so I don't think it's too early.

Swapping

2011-10-25T16:15:00.003-05:00

This fun Japanese print by Kokka is for a swap I'm participating in...Gen X Quilter's Japanese Imports Swap 2 on Flickr. This is my second round and I had so much fun participating the first time that I thought a I'd have another go at it. We each choose a yard of Japanese novelty fabric and cut it into 5" squares. We then send it off and get back 2 charms of each person's fabric.

It was so much fun to get a variety of prints to play with. I haven't decided what to do with them yet but AnneMarie is hosting a quilt along soon that I may consider. And of course Carla has had me thinking about I Spy quilts for awhile now. I'm sure I'll think of something!

I found this at Sarah's in Lawrence. I love the little beagle in this print. I had a very sweet beagle and it makes me thing of my dad who loved beagles, too.

Have you participated in many swaps? I've done a few through KCMQG and a hoop swap and they're so much fun. I've done a pretty good job of not getting carried away with them so far but I could see how easy it would be to sign up for a bunch.

Sherbet Pips Peek

2011-10-24T23:12:00.000-05:00

Thought I'd share a couple of Sherbet Pips goodies with you.

My sister gave me part of my birthday present very early this summer. When she was visiting in the spring, we were fabric shopping together and I may have expressed my LOVE for the girl on the swing print {just a little}. She found this little pouch on Etsy and she was right that I would love it. I've been keeping my needles in it lately.

The quilt is something I started in September at a sewing retreat. It's a kindergarten nap blanket for my kindergartener. Since I started it, the kids are napping with their heads on their desks because of some unwelcome "tiny friends" in Jenna's class. My sister, who's a first grade teacher will understand this situation! And all of you teacher friends out there. Thank goodness, none have come home with her! But I kind of stalled on my progress. I hope to pick it back up this week and finish it up. I had two goals in mind to experiment with when I started this, so I'll share those soon.

Hope you're all doing well!

Improv Block for Jacquie

2011-09-30T01:31:00.000-05:00

Many of you know our Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild President, Jacquie, and I could go on all night about what a fun, gracious, kind, inspiring, organized, giving person she is. Well, we got the news that she was moving to Chicago and leaving the Kansas prairie behind. I was shocked and sad yet so excited for her and all the possibilities waiting for her. Within moments of the news, Shea was organizing us all to quickly create blocks for a special quilt.

Jacquie loves orange and Shea asked the guild members to make blocks that had orange, grey, white and black and be made in an improv style. Lucky for me that Jacquie had made me sit up and notice that orange wasn't really so bad and I'd actually been on the look out for orange fabric that I could love for about the last six months. I was surprised that I had accumulated a nice little orange stack in my stash.

I had to laugh taking these tiny little cuts from quarter and half yards of fabric. I'd made an improv block before but I used a tutorial so the training wheels were off for this one. I loved creating it! It was so much fun to just sit down at the sewing machine and play. Shea, her mom Mary, and Angela worked together to get pull it all together beautifully.

This is Mary unveiling Windy City for the first time at our guild meeting.

And here's Jacquie all wrapped up.

We'll all miss her but we're in wonderful hands with Shea leading us and I can't wait to hear about Jacquie's adventures in Chicago.

Read more about the creation of Windy City and see some great close up photos over on Shea's blog. Thanks for the photo's Shea!

If you want to see some more awesome quilts, make sure you check out Quilts on the Quad this Saturday on the UMKC campus. It's the KCMQG's first quilt show!! Get all the details here.

Bloom Strong

2011-09-13T15:40:00.000-05:00

I did finish binding this quilt as promised! The next weekend, Roy and I actually had a babysitter and went out to dinner together. He was nice enough go up to the University of Kansas campus with me to get photos. It's always funny watching people watch you while taking quilt photos!

This is Strong Hall at KU. KU has some beautiful architecture but this building was never one that interested me much. Perhaps memories of the hot, frustrating math classes on the top floor? I happened to catch a show on the local tv station this fall that highlighted the architecture of several buildings in Lawrence and for some reason I grabbed my sketchbook and got busy making quilting designs.

When I was in college, I loved spring on campus. The flowers and trees were in bloom everywhere and I was so happy to be outside more. Tulips were always some of the first flowers at the base of the Jayhawk statue in front of Strong Hall. I thought the tulips and other prints in Kate Spain's Verna fabric would add the perfect softness to a quilt with such strong lines.

I used 10 fat quarters and added some solid white. It measures about 47"x45". It's actually a bit wider than it is long. I quilted it simply with straight lines to give it a soft drape. I'm glad I experimented with wider spacing but in the end I think I do prefer a little heavier quilting.

I intentionally kept the back very busy in case my friend wanted to take the quilt into the yard for her baby while she watched her older children play.

I used a print with a soft, blue background for the hand stitched binding.

I started the quilt in the fall last year and had it all pieced before the New Year. I'm not sure how all this time passed so quickly before I finished it. I suppose other projects jumped ahead in line. It was the first quilt that I designed myself and completed on my own.

I'm excited to take it to my friend's little girl tomorrow. I hope she will get a lot of enjoyment from it over the next few years.

Do you have any gifts in progress?

Friday Night Sewing

2011-08-26T17:38:00.000-05:00

There was a time when Friday night meant dinner out with friends, maybe a movie or a gallery exhibit afterwards. I still get that sense of anticipation on Friday afternoons and we considered taking Jenna to a photography exhibit this evening but the reality is that Jenna's exhausted from her first full wonderful week of school so were taking it easy with a family movie night.

Which means I am determined to finish the binding on this quilt tonight while Rio entertains us all. I'm declaring it to the world so I can deliver this gift before the my friend's sweet girl graduates from college! Well, she's only seven months old, but good grief, this quilt isn't that difficult.

I'm in love with Basic Grey's Christmas fabrics. I've been collecting pieces for quite awhile now to make a particular quilt. I think I have enough fabric now for three quilts and just added these Grunge solids to the collection. So I'd better get cutting if I want to enjoy them this Christmas.

So that's what this mom is doing on a wild and crazy Friday night. The good new is, I actually have a REAL date with my husband lined up for this weekend and next weekend too. I can't wait! We might be making this a habit ;)

I'd love to hear what you're all up to this weekend!

Rogue Crocheters

2011-08-25T11:00:00.003-05:00

We were in Colorado twice this summer and we usually drive right on through Denver to get to the mountains. Then we stay in the mountains until the last possible minute and then zoom right on through again. This time, however, we planned a day in Denver. I'd been wanting to go to the Tattered Cover and my husband is a big REI fan. We explored a good part of downtown on foot. As we were walking around I came upon this fence. It stopped me in my tracks! Such a wonderful surprise!

It goes on forever! I'm usually on the hunt to snap photos of architectural features so it was quite a shock to see such lovely softness in contrast to a noisy construction site.

Here's a Denver Post article about the "rouge crocheters" that I'll read later today (I'm off to pick up Jenna from school). I can't wait to find out how many crocheters were involved and how they got started with this project.

Makes me wonder what rogue quilting would look like :)

ETA: Here's a video of the the women installing the flowers.

Wrapping Up the Summer

2011-08-24T23:03:00.000-05:00

Hello! I'm finally getting a chance to sit down at the computer and look through some pictures from the summer. It was a a whirlwind and now I'm trying to get caught up at home. The list seems endless but I'm making some headway. My sewing room is next. I don't even know where to start in there. I've been sewing in the bedroom to escape the chaos!

I have a few things to show you from this summer and thought I'd start with this Dresden Plate. After teaching the hexagon class at Mountain Stitches, my mom taught me how to use the ruler and stitch these up. She got me started and I finished it up while I was there. I'm such a visual learner and she made it look so easy. And it was!

I used invisible thread for the first time to applique it onto the background. I definitely see more of these in my future.

And here's my sweet girl on her first day of kindergarten! How did five years go by so quickly? She loves school so far but is incredibly tired every night. We are still transitioning with half days but she has already asked why she has to go every day. Preschool had us spoiled. Play time and exploring time is limited now but she's excited to see her friends at school and is enjoying the new experiences there. Full days are coming soon and I'll miss her so much!

I remember when she wasn't quite a year old and we were attending our first year of MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), she had terrible separation anxiety. It was so difficult but we worked through it and the whole time I kept thinking the reward and goal would be for her not to be screaming down the hall trying to escape kindergarten like some of the new children at the school where I taught. Well she LOVED MOPS the second year (and beyond) and she was confident enough to tell my husband and I that we didn't need to walk her into school her first day. (We did anyway :) ) YAY!

Pouch Project

2011-07-31T23:06:00.000-05:00

As soon as I returned from TN, I was anxious to sew something. The summer has slipped by quickly I feel like I haven't accomplished much with all we've had going on. I was eager to start and finish something.

I helped some friends from the KC Modern Quilt Guild cut and package some kits at Jacquie's studio a few months ago and I finally felt like my heart could take opening them up and begin sewing.

These kits contained everything I needed to make a little pouch that will hold a tiny baby born too early to survive. They are called fetal demise pouches. Such a cold clinical term. But our guild is hoping to provide something soft and delicate so that parents can hold their little one and say goodbye.

Making the kits with friends was a little easier than sewing them on my own. There was camaraderie through the difficulty in what we were doing. We shared some stories and eventually found some rhythm to cutting fabric and ribbon. It's amazing how being with friends and touching fabric can soothe the soul.

Sewing at home, alone while my family was out of the house, made it so very hard to think about the babies that might be growing right now. How their parents are filled with joy at the anticipation of their arrival. It made me think of the two babies I lost so very early. And it made me think of friends who have lost babies and how I wish there was something I could do to comfort them. I'm so glad to be able to do this project to offer some small comfort for someone grieving.

I started with one pouch and followed Alex's very detailed tutorial for her pouch design. It went together smoothly and for the next three I was able sew in assembly line fashion. I'll admit that I had to turn on the television for some distraction.

If you'd like to read more about this project, the KC Modern Quilt Guild blog has a post here and Quilter's Home magazine just published an article about several projects for lost babies, including ours.

Finally a Finish!

2011-07-26T00:26:00.000-05:00

I think this may have been the first quilt I cut out on my own. I used a Turning Twenty pattern. It spent a lot of time on a shelf in between stages of cutting, piecing, quilting, and binding and spanned a bunch of different life stages when I just didn't make a lot of time for sewing. I'm so excited that it's finished because I think it will get lots of use during the summer time. I picture using it on the table for celebrations, for a picnic with friends or an evening concert in the park. The fabric on the back seems particularly sturdy. It has a finish on it that is a bit stiffer than your typical quilting cotton. I'm curious to see what it feels like after I wash it.

A little bit of a blue rectangle faded a bit before I knew to be careful about closing the blinds in my sewing room so I gave it the name Faded Glory. It's not very easy to see and will get lot's of love in spite of it's imperfections.

My mom quilted it with red thread on her long arm. It's nice to have connections! Thanks Mom!

We are home now from Tennessee, and I'm missing everybody so much. If only I could be in two places at one time. My sister Viv, her friend Samantha, Jenna and I went to Knoxville to the AQS Quilt Show and had lunch at a Creperie near the big Farmer's Market.

I've dreamed of these gigantic blackberries since last year. Viv is an amazing cook and made an incredible blackberry crisp that night.

{If you are curious about those tobacco baskets in my last post, I've updated it with some more information.}

Basket Hunting

2011-07-19T00:36:00.002-05:00

{I'm back to add some text to this photo as I haven't completely figured out how to blog from my phone. Nikki asked a question in the comments about this tobacco basket so I thought I'd share what I know.}

My sister has a tobacco basket hanging on her back porch that I just love and I also saw one hanging outside of an antique store. I love the structure and thought one would look beautiful (or at least interesting) over my mantel. When I asked Viv about it, she said they've been all over blogland for awhile. Kansas wasn't a tobacco growing state so I just haven't seen them here at all.

My mom, sister, Jenna and I had a girls day out and went on the hunt. My sister knew just where to go. Later my dad told me that when his family grew tobacco, he remembers these baskets being part of the process.

You can read this article for some history of tobacco baskets.

This is just one link I found that shows how people are using them in their homes.

Checking in from Tennessee

2011-07-14T22:10:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone! I'm still here in Tennessee having a great time with my family. We just can't seem to squeeze in all we want to do together and my sister talked me into staying a while longer.

She took me to the Tin Roof in Pigeon Forge for lunch with our girls yesterday. It was such a darling cafe in an old house. I wanted to move in the moment I stepped on the front porch and opened the door! And of course, the food was terrific. My sister Viv knows all the wonderfully unique places to eat and shop.

Here's our girls at one of the parks in Gatlinburg. It's so hot and humid we have to hit the playgrounds pretty early. They are having such a good time playing together and I'm loving every moment I get to spend with my niece.

My brother got engaged right before I came to visit and the night I arrived the whole family had dinner with him and his fiance. Ashley is very sweet and funny and I think she'll be a wonderful wife for Daniel. I'm so happy for them!

My hexagon class went well. It was fun to share some techniques and have a chance to laugh and visit. In the afternoon I tried my hand at a Dresden Plate and I love how it turned out. Maybe I'll get it turned into a table topper before I leave and I can share it.

I did finish binding a quilt this afternoon. So I'll have to share it too.

I'll leave you with a couple pictures of a barn I just love. It's so different from a Kansas barn. The sides are cantilevered (at least that's what I think it's called). My guess is that different crops call for different types of barns.

Hope you're all doing well and keeping cool (or warm if it's winter where you are). I'll try to post again while I'm here, and maybe even something sewing related!

2011-07-13T23:11:00.001-05:00

Late night reading here in Tennessee.

Dreaming of Hexies...

2011-07-08T00:54:00.001-05:00

Spent time on Flickr tonight instead of packing. I think I see a rainbow inspired Hexie project in my future....

(Click on the image and it'll take you to Flickr where you can see all of the links.)

Hexie Inspiration

2011-07-07T01:52:00.000-05:00

Hexagon Class

2011-07-07T01:24:00.001-05:00

If you are in the Gatlinburg, TN area and are interested in learning how to hand piece hexagons I'll be teaching at Mountain Stitches by Susan. The class is July 11 from 10 until noon. The cost is $20 (kit included). You can call 865.436.0077 to reserve your spot. I'm looking forward to it!!

Saying Goodbye

2011-07-07T00:48:00.000-05:00

My little blog has been very quiet for a while. It's been a summer full of fun activity with Jenna. And then just a few weeks ago, after a very complicated surgery, my mother-in-law passed away.

We are all so very sad and a little lost without her. Jenna in particular has lots of questions. Some are easy and some are a bit more difficult. We are spending a lot of time sharing wonderful memories we've made together through the years and are so grateful Grandma had moved closer to us before Jenna was born. They were so close and Jenna enjoys hearing stories about her Grandma, especially at night before she goes to bed.

We are so grateful for the kind words and gestures of friends and family during this time. So many have sent food, cards, phone calls, helped with Jenna and shared such great stories.

So even in great sadness, there has been laughter and joy and celebration for a strong woman, caring mother, doting grandmother, and incredible friend who will be missed more than I can say.

More than anything, I know how important it is to spend time with those you love. Now. So we are heading to Tennessee to spend time with my sister and sweet niece Sophie...

...Jenna's Papa...

...and her GiGi...

...and if I'm lucky, I will get to celebrate my brother's engagement to a wonderful young woman I'm looking forward to getting to know a little better.

Hope you all are doing well and enjoying time spent with those you love!

Back From Camping...

2011-05-30T00:34:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone! I left Thursday night for a camping trip and just returned. Laundry's started and camping supplies are tucked back in the garage waiting for the next go around. We went back to our old stomping grounds from our high school and college days, Milford Lake. That was our home base for several little day trips in the surrounding area this weekend.

We took Jenna to the Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure just outside of Salina, KS. Lots of unusual animals and such a great setting. For dinner, we stopped at Salina's famous Cozy Inn to sit at the six stool counter and enjoy a few tiny Cozy Burgers. Yum!

On Saturday we visited Old Abilene Town. It was a bit of a let down with so many buildings in disrepair. We rode a stagecoach, watched a staged gunfight and saw a steam engine roll into town. It was a good time but we felt like the town could have presented a lot more information about the history of the area and buildings. Jenna was entertained so it was a success.

I took this photo out of a window in one of the old log cabin churches in town and discovered when I went outside that the fence contained a small cemetery.

This headstone was a reminder of how wild Kansas was at one time.

I tried to get a little hexagon sewing accomplished by the fire last night but the smoke kept blowing my way. So my little helper and I moved to the table, but the wind picked up. I settled for working on them on the drive home today. I'm so excited about the project I'm planning with them!

But first I need to finish hand stitching the binding on these two quilts. Hopefully, I'll have a little time tomorrow to work on them as we wrap up the holiday weekend.

I've REALLY enjoyed reading all of your comments from the Sew, Mama, Sew Giveaway post about how you all planned on spending this or the past weekend whether it was Memorial Day weekend, Victoria Day weekend or even a regular weekend where ever you are! I had originally planned on responding to all of your lovely comments but at 275 comments, I was a bit overwhelmed and then I was out in the sticks with no cell phone coverage! I've read every single comment though. Now I'm enjoying peeking at your blogs. So much fun!

Stacy from Paint.Sew.Create was the pattern winner and I was able to drop it in the mail Thursday on my way out of town. Thank you all for playing along!

May Giveaway Day 2011

2011-05-23T00:34:00.002-05:00

Hello friends! If you are visiting from Sew, Mama, Sew!....Welcome! I'm Melissa and I started this little blog a while back to share sewing projects with my own Mama (and Dad, and sister) who all live a couple days away in Tennessee. I've had fun making new friends in the blogging world and connecting with other quilters here in Kansas along the way.

Some of you remember "Seeing {Pink} Squares" that I made following the Seeing Squares Pattern designed by Shea from Empty Bobbin Sewing Studio. I thought I'd share a few more details and then offer you a little giveaway.

Here's a photo I took quickly one afternoon when the sun finally peeked out for a bit.

And this is the pieced back. If you've never tried a pieced back, Shea gives suggestions for a pieced back from leftover blocks complete with measurements and diagrams that make piecing pretty quick and easy.

Here's a closer look.

Angela Walters quilted it and did an amazing job. Here are a few special spots that are accented with her very cool quilting designs.

I made a smaller version (48" x 56") of this quilt for my daughter and Paula made the beautiful solid quilt (60" x 84") on the pattern's cover.

Shea kindly offered a pattern for me to giveaway to one of you lucky readers. You'll love her patterns! They are printed in color and have easy to follow directions and awesome illustrations throughout.

It's easy to play...

just leave a comment about your plans for the Memorial Day weekend!

If you'd like an extra entry...

leave a second comment to let me know you are a follower

(or just became a follower).

International friends are welcome to enter.

I'll draw a winner at random on the evening of May 25.

**Giveaway now closed**

Still here....

2011-05-11T15:23:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year that always seems so hectic but exciting. Preschool activities, Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS), and soccer are all wrapping up and we are looking ahead to a fun summer filled with camping, biking, swimming and traveling.

My irises were beautiful this Mother's Day. I transferred some from my parents home in Tennessee and last year I only had one or two blooms but this year they were plentiful. They were originally from my aunt's garden who got them from my grandmother's garden so they make me smile when I see them taking off.

I was really spoiled for Mother's Day this year. So much so, I'm I little embarrassed to tell how wonderful it was. One of my gifts was a weekend at home to sew while everyone else went camping. I love to camp but enjoying the quiet was a rare treat. So I finally got this quilt basted, quilted and the binding sewn on. I just need to turn the binding and hand stitch the back now.

Hope you are all doing well!

Japanese Fabric

2011-04-23T00:39:00.000-05:00

Hello Friends!

Just a quick little post. I'm busy getting ready for my sister and her family to visit from Tennessee and I can hardly wait. They'll be here for almost a week and we have tons of fun planned.

I signed up for tha Japanese Fabric Swap over at Gen X Quilters so I picked up this cute print at Sarah's Fabrics in Lawrence today. I know, you are thinking great boy fabric, right? Actually, Jenna has been in love with dinosaurs since last summer when we visited two different dinosaur exhibits.

I have a few other little scraps of Japanese fabrics with cute novelty prints and thought it would be fun to have a few more so I'd have enough for a little project. Here's the Flickr group for this swap if you're wondering what some of these Japanese prints look like.

Home on the Free Range Chickens - A Collaborative Quilt

2011-04-17T13:52:00.001-05:00

I have been so fortunate to get to know and quilt with a group of women and one young lady (9 years old). Camille, Sheryl, Darcy, Diane, and Lydia have been meeting to work on various projects over the last few months. This quilt is our second collaborative project.

Here's how it came together:

Sheryl suggested we create a chicken quilt inspired by the style and techniques in this book. We each started making chickens on our own and in Darcy's wonderful studio. Thank goodness, Darcy made me a step by step cheat sheet/pattern because I don't think I would've ever been able to figure out how to put one of those chickens together just looking at the directions in the book. After a few chickens, Camille got started on making "parts" (borders, eggs, a star) that could be added somewhere. We brought all of our chickens and parts with extra fabric to a retreat that some of us were able to attend and put the top together there.

Several people asked how it was possible for all of us to work on and come up with this quilt together. I think we might all have a different answer to that question but I can tell a bit from my perspective. We used a design wall at the retreat and put our chickens on it. We had many different sized chicken blocks and played around with different layouts and putting different parts in and around the chickens. Ideas where thrown around. Other retreat friends shared some ideas and opinions.

At some point more stars and a length of half square triangles were created and moved around to different positions. We would sew some and stare some. We'd take a break from a meal and come back with more ideas and a fresh eye. When someone suggested that we get all the chicken blocks to the same size with a log cabin style border, things seemed to really take off. It took a few minutes to figure out how we wanted the colors and sides of the log cabin to look but then we had a more solid plan.

The chickens came together on the design wall and then it was decided that we needed some sashing to separate them so they didn't get lost in all the craziness. More playing and shuffling and it just came together!

Sheryl took it home to quilt and of course she is incredibly talented. (You may have seen here quilting here.) She quilted a yellow loopy pattern that hints toward the egg shape. I love this design and want to try it on something.

I added the binding and appliqued the eggs that Camille made onto the top. Darcy is finishing off the hanging sleeve right now and then it will be handed off to Camille for a very cool label that she's designed.

It will be displayed at the Kaw Valley Quilters Guild Annual Show in Lawrence KS, April 30 and May 1.

{Anything I should add ladies?}

This is what I learned:

1. Step out of my comfort zone. When Sheryl suggested making chickens I wasn't so sure about it. That was the last thing from the Collaborative Quilted book I would have tried. After a bit of thinking time, I decided why not. It was something different to piece and it would be fun to try something new.

It was completely different for me to go into making a quilt without some idea of the end result. It was definitely something I wouldn't have tried on my own. It was very eye opening to go through the process and see that it really will come out okay in the end. You just shift things and adjust.

The wild color scheme was way, way out of my comfort zone. I love scrappy quilts with lots of fabrics but usually with a lot of white space in between or with a simple repeated pattern throughout. But once we got started, it really worked well and the more free I felt to throw just about anything in.

When we got the chickens on the design wall with some other pieces, I really like it. By the time I was binding this quilt, I truly loved it.

2. I'm slow. And I'm okay with that. Seriously. I'm slow and methodical. With pretty much everything in life. I spend way too much time deciding, adjusting and lining things up. I do need to probably let go of some of the perfectionist tendencies but I sew because I enjoy it and really don't feel the need to rush through. I spent enough years as a teacher telling my slower readers not to worry and to just enjoy what they were doing that I just believe the same thing about sewing. I think as I gain more experience, I will get faster with a lot of things but I'm pretty sure I'll never be one of those people who can crank through much of anything. My favorite 30 minute meals still take me an hour to cook.

3. Sewing with other people is a great thing. It goes without saying that I love the virtual world of blogs and flickr and message boards for learning and inspiration. But sewing with other people is priceless. Not only is the company enjoyable and friendships made but there are so many little things you learn while sewing around other people. For example, I wanted to put together the rectangles in the outer border of this quilt and started cutting out individual blocks of a certain measurement. Luckily Sheryl caught me before I got too far and suggested sewing random strips together and then cutting the group of them down to the size I needed. Hellooooo! Brilliant and so simple! There's been countless other little things I've learned about color selection and techniques just by being around my sewing friends.

Sooooo, long post but inquiring minds wanted to know and it's nice to have this experience recorded to look back on.

Have any of you been involved in a collaborative process? I'm curious to know how you liked it. If you haven't, is it something you'd try?

Cozy Mornings

2011-04-16T23:42:00.000-05:00

Just as I'd hoped, Jenna is using her quilt to cozy up in the morning while I make breakfast. She always watches a cartoon and usually has one of her stuffed friends with her.

Even better, we got to cuddle under it together last night while we watched a Friday night movie.

I love seeing it folded up across the chair during the day, and even when it's rumpled up on the sofa or floor by evening. It's used and loved!

Tooth Fairy Pillow Complete...

2011-03-30T00:05:00.000-05:00

and waiting for a tooth.

I was at a retreat this weekend and was able to work on this little pillow which took far too long to complete. Leave it to me to make a rectangle shape pillow complicated! The corners ended up being too pointy and weird so I unstuffed it and slightly curved the corners and tried again. My mom is an expert stuffer after years of making dolls but I've never been able to stuff things to my satisfaction. I wish she'd been there to help me out (and to have fun sewing with). But I finally stitched it up and called it GOOD. If I make another, I'll round the corners more and maybe even try rounding out the sides a bit.

Both fabrics are Echino from Kokka which is a bit pricey but they were the perfect color and I wanted something special knowing she'd use it for a few years. She picked out the pony print over the bird, squirrel, bunny and flowers.

When I showed the finished pillow to Jenna she had this puzzled look on her face. She thought it would be tooth shaped. I was surprised because I didn't think she'd ever seen a tooth fairy pillow before. I showed her how the tooth would go in the pocket and that she could leave the fairy a note and a stick of gum in the pocket (which were her requirements) and she rolled with it.

When I taught first grade I had sweet little children wiggling their teeth for me on daily basis. I used to dream of my teeth falling out! So I just couldn't bring myself to go with the tooth shape. I'll make her a little tooth shaped note paper from cardstock to write a message to the Tooth Fairy so she'll have a touch of the tooth theme.

We are still having gloomy, snowy, rainy weather so I had a hard time getting a good photo of the ribbon. I found it in my stash of scrapbook supplies and loved the color and the texture.

Now we're waiting for those first couple of teeth to wiggle out. I can't believe we're at that stage already. It doesn't seem that long ago that we were standing in my Mom and Dad's living room, getting ready to head back to Kansas and I felt her first tiny little tooth breaking through her gum. She was four months old!

Is it Fate?

2011-03-21T23:53:00.000-05:00

What a day! It's almost midnight but I had to sit down with a cup of tea and touch base with you all before I end my day since I said I'd be back. I had to say goodbye to my much loved but very old car today and find something new (to me) that won't leave us sitting on the side of the road. A few errands, picking up a friend's dog from the vet, soccer practice, dinner, dishes, more dishes...= no time for sewing. I'm smiling though after reading such kind comments from everyone at Stash Manicure and those who stopped by here today. Thank you!

I'll share a neat story about the antique quilt pictured above since I don't have any sewing to share.

We have a stack of quilts from my husband's grandmother. My husband's mother and I were looking at them at Thanksgiving and spent some time with this particular quilt. It's a signature quilt with signatures of family and friends from roughly 50 or 60 years ago. The signature you see in the photo is of my father-in-law. I also happens to be my first two initials and last name! What are the odds that quilt would end up with someone who has the same name and loves quilts even when they are worn and tattered. It must be fate :)

Don't you just love the hand quilting in the border?

Sew We Quilt @ Stash Manicure

2011-03-21T08:12:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to say a quick hello to everyone visiting from Sew We Quilt @ Stash Manicure....Hello!

I have a guest post there today about encouraging new quilters. If you've never been to visit go take a look. The blog is full of great advise on managing our stash and also has wonderful tutorials. A wealth of information!

I'll be back later today...

Tooth Fairy Pillow

2011-03-18T16:05:00.000-05:00

My girl has 4 loose teeth already! One is very loose and we really need to get prepared for the tooth fairy. So while she was at preschool today I stopped in at Sarah's and went on the hunt for purple fabric to make a tooth fairy pillow. I imagined a small pillow with a pocket to hang from Jenna's doorknob. I searched from the front of the store all the way to the register when I spotted this next to the cutting table with a large collection of other Echino fabrics. I didn't really know for sure what I was looking for but when I saw it, I knew it was perfection!

After I picked Jenna up from school, I showed her the fabric and thankfully she approved. She rattled off several suggestions for the design which I wasn't expecting (but I think is sweet). So it'll be a bit larger than I anticipated.

We were at Stitch On last night to pick up my retreat packet and she chose these for her own personal. My brain must have registered the color because it's a pretty close match to what I bought today.

I'm playing around with trim choices. I want to keep it pretty simple but considering just a touch of lace. We'll see what I come up with.

Have a great weekend!

A Little Green...

2011-03-17T22:53:00.000-05:00

One last touch of green to wrap up this fabulous St. Patrick's Day. It feels like Spring is finally here. Yesterday morning, the birds were singing like crazy. The weather was perfect for two friends and all of our kids to watch the St. Patrick's Day Parade in downtown Lawrence.

I'm thinking of camping, hikes, Spring Break, summer vacation, road trips and swim lessons. Which means I need to get my little hexie kit pulled together again. I cut another Hunky Dory charm pack the other day and actually got a few hexies sewn on the way to the zoo.

Does warm weather signal a change in your sewing?

Reading...

2011-03-16T23:33:00.000-05:00

My sister and I had a long chat on the phone yesterday and we eventually got around to books. We both love fiction, cookbooks and sewing books and I can hardly wait until she comes to visit so we can flip through some of our recent favorites together.

I've always been a huge reader but lately my fiction reading has slowed waaaay down in favor of quilting blogs, magazines and books. This is just one of several growing stacks around my house.

This series of books is a favorite lately for keeping little hands busy in the studio while I'm sewing.

The sewing machine has been quiet for almost a week but I've been working through a stalled project (gathering information, asking questions). I have some chicken blocks on the agenda for tomorrow night. Yes, chicken blocks :)

I'd love to hear your suggestions for some good books to check out and activities to keep a 5 year old happily occupied.

No Prints Allowed Challenge

2011-03-14T16:34:00.000-05:00

Thursday night was the big reveal of the Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild's "No Prints Allowed Challenge." Robert Kaufman donated charm packs in every color grouping. Participants chose a charm pack, used each color in the pack, and added any fabric as long as it was solid...no prints allowed.

I had such a hard time deciding which direction to take with my Brights Charm Pack. I sketched out a ton of ideas and kept changing my mind. The only thing that really stuck was the idea to use a circle. I had seen Paula do the 6 Minute Circle in a demonstration at a guild meeting and have been thinking about circles ever since. But I kept coming back to layering them and decided to try applique.

In the end I used this as my inspiration. It's a paper book cover from Target's dollar bin that I gave to Jenna to color.

I used this fusible web to create the circles. I chose the size circle I wanted, stitched on the solid line, trimmed on the dotted line and then turned it inside out through the cuts in the middle. When I first started, I thought I would only use circles but after sewing about two blocks it already seemed a bit boring.

So I just started throwing and stacking different shapes up on the design wall (squares, circles, and rectangles) choosing the layers and color instinctively. I decided to just play and see where it would lead. Starting with the bottom layers, I fused and appliqued the shapes onto the charm square. I worked my way up to the top. The only thing I changed was to add an extra small layer on some blocks to include more colors.

I was left with four charms and decided to try incorporating them into a scrappy binding with a couple scraps from my stash. I love the look and it was super easy. The back was also from my stash. I just finished up by quilting a grid along the seams.

If I had to do a project like this again, I would go with a circle cutter to get a perfect circle and use Wonder Under underneath it rather than the method I chose. I think I'd end up with rounder circles.

It was such a fun and inspiring meeting! We had record attendance of about 91 people (I think because of the Kansas City Star article on modern quilting) and it was great to look out into the crowd and see people of every age from teenagers up to great (great?) grandmas (and grandpas!). A couple of people used this challenge as an opportunity to finish their first quilts and received a standing ovation. I know I say it every month but I'm just so amazed at the talent in this group, at their willingness to try something new no matter what level of experience they're at, and the warm, sincere encouragement they give to new quilters. Every meeting seems like a celebration!

If you'd like to see some great pictures of other quilts in the challenge, visit Carla at Lollyquiltz. She stood at the back and got some great shots.

I'll wrap this up by asking for suggestions on naming this little quilt. It's a bit over 18 inches square and will be a doll quilt for Jenna. I'm terrible at naming quilts! Help!

Should be cleaning...

2011-03-13T23:02:00.000-05:00

I should be cleaning but a laptop sitting in my kitchen is not the best idea. I sat down to find a podcast...but then decided to check Google Reader...then that lead to a few new blogs....oh how about a quick blog post of my own? Then I'll get back to the cleaning...promise!

We spent a great family weekend together and even made it to the zoo on this beautiful warm weekend. Can you believe it's snowing right now?! That's weather in Kansas for you!

Here's a completely random photo from my desktop. I can't tell you how long ago I bought this fabric and pattern. Maybe two summers ago? After I finish up a couple of projects, this will be on the agenda while Jenna still loves her sock monkey. And before she outgrows the pattern. I was just so nervous about clothes but now I'm thinking it will be a piece of cake.

I'm hoping to get some photos of my finished No Prints Allowed Challenge tomorrow. Maybe they'll be snow pictures :) Now off to load the dishwasher and catch up on some laundry....But I need to find a podcast first!

Seeing {Pink} Squares

2011-03-10T23:48:00.000-06:00

Well, here it is! I finally got to see it in person tonight when Shea handed it off to me at the Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild tonight. This is the pink version of the Seeing Squares quilt that I made for Jenna. You got to see a little peek here and it's so nice to be able to share it with you now.

Angela Walters quilted it in a beautiful flower design that's flowing and feminine. I've had fun hunting for the squares that she put a special little design in. I can't wait to wash it up and see it in all of it's wrinkly goodness.

It's 48″ x 56" and I think it will make a great sized quilt for Jenna to cover up with on chilly mornings while I make breakfast. I hope it will live in our family room for a while and add a touch of sunshine while we wait for spring to arrive. It'll be interesting to see if Jenna agrees with that idea.

Shea is featuring this little pink quilt on her blog today. When you visit, make sure you take a look at the other three versions of the pattern. They are all very beautiful and yet unique in choices of fabric. Enjoy!

Seeing Squares

2011-03-09T18:35:00.000-06:00

I'm so excited to introduce you to a new pattern that my friend Shea recently released. Shea was the first person that I met when I visited the Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild and her friendly, warm personality made me (and everyone else) feel right at home.

I was just tickled when Shea asked me to test Seeing Squares. I found it to be very clear and concise, with helpful hints along the way. I suspect that Shea's experience as a teacher helped her communicate the directions in easy to understand illustrations and graphs. She's made whats looks like a complicated pattern into one that was so fun to put together. I'm amazed at the care she puts into creating her patterns before they are released. Shea made the pattern twice. Paula made the gorgeous quilt on the cover and I made a small pink one that you'll see later this week. Shea even included measurements for a pieced back which is a huge time saver!

Shea's been sharing the different versions of this quilt this week on her blog and I know you'll love seeing them. Get started here and make sure to read through the past few days of posts. She'll feature my pink quilt tomorrow.

And I have to share a photo of her first pattern just because I think it's brilliant and adorable! This will be a perfect Christmas gift for a friend who has several little kiddos running around. No noise makers, provides hours of entertainment and can store easily when needed.

Shea's offering FREE shipping on both patterns until St. Patrick's Day!

Little Stitcher

2011-03-04T00:31:00.000-06:00

I got to sew on my challenge quilt a bit tonight and I like the way it's coming together so far. Once I start sewing, it's hard not to just go all night, into the wee hours of the morning.

Jenna likes to do everything related to a project in one sitting too. I love the little Chicken Socks books that Klutz Books publishes and I found this sewing one. She has been asking me to sew for a while now and I thought this looked like something she would enjoy.

With some guidance, she was able to put all of the little projects together pretty easily.

The plastic needle that was included was very easy for her to use. I'm planning on taking some felt or cardstock and punching holes in it so she can make some other things.

If you have little ones, are they taking an interest in sewing? How are you finding ways to involve them?

Birdie Stitches BOM - Jan

2011-03-02T10:24:00.001-06:00

I've been meaning to share this block for a while now. It's the Birdie Stitches BOM for January. I actually finished it in January but now I need to catch up February's block.

The embroidery goes together pretty fast. I'm not sure what I think of the stabilizer. I chose to use it because I don't want any threads from the back to show through the front but I don't like the wrinkly look it gives. I hope it will look better after it's washed.

I love this little bird! Especially the ear muffs.

Robert Kaufman No Prints Allowed Challenge Sneak Peek

2011-03-02T01:47:00.000-06:00

I finally got moving on my Robert Kaufman No Prints Allowed Challenge. I've been sketching, planning, sorting, changing my mind over what to make. I had all these ideas but I think I got really hung up on feeling like I need to have a purpose and recipient for what I made. Tonight I let go of that and just decided to play with an idea I've had for a while. If I like it enough, I can always plan something bigger for the right person at the right time. So for now, it's just something for me to enjoy.

It's coming together fairly quickly and I've had fun working on it tonight. But I'd better get myself to bed. The little preschooler will be awake before I know it!

Pretty Pleased

2011-02-27T23:48:00.000-06:00

I've been trying to figure out how to change my blog header with a correctly sized photo...FOREVER! Finally figured it out. So simple, now that I know how! I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself.

I took the picture last summer when I was out on a bike ride with the family. I just love the colors.

Thought I'd share a picture of fabric my sister sent for my birthday in a while back. I don't have any plans for it yet but it's so pretty. Such potential there.

Hope you all are well. It's been raining like spring time here. Maybe it's around the corner.

Sunkissed Scraps

2011-02-21T00:48:00.000-06:00

I finally let go of this pile of teeny tiny scraps left from trimming blocks on a quilt that's off being quilted. I used Sunkissed by Sweetwater for Moda along with some Kona Solids. These bright fabrics breathed a bit of sunshine into a cold winter. No photos of this top secret quilt yet...I can hardly wait!

What I can share is an article from Kansas City Star about modern quilting. It's a great story full of beautiful quilt pictures, great resources and even a bit of history. Jacquie Gering and Lauren Hunt are leaders in the KC Modern Quilt Guild and gave lovely interviews. I wish you could see how passionate, talented and funny they both are in real life. Well, you can if come to one of our guild meetings!

This warm weather that's been giving me the itch to get outside and walk (or maybe even run a little) is headed out. I just heard rain hitting the windows and there's snow in the forecast. Maybe I'll see more of those little birdie tracks in the morning. I'm so glad we got in a trip to the playground this afternoon!

Hexagon Doll Quilt

2011-02-14T17:29:00.000-06:00

Here's Jenna's little doll quilt! I had so much fun with this quilt and it was the beginning of my love for hexagons.

It all started in Knoxville last summer when I watched a gentleman making hexagons in the Paper Pieces booth at the the AQS Quilt Show. I picked up an Urban Chicks 1974 charm pack at a scrapbook store and used it to practice making hexie's with my mom and sister. I decided to make a little sampler of flowers and strips just to see if I liked working with hexagons before I embarked on a larger project. It was a great portable project and Jenna even helped pull the needle through a few stitches.

I handed it off to my friend Sheryl to quilt and knew she would do an amazing job because she is a very talented quilter. I almost cried when I saw Jenna's name quilted into the top. It's just beautiful and I know Jenna will treasure it.

This is my favorite hexie. I have to laugh when I think of the woman at a retreat that looked at the flowers I was making for this quilt and asked if I REALLY liked all those colors. Honestly, some of them aren't my absolute favorite but I think it gives the quilt some interest to have a nice variety. And REALLY what kind of question is that? Would I have used them if I didn't like them! I guess that was her way of saying she didn't like them :)

I just love the design that appears on the back.

I have another hexagon project in the works. I imagine it will come along slowly until I get some other things finished or have another long car ride.

Here's a hoop and a Halloween kitchen towel made with hexagons. I'm sure more hexagons will pop up again from time to time since I enjoy it so much

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hummingbird Mug Rug

2011-01-18T15:57:00.000-06:00

Hello friends! I'm having a wonderful day catching up on things and watching Jenna paint at her easel. I thought I'd take a minute and tell you how this little mug rug came about.

When I was visiting my family this summer, my sister Viv and I had such a great time window shopping, going to the AQS quilt show, and visiting an amazing scrapbook store all in Knoxville. I think the best time though, was sitting in her kitchen visiting, drinking coffee and sewing while our girls played. Viv has become quite the quilter herself and she was so generous to give me scraps from her Hushabye quilt. She also had a stack of fabric in her stash that was just beautiful and I oooohhed and awwwed over it. I think they might be Monaluna prints. Before I left, she cut a strip from each of those fabrics for me to take home!

They've been sitting on my shelf for almost 6 months and I take them out every once in a while to look at them and remember what a great time we had. It finally dawned on me that one of the little mug rugs that are all the rage over on Flickr would be perfect for these strips and I could send it to my sister to enjoy.

I experimented quite a bit on this project. Instead of graphing everything out with measurements, I just guessed and cut. I discovered I still need my graph paper! It was the first time I used my walking foot on my Bernina and it was a dream. I also tried a 2 inch binding instead of my usual 2 1/4. I thought it would be nice to have a thinner binding on such a small project. I ended up struggling a bit to get it around the edges and quickly let go of the idea that I would experiment with machine binding. It was very quick to hand stitch the binding though and I still very much enjoy it. I did discover that it's smart to start the binding on a longer side.

So I mailed it off Saturday and hopefully Viv is too busy during the week to read this because I don't think it will get to her until tomorrow. I'm excited to surprise her with something unexpected!

That little blue hummingbird on the brown background is one of my favorites. I saved back a few little scraps for me to use in something later, so we'll see where it might turn up.

Embroidery Preparation

2011-01-15T20:37:00.000-06:00

I managed to get my 1st block for the Birdie Stitches Block of the Month pieced and traced while my husband was out of town. I have a nice little sewing room but set I up the sewing machine in my bedroom in front of the tv for a few days. It was nice to have a bit of noise in the background as I was sewing late at night.

Nice light box, don't you think!

I only remembered to put the stabilizer on the back of the block after I pieced the top and bottom squares. (Distracted by the tv, perhaps?) But I got it on there. I waited a couple of days after I traced the pattern to start my embroidery and my disappearing ink had already started to fade so I had to retrace. I had to laugh. I guess I need to move a little faster!

I started on the snowman with 6 strands and had a very tough time pulling thread through the stabilizer and fabric. So with a sore finger, I headed off to Stitch On to ask for some advice. I got a little rubber circle that I can grab the needle with and help pull it. It reminds me of those rubber jar openers you might have hiding in your kitchen and it cost about $2. I'm going to pull out the little bit of pink I started last night, switch to 4 threads and see if that helps. So far I'm enjoying it and working on getting my stitches a bit more consistent.

It dawned on me last night as I was stitching that this isn't my first embroidery. I worked on a piece while I was visiting family in Tennessee a couple of years ago and haven't finished it up. I need to pull that out and do something with it. Maybe a pillow. I'll keep you posted.

Have you discovered any forgotten UFO's recently?

Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild - January

2011-01-14T17:23:00.000-06:00

I headed off to Kansas City last night to hear Angela Walters present some of the quilts she quilted for Tula Pink and to discuss her quilting process. Angela's quilting is just amazing and it was so interesting to hear how she approaches a quilt and how she decides what designs to quilt.

Quite a few members have collaborated with Angela on their quilts and we've gotten to see them over the past year. But what a treat to see her quilting on Tula's beautiful fabric and quilt designs! Jacquie from Tallgrass Prairie Studio has also worked with Angela and you can see some examples here and here. Jacquie's Selvage Quilt is probably my all time favorite quilt, both for the quilt top and the quilting. I'm a big lover of historical architecture and something about this quilt brings to mind beautiful architectural elements that I've taken a thousand photos of over the years. All of these links show details of Angela's work...you'll enjoy taking a look.

Members could bring a quilt top and ask Angela for quilting ideas on their particular project. Not only did we get to see some inspiring quilts but also got tons and tons of quilting ideas for both beginning and experienced quilters. I brought this quilt to share and have enough ideas that I might try to quilt it myself in something other than straight lines.

Next month, Alissa Carlton will be visiting our guild all the way from California. She blogs at Handmade by Alissa and is co-author of Block Party--The Modern Quilting Bee: The Journey of 12 Women, 1 Blog, & 12 Improvisational Projects. How cool is that!?

A Little Sunshine

2011-01-11T21:54:00.000-06:00

We had a big snowstorm here yesterday and got to have a snow day at home. Today brought sunshine but very cold temperatures. Cutting into this layer cake of Sunkissed added some warmth to a beautiful bright day. I'm following along with Little Miss Shabby's Block of the Month. I wanted to try some embroidery and I fell in love with the sweet bird on the first block.

Scraps would have been perfect in this quilt but I don't have a very big scrap collection yet. I considered a few different lines of fabric but in the end decided on Sunkissed. I've never been a huge fan of gray, especially gray and yellow paired. I've seen some great sashes done with gray that are beautiful but I've never considered using it myself. When I saw the prints in Sunkissed though, I remembered how much I love pink and gray together. I thought this might be a good chance to stretch a bit and use gray instead of white and be able to mix in the soft yellows and oranges. You might enjoy seeing some of the fabrics other people have chosen and posted on Flickr.

I'm so glad we got a chance to play in the snow yesterday and today because it will be way too cold to get out tomorrow. We baked yummy sugar cookies and had plenty to share with friends and neighbors.

Hope you are all staying warm and cozy!

No Prints Allowed Challenge

2011-01-10T20:30:00.000-06:00

We had quite an exciting Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild meeting in December. Robert Kaufman donated 100 charm square packs of Kona solids to our guild for our latest challenge...The No Prints Allowed Challenge!

Here's the challenge:

Use each and every charm somewhere on the front or back.
Use any additional fabric as long as it's solid.
Share your project at March's guild meeting and via your blog/flickr.

I had a hard time deciding between the dark charm square pack and the bright one. I ended up going with the bright which seemed to be the most popular of the night. I've had this pack opened up and arranged different ways around the house. I wanted to be able to see all the colors at one time. Then they sit in one spot and each time I pass I consider ideas for using the charms. After a while they get shuffled and rest in a new spot. They are finally up in my sewing room and I think I have the beginnings of a plan. I'm still not quite ready to cut....but I'm close.

I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with. It was amazing to see the projects from the last challenge (Project Plume). We have some very talented quilters in our guild! Shea from The Empty Bobbin has a couple of great pictures of the last challenge and this is my table runner in progress and completed. I gifted it to my sister for her birthday and we were just talking the other day about how much we love the bird print on the back.

Do you have a favorite solid?

Special Scraps

2011-01-07T02:01:00.000-06:00

The stomach bug finally got me Monday afternoon. I'm just so thankful we didn't all have it at the same time and that my wonderful husband could spend some time at home Tuesday so I could recuperate. I'm finally feeling perky today and trying to get caught up on things here at home. I was really bummed to miss out on meeting with my small quilt group but we have some exciting things coming up this year.

I thought I'd share how I'm storing my "Special Scraps" at the moment. I purchased this shelf about 20 years ago and have always loved it. It was in my daughter's nursery when she was a baby and held her little board books. Her collection of books has expanded into a larger shelf in 4 years so this made it's way across the hall into my sewing room. It holds vintage bowls along with some pottery from Tennessee that I labeled with simple manila tags.

The top bowl is from Tennessee and holds Jenna's scraps that she can cut, glue, and create with. The middle bowl is from my mother-in-law's kitchen and holds scraps for a ticker tape quilt I hope to make someday. And the bottom bowl is from an antique store and holds selvages.

It's so easy to just sort these small scraps into an open container as I cut or clean up from a project. We'll see what I do when the bowls get full. I imagine I will just empty out the bowl into a larger container and keep using the bowl to collect scraps. I still have a bit of organizing to do in that closet. All in good time....

Are you collecting scraps for anything special?

Stain Removal

2011-01-01T17:38:00.000-06:00

My little family headed out to western Kansas this week for the funeral of a dear friend's father. I took along my hexagon doll quilt so I could work on the hand applique.

Somehow, either hot cocoa or coffee came in contact with the quilt top. The cup holders are right beside me so I'm sure the top fell that way and soaked up a little drip. Panic! Luckily I remembered that I'd been carrying around a Tide2Go pen in my purse and whipped it out to see what could be done.

I found these at Target and picked them up because my daughter and I usually end up with something on us when we are out. It alleviates a lot of stress and I was hoping it would come to my rescue again.

I tried to just dot a bit of the solution on the fabric but quite a lot came out on the first try. I used the tip for some scrubbing action then blotted with bottled water to make a less definite water line. I was worried the stain remover would leave a stain (Yes, I can find something to worry about at all times!). It dried nicely and you'd never know it happened. I might have to keep one of these in my sewing kit for emergencies like this.

I'm getting a chance to work on this quilt again today since the stomach bug hit our house about 2:00 this morning. Thank goodness I've been okay and can care for everyone and stay on top of the laundry! I'm spending some time sitting beside Jenna watching movies with this quilt top in my hand. We are disappointed to miss a visit with friends who flew in this morning but thankful it hit before they arrived so they weren't exposed.

Hope all is well with you and that you've enjoyed this first day of the year!

Hello, 2011!

2010-12-31T23:33:00.000-06:00

I spent a bit of time the other day writing down all of the projects and goals that have been floating around in my head for the last month or so. As my list got longer and longer, I realized that they might not be goals for 2011. They might be goals for the next decade at the pace I went this past year! But it really doesn't matter how fast I accomplish this list. I had so much fun this past year and that's what really DOES matter. I'm so excited to learn and try so much more. I'll include some photos of newly acquired fabric I'm looking forward to playing with.

Technique/Skills
Embroidery (starting here)
Zipper
Raw Edge Applique
Circles or Curves
Long Arm Quilting
Free Motion Quilting (on my Bernina)

Projects
A bag or purse
Pillow
Mug Rug
2 Aprons
A piece inspired by a vintage canning quilt
No Prints Allowed Challenge for KCMQG
Whittle down those wonderful WIPS on my shelf

Social
Continue sewing with my small group
Join the Kaw Valley Guild
Make something WITH Jenna
Blog a bit more
Participate in another swap

Giving
1 Quilts for Kids
2 other baby quilts for charity
Participate in another KCMQG charitable activity

Productivity
Sew a little something everyday (even for just a few minutes).
Organize my craft closet...again.
Set up a little work station close to where my daughter plays to sneak in a bit of play time for me.
Limit Reader and Flickr time to give myself a little more sewing time.

So there's my giant list! I can't wait to get started. It's officially 2011 here in our household as we toasted in the New Year at 9:00 pm with lemonade and cider...an exciting celebration with our 4 year old!

Happy New Year to you all!

Looking Back

2010-12-29T01:33:00.000-06:00

One last WIP for 2010! I put together some of the 6 inch blocks I made for Tia's quilt along to try out some long arm quilting. One of my friends offered to let a few of us try her long arm and it was so much fun. I was a bit intimidated and had no idea where to start but she was a very patient and encouraging teacher. So this is my first wobbly attempt at free motion quilting on something other than a scrap. That little taste has left me wanting more. Luckily, I have some birthday money left to spend on some a class to really get me started.

Of course, it's the end of the year and I have to take a look back. I could tally up all of my finishes, WIP's, UFO's, swaps, purchases, gifts, donations, and blocks but that will never measure what a difference sewing, quilting and blogging has made in my life this year.

Joining the Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild, attending a couple of retreats, and sewing with a small group has connected me with some great new friends that I've learned and laughed with.

Quilting has strengthened my connection with my family. I've loved getting to sew and share ideas with my mom. My sister and I went to a quilt show together in Knoxville and learned to make hexagons with my mom. My daughter has cut and glued many scraps while I've sewn and even pulled my needle through fabric for me. My husband's aunt and cousin helped us document some family quilting history. My dad has shopped with my mom and I. I had to laugh the other day when I was on the phone with my sister. I could hear my niece yelling in the background "Fabric, mom, fabric!" Awesome memories.

I can't even begin to describe how much I've learned from blogs and Flickr. There are some very talented quilters out there and I am so grateful that they are sharing what they've learned and are inspiring so many with their wonderful creations.

Quilting has given me a sense of accomplishment and an outlet for some creativity. I've learned to let go of perfection and just jump in and try new things. I absolutely love that when I sew something together it usually stays that way (unlike clean dishes and laundry). And most of all, I love learning and I feel like I could live to be 100 and never learn everything I want too. Oh, and can I just add how much I enjoy looking at and working with all of the gorgeous fabric!

I hope this year has been just as wonderful for all of you!

A New Bag

2010-12-16T20:55:00.000-06:00

While my mom was here visiting, we had a good time visiting quilt shops in the area. We stopped at Prairie Point in Shawnee, Harper's in Overland Park, Sarah's Fabrics in Lawrence and Stitch On, also in Lawrence. A mini shop hop of sorts. Mom let me pick out some fabric and we spent an afternoon making this Birdie Sling pattern by Amy Butler.

I have been a bit intimidated by the idea of making a purse or bag. Layers of batting, interfacing, fabric, lining, zippers, turning inside out... Now that I've helped with the process I'm very confident that I can go solo next time (without a zipper).

Here's a peek at the lining. I really love these Innocent Crush fabrics by Anna Maria Horner. I've been using the bag as a tote and it's so handy. Definitely room for a notebook or two and a camera plus all the other essentials.

I've been making a list of sewing goals for the next year in my head. I'll share those with you next time. Have you been thinking about next year yet?

Instead of Blogging...

2010-12-11T22:22:00.000-06:00

and finishing this quilt....

I've been....

*visiting with my mom and dad

*celebrating a big birthday

*cleaning my basement and sewing room

*having a fabulous Christmas Brunch with my MOPS friends

*helping a few families have a Merry Christmas

*putting on a puppet show for Jenna at the library

*watching Santa get rescued from the top of Weaver's Department Store

*having dinner and seeing the Christmas Lights on the Kansas City Plaza

*watching the Old Fashioned Christmas Parade in Downtown Lawrence

*caroling and crafting with preschoolers

*viewing Gingerbread Houses (I want to live here!)

*sewing with my mom

*giving long arm quilting a try (and loving it!)

and enjoying every minute!

Hope you are enjoying this Christmas season too!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-24T14:32:00.000-06:00

Miss J and I just put a pumpkin pie in the oven for tomorrow's Thanksgiving dinner. She has been calling it a feast all week. We are expecting a small cozy Thanksgiving this year since we've already been to TX to see family and my parents will be coming next week. We are looking forward to some relaxing time together. Everyone has something on their agenda this long weekend. Roy wants to watch lots of football. Miss J wants to go to the movies to see Tangled. And I plan on spending some time sewing and organizing my stack of fabric that's falling over
.

Here's a peek at a top I finished last night. Well, this morning. You know I'm most productive after midnight :) If I can get it quilted and bound this weekend I'll enter it in Project Modern.

I'm feeling so grateful for so many things in my life right now and I'm happy to have a day to reflect and celebrate. I hope you all have a very blessed Thanksgiving!

A Fall Dress

2010-11-19T23:34:00.000-06:00

My mom made Miss J a few dresses this summer and my very good friend commented on how much she liked them. When I told my mom, she sent enough fabric and a pattern so we could have a sewing day to make dresses ourselves for our girls. The fabric is Spirit by Lila Tueller for Moda.

We started about 9:30 and I took a break to pick up Miss J from preschool and grab lunch for us all. We finally finished around 4:30. The three kids played so nicely together while we sewed. My friend's mom popped over to help us figure out the pocket which used elastic cord to gather the top. We both swore making clothes took more time than it was worth but in the end we were happy we did it. In fact, I had a little giggle of excitement when I sewed the pocket. It was so much fun to try something new. My friend made a couple more since then and she said the others went much more quickly.

Have you ever enjoyed sewing with a friend? I've been sharing quite a few sewing experiences with friends lately and it's a great deal of fun!

Lovely Swap Goodies

2010-11-18T23:47:00.000-06:00

I've had a wonderful couple of days. The weather is getting much cooler and I usually don't like these darker days. But for some reason I'm feeling cozy and I'm having the urge to organize, clean and snuggle. So I'm doing a bit of each of those and having fun working on a quilt for Project Modern.

I'm really enjoying the new items in my home that swaps have brought my way. There was much excitement the other day when my Scrappy Hoops Swap package arrived all the way from Australia! Little Miss J and I were having a late lunch when we saw the mail carrier walking up the driveway and I knew exactly what he was carrying. Isn't the packing tape adorable. We had fun opening it and I was just shocked when I saw what was inside.

I had seen this hoop on the group's Flickr and loved everything about it. The colors, the words (Where ever the ride takes me), the polka dots, the bike, the scrappiness. She even painted the hoop aqua. Love, love, love! But what were the odds that I would get the one that I loved so much. Miss J and my husband thought it was pretty cool too. I love looking at it and I'm very impress with the bike embroidery. It will definitely have a special place to hang in my sewing room!

Leah even sent a couple of beautiful fat quarters. They are so pretty! Thank you Leah!

My other swap goodies came from the KC Modern Quilt Guild. For the November meeting we were to bring something we made with a holiday theme (any holiday) or a few fat quarters of fabric. I brought some of my favorite Basic Grey Fruitcake fat quarters and then felt a bit bad because so many people had made the most gorgeous projects to swap. I need to step it up for next year!

We got to break up into smaller groups and participated in an activity where we could ask each other questions and get to know people in our group a little better which I loved. When it came time to swap with people in our group I had my eye on a little bag with the brown polka dot fabric you see in the potholder above. I knew the fabric was from that very same Basic Grey line that I love so much and was hoping something inside had the same fabric. And it did! These darling potholders were inside.

I haven't seen the Christmas print before but it's just perfect. I love text and swirly prints. It reminds me a little of some Christmas dishes I've seen at Williams Sonoma.

I've never had any potholders this shape before and was very curious about how they'd work. They work great and have already seen some action in my kitchen. I just love opening my little drawer by the stove and seeing them there. Sarah used a neat technique for the binding that I'd like to try soon. Thank you Sarah! I love them!

The Scrappy Hoops Swap

2010-11-16T15:49:00.000-06:00

I finished my hexies for the Scrappy Hoops Swap on Flickr while I was riding down the road to TX this past weekend. I put it in the hoop yesterday morning and it was in the mail by the afternoon. It's headed overseas but I can't reveal where yet.

My partner's inspiration mosaic had lots of mushrooms, hexagons, Heather Ross fabrics, lots of bright colors so I tried to include all of that. I put a mushroom right in the center. It was so fun to use my Heather Ross scraps that I'd gotten from Etsy a while back. I pulled some other scraps and fabric from my stash. I just loved working on it and I hope she likes it as much as I do!

I kept all of the papers in while I stitched and traveled to keep it stable. You'll notice I punched a hole in all of my papers. It makes it sooooo much easier to pop them out. I usually just unbend a paperclip and insert the end in the hole to pop them out but this time I had a pair of tweezers handy and just grabbed the paper at the hole. No digging under the seam allowance!

I usually press both the front and back with the papers on and then press again after the papers come out. I was able to leave all of the basting stitches in so seam allowances stayed nice and flat while I put another layer of fabric on the back. I just trimmed up the thread tails and made it look as neat as possible.

I was a bit sad when I put the piece in the hoop. There was an owl and butterfly I really liked and some of my other favorite hexagons had to be trimmed off. Yikes!

Here's the little label I put on the back with some Heat n Bond.

A gorgeous hoop arrived in my mailbox after lunch today and I can't wait to show you pictures!

Bloggers Quilt Festival Fall 2010 - Tennessee & Back

2010-11-05T23:28:00.000-05:00

I just put the last stitch in the binding of this quilt! I came home after a busy day with my preschooler who had a field trip and a doctor's appointment. In between those activities we made a stop at the bookstore where I accidentally ordered a caffeinated beverage and I was feeling pretty motivated. On a whim I decided to finish the last side of binding and join the Quilt Festival. My sweet husband agreed to pick up pizza for dinner and was so nice to put our little one to bed while I stitched.

I started this quilt in the summer of 2009. I was visiting my family in Tennessee and my mom wanted me to try her new long arm machine. She cut a stack of squares for me to sew together and the plan was for me to practice on this simple quilt. Well....I got busy visiting and only finished about half of it. So I took it back to Kansas and finished the top at a retreat in October. Back to Tennessee it went with plans to try the long arm during this visit. Again....too busy visiting so my mom offered to quilt it for me and send it back to Kansas in the mail. She did send it back (I believe it was in January of this year) and since I'd started several other projects it sat in the closet for a while. This summer I took it back to Tennessee and put the binding on while I was there, brought it back to Kansas and have been working on the binding a little at a time until tonight. So this quilt has some mileage! For this reason I've named it Tennessee & Back.

Even though this is a simple quilt, it was a stretch for me. My mom had me just pull squares off of the stack to sew them together instead of laying every square out and making a plan like I've always done before. It was really the beginning of moving towards a more intuitive improv process. It was also fun to play with colors I wouldn't have thought to put together - red, eggplant, lavender, peach, sage, olive. I love the mix and can't wait to put this quilt on my bed! Thanks Mama!

I have to thank Amy for hosting the Festival again. It's so much fun to see so many quilts and read about their stories. My entry in the Spring 2010 festival is here. And thanks to all of you for visiting!

Cherri House at KCMQG

2010-10-27T14:36:00.000-05:00

I was so fortunate to hear Cherri House speak this month at KC Modern Quilt Guild. Cherri is such a genuine woman and her story of how her life has shaped her quilting was very moving. I picked up City Quilts the week before she came and got to know her quilt designs a little better. City Quilts focuses on solid fabrics and they are beautiful quilts. But I was just amazed at how vibrant they were in person. You'll notice City Green on the table. From a distance, all of the little squares look green. However, if you look closely, there are varying shades of blue and even some purples. Cherri's eye for color is just incredible.

I've never worked with solids (besides white) and hearing her speak has opened my eyes to so many possibilities. Many of the guild members have been using solids and I love what I've been seeing during the show and tells. Isn't it wonderful what we can learn from each other. I can't get over how many talented people I'm sitting around every time a go to a Guild meeting!

A Little Hexie Peek

2010-10-26T00:12:00.000-05:00

I've been stitching away on my Scrappy Hoops Swap project and thought I'd share a peek. I'm so happy to finally be working with some of my Heather Ross scraps. I just love the softness of the Munki Munki. So much so, that I've been looking online for Munki PJ's to actually wear!

I am eager to finish and get it off to my partner but my left hand that holds the hexies together is hurting a bit. At first I thought I had fallen on my hand or banged it but I suspect it's the gripping while I stitch. Hopefully I just have some hand muscles that need to get used to the work they are doing. I may have to slow down a bit....or hurry up and finish :)

Orange Binding

2010-10-15T17:10:00.002-05:00

NICU binding, originally uploaded by Under the Evening Star.

I love binding, at least the hand stitching part. It's so nice to have a good excuse to sit and visit with my little girl, watch Food Network with her and it's guilt-free since I'm being so productive!

Vicki lead the KC Modern Quilt Guild in this project to donate quilts to a local NICU. I'm not sure who pieced this quilt but it's beautiful and I love the color combination. My friend Sheryl quilted it and then passed it on to me to bind. I took it to our guild meeting tonight and it was so fun to see most of the quilts displayed. It's amazing to see what many hands can accomplish together. Check some of them out here.

Scrappy Hoop Swap Inspiration

2010-10-12T12:23:00.003-05:00

***It just occured to me that I shouldn't post photos from flickr of projects others have completed without their permission, even if they are inspiration. I deleted the photo, but if you'd like to take a peek, click on the link below and you'll see the mosaic and information about the projecrs and their very talent creators.

Hoop Swap Inspiration

I joined in on the Scrappy Hoop Swap on flickr and I'm excited! I think it will be so fun to design something special for someone but I'm also a little nervous. I hope I send something my partner likes. I know I'll be thrilled with anything I receive. I'm just looking forward to the suspense and surprise!

Here's the mosaic I made of projects on flickr that I love. Can you tell that I really love scrappy things!

When I made the mosaic I couldn't think of a single thing I don't like but after a lot of thought I decided that perhaps there is one thing. I'm not a big fan of owls. Don't get me wrong, I love real owls in nature. They're beautiful. But owls have been all the rage in both scrapbook paper and fabric designs for a while now and I'm just not drawn to them. I know I must be in the minority because I see them everywhere. Actually, the Alexander Henry owl fabric is pretty cute but I'm not a brown owl kind of girl. Am I the only one?

Hexagons on the Go

2010-10-01T22:51:00.000-05:00

Here's a peek at the little case I grab for quick outings. I can drop it in my purse and have all I need to make a few hexagons on the run. It's actually a 4x6 photo case.

The red felt has threaded needles with regular thread and some silk thread. I wear the circle shaped thread cutter on a ribbon around my neck if I'm in riding in the car. Hexies are ready to stitch. I have extra thread, templates, fabric, and paper clips just in case. Little scissors to trim the corners of fabric and a threader which I don't have to use that often.

I have a bigger case for longer trips but that's another post....

How do you carry your hexies?

Guess What

2010-10-01T22:18:00.000-05:00

Guess what's catching my eye lately.

A precious scrap....

And something for the wish list.

Halloween Hexies

2010-09-27T21:43:00.000-05:00

I miss my sewing machine! I haven't even unpacked her from my retreat. With husband out of town last week and coming home sick, I've not had a chance to sit and sew. Last night I just had to get my hands on some fabric and get something accomplished.

I chose a few charms from Haunted Mansion by Moda and made a simple flower. I then hand appliqued the flower onto a kitchen towel I picked up at Target. It felt great to start and finish something in one night.

Little Houses

2010-09-22T19:06:00.001-05:00

I made these little houses for Tia's quilt along. I started them Friday night at my retreat and finished them up by lunch time on Saturday. When I made the last one, I swore I'd never make another! But now I'm looking at them again and they are kind of cute. I think my frustration stemmed from knowing I brought so much I wanted to work on and these were taking me much longer than I anticipated. Tia said she whipped her's out in 45 minutes!

There was definitely a learning curve with estimating how much a seam allowance would shrink the size and remembering not to put the roof on before I sewed on the air around the walls of the house. The doors, windows and a chimney are raw edge applique.

I think I might try ONE of these again for a small project when I can focus on lots of cuteness and when I feel like I have a little extra time to spend.

I cut the pieces with scissors, very free form, estimating sizes I'd need.

I tried a mushroom shape but the curved piecing wasn't working out, even though I pinned it like crazy!

This one might be my favorite. Any idea what tall item is beside the house? I'm still trying to figure it out!

A Winner!

2010-09-21T17:42:00.000-05:00

Thanks everyone for your comments! It was fun to check out the fabrics you love. Katrina's our winner! Be looking for an email and we'll make arrangements to get the pattern to you.

I had my helper do a random selection from a little leaf bowl she insisted we buy at the grocery store yesterday. I'm ready to do a little fall decorating so I'm going to fill it with pine cones and light some candles while I clean tonight. I've been on the run for about a week with a quilt retreat this weekend, preparing for meetings and taking family members to appointments. My house was neglected but feeling ready to get things back in order.

My plan is to make some progress on my to-do list while I listen to an audio book (The Middle Place). Then I can breathe and enjoy some sewing. I had fun sewing wonky house blocks and cutting out fabric for a couple of quilts at the retreat. I'm hoping to share some photos tomorrow.

I just glanced at the photo above. How cute is that dress fabric?! I'm thinking I need to recycle it when the time comes in a sewing project. I keep saying I don't really love orange, and there it is again. Perfect paired with the right colors!

The 7 Minute Shopping Trip & a Giveaway

2010-09-16T14:35:00.000-05:00

Last summer I was exploring Estes Park, CO with my family and we needed to stop for gas before he headed up into the park. As my husband pulled into the gas station, I noticed a little quilt shop in the strip mall next door. I told him I'd be back in a minute and sprinted across the parking lot to take a peek.

I calculated how much gas was already in the car and how long it would take to fill it. I knew I had to move fast. I have a very patient husband but waiting at a quilt shop when mountains are within sight would be just to much to ask!

I opened the door to the little shop and was immediately blown away. Wonderland by Momo is like nothing I'd ever seen before and I was so excited. I did a quick scan of the all the fabric in the store and kept coming back to Wonderland. I knew i didn't have time to pick out the prints I loved the most (I take a looonnnng time choosing fabric). I did notice they had a quilt made up and you could get a kit. I swooped it up, hustled to the counter and was out the door in 7 minutes.

Well, that pattern and kit have been sitting in my closet for over a year now. I'm evaluating my stash and projects to see what's holding me up and I think I finally figured this one out.

I love quilts with lots of different fabrics. This one has charm size options to cut out. I love the whimsical red fabric with the little animal silhouettes. Red is one of my favorite colors. I love the polka dots.The pattern is darling. Can't wait to use rickrack on a project.

But when it comes down to it, I've made a little quilt with a similar pattern (big middle square of fabric with little squares surrounding it - still unfinished by the way). And while i love that red woodland fabric with the animals, I can't picture using it in the middle for the flowers. I like the fabric and the pattern but not the choices someone else made for me on how to put it all together.

So here's what I'm going to do. I'm taking the kit apart, cutting apart the little charms and mixing it into my stash. I think I'll have a much better chance of using it that way. I already have an idea of where to use a few of the pieces.

And since I've made a quilt top similar to this pattern, I'm going to pass this one along to one of you! Leave a comment telling me about a fabric you love but haven't cut into yet and why. What's holding you up? I'll choose a comment at random on Tuesday afternoon, Sept 21 to receive the pattern.

Hunky Dory Hexies and a Stalled Quilt

2010-09-07T21:45:00.001-05:00

I refilled my little hexie kit with a bit of Hunky Dory. What a beautiful color combination! I'm not certain what I'll make with them yet. Contemplating a small tablecloth but I can picture using these in a quilt block or runner.

So far, I've stitched these in a McDonald's Playland, during a library storytime, at a friends house, and on the road to Kansas City to visit a dinosaur exhibit at Union Station. I'm loving having them on hand for a few quick stitches when I can.

Earlier this year, I was anticipating the appearance of Blush by Basic Grey. I fell in love with the prints when they were printed as scrapbook paper. I knew I would make something for myself with this line. I decided on using charm packs so that I could have all of the prints and planned on using this pattern with a little modification.

I got started on cutting and sewing a few pieces towards the end of my retreat in March. After I returned home I started worrying about all of the red I was including. I don't usually prewash but I got nervous about bleeding. I wasn't sure about all of those charm pieces either. I was worried they would just shred in the washing machine. So I put it in my closet and stayed there until today.

My next retreat is coming up and I want to use this quilt as a leader/ender quilt. Time to make a decision and take action! I prewashed the yardage in the washing machine and hand washed the charms, both with Retayne. It's all now drying on a guest bed. Lots of ironing is in my future before I can start cutting!

*ETA: I received a lovely email from Dorothy in Oz and she said she has washed Blush before and it didn't bleed and that none of her Moda reds have ever bled. Good to know! Thank you!

Fabric for Projects

2010-09-05T23:43:00.000-05:00

I certainly have enough projects to keep me busy for a while. I've been on the hunt for fabric to applique my hexagons to. I chose a Kona solid in Robins Egg. I think the polka dots will go on the back and the middle fabric will work for the binding. I'm excited to start stitching those hexies down!

This little bag is for a couple of quilts that I haven't started yet. Can you tell who designed all of these fabrics? The darker colors are for a Christmas quilt and the pinks are for Jenna's quilt. I finally decided which quilt I want to make with a jelly roll I have and needed backing to go with it. I may have changed my mind though. I'm considering another quilt along and using my jelly roll for this quilt.

I was reading the Freckled Whimsy blog today and KarrieLyne posted about a beautiful quilt she received in a swap. You must take a look! Even more beautiful is the story behind the quilt. Angela from Cut to Pieces very eloquently writes how her quilt illustrates the journey through years of infertility. It's a story that tugs at my heart because I've also made that journey. It reminds me of the hope and pain and countless other emotions that were impossible to express even to my closest friends. Happily, both of our stories end in beautiful miracles. I'm enjoying reading through her blog and I hope you'll visit too.

Is it wrong....

2010-09-03T00:03:00.000-05:00

to love a fabric because of the selvage?

I had a 4 year old helper at Sarah's Fabrics the other day who made her own choices in fabric.

How could I say no with such adorable selvage?

Win Win purchase!

I can't wait to see what Tula Pink's selvage for her new Parisville line will look like. My bet is on the mouse/rat in her logo.

I'd love to hear what your favorit selvage is.

And if you have a clue as to where I've misplaced my camera I'd love some hints. It's driving me insane!

Explore the World

2010-08-30T18:13:00.000-05:00

It's so easy to get into auto-pilot mode as I go about my day to day activities. I see things fresher when I go on vacation. I'm so excited to be immersed in new surroundings and I just soak in the details, trying to savor and remember each moment. Then I go back home and try to get back into that comfortable routine and the details start to blur. So I'm challenging myself to look around and explore the world around me. Visit places nearby that I haven't been to and photograph or sketch the details that inspire me.

I had a chance to run a few errands alone this weekend and decided to run into the Spencer Museum of Art in Lawrence. I may have visited once in the last twenty years but I certainly don't remember. There's a quilt exhibit there and thought I'd pop in for a few minutes to check it out. As I looked for parking, I drove by this garage set into a hill and something about it made me catch my breath. I knew I needed a photo! Of course, I'd taken my camera out of my purse for one reason or another. My iphone camera would have to do.

The exhibit at the museum was small but interesting. On the way out, I almost missed a small exhibit across from the gift shop. It was a quilting project that a middle school class created using literature as inspiration for small wall quilts. They were amazing, and it was so interesting to read the students' comments on the process. I don't think they will be on display for very much longer but if you have a chance check it out.

My iphone camera also captured a potential hexagon layout the other day. I snapped a picture to remember some of the options I tried. I'm trying to decide now whether to take the time to hand applique the hexagons onto the background or just do it by machine. I like the look of hand applique better but it'll take so much longer. And I plan on letting Jenna use this as a doll quilt. Hmmm. We'll see....

Selvage Bookmark

2010-08-27T01:01:00.001-05:00

Here's my Selvage Bookmark that began with this lovely pile of scraps. I finished it late last night and intended to photograph it in natural light today but the day was just too busy. Now it's very late and this is the best I can get in my sewing room after midnight. **Just swapped out the picture for a better one.

Here's the story of how it came to be:

I have a mother who knows I love pretty things and sent me a little surprise package recently. She's always tucking in little things she'll know I'll like or use. Needles, thread, a recipe, a fat quarter, a magazine, a handful of scraps. So this latest package just happened to have strings of scrap fabric to keep the stack of magazines from sliding around and they just happen to be in a line of fabric we both love (Fresh Cottons by Fig Tree Quilts). I knew I had to make something with them!

I remembered that Jacquie had a selvage tutorial on her blog and thought I'd start from there. I discovered that her selvages were no smaller than an inch and had at least 1/4 inch of pattern showing above the selvage. My scraps were much smaller. I think the largest piece was about 3/4 of an inch total and not much pattern above the selvages. But I thought if I alternated a selvage with a printed fabric strip it might look similar.

This 5x5 square was the result. I thought I'd make a pincushion for my sister. But the more I inspected I realized that my seam allowances just weren't deep enough. I was afraid it might split open and I'd never hear the end of walnut shells spread across my sisters house! So I thought for a day or so about what I could come up with that wouldn't stress out my seams. I know Viv loves to read so I dreamed up a bookmark.

Scraps + Scrapbookpaper + Sewing Machine + Adhesive + Button = Cute Bookmark for Viv. I'm sure she won't see this for a while since she's chin deep in teaching at the moment.

It took some trial and error. The big discovery was that I needed to leave the foundation paper on the back as I sewed it to the heavy scrapbook paper. Otherwise it stretched in the direction I was sewing.

Here's the back. Gotta love Basic Grey. (Did you know they make paper? Did you know scrapbook paper has selvages too?!)

And Mom, if you are reading this, I have enough to make one for you too!

Can you believe...

2010-08-24T20:48:00.000-05:00

Can you believe I'm making something from this pile of scraps my mom used as padding in a package she sent. Too pretty to throw away!

Shoo Fly and Surgery

2010-08-23T23:45:00.001-05:00

My Monday to-do list was long and I accomplished much. Emails, phone calls, playdate, cleaning, laundry, more playing, cooking (new yummy recipe), bathing little toes. However, it's after 11 and I'm still in my workout clothes that I put on this morning since I was going to exercise just after I finished a few things. That one item is rolling over to tomorrow's list but I think I'd better do it first thing when I wake up! So I got lots done but not necessarily what I really was hoping to do.

I was going to tell you that I didn't get to sew at all today but I just remembered that Amy the Penguin was in need of emergency wing surgery. I suppose that my sweet girl remembers a rather lengthy wait for one of Monkey's surgeries so she put Amy the Penguin just where she knew I'd find her. So cute! I'm happy to report that the penguin is recovering nicely snuggled up next to my sleeping girl.

I did get to sneak in some sewing this weekend after a lovely breakfast date with my husband. I made these Shoo Fly blocks as part of Tia's quilt along.They were so fun and quick to put together. I'm enjoying the quilt along so much and I can't wait to see what else Tia has in store for us.

Those are a couple that I really liked.

I think I'm going to have to let this swirly fabric go for this project. Just doesn't seem to go with the others. Doesn't produce enough contrast either. It's funny how you can really like a fabric but when it's wrong for a block, uggh!

And red is always a favorite.

I must go get some sleep. We're off on another adventure tomorrow with some little friends and some mamas. Can't wait!

Buttons and Triangles

2010-08-20T17:41:00.000-05:00

When I was a little girl, my mom kept a container of buttons in her sewing room and I loved playing with them while she sewed. She gave me this little juice pitcher a long time ago and as things go, it sat in my kitchen cabinet a long time because we don't really serve juice that often. I want to use it so I put it in my sewing room to hold the buttons Jenna collects from quilt shops. The two little "dishes" beside the pitcher are actually attachments from a kitchen tool my mother-in-law had in her cabinet. Sometimes I can't get a stain out of a cute outfit of Jenna's and before I throw it out I pull off any of the fun buttons. These make a great place to put them since they are special to me and I don't want to throw them in with the others. Call me sentimental! Do you store any of your tools or supplies in special containers?

Have you tried Triangulations? It such a quick easy way to whip out either half square or quarter square triangles. Just like dot-to-dot. You sew on the dotted line and cut on the solid line with your rotary cutter.

I've made a few star block with these and they are so fun and easy to put together. I use a bone folder from my scrapbook supplies to "finger press" my seams open before I hit them with the iron. I'll try to get a few pictures of them since I just pulled them out to work on again.

Potholder Swap

2010-08-19T22:18:00.000-05:00

KC Modern Quilt Guild had a potholder swap a few months ago. It's been so fun to open up my little potholder drawer and see these two lovely creations peaking out. I'm still surprised when I see them. I forget they're in there!

The potholder above is made from Tula Pink's Nest line of fabric. Isn't the little egg perfect for the kitchen?

This next one is so cute with donuts and cookies. The really cool part is the middle. Let's take a closer look, shall we?

It looks like a vintage cookbook page was copied onto fabric. What a neat idea! The quilting is pretty cool too. Here's it's sibling. We each made two to swap but they were passed out randomly.

These are the potholders I made for the swap. I love the fabric but I encountered some problems. The pressure on the quilt sandwich was so great that I had to literally pull the potholder through the machine to quilt it. It was pretty thick with Insulbright and batting. It stretched out the corners as I did pretty dense straight line quilting. I cut out some extra pieces so I'm planning on trying again with my new machine to see if it makes a difference. Here's the tutorial I used. I really do learn so much with every project I try. The only way to learn is to get in there and give it a go!

A Fun Quilt Along

2010-08-18T09:28:00.000-05:00

Tia from Camp Follower Bags & Quilts is hosting a Free Piecing Quilt Along and I thought it would be fun to try my hand at some wonkiness again. I had two goals as I started this Quilt Along. I wanted to play a bit with my new sewing machine because I've been doing a lot of handwork lately. I've been anxious to get some fabric in it! I also wanted to play a bit with color choices.

I usually choose fabrics from one line in my projects and when I mix things up I tend to get matchy-matchy. I end up with too little contrast. I dug into my little stash and discovered the only solid I had was white! But I dug a little more and found a few fabrics that I thought might read as close to solid. In the end I found some prints and tone-on-tones that I thought might achieve some contrast.

The blocks are 6 x 6 and pretty quick and easy to put together.

This itty bitty anvil block is an example of some hand piecing I did on my trip that doesn't have enough contrast to it. The greens are blending together.

It's fun to start experimenting. I feel like am learning so much! The more I do though, the more I find I want to tweak and learn.

So go check out Tia's blog! She is just the nicest gal and makes the coolest bags and quilts for her military friends from uniforms and quilting fabric! I met her at the Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild but she just moved to TX so I'm keeping up with her on her blog.

Hooked on Hexies!

2010-08-17T11:08:00.001-05:00

While I was in TN, my sister took me to the AQS Quilt Show in Knoxville. We had a grand time and I was amazed at the variety and quantity of quilts. The vendor area was fun to walk through too. PaperPiecing.com was demonstrating how to make hexies and I was fascinated to see it in person. I decided to buy some templates to give it a try. My sister, mom and I watched a CD from McCall's magazine to see a different way to make them. They are so fun and easy! It's amazing how fast they go together. It is true that they are addicting. I really like the method we use because you don't get the thread on the front side.

I put most of these together on a trip out to CO and back. I've got a nice little kit set up and I won't travel without it now.

This red and blue is my favorite flower so far. I'll be making these into a doll quilt for my daughter. I'm pretty excited to look for the background fabric. I think gray would look nice but I don't know if I should try something with a little more color since it's for a 4 year old girl. I'll just have to play a bit.

**ETA: The fabric here is Urban Chicks 1974.

Creature of Habit

2010-08-17T00:35:00.000-05:00

I am such a creature of habit. My laptop virus protection is being updated as I type by my fabulous tech support guy (aka husband) so I'm trying to blog from his computer. It's so different, and I need to upload pictures MY way on the laptop.

Luckily he's uploaded some vacation photos to his computer but I can only figure out how to post 1 photo per entry on this computer. So here you go....a lovely photo of my darling daughter and her beautiful cousin learning how to fold fat quarters at my Mom's quilt shop. And who is teaching them, you ask? Well that would be their PaPa, my dad.

He happens to be folding Basic Grey's Fruitcake that I'm in LOVE with. I came home with a nice stack and have the perfect pattern to show off all the fun fabrics. I found a charm pack this summer and picked out all of the fabrics I wanted in my quilt. Then, surprise, surprise! Mom posted on her blog that she got that line of fabric in. So I went through the little charms I liked and compared it to her blog photos and made a little shopping list of sorts with my charms. I knew exactly what I needed to buy here and what I could get on my visit to TN. I'm set now and just need to get some other projects wrapped up so I can get started.

Getting Back in the Groove

2010-08-13T00:39:00.002-05:00

July and the first part of August has been filled with travel for my little family. We've been to Colorado twice and to Tennessee for a couple of weeks. I've always loved to travel but this was quite a lot at one time. I'm enjoying being home now and find myself nesting with little organizing projects here and there as I get back into the swing of things.

I can't wait to share some of the projects I've been working on as I spent hours in the car and in my mom's two studios (home and quilt shop).

But for now, here's a view is from Clingman's Dome in the Smoky Mountains. I took a quick drive up into the mountains since it's just down the road from my mom's quilt shop in Gatlinburg. I'll have to spend some more time hiking there with my little one. My brother is quite the hiker and I'm certain he could pick out a trail or two she'd love. He's taking my husband on one that was beautiful in new fallen snow and he took me on a trail that lead to a waterfall where we had a little picnic. My daughter caught the hiking bug and I think the Smokies have some easily accessible trails she could explore.

Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild met tonight and as usual I'm too excited to sleep just yet. We have some amazingly creative people in that group and had a wonderful speaker tonight that was so inspiring. And to top it off I get to ride into Kansas City with a couple of women who are so fun to visit with. It's such a gift to be able to talk with people who get just as inspired and excited about quilting and fabric as I do!

Itty Bitty Block

2010-07-12T22:55:00.001-05:00

It's been an amazing summer so far, full of fun but very little sewing. I've been hand piecing this little block in between our adventures:

Thomas the Train
swimming lessons
a milestone wedding anniversary

A much needed time away together as a family in Colorado
fabulous library programs
growing tomatoes and basil

A little camping, hiking, and biking
playdates

visiting the farmers market
watching some fun movies at the theater
exploring
making pesto for the freezer

It's all going by so fast but then it seems like time speeds by faster than I can take it all in since my daughter was born. This is our 5th summer together and I try to treasure every minute because I know that every summer brings something new and next year just won't be the same.

We are off on another trip soon to see my family in Tennessee. We can't wait to see everyone! My girl has been talking about her Papa taking her fishing, her G.G. teaching her to sew, and playing with her cousin.

I imagine the blog will be quiet for a bit until we can slow down in August and just hang out at home for a while.

And this is totally random but I had to snap a picture of this bag another mom had at the library. "She is too fond of books and it has addled her brain." Louisa May Alcott
Love it!

A couple of dear friends who are book lovers have passed on stacks and stacks of books and I am slowly making my way through them. I just love a good story!

Are you reading anything fun this summer?

Fast Friends

2010-05-25T10:43:00.001-05:00

I'm enjoying the Blogger's Quilt Festival a little at a time. I stepped away from the computer and sewing machine this weekend to enjoy some time with my family. We had a fabulous bike ride on the Prairie Spirit Trail on Sunday and it was great being outside even if the wind tried to blow us away!

I finished up the Downy Quilts for Kids quilt last week. I ordered a free kit online a while back and a package arrived with fabric, a pattern and instructions. The directions were clear and easy. Definitely something a beginner could tackle. Then I just added my own batting and quilted in a grid pattern. I was surprised when I realized that there wasn't binding material but the instructions gave two suggestions for how to finish the quilt. One suggestion was to turn the backing material to the front and sew that down as your binding. I tried that method and I had a hard time keeping the edges straight. It was good to try another way but I prefer a seperate binding. The other issue I had was that a traditional binding hides and secures the ends of my straight line quilting under the binding. When I just turned the back, I didn't like that it just sat there in the open on the back. It is still secured by a line of stitches but I wonder how it will wear.

The other thing I learned was that before I start quilting the sandwich, I have to release some of the pressure from my presser foot so it doesn't distort the straight lines of the seams and give a wavy appearance.

It was a fun little project to do. I named it Fast Friends because of the little mouse sitting on the kitty's tail. And it does seem like when you are in the hospital, you make friends with those around you so quickly. We said a little prayer for the child who will get this quilt before we boxed it up to mail. We've had several friends and family members with little ones who had long stays in the hospital and I thought of them too. I hope this quilt brings a bit of cheer and comfort to someone who needs it.

If you would like to request a kit, here's a link. They ask that after you finish a kit quilt that you send a couple more with your own fabric at some time. So I've happily added two more projects to my list for the year. It will be fun to work with some bright cheery fabric for these quilts.

I came across Rossie's blog quite randomly last week and I'm so glad I did. I totally agree that bloggers should share the processes of their quilt making. I have learned sooo much from other quilting bloggers that shared the ins and outs of their projects. So here's my pledge:

I, Melissa, pledge to talk more about my processes, even when I can’t quite put them in the in words or be sure I’m being totally clear. I’m going to put my thinking and my gut feelings out there.

I also came across Naptime Quilter and I love her discussion about modern quilts. Cheryl says "Well, I would now argue that modern quilting is actually just really, really traditional quilting." Reading her thoughts on the subject was kind of an ah-ha moment for me. I love so many antique quilts with their clean, geometric lines. But I also love so many "modern" quilts and she points out how they really are so similar. It makes me wonder what quilters 100 years from now will think of our "modern" quilts.

Blogger's Quilt Festival - 2010

2010-05-21T10:41:00.003-05:00

I am so excited to share this wall hanging for the Blogger's Quilt Festival.

This all started when I received a couple packages of scraps from two Etsy shops. These darling little gnomes were tucked inside and the second I saw them I knew I had to do something special with them. Right away I decided I'd experiment and create some type of wonky project since I'd never made anything wonky (on purpose :).

I just happened to be in the middle of working on a different project but I couldn't stop thinking about the gnomes. So one stormy night when I couldn't sleep I found a tutorial from Quilt Dad and started cutting. This is the first quilt I've been driven to make for fun that didn't really have a purpose except just to enjoy.

I did learn that a new sharp needle is your friend when you start a new project. My machine was skipping stitches when I first started but a new needle solved that problem.

It was so much fun to work on this! I pulled from my bag of scraps and my stash of fat quarters. There's even a circle print that I spotted in my Mom's home studio stash and she was gracious enough to send it home with me last year! I just love the first little gnome with the rake. He looks in charge and ready to go and I need him to bring his friends to my yard! I've named this wall hanging Garden Friends in their honor.

Besides the gnomes, my other favorite piece is the Black Eyed Susans on the hot pink fabric.

When I try one of these again, I think I'd like to throw in some solids just to give the eyes a place to rest.

I love pieced backs on quilts but I knew this will hang on my wall where I sew, so I used a fun fat quarter for the back. For the quilting, I just stitched in the ditch in a spiral pattern around the wonky logs.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you enjoy all of the inspiration at the Festival. I love reading all the stories and of course seeing the beautiful quilts. I plan on having my laptop open today to check out entries in between the loads of laundry I'll be catching up on today. I appreciate Amy putting this together for us to enjoy!

Spring to Finish Update

2010-05-15T14:12:00.002-05:00

These adorable little Heather Ross gnomes came in a pack of scraps I ordered from an Etsy Shop and I've been itching to do something with them. They've been on my mind so much that I started cutting into my scraps and stash of fat quarters to create something when I couldn't sleep during a stormy night this week. I got the top of the mini quilt finished and I'm hoping to finish the rest for the Blogger's Quilt Festival at the end of the month. I've managed to add another project to my list of things to finish. Yikes!

ETA: See finished gnome wall hanging here.

I've pieced, sandwiched and pinned this charity quilt so it's ready to quilt. My official finish total is still one. And 4 items to bind in the end. I'm getting a little nervous but I'll keep plugging away!

Just a Little Batting

2010-04-29T13:40:00.001-05:00

You know how you can go into a grocery store for one item and come out with a whole bag or two? That's what happened yesterday when I went to pick up some batting at Quilting Bits and Pieces.

I've had an embroidery pattern for a little while that I wanted to get started when I have some time this summer (car trips, waiting during swim lessons, etc). Everyone at the quilt shop is so nice and Nan helped me pick out the background fabric I needed. She suggested I decide on the red fabric I wanted to use so I could match my thread color. I picked out these Rouenneries fabrics by French General for Moda. I've had my eye on them didn't know where I'd use them. They are so beautiful and of course there wasn't much left on the bolt so I went ahead and bought what I needed for the quilt top. I'm set now with yet another project.

I need to stop now. Seriously. Especially after I ordered some scrap packs from Etsy yesterday. Okay, definitely finished for a good long while! I've got so many projects in the line up but I'm enjoying it so much!

Anyone else have a project they are working on specifically for the summer?

First Finish

2010-04-25T19:30:00.001-05:00

Meet Big Monkey. He was a gift for my daughter from her Aunt Viv (my mom made him for her). He's so well loved that I've had to restitch his tail, an arm, and an ear. The other arm was the latest appendage that needed to be reattached but he'd been hanging around my sewing table for a while now. Patiently waiting. So he's my first finish for Spring to Finish. I was up late last night and also got quite a bit accomplished on the charity quilt. So...progress.

We've had rain, rain, rain lately. So we found a break in the storms to do some splashing with friends on Friday. Don't you just love kids' rain boots? I'd love a pair with red and white polka dots!

She'll Be Back!

2010-04-24T00:53:00.002-05:00

I just went to AmandaJean's blog Crazy Mom Quilts to see if she had any new Flicker photos and saw the surprising announcement that she'll be blogging again soon. Sooooo happy to hear that. She's the first quilt blogger that I followed and I was so sad to see her blogging come to an end.

To celebrate this wonderful news, I'm sharing the red and aqua quilt top that I finished at my retreat in March. AmandaJean provided the inspiration for this one.

I had so much fun working with these colors and I love the layout. Not loving the block with stripes. I wasn't about to try to match the stripes but it still bugs me a little.

This quilt top was my big accomplishment at the retreat. You can see one of the sewing rooms here. We had a snow storm while we were at the retreat and enjoyed the view all weekend. We even saw deer running across the dam.

My sewing station was just down the sidewalk in the next building. It was kind of nice to get some brisk fresh air on the way to and from "The Big House". I'm so lucky to have such a nice group of women to get together with while we quilt. Looking forward to the next one in the fall already!

Project Plume Update

2010-04-24T00:13:00.002-05:00

The Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild met last week and the big reveal of everyone's Project Plume quilts was so exciting! I had a heck of a time getting mine quilted but finally figured out that my machine is preferring one type of thread at the moment. (Thank goodness my mom answers my frantic emails and is my connection for this thread!) I think my favorite part of this is the pink binding. It really pops off the brown.

This is only the second quilt that I've quilted myself. I used spray basting and pins last time and this time I only used pins. I think I will probably try the spray again. I got a bit more puckering this time but perhaps you won't be able to notice after I wash and dry it. And I'm sure a little more practice would help. I used a wonderful tutorial that Jacquie put together at Tallgrass Prairie Studio where you use blue painters tape to guide your quilting lines. Worked like a charm!

Isn't the fabric on the back beautiful? I love that bird! I started this project with the idea that it would be a gift for someone special but I'm not sure I can part with it. At least not yet.

Shea over at The Empty Bobbin has a few pictures of the fabulous creations that some of the guild members came up with. I find it amazing that you can give a group of people a charm pack and have them pick out a 1/2 yard of fabric to go with it and get so many beautiful quilts. I swear I can't sleep at night when I get home from a guild meeting after seeing all of the talented quilters share their projects!

Many thanks to Tula Pink and Moda for making this challenge possible!

Signs of Spring

2010-04-22T10:21:00.006-05:00

Without a doubt, Spring is my favorite season. I love seeing the first daffodils and tulips popping up and the redbud trees full of blossoms. My sweet girl picked out this strawberry plant and we have been enjoying tiny berries every few days.

Sharing these strawberries with Jenna triggered a childhood memory. As a very little girl there was an area with trees beside my house where we had a clothesline and a swing. Under those trees grew a patch of wild strawberries where tiny, tiny berries grew. I remember being so surprised to find them growing there.

Jacquie from Tallgrass Prairie Studio is hosting a Spring to Finish Challenge. We set our goal of items to finish by May 31 and reward ourselves at the end. I love having a deadline. It really motivates me to pick things up even for just a few minutes when normally I might think I don't have time to work on something. I plan to finish a Downy Quilts for Kids project, binding two quilts, and repair Jenna's beloved sock monkey (he has a dangling arm). My reward is going to be a little fabric shopping. I have in mind a pack of Basic Grey Eva fat quarters if my local quilt shop still has them at the end of this challenge.

Check out all of the details at Tallgrass Prairie Studio. If you haven't read Jacquie's blog yet, you are in for a treat. It's full of inspiring projects and some great tutorials. She's also contributing on Sew, Mama, Sew! this month with some great information for both beginning and experienced quilters.

Every spring for the last few years I've looked forward to the Kansas City Shop Hop and Jenna has helped me hop around Kansas City since she was one. This year I gave her a little pocket money in case she came across something she wanted. These were her selections along with a handful of buttons. She has a few ideas for what she wants to make with them and I'm so excited that she is enjoying fabric and taking an interest in sewing.

This spring day has brought a great deal of rain so perhaps I'll get a little sewing in today. And I can't wait to share my finished Project Plume.

A little of this, a little of that....

2010-03-08T22:39:00.000-06:00

I made my very first pinwheel the other day and it was so much fun! I never thought I'd be able to do triangles and pinwheels. Rachel Griffith is hosting a Pinwheel Samper quilt along on her blog p.s. i quilt. If you've never tried these before this is a great way to jump in. I hope I can get a couple more finished this week.

I'm using fabric from Moda's Three Sisters line called Aviary. I fell in love with it last spring when I saw it during the local shop hop. And when I say love, I mean LOVE. When I went to visit my mom early in the summer she had the whole line in her quilt shop and I was trying to figure out how to fit a fat quarter of each into my budget. Then I was trying to figure out which prints I could live without. I was so surprised when my mom brought fat quarters of the whole line to a family dinner for both my sister and I that I just squealed with delight! I had no idea what I would do with it but I had a lot of fun going through my patterns and trying to decide. When I saw Rachel's quilt along I knew that this was the project perfect this fabric. Never, never feel guilty about growing your stash (to a reasonable amount) because its so wonderful to have just the right thing to pull when you need it. Thanks Mama!

I am noticing a little puckering along some of my seams. I've been playing with my tension on my machine to try to fix it. So frustrating when you can't just sit down and sew. Hopefully I'll get it worked out.

I got started on a couple of blocks for my red and aqua quilt. So, so easy! I think I may save the rest for an upcoming retreat. It might be an easy thing to start on that first night to get me in my groove.

I picked this book up from the library a while back. I was drawn to it because I knew that my mom had submitted a couple of our family quilts to the Kansas Quilt Project back when I was in high school. It didn't really go into great detail about most of the quilts discovered in that project bu used some of the data collected to discuss the history of quilts in Kansas. I planned on just browsing this book but I ended up reading most of it. The excerpts of diaries were really interesting as well as the photos. "Kansas Quilts & Quiltmakers" is by Barbara Brackman, Jennie Chinn, Gayle Davis, Terry Thompson, Sara Farley, and Nancy Hornback.

Hopefully I'll be back soon with some more pinwheels!

Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild

2010-03-02T15:21:00.003-06:00

Last Wednesday evening, I attended the Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild's second meeting and had a wonderful time! It was so exciting to visit with so many quilters who were absolutely as nice as could be. The show and tell was so inspiring. We saw quilts from beginning quilters, very experienced quilters and everything in between and they were all beautiful. In fact it was SO inspiring that I had a hard time sleeping that night because I was so excited.

Tula Pink was at the meeting and gave us all a challenge. She brought charm packs of her new Plume line of fabric that Moda donated to our group. The challenge is to use the charm pack and a half yard of fabric, along with any fabric for the backing and binding. I love so many of the designs in this line as well as the colors but it's really out of my comfort zone to use some of the colors in the charm pack together. It took me several days to finally figure out what I wanted to create.

I made three Disappearing Nine Patch blocks using Rachel Griffith's wonderful tutorial on p.s.i quilt. I then framed them with a chocolate brown solid from Moda. I'm considering an attempt at free motion quilting with this project. The challenge participants will share their creations at the April meeting. It'll be fun to see what everyone came up with.

The pink feathers on the pink background is a favorite.

And so is the large scale floral which is surprising since I usually don't care for large scale prints.

I have a thing for keys so I'm really in love with the keys dangling from the vines/trees. You can see the pink and green versions here.

Edited to add: See finished quilt here.

It was fun to branch out and try something new which is exactly why I was interested in joining a guild. The Modern Quilt Guild is popping up in many areas around the country so check to see if you have a guild near you.

Ribbons

2010-02-27T00:56:00.000-06:00

I love ribbon. I save it from wrapped presents, pick up a yard or two at the scrapbook store, and clip it off of store bags. But where, oh, where do you store those loose yards of beautiful ribbon? I've found that if I put things out of sight I forget to use it. And I love the little memories that they trigger. See the detail pink leafy vine? I picked that up at a wonderful little shop called Grace and Company Paperie on Bainbridge Island west of Seattle. Great memories of spending time visiting with my husband's family.

So here's my solution. I found this darling antique at a consignment shop called Now and Then in Overland Park, KS and fell in love with it. The shop is across the street from a quilt shop I was visiting during a shop hop. I managed to talk myself out of getting it but couldn't stop thinking about it. A month later I made a trip back knowing it would be gone but I was so lucky to find it still hanging in the back of the shop. So I've put a color group on each clip and can clearly see what's available to put on a scrapbook page or around a package. I still have some unopened ribbon on cards in a drawer and little scraps in a jar but I'm enjoying seeing this practical but pretty organizational solution on the wall.

Bring on the Steam

2010-01-25T22:29:00.001-06:00

I started cutting into my red and aqua fabric today. It was such a thrill!

My little craft room partner was busy making her own crafts from a little stash of things I've collected for her. I had to stop occasionally to help her with a little gluing or to demonstrate how to give a pipe cleaner a good curl but she was nice company and I got 4 or 5 blocks cut.

I picked up this little magazine and DVD for about $10 a couple of weeks ago and watched it clear through last night. Waaay too late last night. I fell asleep about 12:30 am and when I woke up towards the end of the video, I had to check out what I'd missed and that made it even later. But...it was a wonderful video and perfect for a true beginner that's never been around fabric or people who sew. They explain basic vocabulary and take you step by step through every part of making the example quilt. I'm such a visual learner and I got quite a bit out of it. I can see myself going back and watching some parts again later. And I really like the pattern to as it offers a few different setting options. I highly recommend it and I think it is still out on the magazine stands.

One of the things I learned last night was to set your seam by pressing the seam that you have just sewen and THEN opening up your two peices of fabric to press the seams to one side. I have a great new tool to do just that. My old Rowenta was just hobbling along and I use it almost daily to iron clothes. No steam, no spray, just heat. I opened this new Professional Rowenta up last night (Christmas gift from my wonderful mother!) and tried it out on my red and aqua fabric. Can I just say, I'm in love!

Wishy Washy

2010-01-21T22:07:00.001-06:00

Faded Glory and my unnamed bed sized square patch quilt are back from Tennessee. My mom did a wonderful job quilting both of them. I just SO appreciate her taking the time to quilt them for me, especially during her busiest time at the quilt shop. I really love the red thread on the Faded Glory quilt. I plan on starting the binding on the bed sized quilt this weekend. I'm looking forward to sitting and watching some movies in the evenings after little one goes to bed and stitching away.

Today was a preschool day so after singing some songs at circle time and picking up a rare latte at my favorite coffee shop, I dashed home to my craft room. I was itching to break into some new fabric. Just before I visited my mom in October, I discovered this beautiful quilt on the Crazy Mom Quilts blog. I just love Amanda Jean's quilts but the color combination she used to make this quilt really grabbed me and I couldn't stop thinking about it. So as I walked around my mom's shop I spotted these two fat quarter bundles and knew they were perfect to try with this pattern.

This is my favorite of the red prints. I love scrolly, swirly, flowery lines!

I have been asking around and reading around about whether I should prewash my fabric or not. I had pretty much decided I was in the no prewashing camp. I like the crisp new fabric to work with and like the little puckery look after it's all washed after it's quilted.

Then I happened to wash a big quilt that had red in it and I had a couple spots of bleeding occur. Luckily, there is a lot of red print on the cream background where it bled and you can't really tell unless you are looking for it. But it's scared me enough to prewash for this quilt. Here it is ready to iron with all of the strings and knots. I did wash the blues and reds in a seperate load. Hopefully that will take care of any issues.

I made a stop at Quilting Bits and Pieces today to check out some quilting templates for the Cookie Crumb Catcher and had to pick up these four fat quarters. Can you tell it's been dark and dreary the last few days and I'm craving a little spring? I'm loving the pink and orange together!

Splat!

2010-01-06T06:58:00.002-06:00

Have you seen the laminated fabric that several designers have come out with? I went shopping for some to make a table cloth for my daughter's little table. After having our carpets cleaned I changed my mind and decided it would be better used as a splat mat under her dining room chair. I just turned it over to the back side and used a bowl to trace scallops. I was surprised to find the fabric very pliable and it is soft enough to have some drape. Love the fun design on the floor rather than just a white plastic sheet. The print is from Amy Butler's Love collection in Paradise Garden Mint.

I just finished piecing this table topper for our dining room table. I started it at the retreat this fall and had a few borders to put on. The piecing quality is improved from my last project. I really focused on trying to get the points (corners) to match. It's better but still not as accurate as I want. I found I was overcompensating at first when I was butting my seams together and causing problems. I also discovered that I wasn't making quarter inch seams. They were a little bigger. It didn't really matter on this but I'm working towards being very accurate so I can try some more complicated patterns.

The pattern is "Christmas Cookie Crumb Catcher" by Chick-a-dee Hollow. The pattern calls for holly applique on the center and the corners of the light border with embroidery. I decided not to add those. I really liked the simple design and the center would be covered by a centerpeice on the table anyway. I just love the fabric and want it to stand out. It's Peppermint & Hollyberries by Nancy Holversen (Benartex). I love the swirls and little peppermints.

I'm contemplating how to quilt it. I could try to stipple or do some other free motion quilting on it (after I practice quite a bit). Or I've thought I could have someone with more skills quilt it and quilt a neat design in the middle. I think I'll do some practicing first and see how it goes before I decide.

Gingerbread House

2009-12-20T23:51:00.001-06:00

I've had such a fun December with my little one this year preparing for Christmas! I took her to a local gingerbread house tour to introduce her to the concept and that in itself was so fun. There were so many imaginative creations. A few days later I brought out a Wilton kit to try. I was hoping it would go smoothly and walls would stick together. I'll say, she was very patient with all of the waiting in between steps. We did the piping hand in hand and she had fun putting all of the candy in place.

My mom sent her an apron which she loved working in and she also wore it while we baked cookies with her other grandmother. It felt like my mom was involved in the festivities just a little bit, too!

She told Santa that she would like and Achoo Baby and a blanket for her baby. Santa asked if I could help out so I dashed off today to find some flannel fabric and hopefully I can put together a quick blanket in time to give Santa to give to her.