Birthday????

Was it really my birthday yesterday or did I just imagine it? My parents forgot it was my birthday, imagine their surprise when my 5 year old, Gentry informed them. I also did not receive even one telephone call from anyone in my family or my husband's. Thank God for my wonderful quilty friends that still make me feel loved.

I do have good productive news though! I finished the Challenge blocks and they are on their way to the wonderful host to be sorted and sent out. The challenge was based on women's issues and each person picked their own issue, a block that could be associated with that issue and then a preferred fabric that would be used in all blocks that would come back to you. So, my issue was "Woman in Christ" and I picked a cross block. I picked a beige print to send out to everyone for them to make my blocks. As you can see from the picture, the fabrics I received from all the other ladies led to very different results. Which one do you like best???

A few more updates on my pattern... It is now in the Product Spotlight at the QuiltIndex, thanks to the "Always Open Quilt Shop" and can also be found listed in their newsletter. I hear the kits for it are flying off the shelves at the "Lazy Mazy Quilt Shop" and the variety of options is growing. Several other stores have purchased it as well and I'll be sure to provide a link as soon as the patterns are posted.

Do you like kits???

Well, if you do, you will love the Lazy Mazy Quilt Shop! They are the newest carrier of Sassy Sixteen and she has taken all of the guess work out for you by providing the FQs, binding fabric and pattern all together! Oh, and she also has the most amazing Kaleidoscope kits! They do all the fussy cutting for you!!! You must check it out!

On a personal note... still haven't finished those last three challenge blocks... shame on me. :(

My Little Grad...

Gentry graduated from Kindergarten last month. He was very proud of himself. Being that we homeschool, we took him to an outdoor stage in a park for the little celebration. Then he got to choose where to go for dinner... IHOP. LOL!

Hello, Monday

I am hopeful for another great week. Last week was wonderful on all counts. I cannot believe how much I was able to accomplish while my children were at VBS. It was amazing! Their end program was so adorable. I wish I had pictures! The theme was Sonforce Agents, so they became very secret agent like with thumbprints taken for imaginary scans, dark sunglasses, etc. They had a great time! They might go to another church for VBS this week. So, maybe I'll be really productive again!

I have 8 of those WI Challenge blocks done! I really hope to finish the remaining 3 tonight and then I can stop thinking about them and really focus on Gentry's birthday quilt. It is a penguin quilt for my happy footed child.

I want to take a moment to acknowledge the online stores that currently have my pattern available. I have started a list on the sidebar, but want to take a moment to tell you about each place. First of all, Always Open Quilt Shop, is so precious! If you haven't been there, be sure to visit. The owner, Denise, is such a dear sweet lady! Next, on the list is C & G Crafts. A great place to shop for all sorts of crafts, from needlework to painting to scrapbooking. Oh, and "C" is for my sister, Cathie. She has just opened a "brick and mortar" store in addition to her web store. I'm so proud of her! Take a moment to visit these sites whether you are interested in my pattern or not, you won't regret it!

I wish you all a glorious start to your week! God bless!

When it rains, it POURS!

No, I'm not talking about actual rain. God knows we really need that! I am talking about my pattern! Everyday since Saturday a store has purchased my pattern. I'm going to work on a list of the online carriers to have here on the sidebar. What has surprised me the most is that all three LQS wanted it! My hope was one, but three, talk about blessed!

My initial draft of my second pattern should be finished by the end of the weekend. Then it off to the pattern testers. My goal is for it to be available by the end of the Summer, but it could be much sooner. It is a great pattern for the Fall season though.

I worked on my UR block last night. We are doing the Crossroads block this time. Simple but nice. I also worked on a Challenge block. I can't wait until those are all done so I can post a picture.

I've decided I need a new machine. Mine was used when I got it and that was nearly 12 years ago. I had it serviced, but didn't seem to help much, it at all. I want another Pfaff, went to the store, checked out prices. I don't know how I'll ever be able to get one! But, I am definitely going to start saving my pennies now. If I sell about 475 patterns and there are no family emergencies, I might just be able to get one. LOL!

More Good News

Got a call yesterday afternoon from a different LQS. They bought 10 patterns right away. This has all gone amazingly well. I give praise to God for blessing me so far. There is one more LQS to check with this next week and then I'll focus on the online stores.


However, if any of you want a pattern in the meantime, just send me your email address. I'll send you an invoice from Paypal for $10.50 ($8.00 for the pattern and $2.50 S&H). And here is another picture of my "Sassy Sixteen". I call it "Midnight in the Garden."


Well, I have completed 4 out of 11 of my challenge blocks. I have until the end of the month to finish them. Once I have them all done, I'll get a picture for you so you can see how different they all are using the same pattern.

I have finally started working on Gentry's quilt... cutting lots of 2 1/2" squares.

I have also spent a great deal of time working on my new pattern! Found one little bump in the road, but I think I have it all ironed out. Stayed up late last night working on graphics for it. I hope to start sewing on it this week, but I really want the written pattern done first so I can check it as I go.

And finally, at some point today, I'll have to work on my Underground Railroad blocks. The class meets next Saturday and I haven't started on it yet.

Good News

Just a quick post tonight. Good news, one of the LQS is carrying my pattern now. They bought six copies today. I might try to make up a quilt for them if I can find the time. Bought my jelly roll for my new pattern, can't wait to work on that. But I still have to finish my challenge blocks, only have 2 of the 11 done. Gentry also keeps asking about how I'm doing on his quilt, which is still on paper. Maybe I'll have time tomorrow to get a lot of sewing done.

Hailey's 9th Quilt

Here are some pictures of Hailey with her latest birthday quilt. She looks so little in comparison to it. I'll try to get a picture of it full and flat later on. The top is identical to the bottom with the 9 fan blade blocks in the middle.

Spent a great deal of time last night working on a new pattern. This one is for those sweet jelly rolls. Sadly, I have yet to purchase any. I guess I'll have to do that for research. ;-)

I am starting this holiday season off with a quilty day. Or at least that is my plan. We'll see how well my family cooperates.

My first job is to make a couple of blocks for my the challenge quilt. It is a Women's Issues Challenge Quilt.

After that I have to start cutting 2 1/2" squares for Gentry's quilt. I need Somewhere between 330 and 400. I bought all of the fabric for it last night. At least, I think I did.

If time allows, I'd like to make a computer mock up of that new pattern I was sketching out last night.

Long time, no see...

Yes, I'm referring to myself. Sorry for being gone so long. I could offer all the reasons for my delay in posting, but no reason to bore you or bother you with issues already resolved. So, let's just say I'm back again. :)

I finished my daughter's quilt just in time for her birthday in April. I'll post a pic next time.

I also finished my quilt and have the pattern ready for sell. I've sold several patterns the last few days and am excited that someone would appreciate my work. Here is a picture...

It is called Sassy Sixteen. It is 54" x 66" and is made from 16 FQs. I'm taking orders by receiving email addresses and then sending invoices/receiving payment through Paypal. I will eventually send the pattern to online vendors and/or have my own site. But until then this will have to do. I'm taking the pattern to the LQS this weekend...wish me luck!

Now, I'm working on blocks for a Women's Issues Challenge Quilt. I'm also getting started on my son's bday quilt. Too many quilts, so little time. LOL!

Finally, I need to update my UFO list...

UFOs 2007

Needs to be quilted and bound...

• Twisted Sisters Quilt
• Rejoice Quilt
• Sampler of Psalms Quilt
• Jacob's Ladder Quilt
• Katydid Mystery Quilt
• Raspberry Tea in Tuscany Quilt
  

Needs to be pieced, quilted and bound...

• Autumn wall-hanging
• Jack-o'-lantern wall-hanging
• Christmas Quilt 1
• Christmas Quilt 2
• Charm Quilt
• Autumn Sampler Quilt
• Mystery #122A Quilt
• Mystery #122B Quilt
• Christmas Greetings Table Runner
• Retreat Swap Christmas Quilt
• Judy's Quilt
• Ostrich Challenge Quilt
• Hailey's Round Robin Quilt

I'm Back!

Wow, what a roller coaster it has been around here lately! A week and a half before Christmas, our car and computer died on the same day... before noon! What a way to start the day. Well, we managed to get a new car, thank God. And the computer is working now... sort of. We need a new hard-drive as this one will crash again soon. Just hoping it will hold off until we can buy a new computer.

We did have a wonderful Christmas, as I hope all of you did. And our New Year is off to a pretty good start.

I have a lot of pictures that I need to post, but have to install the camera stuff and graphics program back on the computer first... not sure when that will be.

In the meantime... I am going to post my UFO list for the year to help me focus on what I need to work on.

UFOs 2007

Needs to be quilted and bound...

• Twisted Sisters Quilt
• Rejoice Quilt
• Sampler of Psalms Quilt
• Jacob's Ladder Quilt
• Katydid Mystery Quilt
• Sassy Sixteen Quilt
• Raspberry Tea in Tuscany Quilt

Needs to be pieced, quilted and bound...

• Autumn wall-hanging
• Jack-o'-lantern wall-hanging
• Christmas Quilt 1
• Christmas Quilt 2
• Charm Quilt
• Autumn Sampler Quilt
• Mystery #122A Quilt
• Mystery #122B Quilt
• Hailey's Birthday Quilt
• Christmas Greetings Table Runner
• Retreat Swap Christmas Quilt
• Judy's Quilt
• Ostrich Challenge Quilt
• Hailey's Round Robin Quilt

There may actually be others, but for now this is what I can recall. Still, it is a bit too long and I'm definitely ashamed of myself.

Meow

Well, it is has been awhile... I've been busy as usual, but spreading my creative wings in a different direction. Hailey is going to be in a Christmas program this weekend and will be a cat. She needed a costume. I didn't have a pattern as I don't "sew", I "quilt". And I don't know enough about patterns to know what would be best to buy. So, I let her pick out some fabric and sat in the middle of the living room floor with my scissors and this is what I came up with. I thought it turned out rather well considering it was my first costume. I was really stressed out about how I was going to do it, but once I got started, it all kind of came together. It must have been a blessing from God Himself. I used fleece, so she can wear it for pajamas after the play is done. I feel better about spending the time and effort knowing she'll wear them more than just for the play. I've also been making some ornaments. Do any of you have any favorite ornaments you enjoy making? I'm always looking for new ideas.

More instructions...

Cut from your template plastic a 3 1/4" square.
Then, mark to the right of each point with a permanent marker about 5/8" in from the left. Connect the points to form an off-centered X.

*Label it with the word "top" on the front as it will be very important that you use the correct side!

Next, place the template on the quilt on every seam matching the X with the seams. Trace around the outside of the template.

Then using a good pair of scissors, cut out each new "square" that you had traced on the line.

Lay out your squares putting them together like a puzzle to create the pinwheels. (They go in the same place they were in when you cut them out, just turned.)

Sew them together. Add another set of border strips.

Using more template plastic, cut a 2 1/2" square, then cut on the diagonal. Use this triangle to trim off the corners.

There you go, top completed. You can either birth it and quilt, or quilt and bind. Whichever you choose, but both methods work well.

Well, has anyone started one yet? I hope to see some soon!

Very well then...

You ladies are adorable. How can I resist? ;c)

Okay, we all have limited amounts of time, so I'll just be giving small amounts of instruction at a time. Also, I'm going to assume that everyone knows how to cut, measure and piece, etc. So, I won't always be going into really specific details. However, if you do have a question, please let me know either here or email.

You will need at least 3 fabrics, but you can have as many as 13.

• You will need something either solid or very busy for the border fabric as it should blend easily with itself when cut and pieced back together. You will need four 2 3/4" x WOF strips per placemat.
• For the pinwheels, use a variety of value in your choices. You can use only two fabrics if you like (checkerboard style), or you can pick 12 different fabrics. You will need twelve 4 1/2" squares.

Sew your squares together 3 x 4. And add a border around them with your strips. I used a simple diagonal layout, but feel free to go as random as you like. Just make sure that you don't have two matching fabrics side by side or top to bottom. I would also suggest pressing VERY well and using spray starch! You will be cutting using scissors in the next step and it will so much easier if your piece is nice and flat with a bit of stiffness.

Okay, this should keep all busy long enough for me to take a nap. I only had about 4 hours sleep last night and spent nearly that long at church this morning, followed by a shopping trip with hubby and the kids. Needless to say, I'm worn out!

Tessellated Pinwheel Placemats...

Okay, there have been a few questions on how to make these. Would you like me to post instructions? Perhaps in installments? Let me know and I'll see what I can do. We'll think of it as an early Christmas present from me to you. :c) It really is easy, but you will need some clear template plastic.

Raspberry Tea in Tuscany

Yippee! I finished the top of my Raspberry Tea in Tuscany quilt! I am ashamed to admit that I started this quilt about three years ago. But being that it is for myself, it kept being put on the back burner while I did quilts for others. Now, who knows how long it will take before it is actually quilted. LOL!

TPP Top Done

Here you are as promised. The top is done, but I won't be quilting it today. I'm going to work on some borders of another quilt. As you can see, the top is finished off by adding another set of border strips and then trimming off the corners.

TPP Part 3

Here you go... I've sewn the pieces back together. This is such a fun pattern. Now, I still have a bit more to do to finish the top and I'll post a pic of that too. It really is amazing... you cut and sew squares together... you cut up the piece into more squares, then sew the new squares back together. This is truly the easiest way I've come across to make pinwheels. My mom loves pinwheels and because I tend to be such a perfectionist, I have yet to make her anything as I don't want to drive myself crazy trying to get a whole bunch of triangle points to match up. Not the case with this pattern! Just regular square seams to match, so no problems with that! Okay, I'm off to finish the top of this one now. I'll be back shortly to post the pic.

TPP Part 2

Here you go... part 2. I cut up that beautiful piecing into 20 pieces! Seems like a shame doesn't it. LOL! If you know where I'm going with this, you know it is a good thing. If you don't, come back soon and you'll see. ;c)

Trying Twelve Companion

Last year for Christmas, I made the Trying Twelve quilt for my sister (which is really a smaller version of Turning Twenty). This year I decided to make a pillow for her with yarns to match. There are some gorgeous metallics mixed in there, but you can't see them in the pic.

TPP Part 1

This is the first part of the Tessellated Pinwheel placemats I'm making for my mom for Christmas. I don't know where this pattern originated from, but I saw a friend do it and had to give it a try. I have been dying to do it ever since, but have way to many UFOs to justify doing something new... until I realized it would be a great Christmas present. LOL!