Bumble Beans Inc.

What I've been up to

2012-05-31T00:01:00.004-04:00

I've been working away on two commission quilts, trying to get as much done as possible before I head out to my house for the summer on long island. The big kids quilt I was working on, when I was teaching the kids in the spring, is at a point where I need to start sewing the blocks together, so it is moving forward. I don't need it done until the early fall, but I really want to get a move on it now, so I can do some "whatever I want" sewing in June.

My mother is coming to stay for a month, June to July, and I figure I can get a lot done during that time. I'm itching to sit and sew on my Hawaiian quilt for days... and I have several others, like this one, or this one....or one of the other 6, I have hanging here in pieces! ( and you all think I get so much done! It's only I work on ten at a time!)

The other Commission quilt is from last year! I've really been slow to go on that now, but I can happily say it's a complete top, and now I need to baste and quilt. (if you recall my post on cutting up uniforms, way back when, Yes, that quilt!) here is the old initial post click. I can't show you the quilt yet... I need to finish it and get it to the client first... Then, I can show you. ;-)

So even though I had tons to do today, I did do my serious work and then I needed to just sew stuff together. Ever had a day like that? Mindless Play. I grabbed what I had laying on my cutting table and sliced it all up. I knew I wanted BLACK and NAVY in the quilt so I grabbed a bunch more and cut that up, found some, white/lightish fabrics, and some pops of color, Yellow and pink. with touches of aqua.

I was thinking about the coin quilt Nifty worked on when I was there at Thanksgiving, and I kind of think it's reading like a Nifty quilt? Don't you think?

I kind of wanted a dark quilt, So I checked it in the black and white version, and all though It looks pretty cool, I think I want to add more dark strips...

Hmm, But really, I think after seeing this below... I'm good with it! Note: I played with this in Photoshop, and it won't look exactly like this, as things here, repeat...Mine is just all willy nilly. So, I will keep sewing... Maybe it just needs to be what it is, Heck, there are always more quilts to sew! this was purely about just sewing a bunch of glorious fabrics together!

Oh and!

"Ragamuffin" is no longer mine.

(all old posts on this quilt here)

An orphan no more, This quilt now has a forever home! It sold last week.

This was my 2010 version of my "everything But the Kitchen SINK quilt" I do one of these a year... Although, 2011 version (click here) is still hanging here in pieces, (I can add that to my list for JUNE!) and 2012, Well... I guess I can start thinking about that one too! I wonder if I have enough orphan blocks for another?

Piccadilly Circus in Quilt Mag!

2012-05-30T00:01:00.003-04:00

I was happy when I got the mail yesterday! The newest issue of QUILT magazine had my Piccadilly Quilt inside! (august/Sept) Using Verna Mosquera TEA CAKES line of fabric, I made this sweet baby quilt. I had a load of fun quilting it, all that empty space to fill with big puffy feathers! Perhaps you can see the quilting better in the bottom photo if you click it to see it larger.

Jackie has the magazine in her shop if you are looking for a copy. ;-)

Time Flies...

2012-05-29T10:06:00.000-04:00

From the day I first held my baby girl, til now, has been a NY minute.

When people tell you, "Just wait, they (kids) grow really fast"

They aren't kidding.

My sweet girl turns twelve today.

I could bore you with tons of really cute baby pictures,

but I know my TWEEN would never forgive me. LOL! ;-)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOO!

You brighten my day, everyday.

Love,

MOM.

xoxoxo

Geared for guys

2012-05-28T14:07:00.001-04:00

Emily from http://crazyoldladiesquilts.blogspot.com/ has a new book out "Geared for Guys."

I got to meet Emily at Market in Kansas City where she had many of her quilts and her new line if fabric up. Great quilts! I often hear people say, "I need to make a quilt for a guy," which is then followed by a sigh... Emily offers up some fun, smart looking quilts guys will love in fresh modern designs. (they will all work well for the gals too, with a twist on the fabric choices!)

I slipped up and forgot to get my post up for today as I was traveling... sorry Emily! I will adjust my post tonight! Thank goodness for IPhones!!

I really loved Emily's Designs in this book, I feel they have a fresh twist on modern quilting, and cleverly, she asked John Adams to design a quilt as well.

Father's Day is coming! Do you have a quilt made for your Father? :-)

Wanna win a copy?

Leave me a comment telling me two colors you find you often use in making quilts.
I'll leave it open til Friday 9am.
Enjoy your Monday!!!

Playing and pondering...

2012-05-23T14:48:00.003-04:00

I have 9 made so far of my Triangle Galore Blocks. My goal at the time was to make a GREEN quilt.... So far so good. But then I start to play and options present themselves. Will I just join them block by block?

Or set them on point? Will I add another block design in between them? maybe. I love on point, but, I always do it... time for something new...

Space and sash them? I rarely do that, But I did play to see the choices...

Something wild? I happen to have some scrap laying here that I stuck in to see how it worked. Of course that gets me all excited! The crazier the better!

Something safe? bright red sashing? nah.... not a fan of that... BUT, I can see GREEN flying geese set in the RED! Scrappy geese! Lot's of different green ones, and a few purple and blue ones just for good measure!

Now I am on to something! Stay tuned!

Look!
Geese Droppings.

(Couldn't resist)
heh heh ...

I'm off to Minnesota to my wee fishing cabin... I can't wait to have this view!

I'll be hand stitching, on the dock of the bay!

Have a great LONG weekend!

Great day.

2012-05-22T16:01:00.002-04:00

A day of play. Nothing is more inspiring than having other creative types around you when you want to play. Bouncing ideas of each other, conversing and making... Good for your soul.

Melanie Testa came by this morning and I rubbed off on her some 15minutes of play energy, in exchange I'd go to her world soon, and do that same... Swapping styles... Experimenting in many ways of approach are always a good to jump start your creativity.

Melly brought along some of her Made fabric, and I encouraged her to MAKE fabric. She has a BEAUTIFUL new book out, Dreaming from the Journal Page If you need inspiration, you must get the book. If you need a book to look through and say, "Dang this girl is talented," then you also need to buy this book, Just fair warning... It's so lovely.

...It also seems my Bernina got a good work out, because shortly after that...

Luke Haynes showed up to return my quilt of his, that he borrowed to hang in his last show here in NYC. He handed it to me, and said, "well, geez, I should have put on a sleeve so you could hang it", and I said, "Well, I have this sewing machine, and these fabrics here".... etc. etc....

Luke has his own ways of doing things, so we swapped info on how to make a quilt sleeve. Now all is great in the universe, my little quilt of his, now has a sleeve! I can hang it nicely... no more "pin tacking" it to the wall. Luke is leaving us again... back to the West Coast... Safe travels Luke!

Thanks Melly and Luke for a lovely "creative energy" day! I'm all inspired now, perhaps I will go sew another king size quilt.

Tomorrow, My Husband Michael is being interviewed in a discussion about his new book "The VALUE of ART at the New York Public Library. If you are in NYC, please come by!

Click here for more info.

What are you up to this week?

Quilt Market 2012

2012-05-20T22:23:00.002-04:00

OOOH! It's so nice to be home! Even when one has so much fun at Quilt Market. Our NYC MOD GUILD quilt was on Display at the Michael Miller Booth. The quilt was made with fabrics from Michael Miller's Cotton Couture line of solids. We divided up all the fabrics and gave each member a baggie of scraps and asked them to make a 9 1/2" square in a very MOD design. I worked up the quilt design, then, Kim H and I made it all come together. Jackie (Canton Village quilt works) also a member, quilted it. You can see the quilt in Houston International Quilt Festival, in the Modern Quilt Exhibit this November.

Pat Sloan has a new line out with Moda! Here she is showing off a new pattern. Isn't it sweet? Check Pat's Blog, she has OODLES of pictures from Market.

I whipped up a quilt for Pat using one of her patterns. There it hangs below!

Swung by Favorite, Marcia Derse... it's always a party in her booth. Anytime I'm looking for my friends, I find them in Marcia's booth...I mean really... What is not to LOVE here?

See. I found Michele at Marcia's booth... I found her there, back at Houston, last November, too, buying up all of Marcia's fabrics! LOL!

And not more than few steps awaywas Weeks Ringle...

Emily Herrick in her booth with her Quilts from the "Geared for Guys" Collection.

Have you been keeping up on her Book tour?

My Friend Hoodie, was all decked out to match her collection, "Sow and Grow" for Timeless Treasures.

Myself, Shelly and Kim H had way to much fun last night at the MODERN meetup. So great to meet so many of you face to face! What a great energy there was, and excitement over Quilt CON. Will you be going?

That is a small taste of what the last few days held... but for now, I hear my bed... calling my name.

So nice to be home!

Blogger's Quilt Festival

2012-05-19T08:59:00.000-04:00

Amy has the Blogger's Quilt festival up again! It was a toss up on my favorite quilt for the past year, but I think...

My Favorite quilt has to be the TINY DANCER. These were blocks I made, and also blocks given to me for my New'BEE quilt bee, I run on my website 15minutesplay.com.

This quilt did not come easy to me. I had several other layouts, and a complete other quilt top which I then hated and cut to "swiss cheese" to save it. You can see the journey here.

Sometimes the struggle is the best part of a quilt. I love the journey they can take you on and lead you to places you might not have ever gotten to had you sat down and drew it out first. It's an adventure I gladly take. Thanks Amy for another great Blogger's quilt festival!
http://amyscreativeside.com/2012/05/18/bloggers-quilt-festival-spring-2012/

KC or bust

2012-05-17T19:48:00.000-04:00

I'm off to take 15 minutes for myself... Well, Maybe longer than that.

I'm flying to Kansas City for Quilt Market, in the early Friday Morning.

I hear it's nice in the Midwest this week! YAY!

This necklace was a Mother's Day gift! A jeweler friend made it from an old spoon.

It's my daily reminder to give myself 15 minutes, and it even doesn't have to be sewing!

Have you given yourself 15 minutes minutes today?

;-)

Pics of market to come Sunday night!

Have a great weekend!

Baptist Fans

2012-05-16T08:51:00.000-04:00

I had a couple emails asking to show how I did the Baptist Fans, so, I will attempt to show you...

Now, If you all could just come over, I could really SHOW you. LOL!

Free motion fans were new to me. I could easily do them with a walking foot, but found them so tedious, that I had decided to just go for it, with my free motion foot.

Basically, I started in the lower right hand corner of my quilt. My quilt was pin basted, and I found that as I went along, taking out a few pins and hand smoothing it as I went, worked perfectly. No puckers...

Left to right, up, right to left, up, and so on about 5-6 fan lines.

Then I'd start the next fan.

ON the next set, I did have to TRACE over and existing line, so my fans butted up to each other. PATIENCE is key.
Go Slow. You can manage this, if not at first, you will do it well by the end of your quilt!

Practice, practice!

The red lines are where I had to trace over an existing stitch line.

You can sort of follow the arrows here, to see my direction, and see where I had to trace my existing lines...

Ever five/six lines or so, I tried to keep them consistent, but once in a while I had four lines or six lines, depending on where I could "LOOK AHEAD" to see where I'd start the next fan.

Practice drawing them out on paper first. If you can DRAW it, You can QUILT it. You need to have your MOTION figured out before you start, or you'll be ripping out your stitches...
Be patient.

your first few lines may be wonky or uneven, but as you go, you will find your rhythm, and also get a better grasp of how to move the quilt. I can also tell you, you won't notice the first few shaky ones after you've washed your quilt.

It actually quilted up very quickly, once I got a good hang of it. I tried to stay about a 3/4" off my last line, to have some consistency in my lines... Sometimes it worked better then other times...

It's OK to make mistakes...

That means you are learning!

Good Luck!

homemade goodness.

2012-05-15T11:20:00.000-04:00

Mother's Day didn't turn out quite like I expected. I had a migraine that kept me in bed all day long. Thankfully, early in the day, I picked a load of rhubarb from my garden and brought it back to the city with me. So guess what I did today? Rhubarb Jam. Yum!

Today is also a day to get projects in order for the flight to Kansas City/ Quilt Market on Friday. Boo's Birthday is coming up and she wanted a wrap jacket like I made back here. (click for old post) It's hard to see it here, But it's an A-symmetrical wrap jacket similar to mine. There is NO pattern for it, I make these things up as I go. I started out sewing ( way back when) a lot of clothes, so I can kind of do these things in my sleep.

I'm making Boo's with black on the outside, and grey on the inside, which is the opposite of what I did on mine. She's such a NYC kid, she likes black. I am stitching out the leaves in blue thread, her other favorite color. I then cut out the black and the grey shows through. You can find out more and HOW to do these type of stitching in these books:

Alabama Stitch books by Natalie Chanin.

I also got a couple quilts back from Shelly for longarming... I just cut the binding for this quilt, inspired by Amy Ellis's Book Modern Basics. The tulip fabric came from Spoonflower. I can't recall now who designed it, But I thought it looked so great, fussy cut, into the blocks.

I made this over a year ago, I'm slow sometimes. LOL

:-)

I feel like I am fighting off another migraine... Perhaps this rainy, humid air is messing with my head...

Maybe I should go eat some sugary jam... ;-)

Happy Mother's Day!

2012-05-13T10:32:00.000-04:00

Happy Mother's Day to all the MOM'S!

May you get to do all the things you wish, today.

I'll be sewing "gifted" vintage squares together,

and playing in my garden.

Have a beautiful day!

HAPPY (EARLY) MOTHER'S DAY!

2012-05-12T16:02:00.000-04:00

Quilt Sleeves! I am trying to do two quilts a weekend... Why do I find them SO boring!!

They are just not very creative! LOL!

I have quite a few quilts leaving me the end of the month, early June. You only get a sneak peak of this one...for now.

This one I am working on goes to the Minnesota Quilt Guild Show.

If you are in the area, please go! I won't be able to make the show.

I'm sending my mother down to see them though. She'll enjoy that!

June 14-16 at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester, MN

I'll be at the NQA show that is the same weekend. June 14-16th in Columbus, Ohio. I have four quilts in the regular judged show, and also, I curated an exhibit of 12 more quilts on Modern quilting, based on our NYC MOD group. It is an exhibit the reflects our work "as a group"(we make a group quilt at nearly every meeting) and it will also show the diverse selection of individuals that best tell who we are as modern quilters. It will be really nice to see them all hung together, I hope you will get to come see the shows!

Hubby's birthday is tomorrow on Mother's day, but since he has to travel to Hong Kong tomorrow, we're celebrating everything today! Boo gave daddy a pillow she made. All were happy and proud! ;-) Happy Birthday Darling!

It's a beautiful day today! Sunny, clear, warm... I've done some more work in my garden today, and now I'm feeling a bit like Jenny Egg... It might be time for a nap in the hammock.

Enjoy your day! And HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL YOU MOMS out there!

(I get to celebrate early, you might as well too!)

Book party pics...

2012-05-11T09:38:00.002-04:00

Sam Polcer took photos at my husband, Michael's, Book party. He did a very good job! A few gave me a good chuckle. Thought I'd share. There are more pics at Flickr, if you care to see...

I broke my wee baby toe the day before the party by kicking (or rather NICKING) a bolt of Fabric, that I left laying on the floor....Good grief!) Yep. Here we all are wondering how I could get my foot crammed into my heels... LOL! The railing was providing a nice way to take a load off my foot! ( With my Friend Monica Buck, another lovely photographer,and her niece)

Boo was on "Book Selling" duty. She took her job very seriously...

When someone asked for a book to buy, she'd say, "HOW MANY?"

I think she may be quite the sales woman one day. LOL!

My quilt MOM, Helen, having her book signed....

Boo massaging Daddy's hand after signing so many books! hehe!

OK, so I have bored you with enough pics from the Big event? I'm sorry!

Shameless Book promotion!

THE VALUE OF ART links to: http://www.randomhouse.de/book/The-Value-of-Art/Michael-Findlay/e396023.rhd

Art in America links to: http://www.artinamericamagazine.com/news-opinion/the-market/2012-04-30/michael-findlay-the-value-of-art/

ARTnews links to: http://www.artnews.com/2012/05/02/how-to-buy-sell-enjoy-have-an-aha-moment/

If you are in NYC on MAY 23rd!

LOCATION: The New York Public Library, 5th Avenue and 42nd St., Berger Forum (2nd Floor)
DATE: Wednesday, May 23, 2012
TIME: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. (doors open at 5:30)

Please check out the NYPL’s event website for further information.
This event is free and open to the public.

http://www.nypl.org/events/programs/2012/05/23/art-book-michael-findlay-and-v%C3%A9ronique-chagnon-burke?pref=node_type_search%2Fevents

I have some quilt sleeves to do this weekend.... Nothing to exciting!

How about you? What does the weekend have in store for you?

"Scrapping it Up" complete

2012-05-10T08:00:00.000-04:00

"Scrapping it Up" 54" X 57"

They say, if you throw a stone in Minnesota you will hit a lake...

you know, the whole 10,000 lakes thing, right?

Well, I can safely say, if you throw a stone in Alabama, you break a Church window!

The common theme where I am from is every town

has a church and a bar...I was rather surprised that every other building in

Alabama was a church! I've never seen so many Churches in my life!

I loved it! I wish I had counted how many I had seen!

How do they fill all of them? There seemed to be more churches then houses!

Why am I telling you this? Because as I sat down to quilt this,

I had thoughts of doing a bunch of funky straight line quilting.

I started doing so, and quickly realized I was struggling with the quilt.

I used Aurifil GR 30 MT 1300 cotton thread.

The space of JOY I was in when I created the top, was not going into the quilting...

So I stopped.

I sat there, and thought about the experience. How the Pettways just sat right

down and start quilting, and breaking into gospel songs...

Church...

That is what I wanted in this quilt.

So I began with my walking foot in the lower right hand corner doing Baptist Fans.

Seems fitting!

Then I realized the curved lines were much to perfect.

I really wanted to keep the vibe of my expereince in this quilt so I thought,

"Can I free motion Baptist fans?"

I must be crazy.

It will either be a mess or I may learn a thing or two...

I went with the "learning a thing or two."

I left the raw fringe edges of the linen through out the quilt for texture.

Is it perfect?

Hardly!

It's not a mess either! Wahoo!

Did I wing it,

and learn more about controlling my quilt under the freemotion foot?

Absolutley!

Did it stay in the spirit in which it was made?

Yes indeed!

Do I love it?

You Betcha!

Box of Love

2012-05-09T08:26:00.000-04:00

I was explaining to my mother recently, that the birds I drew up for the embroidery pattern

"Birds of Paradise" ( click here) , ( quilt from yesterday's post) was inspired by the dresser

scarf we had on the farm, made by my grandmother.

I remembered, quite vividly, inspecting it as a child.

Looking at the colors and the amazing needle work, in envy.

I found as a child I did not have the patience to actually do it myself,

but I was always envious of Grandma's work.

I still am looking for the patience!

A week or so later, a BIG box arrived from Mom,

and inside was a whole package of pieces made by my grandmother!

Doilies, hand towels, pillowcases, dresser scarves, and handkerchiefs!

Embroider, crochet, cooking, canning, quilting... The women of our past were so talented.

I feel honored to have these pieces from my Grandmother.

Digging through the box I pulled out this doily, and then I hit me WHY I had been

so stuck on buying this quilt (below) It's funny how your memory plays tricks with you!

I will treasure the Goodies of my Grandmother!

~~~~~

Alas, My Winner's of Pat's Book: Focus on the center!

B Greene said...You two like like you have bunches of fun together :-) Thanks for the chance to win - I have never made a medallion quilt and I need a little push in that direction.

JaneB said...: I really like that table topper pattern. Your version is really sweet.

CONGRATS!!

Thank you for playing along on the tour!

Do you have family pieces that you treasure?

Decisions!

2012-05-08T08:58:00.000-04:00

You can see what I decided to do! The "Birds of Paradise" quilt is now quilted!

I had the two quilts basted and ready to go, so I dove right in to get them quilted. I really have to be in the right mind set to free motion quilt. Although my free motion has gotten a lot better, if my head is not in the game, then, I am not going to be happy with my quilting. It went OK on this quilt. Swirls are my new learning curve! Practice, practice, practice! Now to pick out some binding fabric and add this to the finished pile!

I consider this a group effort quilt! Last year when my mother came to visit I taught her to paper piece and she made the blocks that go around the outside of this quilt. Then I drew up the Birds, and had my friend Mary embroider them for me! I put them together into the setting that it is, and quilted it. Thanks Mary and Mom!

I'm thinking it maybe a nice Mother's day gift for my mother!

You are not reading this, are you Mom?

I took a break after finishing the quilting on the "Birds Of Paradise", and put a few more HST's together. This quilt still sits on my design wall, waiting for more strips. My mojo for chain piecing is coming back! I really want to finish that quilt!

Right after I quilt this one... SMILES!

P.S. Winners for Pat's book will be posted shortly, so stop back later!

Start or Finish?

2012-05-07T12:06:00.000-04:00

What do to do with these?

My new "Obsession" color is NAVY/indigo blue... I feel a dark quilt coming in my future! I went off on an tangent last week when I walked into City quilter.. I went looking for navy and then I found all these other great pieces that I had to have. Now, will they all live in one quilt? Will I chop them to shreds and start from scratch? Will I dive into my scrap bins and sort out a bin full of colors that I want to use and just start MAKING?

MAYBE!

Although I am itching to start another XMAS quilt, perhaps I will just get these quilts quilted first...

And PONDER my next move....

hmmm, I could dream up 10 more quilts by then!

I best get my sketch book handy!

Start a new quilt or finish an old?
What do you think?

All over the place.

2012-05-06T08:59:00.000-04:00

I have been distracted by many projects this week, that I felt I didn't have many words for the blog! I did get a load of random things done though, like basting quilts, cutting backings, working on the bindings of two King size quilts... Putzy Putzy!

I was also trying to get the quilting done on this huge Cherrywood quilt, and later I was running off to meet pals for lunch to save my sanity!

Photo by Teri Lucas, of Melly and I.

Fabric shopping and lunch with Teri Lucas, Melanie Testa.

Getting out from behind the sewing machine, is so good for the soul!

I also, started working on a new "WATER" quilt this week, using all solids.

(Like I really needed another project!)

This is only a small portion of the quilt... more on that later...

By the time we got out of the city Friday and headed for
our house on long Island, I was a bit fried.

I decided to work on all things not quilt related this weekend.

Like, getting my baby out of the garage to charge the battery....

Getting more of my garden planted, and weeded...

Walking barefoot in the grass and finding shadows with my camera...

Getting out the grill and trying out a few new recipes...

and spying on Robin's nests...

My weekend has been as scattered as my week! But Boy! Does it feel good!

Summer is nearly at my finger tips. I can almost reach it... One more month of school and

we will be here at our house for the summer. I am ready!

Being scattered isn't all that bad... It means I am scrambling to finish stuff, which means

more time to put my feet up

and enjoy my other passions, like cooking, and gardening...

What was the best part of your weekend that didn't include quilting?

PaRtY!

2012-05-04T08:31:00.000-04:00

Last night was my husband's book party for THE VALUE OF ART

We all got into the act helping out! Chatting people up, saying hi to everyone, hugging people I haven't seen in ages...
It was so nice to see Michael have this moment.
He worked so hard on this book, and it's been fabulous to see it do so well.

Here, Boo is helping with the sales of the books. She was saying her arms were sore this
morning, and wondered,"When can I do that again?"

(yes,boo, you get to help again!)
NY Public Library
Wednesday, May 23, 2012, 6 - 8 p.m.
http://www.nypl.org/locations/tid/36/node/151511?lref=36%2Fcalendar

So sweet! She had sooooo much fun helping daddy.
She was very proud!

I am too! SO PROUD of him!

Love you darling!

Hope to have some Good pics from last night later...
I didn't have my camera along...

Quilt stuff later... ;-)
I'm off to City quilter and to have lunch with some pals.
Have a fabulous weekend!!!

Anything special happening?

Pat Sloan's "Focus on the Center"

2012-05-03T01:00:00.001-04:00

FUN! Pat has a new book out focusing on Medallion Quilts. Want to win a copy?

TWO lucky winner's will get a chance to have the book!

You all know Pat, Right? That's her on the right. We get a little silly when we're together...LOL

She's the Energizer "QUILTER" Bunny and a dear friend.

This is a table topper piece in Pat's new book. I love her choices of Orange and greens, it grabbed my attention right away.and it inspired me to play! (and practice my machine applique) (below) I'm in a NAVY BLUE kick these days, so I started with some MADE FABRIC for my background setting and added the stems and flowers in navy, finishing it off with Hot Pink circles.

I wish I had more of the navy fabric I used, I had enough to add bits here and there around. When Pat was up visiting last time, we went shipping and we both bought some of this Linen to make infinity scarves from. You can see that mine never became a scarf, but it sure looks great for borders!

I love her Xmas version of the same block which are modified slightly with holly leaves. Sweet right?

Be sure to POP over to Pat's Blog each day where you can also enter to win.

She will be posting a bit of each of us on the tour

Pat's Blog info:

http://blog.patsloan.com

Leisure Arts blog

http://leisureartsblog.blogspot.com/

Want to win a copy of PAT's new book? Leave a comment here...

comments open until Monday night 8pm May 7

Tuesday May 1

Vanessa http://www.vanessachristenson.com/
Carrie http://lavieenrosie.typepad.com/lavieenrosie/

Wednesday May 2

Bonnie Hunter http://quiltville.blogspot.com/
Michele http://quiltinggallery.com/

Thursday May 3

Victoria http://bumblebeansinc.blogspot.com/
Rachel http://www.psiquilt.com/

Friday May 4

Jackie http://cvquiltworks.blogspot.com/
Dana http://www.oldredbarnco.blogspot.com/

Saturday May 5

Vicki Welsh http://vickiwelsh.typepad.com/
Faith http://www.freshlemonsquilts.com/

Mid week goodies!

2012-05-02T09:11:00.003-04:00

Jean's Blog is http://jeancreates.blogspot.com/

The Aurifil MAY designer of the Month is now up!

http://auribuzz.wordpress.com/2012/05/01/may-designer-of-the-month-thimbleanna/

LOVE the May pole!

Add your BOM's to the flickr group

so we can all OOH! and AHH! over them!

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And! be sure to visit Pat with her NEW BOOK tour!

So many talented people around here this week!

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What am I doing today??

Finishing this!

Wahoo!

Have you used Cherrywood fabrics?

luscious.

sometimes....

2012-05-01T09:09:00.002-04:00

First off, be sure to hop over to Pat's blog. Her new book blog tour starts today!!

Sometimes, a quilt just needs to happen.

I started this quilt over a year ago. As a way to clean out my scrap bins, I pulled all the old floral prints that I could find... Dare I say, not the prettiest posies in the bunch? I pulled them out, and cut them into wedges to play with.

Can you tell which side of the bed is mine?

I started out making a tiny Dresden, then decided BIG was better. To PUMP up the palette of pastel prints, I added one, really nice colored print to each. This one on the right, rcvd a Jennifer Paganelli print added to it, in a bluesy purple color.

Another J/P print in yellow/pink to another, some Kaffe to another etc etc... in pinks, blues, purples and yellows.

I cut some Indian cotton for block backings, and I just machine stitched the dresdens down with that colored store bought 1/4" bias tape using blues pinks, yellows and lavenders. I then, needle turned under the centers....

For the backing I used a border print I had here for ages, in browns and purples, and filled the center with a nice soft pink/purple print. It works nicely whichever side I want up on the bed.

It sat here, and sat here, and finally, I sent it off to get quilted, because I just couldn't get to it. I was eagerly waiting for it last week. Thanks Shelly! You did a beautiful job on the quilting, and now I can snuggle under my Giant Dresden Posies quilt! (And chase my dogs off my nice white quilt!)

Have any "finishes" happening this week?

Scrapping It Up

2012-04-30T11:18:00.000-04:00

"Scrapping it Up" quilt top 57" x 60"

Top done. This morning I was putting some fabrics together to finish the borders on the "Scrapping It Up" top that I made at the Gee's Bend workshop. I had been using Jeans scraps from Barbara's trash bin and was in a rush to finish this at the time. I wanted to keep that same feeling going in the borders, and I started out making some"FABRIC" but it was getting to complicated. So I started over by just grabbing and sewing pieces together.

If I ran out length before I got to the edge, I grabbed another scrap and extended it, not really looking at what it would be in the end. Go with your GUT! This is indeed another quilt for my "Intuition" quilts series. There is so much to be learned from spontaneity.

What I like here is the weight of the bottom red line, which sits nicely with the beige and pink rectangles in the TOP border.

Also the Bright white in the Left side, it's brightness balances the the boldness of the right.

It's very peaceful to me. I enjoy the calm vibe, and hope I can carry that feeling with me the rest of the day.

Now to find a interesting backing... Is plain Muslin interesting enough... We will see.

P.S. Don't forget Marie's new Book give away ends May 2nd! Click here to leave a comment at the original post.

Binding

2012-04-27T01:00:00.000-04:00

Hung and admiring....

My Mary Ann Pettway quilt has found it's home on my wall. I hung it up, stepped back and then realized just how similar the painting is to the quilt! The little red square in the upper right hand corner, the Greens, browns, purples and black... This quilt was meant to live here!

Mary Ann and Nancy Pettway showing off my little quilt before sending it on it's way NORTH. They are standing in front of another quilt Mary Ann made...Isn't it great? All that great quilting... Love it!
Quilts as Art... It fits right in!

Here's a close up shot on the quilting and binding. It got me thinking about how people bind their quilts... Mary Ann Sews her binding to the back and folds to the front. with the stitches visible.

How do you BIND?

When I started out quilting I only did what I learned from my grandmother, which was rolling the backing fabric to the front, or the "pillowcase method" (sewing the backing right sides together on three sides, and turning out right sides out and hand sewing the final edge.) the whole thing, so you didn't have any binding showing.

Then I learned to "Properly" bind, using online tutorials about 4 years ago! LOL! I made many errors, but eventually learned... I sew my continuous binding to the front and turn to the back usually a double binding just because I like the look of it when it's doubled.

Now, sometimes, I bias bind, depending the print of the fabric.

Other times I cut it with the grain to take full advantage of the print on the edge... I nearly ALWAYS will sew to the front, and hand stitch it down on the back. I usually like really tight small bindings, but am seeing that in many older quilts they do 1/4" bindings, and currently I'm a little obsessed with them! Although I do like a big 1" binding as well...

Picking the right binding has become a fun part of quilting, that I had not ever really thought to much about before. I usually get it just the way I want, but I have ONE KING size quilt that is really bugging me... I chose badly, and I really hate it, But the thought of taking off and redoing it on a KING size quilt is making me think twice... LOL! I'm afraid it will just stay that way!

And lastly, Machine binding... When I am in a real hurry, I will machine bind, But I really don't care for it. Mostly because I'm not super great at it...and, I really do enjoy that last amount of hand work to finish a quilt. I find it very relaxing and rewarding.

Do you have a favorite way to BIND your quilts?
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Be sure to VISIT these sites today for a chance to win MARIE's New BOOK!

Friday, April 27
*Michele - With Heart and Hands - http://www.with-heart-and-hands.com/
*Melissa - Lilac Lane - http://www.blog.melissastramel.com/

and

Saturday, April 28
*Melissa - Sew Bitter Sweet Designs - http://blog.sewbittersweetdesigns.com/
*Kim - Crafty Apple - http://kimscraftyapple.blogspot.com/

MAKE SURE TO LEAVE A COMMENT IN MY LAST POST TO WIN
A COPY OF MARIE'S BOOK. WINNER SELECTED MAY 2nd.

My Husband's book is released!!! Yippee! I'm so proud of him... You can get a copy here:
Happy weekend!!!!