Wednesday, December 28, 2011

It's Later

Being later means it's quilting time!  In between preparations for Christmas, I was able to find some time to do some quilting. So now this top I made almost 20 years ago is finally quilted and waiting for a binding.


It wasn't a very quilty Christmas for me otherwise. Not complaining as I have just about all a gal could want in the world of quilting. One quilty thing I was excited about this week though was how I reorganized my quilts in storage. When I saw Joy a few weeks ago, we traded my quilting services for a quiltrack/ladder. So I put it up in the warehouse and hung just the quilts I use on it. This might simplify things a bit for me.

Even better, after that, I cleaned out the closet and made room to hang some quilts from skirt/pant hangers. I saw this on Judy Martin's website years ago. Lord, why I didn't try this sooner I will never understand, but I love it. Hanging the quilts like this will make it easier to access them and without the weight of them being piled on top of one another the creases won't be so sharp and maybe permanent. I am sure it would still be a good idea to refold in the opposite direction every year or so.  I had Mark move the pole up so I can hang  up to 72" long quilts. The longer ones would have to be on a pole up at the ceiling or folded and clamped at opposite ends. Either way, I ran out of room in the closet.  I will have to put Mark to work on that. 
 Have you noticed that my quilts are mostly folded wrong side out. I do that so they don't fade or pick up stains otherwise. I also keep a dust cloth on the piles cause I don't know when the cat may go up there and sleep or ... (ewww) and I also keep the blinds drawn in that room.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Birds in the Air

 I played with my Birds in the Air blocks yesterday. I usually find this sort of activity very soothing but lately these puzzles have left me feeling frustrated that I had another decision to make. In other words, I've made over 100 of these little blocks, I need to decide what to do with them next. Here are a few of my options.

 My first thought was to arrange them as shown to the left.Then I tried a few more arrangements. The only decision I made was to make some large half-square triangle units to play with them.   And then again, maybe I can use all these ideas in one quilt.


I decided I didn't need the stress right now and put them away and got ready for the meeting with the church ladies today. I just took in the two quilts I quilted and the two blocks I made for Mary and Rita for the block exchange.There was little other show and tell and all we did was put together kits for the next raffle quilt.


When I got home, I peeled off 30 quilts  that were spread out on the twin bed upstairs and folded them with 3 folds each. My sister helped me put them on the bed a year and a half ago and I found it wasn't a good way for me to keep them.  It was very difficult to pull one out to use when  there were not only those quilts on the bed, but also a big pile of smaller quilts folded on top of them. I also reorganized the remaining quilts and tops. It was getting a little out of hand up there. I was looking for a few in particular. The wool quilt to finish, a top to quilt for my daughter, and another two to put on my bed. I like to swap those out every few months.

I will be back up there in a day or two because I have some tops down here that I want to move upstairs and already I need to get ready for a lecture on Jan 2nd!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Quilting through the holidays

I hope everyone has been enjoying the holiday season.  I don't have projects to finish for Christmas. But I have got one or two I want to start. Those gifts are for recipients that may read this, so I will share later.

These two quilts went to the women's shelter a few weeks ago with the others from church. I love the nine-patch.

Here is another one of two that I quilted for the shelter. I did freehand feathers over the whole thing.  I see you have to pay attention to quilting the same size and space across the whole thing if you don't use a panto.  It was fun.

Last night I visited a friend I see maybe twice a year. She had "stuff" for me. I was expecting her orphan blocks and sure enough she had a nice pile of blocks we can use. But besides this she had two small boxes of fabric from a friend's mother's estate for our comfort quilts. I took it home to sort. No wonder she didn't keep it for herself. There wasn't much good in it. The pile I pitched was mostly small, old, wrinkled poly blend scraps. A small pile went to the garage for the rag bag. Another small pile I will pass on to one of the church ladies to decide if she wants to cut it into pieces we could use.  There was barely a straight edge in all the scraps. I am not so sure she was really a quilter. Maybe she did applique or other sewing. The good pile was has half yard and one yard pieces. I'm glad there wasn't more. We have so much fabric that is not getting used fast enough.
There was also a black quilt batt in her pile of stuff for me. Little did she know that it was wool. Which reminds me I have a wool quilt I started eons ago that I want to finish soon so we can use it this winter. I guess I should go upstairs and wade through the quilts to find it. I hope I will be able to report on that by the end of the year.  I didn't have too many finishes this year. It would be nice to add it to the list.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Sorting Scraps again

Last week I delivered 3 loads of quilts that the church ladies made this year. 24 baby quilts to the hospital,  22 kid quilts to the County Holiday Care program and 18 even bigger quilts to the Women's Shelter. I took a few pictures to share over my next few posts. Here's some.


 
I was anxious to get them out of the house.  I am still in clearing out and organizing mode after emptying mom's apartment. So this weekend I tackled my basket of scraps on my cutting table, and rather than just sorting them and filing them away, I cut the short ends of strips into squares and triangles. My supply of those was getting low. I also spent some time deciding what to do with them all. So I hope to make a sample block or two of those and share those with you in the next week or two. Some of what I cut was for my on-going  Birds-in-th-Air quilt like the purple block on the right. I have over 100 now, so I think I will start playing with those and decide what I will do with them next.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Sashed the quilt with stars

It sure felt good to do some sewing again. This is the pile of blocks that the quilting ladies from church made for me. I had no idea how I was going to arrange them, or even what fabrics I would use with the blocks.
 Rummaging around in my stash I found the itty-bitty gold flowers that worked great for sashing.  I considered a few other arrangements, but I didn't have enough yardage for those options. Not sure what I wanted to border it with, I took a few selections to a church meeting and let the ladies decide. They chose this red paisley.  I have had both the little gold flowers and the red paisley in the drawer for YEARS. I NEVER thought I would use them together.

The ladies liked this block so much that another gal decided to use it for her block exchange. She wants her blocks in white and pastel/30's prints. These are the two I did for her.

And believe it or not, they liked it so much that they decided that we should use the same block for our next church raffle quilt. So you will be seeing more of that block later, though in different settings.

Christmas will be here in less than a month, so I better get hopping. Not much for shopping anymore, but I will decorate a bit. I want to get that out of the way before next week, cause then I will need to focus again as mom's personal representative of her will. I sure hope I will find some time for quilting.  I pulled out a pile of quilt tops I want to work on next. This week I hope to prep backs and plan the quilting for them so I don't have to think  so hard in Dec, I can just quilt. Think it will work??? Sure, it's sorta like putting my own kits together.

I just need to make good notes and drawings. Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. Mine was. Sew long,

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Then in September

As usual there were lectures and workshops on my agenda this fall. I spent one day with members of the Oshkosh guild. I arrived the evening before and then met my hostess for breakfast. There were over 20 ladies in class and they were really spread out.  I was relieved when they found a microphone for my use during the workshop because I was developing a good case of laryngitis.
 One of the members brought this quilt of my design to the meeting. I love it when they do that. Actually another gal also brought a quilt from the same pattern. Somehow I forgot to get a picture and I was even holding the camera!
Also as usual, I was teaching a Thirtysomething workshop. And I believe it was the same gal mentioned above that found this free pattern with the Thirtysomething technique on my website. What a surprise when instead of making the blocks as suggested, she produced these 9 different blocks from the same elements. I love it when that happens! Do you ever play with the pieces for a block to see what other designs you can come up with?

Friday, November 11, 2011

Playing Catch Up

Things have quieted down and I've been able to quilt again. I'll show that later. First I'll show you what I put together back in August. I think I didn't show it sooner cause I was considering putting another border on it.  I tend to border everything. But  I guess I decided to call it done when I picked it up the other day and looked at it.  I put the center together earlier this year from some old stash. Playing in Electric Quilt I came up with the pieced border.  I like it, but it is darker than I'd prefer. Looks masculine to me. I have no use for it so I will stick it on my pile of quilts that are finished cause the top is done.  Maybe in 20 years I will add more borders to make it a more useable size.



While I was waiting for my Edgerider Wheels to show up I quilted a few blocks to have samples of different batts that were quilted.  I figured I ought to as long as I knew which battings they were. It was fun, so I think I want to put one of my samplers on the machine next.


 The wheels arrived and we installed them the day before mom went to the hospital. I didn't get a chance to really try them until this week.They needed some adjusting and I think it could still be tweaked further. Not sure yet.

My sisters were a big help in cleaning out mom's apartment. We had a great time going through stuff and I was very happy that practically everything was divided  unanimously.  I found homes for most of her stuff and only threw away the real junk. Dealing with the will and probate is a long process, but not difficult, so things are pretty much at a new normal. It is November so that means Mark only works part time till the end of the year. I will sew as much as I can to maintain my sanity.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Cancellation notice

I regret having to announce that I have had to cancel my lecture at the Genoa City Library on Monday night. I am unable to speak. Literally. If you are in the area, please spread the word. Thank you for your understanding and thank you to all that sent condolences at the loss of my mother. It's been such a comfort to read your kind words.

Friday, September 30, 2011

Time Out

Just a quick note to mention that I haven't been posting - or quilting cause I had to take care of mom. As expected, she wasn't good all summer. Last week she went into the hospital. 8 days later to the nursing home. 3 days later I am planning her funeral. I don't imagine it is easy for anyone.
Occasionally, I remind myself anything I am going through is temporary.
And there is time for quilting later.
Till then,

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Milwaukee Show

I hope all is back to normal soon for those that have suffered the ravages of hurricane Irene.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Who are these for?

I saw Jim from Quilter's Rule and Milwaukee Machine Quilting Show a few weeks ago and he asked me to quilt this for Quilts of Valor.  So I quilted it with loops and stars.  QOV presents U.S. veterans with a quilt as a special thank you for serving.


Lucrecia and I went to a quilting meeting at Benny's and then she stopped here and picked up some orphan blocks to make a quilt for church.  That inspired me to play with these blocks.  This is as far as I got and I had to take them off my flannel wall.  I don't remember why.  I didn't really like them together so maybe that was why. Maybe this is a good start after all.

Dealing with my people continues to be a challenge. I don't know what they'd do without me. I am not one to act like the world would end if it weren't for me. It's  just occasionally I'd like it to stop spinning so I can get off. Things have settled down now, so I am looking forward to getting some more quilting time in. My new wheels are due to arrive this week!


Tuesday, July 26, 2011

2011 heat wave

I'm thrilled I have the AC to turn on in the heat wave much of the US has been dealing with. I hope you found someplace to keep cool.  I usually go to the basement studio to work a bit where it is even cooler.  I have been working on 2 customer quilts that I don't want to share till she sees them.

The church ladies decided they wanted to do a block exchange like some guilds have.  I was the second to pass out my directions.  Each participant is to make two blocks and we're taking turns every other month. These are the first blocks turned in to me. I think I already know how I am going to put them together. I guess it wasn't too brilliant not having a plan to begin with. I guess it's the way I work.

If it gets below 80 degrees I'll go for a walk.  There is a gorgeous prairie in fullllll bloom now with paved roads just a mile down the road and my route takes 45 minutes. I should think to take the camera. It is a new kind of subdivision for Wisconsin. It has about 52 one acre home sites on almost two hundred acres with restored prairie, woods and a lake for residents to enjoy. Only 7 houses built since the roads went in maybe 4 years ago. No wonder why. I can't get over what good medicine that walk is. Dealing with the people I help has been challenging these last two weeks.

 The Milwaukee Machine Quilting Show is coming up soon.  I'm getting excited about that.  I think I want to start planning my spending.  Any tips on how to do that???? Again this year between the classes I am taking, teaching and volunteering, I'm planning on spending most of the week there. I wonder how much I'll sleep.
Hope to see you there.

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Life as Usual

NOT.  I sure wish it were life as usual around here. I have a case of insomnia getting increasingly worse. An hour or two of sleep at night makes it difficult to function during the day. I've always had trouble falling asleep and didn't call it insomnia cause I always felt rested the next day.  That 's not the case now. So I got little quilting done again.  I did get 30 friendship-stars finished. Now to decide what to do with them. Isn't that always my problem. I've narrowed my choices a bit already by adding the dark triangles to all the blocks. And I decided not to go with scrappy sashing, IF I use sashing.  I like all my options, but one I am not showing that I like is to use them for a border.  Of course, I'd have to decide on the  blocks they would border and then make them.  What do you think?


I've not done too much quilting in the studio either. I've been so frustrated with my longarm quilting  that I ordered the new Edgerider Wheels for the machine. Nothing wrong with upgrading the equipment. They are so new (to the company) that they aren't really even advertising them yet and they are selling like hotcakes.  There is a 2-4 week backlog. I can hardly wait.

I need to clean out the closet again. This time I need to get all the nooks and cranny's in the room too. Dragging everything out is a scary prospect, but it is usually inspiring.  Sounds like fun to me.

Monday, July 4, 2011

Looky what I acquired.

How do you like the antique quilt top I just got? Isn't it a hoot? I'm glad I don't have to 'Make do' with what ever fabrics I can get my hands on just so I can finish my quilt. I figured it's about 100 years old based on a book I have called Dating Fabrics. I counted over 40 different fabrics in it. It's got a few stains. I think I am going to check the reds for fugitive dyes before I wash it. I'd hate for the red to wash out and leave some of those patches just a pale tan. I might rather leave it stained.

With Mark off this last week I didn't have much time to myself to quilt. I started making some friendship stars. I'm not sure what I am going to do with them. Here's some on my flannel wall with some  bigger  triangles leftover from another project.

I don't know what came over Mark. He was off of work this week and I convinced him that we didn't have to stain the house again this year. So, instead we spent lots of time in town with everyone else celebrating the 4th. Highly unusual. The East Troy Lions Club sponsors quite a bit every year including a carnival and beer tent with live music, parade, tractor pull, fireworks and an antique car show. Also this weekend the Teal Sound Drum and Bugle Corp was in East Troy. They were here most of the week, staying at the high school and giving a presentation one evening.   We also went to his sisters on the lake a few times.  We had an unusually good time. Tomorrow it's back to life as usual.  I can't wait. I hope you had a great weekend too.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Call for Quilts

 Machine Quilting Today is looking for quilts for their competition and show this August in Milwaukee.  Entries need to be in by July 1st  I think. Sounds like something I gotta do.  I am not much of a show off, but I want the show there to be a success so I guess that means entering the show. If you like, you can enter a quilt too and we can show off our quilts together. It'll be fun.  A link to the Milwaukee Machine Show is in the sidebar to the right, you can find entry forms there.

I thought I'd put a few kits together, but my scraps keep calling me and beg to be used.  I didn't plan an actual quilt with them, but I started sewing anyway. I guess that means I am doing a mystery with Gayle Bong. I had half-square triangles in two sizes. The 3" I just paired light to dark in matching sets of 4.  I did the same with the 2", but those I joined into Birds-in-the-Air units.   It'll be an on-going project. As I acquire more triangles, I'll make more units then I will turn it into a fabulous quilt. Right? Well,that's the plan anyway.

I also started cutting triangles from my 1800's reproduction prints for a 1000 Pyramids quilt. That pattern is typically a charm quilt where by definition, every patch in the quilt (all 1,000)  is cut from a different print fabric. Can't wait to see how many I have already. Since I started cutting this, I bought two more charm packs of 40 different reproduction prints. It all started cause I counted a little stack of  fabric and was surprised when  my guess was off by half. If there were as many as 60 in that little pile, I must have 100's in that one drawer... I might need to trade for the last 100 or so.

 I started loading another quilt on the frame last night but couldn't continue when I discovered the batting was 20" narrower than the package stated.  It was too late to call the customer so it was put on hold till tomorrow probably. You'll be the first to know.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Quilting Forever, Housework Never

Yes, I'm still quilting.  In fact, I am more likely to actually be quilting with Lenni rather than piecing. Last week I quilted the Pinwheels on Parade raffle quilt for church. I brought it in with me to church on Tuesday and Rita took it home to put the binding on. Rita's Irish chain is the next quilt to go on the frame. Tonight I hope to get it loaded.  Before I did the quilt for church I quilted this little piece just to try another freehand pattern.  I think it turned out pretty good.


 Deanna Treadway sent me a picture of the quilt she made from my book, Save the Scraps.  I thought it was so nice of her to share a picture with me, especially since she won a free copy of the book in the giveaway that I had last year.  This is the picture that she showed me, but there are more pictures on her blog. Didn't she do a great job? I like this quilt so much that it would be on my to do list if I hadn't already made it.  Actually I was thinking of making it again and just sorting may scraps between medium and dark and not having specific colors like blue and brown.  And then I think I would rather go downstairs and quilt with Lenni.

I've had a wee bit of trouble with Lenni and I found I had to clean the wheels. Who knew? And then there was still some vibration and I decide the carriage needed to be re-leveled.  I'm thinking of upgrading the wheels, but trust me.  I won't be going the $3000 route and getting the new track,carriage and frame. We'll see how I feel about it since I have made these adjustments.
It seems much of the USA has had unusual weather this year. Ours has not been especially seasonal, but that's fine with me.  It has usually been a little cooler than normal, which makes for great weather for gardening and quilting. There was a time when I spent so many hours a day out in the garden.  I was too exhausted to do any housework.  I used to pray for rain so I would be forced to stay indoors and could take the time to clean the house.  And then I got smart.  I prayed for a cleaning lady. Well I never got her and I suppose my interests changed a bit.  At least, I never let my house get out of control. What am I praying for these days? Well,why just a cleaning lady, how about a wife of my own? One that quilts, of course.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Adrenaline rush

St. Peter's raffle quilt is ready for the quilter and this year that's me. 2 weeks ago I brought it home to finish. The rows just had to go together and the borders added. I don't know why, but sometimes I procrastinate and then it is never as bad as I think. This time it was the borders that held me up.  The borders were all done and ready to go, but I reworked them a bit cause some of the fabrics we used in the border weren't in the center of the quilt and they clearly clashed! Didn't see that till I spread it out on my wall at home.


The pattern is called "Pinwheels on Parade" by Pat Speth from her book, More Nickel Quilts. This pattern was a great choice for a group quilt. It didn't matter that everybody sews a different width seam allowance. After the blocks were done, we squared up the blocks to 8" instead of 8 1/2".  The border treatment was my idea. I don't think I could find a single print that I'd  like more. I've never made a border like this before. Besides being easy to sew, it was easy to adjust the length to fit. On 3 sides I had to sew a deeper seam between 3 pairs of strips. It sure would have been a pain had they been diagonal seams.I hope to have it ready for the binding before we meet again on the 21st, cause I ain't doing that part.

While I was procrastinating about that border, I took a half-day to sew at Benny's. Instead of summer quilt club meetings, they are having an all day,once a month, come when you can open sewing session. I thought a mini retreat was in order. They're like adrenaline for quilters. So I packed a suitcase (it's got wheels)  and machine and headed out. Attendance wasn't the greatest, but that just meant more room to spread out.


I cut all the strips for two lap sized quilts using the Accucut Studio Cutter. Then I made these 3 blocks. It's the start of a quilt called "Bali Sea Star" from Kim Brackett's book Scrap Basket Surprises.  Also sewed some random triangles together. Now I am thinking ahead about going next month and using the Accucut again. I will have to put some more kits together.I think I will go do that now.
 Sew long.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Fun is better than perfect

It was sew much fun, who cares how good it is? I guess the saying goes 'Done is better than perfect" but I've been saying this quilt is done for over 10 years. And it was quilted and bound, but I'd left the big 6" squares unquilted!  I was sorting through my quilts and found that this one needed more quilting. I think I felt bad about that every time I showed it.  I''m pretty happy with it now with the added quilting. Even Mark  said " I guess it needed more quilting".  Lately instead of crowing "The quilt is finished when the top is done.", I'm singing "The quilting makes the quilt." And I still have 100 tops waiting to get quilted.


Actually I was sorting through my quilts looking for something to practice on. I wanted to try Diana Phillips "Flower Power" technique. I love that book of hers. So many variations on an idea. I think I will use it often.
The quilt is a variation on my pattern "Briar Patch" in my book, Quilts from Skunks Hollow.

 
Did you notice the new link on the right  to the Milwaukee Machine Show put on by Machine Quilting Today.
 I'm just as excited this year that it is so close to home. And I'm scheduled to teach. Check out the schedule. There are classes for everyone, even piecemakers.

 I'm still digging thistle, and I haven't planted all my flowers yet either.  It's not uncommon for us to have frosts this late in the spring. In between I have been finishing the quilt top for our next raffle quilt. I hope allergy season has been good to you. Adios.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Garden or Quilt? Silly question

It's finally warmed a bit, so between raindrops I am digging in the garden. I have a thistle patch driving me nuts. Make that 5 Thistle patches. I don't think there is anything known to man that will kill the Canadian Thistle. If it stayed short I might not mind it so much.  I don't mind the yellow dandelions, but don't want those fuzzy seedheads. I could get to like the thistle too, but it has fuzzy seedheads and prickers!

This is what I have been quilting for the last month. It's the traditional Irish Chain colored differently. I would date it around the late 60's or early 70's.  If I could sell it for a few hundred dollars I would. Someone donated the top to our church quilting group, so church would get the proceeds. Any takers.  This one is about 86" x 97". Our comfort quilts are usually half the size.
Also this month the church ladies got together twice to work on the raffle quilt. The blocks are in rows and I brought it home to finish. Also, I gave a lecture and workshop for a local guild and Group Therapy aka Friday Night Quilt as Desired has started up again at my house.
Sometimes it all feels so routine. Ain't that great? Some days the hardest decision I have to make is whether to quilt or to garden. Here's wishing you the same.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

And the winner is...

I wasn't a big winner but I did win a ribbon on this album quilt. I really didn't expect to win anything. I know I am good, but lots of the good local quilters enter the Crazy Quilter's show cause there are cash prizes for the winners and it is a good show.

 I call the quilt Friday Night Special, cause I worked on the top Friday nights while quilting with the girls. It's some of the best work I've done on the longarm. Quilting with templates helped alot.  I am hoping some day my freehand quilting will be as nice.  I guess I just have to keep at it.

This is the other quilt from S is for Scraps that I entered in the show. It's called Midnight Express.


Saturday was a meeting of the longarm guild. Sunday I went to the show and while there I demonstrated machine quilting (on domestic) feathers. Mark met me there  so I didn't get to enjoy the vendors like usual. Yes, that means I didn't buy a thing! Tuesday morning the church basement ladies met to work on the raffle quilt.  We were getting a bit behind and are now on track.  Tuesday night was the quilt club at the shop. The girls wore me out in the morning, keeping them all on track. Good thing I had no responsibilities Tuesday night.

We have had a cool rainy spring so I haven't worked in the garden much. I try to put in an hour or so a day when it is nice.  I think that has been only 3 or 4 times this past April.

I'm just about done with the quilt on the frame.  Someone donated a big old top their mother had made maybe in the 70's.  I put way too much work into it.  Maybe I could sell it with proceeds going to church.

I'm looking forward to the next one I quilt and I have no idea which one that will be.  My birthday is next month. Should I have a giveaway of my new book?
 

Friday, April 22, 2011

Show Time

Show time is my favorite time of year. Both spring and fall. The next show on my agenda is the Mukwonago Crazy Quilters show on April 30 and May 1.  I particularly like going to the local shows cause they have real bed quilts and not all art/competition quilts like at the AQS show and Festival. I started the Mukwonago guild and might have missed two shows in the last 25 years. I don't enter often cause I am not competitive. But this year I entered 4 quilts from S is for Scraps. I still have to put the sleeves on. So after the holiday weekend, that's what I'll be doing.  Here are 2 of the quilts I am entering.




It's been busy here. Since getting back from Cincinnati, it's doctor after doctor. For all my people.  10 appointments in 2 weeks. Little time for quilting, but putting a little time on the longarm.  Great for stress-busting.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Always a great time

Welcome to all, especially the festival goers that are visiting my blog for the first time. I hope you agree, festival was great. Always great classes, great shopping and fun meeting lots of great quilters. The quilts as usual were phenomenal. The exhibit quilts by my estimate were 95% art quilts. To see everyday quilts you had to check the quilts in the vendor's booths. The convention center seemed especially spread out this time, but then I learned that the show in Houston covers 11 football fields. The Cincinnati show probably covers less than half of that. So I got my exercise, too.
Here's a shot of my fabric acquisitions over the last month. Most of it anyways. And to think I only bought one duplicate, on purpose. 57 different pieces. Yes, most are just halves or quarters.

Mark said the strangest thing this morning.  He said "You didn't show me the fabric you bought yet." HUH!
 I never showed him in the past. Why would he start asking now? He knew I bought more than usual - just to make up for not shopping at the 3rd show in Lancaster when my sister was sick. He practically suggested it. But to ask to see it????

I had a great time. I highly recommend it to ANYbody. 

Friday, April 8, 2011

Hard to find already

The other day I told you how Martingale won't be reprinting Save the Scraps. And today a shop writes to find out where they can get the book for a class cause their usual distributors are out of it.  Grrrr.   Maybe if there is enough interest they will make it available as an e-book to download. Let's hope so. Here are more pics of what's in that book.





I'm in Cincinnati at Quilt Festival and you can bet I'm having a good time. Check back later for details.
Sew long,

Monday, April 4, 2011

Last Chance - Out of Print

Hello World,
I hope you are all doing fine. I'm feeling pretty good tonight as I finish gathering my supplies for Quilt Festival in Cincinnati. I just realized I won't be around to post for a while so thought I'd pop off a few words - like in the title of this post.
I recently received word from Martingale that sales of Save the Scraps do not justify keeping it in stock. That means they will not be reprinting it a 5th time. It also means that if you want a copy, you'd better locate it soon. This was definitely ONE of my favorite books. So glad I don't have to pick one.
I thought I'd show you some pics of the projects in that book.  I never took digital pictures of those quilts I made about 6 years ago and I still haven't. These are pictures of the pictures in the book. Much easier. There are 15 patterns in the book, here's just a few.
Oh, and thank you if you already bought it.