Wow!! I have been busy!

I had no idea that it has been almost 45 days since my last post.
I have been very busy, lots going on. I have been teaching piecing and longarm quilting. Now I'm getting ready to launch a couple of new things, can't reveal yet, but I will when it is time.
One thing I want to launch is Modern Monday Quilting! Each Monday I want to post a new method of modern quilting. Let's hope I can find something to post every Monday, lol. I'm kind of tired of the same ole' quilting, I need to do something new! So that is what I am going to work on, so try to remember to check in and see what is going on.
I have designed a few things recently, but I will reveal those later. 1 is with Accuquilt. I have designed a quilt using their dies. I know that is not difficult but I want to see if I could do it.
My travel schedule is beginning to pick up. I am booked for almost all of the new year. Some of the months I will be doing a trunk show at a guild, hosting a workshop, working the vendor booth at a quilt show. I'm gonna enjoy this year, try not to stress out too much. I feel as if I missed out on 2 years of life, lol. I really sewed a lot! My husband noticed too...time to remember that life isn't just about quilting. But! Guess what I am doing this weekend since the longarm meeting was canceled? Sewing! LOL The weather is suppose to be crummy! Happy Quilting everyone!

If you receive this copy of Country Sampler....

Well, I'm inside !!!

Let me know if you find me!!

Merry Christmas!!

The Day after

 

The Day After...Halloween

Yesterday was windy and rainy, but when it came time to go out for

Trick-or-Treating

the weather was a little nicer, it warmed up!

I was designing quilts yesterday till we left for Kate and Joe's to have dinner with them.

Yesterday was Anna's first Halloween. Kate dressed her up as a bird.

Of course she looked adorable! And I have no pictures :(

By the time we arrived, little miss Anna had her costume off and was eating her candy.

We all sat down at the table for a bowl of soup. Kate had made soup for us.

I love her new house, she seems so happy in it.

Designing:

I designed 2 quilts yesterday. One I have been trying to figure out for the longest time how to design it in EQ7. The pattern is called Jack's Chain, Merry-go Round, and Wedding Tile. I did a search yesterday to see if I could find an image online because it was not in EQ7. I found a couple online but quilterscache.com is where I found it.

So I printed it off and realized...oh this is difficult because of the shape, it is not square or rectangle.

I placed my ruler on top and squared it off. Ok, now what do I do?

I sat down in front of my laptop, opened up EQ7 and started drawing. I believe it took me almost 2 hours to complete it because of the shapes/angles.

I'm not going to post pictures yet, I want to double check the measurements, make a mockup block and take notes.

Also, another quilt I designed yesterday was from a rug I saw on HGTV!! LOL

So, while designing the second quilt, well actually this quilt was the first one I designed yesterday, Jack's chain was the 2nd.

So...here is how I came up with it. I was watching HGTV, can't remember the show, but anyway, it was at the end of the show where they have "the big reveal". I saw this rug. It was brown and cream. But the design was diamonds. I thought, "look at that, that is really unique". I jumped up off the couch, sat down in front of the my laptop, opened up EQ7 and did a search for a particular style of block, not a name...like churn dash...a type....so, again, not gonna reveal. I need  to test it first. But!! I got a secondary design that was unexpected!! Now, I did not even notice the secondary design until I took a picture of it. When I saw it in the camera window, it was smaller and made the quilt look faraway and that was when the secondary design show up. Wicked Cool!

Yes, I have been on a roll with designing!

I designed a double wedding ring with a unique design in the center. I think I designed 3 different centers. I began making the first one from scraps and it looks fantastic.

I designed a 4th quilt with Accuquilt dies in mind. I have not tried to piece it yet. I want to order the dies to make the quilt.

One of my favorite things to do when designing is to get a secondary design, either by chance or planned. I also love it when there is a chain. When I design and a secondary pattern appears, I will then begin playing with the colors. I try to make that secondary design "pop" more than originally planned. I love the "WOW"!

The wind is a blowin! today!! We have a high wind advisory. As a matter of fact, at 6:45 this morning Joe and I were sitting here in the family. Joe is eating his breakfast, I'm on the computer and we hear this loud bang! The wind had picked up one of his car hoods and tossed it off the shelf! That is what he gets for leaving car parts outside!! I mean come on,  we have a 5 car garage....plus an attic you store things in, no leaving parts outside! I hope the hood is not scratched.

Well that is all for now, sorry no pictures again....

Happy Sewing!



Rainy Halloween

Yes, it is Halloween and it is raining. The rain woke me up during the night, so I guess it is safe to come to the conclusion that there may not be a lot of trick-or-treaters...we have a 90% chance of rain for today.

While checking email this morning and looking on facebook, I decided to make a "bucket list" of quilts that I want to make.

And yes, I will design them, all of them.

1-Double Wedding Ring: already redesigned and making it. Actually I've designed 3 different versions.

2-Broken Star: you know the lone star or Star of Bethlehem that has the star points surrounding it

3-Winding Ways

4-Jack's Chain

5-Large Compass/Mariner's Star with Flying geese circling the compass

6-Applique: I want to design my own leaves, flowers...all of it and I don't want raw edge, I want the edges finished, but machine appliqued with beautiful silky threads

7-Triple Irish chain...why this one? Don't know, just never made one and I love the way they look

8-Y-seam quilt...don't have a particular one in mind, just need to perfect the Y seam or find a better way to make it look perfect!

9-Giant Dahlia!! Oh yes! Need to do this one!

 

Maybe one day I will have a #10 project to add to my bucket list, but I think this is a good start.

 

Now for today since I kind of have some free time, I think I am going to attack my sewing room.  I want to clean and organize my sewing room. I would like to have a more organized sewing area, machine sewing not longarm quilting. I've went from a 14ft longarm table down to a 12ft table. I gave my daughter Kate, the chest of drawers and baker's rack that was in my sewing room...I needed more room and she needed those 2 pieces of furniture for her new house...her sewing room and Brandon needed the chest of drawers for his clothes.

Rearranging the sewing room:

I need stations/storage for:

Sewing

Accuquilt

Cricut

cutting table

threads: both domestic sewing & longarm

ironing

storage for books

storage for fabrics

scrap fabrics

scrap batting

Rulers both longarm and piecing

marking pencils, pens

scissors, blades

UFO's

Customer's quilts

My quilts....

 

Let's focus on scrap batting: I think I would like to begin a couple of "quilt as you go projects".  But, do I go and cut all the batting pieces down to say 12 1/2", 10 1/2", 8 1/2" or 6 1/2" squares? And have them in a nice bin to just grab and go? Hmmm.... Or should I have a variety of sizes to work with. I love the quilt as you go concept and you can use up your scraps both batting and fabric.

I was also noticing in my sewing room that I have too many UFO's that I started and well I know I am not going to finish them...at least in the original pattern intentions. For example: I have 2 Shakespeare in the Park quilts in pieces stored in a plastic storage bin. I know for a fact I cut some of the units wrong...that was why I gave up. Soooo, I have all these pieces...what am I going to do with these? I know! I'm going to make some Quilt as you Go projects from them. I can make tablerunners, table toppers...pillow coverings...small wall hangings..why not?!

My point to all this is I need a better organization system! I find that my room is too crowded and I cannot get to things without stumbling, pulling things off the shelf as I pass, knocking things down...you know what I mean. It is time to attack!

Now my Gammill is gone. I'm waiting on my Innova to arrive. I have space to move things around before my new machine arrives. I believe it is time to attack. So what do you say? Time to attack? I believe so! Wish me luck! I think I will have some breakfast first....

Longarm inspiration

Early this morning I realized the paper towel holder had only 1 sheet left on the role. So I walked over to the cabinet, pulled out another roll. Now you have to realize it was only 5:45AM! I picked up the roll and as I placed it on the holder I saw the following:

feathers

leaves

vines

pearls

flowers

bumpy feathers.....

oh my goodness!! Longarm inspiration at its best! LOL

 

 

Of all things for inspiration, a paper towel! I got a chuckle from myself!

 

Yesterday.

Yesterday was wonderful!

I received some wonderful news about my first online video class with Annie's.

I figured out how to reconnect my wifi printer! And let me tell you that has been driving me nuts!

Made a wonderful dinner last night!

Worked on Dr. Donna's quilt project while watching tv.

I feel like great things happened yesterday.

It was good to be home.

Today: I will be sewing, and getting the laundry done.

Oh, yesterday afternoon I decided I needed to relax and watch some tv. This does not happen often. I turned on the tv and watched a few minutes of Dr. Oz. On the show he stated it was good to be messy. Ok, well here is what stuck with me: You don't have to make your bed as soon as you get out of it. Let the bed "air out", let the sheets dry so that the bed bugs don't have a feast...eeewww...but he was right...you should let your sheets air out for a while before you make the bed. I always thought it just helped the sheets smell better, you know? who knew it was cuz of those pesky little bed bugs (mites) that you don't want to talk about...still...eeewww. So when Dr. Oz was giving the explaination, I just thought, "why don't I just go vacuum the mattress while the sheets are in the washer/dryer" That made me feel a little better.

Happy Sewing!!

 



Fantabulous Feathers and Frivolous Fillers class

This past weekend I was on the west side of Michigan at

Accomplish Quilting.

Accomplish Quilting is an Innova longarm machine dealership.

I was teaching Fantabulous Feathers and Frivolous Fillers class, 2 days, 2 classes, 25 students (13 students on Friday and 12 on Saturday).

I had a wonderful time!!

I never thought my class would fill up, I'm very new to teaching longarm classes, I've taught one on one, but not groups....it was kind of eye opening for me. I loved it though and I'm ready to do it again............in the spring.................not in the winter........not driving over to the west side of the state.....a little too dangerous..........Love Accomplish Quilting staff, but not that much! LOL

So, with no further delay, here are a few pictures:

 

This was Friday's class, I had an extra student. Class capacity was suppose to be 12, but somehow an extra person got signed up and she was not put on the roster. You know what? It doesn't matter. I had a blast and we were able to fit her in!! And that is what is important!!

 

 

Another picture from Friday's class, these ladies were wonderful!!

 

 

Saturday's class, also, great students!! I had 2 men in this class and they were awesome! Poor Greg was tired though. He had a bit of a drive ahead of him and didn't sleep well the night before. So he left about 30 minutes before class let was over. I totally understand how he felt.

One of my favorite parts of teaching was going to each student's area and asking them if they would like for me to draw/stitch the design for them, they could trace it! Then I would go back a little while later and wow! They were doing wonderful! I enjoyed talking with all of them! It seems like each was willing to also share with each other and offer tips they had picked up along their longarm quilting journey!

I had all levels of students in both classes. I even learned something! Ha! You can never never never know all there is to know about anything! I want to always be able to learn, always be open to learning.

I hope my students went away feeling more confident and were able to take something (knowledge/tip/technique) home the class.

The staff and I had a discussion about how to improve the classroom. So come spring time, everyone will be able to see better. We are gonna rearrange the sitting/viewing area so everyone can see what the teacher is doing :)

My spring classes will be on the schedule soon. I'm hoping to also be teaching at a few quilt shows with Accomplish Quilting.

Happy Sewing everyone!!

 



An odd thing

Last night my husband and I went out to dinner. We sat outside the restaurant waiting for our name to be called for our table. While we waited 4 Italian men also waited on the bench next to us. I was glad when our name was called because they were smokers. I'm getting over a cold and the smoke made it a little difficult to breathe freely.
Our name gets called, we are seated and place our order.
As I was sitting there eating my salad I noticed one of the Italian men coming out of the restroom. He was holding something red right at his chest level in his hand. It was small. As he got closer I noticed this device was a camera and it was on. He had it pointed in my direction and well he was taking pictures as he walked past! Odd! I couldn't believe it. Oh well, I hope he got all he needed...creepy

This week, took me all week to work on this customer's quilt because I was sick...had a nasty head cold. No energy at all...plus I taught at the quilt shop 2 full days.

I stitched elephants and flowers all over this quilt...I traced the elephant with my laser light. This elephant pattern came from Quiltmaker's cd of quilting patterns

 

Friday night's Mystery quilt at the shop. I love this quilt and I definitely want to make this one.

 

I miss this little girl! She fell asleep on me. Precious! and Priceless!

 

Happy Sewing everyone!



More GI Joe's..(just a couple)

My son Chris is very clever and creative when it comes to placing GI Joe's around the house. I think he enjoys my reaction...I love it! I laugh!

 

so, he posed 2 more yesterday in the house and here they are...

 

 

Now this guy is taking a little break from his watch on Home Security...he is just a little thirsty

 

 

And this guy is wondering where his relief is!!

Look above you, he is taking a break! LOL