Baumcat

First try at Shibori

2012-01-21T17:31:00.004-07:00

It was a hard week at work. Long days, deadlines, new projects, and with a head cold. Bahhhh. I kept thinking to myself, "I just want to dye". LOL. I planned on trying Shibori this weekend... and that was the dyeing I wanted to do.Here is my first attempt.

I used a heavy muslin, I think a medium weight would give me results with more dye seeping thru.

I folded the fabric, then folded again in accordion triangles, tied it together firmly, then dyed.

I'm seeing this maybe as a quilted table runner.

I'm seeing more tries at Shibori...

Good Morning!

2012-01-07T09:33:00.003-07:00

Mug rugs are hot. I like them because they are mini quilts. I can sew up a new idea, and not have to wait a year to finish it (I'm a slow quilt maker!). Instant gratification. Not to mention enjoy a cup of coffee sitting on a little piece of quilted art. This one developed from the urge to dye some light weight canvas, blue, cloud-like. I cut the piece of dyed fabric in 2" strips and then sewed together a log cabin block. It needed something...a black crow with just a little detail stitched in.

Valentine books

2011-12-31T07:57:00.003-07:00

Sweet little Love Books to fill with sentiments...

...old movie tickets... found items...

...valentines...

Bunting flags

2011-12-26T09:54:00.002-07:00

Here is a fun way to display your art collages.

Flags to tie together for bunting.

I made them 2 layers with a linen look cotton on the front and muslin on the back. I sewed a strip of muslin across the top, leaving about 4 or 5 inches hanging on the ends to tie flags together with.

Then had a little fun with paper and lace to decorate a flag... (yes I only did one). I spent the rest of my time making up more blank flags.

I'm listing sets of 5 blank flags on etsy that are ready to be decorated and tied together.

If you sew, try making some flags - easy peasy!

Yay for time off work to sew!!!

Peace on Earth

2011-12-24T14:17:00.002-07:00

May you have a Merry Christmas and may peace on earth begin in your heart.

Poetry Quilts

2011-12-18T09:45:00.001-07:00

I must...

2011-12-10T14:47:00.003-07:00

Part of a poem by John Masefield. "Sea-Fever"

This was a special order on etsy.

Wild Thing Quilt

2011-12-04T06:50:00.002-07:00

This was made with large hexagons cut from rich colorful animal prints.

Free motion quilted all over stipple.

This is Jackie by the quilt.

The Jack's know the line is drawn when there is a quilt on the floor...

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T07:24:00.002-07:00

The pumpkin pies are in the oven, I'm wearing my favorite apron and drinking a red beer, ready to chop chop onions and celery...

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! I am thankful for my family and friends, this includes you!

Fishing the Atlantic

2011-11-14T06:06:00.003-07:00

We all caught something, Levi also caught a 2' shark.

Beautiful day on the ocean!

Jacksonville and Saint Augustine

2011-11-12T20:07:00.001-07:00

Beautiful day!

It snowed in Utah. Bahhhh.

Vacation time!

2011-11-10T08:07:00.002-07:00

We are in Jacksonville Beach, Florida

to visit Levi and Jenna.

This is our first morning here - walk on the beach and out on the pier.

Will post more pictures later!

An extra hour

2011-11-06T11:00:00.003-07:00

Time is spinning past,

escorting in Winter.

I had an extra hour this morning

with the return to Standard time.

Here's what I did with that hour.

Baby or child's quilt finished

2011-10-26T04:48:00.006-06:00

I love yellow

with gray

and black

I had fabric left over from the wedding cake quilt, so put together a small quilt, measures 46" x 40". Quilted close stipple all over, making it very soft and cuddly. Listed on etsy.

October 23 - straight line quilting

2011-10-23T08:27:00.004-06:00

Happy Weekend.

Poetry Quilt

2011-10-15T17:06:00.004-06:00

This is one of my favorite poems -

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine... The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. ~John Muir

I stitched it onto the muslin stripes on this autumn colored wall hanging.

Click for closer view. I listed it on etsy, there are more pictures there.

Best of all, in the corners are fabulous fabric covered push-pins made by Kathy over at Paper Pumpkin. I love them for hanging wall quilts with!

Happy Weekend!

Oktoberfest!

2011-10-08T09:09:00.003-06:00

Happy October!

Oktoberfest at Snowbird Utah

These pics were taken last weekend when we went to Snowbird with some friends. This weekend there is snow in the mountains.

Fabric Art Journals

2011-10-01T11:24:00.003-06:00

Have you hugged a book today?

Totally huggable books

I haven't burned out on making them yet

Can you say obsession?

Time to get away.

Autumn

2011-09-30T16:43:00.003-06:00

A little tribute to

the autumn leaves starting to change...

and it's finally the weekend.

Tomorrow will be a good day for a drive

to see the changing colors.

Maybe to the Oktoberfest

at Snowbird.

:) yeah.

Happy Weekend to everyone!!!

One Leaf Fell book on etsy.

Art Quilt Wall Hanging in neutral tones

2011-09-21T16:40:00.005-06:00

Just finished up a project I've been working on for a while...

It's a very detailed quilted wall hanging - all natural tones, full of roses and hearts, birds, flowers, and words. One large patch has the Bible verse "love is patient, love is kind..."

Fun to make, a lot of work. Maybe I'll do a whole lap quilt similar to it one day, maybe not. For now this one is on etsy.

Have a great day!

Day in Park City

2011-09-11T07:21:00.002-06:00

We spent Saturday with some good friends in Park City. Rode the six-pack chair lift to the top, and hiked half way down.

At half way point we got on the Alpine slide and rode little plastic carts down the slide to the bottom.

Ended up at Wasatch Brewery for lunch and brew. A brief storm of rain and hail passed over reminding us we were in the mountains and that Winter will soon arrive. Awesome day.

Persuasion

2011-09-10T06:52:00.004-06:00

Persuasion

influence

relationship

appeal

Persuasion was Jane Austen's last completed novel.

Persuasion of the heart.

I thought it was a good title on a fabric art journal,

ready to be filled with persuasive pretties.

Listed on etsy.

I'm searching for a new title.

Recommendations?

Fabric art journal books

2011-09-03T11:20:00.004-06:00

I sewed a stack of fabric books out of quilted muslin.

Blank books.

Full of quilted pages to decorate.

So soft. Even cuddly.

My husband (who has the mind of an artist only if looking at the paint on a Harley Davidson) says, "These are really cool, but..."

"but you're making something that won't sell. What are people going to do with them? Staple things to the pages? Use a magic marker and write on the pages?"

I wasn't hurt.

I know that textile artists will know what to do with my books.

Have a happy weekend!

Grand-dog

2011-08-28T13:10:00.002-06:00

Isn't he adorable!

This is my new Grand-dog.

Congrats to L & J.

P.S. He's a Boxer.

Tony Grove

2011-08-21T17:40:00.002-06:00

To a beautiful weekend.

Sprinkler Play

2011-08-11T19:46:00.002-06:00

The temps are in the 90's

and I bet this feels good!

(Video staring Annie and Jackie by my son)

Annie loves water

2011-08-07T19:31:00.003-06:00

Annie and Jackie love to chase the water out of the hose.

They also love to chase the water out of the sprinklers.

Whiskey watches this game.

Love

2011-08-05T13:44:00.002-06:00

love statement

today is our anniversary

and it seems we are still honeymooners...

Annie loves fireworks

2011-07-29T16:29:00.003-06:00

Annie loves fireworks.

Actually 2 of our Jacks love fireworks,

and the other one chooses to stay in the house.

Silly Jacks.

Thanks to my son Dylan

for capturing the moment in photo.

The wedding cake...

2011-07-24T07:34:00.002-06:00

...Sweet...

2011-07-23T18:57:00.002-06:00

Levi and Jenna at the reception:

The wedding was all awesome - great time, great celebration...

non stop for all of us, even the Jacks. We've had a houseful of company and the Jacks ran and ran and ran.

Jackie and I feel about the same today:

...wedding on friday...

2011-07-20T16:30:00.001-06:00

Daisy love...

2011-07-17T13:08:00.002-06:00

Jackie's Umbrella

2011-07-03T13:04:00.002-06:00

There was no rhyme or reason to this...

just a JRT with an umbrella!

Jackie and Annie love playing in the water, especially playing with the end of the hose. [Whiskey stands back and watches] They have a wading pool to cool down in during these hot summer days. When I clean it and refill it they like to grab the end of the hose out of it... looks like they are trying to squirt each other. Silly Jacks. They also love to chase the water out of the hose - like it is hundreds of shiny little balls flying thru the air.

Ahhh the dog days of summer with a Jack pack are fun.

Happy Fourth of July!

Wedding Cake Quilt

2011-06-17T16:02:00.003-06:00

Here is the DONE.

It took me longer to get back to the computer

than it did to finish the quilt.

Have a Happy weekend and thanks for stopping by!

Wedding Cake Quilt - the process

2011-05-29T12:21:00.002-06:00

We have a wedding coming up in July.

[Levi (my son in the Navy) and Jenna]

She has chosen the colors for the wedding

to be yellow and black,

and chose a 3 tiered modern cake.

With that I started doodling...

The doodles went to AutoCAD;

cleaned up, measured, defined.

Fabric (Aviary 2) was ordered & received.

And played with.

The sewing began on Friday.

(I love simplicity of design and quick quilts!)

Here is the front:

And the back:

Next will be the layering, pin basting,

and quilting!

Check for update!

(Give me another week!)

I love long weekends.

Thank you to all our veterans, servicemen, with

special thanks to those who gave all.

Not because I have a long weekend,

but because I am free.

Thank you.

Flowers in the wind

2011-05-27T06:00:00.003-06:00

More Red Rock

2011-05-09T15:37:00.001-06:00

Dead Horse Point:

I love this man:

For my Mom:

Adventure dogs:

Red Rock

2011-05-08T10:44:00.002-06:00

We are just back from a couple days in my favorite vacation spot - the red rocks of southern Utah. Here are some pics. [click to enlarge]

Wind Song

Fear of heights?

White on Red

Happy hikers

Happy Mother's Day

Finishing projects...

2011-04-24T12:37:00.002-06:00

Three mellow Jacks - not getting on the quilt.

Finished up a quilt I started almost a year ago,

it was going to be a wedding gift,

now it will be a first anniversary gift.

Here's the back...

This simple quilt was started about a year ago also...

It is being donated to a fundraiser.

Glad to get some finality to a couple of projects!

I hope everyone is having a happy Easter!

Chicken Scratch thread sketch

2011-04-14T19:24:00.004-06:00

A couple of chicks

on a bright summer day.

Now SOLD in my etsy shop.

I am offering a 10% discount for blog visitors on any purchase.

Just put in the coupon code "BLOG10" when you check out!

:) Smiles to all!

Rabbit thread sketch mini quilt

2011-04-02T14:23:00.002-06:00

In the mood for bright colors and bunnies today.

Isn't Spring the BEST time of year!

It is opening the door for summer

and setting out a welcome mat

of flowers

and greets you with baby animals.

Spring Quilt Finished

2011-03-19T12:03:00.003-06:00

The is the finished quilt, the back shown first - has one strip of patchwork across it, also shown in the pictures are matching tea mats.

The quilt measures 54" by 70", the biggest I've make yet. It is also the first time I've used white.
I was asked in my last post of this quilt if this was a "Disappearing 9- Patch", since then I checked into that design and found out it IS. (Thanks Deborah) It's good to know what it's called :)
This will get packaged and mailed to a lovely lady in Great Britain as per an etsy order!

I have a couple of projects yet to finish ... then it will be some slow down time on quilting as Spring arrives and time gets spent on cleaning up the gardens and planting, etc. March is National Quilt Month. April brings other things!

Happy Weekend!

Quilting...

2011-03-05T11:46:00.003-07:00

...almost done.

This has been the largest quilt

I've free-motion quilted yet.

I'm done with the middle and am straight

stitching around the border piece currently.

It's put me in the mood for Spring.

Quilting...

2011-02-27T12:32:00.003-07:00

In progress!

2011-02-26T13:34:00.002-07:00

We have a fresh layer of pure white snow all around. It's very pretty. However, I am dreaming of Spring!

Raw edge applique flowers on white linen and quilted. Including bees.

Fun and pretty tea mat for Spring! Available here on etsy.

The diagnosis on the buzzing in my ears was that the eustachian tubes in the inner ears were swollen. I was prescribed some steroid nasal spray and it is slowly helping. Thanks to all for your caring comments!

Quilted teapot and bee

2011-02-08T00:00:00.005-07:00

I wonder...

Maybe I've been inspired to quilt teapots and bees

because of the noise in my ears...

My ears have been not only ringing

but sounding like the tea kettle whistling.

It gets so loud at night I can't sleep.

Rabbit mini quilt thread sketch

2011-02-05T13:42:00.005-07:00

You know I love rabbits.

So... being it's the year of the Rabbit...

is a perfect theme for me!

This little bunny is contemplating life

in the big wide open.

I think it's a snow bunny!

Warm Whiskey

2011-02-04T17:01:00.003-07:00

Whiskey is warm in her Utah Jazz blanket.

She does this to herself!

I know it's like way cold in Utah...

It's way cold everywhere right now!

But it is WARM in my house...

and still

she wraps herself up.

Silly girl.

humnnn...

I think I'd like to do the same thing.

Playing with Bees

2011-01-16T17:55:00.004-07:00

Bored today, so

Played with bees.

Raw edge log cabin quilt - easy lazy quilting.

Aprox. 15 inches square.

Had fun.

Prayer Flag Quilt

2011-01-13T16:51:00.003-07:00

I noticed I haven't blogged since last year!

Guess I've been busy sewing...

and working - but sewing is the fun part.

I wanted to drive up the canyon on a day with a crispy blue sky

and stand in front of a giant white mountain top

and hold the quilt up like the prayer flags in Tibet.

***Do you have a visual?***

But overcast skies and stormy weather is lined up all week long.

At any rate... this is my Prayer Flag Quilt, inspired by the prayer flags of Tibet. The words of a Scottish Blessing are scripted onto the flags.

Almost a keeper... but listed on etsy!

Also I have put the words of the blessing on the etsy description if you want to read it.

Have a happy day... and upcoming weekend!!!

Healing Quilt #3

2010-12-31T10:27:00.004-07:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

I'm welcoming the new year with my 3rd healing quilt, just finished, washed, photo'd, and listed on etsy. It is a bright happy quilt with 36 positive affirmations stitched on that I hope will bless someone.

New Year's resolutions?

Hopes, dreams... I would like to complete more quilts, I would like the quilts to have a dual purpose - one of comfort and warmth physically, and one of comfort and joy mentally and spiritually.

Wishing all a blessed and joyful year!

Grandpa Leonard "Woody" Woodward

2010-12-26T06:18:00.002-07:00

In memory of Grandpa Woodward

At 99 years old, Grandpa was the nation's oldest active Boy Scout. He died on Christmas day 2010.

We love you Grandpa.

Scouting Stories

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T06:53:00.002-07:00

May you have the gift of PEACE this Christmas day!

Wishing a blessed and Merry Christmas to all my blogger friends.

And wishing a Happy Birthday to Jesus.

Good Morning

2010-12-04T07:02:00.002-07:00

Me + Coffee = Good Morning

***

See the Bodum coffee press in picture? It makes the BEST cup of coffee! I didn't know what a coffee press was until I went to Sweden this year. I ordered a cup of coffee in a little shop and they handed me a press and a cup... and they had to tell me how to use it. Silly American.

***

It is a delightfully dreary Saturday outside, gray and a little bit foggy.

Looks like a perfect day for sewing.

***

Have a Happy Saturday!

[...and am I the only one living in the dark ages? Do you know what a coffee press is?]

Simplicity

2010-12-02T15:30:00.003-07:00

Sometimes Simplicity is Super.

to Sit on a Stool and Sip your Slendid tea.

My kid's and I used to try and make sentences of all or mostly words that start with one letter. Makes for a good travel game.

Or just a good get silly game.

Back to Simplicity though.

Simple quilting on simple patchwork.

Just the size for a cup of tea

or two

and a teapot.

Now on etsy.

And yes, I Advertise A lot on my blog. Absolutly.

And check out this great giveaway at Our Happy Place.

For the Birds

2010-11-21T07:48:00.006-07:00

Sing a song of JOY

For the Birds

quilted art bowls

both now on etsy.

2nd Healing Garden Quilt

2010-11-14T05:47:00.002-07:00

Finished the 2nd Healing Garden Quilt and got it listed on etsy. I totally enjoyed doing the quilting on it, in fact I enjoyed everything about making the quilt.
The fabrics are from Kaffe Fassett's collection (except the back). The quilting is very close and dense - should make for a soft quilt after washing.
I've also made up a few table runners. Some inspired by Japanese zen gardens (sand raking) with rows and rows of stitches at about 1/4" apart.
And playing with shot cotton - woven beauties - to created this long runner.
I've been able to get a lot of sewing done over the past couple weeks, but am going to launch back into an overtime vigil tomorrow with my job, so will have to cut back on the quilting fun.

Happy weekend all!

Quilting flowers and leaves

2010-11-07T06:25:00.002-07:00

I've started quilting on a second Healing Garden quilt this morning and have decided to try an all over design of flowers and leaves and swirls. All I've quilted on big quilts has been a meandering stipple and straight lines, so this is new to me. I've done extensive designs on small 8x10 pieces, but not a large quilt. It's hard to move that much fabric around smoothly and as I want to!

I'm working on keeping those stitches more uniform size... and other than that it's just fun to go totally free-style!

The Healing Garden Quilt

2010-10-31T16:55:00.002-06:00

I named this quilt "The Healing Garden".

It is for a young woman (19yrs) who is going thru radiation treatment daily for cancer. I work with her mom.

She is a bright and vibrant girl and I wanted the quilt to reflect that.

The quilt also has 16 positive affirmation words stitched onto some plain pink and green blocks. Faith, hope, love, heal, grace, pray, etc...

Prayers and hope for Kiera!

October Sunset

2010-10-30T09:15:00.003-06:00

October sunsets are just outrageous!

We have been getting night after night of such beauty and glory.

Just had to share this one with you!

I'll be posting a quilt soon - almost finished...

Happy Halloween.

Cobblestone inspirations

2010-10-11T12:31:00.002-06:00

Home.

Sweet Home.

Inspirations from cobblestones

of Gothenburg.

Quilted fabric bowl with stitched cobblestones:

...and a few tall buildings to line the streets...

This one was inspired by the falling leaves:

I've listed in my etsy shop.

If you are interested in buying, convo me before you pay pal,

mention that you saw it on the blog, and I will reduce the price $5.

Happy October!!!

P.S. I love October.

Goteborg Sweden

2010-10-01T01:36:00.002-06:00

I am in Goteborg Sweden!

It is beautiful!

I am here visiting my SIL for 1 week, she is here for 2 months. It is a very different lifestyle than at home, which includes a LOT of walking, it's wonderful!

I'm off to explore in a few minutes... hopefully to visit a couple museums, the river front with ships, and to wander thru the Haga District.

Happy ME!

Girls Quilt

2010-09-25T09:39:00.002-06:00

This doesn't mean I've been sewing... just that I finished the binding on a girls quilt that I started a long long time ago... It is fun bright colors and simple strips sewn together, with a patchwork back as well. The quilt has a message on it...

Listed on etsy today.

As the temperature starts to fall, my desire to create starts to return. I wonder why that is...

ROAD TRIP

2010-09-18T07:49:00.003-06:00

It's been a long time since I have posted! Summer has consumed me. I have been putting in a lot of hours at work, have tried to keep up on the garden, plus vacations... haven't done a bit of sewing and hardly any blogging!

We returned this week from a road trip to Minnesota, where we attended a wedding and visited with my husbands extended family. Here are a couple photos...
We parked our motor home on about 4 acres of cut grass by a lake. The above picture is of the early morning fog over the water and the sky is tinted with the sunrise. The Jack pack loved running on the grass.

The dogs had a lot of exploring to do, Whiskey discovered and spooked up a giant Blue Heron by the lake - gorgeous bird! The 3 dogs seemed to tune in with instinct suddenly and got the wild look of the hunt in their eyes.

Above is Annie taking a break from all the excitement. Notice her muddy front legs and wet coat!

This was our first long road trip in the motor home, and it was a great success! We enjoyed all of it, even the long hours on the road.

I did get to meet a blogger, Reba from the same small town that we visited. We chatted over coffee and caramel rolls. Had a great visit; it's fun to see a little slice of someone else's life!

As with all vacations, it was nice to come home to a welcoming hug from the mountains. I miss my mountains when I'm away!

Happy September to everyone!

Welcome to Camp!

2010-08-23T05:26:00.002-06:00

We were camping on Saturday night and this awesome creature and a second one decided to join us. They passed right by camp. The moose were munching on trees and stayed around the area for a long time.

***

I've been having computer problems - modem crashed, the new modem doesn't play well with my main computer. Hopefully we'll get everything working soon!

Smiles to all!

Tomatillo Lanterns

2010-08-07T09:36:00.004-06:00

This is my first year to grow Tomatillos.

I didn't know they were going to be humongous plants,

somehow I had the idea they were ground cover...

Didn't do my research!

What I've learned is they grow big

and they grow zillions of yellow blossoms

then around the blossom a lantern grows.

The lantern is empty at first

then starts to fill with the fruit.

Here is a shot of the plants.

I did research just enough (the worker at the nursery told me)

to know you need to plant 2 plants for pollination.

And below, the cherry tom and a Jack bomb.

Happy growing to all!

Bunnies in the Aspens

2010-07-25T19:27:00.005-06:00

In September 2009 we went camping up on Monte Cristo

and I took a sketch pad and drew pictures

of bunnies in the Aspens.

Of course there were no bunnies way out in the wilderness

except in my sketches.

This weekend we went to the exact same place to camp,

and look what was there...
Weird.
Did I make that happen?

He even liked us.

The Jack pack had to be contained though...

JULY...continued

2010-07-11T13:37:00.002-06:00

Some July pictures...

I heart you.

It's JULY!!!

2010-07-10T12:18:00.004-06:00

Fabulous July!

Love'n Summertime!

I hope every one had a wonderful 4th of July long weekend!

I spent mine painting the pergola

and making some monster babies.

I made some with matching quilts too...

gave one, sold two, and put the rest on etsy.

They were fun time-passers for me as my sweetie was on his 4th annual visit to Alaska to see his brothers and fish for Halibut with them. He brought home a good bit of it, but it was very hard work - from the stories!

Smiles to all

and I hope your summer

is going GREAT!

June

2010-06-06T08:25:00.004-06:00

No time for blogging... summer is HERE now, the garden needs tending, the Jack Pack need adventure, the motorcycle needs to be riden, vacations need to be had, and I'm still working lots and lots of overtime!

This first picture is of Whiskey. We were up on the Little Grays River in Wyoming, just out of Alpine, which is about 50 miles south of Jackson Hole. Beautiful country. Whiskey had gotten in the water and was ready to climb in the vehicle with the heat on.

The next picture is Annie and Jackie, in the vehicle after exploring. They are trying to convince us to let them in the front. They were unsuccessful.

And last is a garden update. All is growing wonderfully. We will have a wall of tomatoes!

I hope everyone has a wonderful JUNE!

All Planted

2010-05-15T16:12:00.005-06:00

Save my Back Gardening

***

All my vegetables are above ground now

to the perfect height to sit in my yard chair to tend.

My sweetie built the composite wood beds last year,

he put the grid up for tomato support this past week.

In front of the tomatoes I planted peppers since they don't

get so large. Kind of like the square foot gardening technique.

I added 4 whiskey barrels this year

for the overflow.

They have squash in them, and a Roma tomato in one.

We're still thinking of what to put over the black weed block. We have large bark in a couple places in the yard and the dogs carry it off to chew on...
I love planting... and then I love an easy garden!
Happy Weekend all!!

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-09T05:42:00.003-06:00

My mom is a neverending song in my heart of comfort,

happiness, and being.

I may sometimes forget the words

but I always remember the tune.

~Graycie Harmon~

***

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY To all

(and especially to you, MOM!)

Bee Happy

2010-05-02T08:02:00.003-06:00

Maybe someone will snatch this off etsy for a Mother's Day gift?

Dessert time

2010-05-01T14:38:00.003-06:00

More curves in a pretty table mat to serve up champagne and desserts on.

In my etsy shop.

Have a happy weekend!

A little more tea?

2010-04-27T17:45:00.002-06:00

Quote from the Mad Hatter....

"Would you like a little more tea?"

I made a tea mat and put it on etsy...

in my poor neglected etsy shop.

Working on more...

Scooter Quilt

2010-04-23T16:32:00.005-06:00

The naming convention I use is simply what ever comes to me and sticks with me thru making an item. This one was Scooter Quilt. That came to me because the orange and black are scooter colors to me. The Harley colors.

This quilt is 40” X 44” ~ lap size or picnic size… good size to roll up and put on the back of your motorcycle and spread out when you get there.

Happy trails.

Curves

2010-04-18T15:26:00.003-06:00

WEEKEND!

The dog's enjoyed the curves of the swimming pool!

We enjoyed the curves of a mountain canyon road on our motorcylces!

(no photo)

And I sewed some curves.

It's been wonderful!!!

Soft Spring Quilt

2010-04-17T05:08:00.003-06:00

Free motion stitched in a close meandering pattern.

In flowers and prints.

With a patchwork back

Measures 33" x 43"

Just right for a childs quilt or a lap quilt.

Moon Visit ~ Poetry Quilt

2010-04-08T19:19:00.003-06:00

Poem by my friend at Art Tea Life

Quilt by me.

Inspiration by the full moon.

~click to enlarge~

Happy Easter!

2010-04-04T07:04:00.001-06:00

Have a joyous happy Easter!

Happy Weekend from the Jack Pack

2010-03-27T07:30:00.002-06:00

We're going out to play now!

String Quilt with Verse

2010-03-13T07:51:00.003-07:00

This quilt blends in with the natural colors of a dreary spring day with just a hint of blue on the horizon... or is that gray...

Here is a close up of it hanging over the window of the old rusty 1940 Coupe.

And next...
is the beginnings of
"Sunlight on the Water"

Have a Happy Weekend.

Thank you mail!

2010-03-11T17:45:00.004-07:00

This is so cool - thank you mail from the RHFH people for all the "Hope" bags!
I love the part about receiving bags from ALL OVER the United States as well as from Great Britain and Australia!!!

YOU know who you are!!! Thank you!

XOXOXO

Progression...

2010-03-07T15:22:00.003-07:00

Here is how the work is progressing on my future sewing room. As the cupboard frames are built in, the room gets smaller! I'm excited about the storage space though. The wall of storage will have more shelves and cupboard doors, and the bottom third of it will be drawers.

Saturday's Post

2010-03-06T13:38:00.002-07:00

I usually get one post on per weekend... and this weekend I'm really pushin' it to get something to show... as I haven't done a thing all week - except put in lots of overtime at my job.
Here is the string quilt I started in January - now pined and ready to quilt.

And here is the Jack Pack recuperating from their wild morning running in the back yard... Don't they have it good!!

Summer day

2010-02-27T20:40:00.002-07:00

fragments of color float in my mind

111111111111111

remnants from the experiences of life

111111111111111

without tense of time making up my being

111111111111111

like a summer day with a chronicle of smiles and

111111111111111

laughter near and far dancing through my soul

To wash or not to wash...

2010-02-25T16:36:00.005-07:00

I've already dealt with the question of pre-washing fabrics before you start a quilt... and I know quilters have a definite preference on that one. Today I am questioning whether to wash a wall hanging quilt or not before it is considered finished. I made a little sample with the same exact technique and threw it in the wash with a batch of clothes... just to see... what if.

*
The technique for the quilt piece was to use heat fuse to affix little pieces of fabric to a base fabric (like the Ticker-Tape Quilt) but instead of stitching around each piece, I did vertical rows of stitching on the whole, sometimes catching the exact edges of the little pieces and sometimes not.

*
The wash sample came out great! I like the exaggerated 3D look of it washed.
Here are my samples:

This one is the sample I made and washed

This one is a sneak peak of the actual wall hanging, yet unwashed.
Plus washing will rid those pencil lines...
I have yet to buy a disappearing ink pen.

Seeking Sun Quilt

2010-02-20T06:47:00.005-07:00

Finished. Found some sun up the canyon so the quilt could lay like a lizard on a rock and soak up the sun.

The back is predominantly orange with a pieced stripe offset with the mustard yellow. Stipple quilted.

May you always have sunshine in your heart.

A Request from Haiti

2010-02-18T16:08:00.013-07:00

The RHFH Rescue Center has posted a request for diapers, sundresses, and aprons.

click here

and here for good sewing instructions
They also have an updated "Current needs" list.
click here

Debbie Woodward
1500 Jackson St. NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413

When you donate to them you know that is is going right to THEM to help the people of Haiti, and not getting hung up in some big ball of red tape somewhere.

String Quilts

2010-02-14T04:57:00.007-07:00

String quilts fascinate me. This first picture is one that was made during WWII by my Great Grandmother.
Along with it are a number of unfinished blocks, sewn onto a 1944 Tulsa Daily World newspaper. The articles are all about the war, about Pearl Harbor, and voting, and the advertisements are about fashion, Coco-Cola, and wedding rings.

I will not be removing this fragile bit of history from the fabric blocks, but will leave it as is. Framing may be an option for a couple of the blocks - with the backside showing!

Meanwhile, I am experimenting with some sting quilting myself. I am using 8.5" squares of copy paper for my base, some of my warm toned fabric, and smaller stitches so the base paper can be torn off easily.

I am placing some rather wide "strings" of off-white down the center to carry inspirational messages, and I plan on joining the blocks together with the black and white polka-dot fabric shown.

String quilts are an easy project and a good way to use up bits of fabric from the scrap bin. If you are looking for further inspiration on string quilts, click here.

Ticker Tape Quilt

2010-02-05T20:11:00.009-07:00

It's a celebration!

The ticker tape quilt is 30" X 21" and goes on my wall

to remind me to be happy and celebrate life!
***

Here is how it started...
I had the ivory strips left over

from the pink coin quilt,

and the bright color scraps

left over from the ditty bags...

Used some heat fuse to adhere the little rectangles to the strips,

then sewed 9 strips together for the quilt top.

Added a cotton batting for the middle,

and a bright fabric for the back.
Next I stitched around each square... twice.

Then the fun stipple quilting down the rows.

My goal was to have the appearance of the confetti falling.

Are we happy?

January's quilt tops

2010-01-31T08:32:00.002-07:00

January's quilt tops

...

This is a quilt top of uneven strips with verses on some of the strips.

I have yet to finish the "Seeking Sun" top.

And one day... make them into real quilts!

White and Gray

2010-01-30T07:57:00.002-07:00

Just wanted to share this picture my sweetie took while he was snowmobiling.
Burrrrrr.

Ditty Bags... continued.

2010-01-26T16:07:00.014-07:00

THANK YOU!

Thank you to all of you who have volunteered to make some totes and fill them with goodies! I'm sure you can picture a sweet child holding tightly to his little bag of treasures in such frightening times.

Here is Annie checking out a batch of ditty bags

to make sure that none of her stuffed toys are off to Haiti....

...see that nose a working!

See previous post for information

on making totes and where to mail them.

***

Just a note about the mailing time frame...

Don't worry about the end of January so much,

RHFH didn't post a deadline shipping date,

they will have a large shipment going at some point

and will be able to take other items as

their people travel to and from Haiti.

***

Check out these totes!

here

and OH MY GOSH here

Let's fill those little hands and hearts of the children of Haiti!

Some people have asked about sending other donation items

here is the link to a request put out by the Rescue Center:

Request for donations

Hope Ditty Bags for Haiti Children

2010-01-23T15:10:00.018-07:00

Hope Ditty Bags

With some essential items...
and a toy.

For Haiti Children.
Simple. Fast. Easy to make.

Can you help?

Please say YES!

Let's make up some Hope Ditty Bags for the Children in Haiti.

Here is a tutorial for a simple drawstring bag.
Here is another one.

You can make these or others of your choice,
you can even buy the inexpensive small canvas totes...
paint or decorate them...

The one's I'm making are about 11" across by 13" high, I'm using clothesline rope as the drawstrings. Make sure you leave a nice big area for the drawstrings to go thru.
***
Put inside:
1 toothbrush
1 travel size toothpaste
3 granola bars
1 small toy
***

Then mail to:

Debbie Woodward
1500 Jackson Street NE
Mineapolis, MN 55413
***

She is part of Real Hope for Haiti and is collecting donation items to be sent to Haiti.
RHFH has a rescue center and an orphanage in Haiti.

Due date: As soon as you can, it looks like shipment will go the first of March.

Here is a list of their needs.

Leave a comment that you are participating!
Post your totes-for-tots on your blog!

And... check out this blog becausehecalled.
It's real.

Pink Coin Quilt top

2010-01-23T05:38:00.005-07:00

Here is the pink coin quilt top sewn together.

******

I had looked at tutorials online and found one that said to be sure and pin the strips together or else they won't line up. She was right, the stacked coins seem to stretch easy when sewing to the joiner strips. My pieces were not all exact, but I did get a straight edge at the ends.

******
Last weekend was great and we came home to a storm that cleared our air here,
so now inbetween storms we can see blue skies : )

Seeking SUN

2010-01-16T07:27:00.005-07:00

This week we have had an inversion and the air has been foggy and yucky. Reportedly the worst air in the country here in the valley that runs north and south of Salt Lake City. It tends to dull the spirit to live in such a gray world.

In my seeking sun quest, I have worked on my orange modified coin quilt pieces... and have finished 6 strips.

We are going to seek sun ourselves and head South this morning to St. George for the weekend. Looking forward to 50's and 60's temps, blue skies, SUNSHINE!!! Maybe even a little hike in the red rock country.

May you have sunshine and joy!

Orange Beginnings

2010-01-10T11:18:00.003-07:00

I love orange.

I couldn't find a lot of orange fabrics,

but this is the beginnings.

No plan yet.

Just sewing

pieces together.

It will take shape and develop...

Now it is simply a wish for summer

orange and yellow and blue skies...

...instead of the white and gray.

The Ugly Quilt

2010-01-09T11:24:00.003-07:00

Here is progress on the UGLY quilt that I started the first of the year. It used up old old scraps. The quilt top is complete now... and waiting to be sandwiched and stitched.

Anyone out there going to start an ugly quilt?