I never did get through all the market pictures and do a post. Where does the time go???

I have a new obsession that came to light at market in Houston. Hexies. They were everywhere and I was just in love. I needed a sign on my back that said I stop for hexies. It kicked off when I went to a Sue Spargo schoolhouse, (actually two of them). She has a new book and great new fabric coming out.

 Of course there was the hand dyed wool that her sister dyes.

In addition to the book, she has a smaller book of embroidery stitches that you can use to stitch and/or embellish...Like the panel that will be out with her new fabric line.
The hexies she made with her new fabric.

Such beauty. sigh....

Then there was Tula Pink's hexie quilt which is English Paper piecing and just fantastic. The picture doesn't do it justice.

There were many more hexie sitings but these were my favorites.

Now that the wedding (vow renewal) and reception are over and I have started to recover I hope to keep up with the blogging.
More later and as always, happy stitching.

A short hello

I thought I would get myself organized and show some of the stuff I saw at market, but I still need to transfer the photos from my phone.
I have to say that one highlight of Market is the party hosted by Moda. We entered to find cowboy hats on all the tables. A cover band played a bit of country for us. In the back corner was a mechanical bull. Yep. I did. It was so much fun.

During dinner a Reba impersonator entertained us.
After dinner there was line dancing. I was really surprised at how many quilters were up there doing the Boot Scootin Boogie. I shouldn't have been surprised....it was a huge room full of quilters after all.

Watch for the photos soon.
Happy stitching

Precuts Layer Cakes Part 1

It seems that I am forever playing catch up these days. Ever see a dog chase its tail? Well that is me. And the tail is winning, I just can't catch it. LOL
In September the precuts club started again. This time I am doing Layer Cakes. I thought I would share some of the projects I did to present to the club. All of the projects in this post are from the Moda Bake Shop. (A fantastic place to find great quilts and gift ideas).
First up. this little gadget bag. It takes only 3 layers and very little time. After I made mine I matched three layers and rolled them (1 for each of the club members) and used them as a little give-away.

This pattern is called Pillows Gone Wild. I chose this simple square in a square as the first pillow pattern. Another fast and fun project. I am really loving making pillows. I think I have to change to an overlapping back so that I can rotate the pillows around.

One of my Coworkers sent me a link to this pattern as soon as she saw it. Potholders. Always fun to make. I am not sure if any of you are like me, but my pot holders take a lot of abuse. When I do cook, I am a messy cook. This potholder is two quilted layers so you use it like an oven mitt.

These take one layer each. They are magnetic so you can add a magnetic clip and then use it for notes, or patterns, or things that inspire you. They are burner covers from the dollar store, a layer of mod podge, a layer cake. Let it dry, another layer of mod podge and let it dry again. The pattern instructed that you spray paint the edges, but I just hot glued ribbon on the sides.

This one is a fun pattern. It is a place mat, and a table runner. Just make as many place mats as you need for your family, then add buttonholes and buttons, put them together and you have a cute runner.

My favorite of this group is Owlivia. I think it uses 4 layer cakes. Simple sewing and adorable stuffy, or pincushion.

I still need to get a picture of the quilt, which is hanging in the shop.

Still need to catch up on fall market and layer cakes part 2 and my daughter's shower....oh so much.
Happy stitching.

Fun fast projects

I got the honor (?) of doing the last demo of the summer. It was a two-fer. I was only planning on doing a demo on one project, but P asked me to do a demo on another project too.
First up:  wine glass lampshades. These were another market find. Quiltsmart has lots of great patterns using fusible interfacing to make quilts and bags. This little project was new.  One panel makes two lampshades. Very little fabric needed. You can leave them plain or bling them up.
I added beaded trim, rick rack, lace, ruffles, and pom poms to name a few. They go over a wine glass. Drop in a battery operated tea light  and you have a pretty party favor, or some mood lighting.

The second project is one more market find. A chenille rug. We got the fabric to recreate the rug back at the shop. A customer (and former employee) saw the fabric and quickly volunteered to make the sample.

 

This is an easy project and one that anyone can do. The actual rug was five panels, a layer of batting and a backing. For my little sample I did four layers of fabric, batting and a back. Anything will work, it is about the color. If you are using panels line them up by picking something on the panel (like the center of a flower)m and put a pin through that reference point on all layers. You will need to do that in several places to get the panels lined up. Layer them with the batting and backing like you would any quilt.

 

Next stitch seams on the diagonal about 1/2 inch apart. If you go closer together there is less fabric to fluff up when you are done. If you go much bigger, the fabric is kinda floppy when you get done. Start at a corner and draw a line on a 45 degree angle. Then mark the other lines going out toward the edges.

Once you finish all the stitching you are ready for the scary part. Slicing. Some tips. Don't get in a hurry now. Use a chenille cutter. It looks like the top of a rotary cutter and has a plastic projection which helps you guide through the channel that your stitching created. You do not want to cut through the bottom layer of fabric, or the batting, and certainly not the backing. Sooo on the 5 layer rug you want to cut through 4 layers. B used a letter opener under the cutter to sort of lift the layers to cut and prevent cutting into what shouldn't be cut. Once cut, bind the edges.

Once the binding is done wash, dry, and repeat until the edges are soft and frayed. This  one I used four different fabrics.

This one has four of the same fabrics. Cute either way I think.

 

And now you all have an even better idea of why I have a huge UFO list. Quilter's ADD. (grin, snort, laugh)
Happy stitching

Round Two of the Cousin quilts

I have more cousin quilts ready to be shipped off.  I heard from the cousins that already got their quilts. Made me so happy to be able to share these fabric hugs with ones I love.
The quilts leaving this week:

 

In addition to getting these quilts ready to go to a new home I have been working on one that I liked until the final border. So the poor thing got folded and put in a bin. For a long time. I got it out with the plan of just finishing it and sharing it. Could not do it. Just couldn't get  past that border. It wasn't what I wanted when I got it. Lesson learned. Went to the big box where most of this fabric came from with the hope of finding something. I found a fabric that is in the quilt and I bought it. I wouldn't say I love it, but it is better than what was on it before. By the way, I just took the rotary cutter and cut off the border. Made the inner border a little smaller, but I didn't unpick a stitch. :)
The not quite right border

Quilt fixed and on the frame.

Will get another shot once the binding is on.

Happy stitching

A Bit of This and That

I can hardly believe that summer is gone and October is just days away. Does anyone else remember being a kid and how it took forever for birthdays, Halloween, and Christmas to come? The older I get the faster time seems to go. Even when I am not having fun. LOL  Thought that I would get caught up here with the rest of summer and try to keep up.
After the demo I did on the clam shell cases I did another demo on English Paper Piecing. The plan is to have a little sew along club and try out some small quilts using different shaped pieces and some tips from Sue Daly. I am not done with the first sample for that and forgot to take pictures of the demo so no photos just  now.
At market we found some really cute hand embroidery patterns. I snuck a pattern home to make a partial sample of a quilt. I did one block of the pattern called "Boo La La". The full quilt has 6 blocks, but  of course you could do as few or as many as you like. I am seriously considering doing the whole quilt cause I love it that much. (But there are so many cute patterns...).  This block combines applique with embroidery and a bit of embellishment. I can't remember the designer's name, but I will post it after I look it up at the shop.

I am sure everyone has done one of these before, but I never had. It is the 10 minute table runner that is free on-line. We did some samples a while back, but we got in some  fun fabrics and we made new samples. I made two of these, one for DD in LA who works in a specialty beer and wine shop, and one for the SIL who likes specialty beer.  They were so easy that when we needed samples for a big quilt show I made 8  different runners in two evenings after work.

I finally managed to finish the baby blanket for my cousin's son's new baby in Texas. After sending the quilt I became facebook friends with M,(the baby's Mama) which is great because we have never met but are getting to know each other now.

 

More to come....
Happy stitching

Sewing room reno

I posted some pictures while my house was in major mess mode. I never posted pictures of any of the finished rooms. I thought you might like to see my new sewing room.
First some pictures of the before room. My favorite part is the dark paneling (NOT). All dark brown everything. Sewing table is a card table. ( Don't sew fast). I would like to say that the room looks like this because the house is under massive reno, but that would be a lie. The picture is from way before we started.

While we were having work done on the house, the DH and I went to IKEA. My wish list got really long while I was there. I did get some things for my room and I love my new space.
Two tables replace the card table and the old desk that was in the room.

I moved all D's books. Some are stored. Some went the half price book store. (I gave her the money).
Now I have more room for my books. ;)

The old carpet went and I have an easy to clean floor and a throw rug.

Storage from Target holds my yarn projects and my wool kits. (More yarn and wool in the closet).

Add the iPod docking station and I am one happy sewer.

Later.....Happy stitching