What on earth have I been doing?

Coming fast on the heels of the wedding reception was Christmas. At the same time we were planning the next set of classes for the shop. Of course new classes means new samples. There were also some patterns we got at market that we wanted to get samples made for and up in the shop.
All the shop girls sewed like crazy to get everything done. (except me, I still need borders on two quilts). I am a baaad girl.
One of the new classes that I will be teaching is a chevron quilt called Party Girl. This will be a follow up for beginners. The quilt is giant HST. It was a lot of fun to sew! I think I will make another with more colors and maybe smaller HST.

Another new class is a string quilt. The pattern is Wrapped up in Memories by Bonnie of Bonnie and Camille. I am using the pattern for the basics of string piecing and then adding in more string ideas . I think it will be fun. And I can use up some of my strings making sample blocks for class. For the class sample I used a jelly roll and just trimmed to different sizes. It is missing a border too.

The last new class I will be teaching is basic embroidery. I plan to do some straight lines for them to sew on to learn the stitches. Then they will get this design to stitch if they want to. We have had a lot of customers who want to do some cute stitching projects but say they don't know how.

We also have some really cute bag classes coming up. Maybe if I take the class I will actually make the bag?? I will ask permission to post those bags.

I enjoy keeping up with all my blogging friends and what they are doing. I hope to get back into regular personal sewing and regular posts here too.
Stay tuned.
happy Stitching

Some wedding pictures

I wasn't able to post pictures the other day for some reason, but I think it is sorted out now.

My family

the venue, Friendship Park Conservatory

the happy couple

Highlights of 2012

2012 flew by in record time. It seems like every year time speeds by faster and faster. No wonder I always have stuff left on the to do list. Time is going faster and I am going slower. LOL

2012 started off with one of those projects that starts out simple enough and just keeps growing. We set out to have a bit of painting done around the house. (And it needed it). Before it was all over the entire house was painted. We had a new kitchen. My sewing room lost paneling and I got new furniture. Add in a bit of new flooring and some new window treatments and the house looks new.

I went to quilt market twice!!! Spring market in Kansas City and Fall market in Houston. The energy and excitement is really hard to describe. I enjoyed every single minute of both markets. It is so cool to see all the fabric that is not out yet. Meeting designers, authors, and quilt celebrities left me a bit star struck.

The fall brought family together for the vow renewal and reception of DD and SIL. It was a wild and crazy time for me. Two days after Thanksgiving might not be the best timing for such a big event. ;)
The total number of house guests 11. (No I do not have a big house) Total number at Thanksgiving at my house 37. The vow renewal was lovely as was the venue.
Have tried all day to get photos of the bride and groom with no luck. Will try to again next post.

The year ended with a quiet Christmas. And and even quieter New year. Quiet is good.

On to 2013. Wonder what it will bring.
Happy New Year

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