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

Cousin Quilts

My Mom was from a family of eleven. So I have a whole lot of first cousins just on that side of the family.  Grandma and Grandpa Mc's house was always "home" to my Mom no matter where we lived.  When I was growing up holidays meant family gatherings and that meant playing with my cousins. Seeing them was always the best part of the holiday for me.
Sometimes we would go to the movies in the afternoon. We went bowling, played softball, went to the park. We ran around Grandma and Grandpa's like little maniacs. There was always, hugs, kisses, and laughter.
Like most families these days, we don't get together for holidays anymore (except Christmas). We are spread out from California to Texas to Wisconsin....well you get it right? But when we see each other it is like no time has passed at all. A lot of us are friends on facebook LOL.
I just wanted to explain why my cousins are so very special to me. Why you might ask? Lat year when my Mom died, a couple of my cousins told me that they still have the baby blankets that I crocheted for their kids and that they still use them. I was surprised and touched. I decided that I was going to give each of my first cousins a quilt. (Also my Aunts and Uncles on Mom's side of the family). That will be 29 quilts. (Sadly some the cousins have passed away already and a couple I am not in contact with) .Then I will work on the other side of the family, which is MUCH smaller. And of course the closest in law cousins.
The first three quilts left for the cousins last week.

The hubs is not the best quilt holder. ;)

I know the quilts will have good homes. I hoped they will be loved and enjoyed.

Happy stitching.

Demo and shop samples

The boss is super busy right now, so demo #2 is mine. Another market find. (Did I mention that I love little stuff?) These are called Clam Shell Accessory Case. The little kit contains plastic forms for making the cases. They are easy to make but take a bit of time. Basically you cut batting and fabric about 1/2 inch larger than the form, do a large running stitch, then put the form with the batt glued to it onto the fabric and draw up the edges. Sew the lining to the outer fabric. then sew the three pieces together. There are small ,medium, and large sizes.

This one I beaded and stitched so the flowers would pop a bit. The Clover project sheet also shows some made with needle punch, some cross stitch, and some fun fabrics.

When this panel came into the shop I wanted to do something with it. I made this cute little Halloween pillow.

I also made this little table topper for the shop. Wish that I had time to make something with every fabric that comes in. LOL

Happy stitching

Long time no see

I can not believe it has been just over a month since my last post. Not sure what I have been doing, but there you go.
Once we got back from market it was time to start summer demos. Last summer we did free demos every other Wednesday. Our customers seem to really like them and we packed the shop. I offered to do the first demo since I knew the boss was really busy.  And I was really excited to do a couple of things we saw at Market.
At the big Clover booth they had an awesome display of Kanzashi flowers. I was in love. ( you know how I am). As soon as we got home P ordered them so that I could make some. I made some flowers.

I made some pony tail holders, a headband, and a hair comb.

I embellished a T-Shirt.

I also made a Fascinator.

They were lots of fun to make. I plan to make more for embellishments.

I also made this bag for the shop in some fun summer colors. The bag is The Trixie Bag. I taught a class on the bag at the end of June. It is always fun to see how projects come out in other fabrics.

More later. Still haave two demos to tell you about. And a class that I took.
Keep stitching.

And the Winner is...

By random drawing (numbers in a basket) the winner is Joanne of canuckquilter! Congrats. I will send the magazines out today. Thanks to everyone who entered.

Giveaway

I don't have a picture, but I do have the newest 100 Blocks from Quiltmaker. I got two of them at Market and I would like to share. I also have an advance copy of a new magazine Generation Q .

Just leave a comment to win, I will send them anywhere.  I will select a name on Wednesday night.

Happy stitching.

Market Day 2...the opening

Although we had been at Market for an entire day already, the second day is when the show floor actually opens. I was so excited, I just wanted to see the floor already. But first I had an early morning class.

The class was on hand embroidery, taught by Helen Stubbins. Her stitches are so perfect. She traveled all the way from Australia to be at Market. I have to get a picture of my little embroidery piece to show you.

The Market floor was up a floor from most of the class rooms so it was very dramatic riding up the escalator and having it just come into view. WOW! We calmly made our way to one end to start the tour. The plan: see everything at least once before the end of the day. Seems easy enough, right? Wrong! Booth after fabulous booth filled with patterns, and threads, and buttons, and fabric..oh my.  There were notions, and embroidery ( hand and machine), and pincushions and wool. swoon.  Then of course there were quilts, beautiful quilts. 33 aisles (about 2 blocks long) plus the font and back aisles (which were very long).

I was ready to absorb as much as possible as I walked along. I was not ready for the magnitude of it all. I was not ready for the massive amounts of fliers, leaflets, and catalogues that I would be collecting. Lucky for me the boss brought lots of extra tote bags and gave me one before we got there. I was also not ready to see so many quilting celebrities. (Like Eleanor Burns in her booth and Maryanne Fons just walking the show).

Some things that stuck out in my mind:
the Michael Miller circus booth:

The Sleepy Hollow booth:

McKenna Ryan's newest design:

Ribbon Candy Quilts booth:

A lovely wool on cotton design ( can't remember the booth sorry)

We ended up having to speed walk through the last few aisles just to get done before they tossed us out at 6pm. After another seminar we headed back to the hotel to sort through all the 'stuff'. The next two days include appointments with vendors and ordering, ordering, ordering.
Will tell you more about all that too. Have to transfer more photos to show you.

Happy stitching.