44 is FABULOUS!

Today I'm 44. Don't get me wrong, the forties are fabulous but I look at that number and think, "Holy Smokes! How did I get to be that number?" By living my life, I guess.
Last year I posted a list of what I had learned in 43 years. This year I'm posting this picture of a quilt made by my great-grandmother. I come from women who sewed on both sides of my family and this is a picture of my roots. Grandma made string quilts from the scraps of all the things she made (curtains, tablecloths, aprons, shirts, dresses, pillows, you name it she sewed it.) My Mother calls the quilts the memories of her childhood. So thank you Grandma for the memories. What memories do you have sewn in patchwork? Happy memory-making!

An early birthday surprise

Last Wednesday, my girlfriend Victoria called me to say she had just put something in the mail for me and I should be on the look out for it. She made it sound like it was just some fabric for a block exchange and a little something for my daughter. On Friday, as I was just about to leave town for the weekend, I checked the mail and low and behold look what I got! It is a little tile quilt in my one of my very favorite color combos! Isn't it darlin?! And that wasn't all she sent me. She made a really cool card and included some of her "killer" brownie mix (trust me when I say these brownies are FABULOUS) and she wrapped it in her quilt wrapping paper she didn't want to part with. Thank you so much Victoria! I can't tell you how much I appreciate you! I can't wait to see you next month! You are FABULOUS, my friend!




It was also a very good weekend for quilt book finds! Barnes and Noble, Half-priced Books and Paperbacks Plus, I made the rounds. It was great weekend!
Happy sewing!

Passing it on

I don't know about the rest of y'all out there in blogland but a lot of "stuff" has come my way just because I'm the quilter in the family. This quilt top came my way along with a couple of others and some of the ugliest fabric you've ever seen and a bunch of yo-yos. The fabric went to the "free table" at my guild, the yo-yo's went to a friend that makes yo-yo's, and one of the quilt tops I quilted for my step-father for christmas a few years back. Another of the tops is a HUGE (120" x 120") string pieced top that I have plans for if I ever find myself without a project. (As if that will ever happen.) And then there is this top. What to do with it? Well, my girlfriend, who shall remain nameless (Hey V) likes what she calls "ugly tops" and this one surely qualifies. So before I send it to it's new home in New York City, I thought I'd take its picture, for postarities sake. So if you have a quilt top in the closet that you will NEVER do anything with, send on to someone who will. You never know, they may do something real cute with it (or maybe not), but you will have more room in your closet for new stuff! Happy sewing!

Snippets quilt again

My blue Snippets quilt has a new home. I made it for my friend Heather, who is about to have a baby. I saw Heather last night and wanted to get her picture with the quilt but my camera batteries were out. And I'm pretty sure the next time I see her, she will have had her baby. She is very pregnant. The kind of pregnant where you can't see your feet pregnant. So in lieu of a very pregnant Heather, here is the Snippets quilt on my driveway. Good luck Heather, I'm sending you only good thoughts!




And Of course, I pieced the back! Happy sewing!

Making leaves

One hundred twenty-five leaves made (and wonder-undered) and ready to go. One hundred seventy-five to go, but I'm out of wonder-under. So, a trip to The Quilt Store and I'm back in the leaf making mode. Happy quilting!

The Anatomy of a Process

When I start a big project, this is how it happens. First, it starts with a rough sketch. (I have my sketch, but it is not photographing well.) Next comes picking the fabric. (This might be the most fun part!)




The first cutting and piecing starts. (I don't use alot of brown, but for this quilt I am.)




Next, I made bias. I need stems!




Pinned and ready for machine applique. My favorite way to machine applique is to use the buttonhole stitch on my machine and a varigated thread. Luv it!



Today, I'm spending the day with wonder-under. I'm making leaves! Yipee! Being in the "zone" is fabulous! Happy sewing!

Blocks that come back to you

Beware of blocks that come back to you! I sent these little half-square triangle blocks to Victoria, because I frankly needed the little buggers gone from my life. (They where the kind of block that make you nuts.) What does my friend (and I use this term loosely) do? She calls me and says she is sending me something (and she doesn't say what it is) and I should do "whatever" with it. Am I game? ABSOLUTELY!




And this is what she sent me. It is really cute!




And this is what I'm sending her with a note that says "Tag, you're it!"
The quilt's in the mail, V!
Happy sewing!