Home from Houston

The Houston Quilt Show is a spectacular show every year and this year was no exception. Especially since I got to see the show with Victoria. Funnily enough, this quilt was probably the favorite for both of us. (Great minds think alike.) The maker was Japanese (and I wish I had gotten her name) and it was spectacular! It had the look of an old hankerchief and the hand work was STUNNING. And although this is not necessarily the direction my work is going, I loved this quilt.


Two other quilts that literally stopped me in my tracks were very vibrant and colorful. What's not to like about a quilt that has movement and an "in your face" color palette? Makes my skirt fly up!





This quilt was made by Roberta Horton and hung in a special exhibit. In my opinion, this quilt was just about the best use of fabric I've ever seen. The design was really simple, the quilting was okay (it worked for this quilt but was nothing special), and the fabric did all the work. I LOVED this quilt!



And then there was this antique quilt. It hung in a special exhibit also. I loved this quilt!! (Hey V, how many times did I say I loved this quilt?) I love a quilt that looks like the maker had a great time making it. It made me smile. There's alot about quilting that does that to me.
Happy quilting to you!

My Process

I'm working on a quilt that is absolutely not "me" and very much "me" at the same time. How can that be? It is the process, my friends. I work like this on almost every quilt I make, especially the bigger projects. It starts very often with a rough sketch on paper. (I have sketched on napkins, backs of envelopes and backs of greeting card.) This particular quilt is for my step-sister. It is much more structured but at the same time I tried to give it movement within the structure.





And then there is her color palette. She is an "Autumny" person. She likes the warm browns, golds, and greens. Not really the colors I work with alot, however when I went to put colors together, the ones I chose look like a collection I would put together. (Am I speaking Greek?)




And of course once this quilt started coming together, it looks like my work. And after I quilt the dog out of this top with some feathers, it will look like "me" but in a different direction. So if you are sewing today, do something that is not "you". It feels really good. Happy sewing!

My trip to New York

I'm home from my trip to New York. I went to stay with Victoria and spend the weekend sewing. We had a fantastic time! Victoria is absolutely the "hostess with the mostess". So that being said I thought I'd share a few things about my friend that you may or may not know. First of all, she lives in a loft in New York City and it is incredible! Her husband, Micheal is also fabulous. He is very charming with a slight British accent and the man can tell a good story. They make a very cute couple. Victoria's daughter "B" is a great kid. She is smart, creative, interesting, beautiful and precocious, definitely her Momma's daughter.
And now for Victoria herself, she is tall, thin, and beautiful and as great as she looks on the outside she is even more fabulous on the inside. We had more fun than the law should allow. Andrea came over and we sewed and ate and chit-chatted and then we realized something was missing, shopping. So off we went to The City Quilter, where we each made a fabric purchase and then we went back to V's and sewed some more. (Definitely some of the most fun you can have with your clothes on.) And amid all this sewing we did manage tiny bit of sight seeing, (this was my first time in New York.) Here we are in Central Park. Don't we look like we're having fun?
Thank you again Victoria for a fabulous weekend. I'll see you in three weeks in Houston, my friend. Yipee!!!! Happy sewing!!!

Tara's crooked little house

I'm packing my bags today, because tomorrow my machine and I are getting on an airplane and going to spend the weekend sewing with Victoria. I'm so excited my face hurts from smiling. We don't know what we are sewing but we are going to sew. Woo-hoo!!
I've had a lot of stuff to get done before this trip but I did manage to sew this cute little block for Tara. It is a little crooked house on a little crooked road. Hope you like it. It was alot of fun to make! So if you are looking for something fun to make try this little crooked house.
I gotta go finish packing. Happy sewing!!!

More flying geese

My flying geese are quilted and bound and cute as all get out! The smaller one is for my girlfriend Kristee. We have been friends since before we could drive, over half our lives. Today is her birthday. Happy Birthday, Kris. I luv ya more than my Bernina, my friend! So, if you have some scraps laying around and you want to make something quick and cute, sewing a bunch of flying geese and put them together. It is small enough that you can quilt it without having to worry about managing your bulk. And since I love a pieced back, of course I piece my backs (with scraps of course.) Happy sewing!

Itchy fingers and flying geese

Do you have fingers that are itching to sew but you don't have a specific project in mind? Try flying geese. All you need is a pile of scraps to start with. They cut very quickly and sew up lickety-split. Then the fun comes. The first one I like. The second needs more work. Still isn't there but I'm not done yet. It definitely has possibilities. Don't ya luv it when your project talks to you? I'm still having a conversation with this one. More to come on these geese. Happy sewing!

Doll quilt ready to go

My Doll quilt is done and ready to be sent to its new home. I sure hope my swap partner likes it. I really tried to make something that was in line with her likes and still was very much me. I sure had a good time making it and it went together very easily. I pieced the back using some of the left-overs from making the top. I couldn't help myself, I had to make it a little funky. (I gotta be me, what can I say.)
And then last night after dinner was done I cut a few triangle, cause I have a "hankering" to make some flying geese. I'll have to see where this leads. I have no idea, but it sure is fun! Quilting makes my skirt fly up! Happy sewing!