'15' design

I'm exicted about my latest project.  During my session at Empty Spools with Sue Nickels, Sue talked us through her process of designing quilting patterns.  She is starting a series of alphabet designs.  I took her idea and designed a '15' for a guild challenge.  It was fun to draw it up and I'm pleased with the result.

An original design.  I drew all the feathers and rope border.

Here's my latest.  I sewed the binding while visiting with friends yesterday.  In fact, I finished the binding on two other quilts as well.  It was a fun afternoon.  Several friends came over with hand work - including embroidery and beading bracelets.  We visited while we worked on our projects and had lunch.   It was such a good time they stayed for dinner (leftovers) before they headed home.  It was quite a drive for them so I'm thankful they were willing to make the trip. 



I need more quilting in the border geese, but the fabric
is so busy it won't show.  I can't decide what to do.

Can you see the extra geese in the corners?

 

I wanted to make the fill quilting look like
a party.  There are streamers and loops.

Thanks for checking in.  Can you believe it's May 1 next Thursday.  We're 1/3 of the way through 2014.  I'd better get busy on my UFO challenge for my guild.  I don't want to walk the "walk of shame"!

Closing family business

It's official.  My father has closed his auto parts business after 46 years.  It's a happy event, but sad as well.  I think at 86 years old he's deserving.  After all two of his daughters are retired.  I'm hoping he'll now spend more time visiting at my home. 
Congratulations Dad!  Your family loves you - now enjoy your retirement!!

Empty Spools Seminar

I returned yesterday from a workshop at Pacific Grove, CA.  Empty Spools seminar held on Asilomar Conference grounds.  I loved my 5 days with Sue Nickels.  She instructed us on her technique of designing borders inspired by antique quilts.  The technique can be used for designing quilting designs as well.  After we designed our own border, she taught us her technique for fusing and using a small blanket stitch to keep the edges from fraying.  I did not have plans for the project - just wanted to learn the technique.

This is my class project.  An original design using Sue's technique.  Now that I like it I have to design
a quilt to use it!  Maybe make more "borders" and make a strip quilt?  Maybe a table runner? 
Maybe make this the top of a quilt and piece something to go below? 

Did you notice the missing circle in the photo above?
I don't have all pieces stitched down yet.



This is a border I designed to use with my Vintage Rouge quilt.
I sketched 1/8 of the border and fit the vine with leaves around
the piecing.  The design will repeat around the quilt.    I can
hardly wait to get it together.

 

 The area around Asilomar is beautiful.

View from my room.  When you first wake up and look out it looks like snow.
We did have rain several days.



This was the view from the end of the corridor leading to my room.
I found a path to get from the dining hall to my  sewing room
following the boardwalk through the dunes.  Lovely walk.

Thanks for checking in.



Postcards for St. Patrick's Day

When my nieces and nephews were small I'd send them holiday cards various times throughout the year.  I'm now sending them to the next generation.  For Valentine's Day the selection of children's cards was the same it had been for at least 2 previous years so I decided to make them postcards instead.  They were a hit with the children.
Yesterday and today I constructed 15 postcards for St. Patrick's Day to go out in tomorrow's mail.  I think the workers at our post office enjoy seeing them as well!

I bought a bag of St. Patrick's Day fabric scraps at my last guild meeting.
It gave me a large variety of fabrics to use.

 

Nothing fancy, but fun to send and receive.
 

I have to come up with a different plan for Easter cards. This is the second time I've used the "crazy quilt" idea.  Suggestions anyone??

Thanks for checking in.

Celtic Solstice Top complete

I finished the top of my Celtic Solstice Mystery with Bonnie Hunter.  I orginally planned to add a border with my "focus" fabric, but at a retreat last weekend, we all agreed the border would detract from the quilt.  I'll probably put the fabric on the back to show the source for the color selection.

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2014/02/celtic-solstice-mystery-link-up-finale.html

This was my first Bonnie Hunter mystery.  I'm definitely on board for next year's design.  It is fun to do with friends, but it's fun to share with quilters worldwide!

Thanks for checking.

This is the fabric I used to select colors.

 

Quilt retreat

Last weekend I was at a three day retreat at Wonder Valley Resort.  Three full days (and nights) of quilting with friends.  I take projects that I'm stumped on  and get input from everyone there.  Yes, the ideas are varied, but with the discussion that follows I can usually work out a solution.  I also take projects I just need/want to work on.  I always hate for the time to end, but even though I'm no longer working (outside the home) I still have to come back to reality.

Here's what I worked on.

This was a kit.  However, I changed fabrics and with help
changed the border.  I will add a red border after I select
a stencil to use for the quilting.

Thanks Barbara for the idea for this border.  I really like the effect.

Baby quilt.  Pattern found on

http://www.canoeridgecreations.com/2013/02/xo-quilt-tutorial.html

Same pattern.  I couldn't leave out the boys.

The pattern (kit) is called Vintage Rouge.  I'm making a few changes - mainly
in the border.  I refer to the quilt as "Moulin Rouge".  This is the center section.

I got caught up on blocks for the pattern I'm making with three friends.
I finished the two blocks for February and got started on the March blocks.

Best of the Valley Quilt Show submissions

OK.  I am 100% crazy.  I don't make specific quilts to enter in Best of the Valley Quilt Show,  ( http://botvquilts.com/ ) but last night I stayed up all night to finish a quilt I decided I really wanted to submit. 

I finished sewing the binding at 4 am, but then had to wash the quilt in cold water to take out the markings.  I laid it out to take needed photos.  I made the postmark deadline. Now to see if after my sacrifice the quilt is accepted.

 I did sleep from 6 - 11 am.  I'm not sure I'll make it to the end of Olympic coverage tonight.



Tile Quilt. Started at a workshop with Bobbi Finley.
The close up photo does not show the quilting well.
I'll try another shot later.

This is the quilt I started at a machine quilting workshop with Jill Schumacher.
I know these shots showing the entire quilt are not good, but I had to show
the entire outside edge for the show application.



close up of quilting. 
Jill's workshop really pushed my skills - just what I wanted it to do.

Thanks for checking in.