Spring To Finish #2

Hello Everyone,

I hope all of you who live in the U.S. had a wonderful Memorial Day! This, of course, is a day where we remember and celebrate those men and women who have fought and are fighting for our country.

My family went to our town parade. I wanted to share one picture I took of those veterans from our town. They are just a few of the proud!

On to quilty happenings... Pop on over here to see 4 newly uploaded photos of customer quilts! They won't disappoint, I promise!

As most of you know, Jacquie is hosting the Spring to Finish challenge. Here is my second one!! WooHOOOO! I finally quilted this one up with some really pretty daisy quilting and bound it. This quilt makes me want to go have a picnic. Just lay it on the ground and start to chow down on some wonderful picnic snacks. What do you think?

This quilt was made with one jelly roll of Mary Engelbreit fabrics. Just yummy!

On the note of another finish... well not quite. It is not quilted yet, but that is a mere technicality. I finished piecing my Judy Niemeyer 4th of July quilt!! Double WooHoo! It is now officially a quilt top! I just love it. Now I just have to piece the backing and throw it on my long arm. Hopefully soon.

My Mom was up this weekend and just loved this quilt. But, sorry Mom, this one is mine. I am working on one for you.

The end of this week, I am off to a quilting retreat with two of my quilting buddies. I am looking forward to a weekend of sewing and fun. So I am getting some projects ready to bring along. I will probably post before I leave and then post all the wonderful happenings when I return.

Until Next Time...

Spring To Finish #2

A Forgotten Thank You and A Favorite Shop

Hello Everyone,

I have to say, I was remiss in posting this thank you to the wonderful Barbara at Quilt Soup. I won a giveaway here at her blog. The winnings were a fat quarter of every fabric in her new Bubblegum Basics line.

Here are some photos...

Yummy!

All together, I just love them!! Bright, happy and cheerful all rolled into one!

So, Barbara, please don't be mad I am so late in thanking you for these wonderful fabrics. I just love them and can't wait to use them all up. You are a genius and I love your work!

Now onto a favorite quilt shop of mine. In my last post, I mentioned that I went shopping for my backing fabric with my friend Pam. Well, we went to one of my favorite quilt shops, Quilting By the Yard. Laura and Michelle own the shop. They are just some of the nicest, most creative and inspiring shop owners that I know. They have a wonderful shop chock full of fabulous fabrics. Here are some great photos.

Here you see Pam shopping for Batiks....

Laurie, works at the shop. She is a very talented quilter and teacher at the shop.

Another view...

Look at all the book and pattern inspiration....

So if you are ever in the area, this shop is a must see. Tell them that Jackie sent you.

On another note, if you would like to see an impeccably done wool and silk quilt, I just updated my gallery. So go check it out by clicking here.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. For those of you enjoying Memorial Day, have a great time at all the BBQ's and parades.

Until Next Time....

A Forgotten Thank You and A Favorite Shop

Shopping to Finish

Hello Everyone,

Remember the quilt that I posted about here, well I am almost done piecing the units and the blocks together!! I am so excited because this is probably the most time consuming project that I have ever done and I love it.

In an effort to keep my adrenaline going to finish this top, my friend Pam and I went to my favorite quilt shop, Quilting by The Yard, to seek out some backing fabric. Usually, I don't piece my backings. I think it is because I am just too lazy. But on this quilt I have decided to do so.

So here is a picture of one of my blocks laying on the batiks that I have chosen.

It calls for a little over 5 yards of fabric, so I chose 5 different batiks. They are all in the same color way and really go together well. I hope it will turn out like I am envisioning.

Her is a close up of the block. Ahhhh... paper piecing produces perfect points.... say that 3 times fast!!

Here is a better look at the fabric for the backing. I chose this really pretty fuschia for the binding. I think it will just make it POP! What do you think?

Okay, so the next picture is of Judy Niemeyer's signature on some fabric with the year 2006. That is when I took the class with her for this quilt. I had her sign a piece of my fabric so that I could incorporate it into my label for the quilt! Neat idea!

On another note, my daughter recently returned from a two week trip to China. She was able to do a lot of travel and also visited my brother and sister in law, who live in Beijing. So when she returned she had some textile goodies for me. The first picture is of some beautiful cottons. I just love the prints and the colors. My sister in law chose these for me and sent them with my daughter, thank you Kristina.

This second photo is of the silks that my daughter purchased for me. They are silk shantung and they are just the perfect colors for me. My daughter knows me well, I love all the fabrics. Now to find a project for them.

My last note, my May, 2009 newsletter is now available online here. My customer gallery has also been updated with some really cool quilts. And if you hadn't read my last post, I am now podcasting and you can hear me on my first podcast episode by clicking on the button on my sidebar or clicking here. I would love some feedback.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and until next time....

Shopping to Finish

Something New

Hello Everyone,

Just a quick post to announce something that I have been working on.... I am now PODCASTING!! How cool is that?! Now you can hear what I have to say about everything quilting. The first episode is up and running!

I have put the badge below on my sidebar. All you have to do is click on it and it will take you right to my podcast page. Once you are there just click on anything clickable and you'll be listening to my first episode in no time. You can even subscribe there! Or you can just click here.

My hopes are to receive feedback from all of you on what topics you would like to hear about. I plan on a variety of quilting topics over the coming months. I also want your feedback on if you like my podcasts as well. Please send me an e-mail or leave me a comment.

Right now I am also in the process of submitting to iTunes as well. So hopefully in a few months you will be able to subscribe through there as well. And also there will be a link soon on my website as well.

So go ahead and listen NOW on your computer or iPod. Drop me an e-mail or comment and let me know your thoughts. Thanks for listening to me!!

Until Next Time....

Something New

Stacks O' Progress

Hello Everyone,

Well I have been busy at my sewing machine and also some hand stitching. In between all of that I have been busy with customer quilts too. New ones were added to my gallery check them out!

But I wanted to share the progress I have made on my Judy Niemeyer quilt, A Touch of Spring first. During the day, I tend to use my sewing machine more than hand stitching. I reserve the hand stitching for night, so that I can be with my family. How about you???

Here is what I accomplished so far... Lots more arcs only four more to go!!

Another view to show some detail.

Those perfect points, they are pretty much guaranteed with paper piecing!!

Now onto the night time work... I have been having a blast with my hexies!! I am soooo addicted. Right now I have eleven completed flowers for my grandmother's flower garden. I know I have a ton more to do, as this is going to be for our guest bedroom, it is a double bed! Don't you just love this pretty little stack?

All fanned out for a better view...

This last picture is of 1/2 of a full flower complete! This will be done tonight, no bones about it!

I am just loving my current projects, but I know that I have a ton of UFO's to complete as well. Don't forget to sign up for my monthly newsletter. Click on the widget on my sidebar to do so. My current newsletter is available online here. The next one will be on its way next week.

Well, I must get back to work now! I just love what I do! I hope you all have a wonderful day!

Until Next Time....

Stacks O' Progress