Two Halves Make a Whole

Hello Everyone,

Remember my post from a couple of days ago?  Click here to see.  I have been working hard and now have the 74 X 74 version of my Mariner's Compass.  There is more to come though.  It will end up being 105 X 105 and wait until you see that!!

Let's take the tour...

This is the center, I am really in love with the colors that I chose. Bright and bold, that is my motto.

Here is the octagonal version.  I could choose to leave it like this and it would make a great table topper for a large table.  But I am not stopping there.

Can you see just a glimpse here?

It is getting corners to square it up.  They are not sewn on yet, but....

They are now... SWOOOON!!  Stay tuned for more progress yet to come and you will love it... I hope!  I know I can't wait to get started.

You know what was the best thing though?  When I showed this to my hubby, he said he loved it and that it was very striking!  I think I will keep him.

Until Next Time...

Two Halves Make a Whole

Halfway There

Hello Everyone,

This weekend I was able to squeeze in a little time to devote to my Mariner's Compass quilt!  I was excited about sitting to work on it and got quite a bit accomplished.

I thought I would show you some close ups of the various elements of the quilt.

This is half of the center of the compass.  One of the things that I like best about Judy Niemeyer's patterns is that she designs them so that ALL your points will float.  In other words, the very tip of the spike does not go to the seam.  Therefore, there is no way you can ever cut off the tip of a spike!  Brilliant!

You can see that again here in the feathered star segment.  The yellow points don't go to the edge the just float.

I love my green sails!  These spike points are set far enough back from the seam to really stand out.  Plus, I am also smitten with the red rope sections.  

I used all batiks from my shop for this quilt.

Here is half of the Mariner's Compass all set and ready to be joined to the other half. 

Unfortunately, I didn't have time to get to this half this weekend.  It is still on my design wall.  I am hoping to plug away at it this week and have the halves joined by the weekend.  We will see...

But I can dream right now!  They really do co-exist nicely don't they?  

Oh, and...

I had draped the half over a chair after I was done doing the photo shoot and the lure of the paper on the back of the quilt top and the fabric was calling one very curious quilt inspector!  He approved and was a little upset when I took it from under him to place it back on the design wall.

Stay tuned!

P.S.  Don't forget to get your Blogger's BOM block by clicking here.

Until Next Time...

Halfway There

Episode 38 is Now Available!

Hello Everyone,

I know it has been a while, but I finally have my newest podcast ready for your listening pleasure.

In this episode you will hear about all the quilty happenings that I have been up to over the summer and some upcoming events!

You can listen in from your computer by clicking here or you can download it for free from iTunes!

Enjoy!

Until Next Time...

Episode 38 is Now Available!

Blogger's BOM... Month 12

Hello Everyone,

Wow, we are nearing the end of the Blogger's BOM!! I can't believe it, we have done 11 months already and have some stunning blocks to show for it...

The first 10 months, aren't they gorgeous?

Month 11, my good friend Victoria designed!  Check out the Flickr group to see all the amazing versions of this month.

Now onto Month 12!  We have a very talented designer for this block.  If you don't know Amy Ellis, you should!

Amy is the lady behind the scenes at Amy's Creative Side.  I have been following her blog for... hmmmm... I don't know how long???  She is the hostess of the Blogger's Quilt Festival too!

Amy has written a book...

If you haven't seen the book and are looking for some fun, quick, and good looking quilts to make... this book might just be the ticket!

But in the meantime, you need to go grab your block for month 12!  Wait until you see this one! I am sure you will love it.  Just click here to get your block.

Don't forget to add your block to the Flickr group when you are done.  Have a great time visiting Amy!

Until Next Time...

Blogger's BOM... Month 12

Purple Mountains Majesty

Hello Everyone,

Thank you all for the wonderful comments on my daughter's college quilt!  It looks fantastic in her dorm room.  The cool thing is that the school newspaper had sent a photographer to take photos of the freshmen moving in and he came into her room and really was impressed with the quilt.  Not only that, he said that every other kid would be asking their Mom why they don't have one!  

Anyway, since the last few days have been busy with college things, not much sewing has been going on in this house.  In light of that fact, I dug into my closet to see what quilt tops that I had to be quilted.  

I came out with one that I had forgotten about and made a long time ago...

This is a piece that I made when I took my friend, Karen Eckmeier's class some years ago.  It is from her technique called Layered Waves.  

I chose to do it all in purples and really had fun making it too!  You can see that I added a special little touch between the border and the body of the quilt.  I had found a beaded piping  and thought that would add a neat design element to the quilt.  I do like how it framed it up.

This is the whole quilt top.  It just needs to be quilted.  It has been sitting way too long.  

You can see me in Karen's student gallery by clicking here and scrolling down.  This is a MUCH younger photo of me.

Click here to see Karen's home page.

Now just because I can.... the cuteness...

The boys are in their position yesterday, looking at me taking photos of the above quilt.

Come back tomorrow for the Blogger's Block of the Month!!

Until Next Time...

Purple Mountains Majesty

Whew!! The College Quilt is Done and Just in Time!

Hello Everyone,

If you have been following this saga of me and my daughter's college quilt... then end has come!! I did it, I finished it and just in time!! Sunday night I put the last stitches in the binding and as you read this she is getting settled at college!!  

Let's take a tour of the quilt...

If you remember, I used the school colors of cherry red and white.  But of course, I couldn't do ALL white.  I had to do it with a little black, it definitely adds more interest, don't you think?

I used some fabrics that I thought she would appreciate... cats and Converse.

More cats... can you tell we LOVE cats?

I quilted it with a simple swirl design that will stand the test of time... oh and the college abuse it may take.

I backed it with... I Love UK fabric.  She is into all things British and has been for sometime.  Loves BBC America, can't get enough.

Here is a close up, I thought this fabric was just perfect for her and she agreed!  I did sew a label to the back prior to the quilting, this way it is not only sewn on but quilted into it as well!!

Here it is... very loooooooooong!  I keep saying that the R will be the pillow tuck. But at least it will keep her warm and I would bet that she is the ONLY one on campus with a quilt like this!

This quilt has received her stamp of approval and I am wiping the sweat off my brow.

Until Next Time...

Whew!! The College Quilt is Done and Just in Time!

The Countdown Begins!

Hello Everyone,

We are busy as bees putting the finishing touches on the "Things With Wings Quilt Show"!  I am very excited about it and hope that you can all attend if you are in the area.

You can read all the details about it here and here.

An update though... we now have reached capacity for the quilts that will be on display.  So, if you were thinking of entering a quilt in the show, I am so sorry there is no longer any space for them.

But you will see quilts like this one...

My "I Am Not Afraid of Color" a.k.a. Summer Solstice will be one of the quilts in the show.

There will be many more beautiful quilts to view as well as 30 WWII quilts and a miniature challenge.

If you are in the area, please plan on stopping by for a TRUE family event and view the quilts as well as some fabulous planes!!  Bring your significant others!  There will also be vendors, speakers, and raffle baskets!

See you there!

Until Next Time...

The Countdown Begins!

Two Wonderful Days!

Hello Everyone,

I spent Wednesday evening and all day on Thursday with a wonderful group of ladies!  I had been invited to the Clamshell Quilt Guild in Waterford, CT to do a lecture and trunk show on Wednesday and then a Judy Niemeyer workshop on Thursday.

Needless to say, they were very welcoming and I had a fantastic time.

Here I am showing some of my designs.  First up my cover quilt from the June/July 2012 issue of Quilt Magazine, Island Breeze.

My design, Paradise Island.

My design Diamonds Down Under.

My design Raspberry Roll.

Judy Niemeyer's quilt Bali Bed Runner.

My Judy Niemeyer quilt, A Touch of Spring.

Me doing some of what I do best.... talk!

What a great night!  Then onto the workshop the next day.  The students were able to choose from one of 3 Judy Niemeyer quilt patterns, Desert Sky, Sunflower Illusions, and Total Eclipse.

Here are some of the results...

Dot used Australian Aboriginals.  This is soooo unique!  I love this!

Nora's lovely two color version.

Angela's bright and bold version.

Linda's Desert Sky version... she renamed to Desert Sunset!

My mom took lots more photos of the trunk show and the workshop.  You can see them here on the Flickr set.

Here are the Perfectly Pleasing Paper Piecers of the Clamshell Quilt Guild!

Thank you, Ladies for being so welcoming to me!

Until Next Time...

Two Wonderful Days!