Crazy Saturday!

What a crazy day!   I did manage to sneak out for a few minutes at lunch to switch bags and it was a gorgeous day.  I missed it completely!

But we had FUN!!!!  Oh my goodness - it's going to be a fabulous year with our Saturday Sampler at Sew Sisters.  There is room for a couple more in one of the classes - so if you want to be part of the fun - well it's plain crazy!

Started off with our Vintage Moments.

Vintage Moments by Marsha McCloskey

 I taught this class a couple of years ago at another store.  As is usual fashion for me - I haven't completed my top yet. Most of the bits and pieces are done so my goal is to get it complete this time around.

My version (to date) of Vintage Moments

You see my problem is that I like to complicate things.  Yes - it is bad enough to have to piece an eight pointed star, but when you have to fussy cut a striped fabric to do it - well it makes the process that much more complicated. There are 16 stars in one of the borders and I'm INSISTING that they match the center.  Call me an idiot.  My goal - start cutting those so I can make the stars and get this quilt done!!!!

Check out my tutorial to make your own eight pointed star.

If you want to see the results of the previous class that I taught - check out this post.


We did have some show n tell from that class - none Vintage Moments - I'll show all that show n tell at the end of this post.

Next up was  Farm Girl Vintage .     (Yes TWO classes with Vintage in the name!)

Farm Girl Vintage by Lori Holt

Oh - I'm so excited about this quilt.  This is the class that we have a few spots left. Call Sew Sisters if you are interested in joining. It's not too late. We are all going to pick our version of the quilt we want, custom designing them no less so I doubt anyone will have a quilt that looks like the one on the front.

I did take in my laptop and Ronda brought me a projector which worked just fine. Except that I'm trying to focus it and it won't focus.  OH - I need my glasses on to do that job!!!   But I think the class got a good appreciation for what can be done with EQ7 and the designing stuff. Now we each have to figure out what we are going to make, how big, what fabric, how many blocks, etc.  It will likely take a month or two for all that to gel.

We looked at THREE blocks yesterday - a pinwheel, postage stamp and kitchen window.  Many of these blocks would make a good quilt all on their own.  On my way home, I got really excited as I thought about the day.  I had seen a quilt on the internet just recently that had me drooling, then seeing the postage stamp block again and remembering that I had this bag at home.

Bag of 1 1/2" squares

Do NOT search for confetti quilts on the internet.  You did didn't you!!!!!   Your mouth will drool - I've just added another 10 projects to the list of those I want to do.

But do check out this post because I absolutely love the quilt and read until the end to see what her husband did for her. It's pretty funny.


HA HA - as if I needed another project!!!!!    This surfing the internet for inspirations at work is VERY DEADLY.   If you thought I was in over my head before - you don't want to even know the half of it now.   I'll keep that as my little secret.

But if my studio is any indication of what's going on - well one picture tells a thousand words.  Have a peek.

My studio

Normally things aren't on the floor like that, but well - it's been a bit crazy and not much time to tidy up.  Hopefully today - a bit!

But we did have some Farm Girl Vintage show n tell.  Karen won't be able to make it next month and so she found something she liked and made a block.

Karen's Farm Girl Vintage homework for February

It's pretty cute and what a way to use fabric.  I LOVE that barn door and look at what's in the barn - cute little pink piggies!!!!!   Nicely done Karen!!!!

At last - here is our show n tell from yesterday.....................



Let's start with Raili - this is from one of the ongoing classes, but from a couple of years ago.  I'm going to say 5?   It was taught at Cockadoodle - a quilt store which doesn't exist any more.  RIP Joann - we miss you!!!!

O Tannebaum   by Sue Garman

Raili did a fabulous job on the quilt and it is done!!!!!!    She is a machine these days - she bought a quilting machine and it's smoking!!!!!!

The back of Raili's quilt

 A super way to use up odds and ends!!!!


Next up was Suzi with a hexagonal quilt.  It is gorgeous with Kaffe Fassett fabric in it. She's going to have fun with binding that top and bottom.  That becomes a love/hate situation, but I'm know she'll do a good job.

Hexagons quilt!

Marilyn is also a machine. I think she brings in some show n tell every month!!!!   This time is was "quilt as you go" that she made with her scraps.

Marilyn's quilt as you go!

 And then there is Karen.  We always know that we are going to be "surprised" at Karen's show n tell.  She has a very unique style and it's always fun to see what craziness she has come up with.

This was a tinners project (a group project) that a number of us in the class had worked on - many years ago - again this was run through the Cockadoodle store).  If memory serves me correctly, Karen's theme was Wine, Women and Song. See - I can remember things - this was done years ago!!!!   My block is the middle one on the bottom row.  Yes an EIGHT POINTED STAR - see I'm an idiot.  I love what Karen did with her quilt and it is finished.  Sadly, mine is still in a box.  I so want to get to it - but not right now.

Wine, Women and Song - Karen!

 And then Karen tried to blame this next quilt on ME!!!!!   Fancy that.  She said I told people that working in series is a good thing.  OK - I did say that!   You remember that last year, one of the quilts for the Saturday Sampler was Tiny Town.

Tiny Town by Bunny Hill

Here's a link to the final quilts of Tiny Town in last year's class.    Have a look specifically at Karen's.  Oh - heck - here is Karen's quilt. 

Karen's Tiny Town 

You can see it is quite different from the original.  There are detail shots on the blog post above. 

Well Karen made a second Tiny Town - this is the night time version of Tiny Town. 

Tiny Town by night

It's pretty funny and again - so much detail - I didn't get a chance to take a lot of picture, but look below in the top left.  There's a coyote baying at the moon and a hottie guy!!!!

Detail of Tiny Town by night

Let's just say that Karen has a great imagination, a wicked sense of humor and has a lot of fun in what she does and her level of creativity is off the chart!!!!!   Well done Karen!!!!   By the way - this was a total surprise to me and to everyone else who had been in that class.

On that note, I've had a wet nose hitting my arm for the last hour.  I must get going before Lexi gets insulted that I don't pay attention to her!!!!!


Have an AWESOME day!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tiny Town show n tell - the FINAL quilts

All I can say is that the internet is HUGE.   Let me restate that - the internet is HUGE.


Every time I think I have things under control - I don't.  Not even close.  I look at so many blogs and all their lovely designed and quilted quilts. There are contests and sew alongs and blog hops and - well following these links could become a FULL TIME job.  And then how would anyone get anything done!!!!   I follow in moderation and I thank all of you who follow me!

Before I get into the show n tell for today - I have to confess about a situation at work.  I thought I was doomed. You see, I have TWO monitors on my desk.  Well my laptop and another monitor.  When I first started to work there, I had a bit of trouble getting used to that second monitor.  My mouse was going all over the place, but NOT onto that second monitor.   OK - so I got that figured out.  Then when I would disconnect the laptop and then connect it back up - the second monitor was gone.  Now I really missed the darn thing.  Anyway - with the help of Jennifer, I got the laptop to recognize the second monitor and now I knew how to set up the two monitors for future.

Then a while back, after one of my unplugging episodes, the color in the monitor went weird.  Everything was bright PINK!!!!  I ignored that for a long time and didn't use the second moniter even though I missed it.  Finally one day - I decided to try and figure it out.  I managed to change the color to a blue tone, but still not WHITE!

Yesterday - it was very quiet in the office and Brian walks by and asks why I am not using the second monitor.  Crap - busted - I had to confess my technological woes and that the color wasn't right.  By this time - I couldn't even get a display on that monitor.    OK - I'm going to get this fixed if it kills me.

  For some IDIOTIC reason - I changed the external monitor to become my main screen and then I pulled the image from the laptop over to that monitor.  Except that I couldn't get the image to appear on the monitor.  So basically I'm sitting there with a dead laptop!!!!   Yep - there is an image, but I can't see it!!!!   Oh GOD - he is going to think I'm an idiot for sure.   In desperation, I fiddle with the cables - OK - loose cable.  Got that tightened up and then played with the settings on the computer.   Phew!!!!!!  

So I am back to using the two monitors, although the color of the external one is very weird.  I will try to fix that later this week!!!!!   But I managed to scrap out of that situation MYSELF!


OK - so here's the show n tell.


Let's see how I do on the names today.   Just in case you are thinking I might be getting Alzheimer's and forgetting things - part of the problem is on this particular class day - I have about 45 students in total.  At least half of them are new to me and even though I have seen some of them all year - it is for an hour max and it isn't the kind of setting where I can get to know everyone's names.  I'm lucky if I can get 3 or 4 new names under my belt each session.   So bear with me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Remember the original pattern from yesterday????    This class was taught at Sew Sisters.

Tiny Town by Bunny Hill

First up is Suzie's.  She got the top together - oooops - forgot the tulip in the top left corner.   But I think she is forgiven because not only did she work on Tiny Town, but Suzie did Amish with a Twist II as well. She is still deciding on what borders to put on the quilt.

Suzie

This next one is Beth's.  It's so fun and very whimsical with all those bright colors.  Can you see my house????  She is still deciding on some border/sashing options.  And very interesting that she used some busy backgrounds but solids for some of the houses.  Yes - any combination works!!!!

Beth

 I think at this point, I stated (and they made me say it several times!) that I am going to use BUSY prints for the background of our next project.  ACK!!!!!   Now it is public knowledge - and well - I must do it.  I'll be showing you the next project and my fabric choices in a bit.   Not today.

Here is a very soft version of Tiny Town.  That inner border really makes things pop!

Belle

 So I'm going to be honest.  I know this lady - I can see her face but do you think I learned her name.  I'm disappointed to say no.  I even know her friend and her friend's name.  ACK!!!!   Anyway - this person was very busy making some cross stitch items for her boss  ( I hope she got a HUGE bonus for doing that!!)  So she wasn't quite finished, but the applique on this one is exquisite!!!!

Exquisite hand applique on this version of Tiny Town

 We needed to put sun glasses on for Lynn's quilt.  Wow - that turquoise and orange combo is awesome!!!!!  It is hard to see in the picture, but the border print that she found is perfect!!!!!   It is bright!!!!  As you guessed - I just love it.

Don't get me wrong - I do admire the other softer versions - they are equally beautiful, but these bright ones get my heart racing!

Lynn's version of Tiny town

 And then there is Karen!   While this doesn't quite look like Tiny Town, it is.  Let's just say that Karen took a few liberties to make the quilt her own.  First off she did a reverse machine applique and well - I think the techniques evolved as the year went along.

The borders are ROWS from the Row by Row.  I know - how clever was that.  Let's just say that I've known Karen for several years now and she has participated in these monthly classes for a long time and she never ceases to amaze me at how creative she gets!  Or should I say CRAZY????

Karen's version of Tiny Town

 Here are a few detail pictures of Karen's quilt.  It is the kind of quilt that you would want to look at for a long time and you probably woudn't get to see all the details.

Shoe buttons for Shoe-La-La  (obviously an upscale shoe boutique!)

Fussy cut images for the fire hall  (and I saw some hunky firemen on the quilt!)

The CHIP trucks!

The unfinished quilt at Karen's house no doubt!  Certainly not mine!

Karen and one of her dogs!   That's me (sort of) on the bike!!!!  - You know - it's representational!

Fussy cut moose   (from Northcott!)

You can have so much fun with any pattern.  Stick to the pattern or step out of the box.  Perfect an exisiting technique, learn a new one or combine - the possibilities are endless.  It is your quilt!!!!!  And there are NO quilt police.


There were a few others in this class, but - well they weren't there for the final show n tell or they were and their quilts weren't completed so they didn't bring them.  I always welcome those quilts any time they get finished!!!!

This picture is from the November class when Lucy brought in this star quilt for us to ooh and aah over.

Lucy's star quilt

Wow - there you have it.  Tomorrow I shall try and list all the upcoming classes that I have so you can see if they fit in your schedule.

Have an awesome day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    (It's a play date for me today!!!)


Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tiny Town show n tell

The group is going to kill me.  I found a draft blog post of pictures of Tiny Town. This was the second year long class that I taught at Sew Sisters.   I didn't have time to edit the final pictures, but I found these pictures from about two months ago!!!!   Better late than never and at least you get to see some of the detail in these blocks - you can't always see the detail in the finished quilts.  I PROMISE to post them tomorrow. 

Tiny Town by Bunny Hill

This is a fabulous quilt by Bunny Hill which I have wanted to do for a long time. Sadly (but as usual), my quilt isn't anywhere near done!

As we are moving to a new year though I am trying desperately (oh so dramatic!)  to figure out how to make this whole mess work.  So I have devised a system.  How long the system will last - only time will tell.  

But as I mentioned the other day, I have created a list - actually five different lists of quilts that need to be done. Charity quilts that need to be quilted, customer quilts that need to be quilted and so on.  Each list is on a separate piece of paper and those five sheets are firmly attached to a CLIP BOARD.   

Now I don`t think it is enough to just make lists. Although I will say that lists are excellent.  It helps us to face reality.  And the reality of the situation is that my five lists doesn`t even scratch the surface of what`s in that studio.  That's the sad part and I MUST get a handle on this situation if I don't want to end up in a huge mess that someone else has to clean up!

OK - so the lists are made and while I know that I will work on other stuff than what is on those lists, those lists really really need to get done this year.  Some of that stuff has been hanging around for a long time and I want it out of my house. 

So - the second thing I did was set an appointment with myself on Saturday evening.  I picked Saturday because I'm usually home.  It's called SET GOALS for the week.  So on another piece of paper, I created another list.  I perused the five lists and picked out things that I want to get done this week.  And yes - there are a few other small items that went on the GOAL list for the week as well.   The key is to try and not load up that list with so many things that it would be impossible to NOT get all of them done. There are 12 things for this week. 

Yesterday wasn't my most productive day, but I still managed to get a quilt top cut and sewn together.  I'm not going to share it with you yet - it's a gift and when it's done you (and the recipient) can see it. Trust me - it was very simple. 

Now I was left with scraps from that quilt top and I even devised a second project that would use up absolutely everything that was left over.  You'll see what I mean when I show you!!!!

I'm going to leave that clip board with the five lists and the GOALS for the week list that sits on top - it is going to reside on my cutting mat where I can see it every day.  It can't go missing because then I will forget about it and then I'm doomed. 

Oh yes - I was looking at that dining room of mine as well and well - I'm disgusted at the mess.  I'm going to take pictures and get started soon.  Remember that I made that list of 14 things that could clear up a lot of the mess very quickly.  I also found my labeller and so I can now label the folders to go in the filing cabinet.  Yes - I have a filing cabinet but not much in it - it's all piled around!!!!!   I even had a peek at some of the folders and found instruction manuals for things that we no longer own - they are already gone.  I need a mental make over about now and cleaning up this office and getting a handle on the quilting stuff is right up my alley.  I hope you'll on board with me. 

And so on that note - here are the pictures from Tiny Town. 

Lucy

Lucy loves to use pictures of animals for her appliqué.  The little owls are cute!!!!

Hey - if you think I struggled with the names of Amish with a Twist - these pictures are from even further back.  Don't ask for names.  I can see the faces - but some of the names are blank!

Lynn's bright town

Karen - a very funky town

Verja  (I don't have my list in front of me - so not sure if that's how her name is spelled)

There are some very cool Tiny Towns and when you see the finished quilts tomorrow - you are going to be blown away.  They are so awesome.

This was show n tell by Verja.   I have to say that some of the most funky and fun work is coming from the more mature women in the groups.  No holds barred and I love it!!!!!

The can-can dancer quilt 

It even has a bed skirt attached and she made two pillows.   I believe it was her own design.  So much fun!!!!!

Oh yes - I found this article and thought you might like to read it - It's called Should I Join a Quilt Guild????   The article doesn't have a lot of meat in it - but look at the group quilt they worked on - it's spectacular.


Well - it's time to get to work.  Can you believe that I'm excited to come to work????  Oh yes - I will miss the dog park this morning, but yep - I'm excited.

Have a great day!!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tiny Town update

Yep - I'm behind in  my posting of homework.  Here is the update from our Tiny Town class last weekend at Sew Sisters.   It was a long weekend so a number of people were missing.  We hope to get back on track by the end of the summer with the schedule!!!!

Tiny Town - the original by Bunny Hill

Suzi

Karen (with the reverse machine applique technique - her houses are on the back side waiting to be exposed - like a sculptor releasing a statue from a block of granite!!!!

Georgina

Vjera

Vjera's other blocks (she was on vacation last month so we only saw part of her blocks)

Ida

Beth - whole grandaughter is helping her do the cutting, pasting and arranging. What a fun project to do with a young one

They are going to look awesome when they are completed!!!!!   Such a fun pattern and so much room to personalize!!!!!


We had some other show n tell as well.

Ida had this great pinwheel baby quilt.  Some lucky baby is going to have loads of fun sucking on those pinwheels!!!!

These pictures are more show n tell from the Amish class - I missed them yesterday.

Giovanna - I thought she said this was for her husband

Emily made this for her new baby that is coming in a couple of months!!

Mary is making this for her new dog!!!!!

Isn't it great to see that people are making things for a specific reason!!!!   Unlike me - who just makes!!!!  


Did you see the "neutral" backgrounds in Ida's block and Emily's quilt???   I want to give that a whirl. Those are so NOT neutrals to me, yet there is enough contrast that they look just fine.  I have seen some quilts where those neutrals do not have enough contrast and it looks less than desireable (to me!).


On that note - I've got another crazy busy day and I had better get started.


Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!