Wow Harley Davidson TShirt Quilt

This is so bright and bold, I love it.  Great choice of colors used in sashing and borders.  Quilted for Kelli, from Ft Wayne IN.

She is donating this to raise money for a Harley Club in Ft Wayne.

I have a feeling once she shows this to the club, they are going to raise a ton of money.

I used a bright orange thread to quilt this.  It was the perfect choice of thread color and a large meandering.

There is nothing boring about this quilt.  She says she has enough HD shirts to make another and do the backing also using tshirts.  That should look awesome, top and backing tshirts. WOW.

Yesterday I cut all the pieces for the pastel Lightning Strike quilt.  Put a few blocks together, its looking so pretty and spring like.

Wedding preparations are coming along.  Ordered the portapotty, put a deposit down on a 20x30 tent top, just in case of rain.  Please please please don't let it rain that day, praying for the perfect June 11th.  Hoping to get approval from day care center down the street to use their parking lot for guests. 

All family and friends contributing to food have their assignments.  Everything I had to take care of has been done.  Now its sit back and wait until the week of wedding.  Then its clean house, prepare my contribution to the food and Wayne will take care of the yard.  He is already planning on planting more flowers and buying an arch trellis for the flower garden in back.   Looking forward to when the weather warms and grass greens up so I can plan how to decorate the yard.

Business is picking up, have a few more quilts to finish for customers.  Work on pastel Lightning Strike, finish the horse quilt for display at Midwest Horse Fair April 15th  - 17th held in Madison, and just made contact with a woman wanting to buy my pattern for Windmills.    



Lightning Strike

This is my newest design, although the quilt is not quilted yet, thought I would show it to you anyway.

I should have taken a picture of the individual block before sewing into quilt.  This picture is the best I can do to let you see what the block looks like.  I will be sure to photo a block of the next quilt that I am going to be working on using same pattern.

This is another one of Nettie's quilts, using her color choice. I  have purchased material to do this in all pastels and white background.  I will be making this pastel quilt before I have pattern printed.  My plan is to have both quilted and photo ready to be printed on pattern, showing customers the optional 2 color or multi color quilt.

All winter I have been working with dark colors and I am so ready for something bright to work on.  Not that the colors I used were not beautiful, but I just need a change for a while.

So look for future post with pictures of both quilts after they are sewn and quilted.

Mosaic

These are our daughter (Stacy) new mosaic designs.  She recently started doing mosaics and I think she is a natural.  

They are beautiful.    I wish you could see them for real, the photos don't do them justice.

 this is at least 3 ft high sculpture

Cant wait to see what she comes up with next.

Our family just oozes talent    Toby our son is an artist both artwork and tatto. Stacy is doing mosaic, her daughter, Brittany does canvas paintings.  Ken our youngest son is a carpenter and give him a hammer and nails and he can build a beautiful room, deck, kitchen, etc. I of course my quilts, and now our granddaughter Kylee, age 10, entered a state wide contest for 4th graders to design a Plate, and her plate design WON.  It will be made into a real plate and sent to Washington  DC to be displayed in the White House.  She gets her talent from her dad, Toby.  

I have 4 more grandchildren, a great grandson and am looking forward to the day their talents come forth, what ever they might be.

Great Time

Spent the last 2 days at Loose Threads re grand opening and it was terrific.  Stupid stupid stupid me, I was gonna grab my camera to take pics of all the activity and I forgot it at home.


I had a great time meeting everyone that came down to see the demos and me.  Many people purchased my patterns and I am setting up workshops for the patterns.   April 21 and May 21.

The parking lot was full and cars were parked along the hwy.  So glad Mary Kay had such a good turnout for both days.

I'll be honest, I am not used to working anymore, not that I actually worked.  My routine is early morning working, sewing, cleaning etc, you get the picture, and by 3 pm I'm in my recliner relaxing and waiting to fix supper.  Whew, for 2 days I was up and at it from 6am getting ready and going to the shop staying until 5pm.

While there, and during a lull of customers, I started looking at fabrics for myself.  I am trying to decide what fabrics to use in our next Buggy Barn challenge.  I'm thinking maybe batiks, so I am really concentrating on how the quilt would look, and forgot about a step down from one room to the next.  Yep you guessed it, BANG, I landed on my big butt and back, hit my  head on the (thank goodness carpeted) step that I forgot about, twisted my ankle slightly. literally shook my teeth, and made enough noise to the downstairs group, they probably thought the building was falling in.  There I lay, like a big aqua walrus, (wearing velveteen aqua jogging suit).  Many people offered to help me get up, but all I wanted to do was lay there and collect my body and bones before attempting to stand back up.  Finally got myself off the floor, and proceed to feel ever more stupid and foolish.  But thankfully nothing broken other than my pride.   We did have a few good laughs over that for the rest of the day.

Today, bff Nettie came over, she is working on a quilt, and I am doing the cutting for her.  I am working on the new design quilt yet to be named. Almost done, have one more row of blocks and the borders to put on. 
This quilt has taken weeks to do, as I have been interrupted with many other projects, including quilting for others and of course getting ready for Loose Threads.   Aahh its good to be busy. 

I now have 3 quilts to be quilted, finish the new design, confirm people and dates for workshops, start, yet another quilt using the new pattern, and now Nettie wants me to take a purse making class.  I keep telling her no, and she keeps telling me yes.

All of a sudden this little old retired lady is getting pretty darn busy.

Re Grand Opening @ Loose Threads

Just a reminder there is a re grand opening at Loose Threads Quilt Shop Hwy 26 Milton WI. Tomorrow and Saturday 25th and 26th.  Discounts, sales prizes.  http://www.loosethreadsllc.com/

Please stop in, I will be there showing my new quilts and patterns for:

Lazy Hourglass
Stepping Stones
Merry Go Round
Six Flags

Patterns are available through the quilt shop and there will be sign up sheets for workshops.

I hope to see you there.

Sunshower Quilts: Accuquilt Baby Go! Give-Away!!

Sunshower Quilts: Accuquilt Baby Go! Give-Away!!

Sunshower Quilts

Sunshower Quilts is sponsoring a give away, Accuquilt Go Baby.  Just go to http://www.sunshowerquilts.blogspot.com/ to enter her give a way.

I have been seriously considering getting a Accuquilt Go.  With all the cutting I have been doing, maybe it would make my life easier and  give me more time for the sewing part of quilting.

So I have entered her give a way contest, lets see if I win.  Sure hope so.  Between cutting fabrics for my quilt, and also do for my bff Nettie, who has carpal tunnel, I spend too many hours cutting fabrics.

Simple Rectangles and Blocks

Would you believe, I have been awake since 3:30 am. Why?????  I kept hearing a beeping sound every few minutes.  In my sleep drowsy stage, I thought Wayne was up and had heated something in microwave, as it had this exact sound when the microwave ends the cook time.   Back to sleep, beep beep beep, yes 3 times each time, now I'm dreaming, that a truck is backing up. You know that sound, "warning everyone get out of the way big truck backing up"!  Back to sleep beep beep beep, again with the microwave, what the hell is he doing?????   Beep Beep Beep now I am almost completely awake, and I check the time 3:30am WHAT.  I  must be dreaming, can't be microwave, and it certainly isn't a big truck.  Lay there waiting for the sound, beep beep beep, yes there is it is again, and I'M not sleeping or dreaming.  So, nature calls, I get up in the dark, do what has to be done, and beep beep beep. Where the heck is that coming from?????

Finished my nature call, and walk through house in dark waiting, beep beep beep.  Nothing in living room, beep beep beep, AAAAA HAAAAA the kitchen,  Light on stove says"End".  I actually left the oven on all night.  Wayne was a little late getting home last night for supper so I turned the oven down to warm, had no idea that sucker had a beeper on it to letting you know to shut it off.

Well now I am completely awake, and no chance of getting back to sleep, mind starts its check list.  Load a new quilt on frame, what design to use???.  Check list, fold all 72 pattern pages and put in their plastic bag for the re grand opening at Loose Threads.  Check list, gotta fun vacuum today. Threads up to my ankles.

Hell, get up and start the day because you're not gonna get anymore sleep.

This quilt is so simplistic I did 3 different stitch designs.  Finished it by 8:30 this morning.

Look Familiar??????

One of my customers had left overs from her last quilt, so she made a crib size quilt for the same couple.

She said there is no baby yet, and none planned but thought they could just store it away for the day when they do.

Leftovers, or scraps from fabrics can make equally as nice a quilt and the original.  I have so much scraps I could probably make 4 or more quilts without any problems.

Now for the exciting news, Toby our son age 40ish, has finally found the perfect girl (and I do mean the perfect girl for him) and has announced they are getting married this year June 11th.  THIS YEAR!!!!!

No stress involved, it is going to be so low key.  Wedding in our backyard, casual dress, he is wearing shorts, as are the best man and grooms man  Not sure what the bride, maid of honor and bridesmaid will wear, but I think it might be a bit more than shorts.  Pig feed and dishes to pass.   Now that's my kinda wedding.  No hugh plans, no big expense and minimal stress involved. 

Of course, being the mother of the groom and hosting at our home, it will be a little stress level for me to make this PIG FEED as nice as I possibly can and yet stay within in their wishes of no frills and fuss.

I am so excited.  Wayne and I were just not sure he would ever get married, but I had my hopes it would be Sarah.   WELCOME SARAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Take Over By Millie

We have had our cat Millie for 9 years.  Of the 9 years she spends her time lying on or under the bed in our master bedroom

 
She is the original scardey cat and never comes out when there are other people around.  Most people don't believe we even have a cat.

She especially stays away from our dog Belle.  Its not like they fight or anything, she just stays away or looks at the dog from HER bed with a disgusted look.

Belle has her own room, she sleeps in the spare bedroom.

Now Millie has made the decision she is taking over both bedrooms, just to confuse Belle.

For the past couple of weeks, she will sneak into the spare bedroom, behind Belle's back, and plops down on the bed as if to say "I'm taking over this room" Dogs not allowed.  The funny part of this story is Belle, does not try to remove her, just sits at side of bed looking at me and then the cat and back to me as if to say "Now where am I going to sleep"  

I think I now know how Garfield thinks. Just messing with the dog.

Lazy Hourglass DONE

Yes after all this time, Lazy Hourglass quilt, my first of my original designs is finished. 

Still cant believe it took this long to get this finished.  Its not like I wasn't doing anything, I did do 3 other quilts and patterns before finishing this one, in addition to quilting other customers quilts.

Colors are beautiful, and worth the wait, I think.

 

Now its off to the pattern producer and I will have 4 patterns in print and ready for sale.

 

March 25th and 26th is Loose Threads Re grand opening, and I will be out there promoting my patterns, and having sign up sheets for workshops using my patterns.

 

I showed Merry Go Round and quilt guild last Thursday night and had many good comments.  Even some interest from some of the girls showing up at the re grand opening.

 

I really enjoy our guild, and all the girls who belong.  April meeting I will bringing another one of my originals for show and tell.

 

This morning I finished all the cutting of pieces for my next new pattern.  After this one, I think I am going to take a break from designing.  At least I think I am, but you never know.  If I have some spare time I might just come up with another one.  You Just Never Know.

Lone Star Quilt

This quilt is absolutely gorgeous. Lone Star Quilt, by Jackie Becker, one of my quilt guild sisters.

Wonderful choice of colors, a batik and solid colored cottons.  Only 3 colors used in this quilt but what an outstanding combination.  Size of quilt is 84 x 84, and I used a Large Meandering stitch.

I will be taking this to quilt guild tomorrow night to give to its owner.

Memories of Mom

Here are the 2 quilts (customer's wife passed last year)  Dad is giving to his 2 sons.  How wonderful they can now have a final gift from mom.  I am sure they will be so happy to have these quilts in their homes and each day as they look at them, they will be thinking of their mom.

Quilts are such an expression of love and warmth to family members.

I am not sure where she got the material or how old they are, as her husband found the tops in their home and decided to have them finished.  Some of  the fabric seemed quite old, and a few pieces were even stained and a little soiled on the second quilt.  Not noticeable unless you are looking for it, but I think some material was from old pieces of clothing.  Maybe the family can recognized the pieces and bring back a memory.  The sashing and border of 9 Patch quilt is new material, but some of the blocks appear to be very old, or perhaps reproductions, but I'm leaning towards old.

First Quilt is 9 Patch,  I did not recognize the second one, so did a little research of quilt blocks and discovered it is Jabob's Ladder.  I have never done a Jabob's Ladder quilt, but thinking a quilt to be done in the future.  Makes for a very old fashioned looking quilt.

Scrappy Shells and Sea Weed

I know today was supposed to be the day to show you Lazy Hourglass. Well it just didn't happen.  Did go to Loose Threads this morning and picked up the fabric necessary for borders.  Nettie, just couldn't make it before this weekend, so another delay, but coming soon.  Now have to sew on the borders and wait for the backing and batting, and then get it quilted and bound, so it sounds like another week before its finally finished.

In the meantime, I have several customer quilts that I need to get completed.  Let's not get so focused on new patterns we neglect our paying customers.

Soooooo I finished this scrappy quilt today.  I didn't want to do the same old meandering, so I mixed it up a little bit with what looks like the back of a sea shell for the outer border and for the blocks I did squiggly lines that look like sea weed. At least I think it looks like sea weed. Should have taken outside for pictures, but it is too sloppy wet in backyard, and didn't want to drape quilt over a wet railing.

Next, buying the backing and batting for 2 quilts that I am finishing for a gentleman customer. He told me he is 82, but I never would have guessed it. His wife passed away last year and he found 2 tops to be finished. I will be quilting, and doing the binding for him. He is giving these to their 2 sons. Awe, how nice he can pass something on to their sons from mom.

For now its time to pick up the house, vacuum the sewing room and get it all ready for the next project.

Keeping Up With It All

Got an early start this morning,  on a mission.  I have finally gotten the center of  Lazy Hour Glass put together, waiting for additional material to put on the borders.  Nettie and I decided the fabric she purchased for borders just wasn't going to do.  She has to purchase more before finishing.

In the meantime, I did put borders on a scrappy quilt (again for Nettie).  I don't mind doing these for her, but I will be glad when she gets back to sewing for herself again.

Meeting with a customer tomorrow, she is dropping of another quilt.  Whoo Hooo.

FYI, I do have a life besides being this obsessed quilter.  Went to Ky's Variety Show with Toby and Sarah last night. What fun. Love watching little kids perform.  Ky sings and she did a great job.  There were around 20 kids that performed in a variety show 4th and 5th graders at Adams School.  Singing, musical instruments, Karate demonstrations, comedy acts. They all did great.  I give them all credit for performing in front of strangers.  No way could I do something like that.

Here she is trying to remember to sit like a little girl.  We have to keep reminding her, otherwise the sitting position leaves a lot to be desired especially while wearing a dress.  Love her to pieces. She is quite the character.

After the show took Toby and Sarah out for Pizza @ Finn's in Newville.  Never had their pizza before, Toby recommended and I was really surprised at how good it was. 

Done with sewing for the day, have to do (yuck) housework, pick Ky up from school later and then out for fish with friends.  Another day gone, but it has been a good day.

Let's see how much I can get accomplished tomorrow.

3 Patterns available

I now have 3 patterns available for sale:

Stepping Stones:

Merry Go Round

Six Flags

Working on Lazy Hourglass this will be available by the weekend I promise