Another Busy Sunday

No Kylee this weekend.  What?????  

Called her dad, she is in a play and has rehearsal all weekend.  Knew it had to be something, because she told me she had planned on coming over.  She forgot to tell gma about the play.  I will make plans with her dad to see it next weekend.

Finished a quilt for a customer this morning.

The backing is actually a bright red,. not orange.  Customer told me this is a quilt for her sister, and the sister picked out the backing.


Started my day at 4:30 this morning, finished the quilt and then off to Janesville.  Joann's among other places.  Starting my Christmas presents and needed fabric and fleece to get going.  Hopefully will have 3 present finished by the end of this week.

For the rest of the day, finish laundry (yuck) hand sew binding on a quilt, which to me is like a day off.

Cold wet dreary day, a good day to hand sew with a warm quilt laying on me.

Garden Bricks

How to use up scraps.  My girlfriend Cheryl brought me this top to quilt for her.  She wasn't fond of it when she brought it, but I told her wait until its quilted.

Personally, I liked working on it.  I looked forward each time I rolled the quilt to see the next set of colors.  Simple medium meandering was perfect for this top, no flowers, or swirls necessary.

A good way to use up scrap fabrics

Once she saw it quilted, she like it so much more.  Quilting can really make the quilt and bring it to life.

Never give up on your tops, just get them quilted and see how they can transform from a so so quilt to an Ohhhhh quilt.

Got My Jean Mode Back

This saying "Jean Mode" came from my friends on Connected Threadz.  Whenever anyone is putting in a full day of working, projects sewing whatever, they call it Jean Mode. Guess it was because I had been putting in so much time and effort getting ready for the quilt show that is seemed I was working non stop.

Monday I didn't have any mode, not even Jean Mode. I was totally worn out. Took the afternoon off and did nothing but watch movies.

Rested up I got my Mode back, and hit the sewing room bright and early today.

My scrap drawer is driving me nuts, and that's the first thing I thought about this morning, so decided to take one bag of strips and not stop until I had used all the strips up.


I watched a video not too long ago about Jelly Roll Races, speed strip sewing and did what they did.  Only my strips were not all the same size and width, so I used what ever was in the bag and and mitered another strip to it and continued doing so until I had one long strip.  Brought the end up to top and sewed that to the strip, getting to the bottom cut the end, and keep bringing up the bottom until the you have the size you want.  I made 6 15x15 squares.  Just the beginning of another scrappy quilt.  This strip sewing works so well, I am going to do another bag until its gone. Really uses a lot of scraps up which is my goal.

You can watch this video You Tube The Jelly Roll 1600 Quilt. Its is fun to watch.

After putting these strips and squares together, I loaded and started quilting a couch quilt for Alice. Almost done, but getting tired and I don't like quilting when I'm tired.  She is letting me practice my feathers again, and they take more time than just an overall pattern. 

Good thing I got my Mode back, bff brought me material to make another quilt for her and quilt it. Also, another friend brought a top to be quilted.

Love being busy!

Edgerton Quilt Show 2011

Well today has come and gone and I'm exhausted, but it was a great day all and all.

Kylee entered her 3 quilts and the won that took the most votes was her Neon scrappy

She was so excited all day. Many many women talked to her and told her how wonderful her quilts were. Some came to my booth to tell me what a great granddaughter I had. Such a sweet little girl and so talented. And Yes She Is.  She also bought a raffle ticket on a basket of yarn and she won that.  She said she did this to give to her step mom.  She thinks so much of her step mom Sarah. I thought that was really nice of her to think of  her with all the baskets that were raffled she chose the one for Sarah.

Like I said she is sweet.

I had a great day and my demonstration went a whole bunch better than I thought it would. Alice watched my booth during the demonstration and when I got back to her, she said she was overwhelmed as a good deal of the ladies in the demonstration came right to my booth to see and purchase some of my patterns.  They commented on how much they enjoyed my presentation. Whew, if you only knew how I was sweating over this.  I can talk quilting all day long with a few women, even teach it. but to talk in front of a group of strangers, was one of the hardest things I have ever done.

There were many beautiful quilts, and I am so proud to say I had 16 quilts in the show that I had quilted for others. Well I should say 11, because Ky and I had 7 between the 2 of us.

Almost Finished With My Checklist

Final quilt all but finished (need binding) for my booth. 

Another first for me.  I have never done free hand leaves. Usual have to use a stencil or pantographs.  Watched Leah Day doing Hastas, and converted her instructions to be used on my Longarm.

Next on checklist, bind this quilt, and then make samples for my demonstration on Saturday.

If there is time, I will be making another bag or two.  Lets see how much time and energy I have.  Booth setup is tomorrow night. Necessary to have everything ready by then. Whew!!!!!!!

Feathers!!!!!

My first attempt at free hand feathers.

I was sweating bullets doing this quilt.  Been watching a video by: Lisa Calle showing how to do these.  Watched it about 6 times and thought, OK be fearless and give it a try.

The quilt is for Nettie, and she lets me practice new stitches on her quilts, bless her little heart.

Much more practice is needed, but for the first time, not too bad. At least I learned quite a bit from actually doing the feathers.  Maybe next time it will go easier for me.

I have stencils and pantographs to do these, but I really prefer free hand quilting.

When I finished the quilt, I was almost afraid to turn it over to see what the back looked like, but it wasn't as bad as I thought.    Not exactly quilt show quality, but for everyday use its fine.

Lets hope she likes it.

A Christmas Quilt By Teri

I am in love with this quilt!

I quilted with loops and holly, all freehand. 

Teri does an excellent job in her color choices and she machine pieces perfectly.  Never have a problem with her quilts squaring up.  GOOD JOB TERI.

After the busy weeks I have been putting in, it felt good to just load a quilt and stitch.  Now that this is finished, I can look forward to quilting another one of mine for my booth at the show.

Just a few more project to do, quilt mine, quilt Nettie's, make samples for demonstration, sew buttons on bags etc etc etc.

Counting down the days now!

What A Great Weekend

Badgers win again Saturday.  Packers win today and are 6-0.

Had another Sew In Day with my Internet friends at Connected Threadz.

I managed to make 3 bags:

Need buttons yet, but they will be ready for my booth for sale this coming Saturday Quilt Show. 

Yesterday dropped of 4 quilts for the show and Ky's 3.

Much to do this week, but if I keep plugging along, will be all set for Saturday.

Looking forward to the show but really looking forward to it being over so I can get back to a more relaxed sewing atmosphere.


Did you happen to notice my new cabinet, Wayne hung for me this week.  I needed more storage and this really does help

all neat and organized, lets see how long this lasts

large cabinet not so neat and organized, need to work on that

Still have to pick up my quilts that are in Local Quilt Shops, one is at Loose Threads and 3 are at Twin Turtle Quilts. Oh so much to do and so little time to do it.

I feel the pressure building the week before the show, but I will get it all done.

My Pretty Belle

Stinky Belle got a bath and her nails done professionally yesterday.  Her nails look pretty darn good for a dog

She also got a new bandanna.  

Belle seems to be camera shy today.  Every time I point the camera at her she looks away.  As soon as I put it down she will look at me.

This rest of this week and all of next week I am going to be extremely busy getting ready for the Quilt Show 22nd.  Hope to see some of you there.  Stop by my booth and say hi.