We've got some catchin' up to do ...

In no particular order, here are some quilts that got away ...



Don't adjust your screen .. this is a black and white with a bit of red.  This was a HUGE quilt made for a returning son from Afganistan.  What a great mom to make this for a very deserving young man!  

I love this quilt!  Anne calls it Fruit Mary's Quilt ... go up close and get a view of the 'ladies' ... just too darn cute!

 This is one I had fun with using a Jelly Roll and then mashing the blocks all together.  This one went to my church group ... we make Comfort Quilts for our congregation families in need.

This is Terri's and since it has that Asian influence I used a panto called Kyoto Fans.  Very nice quilt.

 A cutie-patootie kids quilt.  

 I made this I-Spy and Match Game quilt for my hair stylist's 3rd little boy, born in March!  She has pulled my hair out of the "fire" so many times ... and we've been together for almost 10 years.  Got to love those wonderful hair specialists!

 This is Pam's Saturday Sampler.  What a great job she did and I found the perfect pattern to echo  that wonderful Fleur-de-Lis pattern that is in the border.  I had fun with this one.

Now here's the reason why I've not been around lately...

I wanted to give these two quilts a post of their own.  I had so much fun quilting both of these.

Enjoy!

 This is called Almond Country Beauty and is currently at Intown Quilters promoting a class.  Wanda asked me to quilt it and as you can see I had a bit of fun with it.  Wanda is teaching the class there and if I had a moment to spare I'd be there.  I love this pattern!

And this is sweet Jeanita's!  It is called Star Light Retreat and I believe that she took a class for this beauty.  It is absolutely stunning.  Her piecing is so precise ... this big boy laid down across my table with not a wave or wrinkle.  I had a lot of fun doing this one.  Feathered wreaths in the light squares, and a leafy wreath in the dark squares, cross-hatching in the inner border, and feather motifs in the setting triangles.

The large outside stars were fun and fast once I found the secret "1 start - 1 stop" path!  Wheeeee!!!!  

Here's a closer look at the center.  Absolutely loved doing this one!

Spring has sprung ...

Don't hate me ... let's just say that I've been extremely busy the past couple of months.  It's not quite a lie, but it will do in a pinch ...

So I'll just drop some eye candy and see how it goes.  Remember you can click on any picture to get a closer look.

 This is Cathy's Star quilt.  She spent a lot of time and effort on this big quilt and it shows ... pieced to perfection!!

One of our local guilds had Paula Barnes as a guest speaker and Helen wanted this one quilted and ready for display for Paula.  It is a wonderful quilt.  

 Joann pieced this one for her son.  I love this design.  I'm blessed to have piecers who are so meticulous in their piecing.  Beautiful quilt!

This is Joanne's Swoon quilt.  It is absolutely wonderful.  The colors are so soft.  I used the Baptist Fan design in keeping with the traditional look of the quilt.  Great great quilt!

 I'm seeing more and more "modern" quilts and I really like them.  This one is so pretty in the greys and yellows.  

 Don't you love the colors!  So pretty and girly!













This is Marti's baby quilt.  These colors are indeed so soft that they almost disappear in the picture.  I used an Angel Wings panto for this one.

 This is a cutie-patootie ... I called it The Circus is in Town!  Under each flap is a circus animal.  I had fun with this little dude...

 Two table runners for Pam!

Here's a Comfort Quilt that a member of the church group pieced.  It went to a member of our church who is undergoing radiation for breast cancer and she absolutely loves it!

 Several years ago a friend and I got together and I showed her how to piece this Shoji quilt top.  It has taken some time but she finally got it done and it is now quilted.  Every journey begins with one step ...

Look where I am!

Since I've gotten into the dreaded hexies, I've been going to paperpieces.com and ordering up stuff hexie-related.  And when I had a question, I e-mailed and talked with the paper pieces lady ... Jess ... and she asked if she could put my hexie kit in her newsletter ... so here it is ...  

and if you're into the hexie way of life, this is the place to go!

Summer in December

Do you miss those warm, sunny days sitting out at the pool?  Or spending your weekend If there's Christmas in July, it seems only fair winter would have a taste of summer. So grab your fans and start preparing your gardens with this week's sale! Order Now.

Hello Piecers, I hope you are finding time to sew in the chaos from holiday prepping! One of the greatest aspects of English Paper Piecing is the portability. You can essentially take any project, anywhere! We have heard stories of doctors' offices and waiting rooms, train rides and car trips, even sporting events and vacations! On vacation is EXACTLY where I plan to take mine this week as I get some Summer in December!! I usually tote around a little brown box filled with supplies but I think I need something bigger for this trip. I have seen so many of great ideas for on-the-go kits from you guys. If you need inspiration for a kit, here are a few: Melanie from TexasFreckles Sylvia from Dancing Bear Quilting Studio Emily's kit My kit for in the car! Piecing in public is a PERFECT way to get other people addicted to our fun little hobby (insert devious chuckle here!). If you would like a few (free!) sample packs to keep on you, just give us a call! We'd be happy to send you some. I always pop a few in my kit so I can be ready to share! Sharing is caring in our quilty-world. You may have been noticing all the beautiful projects being shared on our facebook page. Thank you to everyone who has been sending pictures. It's inspiring to see creativity at work. If you would like to share your project, just send us an email. We'd love to pass it on! Now off to Mexico I go... Let's see how many people I can get hooked... Piece Out, Jess

Sometimes you just have to do something for yourself

And yesterday was that day!  

I stitched this up just for me!

It's a Landscape Fabric Purse, an Anita Goodesign project.  

Isn't it a cutie-patootie?  Gotta love these purses!

Catching up ...

When I was at a retreat a couple of weeks ago, I was reminded that a quilt did not make the blog.  My horrible terrible no-good very bad BAD ...

So here is one quilt that Sweet NY Liz gave me and I neglected to post its picture.  As Liz told me, she is an avid reader and she wanted a quilt that she could cuddle up with while reading.  So she developed pictures of her favorite books and incorporated them into this quilt.  It's a lovely quilt and I'm sure she is enjoying it!

This quilt went home today.  Another great job of piecing ... and I love this quilt!  So pretty.  I need to make one of these!  I used a large feather meander on it.

And this beautifully pieced Orion Star went home a couple of weeks ago.  Beautifully pieced!   Swirls were used which kept the focus on the stars.

It's Mine! All Mine!!!

Remember a while back when I posted this picture?  

Well, between customer quilts and quilting retreats and just down right "I'm taking some time for myself" I finally got the quilt done!

It's Mine!  All Mine!  

The fabrics are Kaffe Fassett Shot Cottons, both stripes and solids.  I fell in love with them the first time I saw them.

The quilt is X-Effect from his book "Shots and Stripes".  I have enough fabric left over I'll be making another one!

The thing about his shot cottons ... Magic Sizing becomes your best friend.  It is so light that I felt I needed a bit of stabilizer on it.  Plus I was working with all those bias edges ... but a spritz of Magic Sizing and everything stayed in place. 

I used a wool batting in this one just because I wanted to see first hand how wool behaves, both during quilting and during wear.  It was dreamy!  The quilt is light in weight but I'm betting it's going to be super cozy.  

Love Love Love this quilt!!

I found this Kaffe in New York while on retreat there.  There's a shop out in the woods that is basically a 3 or 4 room barn and the bolts of fabric are just up to the ceiling in all rooms.  

First trip there last year and I was so overwhelmed I had to leave the building.  I'm not claustraphobic but there was just too too much fabric to deal with.  This year I had a list which is the way to go.  I needed backings and I got backings.  And this shop has just about every fabric you have seen in the last 5 or 8 years.  Seriously ...

So ...











Here's some pics of quilts that have gone home recently.  

 This is the cutest Santa panel I've seen in a long time.  And look at those feet ... "Quilt with Feet" ... hmmm ... 

I quilted a star and curls on this.  

 This has such a sweet story.  Cathy and husband have 'adopted' a school and in talking with the principal it came about that the school will be using a book about quilting in their reading program.  So Cathy and husband are donating this quilt - which follows the book - to the school at Christmas.  I love this quilt!

 I call this one Monkey Business.  Cutest kids quilt in America!  I used monkeys in the quilting.  Great quilt!

And this quilt is just too sweet ... pinks and purples for a little baby girl.  The piecer did an excellent job and it was a pleasure quilting this one.

Another Bag

I'm getting ready for a trip and decided that I just had to make this bag ... well, it's been on my to-do list for quite some time ... I originally wanted it as a 'quilt' delivery tote.  And then this trip came up and voila!!!   This is big enough to carry my clothes and toiletries and lots of other must-have-can't-do-without-stuff ... might even be able to throw in a project or two! 

My manta is (and has been for quite some time) ... the first one is always the hardest ... and it sure is true with this bag.  I'm pretty sure I'll not make another one like it.  I did learn a lot and maybe that's the secret.  With each item I make or quilt I learn something new.   Like I really don't like how the bottom was installed on this one ... or the handles ... I'd really change those up.

Anyway, it's not in my 'colors' but I do like it.  I bought this fabric this time last year while on my yearly trip so decided to use it and surprise my friends later this week ... "Look what I did with that fab fabric we bought last year!"  Cool beans...

Big Projects, Small Projects

I have spent a lot of time lately quilting some very big quilts.  Here's one that went home yesterday.  It is B-I-G!!!  So big that there is no way I can get a full picture.

This is a southwestern quilt that just works!  I love all the fabrics and that black inner border just sets it off!  Great job piecing also.  Have I mentioned how blessed I am by the excellent piecers that cross my path?  Makes my job so so so much easier.

While visiting the Georgia Quilt show I came across a vendor who specializes in purses and Japanese fabric.  I have a boat-load of Japanese fabric that I get from Primitive Gatherings and I've been wondering how I was going to use it.  I know there is a quilt that I want to do, but I came across this cutie-patootie purse pattern and grabbed it.  And today put it together ... the hardest part being "Which fabric do I want to sacrifice for this purse?"  THAT is always the hardest part, isn't it?  Anyway, this is very very subdued for me, but I like it.  I added the Asian buttons, and then put some bling on the embroidered flowers.  Cute!