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!  

Sometimes it's just about the right tools ...

Sometimes it's just about the right tools ... 

Currently I'm working with the Kaffe Fassett Shot Cottons and this fabric is absolutely wonderful to play with IF you treat it with respect and use the right tools.  So as I'm working with this I'm thinking about how much I really love some of my basic tools that make playing with this fabric a joy.   Below is a pic of my most POWERFUL TOOLS that make me feel like Super Woman!

Like Magic Sizing.  A spritz of this and the Shot Cottons behave.  I also have Best Press but I've found that it really doesn't do too much.  I was expecting a little stiffness when I use Best Press but it just doesn't happen.   And I won't use regular spray starch because of the residue that starch leaves behind.

Now if you really want to have a POWER rush, grab those green-handled batting scissors!  I can glide through layers of batting without that pesky 'grabbing of batting' at the tips of the scissors.  Love love love these scissors!

Those blue-handled scissors?  Those are Karen Kay Buckley middle size scissors and those stay right by my sewing machines.  Sharp serrated scissors that just feel good in my hand.   I hate having scissors that my fingers get stuck in the handles ... 

That big cone of thread?  When piecing I usually only use one of 3 colors - beige, grey, and black; however, I added this chocolate color and have found that it goes with a lot of my fabrics.  And with these KF Shot Cottons it blends beautifully.  And buying the large cone is cheaper!  

My favorite rotary is the blue KAI rotary cutter.  The blade is never exposed.  When unlocked, the blade will glide through fabric when you apply pressure.  I never have to worry about having an exposed blade, falling rotary cutter cutting my foot, etc., etc.  Just a big safety issue.

See that leather thimble?  I have about 6 of those scattered about the house.  One with my hand-sewing in the family room, one in my tool chest, one with my applique work...you get the picture.  I have found that this leather thimble can be my best friend.  

Another power tool is that blue tin of Iris pins.  Look closely and you'll see 3 of the pins next to the tin.  These are sharp pins that have worked so well with my latest piecing projects.  I started using them with a paper piecing project and then used them with the KF fabrics.  So nice and thin and long.  Love them!

And my latest find is that Beba's Rotating Cutting Mat.  I found them at the local quilt show a couple of weeks ago.  I got this large one and the smaller one.  I use the larger one on top of my cutting table.  I was afraid it would get in the way, but it's been a real Power tool.  I can cut pieces on this board and it doesn't 'rock' or become unbalanced when cutting and rotating.

So that's how I feel like Super Woman when I start cutting fabric for a new project,  sit down to piece, or cutting batting for a large quilt.  

Super Woman had her tools and we have ours too!  

So content ... or should that be Sew Content?

First of all, big news!   I just celebrated my 10th year in remission!!!  September 27th is my celebration date.  Ten years!  WOW!  I remember looking at my husband 10 years ago and saying, "One of these days we'll look back on this time and know why this is happening."   And yes, indeed, we have looked back on that span of time and marveled at how gracious God can be!  I'm truly blessed in more ways than one!

Sooooo ....  Max is not feeling well and we are waiting for a part to be delivered.  

And while waiting for that part, I've been busy doing a little bit of this and a little bit of that.  

So some pictures of a little kit I made.  

So here we go ... it's kit time!  Thanks for the idea, Tina!

 Cutest little kit ever!  Most of it is hand-stitched.  

OMG!  Wait!  Wait!   Are those hexies???  Good grief ...  

 See that 'flower' shape to the left ... that flips over to the front and snaps onto the right-hand-side flower.

The 'top' flower is flipped to the back in this picture.  Several pockets to hold scissors, marking pens, glue, whatever ... and then the little tins have blue pin cushion, green needle catcher, and a 2nd tin to hold whatever else you need.  Just too cool!

Some more eye candy ...

Here are some more pics of quilts I've done lately.  Enjoy!

 It's getting to be that time of year again!
This is a cute Christmas panel ... it's nice to be able to take a panel and make it into a wonderful quilt or wall-hanging!  Good job!

And this is Swoon ... aptly named, isn't it?

 And here's a great Peacock panel surrounded by large blocks of beautiful jewel tone colors.  I like this one!

What's Old is New again ...

Have you been bitten by the "Hexie" craze?  Well, I have (and we won't say another word about THAT) ... but I got to work on a REAL hexie quilt!  What a beauty!

I recently had the pleasure of helping restore a somewhat vintage Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt ... member's of Debbie's family have been working on this since the 1960's!  And it turns out it's 100"x80" ... that is a whole lotta hexies!

Debbie brought this beauty to me and asked if I could make it whole.  She had a list of names of women who had worked on this top over the years.  And for as many hands that have touched this quilt top, it is in marvelous shape.  

The top is completely hand-stitched and hand-quilted, so my job was not to quilt the top, but to bring it all together into a real quilt.

Evidently the plan had been to take a large sheet and cover it with the gorgeous flowers ... because upon examination I discovered that the flowers did cover the sheet but in some places actually over-ran the sheet.  Hmmm ... I didn't want to take off those flowers that over-ran the sheet, so I found some muslin that matched the sheet.  I sewed a strip of that to the backing and then layered in some thin batting to make it just like the rest of the top.  

And then came the binding ... aaarrrggghhh ... talked with customer and explained that I just couldn't do each and every hexie with binding ... how long would that take and how much $$$ would you want to spend?  So we decided to just trim down the hexies on the side ... we still got that zig-zag effect, not just with every single side hexie.  I found a look-alike fabric for the binding and voila!  We're in business.  

Once the binding was done, I went around the edges and hand-quilted places next to the binding that hadn't been hand-quilted by the ladies through the years.  

And shame on me for not taking pictures, but I made two pillow cases - each with one of the Flowers appliqued on the case.    Pretty pretty pretty!

So, Debbie, thanks for the opportunity and what a gift for your daughter!

Yea!!!  Debbie sent me this pic of one of the pillow cases.  Thanks!

I thought I'd found it ... turned around and it was gone again ...

Geez, May huh?  What the heck happened?   You turn around once or twice and suddenly 45 months have flown by.  

I'm just going to post some pics just to prove that I have been working and not necessarily slacking off ... but since quilting isn't really working-working to me, I've just been having a lot of fun.  

So here goes ...

 This is a modern quilt made with traditional fabrics and I think it looks fabulous!  

 A beautiful quilt for someone's niece!

 I love this take on a traditional quilt.  Love all that white!  Stunning!

Cathy did a great job on this one.  I think she actually transposed the lights and darks which gave it this wonderful artsy look.  

A peek-a-boo baby quilt.  I had to dodge those cutie-patootie flaps.  Cutest baby quilt in America!

I am so blessed to have piecers who are so talented.  This quilt was absolutely spot-on ... not a wiggle to it.  Great job!

This is my own private pile of joy!  I'm in the midst of a Kaffe Fassett quilt using these shot cottons.  LOVE LOVE LOVE working with these beautiful soft cottons.  More to come later ... 

   Isn't this yummy?  Love that yellow!

Beautiful modern-type quilt that is going on someone's bed!  Love the colors and the pattern.

Modern modern modern ... and oh-so-pretty!  Great job, PR!

 And here's her long worked-on red quilt.  Lots and lots of different reds and it all came together beautifully!  My colors!  Another beautiful quilt by PR!

The next two are huge quilts but oh so pretty!  Another perfect piecer which makes my job a bit easier!

Love the teals and browns!  Lovely quilt!

 Twelve months of Snoopy!!!  What a fun fun quilt for someone!

 The next two are Comfort quilts and they are so lovely.  Thanks to Stitchin' Sallies!

And here's the University of GA quilt I made and donated to our local Kiwanis Club to be auctioned off during their annual Golf Tournament.  It found a wonderful UofG home!