What was I thinking??

As I fell into bed Saturday night with the knowledge that #1 my booth is empty and has to be filled for the next show #2 I had the next two days off from my "real job" all I could think was....I want to sew for me, just me.....nobody else but me.  I did start to sing that a little. 

So with my mind set that I wasn't going to turn on the longarm, and I wasn't going to start to freak out and start mass producing (well thats not quite true...hold for the rest of the story)....I went down to the studio and pulled one of many project boxes down.  Have I mentioned I used to have NO UFO's?  Then I started hanging out with all of the crazy ladies.....and that went to hell in a handcart.  Anyway, I decided two years ago, I was going to make a quilt for my bed...I know, unheard of if you are a quilter.  So I picked the courthouse step block, one of my favorites.   Now here is the part that some of you are going to "get" and the other peeps are going to roll your eyes to the back of your head. 
My blocks finished measure at 5".  Are ya still with me?  Oh, we have a California King size bed. 

So needless to say, I need almost 500 blocks.  I am up to almost 250, so halfway there...
It just felt so good to turn on the boob tube and pick and choose various strips I have thrown in the box, for noone, but me.  Take some time today, and do something, anything YOU want and love to do, for me.....a seam a day truly does keep my blues away.
Till next time.
T

First day of the Show is successful!

Mom and I are vending out at the Lynden craft and Antique show....I think this is our 6th year.
This picture is from 2 years ago.  See the cute picture frames....Mom does this thing called "punchneedle", she really is fabulous at it and ladies line up to get first choice on opening day. 

My Dad created and made the booth.  It really does have a homey feel with a fireplace in the corner you can't see in this pic.  I am so fortunate to have such crafty parents.

I enjoy doing the little shadow box artwork.  This one said "Live, Laugh, Sew!
Take time today......because a seam a day keeps the blues away.
T

Can I do this from my iPad ?

Well, here goes.

Paper Piecing....love it or hate it

So.....are you one of the haters of paper piecing?  Or the lovers?  I can honestly say the first time I tried it I was reduced to tears.  I put the fabric upside down, put the seam allowance on the wrong side, had my fabric to short...you name it, I did it.  That was early in my sewing career, so about 9 years ago. 

Due to the fact I am into self punishment, I decided to try it again....and I LOVE it....once you wrap your mind around the process it is wonderfully acurate.  The above is one I made a couple of years ago.  It measures 10 inches square. 

This book is fantastic one to add to your collection.  The gals instuctions are fantastic.  Let me save you some time, and frustration.

This is the paper that seemed to stand up and work the best for me.

Can you see this?  This is one section, or diamond. 

Having small numbered cups are a must for this project. 

This is what it looks like before you fold on the dotted lines.  This one has a black background .  I will post a picture of the finished product, after I inset the background.  Unfortunately I am not a rock star when it comes to inset seams.
And again.....a seam a day, keeps the blues away!
T

Pumpkins anyone?

I made these pumpkins a few years ago and they flew out the door.  My Mom and I vend at the Lynden Craft and Antique Show.  October 18-20.

They are made of velvet, dyed with Rit....a combo of colors that I had to reperfect, due to the fact I can't remember what I had for dinner last night, let alone what colors I dumped together to get this great color. 

I thought.....awwww heck I have the dye why not make a few.  The difference in the color is real velvet vs Joannes version of "velvet".  Lacking in great stems this year, I made my own with jute, and half a bottle of Elmers glue. 
Thank you to my friend Karen O for reminding me.....a seam a day, keeps the blues away.
T

Rob Appel

Rob Appel did a trunk show for us Monday night at Moonlight Quilters.  www.moonlightquilters.org
You can go to the web site to see more of his work.

He is very high energy, kept our attention for a hour and a half.  The actual background fabric in this piece is the red, everything else is on top of it. 

This one caught my attention for the pure amount of work in it.

Red wolf is the name of this one.  Can't wait to see Donna C's version of this one.

This was my all time favorite.  It was very life like.   If you have a chance to hear him speak or take a workshop from him, go for it!  He has a Facebook page and a website...check him out.
That's all for tonight,
A stitch a day, keeps the blues away!
T

Judy Irish

Judy came and did a workshop for our group Running with Scissors.  I must say this lady is simple Amazing!  She is 70 years young and is a force.  She must get more done in a week than I produce all year. 

This belongs to my friend Tonya that was able to take the class, she focused on the fabric weaving and embelishing.  I can't wait to see this piece completed. 

She also taught her version of a lonestar, I love how she used the border fabric and grabbed onto the dot theme and ran with it.  I would never have thought to use the peach fabric in this way.  When I was in the fabric store yesterday I found myself looking at bigger prints in a whole new way.
Sorry for the poor picture, but this gal doesn't stand still for more than 5 seconds.

She also did some teaching of machine quilting.....I know, all this in one day??  Like I said, Amazing.  Fantastic doodles for a kids quilt.

This is some more of her thread work, this may have also had some fabric painting on it.

This was my very favorite! 
If you ever have the opportunity to take a class from her, DO IT.  She is funny, creative and a very lovely lady. 
As always, a seam a day, keeps the blues away.
T

I love gadgets!

Can I say, I love a gadget?   Emily my SIL also is a bit of a gadget queen and she turned me onto this beauty.  It comes with a 4gb card for my camera.  Gone are the cords, or even taking the card from you camera and plugging it into the computer.  Take a picture, and BAM, into your picture file it goes.  I have yet to determine how far away I can be from my computer for it to work.  No one has these local that I could find, so Amazon got my $35.

The last from the MQ show

This is one of Carrie U's little beauties.  Sorry for the poor photo, I must have been standing on one foot.

This belongs to Verna T.  Made for her by the guild for serving as our President.  Designed by Betsy S, put together by Rose and Betsy and quilted by Jo B.

I'm sorry to say I don't know who this belongs to, but it is fab...the colors almost move.

Another of Carrie's.....the title was "what was I thinking"  Love the bright color and the wonkyness. 

We had a vintage section this year which is one of my loves, and a close up of all the little pieces, because that is another one of my loves.
Sorry to say that is it for the pictures.  Not for lack of wonderful art and artist, I tend to get so absorbed in looking I forget I have a camera dangling from my wrist.
Enjoy and remember.....a seam a day keeps the blues away!

And.....some more from the show

Isn't this one a beauty?  My mind is getting a little fuzzy, but I think this one was made by Pam H.  (if I am wrong, please comment and I will give credit, where credit is due.)  Pam is a newer member of Moonlighters and has already taken on many positions within.  She had many pieces of art in the show.

Grandmothers flower garden, by Judy K.  Simply amazing.  All pieced by hand.  I started one of these but quickly decided it would be a great table runner, stopping at 6 flowers. 

A fun batik quilt done by Rose T. and quilted by me.  Rose is very active in our guild, she is our social secretary (puts together our parties and picnics) she is also responsible for the tea room at our show.  I can't count the number of quilts she pumps out in a year.  She is our energizer bunny.

Close up of the quilting. 
I think I have enough for one or two more posts.....hope you are enjoying, and remember
A seam a day, keeps the blues away!

More from Moonlighters Quilt Show

These were from a challenge from a small group that formed from the larger group of Moonlighters.  The top is made by Suz L.  She always has her glasses on her head, loves bead work and crazy quilts.  The bottom is of Linda St A...this too, is a remarkable resemblance.  She even has her finger up like the school teacher she used to be. 

Made by Marilynn D-R.  I made one similiar to this in my favorite civil war colors so it was alot of fun to see this done with Kaffe.

Another made by Tonya A.  I think I quilted this one for her.

Friend Judy A. made this pink beauty.  She didn't have to buy one piece of fabric for this quilt, she is very talented with scraps given to her.  I also quilted this.

Thats all for today, I'll finish the ones I took pictures of tomorrow. 
A seam a day, keeps the blues away.

What a great Quilt show

Moonlight Quilters semi annual quilt show was this weekend and wrapped up today.  What a fantastic display and such a broad range of quilting abilities.

This one was made by my good friend Tonya A.  It also won a blue ribbon at the Lynden Fair last week.

Another by Tonya, she has the ability to stretch herself which I greatly admire as I tend to nestle into my comfy little box.  This won a red at the Lynden fair. 

Carrie U is the creator of this little cutie.  She is an amazing artist, and it still baffles me that she doesn't have a stash of fabric.  

 

I will share more photos tomorrow and tell you a little more about the guild. 

A seam a day keeps the blues away.