Soap box/Blogger Fix

Yep, I'm on my soap box. I hate flakes.  You know those who sign up for swaps and don't come thru on their end. Our little Quilted Table group is such a great group of people that it's hard when ONE person flakes out and an unsuspecting member is stuck with nothing in return.

That's just what happened on our spring swap. Worse yet, if my memory serves me correctly, this person flaked out in a post card group a few years back also. As for the post card, I let go. It could have easily gotten lost in the mail, but enough is enough. 

My experience as quilters is, that we are a very giving bunch. Most of us work on charity quilts to bring comfort to those in need, etc, etc. Their are, thank goodness, many many, who are more than willing to share their time and talents with us all. That's the charm of this wonderful community.

 When I heard about this wrong, I couldn't stand it and decided to make it right for the person effected.  So...  Here you go Donna, this went in the mail today. Sorry it had to happen to you, but we are still a great group and we take care of each other.  As for you "DF" and you know who you are...  shame on you. I do believe in "karma" and what goes around "will" come around.  :-)

On a brighter note. It seems like one of our fellow blogger has found a way to work around a bloggers issue. Check out this post over at Fabric Therapy. It worked for me. Now the other issue I seem to be having is that I can't add links or photos to my posts when I am on AOL. I have to get into Explorer to do so. Thats has never happened before!!!  One foot forward 2 steps back!  :-)

I am sewing like a maniac, and should have some fun things to share soon. In the mean time, I am wishing the folks over at blogger the best with fixing the issues so we can all get back to some kind of normal! I am sure it is no easy task.

While Blogger was down

I have been busy and what better time to do so, but while blogger was acting up. My project is not ready to unveil yet...   ohhhhh doesn't that sound exciting?  :-)

So any guesses on just what it is, or should I say will be?

It will be a few days before I am ready to share, but until then, I would love to hear what you think it might be!

Just about the time I think Blogger is fixed, it won't let me post photos in my posts, if I am using the AOL platform. I have to get into Explorer to do it???????? What is up with all this?

Hidden Wells Class

 Today we finished up our Hidden Wells class and the results were spectacular. Every one's looks great and are so different. June here found the coolest fabric that looked like a grosgrain ribbon. Wow did that make the blocks pop!  I have to get my hands on some of this fabric, but my memory is shot, so I need to call June again and find the name of the fabric line again.

Pretty great results huh?  :-)  I am thrilled that everyone did such a great job. There are a few still working on theirs, and I hope to have photos of their quilts soon!

My friend Ruth and I will be teaching a brand new pattern we found at the HMQS show, at Wooden Spools quilt shop in Englewood Colorado for those who live here. This one promises to be a really fun class. If you love Chocolate, this is going to be, a do not miss set of classes.

They will be on Tuesday's Aug 16, 23, 30 and Sept 6 from 1-4 pm. Hope to see some of you there.

 My goal was to have the quilt posted this week, but my basement is well underway and they have needed me to paint this week. I am very excited about it all, as it's been torn up since November. I love my neighbor and his father in law who are doing the work. They have watched me piecing quilts for months now, as they worked. I came home the other day and they had the cabinets back into the family room and all the stuff put away in them. Oh yeah they got behind my longarm and cleaned up everything so I could use it again! I am dancing on air to be able to get to it, finally!

As for the family room, it gets measured for carpet this week while the guys finish up the tile counters and it should be done!!! I am doing the happy dance!  It's going to take just a little longer to get my quilt posted, but it's so fun that it will be worth the wait!  I promise!!

Until then  :-)

Bloggers Quilt Festival

It's that time of year again. I love the  Bloggers Quilt Festival that Amy so graciously sponsers for us all. Yea for Amy, is she the best or what?

This time around I have a quilt from a book that is soon to be released, to share. Debra Grabel has done it again. If you haven't seen her Blocks Across America, you don't know what your missing. But this quilt is a sample for her new book that will be on World Cities.

I chose these 2 places for a very special reason. They are on the top of my list for things to see and places to go. I was fortunate enough to go to Ecuador for a week and then spend a week in the Galapagos about 10 years ago. It was awesome, and probably one of the best experiences of my life. Getting so, up and personal, with the wild life was just a marvel. With humans as no threat to them, we were able to observe them in their natural habitat with the guidance of the park service. Incredibly spectacular

Dream one checked off the list, now for dream 2. Can you say S A F A R I !!!

 A camera one that is. That's my next dream. It might never happen for me, but a girls gotta dream, and this quilt hanging in my sewing room will keep my memories as well as my dream alive.

Dream from Surf to Savanna "seamed" (a little play on words)  the only appropriate name for it!

So there you have it!  Be on the lookout for Debra's book sometime later this year. And visit me over at my blog whenever you have the time. I would love to see you.  :-)

Once again A big "ole" Thanks to Amy for being a wonderful hostess! Run right over to Amy's Creative Side and check things out!

Missing in action

Not really, but I have been on a little field trip.  I spent a few days last week in Salt Lake City for the HMQS show.  What can I say about this show???   Let's start with WOW!

It was absolutely spectacular. The quilts were fantastic, and there was a great variety of vendors. They did their job and kept my credit card very busy!  I have always loved the Houston quilt show, but it is really big. Some times I am just on overload there. HMQS is about half as big, and just right for me to take in. The facility is wonderful, with tons of free parking, and the quilts on display were gorgeous. Besides that, we shop hopped one day and found the best quilt shops. They all seemed to be prosperous, something the Denver market hasn't completely enjoyed with our economy.
Once I get some time, I will have some great new things to share with you from our adventure.

My friend found this Hidden Wells quilt in the show and ran for me. I just have to share it. You know my passion for Hidden Wells. Congrats to the creator Linda Roderick, it's beautiful.

I have long been drooling over the Accuquilt GO. I've not thought it would be worth the investment for myself, but it's one of those things that kept rolling thru my mind. I have looked at 2 shows now and almost made the leap, but walked away. I was being so good, until I went online at Amazon and found the GO Baby for $89, free shipping and no sales tax. That one pushed me over the edge. Guess what my hubby bought me for Mother's day!!   :-)  :-)

This week JoAnn's fabrics is having a 25% off sale of the dies and mats, so guess who went shopping yesterday... Yep here I sit my 3 dies and mats just waiting for the UPS or FED EX truck to arrive with my purchase from Amazon.  :-)  It's going to be a long week of waiting I am sure!!    So I am off to my studio to work on another quilt that I got the pattern for at the show instead. It's really fun and your going to love it. Hint Hint: melts in your hands...   Think on it, and I will have it posted as soon as it's done!

Til then  :-)

Memory Quilt for Mom's

A friend approached me a couple of weeks ago, about making a memory quilt for her daughter and daughter-in-law, for Mothers Day. While I didn't have much time to get to it, she only wanted a single photo on a 2' x 2' wall hanging and in black and white. That didn't seem so hard. She had provided me with a little saying she wanted on it also.  That was easy to digitize and stitch out.

I was able to steal a day to myself the other day and here is what came out of it.

Embroidered lace butterflies stitched on wash-a-way stabilizer were added, along with black and white ribbons and charms. I even found a set of stackable black and white buttons. The 3-D effect was just what it needed.

"A Mother Understands what a child does not say".

Something so simply stated, that makes such a big statement.

I am thrilled to have been put to the challenge, and I have to make one of these for myself for Mothers Day this year too. What about you? Do you have a mom that would love one of these treasures?  :-)

May Flowers Trivet Cover

April showers bring May flowers. I know many of you have had much more than showers, and are probably about done with all the rain. I hope you are safe from the flooding and horrendous storms. Here in Colorado, though we continue to be very dry. Forest and grass fires are a constant worry. Mother Nature sure hadn't been kind to any of us it seems this year.

      Lets focus on something a little more positive... Like a lovely  "May"  Flowers Trivet Cover this month.

                                       For this we are going to cut the following:


                                             Background (mine is purple)

                                             1  -  1 1/2" x 2 1/2" rectangle
                                             1  -  1 1/2" square
                                             2  -  2 7/8" squares cut on the diagonal once
                                             3  -  2 1/2" squares

                                               Flower (mine is floral print)

                                             1  -  2 7/8" square cut on the diagonal once
                                             2  -  2 1/2" square

                                          Flower center (mine is yellow print)
          
                                              1  -  1 1/2" square

                                                  Leaves  (mine are green)
                                    
                                              1  -  2 7/8" square cut on the diagonal

                                     NOTE: my photo shows more, I got carried away!

                                                  Sashing to make 7" square

                                                Here's the assembly order.                    

And there you have it. Your very own spring-y, tile tux!!  :-)

Note the new link for our Flicker group. When you have completed your Tux's, add them to the photos. We all love to see each others works of art!!!   Enjoy...