The Party is Over...

...the dishes are done and the floors are clean.  Leftovers are all put away and the turkey bones have been turned into soup. All the down side, of a wonderful holiday with family and friends. Am I right?  It's always just a little bit sad to see it all come to an end. Unless of course, you have that one family member!  Just kidding. LOL!!!

There is one quick way for me to beat those after holiday blues, and it's getting back into my sewing cave. That's just what I did.

"Scrap Happy" sums it all up.

If your a Bonnie Hunter fan, then you know what this is.

Yes in-deedy...I got right on the new mystery "En Provence".

241 sets of neutrals.

Ok, so I can't read. I really only needed 221.

What can I say?

:-)

My fabrics are all pulled and ready for step 2 next week.

I love Bonnie's yearly mystery. 

It's a time when I can really do some extreme scrap-busting. 

Nothing better than a quilt from scraps, for this girl.

If your interested, you can find the information right

HERE

Join in on the fun!

Oh and I wasn't slacking before the holiday either.

Remember me saying I had found this,

 stashed in my cabinet, long forgotten.

I worked and I worked...

and worked a little more.

Whew, I have to say, putting these rows together was a challenge.

Now I'm off to see what trouble I can get into with the next part.

:-)

Oh that note...

Keep on Stitchin'

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving... 

From our home to yours...

Wishing you a day of great family, friends and food.

While I was cleaning... A little lesson on re-purposing

In all that mess, that I cleaned up last week, I did find a couple of projects that were started or almost to the completed stage...

Let me start by telling you just how much I love my old worn out Weber potholders. They were the thickest most functional potholder in the world.

I've had this one for years, but it's time it takes its final bow!

In my closet of horrors, this was waiting for me

to just put the binding on.

Hummmm.... wonder just how many years it's been hiding in there?

I've found that by cutting up towels and layering them, 

they make for pretty darn good pot holders. 

The edges on this towel came apart in the wash and it started fraying.

It's a great way to re-purpose it, and use up some extra binding scraps.

You can always put batting or insul-brite

in between the layers. Or just extra layers of the towel. 

I let the thickness of the towel dictate what I do.

It's also a great way to use those "bullet-proof" embroidery designs!

  I always seem to be drawn to those high stitch count designs.

Here is another one that I did, with a pocket on the front.

"Sew" many fun ways you can put them together.

Towels in colors that really don't make the mark anymore???

Try cutting off the edges, quartering, and binding them.

They make the best kitchen towels you'll ever use.

Way better, than those thin cheap ones you buy at the stores.

On that note...

You will want to either serge the edges or zig-zag them,

 before binding to keep the fraying down.

I'll be honest here...

I've washed my towels so many times, that the binding is wearing out.

I've always got a basket of leftover bindings though, so I just 

replace it from time to time.

Til next time...

Keep on Stitchin'

The Walk of Shame

I've always said that the reason I blog is to make myself complete things and hopefully inspire others along the way.

Well, after looking at my trunk show post, I had to walk that walk of shame. What a mess my sewing cave had become.  It inspired or should I say...required me, to do something about it.

I'm here to tell you, I spent all day yesterday cleaning up

 and organizing this mess!

Having sorted big quilts, wall quilts, table runner and mini's

I can actually find things and get to them now.

What a concept!

This poor settee had become the dumping ground for things that wouldn't fit in the cabinet, or needed quilting...

My grandma would be so proud, that you can actually see it now!

LOL!!

The piles of quilts that need quilted are stacked 

under the longarm, with their backing.

I'm not sure just when or how that pile became so big.

There is plenty of work ahead for me!

Projects I discovered in various stages, are now sorted and put away.

Just the other day, I shared this on Facebook.

Who knew it was "truly" speaking to me!

 This was in the chaos.

I've been on a mission to collect Jacqueline de Jonge patterns,

the past few years. I didn't even know I had this one!

Hummm...

It's the same pattern I just bought in Houston!

Yep, same thing different colors.

Houston...I do have a problem.

It's a shopping problem!

Well, that and an organizing problem.

Looks like I know what I'm piecing next.

Good Grief!

;-)

Keep on Stitchin'

Trunk Full of Quilts

A big thanks to Soma for hosting this fun filled trunk show.

There is nothing I like better than peeking into the trunks and sewing spaces of my fellow quilters. They inspire me "sew" much.

And yes, you have all created a monster here.

Grab your hardhats and join me, in a peek into my cabinet.

Well, one of em anyway!

It's a mess, but it's my working cabinet...

what can I say?

:-)

My quilting started about 15 years ago.

This is a quilt from my very first class.

I had just gotten an embroidery machine

 and couldn't wait to start stitching.

While the colors are a bit sad, it still holds a dear spot in my heart.

With a few years practice under my belt, the colors started to

 brighten up a bit!  If you look hard, you'll see the boo-boo I made. 

Never saw it until it was quilted and hung for photos!

LOL!!

Then I found my passion...fusible applique.

I love mixing it with traditional quilt blocks.

Soon fusible applique took over my life...

and there was no turning back for this girl.

;-)

This McKenna Ryan quilt is mounted on an artist canvas

 and hangs in my living room.

"Seaside Summer" was the theme

for the Island Batik Ambassadors, this summer.

The fabrics were nothing short of "perfect" for this project.

I also enjoy the craziness of "mega" piecing.

This quilt is reversible and done completely with scraps.

That inspiration came from a member of the QuiltingBoard.com

She was so gracious to share just how to do this with me.

I went crazy with scrap busting after that.

This log cabin is done in 1" strips.

Never throw a scrap away is my motto!

;-)

The most beloved stash buster to date, is the

Bonnie Hunter Mystery - Orca Bay.

I tripled the size and added a row of Orca's to mine.

(I actually burned out a brand new iron making this one)

Since I started with a "walk of shame" photo, I might as well

end up this post with one as well.

:-0

Looks like I need to get some quilting done, 

as well as clean up that cabinet.

hummmmm...

So there you have it!  Your the reason this monster exists!

And I can't say I regret it one bit.

Hope you have enjoyed this little trip thru my "Trunk"

It's safe to remove your hard hat now!

Til next time...

Keep on Stitchin'

Winter Wonderland with Island Batik

It's that time of year, and the new batiks are hitting the shelves.

These new ones, just fill my heart with joy!

I have to admit, that my favorite colorway in this line, is the center one. There is just something about that "denim" look that speaks to me. 

Could it be that endless rows on jeans in my closet???

LOL!!

Yes, that denim color proved to be the perfect background 

for this jolly ole guy!

He comes from the "Art to Heart" Christmas Favorites book.

While quilting his beard those reindeer seemed to just melt away.

That's one of the fun parts of working with batik prints.

No matter the pattern, they work up beautifully in any project.

And when you step back, they seem to magically re-appear.

Check out your LQS for these new beauties and

make a little magic yourself!

;-)

Now as for me...

I'm thinking my favorite denim batik would work up great in a recycle denim raggy quilt. Oh, would that not be warm and wonderful?

Till next time...

Keep on Stitchin'

Modern Bear Paw Quilt Along

I think we can all agree it's been a week for the record here in the USA.

No matter where you stand on politics, it's touched us all.

This blog is my personnel space. A place where I can go to escape and really live the life I choose. I choose to "like" people and make my life the best I can make it for me...hopefully inspiring a few along the way.

So, when it turned ugly with the elections here this year, I turned to my favorite escape.

Quilting.

Little did I know, that when Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts 

offered up this quilt along, 

it was actually going to save me from all the crazy in the world.

Little did I know that as the crazy really blossomed, those tiny little

 paw-prints were going to save me!

Yep, I put the petal to the metal and blocked out all that was going on around me. Probably a good 10-12 hours was spent on Tuesday pretending that the world wasn't there. Just me and my Modern Bear Paw...

It was a good day, in my sewing room anyway!

I jumped out of bed on Wednesday and put this guy on the longarm.

Nice thing about the longarm is, that it really blocks out the noise from the TV. I know shutting the TV off works too... but that's no motivation to finish this guy up.

LOL!

As I look at it completed, I'm so happy that I was able to find the fabrics from Northcott. 

Hey Northcott, you need to re-release these beauties.

I was asleep at the wheel when they first came out I guess.

Now that I've seen them, I want more more more!

:-)

I think I have a new wall paper for my computer now too.

"Sew" you see...

it's not been that bad of a week...

it's all in how you look at things!

You can check out this Quilt Along over at Sew Fresh Quilts

for yourself right

HERE

A big thanks Lorna for saving my sanity

and providing us all,  with this fabulous pattern!

Now I'm getting ready for the next big piecing event!

These look familiar to anyone?

Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt,

"En Provence" is rapidly approaching.

Nov 25th

That's just 2 weeks away.

You can read more about it right

HERE 

til then...

Keep on Stitchin'

Home From Houston

It's always hard to come home from a fun trip to Houston with friends.
The International Quilt Festival was as wonderful as ever this year. We added and extra day to our trip and still didn't make it thru everything.
But our bags were full when we reached the airport and I even had an additional box of batting. LOL!!

Just because I don't have a zillion things on my plate already, 

I had to buy more patterns. 

I'm always on the lookout for Jacqueline de Jong's booth when I'm there.

While I haven't started on the one I bought 2 years ago...

I planned on adding another to my pattern stash.

Until her husband tormented me with that, buy one get one half off deal!

I'm a sucker for a sale....so yep, I've had to buy another!

:-)

Can I really go anywhere and not buy Halloween fabric?

It's a sickness I tell you.

For those of you who paper piece...

Add A Quarter has revamped their rulers.

Now one of the edges is a sharp edge, to use for folding...

No more looking for the postcard, when folding back papers.

It even came with a little pattern to practice with.

My big score of the show...

Fat Quarters!

Cause I needed them like a whole in the head, but they were 

25 for $20 and many of them are batiks!

That's $.80 each, who can pass up a bargain like that?

I also found some purse hardware, needles, a fingertip stiletto, starch brush, and special freezer paper for hand applique.

Yes, I'm going to give it a shot!

I got a good start on Christmas shopping done at the show.

Whoo hoo! 

Then of course, my box of batting. 

I do love Thermore by Hobbs and you just can't

 get it around here anymore.

One of the "Flying Quilters" that went along, 

bought a new sewing machine.

I'm always excited when it comes to shopping for new machines.

Actually, I guess I should say, she bought 2 machines.

Bernina, had a screaming deal on classroom machines from the show,

as well as a buy it and get your choice of adding an embroidery

unit or getting a little 330 machine free.

That little one is perfect for taking to classes.

OK, I'm really jealous of her and her new machines!

;-)

The other "Flying Quilter"...lets just say she went crazy in her own

way...She bought a new car the day before we left.

LOL!!

I kept my head...

I really wanted a "Feather Weight" machine, but I'm holding out

till I find a purple one. It wasn't to be had at the show. 

:-(

Maybe next year!

This wonderful surprise was in my mailbox when I returned home.

A delightful set of DVD's and tools from 

Paula Reid of "Batts in the Attic".

I can hardly wait to open it up and see what trouble I can get myself into.

A big thanks to Paula.

Your the best!

It was extra special to be able to meet up with, fellow Island Batik

Ambassador Suzy Webster and her mom.

They were dancing on Cloud 9 from winning first place for "group" 

quilts. Four of them worked on this stunning quilt. 

Believe me, this photo just does not do 

it justice. You go girls!

I've got lots of quilt photos to share...

soon!

Til then...

Keep on Stitchin'