Grandma's quilt for her 82nd birthday

This is a very special quilt that my cousin Robin and I made for our grandma, who turned 82 on December 26, 2011.

Robin and I talked about what kind of quilt to make for our grandma, who is usually a very traditional quilter. Our quilting styles are more modern, and I struggled a bit deciding how to bring traditional and modern quilting styles together into something that I could be proud to have made and that my grandma would enjoy using.

In planning this quilt we decided that it would be fun to each make our own sides of the quilt without telling the other person what we were working on. I had no idea about Robin's choices regarding color palette, block design, or decisions about using a modern vs. traditional style.

I thought about our two quilt tops a lot in the months that we were piecing them together. Will the two sides work together? Will the colors clash? Are we making two very similar things and there won't be enough contrast between the two? Whose crazy idea was this to keep our quilt tops a secret from each other? (It was Robin's, I'm sure. She is the one who usually comes up with the crazy ideas, quilting or otherwise.) 

Robin's side of the lap quilt, bento box blocks

my side of the lap quilt, string pieced blocks

 In the end, our two quilt tops worked together very well. We both used blue and green fabrics, and my batiks have a hint of pink in a few of the fabrics, which works well with her pinks and reds. We quilted it using a light blue thread and a heart pattern, but we set the quilt up on a long arm quilting machine that I wasn't used to using, and to be honest, I did a poor job of quilting it. My hearts were more square than round, my points were more often loops. And so we decided the best thing to do would be to rip out all of the quilting and try again. Ripping out quilting thread on the 48 by 60 quilt took a couple of weeks and then we went back to the quilter's for round two. 

The second time around we chose a light pink thread and Robin quilted it using a free hand meandering pattern and it turned out very well. We squared it up, and realized that we needed to make a couple of repairs to Robin's side, you can read more about that on her blog. 

We chose one of Robin's Moda red fabrics for the binding to help bring some of Robin's red over to my side of the quilt. Robin pieced the binding together and I sewed it down to the quilt and made the label. 

quilt label includes a Margaret Kennedy quote about family

Robin, Grandma, Grandpa, and me on Christmas Eve

and we're back.

It seems ridiculous that I haven't posted anything here in three weeks. Where did the time go? I had 12 days off of work for the Christmas and New Year holidays and somehow I still have a million things on my to do list. I am trying to feel ok about it because I did have a really great holiday. I had time to visit with lots of family members, played games, ate great food, received some amazing gifts, drove north to visit more family, came home to have a weenie roast in my grandpa's pasture on New Year's Day. Yeah, I said it. Weenie Roast. Hot dogs and s'mores cooked over the fire. But when you're in the pasture they aren't called hot dogs; they are called weenies.

Anyway, now I am back at work and feeling pretty overwhelmed, but I am planning to spend my weekend doing only three things: go to the gym on Saturday morning, run a few errands, and then come home and tackle that to do list! I'll put on pajama pants, make some popcorn, open a beer, and then get busy. And I won't leave again until Monday morning to go to work. Some of the things I need to get done are the regular never ending household chores, as well as sewing, blog work, editing photos, cutting fabric for new projects, planning two new quilts that I need to start soon and working out the details for a few upcoming quilt donation projects for the Austin Modern Quilt Guild.

Eek! Only one problem with that: one of my errands is to drop off my Janome for the yearly cleaning and maintenance. I injured my machine over the Thanksgiving holiday, but haven't taken it in to get it fixed because I needed it. Really, really needed it. To finish all the Christmas gifts I decided to make.  Next year I either have to make less gifts or start working on them earlier. You probably know which option I am going to choose.

So to revise the plan: Friday evening after work I will be sewing a few things that need to be finished. Then Saturday and Sunday I can focus on other things that need to get done while my machine is in the shop.
Like that big pile of washed fabric stash that is (still) waiting to be ironed and folded. And putting away the Christmas tree that is currently sitting in my kitchen.

The real reason I started this blog post was not to complain and whine about how busy I am, but to say that I want to participate in a challenge that I just read about over at Stitched in Color. It is a Scrap Attack Quilt Along. I'll probably be kicking myself later because the deadline for finishing this quilt is in March. Of this year. But there are no rules about the size of the finished quilt so I think I can handle it.

I'll be writing again soon. I have lots of things to share!

W.i.P Wednesday 05

Once again, let's make this a quick post today. 

After Christmas I plan to start working again on some things that have been on my "in progress" table for quite some time. I would like to get this table cleaned off because I am thinking about buying a new table for my studio that is big enough to hold my cut mat. Because guess where my cut mat is right now. Where it sits every day unless I am hosting a family lunch or book club meeting...It is on my kitchen counter. The counter is the perfect size to hold this mat and I use it every day so I never put it away. But I think in the new year I need to move this into the studio and also consider making a curtain to close off the studio so that I can put my work away sometimes and not look at it.

Between working full time, a long commute each day, and trying to make gifts and items to sell in the evenings and on weekends, I feel like I work all the time. I feel like I need to be working all the time, and especially so when I come home and one of the first things I see is my cut mat with projects on it that are waiting to be finished. I need to start scheduling some time off, some breaks and more fun. I can't remember the last time I sat on the patio with a coffee and a book and took some time to relax. Oh wait, yes, I do remember. It was April 2009. Some changes are coming in the new year.

Anyway, back to what I am working on right now and next month we can get back to some studio revisions and priority shifts.

This is another Anna Maria Horner Figure 8 scarf kit, but I chose different fabric this time. The first one that I made turned out so lovely and I immediately I ordered another kit. (And I see more in my future.)

 

I am making these pot holders to sell in my Etsy shop. They have cute coffee mugs on the front in a brown and blue batik fabric. Why did I just take a picture of the solid teal backs? I guess because I am adding these teal loops for the person that wants to buy these. They will be finished and shipped by the end of the week.

I made a little progress on the applique on this baby outfit. I satin stitched around the center of the flower because the right color of thread was already in my machine. Also, the thread belongs to my cousin Robin and I wanted to use it before I return it to her.

Speaking of Robin, here is the quilt that she and I are making for our grandma. The binding is just about finished, I am giving it to Robin this evening so that she can wash it. Then it just needs one more label sewn on, we will have a photo shoot, and then I will wrap it up in birthday paper! I am so excited to give this to Grandma next week, I think she will really like it.

Slight progress on the satin stitch on this outfit. I like this tree, but my applique stitch is not great. I need more practice on curves for sure.

This picture is kind of silly and pointless, because it is just yellow fabric. I am making it for a family member that reads this blog and so this is all that I can show for now. I planned for this to be a quick project that I could finish in an afternoon and of course it has not turned out that way. One more trip to the fabric store tomorrow evening and I hope to finish this over the weekend.

I am excited to link up with Freshly Pieced on Wednesdays again in January!

Art display at Starbucks

I currently have artwork on display at Starbucks on Louis Henna in Round Rock. Stop by for a coffee and have a closer look. The orange and green pieces on the left are made by sewing beads down onto the canvas. The shoe, titled Agonizing and Beautiful, is made from canvas fabric which is then sewn to the canvas with embroidery thread.

Thanks to Phillip, the Starbucks manager, and the employees for hauling the ladder out for me and being patient while I move tables around and create a bit of a mess. And thanks to Debra, amazing artist, fellow Starbucks art displayer, and dear friend.

Explored Once Again

This is a 12 by 36 gallery wrapped canvas. I painted the bright orange background with acrylic paints and then hand sewed individual beads down to create the flowers and ground. I really like combining orange and blue lately, I think I am inspired by my friend Abbey and her wonderful paintings.

I have two smaller paintings that sit next to each other at art shows. Several shoppers have commented on how much they enjoy the blue and orange next to each other.

This piece is currently hanging with two other paintings at a local Starbucks.

Explored Once Again

detail

As Seen Through the Fog

This is a 12 by 36 gallery wrapped canvas. I painted the green background with acrylic paints and then hand sewed individual beads down to create the flowers and ground.This piece has nothing to do with fog, but I finished it while enduring a horrible allergy headache and so my brain felt very foggy and lost. 

It is currently hanging with two other paintings at a local Starbucks.

As Seen Through the Fog

detail

peanut babies

I made these outfits for Hudson and Ellisa for their first birthday party. Their mother, Mackenzie, had the idea to create peanut onesies for them to wear to the party, and so I used some scrap fabric from the table topper that I made for my grandmother, and Mackenzie gave me some ribbon that she has used in several decor projects in the twins bedroom as well as their party invitations. Mackenzie drew some peanut shapes for me, I appliqued them to the shirts, and added a hair bow to Ellisa's and a bow tie to Hudson's. They twins looked adorable at their party!

Hudson

Ellisa

the twins are getting tired

W.i.P. Wednesday 04

This is going to be a quick post because I should be sitting and binding a quilt that I want (need) to finish today. There is no W.i.P. link up with Freshly Pieced today because everyone is so busy with the holidays and that will resume in early January. 

Last Saturday my cousin Robin and I quilted our grandma's quilt again on the long arm. It looks much better this time, and we just need to finish up some minor adjustments to the borders on Robin's side of the quilt. It was hard to keep it straight as we rolled it through the long arm and things didn't come out entirely square. But I am almost ready to put the binding on and hand sew it and then Robin can wash it! It will be ready in time for Grandma's birthday after Christmas.

I am planning to make four of these bags as Christmas gifts for children. So cute and practical! I bought the rest of my supplies last night at Hobby Lobby and I hope to make a lot of progress on these this Sunday. Really all I have so far is a pile of fabric for each bag. I am using lots of fabrics from my stash and I bought a few yards to supplement from Valli and Kim in Wimberley at the weekend retreat with the quilt guild.
I need to cut 40 of these pie shaped pieces for each bag. Four bags multiplied by forty pieces is 160 pie slices. How many have I cut? Two. (sigh)

I am still working on organizing my fabric stash. This suitcase holds the yardage that has been ironed and folded.The rest of my fabric stash has been washed but still needs ironing and folding. I am using this stash organizing tutorial from Happy Zombie, and it is working very well. Except that I don't have enough suitcases. I may end up putting some of these on an existing shelf on my studio.

This is everything in my stash that is not a cotton fabric.

These are some onesies for my friends' twins. I just need to stitch them, but I haven't decided what kind of stitch to use yet; I imagine it will either be a blanket stitch or a satin stitch.

 

I'm off to finish my binding so that I can cross this flannel quilt off of my list!  

Afternoon update: The flannel quilt is finished! 

Floor quilts for kids

I have been making these floor quilts for children over the last several months. The quilt tops are a cotton fabric over a bamboo/cotton blend batting to give the kids something soft to play on. The backs are either a sturdy canvas fabric or a laminate fabric. This gives the floor quilt some versatility. You can use it outside in the grass and wipe down the laminate with a damp cloth afterward. Or use the quilt with the laminate side facing up so that kids can play with play-doh, paints, shaving cream, or other activities that can become messy. A few of them have ribbon tags to attach toys to as well. 

 

I really like the way these pictures came out; they were taken by Bethany Lowen of Betty Lou Project.

I also had some great models for this photo shoot, Ellisa and Hudson of P for Peanuts.

Holiday Artists Market

There is less than a week until this holiday market! I hope the weather will be pleasant, come and join us for some great Christmas shopping opportunities.
Vendors include:
•Aikumee
•CEMO designs
•Chaos Card Company
•Cuddlestar
•dmac & Bean: Opposites Attract
Drawings & Paintings
•Hammer It Out
•I Love Indigo
•Splendid Calm Textiles
•Kailo Chic
•Knitcrawler
•LaLa
•Linger Bath & Body
•M Squared Jewelry
•Merchant Ship Collective
•Ooh La La
•The Plaid Pigeon
•Sylvie Marie Bohemian Bags
•Tasty Jewelry
•Textile Fetish/Jennifer Ramos Photography
•Third Coast Art Glass
•Tiny Arms Designs
•Vintage Rose