Quilters' Garage Sale!

If you're looking for a bargain - don't miss the garage sale at Bindings, Borders and Squares Shop. The address is 325 Droste Road, St. Charles, MO 63301 (636) 949-2077. I'll be there trying to reduce my inventory. I'll have some small quilts, quilt tops and some Longenberger baskets.

I also have some fabric (surprise, surprise!) all $3 per yard.

Read More

Star Struck

A new pattern using my beloved "Bliss" fabric in red and aqua.

The design is really easy - there are no set ins - even though everyone will think you did!

Here's a Christmas version done by my friend Jean. The patterns are available from the Hickory Stick - (573) 221-4538

Read More

Hexagon Quilt

I originally saw this quilt in the April issue of "Quilt" magazine. Loved it - but when I got the issue home I found that it used templates and applique for the center hexagon. So I started sewing strips and cutting them up with my 60 degree ruler - not knowing what size it would be or what I would end up with!

Most of the fabric is Spa by Rosemarie Lavin. It does have that soft "spa" feel!

Read More

Sunburst...

Has anyone seen a pattern for this quilt? I'm simply enamored by it...

Pottery Barn

I'm even thinking maybe in this??

Innocent Crush

Read More

Progress...

I've divided my sewing time up this week to do a little machine quilting...

And a little piecing... (36 of 99 blocks done!){ I shouldn't have counted - I thought I was further along.}

And I'm on trend with the gray. The Oct. issue of Real Simple has a great article on decorating with gray.

Read More

Lists...

So last June after my marathon month of travel, I decided to make a list of all the projects I could work on over the Summer. I had no intention of finishing them all or even starting them all. Do you ever walk in your sewing room and have trouble deciding what to work on (not due to lack of projects)? The goal of the list was to help me quickly make that decision. What happened is I got so much done! All but 9 of 23 things are crossed off. Not every project is completed, but enough done to cross it off the list.

A couple of the uncrossed-off projects are well underway. I have 160 flying geese made and half of them trimmed down.

My Jewel Box quilt from Fat Quarterly is also progressing. I'm using Hope Valley and Kona Snow.

What's up next? I currently have an obsession with grey fabric. I'm loving it as a neutral with colorful prints. Here's my grey and citron stack. I also want to try grey and turquoise, grey and red, and grey with yellow.

On my Summer list was to try Dale Flemming's 6 minute circle. The circle is pieced instead of appliqued and I'm in love with this method! So easy! There's a tutorial on HGTV's website. I'll definitely be making more of these!

I've got a nice little stack of Joel Dewberry's Modern Meadow. I need to figure out what to make with this!
Today's the first day of Fall and I'm making a new list. My hopes are high!!

Read More

Now I Know...

I can machine quilt 66" x 66" in 4 days.

Love a big pile of quilt.

Now for the binding.
I also finished this book this weekend. If you're looking for an easy read, a touching story and food for thought - pick this one up!

Read More

Joseph's Coat update...

Slow going, but I have 6 blocks of my Joseph's Coat quilt along finished.

They will somehow connect together - I've yet to figure that out, but I do love a challenge!

I'm adding fabrics with no real plan in mind. A little Meadowsweet 2 in the mix now.

Read More

Blissful sewing...

I'm sewing with "Bliss" this week! I'm sticking with the red and aqua colors and it's heavenly! There are lots of pinwheels to make. I read an article in the AQS magazine a few months ago about matching 8 points, which is what happens with pinwheels. The article suggested pressing all the seams open and even went so far as to say "pressing seam allowances to the side will always result in slightly offset spiraling seams in the center, due to the distribution of seams at the center point". (American Quilter March 2010)

I pressed all my seams open and definitely found more perfection in those matching points. Plus the block lays nice and flat.

I want to mention the iron that I use. I brought it on retreat and after using it 6 people went out and bought one. Yes, it's that good! I've been through many irons in my quilting life and I'm pretty tough on them. This one has lasted me at least 5 years and works beautifully. It's by Reliable and has a unique feature - a separate water tank that makes the steam. Water never goes into the sole plate of your iron to steam up. No spitting - ever! It's heavy, hot, steamy and well - reliable. If you're looking for a good iron - I highly recommend it!

Read More

Artist's Date

Have you ever read the book The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron? It's full of ideas and exercises to help you be more creative. (And for these exercises, you don't have to break a sweat).

One of her suggestions is to go on a weekly artist's date. The idea is to go out somewhere and just observe. Look for ideas and trends, colors that you like and anything that might spark your creativity. The best way is to go with no agenda. Try it! It's really fun!

Today I stopped at some of my favorite "home" stores. The first was a new one in STL called i.o.metro. I saw these pillows there:

Remember the block that I posted that was inspired by Martha Stewart Living? Shannon already completed her quilt top. Look how fabulous this is!

Here's another design I saw at Crate and Barrel. (Click the link to see a bigger picture). Love the grays and yellows - and I think this could be a quilt pattern.

At World Market I saw this piece of art work. Joseph's Coat? My blocks are coming along. I'll show you soon what I've got so far.

Just a few of my finds!

Read More

My Shnibbles Parade

The "Year of Schnibbles" is over. I can't believe it! I actually thought we had one more month - guess I can't count. It was soooo much fun to do and share these projects each month. Thank you so much to Sherri from A Quilting Life and Sinta from Pink Pincushion for organizing, planning, posting the projects and so much more! A big thank you to Carrie Nelson for designing such awesome quilts for us to make. I've loved every one! I even won some prizes along the way - so a big thank you to the sponsors.

We've been asked to show all our Schnibbles quilts for the year. Yes, I did every one! Here's my parade.

Read More

Flowers, a Finish, a Flimsy and a F.O.

About a month ago I sent 6 quilts to my sister, Diane. One for her and one for each of her married children. My closets were overflowing and I knew they were going to homes where they would be appreciated. Yesterday I got this gorgeous bouquet of flowers from them. One of the prettiest floral arrangements I've ever seen. Thank you, girls!!

Finished! The third quilt that came back from the quilter's last month is bound. The pattern is Heather Mulder Peterson's "Gypsy Girl". The fabric line is Verna. It looks very Springy, doesn't it? Seems I'm always a season behind.

My Meadowsweet 2 is now a flimsy. The pattern is my design and I just love how it mixes up all the fabrics. That hint of soft red is my favorite.

My original plan was to use this big floral for a border, but when I laid it up to the quilt, it seemed "too much" and overpowering. It took some thinking as to what to do. I didn't have enough of any of the other fabrics to make a border.

I decided to piece some together randomly, bringing each fabric around the corner. Love how this looks. Now I have lots of the big floral left. Maybe the backing?

I also finished this U.F.O. I made a list in the beginning of the Summer. The list is helping! The pattern is "Off Kilter" from Livin' Large also by Heather Mulder Peterson. Don't know what I'm going to do with this one. It's fun and funky, but doesn't fit anywhere in my house.

Read More

Stuff...

A great 1 hour lecture by Rossie who started the Fresh Modern Quilts flickr page. Go here to see the video: http://vimeo.com/14680699

I'm thrilled to be included in the Moda Bake Shop ad in Quilt Sampler Fall 2010!! That's my table runner second row from the bottom and second from the left.

Super easy and cute headboard project! Just hope your kiddo likes it!

Yes, I did finish a UFO this weekend with a pieced backing using leftovers. It needs some quilting, so off it goes this week!

Pulled out another UFO and made some progress!

Be sure to come back this week. I have my Meadowsweet 2 almost completed - just needs borders. And a "Year of Schnibbles" is over. (boo hoo) We've been asked to showcase all 12 quilts we've done over the year.

Read More