Sewing for joy!

Sometimes I just need to sew for the fun of it, nothing serious, just little experiments.  I always take my featherweight with me when we go camping, which we just did a couple of weeks ago.  Since the first time I sat outside at the picnic table sewing in the sunshine and the light breeze I love it.  Usually I have stitching friends with me but this year I was on my own.

My friend, Nancy, shared her "inspiration" file on her blog and there was the cutest quilt, just so happened to match a die I have for the Accuquilt GO!...of course I was thinking...fast and simple camping project!!  Awhile back I pulled all of the brown, red, green and gold fabrics from my stash into one bin with the goal of using them together until they're gone (unrealistic, I know!)  I still need to add the border rows.  It's not very big, but big enough to try an old/new idea.

Another little project I played with was the Lil' Twister tool (template).  I love the Moda collection of Sherbet Pips, it's adorable, and I had not come across it in any of my usual fabric haunts.  Lucky me, on the way to Phillips Lake (west of Baker City) we stopped at the Stitchin' Post in Sisters, OR and there was ONE (1) charm pack...good enough.  I think it turned out simple and sweet, though the tiny designs were lost in the cutting.  I'll find some grey minkie for the back and bind it with a darker grey, good for a tiny baby or better yet a grandgirlies dolly.

Teeny weeny name in print!

The July issue of American Quilter has hit the stands.  Besides the beautiful winning quilts from the AQS shows there is a great article on page 40 by Michele Byrum.  She explains how she uses commercial prints (non-typical to say the least) for her beautiful floral applique.  I've taken a few classes from her and if you ever have an opportunity to learn from her, do it.  Michele allows me the privilege of "quilters choice" when it comes to working on her quilts....and that is why my name is on the credits.  I'm honored, and excited.

June, the wonder month

May has gone by so fast, I can hardly believe it.  I call June "the wonder month" because it keeps you wondering what the weather will be.  It's been such a cool wet spring I just now have my garden planted.  I love June, it's seldom too hot yet has a nice mix of warm sunny days.  Of course more than 20 days of rain will result in a lot of whining from this one.

The apple trees are blooming and I can hear the bees working away.  We have an old hive in one of our firs, so much activity coming and going. 

The flower pots have been planted and I spent part of the morning yesterday convincing a shepherds hook into the gravel so I could hang a basket of wave petunias.  It's a double hook and I have one pot so I'll be off to Wilco for another before it's put to use (maybe tomorrow, I have errands anyway).

Lisa's lovely quilt of beautiful Kaffe fabrics was casting the warmest red glow in my studio.  The flash of my camera made it disappear but the quilt is still lovely.  It's off the frame now and tonite I should be able to finish stitching down the binding.  DWS and stitching, a nice combination.

May Day

Tomorrow is first day of May, already!  The forecast is for a spring-like, sun-shiny, warm day.  It's been a long, cool, wet spring so I am looking forward to some heat.  We did a bit of yard work today and it makes such a difference when everything is crisp and neat...love it!

Mid-Valley Quilt Guild 2011 Show....

The show is over but it was wonderful.  All the volunteers did an outstanding job of making it a great show.

This first quilt is one I entered, yes, I managed to piece AND quilt three.  I call this one Solid Mystery.  The mystery was the Roll Roll, Cotton Boll! on Bonnie Hunters blog at Quiltville.com.  I didn't follow the rules "exactly" and the further I went along the less I followed them.  I chose to have a lot of open spaces so I could play more with the quilting.  It won first place in the Tradition Pieced Bed category.

All together there were twenty three quilts in the show that were quilted by me. 

I'll never win an award for quilt photography, seriously, in person is the best.  This quilt, Americana, made by Margie Bergan and quilted by me won Best of Show.  Margie was not even going to enter it because she felt it didn't judge well at the state fair.  It is gorgeous.  The piecing and applique were perfection and the quilting was pure freedom to play.

Over the River and Through the Woods was made by DeAnna Morse (yes, I quilted it).  I went to the show on Friday with a good friend and this was her personal favorite.  The embroidery is spectacular and on the quilting I had the most fun making the snowflakes on the center panel.  My friend thought I should make one for each of my grandchildren (I have six!), easy to guess she is not a quilter.

This "Favorites" is the amazing applique work of Michele Byrum.  There is an article coming up in the next issue of AQS magazine featuring her one-fabric floral designs.  Stay tuned for hearing more about this quilt.

2011 Mid-Valley Quilt Guild Challenge...completed!!

The theme of the challenge is: Let me tell you about my best friend.   Obviously my best friend is my husband.  The design idea came to me as soon as I heard about the challenge but I had planned to do raw edge applique or something in a Mary Lou Weidman style.  Clock ticking, time running out quickly, I decided I could try drawing (doodling, zentangle).  It was so fun to do, just letting the spaces fill with the thought of the moment.

Another winner - Veggie Cats!!

Just sharing a photo of Michele Byrum's Veggie Cats quilt.  She does the most amazing applique and then lets me play.  Of course I can't help but be inspired.  I love the lettuce mix fabric, and the black cats in the background.  This quilt won first place in Mixed Techniques AND Long Arm Hand Guided Quilting at the Northwest Quilters Show!  I'm pretty sure it will be showing at the Mid-Valley Quilt Guild show in Rickreall, Oregon the weekend of April 21, 22, and 23rd, 2011.