Sunday, November 22, 2015

100 blog posts!!!!

It's time to do some celebrating!  This is my 100th blog post!!



I'm not the most prolific blogger, much like my sewing speed, I'm the tortoise in the tortoise and the hare.  But I'm ok with slow and steady.  I started blogging December 9, 2007, because I wanted to have a record of what I've made.  Many of my quilts are gifts-- I have very few of my own quilts!

I first started quilting in fall of 1998.  I had just moved to Madison and didn't know very many people.  During the summer, I started league tennis (and still play!!  I love it!).  When the season ended, I wasn't sure what to do.  I was looking through a flyer from the community college that had adult enrichment classes and decided to give the quilting class a try.  I can't imagine how my life would be different today if I didn't take that class!

Here is a retrospective of some of my quilts It's pretty amazing to put them together here!!! (not a comprehensive listing of all of my quilts, but definitely some of my favorites).  Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of my first 2 quilts.  One thing I would like to work on is to improve the photos I have of my quilts, especially once they are completed.  Too often I am rushing to send them to their recipient and forget to take nice pictures.

Clockwise from upper left:
Trip Around the World - baby quilt for friend Sarah H
Zig Zag - child quilt for Felix
Quietude - commissioned quilt for coworker
Catvent - wallhanging (I've got this quilt!!)
Stars - baby quilt for Sara J

I've got all of these quilts-- they are small :)
Clockwise from upper left:
Boo! - mini wallhanging 
Prism - wallhanging - my design
Kyoto - wallhanging  - from Modern Quilt Studio
Sparkler - mini wallhanging 
Itty Bitty Log Cabin - mini wallhanging

Clockwise from upper left:
Twirling Stars  - baby quilt for friend Lisa
Stars - baby quilt for friend Sarah N
Flip Flops - child quilt for Ella
Funky Boxes - baby quilt for Amelie (My favorite quilt I have made!)
Froggy Star - baby quilt for Olin
Wonky Stars - baby quilt for friend Sarah I (and another version for Kris)
notice all of the Sara/Sarah friends with babies!!!

Clockwise from left:
Wedding March - Bed quilt for my parents (1st large quilt I made!)
Sylvie's quilt - child quilt for Sylvie
Agean Dream - throw quilt for Carol

Clockwise from upper left:
Woodpile -  (I've got this quilt!!) And it's on my bed!
Nine patch - baby quilt for friend Carolyn
Disappearing Nine patch - baby quilt for friend Kim
Jewel Box - baby quilt for cousin Kelly

These are some older quilts
Clockwise from upper left:
Star BOM -  block of the month - still in progress
My bed quilt - still in progress
Bear Paw - my couch quilt
Log Cabin - wallhanging (at my parent's house)

Thanks so much for reading!  And here is to 100 more posts!  I can't wait to see what the next years will bring! =)

xoxo

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Quilt in a day!



As a quilter, it is very common for me to hear news and have the reaction, "I should make a quilt!"  Whether someone is pregnant or not doing well, I always want to make a quilt.  The problem is that there isn't enough time to make all the quilt I would like to make.  =(

One of my co-workers is fighting cancer and I wanted to make her something to comfort her through her treatments and recovery time.  I picked a simple pattern and recruited my friends to help out.  Heather did all of the cutting and helped sew the rows together.  Kimberly and Bethney helped with the pressing.  I sewed, sewed, sewed.  We started yesterday around 2ish and finished around 10 pm! (We did take a break for crockpot shredded chicken tacos- yum!)

I love the way it turned out.  The fabrics are all from my stash.  We didn't use a pattern (but should have!).  I made a version of this quilt several years ago and read a tutorial at that time.  Yesterday, after a few hiccups at the start, I was thinking-- why didn't I revisit that tutorial!!! =O  All's well that ends well.

This picture is a little washed out.  Once it is quilted, I'll get some better photos.  I'm thinking of using minky for the backing fabric.  Hopefully I will have this finished up as quickly as the top went together.

xoxo

Sunday, November 8, 2015

Stitcher's is closing =(

Sad news about one of my favorite local quilt shops, Stitcher's Crossing.  The owner, Sharon, has decided to close her doors.  It has been in business since before I started quilting (1998) and  I took classes there when I was new to sewing,  They connected me with a person that buys and sells Featherweights and because of their help, I have the fantastic machine I use for all of my piecing.



Yesterday, I stopped by for the first time since they announced their closing.  There was next to nothing left and it felt like a funeral!  But it was very nice to have one last chat with Sharon.  Hopefully I will see her around in other quilty places. I'm going to miss that shop quite a bit. =(

I did purchase a few odds and ends from what was remaining, but don't have a picture-- nothing too exciting.  The remainder of the bolt of the Maize I'm using in my Maize Maze quilt and a few fat quarters.

Speaking of Maize Maze-- It's moving along.  I almost have the center complete.


Last Sunday, I did some online stash enhancement from Thousands of Bolts.  It was a bit slower at work and I was tempted! No plans for these fabrics, they just wanted to come home with me!



Linking up with Molli Sparkles and Judy at Patchwork Times.

xoxo