Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Fabric Mail Call

What an exciting day!  A fabric order arrived in the mail today from Fort Worth Fabric Studio!  Jodie was great.  We had a little snafo with USPS (my fault), but Jodie was responsive and very accommodating.  Overall, it was a good experience.  

Fabric goodies can be characterized by two specific themes:  Quiltcon and the ghastlies.

First let's talk about Quiltcon.  Check out the link above if you haven't heard about it yet.  Jodie has pulled together a fat quarter bundle in quiltcon colors.  I know it's too much fabric for three blocks, but I loved the assortment and I have plenty of other projects in mind for the leftovers. 




 











As for the ghastlies...I have been lusting over this collection since I first saw it.  My husband and I host an adult themed Halloween party from time to time and I think this is going to make an adorable set of ghastlie wall hangings.  However, I must confess the ghastlies are so great, I don't really want to cut into them yet.  Here's a glimpse at a few of my choices.



Can't wait to get started with these lovelies!   Until next time.  - Happy Quilting.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Wonky Real Estate


Hubby and I are planning a move this fall so I thought I would whip up some wonky real estate mug rugs for the realtors in my life.  Actually, to say that I  "whipped up" these beauties suggests I sat down and cranked these puppies out in half a minute.  I can assure you - that did NOT happen.

I knew that I wanted my mug rugs to include two things:  a wonky house and a "SOLD" sign.  I did some internet research, browsed a lot of wonky house creations and photos, and decided I would wing it....I'd just engage in a little improv piecing and stitch these mug rugs together real quick.  Unfortunately, my improv experience was not successful.  I was very dissatisfied with the number of asymmetrical seams I created with my improv wonky house....I'm too embarrassed to even show you a picture of the catastrophe.

So, with my improv experience behind me, I sat down with my tried and true graph paper and colored pencils and began to sketch.  I decided the best way to get the crisp, clean lines I love would be applique the houses onto the a background fabric.  Personally, I prefer to avoid raw edge applique.  I've never tried it, but I am always concerned that the edges may begin to fray (like a rag quilt), especially with pieces that may be used and frequently laundered.  For this project, I used turned applique.

I'm sure there are many ways, to achieve a quality turned applique piece.  My way is rather complicated.  I create paper templates and baste a quarter inch "turn" for each piece that I applique.  In this case, each window, door, roof, etc....was basted.  (Ugh...I know!)  After basting, I starched each piece, removed the basting, the paper template and headed to the sewing machine.  I know what you are thinking...that's a lot of unnecessary work.  Perhaps, but each piece is nice and crisp and precise....I like that.


I knew I wasn't going to be happy when I attached the first applique to the background because the background fabric began to pucker.  After ripping out the offending stitches, I ironed some tear away embroidery stabilizer onto the wrong side of my background fabric, went back to the machine and was very pleased with the results.  (I'll have to remember that in the future!)  I hope you like them.  I had a lot of fun putting them together.  Hopefully, I will be able to quilt them together in the next day or so and share more pictures with you!  If you have any tips, please share.  I'm always open to new ideas.



Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Another Quilting Blog?

What motivates you to search for, read, or subscribe to a quilting blog? 

I've been quilting here and there for the last five years or so and it is a past time I thoroughly enjoy.  I often turn to quilting blogs for inspiration, instruction, motivation and let's face it....those give aways are pretty enticing, aren't they?  Over the years, I have found some amazing blogs and I've toyed with the idea of creating my own blog, but I've hesitated to act.  I am a quilting novice.  I make mistakes.  I would never present myself as an expert quilter and let's face it...there are a LOT of quilting blogs out there.  Do we really need another one?

In the past couple of months, my view on quilting blogs as changed.  Blogs are not just encyclopedic notations about quilting.  They are not just free images to guide us as we undertake our next project.  They are a way for us to engage with the greater quilting community...a way to make friends with quilters in our own communities and around the world...a way to share our lives, our culture, our creations and our mistakes with others.

Join me as I undertake this new adventure and share my love of life and creating with you.  I'll endeavor to inspire, instruct and motivate you and I promise to even throw in a few give aways here and there. 

In the next few months, I will share with you several works-in-progress (WIPs) and with the accountability that comes with a blog, I promise to even finish a few!  Here's a list of just a few things waiting for my attention:


  • Mug Rugs for some fabulous realtors
  • Dresden Wall Hanging
  • Quilting Snail's Trail Quilt for a Full Size Bed
  • Block for the Star of Africa International Quilt Bee
  • Christmas Bunting with a Twist
  • And what am I going to do with all these hexis???


Stay tuned.....there's much more to come!