Simple Things

I had some fabric left over from my last Christmas quilt (Believe) so I cut 4" squares & used the tan mottled flannel as the background fabric.  This is the sweet quilt that came out of those squares.  I call it "Simple Things".  I had recently heard a talk that referred to a Quaker hymn that has the words "Tis a gift to be simple, Tis a gift to be free.....".  Anyway, that stuck in my mind & since this quilt is made of simple squares the name had to be "Simple Things".

The quilt is approximately 72" x 85".  The backing is a red mottled flannel with a strip of leftover 4" squares with the small flowers on it.  As you know, I usually have to throw in some leftover blocks or fabric into the backing.

This quilt is for sale - $175.

Love how this turned out!

Machine quilted with a free motion loop pattern.  Reminded me of curling ribbon.

Strip of leftover squares made it into the flannel backing.

BELIEVE

I bought the Christmas panel about a year ago & just got around to doing something with it.  The panel is one of Nancy Halverson's designs.  I really like her style.

Used some other Christmas fabric I had bought a year ago in St. George, threw in some flannel, backed it with fabric I bought at a local fabric store (Marcia's), and there you have it!  My 2014 Christmas quilt.  I enjoy making a Christmas quilt each year.  Some years I give it away in a drawing held at work.  Might do the same thing this year.

Hope all of your are enjoying the wonderful season of Thanksgiving & Christmas.

Cut the panel pieces apart then designed blocks with them.

I am not really good at drawing patterns so I just end up throwing them together as I go.

All over meandering free motion quilting - if you look closely there are words thrown in here and there.

One of the blocks ended up being the label.  The name of the quilt is "Believe".  And I do.  Believe.

"Enjoy the Ride"

This afternoon I put the finishing touches on the second quilt using the Open Road line of fabric from Quilting Treasures (QT).  This quilt is also 81" x 94" inches.  It is backed with a golden tan mottled flannel fabric (nice & comfy).   The photo shoot didn't go so well as the wind was really blowing & just when I was taking the photos - here come the clouds.  Ah well.

This quilt is for sale.  Price is $325.

Queen size quilt - color is much brighter than in the photo.

Closer to the true colors. 

Backing is wonderful comfy flannel.

Machine quilted in a meandering loop pattern.

Open Road

Finished the "Open Road" quilt this morning.  Used a wonderful soft plaid flannel for the backing.  The quilt is an original pattern that I designed specifically for this quilt.  The fabric is trademarked by Indian Motorcycle.  It was fun to put together.  I have another one in the process of being sewn together but will be using more brown & wine colors in that one.  The finished quilt is 81" x 94" & is priced at $300.

Machine quilted with a stippling stitch (reminded me of winding roads) with variegated thread.

Conference, Quilting & Cookies

I am so thankful to have the opportunity to listen to the inspired talks given in the General Conference today. My soul has been well fed.  (For those who do not know me, I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.)

While enjoying the talks today I worked on one of the quilt tops that are on order.  Finished piecing the top by Noon.  Decided it was time to make cookies.  The Glazed Pumpkin Cookies did not take long as I had put together the dry ingredients a week ago in readiness to throw them together this weekend.  The cookie reminds me of a shortbread texture.  Made a double batch so there may a plate taken to work tomorrow.

I hope all of you are enjoying this day, your families, your blessings, and have peace in your lives.

Two New Quilts In The Making

Special order quilt using the Quilting Treasures line of Indian Motorcycle fabric called "Open Road".  I am designing as I go.  If I am making one I decided I might as well make two.  Can't wait to see how these quilts come together.

Around the Block for sale $225

Well, I have finally finished with the "In Your Neighborhood" quilt which was a class given by designer Melissa Corry of HappyQuilting at the Panguitch Quilt Walk this past June.  This quilt takes me outside of my comfort zone.  I do not know why my mind struggled with this patter, but struggle it did.  After studying the design for a while it suddenly made sense to me.  I want to make it very clear that my struggle was in no way due to the instructions given.  The pattern is written very well.  I call the quilt "Around the Block".

Around the Block - Approximately 71" x 71"

Machine quilted with variegated thread in a swirl pattern.

The extra unit was made into the label.

I ended up with the extra unit because I was going to use 2 of the same fabric choices but decided to mix it up with 2 different fabric choices.

Quilting is a great stress reliever!

Finished a baby quilt for an order.  Backed in Minkee & some on the front too.  I love pink & brown together.

Minkee is not my favorite fabric as it makes me sneeze.  Sew. Sneeze. Sew. Sneeze.  I would rather use flannel any day.  As a matter of fact most of my custom orders request flannel in the quilt.

One quilt ready to put on frame for a customer.  She also wants me to do the binding.

Two other quilt orders for queen size quilts.  Just need to decide on the pattern to use for the one.  Already chose the pattern to use the Indian Motorcycle fabric in.

And here comes Christmas!

SecondHand Rows

After finishing my Sunny Skies pattern from the Missouri Star Quilt Company I had enough half square triangles & 16 patch blocks leftover to make this quilt.  It is my own design & I used all of the leftover fabrics from my "Betty Dear" quilt.  I ended up with one lonely 16 patch block left so I just put it into the backing.  What can I say - it's just so me!

The quilt is machine quilted with what I call "Fractured Stars".  I used red thread on the front & the back.  Named the quilt "SecondHand Rows".  (A parody of Second Hand Rose.)  The pinwheel blocks have added borders to make the block the same size as the 16 patch blocks.  It was alot of fun.  I love the quilt.

Meet "Betty Dear" - Sunny Skies pattern is finished!

One of the classes that I had the honor of taking this past June at the Panguitch Quilt Walk was one given by Jenny Doan of the Missouri Star Quilt Company.  The pattern is called "Sunny Skies" & was designed by Jenny Doan's daughter Natalie.

I first saw this pattern on one of Jenny Doan's tutorials.  A new tutorial is put out on Youtube every Friday.  Absolutely adore her patterns & easy ways to put a quilt together quickly.

The print fabric is called "Betty Dear" from the Darlene Zimmerman Complete Collection.  The yellow, red & blue polka dot fabric is from the Classic Dot collection from Connecting Threads.com.

Machine quilted with navy colored thread in a floopy flower pattern.  I love it!

I named the quilt "Dear Betty" in honor of the Darlene Zimmerman fabric.  It was fun to use and I even have enough blocks left over to design a secondary quilt (which is already being created).  Can't wait to share that one.  I have already named the second quilt.  Stay tuned to see what unveils.

Blowing in the wind

Close up of machine quilting

Even the label is a left over piece of fabric from the quilt

Of course I had to add a strip of red to the backing.  Who wants a plain old backing!

Not blowing in the wind.

Fair Quilt Finished!

Just finished putting the binding & label on the quilt for the Sevier County Fair.  I was short on time so I made a very simple pattern.  I was going to use Triangles but then I decided to offset them a little to make them wonky.  This means that every so often the triangles do not line up but are shifted just a bit.  Makes for a fun quilt.  Machine quilted in pink thread & had the words "When Pigs Fly" just above the flying piggy applique.  Don't think it shows too well in the photo.
Found some adorable piggy fabric for the borders & love the spotted pink flannel for some of the triangles & backing.

WonkyTriangles (love the piggy fabric in the border)

Can't see the words "When Pigs Fly" too well but they are just above the pig.

Busy Month of July

Well, it's been a month since I last posted a blog.  How can that be?  Yard work, garden work, house work, work work, quilting somewhere in between :)

Anyway, today I was fortunate enough to come across another sewing machine in a cabinet at an estate sale.  It is a mid 1190's Kenmore sewing machine & cabinet.  I was able to download the instruction manual for it too.  Right now it is sitting in the garage awaiting a home.  Had to do a bit of cleaning, oiling & adjusting but she runs like a dream.  Have more bobbins ordered and on their way (Don't you just love the Internet at times like this?).
Have my quilt on the frame - it was from the class Sunny Skies with Jenny Doan at the Panguitch Quilt Walk.  I have a secondary quilt in the process of being sewn together with the leftovers from that quilt.  Also still working on the hand stitching on the wool applique wall hanging.  Also working on the quilt from another quilt class.  Also working on a scrappy quilt from one of Bonnie Hunter's book.  Now, you need to know my rule is to never start a project until I am finished with a project.  However, the class at the Quilt Walk has altered that mind set for a little while.  I will be finishing the other Quilt Walk quilt after I machine quilt the one on the frame.  Will go back to my way of doing things in a month.
Also have a customer's baby quilt to get quilted.
Also have an order for a quilt using some fantastic fabric I just purchased with Indian Motorcycles & co-ordinated fabric.
Whew!  What was I thinking!  Also have the County Fair the first week in August.
Still trying to get my binding hand sewn on the quilt that I made for the Fair.

Kenmore sewing machine & cabinet.

My version of the Sunny Skies quilt on the frame & waiting for stitches!

and forgot these 2 baby quilts waiting in line to be quilted.

hand work always gets set aside for some reason.

Messy sewing area.  Hate the mess but work in progress.

Will be a little while before posting again. Need to buckle down & get these things out.

Have a wonderful summer!

Panguitch Quilt Walk 2014 - Day 3

It was the final day of the Quilt Walk.  Grabbed breakfast at the Zions Bank parking lot across the street from the motel.  Lions Club was hosting a breakfast.  It was good.

Morning class was a wool applique class taught my Shannon Fawson.  She is a fun teacher & very talented.

 I enjoyed the class & managed to get my pieces cut out & glued on to the background.  I just have to hand stitch the pieces down.  I am going to use beads for the birds eyes & for the berries that will be on the branches.

It was an enjoyable time & the folks in charge of the Quilt Walk did an AMAZING job!  A big thank you to them for all of the time & effort that was put in.

Until next year........ (well, for the Quilt Walk....)

Panguitch Quilt Walk - Day 2

Well, where to begin.  First class of the day was "Sunny Skies" with Jenny Doan.  I just want to say that I adore that woman.  She is so funny, so creative, and has a quirky sense of humor that I totally get!  Managed to get all but one of my rows done on the quilt.  Will finish the last row tonight in my motel room.  I haven't taken a photo of the quilt progress but I will post a photo of the completed project sometime in the near future.  Jenny & her hubby Ron graciously posed for photos.

The trunk show today was with Helen Butler.  Helen is an award winning quilter who does magnificent work.  Her quilts are show quilts and absolutely beautiful.  On the other spectrum from myself as I like to make quilts that will be used, loved, dragged around until there is nothing left of them.  I attempted to get a photo of Helen during the trunk show but my camera did not do well.  Sorry for that.

My afternoon class was a hand applique one with Francine Berrett.  She is a good teacher but this is not a technique that I enjoy.  But I made myself listen & actually hand appliqued part of my project.  It will be part of my Sevier County Fair quilt this year.  (If I get time to get to it at home!)

Dinner at the Cowboy Smokehouse.  Yummy chicken fried steak with lumpy mashed potatoes (just how I like them with skins & all), and crisp broccoli.  I walked downtown to get some exercise & the restaurant is located downtown so that was great.

Ran into some folks from Glenwood too.  Donna & Kirk Sorenson.  Donna is an avid quilter but didn't sign up for classes this year.

More tomorrow!