Some Fun Stuff

It’s been awhile since I’ve done a mid-week post, but so much is going on that I just had to slow down for a moment and share.

First, I wanted to give all my crazy quilting and/or embroidery friends a heads up that the special Holiday issue of Crazy Quilt Quarterly has been published. You can order it HERE in either printed or digital format, or both.

It’s another fun issue and focuses, as you might imagine, on the Holiday Season (mostly Christmas). There are some great patterns and tutorials as always. Why not order your copy now??

I got a call this morning that my Aria quilt was ready at the quilter’s. So, off we (Bruce and I) ran. He took a comp day today for working so much last week, so he is home with me today and tomorrow.

Anyway, freeway closure notwithstanding (a truck full of ammonium nitrate flipped over, so you can imagine their caution), we drove to get it. On the way home we stopped at Costco for lunch and a couple things, then at Trader Joe’s to stock up on All Things Pumpkin. That would include (imagine my best Bubba Gump voice....) pumpkin scone mix, pumpkin ravioli, Pumpkin O’s cereal, pumpkin spice muffin mix, pumpkin granola, pumpkin spice oatmeal.....

Back to the quilt...... I still have to bind it.  So, it didn’t make it in time for the Quarter 3 Finish Along goals, but will be the first one ticked off on my Quarter 4 goal list!!

Construction update: contractor will begin building new wall this week. Floors ordered and paid for (2 weeks to come in, two weeks to sit and acclimate); fireplace tile ordered and paid for (2 weeks to come in). That will be installed pretty much the same time as the fireplace insert.  We are going to get a big dumpster delivered to take away all the old brick, carpets, fireplace stuff, and all the other broken furniture and junk we have had back in our backyard hidey-hole for a year.

And I had another good surprise. When I left my former employer Siemens about 8 years ago, it was my understanding that the old pension plan was rolled into our IRAs. But I must’ve missed something (and I am usually a financial whiz). Anyway, I got an official package yesterday to let me know that I have a one-time opportunity this fall to roll my pension plan monies into my private IRA. Really? It’s way more than the cost of our remodel (including planned new furniture), so it looks like someone is watching out for me! Back into the IRA savings it will go, and I am happy as a clam! So why are clams happy anyway?

Until Saturday,

Notting Hill Quilt Blocks Done and CQ Quarterly Published

Hi friends. I have several fun things to share with you today, so sit down and get comfy!

First, the Autumn issue of Crazy Quilt Quarterly is out!

This issue is jam-packed with great autumn stitching and embellishment ideas and eye candy. As well, the theme of the issue is Family History/Genealogy in Quilts (crazy quilts,  art quilts, traditional quilts). As this is a particular area of interest and research for me, I have two articles in this issue. But the great part is that my dear longtime friend Gerry Krueger from Washington State is the featured cover artist. I couldn’t be more thrilled, and she couldn’t be more deserving.

You may purchase this magazine in print or digital (or both!) format at Magcloud.

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Yesterday I finished the last four of my 12” sampler blocks for my Notting Hill Quilt. This quilt has been a WIP for over two years. Too many times it got shoved to a back burner when other things came up, but I am determined to finish it this quarter.  Here are the last four blocks:

I love them all except the Kings Cross (upper right), which really needs more contrast. But it does NOT have a date with a seam ripper, so it is what it is.  Below is the tentative final layout. After studying this picture, I can see I want to switch two blocks (#7 with #11). I also say “tentative” because even though I will number them before taking them down to sew, I often mess that part of it up!  It will have sashing between and around the blocks.

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Bruce finished up the front porch pillar bases today, so if it cools down to a reasonable temperature this week (less than Hellfire degrees), I intend to get them painted. Last week our contractor (cousin’s hubby, I think I may have told you already) painted the kitchen ceiling for me and hung my new farmhouse-style light fixture. Fans of HGTV’s Fixer-Upper or Chip and JoAnna Gaines will recognize it. He also added the door (minus handle) which you see in the picture below. That door leads down to the basement, and the old door, fugly and original to the house, opened away from you, over the stairs. So odd and dangerous. This one is hung so that it opens toward you. I still have some sanding, filling, painting to do there, then Bruce will add the doorknob.

I always wanted a yellow kitchen, and I have loved having one for the last ten years since we did the major kitchen renovation in 2006. But it’s time for a change, and we will be painting it some shade of white. We got paint samples today from Sherwin Williams, and I will paint swatch areas on several of the walls this week. You can see that I left my china cabinet (actually a Victorian vitrine) taped and covered.

When the kitchen is done, I will show you all the pix (the first “before” when we moved in, the remodel in 2006 and our 2016 update).

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Finally, my other cousin (sister to the cousin who is married to the contractor) Kim and her daughter Sarah have opened an Etsy shop. YAY!  Since I am closing mine down by year-end, they got all my old vintage sewing pattern inventory (and the boxes and shelving units they were stored in) and vintage fabrics and are getting things set up. Their shop is called Butterflies and Donuts and I would love it if you could drop by and favorite their shop and an item or two to get them rolling into your Etsy picture feeds. They will be adding vintage clothing and other fun stuff as time goes on, but right now they are up to their eyeballs (muahahahaha!) in patterns!!

Crazy Quilt Quarterly Summer Issue is Out!

One of my favorite publications (and not just because I’m on the staff, LOL) is Crazy Quilt Quarterly, published by Pam Kellogg of Kitty and Me Designs.  Well, the new summer issue is out, and the cover girl is the one and only Betty Pillsbury (I just *love* her!!).  Betty has works in the Smithsonian (did you know that?). Her CQ style is usually very traditional - what I would call an updated, modern Victorian. She can embroider, bead, made silk flowers, appliqué, and just about any other technique you could think of! Now, with her piece in CQ Quarterly (previously unpublished), she uses shibori ribbon for suns rays in her Stonehenge-like setting.

This issue is crammed with great tutorials, articles and patterns. And did I mention eye candy? No Crazy Quilter worth her salt should miss it!  :-)  

You can purchase your print or digital copy at Magcloud:  Crazy Quilt Quarterly magazine

Hugs,

Crazy Quilting and Fabric “Diet” Results

Hello there! Thanks for joining me on this snowy (at least here in Salt Lake Valley) Tuesday morning.   Let’s get caught up on some happenings!

First is the official release of the Spring 2016 issue of Crazy Quilt Quarterly!  As usual, it is packed with great eye candy, patterns and tutorials.

And although, as a creative consultant for the magazine I am always excited, this issue has me tripley triple triply THREE TIMES as excited!!  Remember the Black Needlepoint Crazy Quilt Wallhanging I finished last fall??  It is featured in the magazine with its story. (Yes, the content is blurred out - you must buy the magazine to read it).

I also contributed a tutorial to this issue on the making of (fiber) nests for your crazy quilt or art quilt blocks.

Background fabric: Feathered Flock by Tamara Kate

The issue also includes a pattern for a cute bunny (this picture is not the best angle to show off its cuteness!) Three of us staff members made samples to show, but the complete directions and pattern are in the issue.

Background fabric: The Stars Shine Bright by Tamara Kate

You can buy Crazy Quilt Quarterly at Magcloud, link is here.  You have your choice of a digital download or a printed issue (my preference!). The printed issue is a higher price, but comes with a free digital download.

Also, Pam just released another one of her very popular books. This one is called Crazy Quilt Inspiration, and it is full of her beautiful work.  Pam has always been a very prolific and detail-oriented crazy quilter. Her work is a rich treasure trove of stitching and beading, and this book provides enough eye candy to overload your peepers!!  The book is divided into categories (birds, nature, etc) and each section shows clear photos of Pam’s beautiful projects spanning years of creativity.

If you are a crazy quilter, embroiderer or art quilter, this is one you don’t want to miss.  Use the same Magcloud link to order your copy!

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A bank of lights in my studio went out on Saturday, leaving me working in half darkness until I called it quilts. DH, being the handyman and electrical engineer he is, fixed it on Sunday afternoon after having to visit Home Depot (they didn’t have the right ballast) and finally Lowe’s. I missed nearly a full day of sewing, and therefore did not get my Valentine Quilt done before the end of January.  I will quilt and bind it today and/or tomorrow and post it in a day or two when I get pictures. However, I am counting the fabric used for this quilt in my January fabric totals.

Fabric In:
1.  Thimbles & Threads Mega Clearance  + 18 yards
(prices deeply discounted before moving to their new digs)
2.  +3.5 yards - won from Pattern Jam in a Christmas design contest
3.  + 9 yards - ordered fabric from new Tamara Kate line, Nature Walk
4.  +5.5 yds - white and other basics at Thimbles & Threads’ new shop!
Total In:  36 yards

Fabric Out:
1.  Seeing Red quilt: -8.25 yards
2.  Misc blue blocks for the month: -3
3.  Sold on Etsy: -9.25
4.  Valentine Quilt: -8 yards
5.  Gift to cousin (some cotton, mostly flannel) -11 yards
Total Out: 39.5 yards

Net: -3.5 yards

In the process, although I bought a lot of fabric, I got rid of fabrics I won’t use (flannel small cuts and sales), used lots of odd FQs, and made two quilts. It is like pruning a plant; some dead growth has been pruned and new leaves are ready to grow! And with that spring-like analogy, I will sign out.

Sugar Block Club, Submissions Wanted and Fabric Diet

This year I am participating in the Sugar Block Club 3.0 with Amy of Stitchery Dickory Dock. I actually participated a couple years ago, but after the second month it got into territory that my skills (at the time) would not allow me to follow. I just cannot “grock” paper piecing.  But I had completed two blocks (and in time since had created two more). So, I was thrilled this year when I learned they are not paper pieced and that the whole program is FREE.  Check it out here.

This is my block for this month, which is a variation on the classic Churn Dash Block.

The blocks this year will all be variations of classic blocks.  And this is my plan for completing this quilt. Since I had four blocks made and will need 20 (all at 12” finished) for a quilt, I plan to do two blocks per month for January - August (16), which will give me my 20. One will be the SBC block and the second will be another block of my choosing.  This month I already did my personal choice block, a Dutchman’s Puzzle block with Flying Geese. I needed the warm-up with the geese.

The fabric I am using is primarily (but not solely) Notting Hill by Joel Dewberry. I love hot pink and orange together. Always have, always will.  The background fabrics will range from white to cream to print-on-white - just a mix. I need to get more variation going there to make it look intentional (because it wasn’t originally!!).  Anyway, this is what the six blocks look like together pinned on my design board.  

The finished quilt will have sashing of some kind, and I am thinking of doing something outrageous, like a hot pink or orange sashing.  But I may end up just doing white. We will see come August......

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Pam Kellogg, Editor of Crazy Quilting Quarterly is calling for submissions for the SUMMER issue of CQQ.  You can find out about it HERE.  She is looking for crazy quilting work in summer themes like birds, birdhouses, butterflies, dragonflies, fruit (grapes, watermelon, cherries) cottages - anything that has a summer theme.  Pictures and tutorials welcome.  This is a picture of the February SPRING issue, which will be published on February 1. Don’t miss it!



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And on a note of unfinished business,  my “fabric diet” totals for December were not nearly as impressive as November's. But in my defense, I had planned  (and even announced) that I wanted to take advantage of year-end sales to stock up on solids. And I did! Total fabric IN was 25 yards, Total fabric out was 24 yards, for a net gain of 1 yard.

Out:
Used in 2 quilts, 14.25 (doesn’t include a vintage sheet backing)
Used in 3 pillow shams/covers, 2.5 (doesn’t include scraps)
Sold on Etsy: 6.25
Given to niece: 1 yd

IN:
4 yards were for a quilt I will be making my son Shane
4 yards were background fabric for my Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilt,
2 yards were binding (striped) fabrics,
8 yards were colored solids,
4 yards were Christmas fabrics
3 yards were white/black prints and other “must-have”s. You know how THAT goes.

Until next time,

Crazy Quilt Quarterly Calendar Contest

Since I am on the staff of the Crazy Quilt Quarterly magazine, I thought I would let you know of a great new contest coming up. Get your work published in the 2017 calendar!  Details below:

I hope to see a lot of work from my friends, followers and fellow crazy quilters!!

Hugs,

Crazy Quilt Quarterly - Winter Issue Now Available

The winter 2015 Issue of Crazy Quilt Quarterly is now available at Magcloud, here.  You may order the magazine as a digital download, or (as I prefer) a hard copy (beautiful quality!!), or both.

This issue has loads of great winter embellishment pictures and tutorials (as well as seasonal holiday ideas) to use in your crazy quilting, embroidery, art quilting and more. It is a unique and beautiful publication, and the only one that showcases the beautiful art of crazy quilting. I hope all crazy quilters out there will support this gorgeous and energetic resource, and that other artists, quilters and embroiderers will discover its beauty and wealth of ideas to apply to their own art as well.

Hugs,

The Autumn Issue of CQ Quarterly is Available!

And what a FANTASTIC issue this is!  It’s jam packed with ideas and tutorials to complete all sorts of motifs and projects with an autumn theme.  Take a look at that gorgeous cover by Connie Eyberg!!

(And yes, I even have a little piece in this; an embroidered spider who has in turn “embroidered” a web on a lamppost in Paris. What has the spider embroidered? An Eiffel Tower, of course!)

You can purchase your copy (print, e-version or both) HERE.

This is the best issue yet!!!

Hugs,

The New Issue of Crazy Quilt Quarterly is out!

The new issue of Crazy Quilt Quarterly is out, and this super issue focuses on techniques and embellishments that you will LOVE and want to include in your seascape or under the sea crazy quilting.  There is a lot more great stuff, naturally, so you will have a lot of fun going through this issue. Order yours in print or as an e-mag. Either way, you will enjoy curling up with a cuppa and this great read!  :-)

You can order your magazine here.

Hugs,

Crazy Quilt Quarterly

It’s here! The new (inaugural) issue of Crazy Quilt Quarterly published by Pam Kellogg of Kitty & Me Designs.  You may recall that this publication was previously published by Pat Winter (as Crazy Quilt Gatherings).  

I was lucky to get an advance issue, and I can tell you it is full of lovely eye candy.  And in addition to the lovely pictures, there is a lot of “meat” for you too: tutorials, news, etc. I am so excited to be part of the team as Creative Consultant, and can’t wait for you to see some of the things that are in store for the next several issues!

CQQ is available as a download or in print.  Just follow the link to Magcloud.  Crazy Quilters, you will really LOVE it!