Sunday sewing...

Class went well yesterday, I think, and I will post pictures next week of some of the blocks/quilts. Most of them got 1 - 2 blocks finished, which was good considering most of them hadn't done paper piecing before. We meet again next Saturday so that gives them a chance to work on more blocks or not, depending on how much time they have.

I finished quilting my great-niece's quilt this morning...you might remember seeing it when I was working on it. I want to make a label for it. I think I have seen some online. If you have any suggestions of places to look, let me know. I'm not very good at making labels for quilts...I know I should, but don't usually. I do try to sign and date each one, and attach labels occasionally, when it is for family or special occasions.
This is the back. The pic is a little darker than what it really is. I like this pattern, it is very busy and I like the way it interlocks. On to something else!

It's getting there.

I spent the day getting things ready for the Lotus Blossom classes tomorrow and working on these blocks. I have all 6 to this point now (the 6th one is still on the kitchen wall...) I hope I get the effect I want on this one. Two more borders to go around each and then I should be able to tell.

It's warmed up a bit more today...went for a nice bike ride too.

First day of summer break and another block...

Here is the last block. I have started working on the setting , so am adding it to this one first. I think the setting is going to take about as long to do as the blocks. I was doing the figuring as I go tonight, it will go faster after that. It looks sort of interesting on this wall in the kitchen as it mimics the background. There will be background around it yet. Tomorrow's another day...

Oh yea....summer break has begun.

More blocks and one more day!!!!

I worked on 2 more blocks today. The pointy ends on this Dresden flower are easier to do than curved ends. I used invisible thread and sewed this onto the square with the machine. Still have more stitching to do on the one below, but I needed to stop for the night. I am blanket stitching this one with the machine too.
I really like both of these blocks...hope they look good in the setting I have planned.

Tomorrow is my last day to work at school for the summer...I also have a class tomorrow night. I am ready to have a little more time to myself and to quilt.

Sunday sewing....etc...

I got three of the blocks for the new Sampler finished today...also got the setting worked out...that took as long as making a block or two! the color isn't the best here, but you get the idea. I teach these Sampler classes where the quilters come once a month for 6 mos. and at the end have everything made for a quilt, they just need to finish putting it together. I started teaching the first one so that people could learn more after Beginning Quilting...and am working on the design for Sampler #10! There are 4 ladies who have made 8 Samplers and are working on #9. That's why I need to get #10 finished...they will start that class in July.

I went out to dinner with my youngest daughter tonight and we went to see Gran Torino. I have been wanting to see it since it came out. It was good, very different than I thought it would be.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

School's out, school's out!!!!

Today was the last day for students in our school district. I have to work Tuesday, then am out for the summer too...woo hoo!!!

Crazy quilted pillow finished...

Jo got the stitching finished on the crazy quilted pillow...didn't she do a great job? She did 3 different basic stitches and then added variations to them. Wouldn't that flower in the middle look nice with some beads? Probably will add them at some point. We decided to let this be bead-free to focus more on the stitching for class.
I haven't taught a class with anyone else before so this will be a new experience for both of us...she hasn't taught class before at all.

Julianne's quilt and other MQS pix...

This is the quilt that Julianne of Julianne's Place sent in as part of an exhibit to show how the same quilt can be quilted many ways. This picture doesn't do the quilting justice, take it from me, it was beautiful. That's Denise playing Vanna!
Here are my friends Cindy, Denise & Dianne leaving with bags full of pretties. We really did have a great time!
Mama Kitty is enjoying these Asian prints I found, as well as the new pattern. I thought the pattern would be paper pieced, but it isn't. I am anxious to try it out, but have another quilt to make first....
These were my best bargain...10 fats for $11.00. I love the little girls and stuff on these fabrics. Don't know what I will do with it, but who cares it's so cute! I also got a couple of new pantographs, which I forgot to take a picture of....but will soon!

Yesterday I worked on a pattern and planted flowers. It was almost a perfect day, about 70 outside.

Hop on over to Christine's blog Once Upon a Quilt...she is having a giveaway for her 100th post!

Quilt show fun...I got to meet Judi!

Since we are working gals, we could only go to Saturday's show. So we headed out about 6AM for KC, which is a three hour drive for us. We got there and started up and down the many aisles of goodies...it wasn't long before I met Judi of Judi's Crazy World. She was there selling some of her beautiful hand dyed fabrics. I have been curious about hand dyeing and have been watching her adventures with snow dyeing, pole dyeing and other types of dyeing she has tried. So it was fun to meet her and her husband.
Of course I couldn't walk away from her booth without a few of those pretty fabrics. The blue, orangey pink and mottled green are snow dyed and the other 2 are hand dyed. I love the variation of color in the show dyed fabrics and could've walked out with one of each color...
There were so many beautiful quilts there, I could only stand in awe. This one was one of the theme category winners. The theme was Fire and Ice...there was so much intricate quilting on this quilt...unfortunately it doesn't really show up in the photo well, though you can click on the pic to make if larger and see it better. I can only dream of quilting like this.

The quilting overall was fantastic on the many beautiful quilts and I took several pictures. I wanted to take more, but my memory card was being stubborn & would only store a few....do they wear out? I will post more pics later.

Kansas City, here I come....MQS tomorrow!

I am excited to go to MQS tomorrow....I expect to see lots of gorgeous quilts and maybe find a few things to bring home....lol...does anyone know, is picture taking allowed?

Monday musings....countdown to MQS...

I went to see my mom & dad, sisters and other family for Mother's Day. My 2 daughters who live here came too. We had a great time.

The rest of the weekend I worked on class stuff for June. I have one more quilt to make for a class starting in July, then can relax a bit. I haven't even started it yet. I worked on a string-pieced project for awhile too.

Only 4 days left til I go to MQS in Kansas City. I haven't been before, so I am very excited to go. Judi of Judi's Crazy World will be there selling her beautiful hand-dyed fabrics, so I hope to see her there. I am going Saturday with several friends. Anyone else going?

The fabric came and it's finished!

I got home yesterday and the border fabric had come in the mail, so I finished the tablerunner. I just wanted a little of the blue to tie things together, so I put a thin flange on as the first border. Sometimes when I get finished with a project, I think about how I should've done this...or should've done that....or maybe one of the colors is not what I hoped....but this time I love it!

New Project

I have several ladies interested in a crazy quilting class, so am working on a small project (pillow) so they can learn some of the techniques and stitches. My friend Jo is going to teach the stitches part as she is much better at that than I am and knows more stitches and their variations. So I turned this over to her last night so she can work her magic. I think maybe I made it too symmetrical instead of having a more chunky look. What do you think?

Fabric Emergency is Over!

Here are the blocks I've done so far. I have decided to make 2 more pink because in the arrangement I am doing, the green on the peach flowers looks too light, so I might only use 2. I need 10 altogether. The leafy fabric is auditioning for the setting triangles.

I can't believe it but I found that fabric! After searching through different sites & emailing a quilt guild in BC (who were willing to help), this morning I googled underwater fabric and found it! Pretty lucky considering I didn't know a thing about it. Lesson to be learned: try to always get fabric with the info on the selvage! I probably could've found something that would work, but you know how it is when you really think a fabric is perfect. So I hope it is.

Garage Sale Finds & I need HELP!

I bought this fabric with some others last summer when I went to visit my sister in Canada. I would like to find some more if possible, but this fq didn't have the info on the selvage, so I have no idea of mfr. or anything. If you recognize it and could let me know the name, mfr, anything basically, I would be very appreciative! I have been searching all over (pretty futile really, when I know nothing about it) and finally realized that maybe my blogging friends might have the answer!
I went garage sale-ing with my sister yesterday. I don't go much as I work a lot of Sat. and even when I do go I usually give up after a few. She is a champion garage saler....she finds something for someone at every one....lol....so I managed to find some good stuff too since I was with her.Isn't the kitty towel adorable?
I never find bone china tea cups around here. I love the fluted edges on this set.
This tea set is nothing special, really, I just like it because it has an asian flair.
Another bone china tea set. This one is smaller and very pretty... I love them!

I also found a mega amount of legos (I love legos!) for a good price, some books and a few other odds and ends. It was a fun day!