Rachel's Quilt

This quilt's fabrics were chosen by Rachel last March 2011, when she came to visit for spring break. She went with me to Hearts and Hands Quilts shop and chose these fabrics.

I started working on it in April but for some reason lost interest, and it was put to the side for a bit. However, I knew I wanted to be done by Christmas so sometime last October, I finally finished the pieced top, and prepped it for quilting.

I gave it to Rachel on Christmas day, we took a picture, but I didn't get home with a photo, so this weekend I took a pic of it while it is on her bed. It is named 'Wild Child' due to the safari theme.

Quilt Retreat with Michelle

We had an awesome weekend.  I went to Maricopa, AZ to my daughter Michelle's home on Friday evening.  We started by going to Rachel's high school basketball game, she is a cheerleader for the school. It was a quick game, a nice half-time dance routine done by the cheerleaders, and on to victory for Maricopa HS.
Once home, Michelle and I found our way into her entry area, where there is a nice size room for her crafts. However, she has used it as a collection for most anything, and a try at an office.  It was time for some organizing. First we moved everything out of the room and into the front foyer (door was now empassable). Together, we moved her desk into the great room, which will now become her office area.  I didn't get a photo of the room before or after, dumbie that I am...
I placed a pile of stuff infront of her and we put them where she thinks she would like them for now. There are several plastic drawer storage stackers that were able to fit under the large craft table she has, and a second one, making a nice 'L' shape work area for her scrapbooking.

Once we completed that we were pretty much ready for some downtime. We watched a bit of television, and I headed to bed about 11:30. I don't know what time she finally gave in and went to bed.

The next day started early around 6:30, we got the teenagers up and out to jobs, etc.

Michelle's X came to help move some of the heavy stuff, another desk that Michelle uses now as her sewing table, he also dropped off the youngest child- Kellee- who was running a fever and had a bit of a croupy cough. Medication, tepid bath and lots of sleep for her was the order of the day. Then Michelle and I went to run our errands, pick up some supplies and then finally home and ready to start work on our projects.

Mine was a 'Professional Tote' that is going to be used as a diaper bag.

 

I don't know why this bag shows in browns, it is really the light gray and green as seen with Rachel as my model.

Michelle wanted to make a t-shirt quilt for her son, Nate. We cut out and stabilized the pieces in early Dec. 2011.  Now I would teach her how to sash and piece the shirts blocks into a nice quilt top.  By the time I left her home today at noon, she had the top completed. We layered the top, batting and backing, pinned them in place and rolled it onto a 'noodle' until she and I could get back together to teach some free motion quilting. 

Nice job don't you think? 

Fabric Stash 2

Second phase, that pile is now folded.  I havent decided where to store these things, and before that I will have to have all my fabric stash ready to be categorized.  Now that should be fun?

It's called 'Organizing'

Here it is, half of my yardage.  I decided it should all be washed, and refolded and then organized in colors/themes/sizes. As you can tell it isn't folded yet.
Last week I did a huge load like this (it is folded and put away) and this is this weeks load. I don't have a lot of storage areas in my house/sewing area but I try to keep it somewhat tidy.  I hate going through my fat quarter stash as well.  That will be another project someday soon.
My friend Sheryl is in the organinzing and cleaning up mode and she has inspired me too.  Last week we spent a few hours with scraps and used the Accu Quilt - made lots of squares and Stars out of some of my smaller scaraps, she did strips.  So off I go to fold some fabrics.  I'll take a picture when it is all neatly put away. Oh and by the way, I did have need to find some blue fabrics on Monday and what a great surprise when it was folded and in view.
What is your organinzing nightmare- or should I say 'disorganized' nightmare?

Fabricadabra Pillow

This pillow is a pattern from Jenny Haskins Designs. The pillow shows two of the embroidery designs that are used in the Fabricadabra Quilt (this design can be purchased at Hearts and Hands in Green Valley, AZ.  Making the ruffle was a very new and interesting technique. It allowed me to have some very soft ruffles and they were evenly spaced.
I chose these colors because I had the fabric in my stash.  The pillow form is 16".
I am teaching this class at the local quilt shop- www.heartsandhandsquilts.com you can take a peek there for more information on all the classes that the shop has to offer. 
Enjoy the view- if you click on the photos they will enlarge




close up of embroidery





Final project of 2011 is

Sushi #2 of 10

This is a great way to use up the large scrap stash after doing a 9degree round quilt. My neighbor saw my Sushi 1 hanging on my wall, and said " I will commission you to make me one just like it, only in my colors. I will pay you.  It is a work of art."  this is the photo hanging in his home.  He and his wife are Butterfly and Bird watchers, he had these two copper figurines and hung them on the piece.  You can click on the photo for a close up (I think).

And so I set forth, first I had to cut the quilt fabric for a full sized round table with the 9degree ruler following the instructions from the book- Quilts without Corners.  Then the masterpiece begins and 40+ hrs later it ends.  I love doing Sushi and will make 8 more of them.