Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Sweet Hearts - Update and Nearing a Milestone!

I wanted to post an update on the Sweet Hearts project.  I have been working on my hearts over the past several weeks and I have completed quite a pile that now will be added to the top.  They are perfect to work on in the car (but only as a passenger! LOL)
 I love seeing stacks of finished blocks!
Here are all the latest Sweet Hearts ready to go into the quilt top. 
Block inspection....

These little kitties were sent in as understudies to lazy Gracie napping in the background. 

My girlfriend Marie finally decided to jump into the Sweet Hearts project.  Since she joined late she has had quite a bit of catching up to do!!!  She is now in day 25 with 100+ hearts done! Go Marie!!!
Here is the start of her quilt.  Love the black & white triangles!
So now that we are nearing the milestone of the half way point in this project, the basket of heart blocks is half empty.
My heart block for the first day of summer.

Happy Stitching!

Deb

Friday, June 21, 2013

And the Winner is..... and a Blushing Bride

I am a little behind in posting these photos of the first two blocks from the Bountiful Life quilt.  The first one I had asked for feedback on the vase.  It was definitely too light before.  Thanks for your help in selecting this one.  It was my favorite too.
 I really like the blue print vase much better.
 It reminds me of my collection of blue dishes on the wall in our living room.
Finally, the Quilter Bride is done.  Isn't she lovely? 
 Now onto the next block....  Grapes and a swooping bird!
The girls relaxing together.  Poor Suzi.... looks like Lucy is using her for a pillow!

Happy Weekend and Happy Stitching!

Deb

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Sometimes you need a Professional

Sometimes you need a professional to do a better job than maybe we can do ourselves.. even though we sometimes think we can do it all, especially when it comes to sewing.  And then there are times when you think you should leave it to the professionals and you are greatly disappointed!  Here are two examples from this past week:
I bought this cute armchair at a garage sale for $15 about 9 years ago.  It was a disaster with bright yellow chipped paint and a stinky, lumpy cushion on it.  I repainted it a nice clean white enamel and made new cushions for it.  I had never made box cushions before so I ventured into new territory. They had palm trees on them and looked great, but were getting faded and worn.  I decided to have them recovered by a professional re-upholsterer with this great fabric I found.  I love the flip-flops for the beach condo and he did such a GREAT job!!  Sometimes you just need a professional.....
So as you know, we had this great tile put into the entrance hallway in the condo.  Looks like white-washed wood and will really cut down on the wear and tear on carpeting in that area.  We went with the professionals because neither myself or my husband know how to lay tile.
We walked into the condo (we weren't there during the install - the problem with
being 3 hours away) and this is what we found.  This is the doorway into the guest room. 
This is the doorway into our master bedroom.  Not as bad.. but still cut short and ruined with adhesive and grout ground into both carpets.  And I can't show you the broken garbage disposal that happened when they dumped the waste water with grout, tile spacers, etc. down my kitchen sink....... Professionals??

Needless to say, they are installing new carpeting, free of charge, in those rooms this week.......and paying for the new garbage disposal. 
I really needed this walk on the beach Sunday morning (that's not me on the beach).  It was a great way to escape.  That and my stitching - It's what keeps me sane sometimes!

Happy Stitching!

Deb

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

A Change of Pace...

Sometimes I just need a change of pace.  Sometimes I just need to step back from my more traditional work and do some more freestyle designing.  So I started working on a new collage fish design that will become a new pattern. 
If I am planning on turning my design into a pattern, I always start with a drawing.  Here is my beginning drawing on my design table.
Next is one of my favorite steps... pulling fabrics from my stash to get an idea where I want my colors.
I then begin tracing the pattern pieces from my original drawing onto tracing paper and cutting out the fabrics so they all fit and overlap each other. At this point nothing is sewn or glued down.  We are still in the design process and things are sure to change!
The next step is to put it up on my design wall.  Designs look so much different once you put them on a design wall and can step back.  Some pieces are freeform cut from fabric and then the pattern piece needs to be made.
This piece is still in progress.... as I add pieces and audition additional fabrics....so stay tuned.


As you can see in the background, Sweet Hearts still continue to be stitched!

Happy Stitching.

Deb

Monday, June 3, 2013

Weekend at the Beach

Another weekend at the beach to get our place ready for the season.  And although we were there to work I did get a chance to go for a walk on Sunday morning, which was wonderful.  With the temperatures in the 90's off shore, it was a delightful sunny 75 degrees with a wonderful ocean breeze.  Clear blue skys and no humidity.  Makes having to do anything a pleasure and not a chore. So on my walk on Sunday I went down to the beach.
Because of the huge beach we have, and the building of the dunes after Superstorm Sandy, they put in this wonderful boardwalk to take you through the dunes to the beach.
The entrance to the beach at the end of our street and the protective dunes they built after the storm.  (Luckily we sustained no damage from the storm!!)
Our huge beach - it was low tide which made it even bigger!
During the rest of my walk, I saw this beautiful planter in a garden.  Aren't the colors are just beautiful!
Back at the condo - they delivered everything for the tile installation on Saturday.  The tile will look like whitewashed wood - perfect for the beach! (note stitching supplies on the couch!)
And everthing got moved into the kitchen to make way for the new carpeting that will go in the living room.  It takes a bit of coordination when you are trying to get projects done and  you don't live there! LOL
I have a lot of quilts hanging at the condo.  This one is a pattern by Nancy Myrick called Beach Houses.
Very cute!
Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab - and original design that I have available in a pattern.
Super Fish - the first fish quilt I made based on Sue Carlson's technique in her book Freestyle Quilts.
A bluework piece I made looks perfect in the bedroom!

And another Sue Carlson style quilt that hangs in the entryway.

So that is a few of the 'beach' quilts that decorate our 'beach house' : - )
Of course there was plenty of time during the car ride to stitch.  Here are the hearts I was able to finish and I also did some stitching on my Quiltmaker Bride block.

Happy Stitching!

Deb

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