Mini-Giveaway Winner!

Thank you so much for all your comments on the type of hand quilting thread you use.  Some of you even commented on what kind of thimble you use.  I really learned a lot and loved hearing all your preferences and the reason why you used the thread you use! 

Now... for the winner of the Gutermann thread....  Drum roll please!!

The random number generator chose number 9!!!  Comment number 9 came from Frog Quilter.  She said, "I use YLI to Hand quilt. It's made here in the south. Yay! "  You can check out her blog here.  

I hope you enjoy giving the Gutermann thread a try.  I will get this in the mail to you as soon as you send me your address.  Thanks again for your comment.

Lucy actually thought her Squeeky Geeky toy was a much better prize.....

But in the end...she decided she wanted to keep him.  Sorry Frog Quilter. LOL

Finally, today being the 15th anniversary of 911 - Let's not forget the people lost and the lives forever changed by this tragedy.  Fifteen years later I still find the images of that day very disturbing to look at, and it seems like yesterday.  RIP

Deb

APQ UFO Challenge - February Finish: Not what I had planned

If you remember back to my post Jan/Feb I told you that my project for February was to machine quilt my Bachelor Buttons quilt.  

You remember this, right?  Welllll... it did't happen.  I just couldn't get the motivation to work on it.. and I knew if I forced it, it could be a disaster.  You know how us creative types are when we are forced to work on something we don't want to do.... results are not usually good.  

So instead I just chose a different project from my challenge list.   That works, right?  Progress is progress in my mind. Besides, I really want to get the binding on this quilt. 

I squared up the quilt and cut out the binding. 

I chose this pink print from the Papillon collection by 3 Sisters.  Other prints from the collection are in borders.  Love the little butterflies!

In no time I was at the sewing machine sewing on this binding.  It went on in a jiffy. 

Soon I was done and ready to get started on hand stitching that binding down.

Today I will be doing some Slow Sunday Stitching, linking up at Kathy's Quilts.  Stop over to see all the Sunday stitching going on.  She as a great project she is working on!  Love the red work. 

I even started pinning down the binding on the Liberated Logs quilt this morning. I am going to try to stitch down this one on the sewing machine.  We'll see how it goes. 

Lucy decided I needed some help with stitching the binding... or maybe she was just photo bombing my quilt! 

One last note.  I stopped by Jo-Ann Fabrics yesterday and picked up this great little folding Ottlite.  I am finding I am having more trouble seeing, especially stitching at night.  The compact (and pink!) light originally sells for $89.99 and it was on sale for $19.99.  I great buy and no, I don't get any compensation from Jo-Anns!  I think the sale is on until March 2. 

Happy Stitching!

Deb

Traditional and Modern Mix for Post #200!

So this is my 200th post!  Yay!..Hooray!...Thank you! 

I tried to think of something really creative to mark this (albeit small) milestone, but much like the weather today, I just seem to be feeling dull and dismal.  So let me just share with you, like I usually do, what a pleasure it has been to meet all of you and share my quilting journey with you.  You are all  AWESOME!

Now let's look what's been going on in the quilt studio. There seems to be a mix of traditional and modern projects occurring at the same time.  So appropriate for my 200th blog because this is the way I roll! LOL

First up - I got the Oak Leaf & Reel blocks pieced together with the sawtooth borders.  Looks nice, no?  I am a little concerned about those borders not laying completely flat... but I will worry about that another day. :-).

So I thought I was done.  Add a nice red and white border fabric that I had chosen, and I was done.  But of course, as happens, the quilt had other ideas.

I started listening to this quilt - your quilts talk to you, right? and it was telling me it needed appliqued borders.  So .... of course I had to listen.

I decided on a vine that included a smaller oak leaf and some larger leaves that were in the blocks.  Not quite sure what I am going to do in those corners... again, another day.  I am open to any suggestions.  I used my Golden Threads paper to make a pattern for the shape of the vine. I am thinking of adding the year and my initials.. but need to think about that.

Next up is the string quilt star blocks.  I have been experimenting with all the suggestions you all were so generously shared. I tried each one with varying degrees of success. 

 I finally decided on the lightweight interfacing.  It is very stable, no odor or residue, it can be cut to any size (my blocks are 6" finished), and it is inexpensive.  It also adds very little weight to the quilt.  It is a winner!

My blocks are now very flat with no stretch on those bias edges.  Yay!

I am not sure how many of these star blocks I am going to make - but they sure are fun!

Check out Bonnie Hunter's blog today on sting quilts for a look at what inspired me to try string piecing. .

Meanwhile, Lucy has been staying cozy under one of her favorite quilts.

Happy Stitching!

Deb

Feels Like Santa's Workshop...

My studio feels a little like Santa's workshop lately.  I have really been dedicated to finishing up some quilt tops and making backs for quilts that I want to get to the longarm quilter (see previous post!)  As my girlfriend Dawn said, "You've really been cranking them out".  And with a heavy work load at work lately, I haven't had time to do much else!

Hmmm... how did Lucy get in that photo with Santa??!! :-)

On Monday I dropped off three more quilts at Aardvark & C Quilt Shoppe.  It is close to work and easy for me to stop at on my way home.  My longarm quilter picks up and drops off at the shop.  Unfortunately, the shop will close at the end of the year.  So sad to hear when a LQS closes, but Sally and her husband have been in business a long time (1987, and yes I was quilting back then) and it is time to retire and do some other things with their family, etc. I don't blame her, but will miss her.

Lucy helped with some of the fabric selections for the backs... none of these made the cut.

I didn't grab the camera before I loaded the quilts into the car on Sunday night, but I can tell you one was the Offset Log Cabin quilt from the Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2014, one was a red, white, and blue stars quilt from 2012.  The third was a Christmas quilt I made years ago.  Yay - getting those old UFOs out of here!

While there I picked up two of the quilts that I dropped off last week.  Wow!  They were done already and Janice did an awesome job.. as always.

Beautiful quilting around the applique on the Budding Beauty quilt.

And wonderful feathered motifs in the setting triangles and border.
Sally suggested a pieced binding with the fabrics from the appliqued leaves.  The blocks were made in 2007 - 2008, but I still have some of these fabrics.  I think that is definitely the way to go!

She also finished the green baskets quilt. This one is a little harder to see.

The blocks were custom quilted in white thread.

The feathered borders in a green.

I will be back to the shop this week to pick up one more quilt from the first batch.  The other quilts should be ready in a week or so.
While none of these quilts are for Christmas, it feels like Christmas when I pick them up and see the beautiful quilting she has done!

Happy Stitching!

Deb


Linking up today at WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.  Check it out!

Pets on Quilts Show 2015 - Lucy's Favorite Event Every Year!

Well, I almost missed it, but Lucy reminded me today (with quite a bit of meowing this morning) that today was the start of the Pets on Quilts Show 2015 over at Lily Pad Quilting.  Of course we have to participate - she waits for this all year long!!!

Anyone who follows my blog knows that Lucy thinks this is her blog, where she allows me to talk about quilting. :-)  She of course is very involved in every aspect of the quilting process....

Fabric selection and inventory control.....

Pattern design and layout....

Quilt basting...  Shhhhh.. she thinks this is a self-portrait. 

 And more layout consulting and design work. 

It's all very exhausting for one small kitty....

Especially when you consider the prep time to keep herself ready at any moment the camera might appear. 

And of course there are the fans to deal with.......

Sometimes it just makes a kitty want to hide.

She thinks no one can see her here.  Let's not tell her....

Please check out all the other Pets on Quilts at the show over at Lily Pad Quilting.  It is so much fun!!!

If you haven't guessed, she wants to enter the Cat on Quilt CATegory. 

And Lucy won't mind if you vote for her, she can handle the pressure of an election!!  Please, no debates though! :-)

Happy Stitching,

Deb.... and Lucy

Lucy Has Selected a Winner... (not really, but she thinks so)

First and foremost I want to thank everyone that commented on Lucy's National Quilting Day blog. Lucy and I really enjoyed hearing about everyone's plans for the day on Saturday, or even Sunday! She especially loved hearing words like "adorable" "cute" and "wise". :-)  There were a lot of different ways that quilters celebrated National Quilting Day.  I spent the day in my sewing studio working on something that I can't show you yet... and of course, my assistant kept an eye on me. 

Now for the giveaway!!  The magic number generator (although I let Lucy think she picked) chose lucky # 17 as the winner.  And that winner is Diane who blogs over at Butterfly Threads Quilting.  (Check out her blog - it's fabulous!!) Congratulations Diane!  I will send out your gift in the next day or so.  Now.. what has Diane won?

Lucy had some suggestions for a fabulous gift!  The first one was her little Fat Cat toy - which she insisted anyone would love!! 

Afterall, she loved it and there was somewhat of a likeness...  I told her I thought that probably wouldn't be a good choice.

Her next suggestion was her favorite purple straw.  I told her while I am sure anyone would appreciate that wonderful color, she should probably hold onto that. 

She also thought her crocheted fishy was a purrfect gift.

While I made some other selections for our winner, she insisted that if I couldn't include any of the prizes above, at least I could include some cute kitty fabric.  (Again... her choices with some kitties that look vaguely familiar) :-)

So Diane will be receiving a colorful handmade pin cushion, flower head pins, and two Lucy endorsed fat quarters (hopefully without cat hair!).  Thanks again to everyone who commented.  I loved hearing from all of you!!

Lucy was exhausted by the end of the day.. but wanted to thank eveyone too!!!

Happy Stitching,

Deb (and Lucy)