I've been entirely frustrated with getting this blog up and running because my technical skills with computers are sorely lacking. However, I stumbled onto today and with her help, managed to post 2 gadgets! Who knew I could be so creative. I hope with these baby steps, I'll be able to post more and more information on my blog and even gain some followers! If you stumbled here by mistake, sign up and cheer me own. I want to be a viable blogger, someone who can participate in hops and quilt alongs! Thank you Quilting Gallery for the help!

Amish Quilt Shop, Lancaster, PA

Marrakech Modern

Marrakech Modern: Exotic Moroccan design gets a modern makeover this season, offsetting lavis...

A NOVICE QUITER MUSING AGAIN!

So last night I was finishing up some binding on a tote bag that I started this weekend. I'm really into sewing bags lately and hubby is complaining because they hang on every doorknob in the house. I need to start selling something. At any rate, my creative mind was musing again and I remembered a UFO I had started with charm packs last year. I started thinking about how I could "fix" it. Above is an example of how I inserted a 1" strip into a charm by assembly line sewing. I saw the pattern in LOVE OF QUILTING by Fons and Porter but the designer had you cutting the 1" by 5" strips, and sewing each one individually to half of a charm square. Fooey on that. At any rate, I have this bag of about 30 charms already with the 1" insert plus fabric to go with. So I was thinking last night of sewing strips around each charm to create a log cabin like square and then sewing them together somehow. I will have to think on it but I don't want to sew it like it was orginally designed. Boring doesn't cut it with me anymore. I am a natural rule breaker. When presented with a challenge, I am always trying to reinvent the wheel and do it a different, better way. Doesnt always turn out better but you know the drift! Later.

I'M WAFFLING!

I'm waffling back and forth with projects and not sure where to go. This weekend I didn't accomplish much in the way of quilting. At least I don't think I did. I worked on a quilt top that I had basically created with no pattern. It's kind of a project for a quilt for my granddaughter, maybe, if she'll like it, and I got to a point where I'm not sure what to do next? Why don't I just follow a pattern? I'm just one of those people who like to try new things and break the rules. Then I worked on a purse yesterday, Sunday. I got so far with it and then I'm not sure that the little bit of orange that I added to it is going to help. So I may take it apart and not add the orange. I sewed all weekend with nothing completed. That is so not like me. I've got some quilt tops that I made this past year and not sure if I will bat and quilt them. So I've decided that maybe I ought to cut them up and make totes out of them. Waffling about that too. Today I've got to devote some time to actually working at my job. Maybe I'll get off the waffle iron and accomplish something. Later.

FABRIC ALERT!

FABRIC ALERT, REPOSTED! Friday, June 15, 2012 I'm reposting the following from QuiltingB52's blog this morning as I wanted to share with all my quilting friends. This is serious as the disease is spreading! "Fabric Alert Warning.... Friday, June 15, 2012 Chemical Warning: A recent study indicated that fabric gives off certain Pheromones that actually hypnotize women and cause them to purchase unreasonable amounts. When stored in large quantities in enclosed spaces, the Pheromones (in the fabric) causes memory loss and induces the nesting syndrome (similar to the one squirrels have before the onset of winter i.e. storing food). Therefore perpetuating their species and not having a population loss due to their kind being cut into pieces and mixed with others. Sound tests have also revealed that these fabrics emit a very high pitched sound, heard only by a select few, a breed of women know as “quilters”. When played backwards on an LP, the sounds are heard as chants, “buy me, cut me and sew me”. In order to overcome the so called “feeding frenzy effect” that these fabrics cause, one must wear a face mask when entering a storage facility and use ear plugs to avoid being pulled into their grip. One must laugh, however, at the sight of customers in a quilt fabric store, with WWII army gas masks and headphones! Studies have also indicated that aliens have inhabited the earth, helping to spread the effects that these fabrics have on the human population. They are called QUILT FABRIC STORE CLERKS. It’s also been experienced that these same Pheromones cause a pathological need to hide these fabric purchases when taken home (or at least blend them into the existing stash), and when asked by significant other if the fabric is new, the reply is “I’ve had it for awhile.” " ~ Author unknown I have this disease but I am here to say that I actually walked into 2 fabric stores this week and left with nothing, not even a pack of needles! I don't know what came over me. I sniffed and smelled and took in the aroma but wasn't inspired to whip out my credit card! I'm seriously thinking about making a doctor's appointment! I did have a wakeup call when I got my latest credit card bill that I have devoted to quilting purchases. I figured I needed to pare that down a bit and maybe knocked some sense into me. This week I attacked a UFO of a BOM that I'm enrolled in. (ONlY YOU QUILTERS WILL UNDERSTAND WHAT I JUST SAID) I've been sewing bags like I didn't have any so I"m glad to go back to something that I needed to do. I must be crazy to have signed up for Ripples and Reflections BOM. It is another thousand tiny triangles quilt! What was I thinking? I just finished Patriots in Petticoats which was triangle city! I'm behind on my blocks so I want to catch up this weekend. R and R isn't that much fun because I am making 4 of the same block, all those triangles! And all the same! It is quick assembly line sewing though once I get into it. So tomorrow is Saturday! Yea! Another day to sew and catch up! Later.

Tote Bags are Heaven!

Lately, I've been quilting and sewing everyday. I like sewing Tote bags because I can have a finished project at the end of the day. Trouble is, I have many completed tote bags around the house and no where to put them. So I need to offer them up for sale. I'm challenged when it comes to photography and posting pics. I will work on that. Later. Carol

Crafty Sewing & Quilting: Are you a NEW Quilt Blogger?

Crafty Sewing & Quilting: Are you a NEW Quilt Blogger?

McCall's Quilting Quilt Design Star™ 2012 | McCall's Quilting

McCall's Quilting Quilt Design Star™ 2012 | McCall's Quilting

VOTE FOR ME!

Go to the above link and vote for my quilt in the McCall's contest! And thank you! Carol

BOOK REVIEW: SEASIDE HOME!

My passion for quilting is quickly taking over my life and my spare time.  I recently had the opportunity to review a new book entitled SEASIDE HOME by Susanne Woods and, oh, my!  I'm excited to tell you it is fabulous!  I'm an interior designer living on the Gulf Coast of Florida and I was instantly drawn to the title, SEASIDE HOME!  Yes, it was a craft book but there surely must be something inside that could relate to decorating the interior of a home!  And I wasn't disappointed! 

My husband and I lived in England for 3 years with the Air Force and the first craft listed in the book is by Jenny Arnott.  It's a Beach Hut Pillow reminiscent of the seashore changing huts we saw on the beaches of the North Sea!  It brought back so many memories for me that I think that will be my first project.  You can learn more about Jenny and the pillow at jennyarnott.blogspot.com

All of the 25 projects in the book have easy instructions and templates that you can use in your designs! I can't wait to get started! In fact, I may just have to go out and purchase SEASIDE HOME to have in my library! Enjoy!

TEA LEAVES

 This is a photo of my quilt, TEA LEAVES that I created from two bali pops and a few yards of 2 other fabrics.  I just love the colors and design of it and would like to develop a pattern and put it out there.  Why not?  I could use some help in this area!  Happy Quilting

PUTTING PATTERNS TOGETHER IN QUILTS!

          As an interior designer, I am skilled in selecting fabrics with different patterns to come together in a pleasing combination for your home!  As I started quilting, this skill has easily transported itself into selecting fabrics for a pleasing quilt.  This is illustrated today on the Clotilde website, www.clotilde.com.  When you go to this site, they have a new section featuring a trio of quilt fabrics.  I wish I was adept at transporting these pictures into this blog, but sadly I am not.  However, you can go to Clotilde and look at the 4 sets of 3 fabrics that they've put together.
          In each set, there is one statement print.  This is the largest pattern from which you will pull the colors and patterns for the other two fabrics.  My favorite is the  Sugar and Spice trio of cuts.  The statement print is a medium floral design.  The first complementary fabric is a blue background with red polka dots!  The dots repeat the circular design of the flowers and the blue pulls from the print.  The second complementary fabric is a blue and white stripe of varying widths, again a great choice!  Note that the dominant color of all three fabrics together is blue, and the accent colors are white and red.  In design, I always suggest that at least half to 2/3 of a room should be all one color or shades of one color, in this case, blue.  The other third of the room is made of accent colors, in this case, red and white.  If you follow this guide when selecting your fabrics for you next quilt, you can't go wrong!  Two thirds of your quilt should be all one color or shades of the same color and the remaining third, the accent colors. 
Happy Quilting! 

World War II Quilts

A group of quilters from Silver Thread Quilt Guild in Fort Walton Beach, Fl  and from Flying Needles in Niceville, FL visited the Wiregrass Museum of Art in Dothan, Al on March 24, 2012.  The purpose of the visit was to view a selection of World War II Era quilts form the private collection of Sue Reich.  You can learn more about Sue at www.suereichquilts.com. We were met by Sherry Burkhalter who owns a quilt shop in Headland, Al and is a friend of Sue's. Sherry talked to us about the significance of each quilt and the reasons why quilts were made during that time, not unlike the quilts that are being made now through Quilts of Valor and other groups. 

The quilts weren't particularly beautiful or finely crafted but the significance of each one was apparent.  One quilt from a small town in Texas, featured a quilt block for each soldier or sailor from that town, his unit and whether he was deceased or  a POW.  My father was a POW in Japan for 42 months so that alone was significant for me. Another quilt was composed of 70 plus military patches and insignia of rank from the US Navy.  A seamstress had collected each patch after sewing the new rank onto a sailors uniform and then sewed and quilted them onto fabric to create a quilt!  What dedication to her clients! 

Afterward we motored to Headland where we were treated to a beautiful lunch and a visit to Sherry Burkhalter's lovely quilt shop, Quilted Creations.  Sherry had a connection to our group as she had grown up in Fort Walton Beach and the cutting table in her shop had come from the old TG &Y store on Racetrack Road before it was torn down.  She had a beautiful collection of fabrics that were artfully displayed among antique sewing machines and supplies. 

We finished our day at The Front Porch Quilt Shoppe in Ozark.  Melanie, the owner greeted us with refreshments and we were amazed at the selection of bright and beautiful fabrics that she had.  When the ladies arrived home, laden with packages, they all agreed it was a wonderful day. 

Learn more about Sherry's shop at www.quiltedcreations.com and Melanie's shop at www.thefrontporchquiltshop.com.  Until next time, please quilt your heart out!

Addressing my Passion!

I learned to sew when I was about 8 when my mother taught me how to handsew a red binding on a blue circle to make a red cross cape.  The rest is history.  Couldn't stop sewing until I started my interior design business in 1984.  After that I was too busy to sew anything.  And so, in 2010, having moved my business into my home and deciding I was old enough to let things happen and start sewing again, I took a quilting class.  And boy did I ever take to quilting like a duck in water! 

I am so passionate about quilting, I now have a devoted room in my home to it and a new Viking Sapphire 875.  My husband complains I spend too much time in there but I love the creative aspect of it!  I've even talked to someone about business cards and a website.  I still have my interior design business and I will still continue to serve my clients, but I want to quilt too!  I can visualize myself moving into retirement with a quilting business.  Not a store, never a store but some other avenue of a business.  Can't get the business mind away from me. 

So as I blog and sew, I will develop!  Until next time! 

Tea Leaf Quilts

So I'm an avid quilter now and I decided that I wanted to share what I was learning and sewing so here goes!  Don't you just love my name?  I'll be in touch!  Carol