Fall Quilt Market part 3

So one of my very favorite moments at Quilt Market was getting to look at and play with the Bernina sewing machines.  I have been a Bernina girl since I won one of their sewing machines in an apron making contest about 5 years ago.  Winning that machine was such a life changer for me, it gave me so much confidence, and with a top quality machine I noticed my sewing just looked better.  I never had to fight the machine to get it to work right and so I could just focus on getting better and better at sewing and quilting.  It is a tiny little Activa 210, but it sure does the job and boy do I love that machine.  Needless to say there have been quite a lot of improvments and changes made in the past 5 years.  One of the biggest was Bernina's announcement that they have a new long arm and mid arm quilting machines coming out!  I couldn't wait to get my hands on the one they brought to show off at market.  Boy was it a beauty, felt more like a sports car then a long arm and in the best possible way.  I think getting to "drive" that machine will feel like a sports car too!  They won't be out until next year or so, so this was just a fun sneak peek, but I loved to get the preview!  Sure was a funny realization to see that my current machine would fit inside the throat space of the new long arm!

I also got to play around with the new 700 series machines- and they are so gorgeous!  I loved the 710 I sewed and quilted on- with features galore that will take some real getting used to- and a throat space that is down right enviable- I could really get used to sewing and quilting on one of those!  Ahh a girl can dream can't she?   Judy Hahner, one of the wonderful woman who work at Bernina, was kind enough to take some pictures of all my gallivanting for me- hope you enjoy!

Fall Quilt Market part 2

Angela Walters wasn't the only lucky lady to receive my help this fall Market season.  I was also able to convince Leah Duncan, another fabric designer for Art Gallery that she needed my help too.  I had the very good fortune of both booths being right across the isle from each other.  This made going back and forth to talk about my work or help either gal out very easy.  It was also fun to watch people admire the things I made from across the isle in either booth.  I am keeping all my fingers and toes crossed that I will be able to help them both again this coming Spring Market, and that they will be so conveniently located again next time~
Leah asked me to piece and quilt a 60x86" quilt for her booth.  She made it the feature of one of the walls which made me very proud.  I wanted to make it extra special, so I got out my light box and traced her logo flowers across the middle of the quilt with a water soluble pen.  Then I quilted the logo in- which made for an impressive, yet subtle effect.  For  the rest of the quilting I went with her requests of flowers, ferns and grassy type designs.  I had intended to use some McTavishing as filler, but ended up liking the more organic look of the grass fill I came up with better.  It worked better for Leah's look.  The quilt looked so pretty in her booth.  I also got to design and piece as well as quilt 3 pillows for her.  I did log cabin variations and they came out really cute.  I love making pillows, so it was no hardship when she requested them.  I had a great time working with Leah, she really gave me a lot of creative control, which always leads to the best working relationships.  I feel very lucky to know such talented and kind women, and even luckier to get to work for them!!  Stay tuned for a more on my market adventure... lets just say I got to see something very BIG!!

Fall Quilt Market 2013 part one

Well, I have officially been home for a few days now, the suitcase is unpacked, the laundry done, new sewing stuff carefully stored in my studio, pictures downloaded- and now there is nothing left to do but share what an amazing time I had at Fall Quilt Market in Houston Texas.  I had a 4 day bender of fun and giggling with my girlfriends, as well as making amazing business connections and meeting new people- peppered with a few great parties and some really yummy food- and it was a perfect trip! 
One of the big things I was there to do was to help Angela Walters out with her booth again.  I have the very good fortune of counting her as one of my closest friends- and she is kind enough to keep hiring me to help her make samples and run the booth.  I also had the good fortune of having an extra helper this time as both Angela and I had meetings to attend- my quilt market roommate and dear dear friend Mandy Leins of Mandalei Quilts.  This time Angela's theme (named after her new fabric line for Art Gallery Fabrics) was Drift.  She took a trip to the beach and spent her time "drifting away" thus this collection had a very beachy vibe.  We played that up with a beach umbrella, fabric covered beach chairs, beach towels, a beach bag- you name it!  I got to make the beach bag as well as a cute beach ball pillow.  What I am most proud of was the beach umbrella I recovered though!  That umbrella was no small feat- anyone who tells you it is easy to recover an umbrella in quilting cotton needs to have their nose measured for instant growth- because it isn't!  What added to the challenge was that I only had a fat quarter of each of the prints I used (oh the joys of working with strikeoffs) - but you know what- I am a girl who LOVES a challenge!  I rolled my sleeves up and got her done.  I am so proud of how it came out, and with some Thermoweb Peel N Stick Fabric Fuse tape I was able to jazz up the finial and the handle too- gotta love that stuff!  The umbrella and bag were both big hits, but the break out star was that beach ball which ended up flying across the booth isle on many occasion when things got slow.  Gotta love those impromptu beach volleyball games at Quilt Market. 
I had so much fun helping Angela out- her booth is always a great place to hang out, all the fun people make their way over and I always meet lots of new friends and see old ones.  I helped out another fabric designer as well and will tell you about what I did for them in the next post so stay tuned... Hint- she also designs fabric for Art Gallery... (anyone got any guesses?)

Halloween for your Pet with Thermoweb

I was asked to create a Halloween themed project and tutorial for Thermoweb and I had so much fun doing so.  Lets just say anything that involves making things for my puppies is a lot of fun for me.  This treat bag was designed for a laugh at the front door with trick or treaters- but would be just as cute if you were bringing your dog with you to trick or treat with the kids.  Happy Halloween!

Measure Twice Cut Once tutorial for Moda and Thermoweb

I am excited to announce my big debut on Moda's blog today for their Measure Twice Cut Once blog hop.  Thermoweb was asked to sponsor a day and spread the word about their PeelnStick Removable Ruler Tape.  Myself and two other designers came up with some fun tutorials to show a few of the many ways to use this great product.  Please stop by Moda's blog to check the tutorials and enter a great Thermoweb giveaway!

New Glory Quilt for Operation Homefront

Scott Hansen of Blue Nickle Studio approached me just over a month ago with a request for quilting.  I had recently had the opportunity to meet Scott at quilt market this past Spring and was very interested to see what he had for me to work on.  He forwarded pictures of the New Glory quilt he designed and pieced for the Quilted in Honor project for Operation Homefront.  He was looking for some modern quilting so support and not overwhelm the design - and the thought it deserved a custom job.  I couldn't have been more excited to get my hands on it- such great wonky lines- I have never done a truly wonky quilt before this one, and was just so excited to have a blast with it.  I kept the quilting to a few designs- pebbles, swirls, rope, stars and a box in box design- choosing the designs was the hardest decision- I was really toying with the idea of another direction completely- but this one won out and I think it highlights his piecing better- which was the ultimate goal.  Please take some time to read more about Scott's quilt on his blog
Here are some pictures that I took of the New Glory Quilt before I sent it back to Scott- but go over to his blog to see much better pictures of it all finished!

fresh air

On Wednesday we took a break from the normal routine to go visit Jeff's dad at Lake Hemet where he lives for his Birthday.  It has been a very busy week to say the least, and I welcomed the idea of spending the day in the mountains, breathing fresh air, with no cell phone service.... ahhh!  We had a great day- lots of dog walking, bike riding, throwing frisbees and balls, cooking and eating great food- and spoiling his dad with lots of fun gifts.  When I got home to look at the pictures I realized that Jeff had stolen it from me for a while and had an amazing photo shoot with some hummingbirds- so sorry for the picture heavy post but these are all just so cool I couldn't resist!  Hope you enjoy seeing a guy and gal and their two dogs unwind in nature.... sure was a great day~

Announcing a new sponsorship and a tutorial

Hello there!  I am happy to announce officially that I am on the design team for Thermoweb and my very first tutorial has gone live on their blog.  I absolutely love Thermoweb products- from fusible fleece to spray baste to the best ever fusible web- they make it all, and it works consistently and perfectly every time!  Please check out my tutorial and let me know what you think!  Hope you enjoy!

WIP WEDNESDAY tiny dancer in my hand....

Well summer has been rolling by here in Palm Springs and with temps hovering over 110 several days last week and a huge wildfire this week blocking out the sun and cooling things off everything seems a bit strange this week!  And keeping in form with the strange week was some very strange sewing behavior from me!  I did something this week that I have never, in my 11 years of quilting done before- I actually picked up a pattern from a lovely stack I was recently gifted by my friend Julie of Jaybird Quilts- and my new Hex n More ruler- and read it from start to finish- and committed.

that is right- a pattern on my table~

I quickly and without thinking too much pulled fabric and started cutting- and now am about half done piecing the triangles to the half hexs- and soon a quilt will be born!

half the half hexes already have triangles

the other half waiting to get their turn under the needle

 The fabric I grabbed was actually intended for another purpose (oops) - My sister bought it at a quilt shop nearby her for me to make her a bag.... a bag- not a quilt.  I tried to make the bag once- starred at the fabric for a long time... but I couldn't do it.  You see, she wanted a purse- not a diaper or kid bag- and the fabric looked too- I don't know, baby.  So, I reasoned, I could certainly tempt her with something from my prized stash of special hoarded stuff- I know her style.  And this will make a super cute quilt- so Tiny Dancer it is- and you know what?  Following a pattern is pretty darn great- all the figuring done for you, not too much thinking- just easy peasy.  And Julie writes a fabulous pattern.  Angela Walters quilted Julie's version- and it is to die for- I am going to try to resist the urge to outright copy her when I quilt mine... I did say try.  Hope you all are have a fantastic week and a super summer- can't wait to see what you have all been up to!
of course I am linking up to Freshly Pieced WIP WEDNESDAY

Name Game Time!

Hey Folks!  I am so excited to announce that I am playing the name game today on Live a Colorful Life's blog!  Check out the interview here and hopefully get a good laugh!  I just love Cindy and her blog and had way too much fun with all this, so I hope you enjoy!  And anyone new who came over from Cindy's blog hello and please stop back by my little blog any time! 

I borrowed this one from Cindy's blog- here is us at market!

My Studio Space

I realized recently that I have never properly shown my studio space where I create and quilt every day.  I should preface this by saying I live in a small home- not that I am complaining- I love our home, my guy Jeff has been vacationing at the house we live in since he was a very young boy.  His Grandmother had our house built, and lived here until she passed- since it has been in his family for generations, and we have the luck of having lived here for the past 10 years.  But small it is, we have 2 bedrooms, one which we use, and one is dedicated to our business.  That leaves a corner in the living room for me and my overflowing quilty items.  A year ago I had the good fortune of coming across the shelf set pictured at a thrift shop.  The price was right and the size was perfect, so we decided to go for it, rent a truck, and my current studio was born.  I love all the new space I have, but it didn't take but a few minutes once it was here and in place to realize that I had more stuff then space.  I have done my best to organize and find a home for all the essentials.  A lot of what I have lives in bins in the garage though, alas, one day I will have a big studio with it's own door and lots and lots of shelf space.  Until then, I will be glad to have what I have and in the famous words of Tim Gunn " make it work people!"