Everyday Improv

Yesterday was an incredibly fun day. McKinney Modern Quilt Guild welcomed Debbie Jeske from A Quilters Table to lead us in an improv workshop. Debbie is my go to improv guru, so it was fun to learn from her in person. Fourteen of us filled the room with fabric, color, enthusiasm and laughter.

We learned lots of different improv techniques all represented in this quilt that Debbie shared. 

This is the tidiest corner of my workspace! It looked like a tornado had blown through, there were scraps everywhere!

Bonny shared my workspace. Hers was all neat and tidy. hmmm I don't get it!

By the end of the day, we had accumulated an amazing collection of blocks, made by everyone in the room. I can't wait to make some sense out of the ones I made and share them with you.

Thanks for a great day Debbie! It was the most fun I'd had in a very long time. I look forward to Debbie's trunk show & lecture at our guild meeting this coming Tuesday. If you're local, it would be great to have you join us!

Reading People... book review

I've recently become very interested in personality typing. Several podcasters I listen to on a regular basis are obsessed with it, constantly asking their guests "what type are you?". Whether it's Myers Briggs typing, Enneagram, or something else, everyone seems to be classifying  themselves, their friends, their family members. Wanting to know what all of the hoopla was all about, I loaded up on books from the library and Amazon. Then I became totally confused! I had no idea where to start on my quest for information. The more I read, the more questions I had.

Anne Bogel to the rescue! Anne is the voice behind the awesome podcast, What Should I Read Next? and the author of the blog, Modern Mrs. Darcy. I answered a call to participate in the launch team for her new book, Reading People, releasing September 19. I got the email that I had been chosen for the team, loaded the book onto my kindle app and dove in, having no idea what the book was about. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that it is the ultimate guide to personality typing!

As the book unfolded, all of my questions were answered. Each chapter introduces a different form of personality typing, from Myers Briggs to love languages, Enneagrams, Highly Sensitive People (a new one for me!) and more. Anne writes in a conversational style. I felt like we were sitting at my kitchen table over a cup of tea. I took many quotes away from the book, like this one, one of my favorites...

Anne gave so many resources and steps to take to learn more. I did reconfirm that I am an INFJ. As for my Enneagram type, that is still up for debate! More reading to be done. Hubby and I had a fun evening reading each other's personality descriptions. Even after 30+ years together, we discovered things about each other and gained insight into why we interact the way we do. Fascinating!

I think everyone would benefit from reading this terrific book. You can preorder yours here, and receive  lots of bonus goodies from Anne. Five stars from this happy reader!

while I did receive an advance copy of this book for free, the opinions I've shared here are totally my own. I really did love it! 

Improv stripes

A few weeks ago, Debbie, over at A Quilter's Table, started an improv stripes sew along. On the first day she gave us a tutorial for how she makes her blocks. This happened to coordinate with my retreat so, after finding some internet when we went into town, I read her post and set to work! I used all black and white prints, along with black, white & a bit of yellow solids.

Once I got home, it was fun to rearrange the blocks, trim them up to make them fit, and assemble them into a finished quilt. Because I don't usually follow the rules (though admittedly, Debbie didn't make any rules, so that was helpful!) I added some appliqué flower petals to my finished top. 

I quilted it on my domestic machine, starting with a yellow spiral in one corner, then adding white lines here and there...

My finished quilt is 25" x 30". I was happy to add this improv method to my toolbox!

Check out all of the beautiful quilts on Instagram at #improvstripesqal 

unplugged

This past weekend I was so lucky to retreat with my sewing sisters at The Retreat at the End of the Road in Athens, TX. Such a beautiful setting where I was able to disconnect (no wifi, limited cell service!) and truly be present in each moment.

this is the spot where I was able to get the best cell service. Pretty sweet!

I'm so lucky to be part of a lovely group of ladies who quilt. We call ourselves Seams Like Sisters. We were only missing one friend this weekend. The six of us who were able to go got lots done! Here are a few of the pretty finishes that came out of our weekend...

Alice's fun mini

Carol's cute modern baby quilt

Diann's house quilt

I'll share my own finishes with you in the next few posts.

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On Monday we took a field trip into town to visit Beverly's awesome quilt shop, the Needle Niche

She was so sweet to open up for us on a Monday when her shop is normally closed.

such a cute shop, and we all found some goodies to take back with us!

Ellen, me, Alice, Joellen, Carol and Diann

Such a fun weekend! I can't wait to go back.

I also realized that yesterday was my nine year blogaversary! Nine years of blogging... I never imagined it would lead me to so many friendships and adventures. Wow!

inspiration day at the Dallas Museum of Art

Ally and her new buddy Malibu were home for a couple of days last weekend....

Malibu is Ally's new service dog. She is a beautiful, gentle dog & is so dedicated to our sweet Ally (and Ally is equally dedicated to her! It's a match made in heaven.) If you want to know more of Ally's story, she blogs over at Teaspoon of Sprinkles.

We decided to take a trip to the art museum while they were here. It was Mali's first museum trip and she did really well.

Ally tends to favor modern art. I enjoy it too!

This painting screamed "make me into a quilt" to me.

This looked like a giant drop cloth. Ha! pretty cool though.

It was a great day, and wore all of us (especially Malibu!) right out.

Luisa Crossbody Bag

Svetlana (sotak handmade) has done it again! Her newest bag pattern, the Luisa Crossbody Bag is my new favorite bag. (I know, I know, I say that EVERY time, but this time I mean it!

I always feel like I've hit the jackpot when I get to pattern test for Svetlana. Her patterns are so well written and easy to follow. Her bags have awesome details and always finish very professionally. This one is no exception!

I find I always learn something new when I make her bags. This one has an adjustable strap, which I assumed would be tricky to do. I shouldn't have worried! As always, the instructions were clear and simple and my strap worked perfectly the very first time.

You can see the bag has a hidden zipper pocket on the front

And two slip pockets on the back (perfect for cell phone and keys)

Open up the recessed zip top

And you'll find another zip pocket in the lining! So many great details

The pattern is available now in Svetlana's shop. She even has a discount deal today! It's a winner.... hop on over there and get yourself one!

Liberty Dainty Tote

I'm still working my way through the glorious bundle of Liberty I bought last year. After piecing a quilt top, I had little pieces left over, just big enough for 1/2" hexies. I combined them with a solid aqua and soon I had this pretty panel...

in my usual fashion, I had no plan for it! Then I realized it was the perfect size to incorporate into a dainty tote. I hadn't made one of these in ages and it's my favorite little bag to make. I ended up cutting the panel in half so I could feature it on both sides of my tote. I lined the cut edge up with the top edges of the background panel and hand appliquéd all the way around the hexies.

I used a dark, denim blue grunge for the background and a blue & white check for the binding.

More Liberty Lawn for the handles, side gussets and top zipper placket. 

I'm so in love with this little tote! Oh, and this is finish #2 in the second quarter of the 2017 finish-along!

Riley Blake challenge

The spring fabric challenge for the Modern Quilt Guild is wrapping up. Finishes are not due until the 30th of April, but since mine is done, I thought I'd share it with you. I loved the Riley Blake Rockstar fabrics because of the color way. Right up my alley! Truth be told, I had sworn off these challenges because I just wasn't that thrilled with the last couple of fabric bundles. Then I saw these fabrics and totally caved in!

I decided to do a collection of minis with my fabric. I did add in Riley Blake solids in Aqua and Red. The first mini I did is the bottom right mini, a Love All Around block by Lee Monroe (May Chappell) You can read about her block and get the free tutorial here. I had been wanting to try out this block and this seemed to be the perfect time. I really love this block and will surely be making more down the road!

The finished minis are all 14" square. Next up was a mini version of my own Funky Dresden. 

And then, because I have been having so much fun with dresdens, I did two more modern dresden interpretations. First a modern dresden quarter square triangle (inspired by Season 1, episode 4 episode of Fresh Quilting)

And then I used up every last scrap of fabric on this modern dresden sunrise...

So that's my submission for the challenge! I've had so much fun watching others pop up on Instagram (#mqgfabricchallenge). You really must check out all of the submissions! Some of them are truly amazing. I had a great time creating mine.

Finish Along first quarter finishes

I'm so happy I have been playing along with the 2017 Finish-along! It really motivates me to get things done. This quarter I challenged myself to complete five specific items.

And I finished all five! Yay me! 

First up, my word of the year quilt (which still isn't hanging on the wall but it is FINISHED!)

My Liberty EPP Plus project became a beautiful pillow which I love to look at every day...

And another pillow finish! Our scrap swap project for the McKinney Modern Quilt Guild that now lives with Chris...

I love the way my Modern  Mystery Block of the Month quilt turned out!

And this shirt is too comfy! I'm almost sad it is quickly getting too warm to wear it here in Texas...

So that's it for the first quarter! I'm linking up at Rhonda's Ramblings.

Off I go to make a list for the second quarter!