Monday, June 30, 2014

The Postcard Quilt Along

A few days ago, Debbie over at A Quilter's Table posted a Postcard Quilt Along. Debbie had designed an adorable mini quilt that resembles postcards. I loved it. Hop on over there & take a look, I know you'll love hers too!

Well I had been hoarding hanging onto some awesome Hawaiian fat quarters that my pal Raquel brought back for me last year. I knew when I saw the perfect project to make with them, I'd know it. Well this was it! I decided to make a "Postcards from Hawaii" quilt using Debbie's tutorial.

 It required a trip to the quilt store to get some text prints (I've been dying to add some text prints to my stash anyways! Perfect opportunity!)
 And here's my finished quilt! It went together quickly & was so much fun to make.
If you want to see some more Postcard quilts, check out the flickr group. And then make one! come on, I know you want to!

Friday, June 27, 2014

girls in my studio and a WINNER!

It's been quite a while since my young teenage friends from church have come over to sew. In fact, they have never been to my new house! Two of the girls came today to make pillows....

 They learned to make half square triangles and had a great time arranging them into patterns. I just love how their pillows turned out! Nice job girls!
 Also, I didn't forget that I owe you all a winner of the gift certificate from Pen & Paint from my last post. You all found things you loved in the shop. I knew you would. I pulled up Random.org on my phone and couldn't believe my eyes when this number was chosen.....
Number one! I've never seen that chosen before! So our winner is Happy Cottage Quilter who said: Oh my, I had to look at all of them. They are so wonderful!! Do What Makes Your Heart Sing, and My Cup Runneth Over are my TWO favorites

Congrats to you! I'm off to email you now, I know you'll love your little shopping spree. Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Monday, June 23, 2014

studio update and a sweet giveaway!

Last time I updated you on my studio space, I was working on my mini wall. I've added some to it since....

And this weekend I decided to start on the opposite wall! 
 Do you see that cute print in the frame? My friend Lindsay, from Pen & Paint, sent it to me! I just love the saying, it's something I need to see and read every single day (and then put it into action). Lindsay's colorful artwork is right up my alley too.....

 I put it into an 8x10 frame that matches my chalkboard (both purchased at Hobby Lobby) and I just love it! Have you checked out Lindsay's shop? Hop on over there & take a look.... I know you'll find many things that speak to you. In fact, I had a hard time choosing just one! I know I'll be back for more. Leave me a comment telling me your favorite item and you'll be entered into a drawing for a $20 gift certificate to Pen & Paint. I'll pick a winner this Friday... June 27. Good luck!


Tuesday, June 17, 2014

radiant orchid challenge

At our last meeting of the McKinney Modern Quilt Guild we did a one yard rip off with fabrics featuring the pantone color of the year, radiant orchid. It went something like this....

everyone brought one yard of fabric that had radiant orchid as the feature color. I had given everyone a popsicle stick painted radiant orchid the month before so they could find a fabric in the right color family. We all stood in a circle. Holding your fabric out by the length, each person folds her fabric in half, snips it in the middle, tears it in two. Then you drop one piece in front of you (to keep) and pass the other one to the right. This continues on until you are left with a tiny piece in your hands (a little bigger than a charm square). Then you pick up your original print (which is half the size it started!) and do the same thing in the other direction. You end up with 10 different pieces of fabric in the end, of all different sizes. Clear as mud? I thought so!

Here are the fabrics I brought home with me....

Now the challenge is to make something with your rip off fabrics and bring it to the next meeting, in July. Mom and I had been eyeing up this gorgeous Thimbleblossoms quilt on the cover of Love Patchwork and Quilting....
 It's called "Cheerio" and in typical Thimbleblossoms fashion, there are instructions included for a matching mini! Perfect! Since my radiant orchid fabrics also included lots of orange, I decided to bind my mini in orange weave. The orange and the white background fabric were the only things I added...
 I did some simple diagonal quilting in both directions and it's done. Not my normal chosen colors but I really love it! I've seen some sneak peeks of what others are doing on Instagram and there are some awesome projects! I can't wait to see them all in person in a couple of weeks.

Does your guild do fun challenges like this one? I'd love to hear about them.

Saturday, June 14, 2014

another presidential library

Hubby and I love to visit presidential libraries. Ok, let's be truthful here. Hubby is a history buff. Visiting presidential libraries is truly his thing. Over the years, after seeing many with him, I have become interested too.

On Thursday, while former president George H W Bush was sky diving for his 90th birthday, we visited his library in College Station, TX. 
 The lobby was filled with visitors enjoying cake and ice cream in his honor (even though he wasn't there!) Check out this fancy cake.
 Hubby sat and had a chat with the President....
 And I took a turn sitting in his chair in the oval office....
What did you do exciting this past week?

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

the placemat project

I love fun swaps! A few weeks ago, Amber threw out an idea on Instagram for a placemat swap. She called it the placemat project. The idea was that each participant would share what colors/style of fabric placemats she would like to receive. Each of us received four names and preferences to make placemats for over the summer. Every few weeks we would mail one out. The placemats are all the same size (12x18 inches). By the end of summer, we will each have received four different, but coordinating placemats from four different people! Fun! I knew I wanted to play along. 

My first 2 placemats have been sent & received so I can share them with you now. Placemat #1 went off to Tsoniki who lives overseas. I was so nervous until I knew she had received it! She requested mostly yellow with some red. I had fun learning to sew 60 degree triangles on her placemat!

 I decided I would make a coordinating patchwork dishtowel to send with each of my placemats....
 My second placemat went to Sarah. In keeping with my "learn something new" theme, I dug out a tumbler template I had been wanting to experiment with for a long time. Sarah said her kitchen was olive green and I knew these fabrics from my stash would do the trick!
 And with her dishtowel....

I received my first placemat from Hannah and it blew me away! She says this was her very first time doing paper piecing. WOW!

My request was for red & aqua placemats with some black and/or gray. This is stunning! and while the temptation is to hang my placemats on the wall as mini quilts, I am going to use them on my table. I have been wanting patchwork placemats for many years and now I will have some! In fact, I have decided to make four more, all different, placemats to add to my collection so I will have a total of eight. Stay tuned for updates as I receive and mail out more!

Sunday, June 8, 2014

party

Humor me with one more proud mama post! Today we celebrated our Ally with family and friends. Ally took charge of the decor and the food. So, naturally there were balloons...

She had bought herself a Texas State Bobcat dress earlier this spring and it was the perfect attire for the party.
In fact, Hubby and I wore our Bobcat shirts too...

Ally created a fabulous dessert table, complete with cupcakes and all kinds of candy. I have to tell you, the adults enjoyed it as much as the kids did. Everyone took some extra treats home.

 Check out the lollipop bouquets Ally made. So so cute! Little pails from Hobby Lobby with a styrofoam ball on top to stick the suckers into.

It was a fun day. Now I need a nap!

Saturday, June 7, 2014

celebrate!


Yesterday was a big celebration day in our house. First up, a fun lunch out celebrating both graduation and my parents 55th wedding anniversary! Love that they were with us for this big day.




Then we all hopped the DART train and headed downtown to the American Airlines Center for Ally's (and her friend Mariah's, next to her) High School graduation! In front of them, son Steve home from ASU and his lovely girlfriend Lily.



Before the ceremony began they flashed all of the kids pictures on the big screen....

 It was a long night, with 1406 graduates. Finally #1405 was called to the stage....


 I'm so proud of my girl! Hard to believe I am Mom to three awesome, grown up kids.

 Now to enjoy some more time with family before they all head back. Just wanted to share our wonderful day.

Sunday, June 1, 2014

and May is a wrap!

Is it just me, or is this year just flying by? I know I think that every year, but seriously? June 1 already? Wow. Yesterday I finished up my May calendar journal and got my June journal ready to go....

 I feel pretty good about my accomplishments this month. 2 finished quilts (Pow Wow Quilt and Michael Miller Challenge quilt), lots of progress on my Marcelle Medallion, a new top for me, several crochet medallions and yards and yards of paper garland for the upcoming graduation!
 I had some other small finishes that I can't share with you just yet. I'm not thinking June will be as productive in the sewing room. This coming Friday is Ally's High School graduation, complete with house guests, and a fun party. After that we have college orientation and lots to do to get her ready to head off at the end of summer! It's an exciting time.

Here is how our May wrapped up....

a beautiful, very clear rainbow in the sky last night! God is good.