Stimulating the economy

Even though I have been crazy busy these last few weeks, I still managed to find a minute now and then to shop.    Here are my latest finds.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Wool fat quarters.  It's very hard to find the bright colors but here are 4 I found.  They don't look too bright in the photo, but they are!Love them!

Then come the books;  I'm always on the lookout for books. These are my latest.

And then, from artfabriks...hand dyed, pre-fused, die cut shapes.   How cool is that!  So cool, in fact you are looking at $90's worth........

So I figured at $90 for that tiny little bit, maybe I should buy my own die cutter to use my own hand dyed fabrics.   So I ordered the Accu cut 'studio' and way too many dies......

I decided to go with the studio rather than the 'go' because the dies are so limited for the 'go'.  I also figured I'd put it to good use making kits for my classes.  So, that makes it a business expense.  That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!

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Postcards!

OK, as promised here are all the postcards I have received the last few weeks.   I,of course am way behind in getting mine out.  But they'll be going out tomorrow...all of them.                                                                                                                                                                                                         First, here is a bonus from Mary, using her selvages...cool huh?      

And this is the family exchange for February. Made by my cousin Mary Ann's daughter Becca.  Thanks Becca!

Now on to our current MQR swap...the theme is Aesop's Fables: 

From Shirley; the pitcher and the crow...little by little does the trick

from Mary: the peacock and the crane...fine feathers don't make fine birds

from Vicki: the ant and the dove.... one good turn deserves another

from Jean: the lion and the mouse...little friends may prove great friends

from Suzanne: the astronomer....

from AnnMarie: the two crabs...example is the best precept



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A brief note

I know it's been a while, but I survived the show and it was incredible.  We made a record amount; and had a record number come thru the door.  Of course being back downtown in our hometown, on the beautiful waterfront, in a brand new, state of the art facility was key.   Our homecoming; after the devastation of Hurricane Charley to our little town and now our re-birth.  It was amazing!

                                                                                                                                                                          

It occurred to me, that I never posted pictures of the red/black and white quilt after I finally got it finished.   As always, Don names my quilts.  Well here it is..."Bye Bye Blackbird"                                            

As you can see it won a 1st place ribbon.  The Flamingos won a third, and my fishes an honorable mention.  I also received ribbons for client quilts I quilted.  In all I had a pretty good ribbon haul...2 firsts; 2 seconds; 2 thirds; and 4 honorable mentions.  Thanks to my clients for trusting your treasures to me for quilting.

The photos are all 'clickable' for larger images.







I also have received lots of postcards, both from my MQR swap and from the family swap over the last couple weeks...photos of those tomorrow.

For me, it's back to work tomorrow. Have a great night!

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An update

First of all, thank you all for the kind comments on the flamingos.

I've been working night and day and the black/white and red quilt is now nearly finished.  The quilting is done; the binding is done; all the yoyo's and shell buttons are on.  Still have to stitch the lower part of the sleeve and the label.

I'm getting ready to stitch the binding/sleeve and label on the flamingos.  Then I just have the binding/sleeve and label on the fish to do.    All before morning.   

So Harry and I will pull another all night' er.   Mary does this all the time...me, I'm normally in bed by 10pm so this is a huge stretch for me....I'll be exhausted for a month!

Tomorrow is quilt take in. Monday and Tuesday is judging;  Wednesday is take care of all the stuff I forgot day;  Thursday is show set up; and Friday and Saturday the show is open to the public.   

Enough talking...I've got to get back to work!

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One down, one to go

Placidos Flamingos.  Done, except for binding and sleeve.  This was such fun!  The background is one of my own hand painted fabrics.  The palm tree is dyed batting. And the flamingo feathers are wool that I needle felted.
I used Quilters dream "Puff" batting as the main batting.  So Fine and King Tut threads.


The sun has extra loft from faux trapunto using another piece of "Puff" batting.




And the  back,  you might see some hanging threads...I haven't trimmed them yet.





And the next one is loaded and started....not a minute to lose! They have to be turned in for judging Sunday!
So I'm working late into the night lately, and it's going to continue probably right up to Saturday night!

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A new sewing machine

I am frantically trying to finish the applique and piecing for my show quilts.  I have 8 days left to finish and then quilt the 2 quilts.  My sewing machine decided to act up today.  I fiddled around all afternoon and couldn't get it working right. Grrrrrrr.  I so don't have time for this!                                                                                                                                                                                               I have an Brother PC 8500 that I have had for years....11 to be exact.  It is a sewing/embroidery machine and has been my workhorse for everything...even quilting before I bought the first longarm.   I guess it is tired.

But, not having a minute to waste here, I rush out to the local Brother dealer  to find a new machine.  Don't need/want another embroidery machine...I really don't use it enough to justify the added expense.  So I figure I can get a good, versatile machine, high quality ,with that sweet applique stitch my  8500 has that I just love and the knee lifter, and adjustable presser foot etc, etc... for $300 0r $400. After all I don't quilt on it.  I just piece and applique.....WRONG! Way wrong!   Geez, plain old sewing machines have gotten really expensive! Oh well.  It does have all the features I need/love/want, plus a few extra.   And I was in a bind.......strapped for time.

So tomorrow, after the board meeting,and guild business meeting, I'll figure out how to thread it and get back to work!  It is pretty, and my favorite color!

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Finished!

Thankfully.  I think I frogged more on this quilt than I have in the last few years put together!  While nowhere near perfect, it did finally turn out fairly well.  Hopefully Joyce will think it's OK too.Suzanne did a quilt not long ago that she did continuous curve in only part of the blocks.  I thought the pattern  created would go well with the circles on this quilt,  so I 'borrowed" the idea for the chains.  Thanks Suzanne!  

The 2 stencils I used are by Helen Squire. And I used my circle lord to make the double circles. 

The batting is Quilters Dream "Puff"  and the thread is Superior "So Fine"





Now, we'll take the entire bobbin assembly apart to get all the paint reside out, clean and put it all back together again, and oil it really well.  Then I should be good to go.

And the best news is that I'm finished my February quilts!  Now for the next 2 weeks in between working to get our guild show ready, I'll be quilting my own 2 quilts for the show.  Looks like I'll get them done...yeah!

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