Watch Out Cats!

You know how when you read peoples' quilting blogs they always show their cats trying out the quilts after they have been finished?

You all know I don't have a cat, just dogs?

Well, watch out cats because my dog Sara has decided it's her job to try out my quilts even when they aren't finished!

This is a quilt I have been working on using fabric, Square in a Square ruler and reference book I got at the Houston Quilt Festival. I am almost finished and I can say I swear by it already! 

The International Quilt Festival-Houston

My friend, Robin and I flew to Houston and met another friend, Lucy, and her sister, Joann. We stayed at the Hyatt Regency Houston which was an awesome place.

We enjoyed the quilts, and lots of vendors as well as shared ideas and dreams of sewing new quilts.
Our favorite purchases were Square in a Square Rulers and the accompanying "bibles". I have been watching the DVD and have been working on Option 1 blocks! Stay tuned for my final review and quilt reveal!

I really was impressed with the red and white quilts displayed. Here's a miniature I fell for!

These quilts were some of my many favorites!

Finishing Is a Good Thing!

I have been working to finish things up as I have this urge to start something new!
Here's a cute fall pillow I made with a Moda Candy pack and a recipe from the Moda Bake Shop!

I have finished a few small Christmas gifts, but you can't see those yet!

Around the World Blog Hop

I was asked to participate by my blogging friend Julian at Lining Up my Stitches. I'm slow getting my post, but better late than never, right?

1. What am I working on?
Well, it's time to confess! I'm an ADHD quilter! I am working on lots of stuff! LOL
I have projects spread around my quilting room and I just move from one to the next!
These projects are on my design wall.

My machine was in for servicing, so I have little projects cut and lined up to go!

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?
This is a hard question to answer! My work is inspired by the great work of other much better quilters than myself. I guess I have to say that I put my own spin on my quilts with the colors I choose. I'm a nature lover so my quilts tend to be earth colors. I LOVE green and brown with a splash of red!

3. Why do I write/create what I do?
I was taught to sew by my Aunt Oapie.

She was a real inspiration! She could make her own patterns, take a coats apart and remake, and even taught herself to reupholster furniture!

She taught me to love sewing too! Sewing to me is the process of making something filled with love and accomplishment. I love to gift the things I sew hoping to spread some love to others.

Quilting is relaxing, fun, thrilling, and some times a problem that needs solving!

4. How does my writing/creating process work?
Well, first I have to still the ideas floating in my head. LOL

I shop for fabric by projects. I'm not a real fabric stash builder, I stash projects.
Here's small project I will finish today! (I hope!)

And here's another waiting to be cut! 

I try to have different projects going at different stages. I always have a hand project in case we are traveling, I have a BIG project going, and then I have little projects going so I can feel the accomplishment of a finish as my big projects sometimes are several years in the works!
Here's a recent hand project that I finished!

Look for my friend Barbara at Bee Happy to post Monday October 27.

New Finish

A few years ago I went shop hopping with Utah quilting friends. Yes, the Blockheads! We did the tour of Wasatch quilt shops.

 I collected a bunch of cherry fabric fat quarters and then added some to the stack. I found a pattern online and this vintage looking quilt was the result. My friend Joann Farley did the quilting, which is awesome, of course!

August Finishes

I have been traveling a lot lately! That is not a bad thing but it does force me to do handwork if I want to sew! 

Recently we spent 2 weeks in Wisconsin and it is a long drive there and home to Montana. 

I got 3 wool candle mats finished!

Recent Finishes

We have been outside a lot lately so my sewing time has been spent exploring! I squeeze in time whenever we are home!

Recently I finished this table topper from my friend Robin. It is a really fun pattern that uses charm squares and a little yardage. I quilted it with my walking foot.



I also finished this runner. I used a free pattern from Joann Fabrics, but enlarged it slightly. It was also quilted with a walking foot.



Here is a little zip bag I made with a Sweetwater Label Crew pattern.



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A Binding in a Day

Do you remember those promises of a quilt in a day? Well I've never been able to do that, but today I bound a queen size quilt! Yes, all in one day! My fingers hurt! I can't show the front as I have been quilting in secrecy again! Stay tuned!!!





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Kyla's Graduation Quilt

I have been working in secret for a while as I have been working on our niece, Kyla's graduation quilt. I so wanted to post pictures, but had to keep it under wraps!

It is finished, she graduated and all is wonderful with the world!

Old Dog New Tricks

Yesterday I took a quilting class at my favorite shop, Deer Country Quilts in Seeley Lake, MT. We used the pattern Old Dog New Tricks.

 We learned how to use a Quick Trim Ruler to make round blocks. It may soon become my favorite tool! I learned a few other hang tricks as well!

I chose to use French General's newer line of fabric. 

Here are the two versions of my blocks! 

It was a very fun class! I can't wait to get this one finished! It is really rainy and cold today! That's a good thing! 

Radiant Suns: Autumn Light

I posted about my radiant suns quilt a while back. It is home from the quilter and slowly being bound. Less than one side to go! I swear a king size quilt has a mile of binding!

I used a new quilter, Debbie Touchette, and I am so impressed! I wasn't sure how she might quilt it, but I think it is perfect! Here is a close up so you can see the detail!

Here is the whole quilt! The photo doesn't do it justice as the evening light sort of fades it out.

I entered this quilt in the Missoula Quilt Show the end of June!

I love twisters! I've made all sizes now. Here is my latest itty bitty twister!


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New Finishes

I have been quilting, just not blogging! I thought I should catch up.
There is nothing like a road trip to help getting binding finished. We recently went to the Grand Canyon, so I had two days in the car to bind, and that I did! Here are the projects I got finished!

Radiant suns Finished

It's the end of January and I've met my first quilting goal of 2014. I finished the 100 radiant sun blocks and now I have them pieced together! The top is finished! Yeah! Off to the quilter it goes.


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Radiant Suns Quilt

My friend Robin and told a quilt class called Radiant Suns. I think it was actually 2 years ago! I decided it was time to get this quilt finished so I set to work finishing the 100 blocks!!! I did it tonight!



Now the fun begins! I need to lay out the block in an interesting design.



Mike is going to help my apply the flannel to my design wall tomorrow so I can get this quilt finished by the end of the month!!!


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New Ironing Board Cover

I decided my ironing board looked really ratty. I needed a new cover so I bought 1/2 yard of outdoor canvas on sale at Joann's. It cost $5.00. I used the old cover for a pattern. I added a fresh layer of leftover batting to pad it and now I have a nice new cover!


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