A Brief Respite

It's been a long time since I posted on this blog. The summer has already gotten away from me due to work obligations. I feel like I've missed out on so much including time to sew because it's been so busy. I need to work on that work/play balance to make time for things that give me pleasure like sewing.

I do have a few items I'm working on including my Stash Bee hive blocks quilt and some mini quilts for the American Made Brand (AMB) challenge. I can't post images of the later since one of the rules is to not post to any social media or blog.

AMB Mini Quilts

To know me is to guess that my AMB minis will involve rainbows of some sort. Over the years, I've bought various shades I thought were pretty and now I have over 40 different shades of AMB colors to choose from. I plan to use as many as I can. (Plus, I'll have the excuse to buy more next year when the "fabric fast" is over.)

A little bit of everything going in my AMB quilt.

Stash Bee

I had my hivemates make paper pieced economy blocks so I would have uniform blocks to make something fun for myself. Here are a few my friend, Julia, sent over:

She used her precious Tula Pink fabrics because she knows I love them, too.
Quilty friends are fantastic!

I have faithfully made blocks for my Stash Bee hivemates that I'd love to share with you.

June's block were envelopes for a love letter my hivemate is
quilting for her husband.
It's a giant 16in block and pretty genius design!

July's Union Jack were a fun challenge.
(I didn't like having to unpick on the first one, but the second one was a snap.)

IG Swaps

My next challenge has been to take a break from Instagram Swaps. They are SO addictive! I completed the last of my swaps in June and couldn't be more thrilled.

Here is what I sent out to my partners:

Nerds Craft It Better Swap:
I was paired with someone who loves Wonder Woman as much as I do!

Paper pieced Wonder Woman logo

Wonder Woman logo then made into the
front of a pouch.

Inside is super fun!

Back of pouch has a little
Wonder Woman flavor, too.

Here's what I received from my partner:

Simple treats, a homemade HP wand and Aurifil.
So perfect!

I unwrapped the rolls above to find these!
Three mini quilts that I can hang together or separately.
They already have a place of honor in my room.
(Plus, mini pins were tucked inside!)

Cotton+Steel Mini Swap:
Deciding on a design and cutting up the precious fabrics I've hoarded took some doing but I am very pleased with the results. (My partner is pleased, too.)

I enlarged the Julie Hirt Mercury block
pattern to make my partner a playful star.
I added in some shot cottons to add subtle color.

For the back, I used "Games we play" because it's so fun!

Check out what I was given in return:

A viewfinder mini quilt! It's so wonderful!
Plus, a cute wristlet pouch and a fist full of C+S selvages.

Can you understand my addiction now? I mean, really? Getting back some great projects from folks that put in time and love the same way I do makes me smile each time I see them.

Rescued:

In May, we said goodbye to our little dog, Evie, who provided us with 16 years of joy. That took its toll and I've had a hard time getting over that loss. (It's been a hard year with so many losses in my family.) I certainly didn't feel ready for a new pet any time soon. Fate had other plans.

Here is the newest addition to our family:

Meet Artemis!

Arti is such a cutie!

This photo of her at the shelter stole our hearts and we had to go meet her. She was scheduled to be put down the next day due to lack of space.  Just as expected when we arrived, she was sweet and playful. We were able to take her home that same day.

[This gorgeous photo is courtesy of Pawsitive Shelter Photography. This non-profit group works tirelessly to get tons of photos of pets available in Central Florida for adoption.  Please consider purchasing a calendar from their campaign HERE. Our very own Artemis happens to be on the cover and is featured as Miss September!]

She's loves a good belly rub!

At a hefty 50 pounds, she is the biggest dog we've ever owned and has kept me sane in the last few weeks. Although we rescued her from a high-kill shelter just before her time was up, I think she also rescued me this summer.

What have you been up to this summer so far?

Home from Quilt Beach

I came home late last night from Quilt Beach in Vero Beach, FL. I am completely exhausted but in a good way. I did two things I didn't know would happen so soon: I helped set up/break down a quilt show and I had 5 quilts hanging in the show. Since this was not a judged show, I felt good about putting in some quilts just for fun. I am now inspired to make a quilt for another show and get feedback from judges.

I had a chance to take a class with Luke Haynes and see how his mind works a bit. His class on design gave me lots of ideas for how to approach quilting from an architectural perspective. I have some blocks that will be made into something fun, just not sure what yet.

Luke is just getting into his lecture. Love those blue shoes.

I asked for a sad face but it looked kind of angry.

(Love that Mindy photobombed this one!)

Helen was so sweet!

(She later became my partner in crime on Saturday.)

Ruth was plotting and scheming with her shades of gray.

Cal also used shades of gray...hmmm,
I sense a pattern with these TCMQG ladies.
I really love them!

These are my black and white blocks.
My style of drawing involved a lot of squares in squares.

I also enjoyed more time with Victoria Findlay Wolfe, the keynote speaker, and now have her second book autographed in my collection. I am very excited about the variety of double wedding ring patterns in the back and her permission to distort them to make your own designs. She even rode with me to dinner and we had a chance to chat about her time in Tokyo. She's so awesome.

I took two half day classes and learned so much! My first class on Saturday was on curved paper piecing with Anita Kelley. MIND BLOWN! Although we were using a pattern with traditional fabrics, I can now see how I would design my own block using the techniques I learned. I am so excited to play with this curved quilt idea in my head. I definitely plan to stop by her shop in Melbourne when I can.

That night, at the V.I.Q. party, I spent time with Shelagh Traill and some of the fabulous ladies from the Treasure Coast Modern Quilt Guild, as well as, some ladies from other Florida MQGs. Carole Lyles Shaw, our MQG area board member is hilarious and talented! So glad I had a chance to chat with her. Victoria was there signing copies of her book while hanging out while Luke was chatting at every table and having a nice time. I even met two quilting sisters from Jupiter, FL and we are Instagram buddies for life! I stayed later than I my tired body wanted me to, but was so glad I did. Chances like this don't come every day so you have to seize them while you can. (I am really sad that I didn't a get a single picture that night because I was too busy chatting.)

My second class was on free motion quilting, taught by the amazing Mindy Marik (*see photbomb above!). She is seriously one of the best quilting teachers I have ever had. She started with some basics that I needed to hear again and drilled in us her process of how she starts her quilting day. I felt like I was in kindergarten learning how to write my name and it worked. I will definitely practice more on my home machine and hope to develop a signature style of my own.

Can you see my horribly scribbled name?
(This was to check the tension so it doesn't count.)

I was truly impressed by the amazing quilts sent over from so many talented, modern quilters and the spirit of those ladies who put this all together. I feel most honored to be asked to join the board of Quilt Beach and be a voice in the process for 2016!

Here are some of my favorites:

(This RuPaul quilt is EVERYTHING!)

Now to unpack...boo! (I see a nap in my future!)

Enjoy your week!

My Quilty Resolutions

I often wonder where does the time go? I feel like life has been moving at warp speed and I can barely keep up. (Not to mention ending 2014 and starting 2015 with a cold!)

Good things are on the horizon and I feel that despite how busy it may feel, it all leads to a productive year ahead.

I did make some quilt-related resolutions for the new year and hope you'll keep me accountable. (I'll do the same for you if you want me to do so.)

1. I will blog once per week. (I found Shruti on Instagram and love her ideas that led me to her blog. Her post 52 Post to Blog Every Week did all the hard work for me. I won't worry about topics and will follow along with her. I will even try to post on her linky party. Hope you will, too)

2. I will complete more of my UFOs before starting a new project. This will be hard since I tend to have 5 things going on my table at the same time, all the time. (I even read 4-5 books at a time so know I am a little crazy that way.) I have so many projects to keep me busy that I really should stop looking for new things anyway.

3. I will make and publish at least one pattern by year's end. I make so many things and would love to share them in case someone else would like to make one, too.

4.  I will start selling pieces that are specifically made for market. Maker Faire Orlando really inspired me last year and I've already started planning ahead for this year. Plus, I've had an Etsy shop that's been barren since I joined many years ago. I plan to wipe the dust off of that shelf and list a few things. (Some funding for my fabric addiction could be a good way to make this habit work in the long run.)

5. I will keep some projects for myself. Almost everything I've made including my very first quilt has been a gift to someone special. It was easy to forget that I am special, too. I've started making a few things for myself finally and that feels great. I would like to have a small collection that I can share in person instead of a photograph when people ask me what I like to quilt.

6. I will REALLY try hard this year not to buy more fabric. I said it last year and it didn't hold past February. *Exclusion will be made for purchases needed to complete UFOs and for a few of the new collections I know ship early this year. (C+S and Tula Pink are killing me with their beauties!) I also have guild field trips in Feb and Nov so those purchases don't count either, right?

7. I will start getting rid of more fabric in my stash that I know I won't use. I can give some to my guildmates and may try selling some online if I feel they may be an item someone is interested in buying. I've been holding on to some "one day I will make something fun with it" fabrics that are about 10 years old now. It's time to purge and make room for serious buying in 2016. (Hahahaha!)

8. I will design and start creating quilts that I will put in a juried show starting 2016. I hoped to have some done for this year but don't want to put something out if it's not ready. If the stars align and a project gets completed early, then I will not hesitate to put something out there for judging this year.

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Here are some photos of things, including Christmas presents, since my last post:

An AMAZING class with Victoria Findlay Wolfe in early December led to some creative quilting all month long.

Here's what I made after her class:

Tiny 1.5 in squares

Mini Heart Quilt

I love the quilting on this one!

Paper piecing!

Swirly Twirly Dresden Pattern

Mini Trajectory Pattern

Bags and pouches for everyone!

Found a use for this mini DC Comics panel

So happy to cut up my rainbow unicorns and use this bag.
It has my mini hexagons that I'm working to complete
when traveling or (im)patiently waiting places.

For my bestie who loves Hitchcock as much as I do!

Fabric and Technology Play

Played with my friend's Brother Scan N Cut machine to start making these profile pieces. I have about 3 more to finish up to complete this mini collection.

I like that I have positive and negatives of each image and
I can make various sizes once I like the final scan.

Using my shot cotton scraps, I made this improv piece.

More pouches!

Front panels with diamond quilting design

Back panels of diamond pouches

For my momma!

I made a few more things but somehow did not get photos before they were whisked away for the holidays. I'll have to scan my other camera to see if I snapped any photos there and post them later.

 I will check in with you about this list over the next few months so stay tuned for my progress along the way. My goal is to post on Sat or Sun each week!

Did you make any quilt related resolutions?