Did You Ever Wonder "Why"?

Yesterday I was looking through my quilts, and I ran across this quilt.

Like all other quilts, this one has a story. However, this story ends with the question, "Why?"

Well, it all started when I went to a party at Terry's (my best friend) house. She has a large back porch that she decorates so beautifully for a party. There are antique quilts on tables, quilts hanging off of the banister, as well as antique tablecloths and antique dishes. She even has a quilt on the seat of her swing that hangs from the porch. It's just absolutely breathtaking.

We had lived in our house for about 5 years when we decided to expand our patio and build a cover for part of it. The decorator in me wanted white wicker furniture, a cute table and chairs, pots overflowing with flowers, while overlooking our backyard and the flower beds.

I found the furniture, fixed the flower pots, and everything was pretty, but I didn't have a quilt to cover my table when company came over. So, I decided I would make one. I chose fabric colors that would match the cushions on my furniture. I then decided that I wanted the quilt to look "organized" scrappy. I got my inspiration from a quilt that I saw in Fons and Porters magazine. It was called "Broken Dishes".

As you can see this quilt has a million half square triangles. It's narrow and long to accomodate my patio table. It matches my furniture to a "t". However, the only parties I have are when the grandkids come over, or when I invite the neighborhood kids over for roasting hot dogs and marshmallows.

Yes, I know that we need to decorate, clean house, dah dah dah for ourselves, and not for when company comes over. And, yes I love this quilt on my table when my husband and I are outside drinking coffee( not on the quilt) and reading the paper, but this quilt has taught me a lesson: to be more selective in the quilts that I make. My time is valuable. I spent way too much time on this one, especially when it is going to be used for a table cover. There are much easier quilt patterns I could have used and got the same effect.

Oh, well. It's done. I do love the quilt. I guess I should change my view of it and say, "Why not?"

Do you have a quilt that you wonder why in the world you spent so much time making it? If you do, post it on your blog. I would love to see!

Cute Quilt Tutorial

Last week I came home from exercsing, and the grocery store. I walked passed my front flower bed by the sidewalk leading to my front door. I looked down and this is what I saw: a mother dove nesting with her two babies. I ran inside, grabbed my camera, and they posed so pretty.

I am feeling much better today. I will open the blinds and let my neighbors know that I am alive! They probably think that I have been on some super sewing frenzy since they haven't seen me since Tuesday. I only wish.

I showed my color challenge fabrics to my friends over at Pat Sloan's yahoo group. They loved them. Betty suggested that I choose other fabric lines to mix in with my Chez Moi because it makes a quilt sing. I agree. I would like to find some stripes or polka dots to mix in, and maybe some backgrounds. Call me crazy, but this is what makes quilting fun to me. It's the thrill of the hunt!

One of the girls (I don't know her name; there are so many new people!!!)showed us this darling quilt tutorial that I thought you all would like to see, too. Margi, my friend in Pat's group, suggested that my Chez Moi would look pretty like this.

I think so, too! What do you think?

It's been a Bloggy Day

Well, I'm feeling a little bit better. I slept all day yesterday. I couldn't move. My stomach hurt like "you know what". My cat enjoyed snuggling with me all day.

My daughter was sick, too. She is the one I caught it from. My son was off from work. Even though we were sick, we had a fun day of watching TV together, especaily Gilmore Girls. It seems Wade is either at work or school. Julia always has friends over, talking on the phone or computer, or gone to a sporting event. It seems we're never all home together. I guess we are, now that I think about it; we do eat dinner together fairly often.

Wade hasn't gotten sick, which is good. He is such a good brother. Julia wanted french fries and a blizzard from Dairy Queen. That means she's feeling better. She instant messaged him from our computer to his (upstairs in his bedroom). He was busy working on term papers for school, studying for tests today, and trying to get ready for finals next week. He went to Dairy Queen with such a sweet spirit, or maybe it was the fact that he knew I was too sick to cook so he better get something for himself, too. Either way, I am so glad they are starting to be friends and not so much sibling rivalry. In the words of Martha, that's a good thing.

Today I was home alone. I get dizzy when I stand up, but sitting doesn't bother me. I have had fun visiting blogs and seeing what everyone is up to. It makes me want to sew.

Color Challenge

As you know, I am in Pat Sloan's Yahoo group. She has given us a "color challenge" where we are to find something from an magazine article or object where we see colors that we can use to make a quilt.

Pat has encouraged us to use colors that we wouldn't normally use. She has told us to look in magazines, books, and other places where we could look at the way graphic artists use color. They are, afterall, on the cutting edge of color.

I saw an advertisement in a magazine where they used turquoise, lime green, and orange in a lay out. I liked the color combination and decided that was what I was going to use for my color challenge. The other night Steve and I were at Starbucks and I saw a coffee mug with those colors, plus yellow. Cool!

It's funny how our subconcious minds are always thinking, even when we don't realize it. Yesterday, when I was at Hancocks of Paducah, I was drawn to the Chez Mois fabric collection from Moda. There was something that drew my eye. They were in this neat little package of 39 fat quarters so I bought one for me and another one because I thought it would make a beautiful quilt for another friend who is graduating from High School.

I am so glad I bought a fat quarter collection for me. When I took them out of the package it was mainly turquoise, lime green, orange, yellow, and brown. Wow!!! Am I ready for the challenge or what?

Now I have to decide what quilt to make with them. I could make a log cabin, but what suggestion do you have?

I got sick in Paducah

OMG!!! I look forward every year to going to Paducah to do all the things I love to do: shop, shop, shop! And what did I do??? I got sick! Ugghh!!!

I drove my Suburban (aka Long John) to Paducah. I noticed on the way there that I was starting to feel weird. All I wanted to do was sleep. So, I thought well, Steve was home this weekend, we stayed up late every night, the night before I didn't sleep because he snored all night, and we were on the go A LOT! That's not to mention that we had grandkids, other people's kids (thanks to having teenagers), and we have been househunting for a house for our daughter. I really should have taken a day of rest before I went, but I didn't, and I could tell.

I tried my best to have fun, and I did, but it's like it was a dream or something. I was in a fog the whole time. I saw a lot of friends from Ohio,Tennessee, Indiana, Illinois, Georgia, and Kentucky. I even met a lady from my hometown of Shreveport, LA. That was cool. She went to the same elementary school and high school that my husband went to. She was impressed that I still have my Southern accent (even after living in PA for four years). It's what makes me me!!!

The first place we went to visit was to Eleanor Burn's tent of $4 a yard fabric. I didn't buy much. See? I told you I wasn't feeling good. I did end up buying some cherry fabric to make my granddaughter a dress. I just love cherries.

We then went to the quilt show. I bought some bobbins for my Bernina, a few fat quarters, and a fat quarter pack to make a quilt for my neighborhood friend that is graduating from High School. I can't believe that is all that I bought. I just wasn't myself, but I really didn't need anything. I already have a Koala cabinet, I bought a Sew Ezi Table last year, which by they way I just absolutely LOVE, I have the most perfect tool (the #57 foot) for my Bernina, and I love my way of folding fabric, adequately demonstrated by Happy Zombie, so I didn't need the little plastic thingy's to wrap my fabric on. Could I be getting to the point where I don't need anything??????? Oh my!

After we left the quilt show we went to Hacocks of Paducah where I found this collection of fat quarters. In my next blog entry I will tell you a little more about this fat quarter pack.

All in all it was a fun day; I just wish I hadn't been sick.

Been There. Bought That

Terry and I go to Padcuah every year together. Every year we see all of these women that dress alike, from Red Hat Ladies, to funny hats and glasses. Then there are the ladies that all have the same exact ugly dress. I guess they bought a bolt of fabric, and came up with this bright idea.

Last year Terry called me from K-Mart and said she found these cute shirts that say "Been there. Bought that." It was perfect because we actually have been there and bought that. To Paducah we went with "Been There. Bought That" plasterd in silver glitter across our chests. We were a hit, especially with the Koala cabinet CEO. I already have a Koala cabinet, but Terry bought one that day, too, so she was especially a big hit.

The photo is of me and Terry after our long fun day of buying just about everything we thought we couldn't live without.

Tips for Going to a Quilt Show or Quilt Shop

Going to a quilt show or a quilt shop can be an overwhelming experience, if you aren't too careful. I am going to share some tips with you so that the next time you go to a quilt shop or quilt show you won't have feelings of dizziness, car sickness (from your head spinning in all different directions), and having that "I've gotta get out of here" feeling.

I didn't realize that these sort of tips were necessary until my guild went to a quilting event where there were vendors everywhere. One of my new members looked frazzeled, and she was in a daze. I could tell she was having some major anxiety, so, having been in her shoes before, I tried to come to her rescue. She was so relieved.

My first tip to her was to take a deep breath and try to calm down. My second tip to her was that anytime she goes to a quilting event or a quilt show she needs to have a plan. In her plan she needs to look at quilting magazines or quilt books and find a project that she would like to make. Or think about the workshop quilt that our guild has every month.

Now, since she is new and doesn't know that much about color, value, etc. it is easier to go with something she knows. Most quilts look great made from 30's fabrics. Vendors and quilt shops always have 30's fabrics. I find with 30's, the more the merrier! She could go to each vendor and get some fat quarters.

Once she started doing that, she was fine. From there she started buying thread, books, and enjoying her day. I was so happy for her.

What are your plans when you go to a quilt show or a quilt shop?

Getting Ready for Paducah!

I am leaving Wednesday to go with some friends to the American Quilter's Society Quilt Show and Contest in Paducah, KY. I love that place. Besides having the quilt show there every year, there are quilt shops, antique stores, adorable little places to eat, Hancocks of Paducah (not affiliated with Hancock Fabrics), and so much more. In the 11 years that I have lived here in KY, Paducah has grown and has become this quaint little town. Caryl Bryer Fallert lives there and has a studio. Eleanor Burns has a year round quilt shop down town.

The quilt show is wonderful. Bonnie Browning does such a wonderful job organizing this huge event. I love quilts, but I'll be honest with you: I love the vendors a little too much. My plans this year (I always have to have a plan or I get overwhelmed and freak out)is to pick up some of Heather's fabric and others that I have seen people blogging about, buy fabric for two graduation quilts that I am making for friends of my son's, and neighbor kids that are graduating, and being inspired by new patterns and fabrics. I can't wait!!!

I made this cute little bag to take to hold all of my stuff that I buy. The bag is made from a Daisy Kingdom fabric that I bought on my last trip to the quilt show. I thought the bag was a little plain. My 19 year old son has a good eye for things, so he suggested I applique some cherries on a pocket for the front. The cherries are from Barbara Brandeburg's and Teri Christopherson's book, Quilting With My Sister. I then sewed green rick-rack, another suggestion of his, around the edges of the pocket. Isn't it cute?

Teaching a Workshop

Today I taught a workshop for my quilt guild. We have workshops every third Thursday of the month. I am the President of the guild and I encourage people to attend the workshops because I consider it to be the social event of the guild. Of course anything to me, as long as there are more than 2 people, is a social event to me!

Today I was teaching a Halloween quilt, Happy Jack. It was in the September 1999 issue of Fons and Porter's magazine, For the Love of Quilting. Sarah Nephew is the designer.

I have taught workshops many times, and I approach them like I would if I were teaching school. I pretend that no one knows anything about quilting. I feel like you have to do that because you don't know the different skill levels. For those that are advanced, they just do their own thing. For those that aren't advanced I have found something that helps so much! I have a design wall that I carry around. It's a peice of cardboard covered in flannel. On my design wall, I have all the pieces of the block: detailed step by step pieces. I walk around the room with my design wall, I lay the pieces out on the flannel, the student lays her pieces out just like mine by their sewing machine, and they sew them together.

There were 30 people in the class, and they all had great success. Most of them made 2-3 pumpkins. I didn't know people would be so excited to make pumpkins in April, but I guess they are wanting to make something that they know they will have finished by October.

Gee. It's been a while since I have written

Wow. Time flies by. March seemed like it took forever, and April is flying by.

Sorry I haven't written in a few days. It's been busy around here. I have been helping my daughter with the grandbabies. She is having to live in a hotel while her bathroom is being remodeled. Four children under the age of 5 in a small hotel room just doesn't sound like fun to me. So, the oldest one, Alexis, is staying with me.

I am teaching a class for my quilt guild on Thursday, so I have been getting that together, too. Teaching classes takes more work than a lot of people realize. I am teaching a Halloween quilt that can be seen at my flickr place.

Today some friends and I held a mini-quilt show at one of the nursing homes. It's always fun to visit with the residents and their families.

So, I've been busy, but I promise to post some things, soon.

My Favorite Quilting Magazines

I am so grateful to the many wonderful designers who design quilts or quilt related projects so that non-quilt designers, like me, can make beautiful quilts. I have designed quilts, and I use the patterns in the magazines to build off of what they have done. I may use a different color way, or it may spark another idea for me. Again, I am grateful for the many hours these people spend to create a quilt design for all of us to enjoy creating for our homes, loved ones, and friends.

Here are a few of my favorite quilting magazines. American Patchwork and Quilting is published by Better Homes and Gardens. My first quilt magazine was an American Patchwork and Quilting in 1995. On the cover was a little heart quilt designed by the girls at Little Quilts. It's amazing how something so simple could make someone go full throttle into the world of quilting. If you would have told me in 1995 that in 2005-2007 I would be the President of a Quilt Guild of 150 women, be in charge of huge events like quilt shows and other events, teach quilting, and consult people on their quilts (ideas, colors, motivation) I would have said, "Really??? Me??? Are you sure??? Do you think I could really do that??."

I love Mary Ann Fons and Liz Porter. I first "met" them on PBS when I lived in a little town in Pennsylvania. It's the same place I "met" Eleanor Burns. They make quilting so easy and so understandable. Debbie Mumm, Linda Jenkins (Thimbleberries), Fons and Porter, and Eleanor Burns were great for a person like me who was trying to learn to quilt on her own without anyone's help. It's funny now, but since those days in PA, I have become friends with Eleanor Burn's sister Patricia Kneochel, and Eleanor knows me when she sees me at quilt shows. That's so cool. I had the opportunity to meet Mary Ann and Liz, but I got too nervous. At least I didn't have tears rolling down my face like I did when I saw Alex Anderson!!! How STUPID was that???

Quilter's Home is a fairly new magazine. It really isn't a quilt magazine per se, but it does have some good articles and a lot of laugh out loud moments. Mark Lipinski is funny, and says some really off the wall things, so it helps to keep an open mind. I love how he introduces new fabric lines that he thinks we could use to decorate our homes, as well as make quilts.

My other two magazines that I subscribe to are McCall's Quilting and McCall's Quick Quilts. My favorite designers that contribute to the magazines are Pat Sloan and Linda of Lindereralla designs. I haven't met Pat personally, but I do belong to her Yahoo Group where we vist often. She is so sweet. If you are a beginner quilter the best beginner quilt book out on the market is Pats beginner quilting book. I have done the comparisons via Hobby Lobby's book rack. She covers hand piecing, machine piecing, and hand or machine quilting. She's a fun person, and a great inspiration.

My favorite pattern designers or quilt book authors are Nancy Halvorsen of Art to Heart, Barbara Brandenburg, Teri Christopherson, Pat Sloan, Lynette Jensen of Thimbleberries, Debbie Mumm, Eleanor Burns, Amy Butler, and Terri Atkinson of Atkinson Designs.

Now I have a new list of inspirational quilters/sewers/crafters to add to my list: the people in blogland. There are so many who have blogs who love to share their ideas, give tutorials, and inspire me to create beautiful things. Autum and Heather make me look at my fabric stash and want to start over.

So, thanks, all of you inspirational women. Your ideas and fabric collections help me to keep in touch with that little girl inside of me that still loves to play, and create things.

I Think I'm Allergic to Ham or is it Age????

Monday I did something that I never do. I took Julia to school, came home, and went back to bed. That is so NOT me. I usually go to the gym and workout, but there was no way. I had no energy what so ever.

I ate ham for our Easter dinner. I absolutely love the spiral cut ham's at Walmart. However, the past couple of years I have noticed that my face swells the next day. It is so bad that my eyes get swollen almost shut.
I wonder if I am allergic to ham or if my age is making me retain water. I know that food allergies make people do weird things, and it makes them really tired.

Something for me to think about; something that makes me go hmmmmmm.

Romantic?

My husband lives and works in Canada. He flies home every other weekend. Usually, if we aren't doing stuff around the house, we are busy with kids and grandkids. Here lately it's been all that, plus taxes! I don't mind the kid stuff, but taxes I can do without.

Saturday we decided that we were going to spend the day with just us. We ate breakfast at The Waffle House, where we ate great food, and were serenated by our waitress as she sung Loretta Lynn's "Coalminer's Daughter". I had to interrupt her to get a cup of coffee. She stopped singing, poured my coffee, and started singing again. I can't say too much. I have been known to show someone a country line dance routine in a quiet isle in Walmart.

After we ate, we went thrifting. We went to an antique mall in the downtown area. When Steve and I go thrifting he goes one way and I go another. He likes to find antique tools, and he looks for things he knows I collect.

I found this beautiful crocheted pot holder. It sort of reminded me of all of the other blogging crafters who are making crocheted granny squares.

I have been looking for an antique basket quilt. I spotted one! I jumped, squealed, and skipped over to see it. I forgot there were other people in the store. They laughed and said they understood. I didn't buy it because it wasn't in great shape and the price was too high. Steve came around the corner and I told him what I did. He wasn't surprised; it's just me.

The next stop was at an antique store that burned down a couple of years ago. They lost a lot of beautiful antiques, but are working hard to get back on their feet. I bought this 1950's table cloth. I love the pink and yellow. I also bought this green depression era cake plate, which will be so pretty holding my Italian Cream Cake.

So, to the romantic part. When we were checking out, Steve paid for my purchases. The man that owns the shop commented on how romantic that was. I never thought anything about it. Steve has always loved going anywhere with me. He doesn't mind going into quilt shops, antique shops, shopping malls, book stores, or coffee shops. Steve told the man that he isn't home much, and doing these kinds of things are fun to do together. Then he looked at me and told the man that he would do this even if he lived with me and was around all of the time. Yes, it was romantic.

Happy Easter, a day late

I hope you had a nice Easter.

Here's my attempt at decorating a cake. Laura is my cake decorator,but she wasn't here at the time, so I did it. It looks like he got some grass (colored coconut) on his face, but that's okay.

Our little family was here all decked out, and looking forward to eating good food, and seeing their Easter baskets. We had spiral cut ham, corn pudding, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, and bunny cake. We ate too much, but that's the fun of a holiday.

I finished something!

I finished my daughters purse. Isn't it gorgeous? I just love the blue and brown together. I had good intentions of having it finshed for her first day on her new job, but I didn't get it done. Oh well. I'll just put it in her Easter basket. She'll love that!

I got the pattern from Quilts and More in the Spring issue of 2006. I just love that magazine. They have quilts, and little projects that you can finish in a day. I need quick projects some times. It is put out by Better Homes and Gardens, and the new one(summer 2007) is on the newsstands now. It has an apron pattern using Heather Bailey's fabric line, Freshcut. They also have a "quilt as you go" watermelon that uses the same technique as my Carrot. Fun stuff!!!

Cooking in Style

It has been a long time since I have baked chocolate chip cookies. It was raining outside, my daughter had a friend over, and it just seemed like a good day to bake cookies.

When I go to other blogs I see a huge interest in Aprons. As I was baking cookies, I thought about my Mom and her apron. My Mom passed away about 17 years ago from breast cancer. She was always baking cookies. Her specialty was Tea Cakes. Mine is Chocolate Chip. I remembered that I have Mom's apron that she always wore. Now, whether it is an antique or not, I don't know. All I know is that when I put it on it gives me fond memories of her. She is probably the main reason why I don't know how to cook. My dad always said that if we could live on cookies and cakes, we would have it made.

The first picture is a close up of the apron and the embroidery stitches. I love the pink and white check. The second picture is me wearing the apron. I just love my double oven in the background, and don't you think my turquoise flip flops make such a fashion statement?