Latest book

I finished reading Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, by Helen Simonson.  What a fun read!  Not a deep story, but fun and light.  I love a good character and Major Pettigrew didn't disappoint.

Fun little wall hanging

I love ruler work.  I find it very relaxing, so this project was just what I needed.  Sue did a great job piecing it!

Click on photo to enlarge

I loved how the treatment in the dark blue border turned out.   Too bad it wouldn't show up in a photo =(

I love spring!

   It's getting harder and harder to stay indoors and focus on work.   I keep going outside to check on my plants.   Here's a few quilts I managed to squeeze in.  Once the heat hit's I'll be in my studio with the AC cranked up all day!   Hopefully I'll be cranking out quilts all day too and getting back on schedule.

Fun colors! 

Sometimes I like the back just as much as the front!

One big mama!  Someday I'll make one of these....someday.....

I LOVE how happy this quilt is.  I would have been just fine if the owner never came to pick it up lol.


Not happy with Blogger right now =(

Happy mothers day!

One of my fondest memories of my mother is her hats! Here she is (far left) trying some of the hats she made on a couple customers. When hats began to fall out of fashion she switched to wedding crowns and veils. I loved playing in her studio, those veils were far better than the half slips I used to wear on my head for dress up. I was blessed to grow up with two amazing parents. The best ever!!!


And this is how I remember her most. Smiling, bright eyed and wearing a colorful moo moo in her garden. I wish my kids could have met her, she was such an amazing and talented woman. Not one of us 7 kids ever heard her say a negative word against another person. Gossip simply wasn't in her vocabulary. She used to learn a new word everyday and used it in sentences when we got home from school. Which usually ended in fits of giggles. I remember her laying on her death bed hemming a dress for me. She was too sick to even sit up but she wanted me to have that dress for the dance. Love you mom!

'Young woman, you're going to be an old woman someday--don't sweat it!'

I love these women! Makes me happy just watching this video. Love the lines after 1:55. Makes getting older seem fun!!!

The perfect PNW bag!

I love this vintage bag! I would so buy an umbrella bag, I think it's genius! It's perfect for the Pacific Northwest. And cute, cute, cute.

(found at http://helmiotsalla.blogspot.com/)

Recent Quilts

Just off the frame tonight.

Sadie's quilts are always fun to quilt and this one was no exception.

It's HUGE ....and would fit my bed perfectly =) I love it!

Linda's quilt from kaffe Fassett's class. The fabrics are fabulous, and just happened to be picked out by Kaffe himself. Another quilt I'd be happy to keep.

Here's Stephanie's beautiful quilt from the same class. Amazing how different they look.


Close up.
Another fun feather meander. (I never get tired of this look)

Lynn's quilt (with flash for true colors)

Close up to show catty wompus concentric circle posie.

Full quilt.

Patty's traffic in the city. A very fun creative quilt! (Same owner as The Naked Lady quilt)

Large fun posie's


Soft loose quilting for a comfy baby quilt. Lucky baby =)

Uh...did you think that through?

Recently while at a friends surprise 50th birthday party we were divided into groups for games. By pure coincidence my group ended up all women, and all from my book club. After a few minutes of not being able to come up with a name for our group I said lets just be the BB's since our book club is the B & B book club (Books and Brunch)

One of the men quite innocently asked if BB's stood for Big and Beautiful. Huh? Are you serious lol. Yes, we want to be called Big and Beautiful. NOT! Another well intentioned man wanting to save us from the unsolicited insult said "I think they would prefer to be called the Bony Butts". What? Seriously, that's better lol? Technically only one of us qualified for that tittle...and she didn't want it either. Thank goodness for Chad who chimed in "Beautiful Babes". Phew, so much better! Thanks Hun!

Done!

I am finally finished with my first attempt at quilting a portrait quilt. I think Patty did an amazing job designing her "Naked Lady" and I LOVE the style of piecing she used. I think I'm hooked now. Although I must admit to panicking half way into it thinking she was beginning to look like a body works piece. But with encouragement from a much respected art quilter and friend I moved forward. Once she was finished all the echoing worked and I'm really happy with her.

Here she is with flash.


And a close up of the background quilting, side lit and no flash. Thanks Gayle for telling me the name of this type of quilting. "Sediment". I've always loved it but never knew what to call it. As usual, click to enlarge.


The scissors help give an idea of scale. She is much larger than life.


Head prior to quilting.


And after. I love the swirl in her bun/twist.

I'm not dead.

My daughter recently informed me that I'm a terrible blogger. I must confess I enjoy looking at other blogs more than I enjoy updating mine. For you Amy....here's a few recent ...or not so recent quilts.

Love this quilt my sister Carol made for my brother Steve. It was loads of fun to quilt, and BIG!

Does this say Lynn or what? Other customers walked in and knew immediately whose quilt it was.

Love this quilt of Nadine's and can't wait to make one...................someday before I die.

Some fun whimsy loosely quilted to stay soft and cuddly for a baby.

I think this quilt is fabulous!! So simple and yet makes a huge statement. The colors are even better in person.



I never tire of a good cream quilt. So soothing. Another on my someday list.


Texture! This quilt by Meg is all about texture. I can't even imagine piecing all those little triangles. It's gorgeous and HUGE...and I wish it were on my bed!



Click to enlarge this photo to really appreciate all the work put into piecing this quilt. Her own design. Now anybody that really knows me knows I am terrified of butterflies. My love of all things purple helped me see past the butterflies to the true beauty of this quilt. Stunning.


Nice and clean quilting to show off the embroidery (perfect embroidery I might add). Gotta love a bunny quilt!


Swirling windmills and a nice leaf border make for a comfy TV quilt.

OK that should keep Amy happy for a week or so. I promise to do better Amo =)

Dark Shadows!

I'm so excited I can't stand it. Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins!!! I haven't been this excited for a movie to start filming in ages.