Black Mountain Needleworks

A recent finish for my sister Teri at Black Mountain Needleworks 

(formerly Black Mountain Quilts)

The perfect pattern for charm squares. 

I have a stack of fat quarters I haven't been able to cut up, 

I'm thinking this is the perfect pattern for them.

I love Teri's new logo, and the back made me smile!  Thanks Teri!

My Daughter in law and I plan to make the pattern together this winter.

In the past Teri focused on quilt patterns and books....

But has since branched out to wool projects, hence the name change.   

I LOVE the new name and new projects.  I think I need me some wool, lol.

Finished!

  Kate's first quilt is off the frame, # 2 is going on!

Love the colors. 

I've been hooked on primary colors so the change was nice.

This pattern is great for fabrics you want to showcase.

Fabulous border treatment!

 On to number 2!!

On the frame today

Almost finished with quilt #1 for Kate.  

Soon up #2 =)

Some new fabrics to play with

There's nothing quite like the feeling of leaving a quilt show with a bag full of fabric.  I've even been known to reach over and pull it out while driving, just to touch it and maybe catch a glance at it at a stop light.   Here's  few I found at the Northwest Quilting Expo.       

Me and my dots!   I'm also noticing a black and white trend as well.

 I found some kid friendly Halloween fabrics for my skeleton panels.

Now which to use??  I'm thinking the orange one.

I found these beauties at Fabric Depot while at the PMQG's sew day.

They've been added to my little stash from Modern Domestic for another cross quilt.  I'm loving the vibrant colors.  They make me smile.  So why blog future projects?  I've admitted to starting a project, now I must finish.  Lets see if it works!!  Hahahaha

More black and whites for the stash.   More dots!

I found a few more vibrant fabrics for my cross quilt at Modern Domestic before the PMQG meeting this week.   If you look in the basket you can see that I've decided to add a few black and white crosses to my quilt.  Surprise!  In dots!  (you can also see I've bought the same green fabric 3 times, lol  It's a GOOD one!)  After searching every local store that I know of I gave up trying to find a particular dot fabric.  Of course the selvage was long gone so it was a guessing game.  I finally found what I was sure was the same fabric on line (I always prefer local shops but it didn't work this time)

  

Hahahahahahahaha, look how big this one was!!   Not even close!  (the bottom two are what I wanted to match)  But I LOVE it!   I'm sure it wont last long in the stash pile.  I did find the right striped binding fabric though =)

 So close, lol.  Oh well, I still like it so it will go in the quilt as well. 

Kinda makes the eyes bug out, lol.

PMQG 2014 Medallion Along

So I'm a little behind, lol

 I finished round 4 during month 9

We learned the art of the reverse circle for our cornerstones. 

They were surprisingly easy, dare I say fun to make.

I auditioned a few before deciding on the original choice. 

Isn't it funny how we are usually right the first time?

As you can see I'm using a Doctor Seuss theme.

Auditioning for round 5 begins. 

(I've decided on the turquoise). 

 

The final round was recently posted on the PMQG.  I've been careful to not look ahead so I can play correctly.  So hard to do, lol.  But in all honesty I had an idea of what colors/fabrics to echo out already so will stick to the original plan.  See, always go with the gut!

My new quilting friends

I'm thinking they need names, lol.   

My attempt at "less scary" Halloween decor.

 I over heard one of my grand kids refer to me as "Scary Granny" and knew I needed to retire my creepy decor for more kid friendly decor.  

This was confirmed when Rylie refused to use the restroom down the hall because she would have to go past grandma's scary room.  AKA the Halloween storage room where we keep our haunted house props.

If this isn't true love I don't know what is.  Putting up my life size Halloween family was hard to do, lol.

I knew I hit the jackpot when I saw this picture on Pinterest. 
The story on finding the inspiration art can be found here

Newest additions and latest off the frame.

 The first of 2 for Sadie!  (number 2 is loaded and ready to go)

I seriously love this pattern and need to find out the name.  I love the colors Sadie chose.  The wheat colored sashing and gray inserts soften the black and cream and add interest.   Love it! 

It's on my to do list fore sure!

I'm still a little surprised at how much I am loving these little ole chickens of mine.  They warm my heart =)  This past weekend I attended the Oregon Poultry Swap in Corvallis.   I prearranged to pick up 2 hens but came home with 3.  Chicken math got me again!

I decided to go with hens instead of chicks and not deal with heat lamps this Winter.  That and instant eggs, lol.

3 new breeds to enjoy =)   The top 2 are a barnevelder and a cream legbar (another blue egg layer)  The bottom hen is a marans.  She's a loner with a mean streak, lol.  She has spent her first 3 nights in time out (AKA the large dog kennel)  They do fine free-ranging during the day but that little temporary quarantine run at night is too close quarters for her.  I have a feeling quarantine wont last the full 2 weeks.

Portland Airport here he comes, lol

I just found out "Bob" will be hanging in the Portland Airport.  What an honor.

Because of a "reveal date" we were not to speak about our Portland Bridge quilt challenge projects.  Now that the show is over I can finally post some pictures and woes...er ...stories of the process.

First I must say having Bob chosen out of the many gorgeous quilts in the exhibit was humbling, to say the least.  WOW!  There were some seriously gorgeous quilts!

However I must confess this feeling of gratitude came after an initial feeling of panic.  You see Bob did not turn out even close to the vision I had in my head.  I ran out of fabric and had to trim him back (losing his much needed ears in the process)   The first border turned him into an Aztec Warrior in a headdress. Lets just say it didn't read Portland bridge worker at all!  I was embarrassed to hang him at the Portland EXPO exhibit, but wanted to get past my fear of entering things.  At the show I couldn't even walk up to him, I was too nauseous from nerves, lol.  I just couldn't let go of the "Dream" in my head that he didn't end up being.  I'm learning to let go and accept him as a fabulous learning experience.  And the fact that I am not an artist and my friends husbands camera identified him as a human face is not bad!  Hahahaha, I'm working on liking Bob the floating head ....and don't even get me started on his quilting nightmare, lol.

.....Story of the process to be continued.  

I have a customer quilt on the frame calling to me =)

Off the design wall!

I can't believe I finally finished piecing an Urban Chicken quilt!  Only a year in the making, lol.

What started out as 3 lap quilts ended up one twin.  I started with a pink & orange quilt and a blue & green quilt.  (along with a bunch of random colored blocks for a crazy quilt) But once I saw them on the wall together I had a whole new vision.  I still have about 35 blocks left over, so I see at least one more Urban Chicken in my future.

But before I start it I need to finish this cutie!

As you may well know I am sightly....just slightly obsessed with all things Halloween.  Which does not go well with little grand kids who want nothing to do with creepy scary things. When I heard my granddaughter refused to get out of the car at "scary granny's house" I knew I had to change my decor because I certainly was not going to change her mind into thinking it was fun!  lol

I went on the hunt to find something fun not creepy.   I think this fits the bill!  It is a total copy of an 11 year old boys art work I found on Pinterest.  I immediately knew this was I was looking for and sent a message to get permission to use it from his mom.  She was kind enough to say yes!

Check out my knew potato masher!  Hint, it;s not really going to be used for potatoes.  Any guesses??