Mini's

In all honesty when this years PMQG's quilt along was announced I was a little...

I am so not a mini quilt person.  I think I've made 2 in my entire life.  And to be perfectly honest I have wondered why others do.   I'm trying to de-clutter my house this year.  And the thought of mini's sitting in drawers for no reason made me.....

And then I decided to do a search on Pinterest to ...peak my interest.  Oh my gosh the possibilities!  I filled an idea file in minutes.  

Time to start hanging curtain rods on the walls so I can begin hanging pretties.  I need them on the porch, in the hallway and even in the bathrooms...yes the bathrooms.  I could use a tiny mini for my entry table and maybe even a quilted pillow or two.

 Yup, I think it's time to start whipping ups some mini's!!

 How about you?

January PMQG meeting

I had fun from the minute I left my house.  I really hit the jackpot with my carpool ladies.  What a fun and talented group of women to spend time with.  We never seem to run out of things to talk about.

So anyone who knows me knows I joke about being the queen of the nine patch.  No, it's not the only block I make, lol, but lets just say I've made my fair share of them.  I also love chickens!   So when I saw the August 2013 PMQG block of the month I melted!  The block was designed by our own Michelle Freedman of Design Camp.  I became obsessed with assembly line hen making and ended up with enough blocks for at least 4 quilts.   And the scary thing is I'm still not tired of this block!

Michelle was kind enough to take photo's with me.  Very green photos.  This is after editing some of the green out!  I can't wait to see what she comes up with next ....Ok she gave me a little hint and I can tell you I am excited!

 

We stopped at Modern Domestic on the way and I picked up the pile of fat quarter solids on the right.  Other than the green they are not the typical colors I buy.  Although we haven't been given the full details on our next challenge at the Pine Needle my wheels are turning.  I added them to the stack of blues I bought last month.  Boy I hope my idea works with the rules Geri comes up with, lol. 

We had a very entertaining guest speaker, Jessica Darling.  Who just happened to bring a few tables worth of fat quarters and 1 yard cuts.   Mix $2 fat quarters and a room full of quilters and you have a party.  Add lights that turn everything green and you have a very interesting party.  Trying to guess what colors the fabrics really were in green lights was entertaining for sure. 

It's not a resolution

Since I seem to fail miserably at new years resolutions and appear to be improving on challenges, I hereby challenge myself to finish the following UFOs this year!  Apparently some of mine are not official UFO's as I haven't started them.  However if I've spent money to start something I consider it started.  The initial investment has started anyway, lol.  I had 37 at last count, here's the projects that made the cut.

Elf Hats! (You too Carol...you know who you are, lol)

I finally added the borders, it just needs a backing and she's ready to quilt!

 I need to buy pink border fabric and this ones ready to quilt...well actually the blocks need assembled as well, but the backing is ready!

I will be so sad if I don't get to this project from my sisters Teri and Barbara's book.  The dress stands show through some of the dresses (as seen) and I lost interest.  I've decided to move forward and embrace the fact that my dresses need slips. Maybe I will call it "slip-less" or "transparent"... "Naughty"?  lol

The bra.....errrr circle quilt.  My blocks resemble massive bra cups more than circles...must remedy that.  I actually spent an entire sew day trying to reduce the cups only to end up with badly puckered reduction surgery.  Redo!

The inherited blocks from my sister Robin.  These have to be at least 17 -20 years old, but I can't toss them. I'm thinking they may turn into a Christmas tree skirt this year =)

Mr Skelly will be coming out to play for sure!

A cross quilt collection!  We LOVE our one and only king size quilt on our bed.  Which happens to be a cross quilt.   It is in need of a partner ASAP!

This ancient paper piecing kit.  I plan on one block a month, so technically this one probably wont get quilted until 2016. 

Another oldie.  My noodle swap circle quilt from way too long ago.  I got this far on the quilting and decided I wanted the cross hatching at a different angle.  Lets just say I'm not fond of frogging =)

I am determined to work through this stack of project boxes in 2015!!

I will also be joining 2 quilt along/challenges.  That's one finish a month.  I was shooting for 6 total...oops.

Oh and I vow to clean out a few closets... but lets be real, they wont all get cleaned out.  We have 45 drawers in our bedroom closet alone.  (I know this because I recently had to buy 45 new knobs, yikes $) About the only thing I like about my ...er ...hideous 70's bedroom addition is the storage.  Truth be told I am not exactly into clothing shopping so most of it is really odd things to find in a bedroom closet.  Such as Easter and Valentines supplies, gift wrapping and bag drawers, holiday paper supplies and various supplies from hobbies long given up (anyone need a few thousand beads.....floss?).   I saw a sign recently that has helped "If you saw it in a store today, would you spend $ on it".  If it's a "no" it goes!

New theme....Let it go! 

Bob just hanging out at PDX

I am so grateful to friends and customers (whom I consider friends as well)  who have sent me emails and texts with pictures of Bob at the airport. 

 I still haven't seen him in person.  But this just may be more fun. 

I've even received a few giggling phone calls from PDX "Is this your quilt"?  Hmmmm giggling because they saw their friends name on a quilt at the airport or because their friend made a quilt of a head??  Hmmm...lol ???

And even a picture of someone else taking  picture of Bob.  

This made me giggle.

Bridges of Portland

So .... once again I'm a little delinquent posting pictures.  It was so hard to not post these quilts as I quilted them, but I held to the rules of not revealing any quilts until the show.  .......And then I waited another 3-4 months to finally post them, lol.

First up is Betsy''s wonderful Bridge quilt.  I LOVE this quilt.  It's the quilt that inspired me to make a second more colorful quilt.   The color placement is spot on and has great balance.  Do you recognize the bridge?  The little green buildings with red roofs is a dead give away, but for fun I will not list the bridges so you can guess on all the quilts =)

Hanging at the show

Betsy had very distinct quilting ideas for this quilt.  

                                                             And I loved them all!

                                                           Aren't these colors fabulous!!

Next up is Sharon's beauty.

A lot of creativity in a small package.  

                

                               Sharon informed me that her quilt was chosen to hang at PDX!

And then she was informed it didn't fit in the display.

  Ughhh,what a let down.  This quilt was so deserving of being shown.

Next up is Connie's lovely quilt.

Wow, the colors look so different with this camera and light.

It's hard to capture all the little details in Connie's work.  

All the black is piping and the wings are dimensional.  

And finally we have Valri's amazing work of art.

I can't even comprehend how she kept those diagonal lines straight.  

Obviously a skill I have yet to master.

The fabrics were fun!!

Check out the backing!

The color gradation and simple lines make for one fabulous piece.  

It's a panty raid !!!

Grab some new bloomers and head on down!!

A few months ago while at the PMQG sew day I saw some women working on this masterpiece.

You know me and bright colors.  I couldn't contain my excitement and asked if I could photograph it. Not only did I get a yes but I got a very cool story behind this project.  The pattern is by our very own Sam Hunter of Hunter's Design Studio.  Sam has organized a quilt raffle to raise money for Raphael House, which is a shelter for women and children escaping domestic abuse.  

Now here's the fun part, they're not raising money, they're raising underwear!!

Is this not a fun raffle or what!!

3 ready to go

 We all know how much I like a bright quilt =)

(oops, dreaded fold marks)

 

   I just love this pattern and may have to add this to my to do list.

  I never tire of a french country inspired quilt.

Next up is this wonderful "swamp" quilt.  

And I mean that in the best possible way! I love these swampy green colors & have a few swamp quilts myself.  (for example my blog header, lol) The wool batting gives this quilt the best touch.  Makes me want to use wool in every quilt.  So squishy soft.

And last is this little cutie.

I wish the colors showed up better.  The soft aqua blue is gorgeous.

Where does the time go?

Wow am I ever behind!   Rather than back track and try to catch up, I will move forward adding a few thoughts and pictures from the last few months as they come to mind.  Although with my mind it just may not happen at all, lol.

For once I finished a challenge on time and then missed the reveal meeting because of weather.   So here's my private reveal for the Portland Modern Quilt Guild Medallion Quilt along.

This was such a fun project.  I learned a ton and hopefully improved in a few areas, such as my circles and paper piecing.  I was worried all the Dr Seuss fabrics would be a little obnoxious but I love the end result.

 The perfect cuddle up and read to the grand kids quilt.  

I see some green eggs and ham in my very near future!