All I Can Say is "Gleeeeee"!

This quilt just makes me happy. I have always loved this color even when it wasn't cool. We called it chartreuse then. But now it is called kiwi or lime or acid green. Whatever you call it, I always have a shirt in that color. This is a graduation gift and hopefully by the time this posts, I will be able to track down the recipient and give it to her.

She is graduating from high school and she ALWAYS has on an article of clothing in this color. Always! So this color makes me think of her and how soccer cleats in this color really did not ever match her red and white soccer uniform but she didn't care and wore them proudly.

I fell in love with the 2 border fabrics and snatched them up in April. Much to my surprise, almost every vendor's booth at the AQS Quilt Show this year had a sample quilt made up in these exact fabrics and color combinations. So for once in my life, I am "in style" with this creation. And the pattern is a new twist on an old favorite. Its a Twisted Nine-patch I picked up from Eleanor Burns.

There is no movie associated with this one. But, I have recently become a Gleek (a fan of the TV series, Glee) and in order to keep up with the current shows, I Netflixed the first half of the first season So while singing along with the TV show, I cut and sewed this little jewel. I even splurged on the expensive machine quilting thread from the best company along with their matching appropriate titanium needle. The thread wow'd me because it was exactly a match to the green. But it broke every 6 inches, requiring me to re-thread the entire machine every time it snapped. No tension adjusting or bobbin cleaning or needle changing would produce better results. But even that frustration could not dim the power of this quilt to make me smile!

My quilt is so bright, you gotta wear shades!

Mildred Pierce in turquoise & brown

I will be the first to admit this is a rush job but it turned out well nevertheless. A special person close to my family got married last weekend and I decided much too late into the engagement to make her a quilt. I debated over colors and pattern much too long, never really feeling like I had the perfect combination. But it turned out beautiful. The fabrics blended well but the four-patch pattern was nothing outstanding. And the sad thing is I determined the colors by sneaking a peek at the dinnerware the bride had registered at a local gift shop.

I finished the quilt 2 hours before the wedding yet attended the wedding without my gift. Good thing as it was coming a flood when it came time to go to the reception. Now, if I can get it wrapped and delivered by the time she returns from her honeymoon, I will good.

Oh, the Mildred Pierce reference is again, to the movie that was on while I worked on it. It was a black and white film so I have no way of knowing if Joan Crawford was wearing turquoise or brown, but I imagine a fashion great like Joan had them in her wardrobe somewhere. She was so stylish and was a good Mildred, the self-made woman that rolled with life's punches but still struggled with her daughter.

Neon Forest Patch Bag

Here is the Patch Me If You Can bag from Tammy Tadd Designs.......modified! I took 3 inches out of the body width of the bag. An 18 1/2" wide bag is just too big for me. And of course, I use prequilted fabric for the exterior, not patchwork.

I like several of the design elements of this bag, but they are proving to be a problem in functionality. I liked the straps and loop configuration but my strap knots keep slipping through the loop so I have temporarily fixed it by tying a knot. And that slips too. Either I carry too much junk (what would I have carried in an 18 1/2" bag!) or my straps are not fat enough (go figure, didn't know I had anything not fat enough!) or I just have high hopes......I think I need to convert to a buttonhole and large neon button. I always love a chance to innovate and personalize. And this pattern has definite potential.

This project sets me back a little. I have a prize piece of Indonesian batik fabric I had intended to become Patch Bag #2, but now I'm not so sure it is the best use of that fabric. So.....I must ponder some more. Ahhhhhh, the creative process.......

Check It Out.....Literally

One more project done! A sweet girl graduated from high school, and although I don't see her very often any more, I felt she needed a special gift. She is very into the current trendy colors of brown with green, turquoise and pink so a giant stack of coordinated fat quarters at Hancock Fabrics (the chain store) fit the bill. Then, what to do with them? I'm usually not so indecisive. Hmmm. The timing was perfect to head off to the AQS Quilt Show in Paducah in search of the perfect pattern. I found this pattern, Check It Out, by Pressed for Time Patterns. It turned out pretty good, if I do say so myself!

Now on to the next project!

Immediately after completing this project, I cut out the next one: a Patch Me If You Can bag from Tammy Tadd Designs.......only I modified it! I took a few inches out of the width (it was too wide for me) and I'm using two treasured coordinating fabrics called "Neon Forset" from Fabri-quilt (although I think that's a typo and should say "Forest). Check back to see how this all turns out!

Regensburg door wallhanging

I had no sooner completed the "portfolio building" blog post when a recipient of some of my handwork appeared in my office to tell me how much he was enjoying his particular item. With the new resolution in mind (and the fact that he is a great photographer), I quickly thought to ask him for a photo. He was very generous to oblige. He is the Program Director for our university's Study Abroad program in Regensburg, Germany. He had published a promotional poster with photos of interesting doors around the town of Regensburg. With that poster and photos fresh in my mind, I had created a personalized retirement gift for him in the form of a wallhanging of one of the doors. The elements of the door and the architecture are captured in stitching and fabrics. He uses it as a shade to block the sun from his computer screen so sunlight from behind it naturally lights up the fine details.
I'm so glad that it has a happy home and I have a photo of it to add to my collection.

Back to HandWork

VBS is over and now I need to get back to the work "at hand" so to speak. I have Ukey's baby blanket finally finished. He has been trying to be born. But he should have known that he couldn't be born until I had his blankie finished.


It's even more fun on the back!

Tiger stripe, Oh My

I really think the tiger stripe sashing makes this quilt top. It blends perfectly with the other colors and the black border provides the final finish for a fabulous combination. I'm excited about getting this one quilted and out this week. If nothing happens, that is. The way things have been going, I can never tell.

Another T-shirt quilt underway

The shirts have been stabilized and cut. I got the final word on the shirt layout from the Princess so I am ready to proceed with stripping and piecing the top. I can't wait to see how the tiger stripe fabric looks with the black and gold shirts! Then on to the borders, backing and quilting.

Times a-wasting because I have more projects lined up behind that. I slipped in a coffee corset for T. It was my own design, of course, based on the ones I saw on Etsy with her name embroidered on it with her own sister's embroidery machine. She says she loved it but I don't see how it will be practical to use, but then I don't drink coffee.

Next project is a pair of banners for church. Banners are near and dear to my heart and I have fabric and a vision for a new pair for Easter that coordinate with our Easter musical. Being married to the Music Director, I kind of know what the musical is going to be ahead of time. And then there are purses to design, a wedding memory quilt UFO that I MUST finish soon, and ......and......and..............

T-shirt quilt finally finished

I FINALLY finished the sorority T-shirt quilt for a customer. I hope the person receiving it as a Christmas gift is not disappointed. It turned out beautiful but I have to admit it was a struggle.

Most t-shirts quilts just have between 20-25 panels in the top with plain fabric borders and this one was not average! This one was over the top. It has 20 panels in the main body and then 20 more shirts made into borders around the quilt plus an appliqued panda from a pillowcase. Another extra was the person's name and graduation year appliqued in the border.

Thank goodness its finished and my arms can recover from wrestling the entire thing.

It turned out to be 84" x 100" -- definitely a queen size.