Welcome to

False Spring in January!

2012-01-26T22:26:00.000-08:00

I hope you all had a wonderful Holiday Season! We had a wonderful time, seeing family, being involved with holiday festivities and enjoying ourselves in general. Of course the quilting didn't stop for long, and I can't believe I'm already designing for the spring lines, but life never stops and I can't believe how fast the time is flying by! It has been beautiful weather here this week, in the 70's and it really feels like spring, but the plants still know it's winter. Our warm days will be gone soon, but it's been a pleasant surprise! Actually it makes me miss my home, the California coast, sitting by the beach. A far cry from the high desert! I found a picture that really inspires me! I love the tranquil feel, the warm sand at your feet and balmy breeze on your face, the twinkle of the sun's reflection on the water, always moving, always changing.

OK, so wake up, it's back to reality and I have some fun quilts to share! This quilt will be in Quilt Trends magazine this year, it's a line called Odessa by RJR Fabrics! I love the colors and the large floral.

I've been busy making cupcakes and ice cream!

I just finished quilting this quilt for RJR, a beautiful new line by Robyn Pandolph called Lansdown Road. Here is the finished quilt with a scalloped border. It will be out as a kit soon.

I've found a new color range that I normally am never drawn to, but I saw a wonderful Smilebox slide show on The Quilt Show recently showing some gorgeous quilts in the browns. I really am inspired to try something like this, as it's totally out of the box for me! I even have to go BUY some fabric in the browns and neutral tones. Darn!

This is a picture of one of those quilts made by Emily Meier, in the Mystery Wheel design, also know as a Winding Ways block. I just have to try it this year! I think it is so beautiful in it's own subtle way.

She matched those points so perfectly!

I am also working on a personal wool project that I've just begun. I saw this image of wool stacked up along the wall, and it's almost as pretty as some of our sunsets! I love wool, it's so rich and soft, gives a whole new dimension to a project. I love it when fabrics and color inspire a new idea. Just a great reminder to enjoy each day as it comes, and put everything into it that you've got! No fear, no regrets. Keep Quilting!

We still need a winner, so I picked a new entry!

2011-12-06T13:36:00.000-08:00

Well I never heard back from the original winnner of the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks magazine so I needed to pick a new winner and it is Glenna who was comment # 32 and she said "Love your block - new blocks provide inspiration for new quilts!" Thank you Glenna! Send me your address please and I will make sure your magazine gets in the mail right away!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and enjoyed a wonderful dinner. We were in Sacramento for a little over a week and had a great time seeing most of our children and grandchildren, and getting reaquainted with our newest member of the family, Shane. He was so much fun with all his smiles, as the last time we saw him he was only 5 days old! Now he is officially 5 months old! Here is Daddy and son, and they are so missed!

Christmas is in full swing now and we have been busy, busy, busy! I made a new project called a block keeper and I'll post pictures of it soon! Now, the big challenge is to try and enjoy the holidays, make time for the fun stuff and somehow get it all done in time. At least we can have fun trying! LOL! Seriously, my favorite time of the year is Christmas, so I'll be back soon with more pics!

We have a Winner!

2011-11-14T12:08:00.000-08:00

Julie was the 44th person to comment on my blog for the winning number and a new magazine! Julie said, "I love your block! I think 100 Blocks offers wonderful ideas for quilters to try new techniques as well as to sew more creative blocks. You designers have great ideas!"
Julie, I have no way to contact you, so please let me know your email address, so I can reach you and get the information I need to send you your new magazine! I need to also send your information to the magzine, as you will be entered in other prizes as well! I can only give you 3 days, or I'll have to draw another winner. Congratulations on your new issue of Quiltmakers 100 Blocks, Vol 4. I used a random number generator to pick you out fair and square! Thanks to all of you who commented on my post! I enjoyed hearing for each and everyone of you! Thank you so much!

Well, the new year is coming closer and closer, but instead of waiting for New Years to make a new resolution, I decided to make one last Aug. After a couple of espisodes with health problems I realized I needed to take better care of myself. I've been working out at the gym since August, and I recently decided to become a full fledged Vegetarian! I thought it would be really difficult, no meat, low fat and sugar, and hardly any dairy, but surprisingly, it has been the best thing I have ever done for myself. I've slimmed down, I feel better and I have energy to spare. The best part is, I never go hungry! Woo Hoo! I wish I had known before what I know now about food, because it is so wonderful to feel satified and lose weight at the same time! So to celebrate my new regimen, I wanted to share with you a new a recipe that I recently discovered and LOVE! I found the recipe on the Food Network, but here it is:

It's call Curried Couscous Salad with Dried Sweet Cranberries.

Ingredients

1 (5.8-ounce) box instant couscous
3/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 orange, juiced
2 to 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 to 4 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced on an angle
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
1/2 lemon, juiced
3/4 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
Freshly ground pepper

Directions

Stir the couscous, cranberries, curry powder, salt, and sugar together in a heatproof bowl. Bring water (amount will be listed on package directions) to a boil and pour it over the couscous. Add the orange juice. Give it a big stir, cover the bowl tightly and let it stand, giving it a big stir once or twice, until the water is absorbed and the couscous is tender, about 5 minutes.

Fluff up the couscous with a fork. Add the olive oil, scallions, parsley, lemon juice, and walnuts. Stir around until everything is distributed evenly throughout the couscous. Make up to 2 hours ahead of time and keep at room temperature until you're ready to serve. Check the seasonings just before you serve the salad and add salt and pepper, to taste.
Note: To toast the walnuts, spread them out on a baking sheet and bake in a 400 degree F oven until they turn a shade darker, about 8 minutes.

I like it warm or cold, and I plan to have it during the holidays. It's also good at room temperature.

We are going to be with our children and grandchildren (all but one family) for Thanksgiving next week and we can hardly wait to see them! We have a new grandbaby and he is over 4 months old, and we haven't seen him since he was a week old! Can't wait! I understand he has become quite the talker as of late too! Grandma is having withdrawals!

I'm taking a little quilting break this week, catching up on long arm jobs and planning for our trip. I've gotten my room reorganized since Houston and I'm looking forward to some new projects soon. One I definitely want to start as soon as we get back is Moonglow by Jinny Beyer. I've loved this quilt for forever, and I finally have a kit in my hands! YAY!

So I'll have to keep you posted on my progress!

You know, sometimes it's just really fun to do someone else's design for a change! Kind of like eating someone else's cooking--it just tastes so much better! LOL!

Happy Thanksgiving in case I don't see you before!

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Blog Tour!

2011-11-06T21:17:00.000-08:00

Join the fun once again for the 100 Blocks Blog Tour, by Quiltmakers magazine, Vol 4 is now here, and you have a chance to win prizes and a free magazine issue! I am one of the lucky designers to have a block in this issue! It's called Ocean Life, and I made my own version of an ocean wave design for my block, with an added dophin appliqued to the center. In the magazine there are 100 newly designed blocks by 100 different designers! The instructions for making each and every block are there!

Right now you also want to go the the link quiltmaker.com/100blocks to find out about other prizes you can win just by following the blog tour! There will be ONE winner, from my blog's comments to win an issue of this magazine, and I want you to win! Just post a comment explaining why new block patterns would be helpful to you! You might just win a new magazine!

This block is made from a line called Mermaid Wishes by RJR Fabrics. It has the cutest images of mermaids and sea life, so the dolphin just had to take center stage on the block. Of course it can go into a quilt, but I also thought it would be a cute pillow to compliment a child's quilt.

Something like this! With a flanged edge and narrow inner borders. Soooooo- be sure to post your comment, and the winner will be drawn by November 12th, this coming Saturday! I'll be waiting to hear from you!

Contest Winner!

2011-10-07T23:21:00.000-07:00

Sorry I'm a day late in announcing the winner of the Quilter's Newletter Best of Christmas magazine! I was hoping for more posts and I did manage to get 3 by tonight, but I can't wait any longer for a winner, so I wrote numbers 1-3 for comments 1st through the last, down on a piece of paper, folded and put them in a bowl and tossed them around. My husband drew from the bowl and the lucky winner is Sandy! So Sandy, please send me your address and I will mail your magazine out to you right away!
Thanks all of you for participating! I know I haven't been able to post as often as I'd like to, but I do really appreciate all of you who visit and read my blog very much. You are all an inspiration to me, and it is wonderful to be able to share my love of quilting with you.

October is here and it is an exciting month! So far, we have had HUGE thunderstorms, lots of lighning in the sky and have been awakend in the middle of the night with the heavy rains during the last week.
Here's a quick shot out the front door of what it has been like! The temps have now dropped too, well at least for us, and we are enjoying the cooler weather!

October means Halloween, Houston Fall Market and the end of daylight savings time. It also means soon we will have warm homemade soup on the stove and cuddle up under lap quilts in the evening doing stitchery and watching movies! Quilt projects will be completed this month, and the new season will go into full swing with Christmas decorations up in the stores before Halloween even gets here! I have just a few sneak peaks for you of new quilts for Market.

This is a Nancy Mahoney line by P&B Textiles. I seem to really be into doing applique lately. I don't know why, but it has been a fun change. Just a lot more work!

Robyn Pandolph with her usual beautiful florals in yummy colors. I've always loved her fabric lines! Now she is designing for RJR Fabrics! This quilt will be in an upcoming magazine issue in a few months.

This is a little table topper I'm having fun with for the fall season. I still have to quilt and bind it, but I can do that in November! Also in November I plan to do some stitchery, and my favorite new magazine is the Vignette. I just got my Vol 4 issue! I'm collecting them all, they are really awesome!

It is chock full of goodies, both recipes and stitchery projects that look like so much fun. Maybe I can work on my stitchery quilt that is in progress and really relax. Relax? I think I'm jumping the gun just a bit right now. It's only Oct 7th!

Keep Quilting!

Patterns are for sale! CONTEST!

2011-09-29T12:47:00.000-07:00

Well, after much thought and many requests from customers and stores, I have finally added my current patterns that are for sale to my blog. At this time I don't have a regular website, so until I do develop one I was asked to show you my phone # and email address so it would be easier for you to find and order my patterns. See the list and photos of them to the right of my blog where you can access them at any time. I hope it helps us all!

Of course we are in the full swing of market work for Houston, and I have been working hard on new designs for magazines and fabric companies, like Benartex, RJR Fabrics and P&B Textiles! So many beautiful new lines are coming out and I'm have such a great time designing and making quilts for them. I'm so honored and thankful for this dream job of mine that helps me earn while I do what I really love to do most, next to being with my family. I'll try to share a few sneak peeks as I go along!

This cute little quilt, made from RJR's line called

"One is One" is a darling little girl's quilt with big flowers appliqued on.

I'm also very excited to tell you about a Christmas Quilt I made for Quilting Treasures that landed on the cover of Quilter's Newsletters new issue called Best Quilts

for Christmas! I was so surprised and thrilled when my quilt was returned to me with 3 issues. Only then did I realize my quilt was on the cover! So exciting!

CONTEST! Post to my blog, and a lucky winner will win an issue of this magazine! I want to share the issue with one of you! You have one week to post, and the winner will be chosen at random on Thursday, Oct 6th! So stay tuned! I will announce it then.

In between all the "work" I have to do, I actually finished a UFO from a long long time ago! Not my pattern, but just fun to do for the fall season. I have to share, even though it is not quilted yet, and you know that is going to have to wait! LOL!

Well, I just can't let the day or this post go by without sharing a sweet picture of my little grandson who is growing so fast!

Yes indeed, little Shane is getting to be a big boy! Can't wait to see him again! Thanksgiving we get to see all the grandkids and it will be so much fun. But for now, I have work to do! So I'll catch you soon, and I'll be back for sure on Monday.

Have a great weekend and Keep Quilting!

August will soon be over......

2011-08-29T21:13:00.000-07:00

The heat is here in full force, but once in a while, a little miracle happens and we get the most beautiful blooms, even in the middle of August! I loved being able to sew in my room and look out the window to these lavender blossoms when it has been too hot to get outside. Today I broke down and went to the gym because it is impossible to walk outside in the weather without feeling miserable. The humidity has been back with lots of clouds, but unfortunately no rain. I realize how lucky we are though, when I see all the coverage of hurrican Irene hitting the East coast. So ok, maybe I can take the heat for just a little longer!

Some color amongst the rocks is a welcome sight!

But there are other fun things to do even when being home is the best answer to concrete so hot you can fry your own breakfast right there in the front yard!

So I have started a new quilt, with wool applique, just for my own satisfaction! This is the beginnings of a first block from the BOM pattern called Primitive Garden. I'm using hand dyed wools and Valdini threads to hand applique them in place. After the block is finished, I plan to add a few beads and buttons and any other embellishments needed to make it complete.

Here's the pattern, so you can see that I have a long way to go! It will be a work of love in progress over the next few months. I'm having the best time putting this quilt together! It's a nice change.

What else have I been up to? A little stitchery and 10 full blocks that are 13" each from my Legacy Pineapple Sundae kit I've had for well over 2 years. I love these colors and the blocks are really fun to do too. I never buy the color brown when I buy fabric, but this kit has totally changed my mind. The brown in this quilt is so rich and warm.

With ten blocks made so far, each week I have a goal of at least two blocks in between all my other work so I can finish all 30 of them in time for winter. They are time consuming but worth it.

It takes tons of narrow 1 1/4" strips, all used in a variety of sequence to get a somewhat scrappy look. They are a mess to keep track of, so I use these hangers to keep them under control! I pull out the hangers near the cutting table and just cut the lengths I need as I go along, so every block will be different..... yet look the same.

This is a little stitchery I made for my new grandson that goes with the colors in his room.

This is a long arm job I completed for a friend recently. It was a small quilt with lots of personality for a quilter friend who use to be called "Mrs Beige" ! Margaret can hardly say she just uses beige anymore! Congrats Margaret!

Market work will be ready soon and I'll keep you posted, but until then, just keep quilting!

My lastest quilts in new magazines!

2011-08-04T09:27:00.000-07:00

I just received this issue yesterday with my latest Christmas quilt in it called Trimming the Tree! I really enjoyed making this quilt from the Winterbury line by RJR Fabrics! The bow was an older block that I added a thin border to and the tree block is my own new version that I really love. I've been wanting to make a quilt for a long time with a version of the tree block, and this one is just perfect for my needs! I also sell another version of this pattern in a table runner that is now in Keepsake Quilting catalog!

I have a pic from the magazine, and I've added my own picture as well so you can see the full quilt! I've added a close up of the quilting too.

The newest issue of Fons and Porter now has my Lover's Walk quilt, using the Berkley Square line by Benartex. This was a fun quilt to do, using only 3 blocks and rotating them around the corner stars. See it also in Electric Quilt's blog dated Aug 2nd http://www.doyoueq.com/blog/?p=2633 using this link.

In the July/Aug issue of Fons and Porter it has another quilt I designed for Benartex from the Floral Fancies line. It's a cute line using panel squares.

Fall market work is well on it's way, and I'll have more to share soon. I'm also making the time to work on a favorite project with my friends for a personal quilt using the pineapple block and a pineapple ruler that makes the process so much easier. I have dedicated myself to at least one day a week making something for myself that is not work related. It was necessary for my own sanity and happiness! LOL! So TGIF has a whole new meaning for me now! Getting together with friends, sharing and enjoying their company and learning a few things along the way, some quilting related, some not. Life is good, and I'm so grateful for God in my life and my family and friends. I can't leave this post without the latest picture of my sweet little grandson. He is changing everyday-his Mom and Dad say his hair is getting lighter in color, he still has those blue eyes and he just advanced to a new size in diapers! Now you know I'm a really over the top in love Grandma without a doubt! Until next time, Keep Quilting!

Grandbabies are the best!

2011-07-22T15:24:00.000-07:00

We just got home from a week in Sacramento to see all the Grandkids and our kids, including the newest addition to the family, Shane, born July 5th at 9 lbs even. He is so adorable, and of course I'm prejudice but who can resist a cute little face like that? We had a wonderful time and I miss them already, boo hoo. All of a sudden, living 10 hrs drive away is feeling a little too far! Roxy and Peanut rode with us in the car and they were so good, and played with the other dogs while we were there. Roxy actually seems depressed at being back home where it's quiet and not as much action going on. Everyone says a week old baby can't smile, but I beg to differ! Grandma is so proud!

We also got to see our twin grand daughters at their horse show, and watch them ride. They look so small up on those big animals but they really know what they are doing.

The twins are both in this picture, Presley relaxing with a drink of water while her sister Peyton is finishing up right behind her on the horse.

Before we left I finished up this longarm job for

the store, and I was so happy with the results. I believe this is a pattern from Tula Pink. They have it hanging at Quiltique right now, I'll have to go see it in the store!

I'm busy designing for Fall Market already and have started a couple of the quilts. I'll have some fun things to show you soon! In the meantime, I have another quilt published in the Aug/Sept issue of The Quilter Magazine showing my Making Waves quilt!

It's a fun little quilt to do, full of fish, seaweed and ocean waves at the bottom. Very little applique (fish bubbles) and the rest is easy piecing.

With the heat all over the country, we feel pretty fortunate to have the dryness out here in Vegas right now. But the monsoons are coming back in a just a day or two. Sounds like a good time to go to the movies! Kettlecorn, coke and a movie, doesn't get much better than that! Until next time---keep quilting!

Just for Kids!

2011-06-16T10:15:00.000-07:00

Kids are the top of the list right now--I have a new kids quilt in the latest Quilts for Kids magazine, and I have a Grandson due at the end of the month! I'm so excited! We have a little boy on his way soon, and we plan to travel to see him and his Mommy and Daddy (my son) in July and meet him for the first time! His name is Shane, and my daughter held a beautiful shower for our daughter-in-law last month at her home in Calif. The quilt that went in the magazine is a little girl's basket quilt made from RJR Fabrics line called Annabelle's Alphabet. It is a sweet little quilt, but not quite suited for a boy, so Grandma,--umm that would be ME-is busy putting together a lamb quilt to go with his lamb themed room. I'm using part minkie for the little lambs on the front and his colors are blues and browns. I have a small pic for you of the lamb in question, barely getting started. He still needs eyes, etc, and there will be several lambs with different colored wheels and a sawtooth border between the blocks. I'll post a finished picture when it is done. In the meantime, here is Deanna opening presents and a pic from the baby shower.

Myself, Deanna and my daughter Charlotte

lamb block in progress!

We are so looking forward to our new grandson!
And it's just one more excuse to make another quilt!

Project Complete --- Check!

2011-04-04T09:08:00.000-07:00

Well, how good does it feel, to have a project complete and sitting there where you imagined it a year or two ago! LOL! I promised to show you the completed cedar chest when it was done and put in it's rightful place, so here it is! Honestly, I'm still not thrilled with the old knobs, so I'm on the lookout for some blue glass transparent looking knobs and I hope to find them soon, but other than that, the chest if full of quilts and has a new padded top and fits into the room looking much better than it did before. I'm so happy to have a project completed!

Speaking of projects, before I became a "professional quilter", and believe me, I use that term lightly, I had time to do so many other things! One of which was actually making quilts for myself, but I"m trying to fit that in this year ! HA HA HA, no seriously I'm really trying to fit in some quilts of my own. I know, I'm going to have to prove it when I get one done, but I will. Just be patient with me!
Anyway, what I was getting at was that I love to create, PERIOD--not just quilts, and one of my favorite things among many, was to mosaic using old broken china. You have to hunt down the old pieces in thrift shops and antique stores, and point out the flaws in these gems to get a better price. Tell all your loved ones that if they break a piece they need to save it for you. I just love the look and all I have left to show you now is a simple wooden bed tray I did years ago.

I think there are a couple of teapcups as well as plates in this design, and some of those glass buttons they use in floral vases. Truthfully I saw the idea at a little shop in Cambria, Calif. years ago. Don't you often see something in a shop and say to yourself, "Well, I could do that!" I also made some heart wall plaques back then but I don't have any left for me. Don't find that happens alot, you give everything away, knowing yours will get made soon, and alas, i'm still waiting! Anyway, these are so much fun to do, and not costly at all. I already had the bedtray and banged up a few chipped pieces of china with a hammer, got out the grout and had a blast! Just be sure to break china in the garage during the day. Your neighbors may want to sleep at night! lol!

I'm also working on a new project that just got accepted to Quilters Newletter Magazine and I am estactic! I can't wait to see the issue because it is all about Christmas quilts, and well, Christmas is my favorite holiday. I know Easter is coming, and I hope to have something to share with you soon for that, but in the meantime I'm on a deadline for this one. I can only show some sneak peaks right now, and here is a block I've been working on for this quilt. The tree panels are so beautiful, this is just one, and they are called Christmas Traditions by Quilting Treasures. There is already a BOM I designed for this line that is just coming out. So watch for it!

This block is simple paper piecing as you can see here, and you add 4 segments together to make the block. It is a star with pretty points and there will be much more to it when it's all put together. In fact I'll be working on it steady as it ships out this week.

So I'll be back with you soon, and until then I thought I'd share a beautiful sunset we had this week. The weather has been warm in the day and cool at night. Just love it and wish it could last longer, but I know the hot Vegas summer is trying hard to sneak it's way in! So keep quilting, and remember those well intended projects just waiting for you to make them beautiful!

Fons and Porter Easy Quilts

2011-03-19T11:41:00.000-07:00

I just received my issues of the latest Fons and Porters Easy Quilts, and I have two quilts in this issue to share with you!
The first is Nellie's Garden, made from P&B's 1930's line called Nell. It is table topper size, with prairie points instead of binding on the outer edge.

The other quilt is from a line called Word Play by Benartex. This is made with large squares, and the centers are panel blocks. This would also be a great pattern for machine or hand embroidery in the centers instead. The panels make it look much harder than it really is.

Nellie's Garden

Wordplay fabric by Benartex

Remember that cedar chest I was working on? Well, the new lock just arrived this week, and we still have to install it. I'm beginning to think that spring cleaning has already started around here. You know how one thing leads to another? I wanted to get the chest refinished, and it was in the closet. Well, we pulled it out of the closet, and my husband decided it was time to finally put the new floor in the closet. Now mind you, I love this closet, but it is so huge in comparison with the rest of the house. I could have had a small guest bedroom for all the room it takes! I don't collect tons of clothes or shoes, so seriously, do I really need a closet this big? It's 9' x 13", and well, just take a look at it before it was all finished. We also put up new shelves so I'll have to save the final pics for when it is all done. My husband has been working so hard getting it all finished, and it really has turned out beautiful. So now I'm in the process of sorting things

out for the goodwill and the trash can. Ummm, not THAT trash can, a much bigger one! LOL! So we stapled the new cover onto the cedar chest top, and finished the paint job. I'm still looking for new knobs for the front, and soon it will be full of quilts!

I like it so much better. The blue matches the blue on my bedroom walls. Yes, I know there is no real quilt on the bed! It's in the making now, and you guessed it--blue and white will be the main colors! Shams need to be made, all in my spare time of course. It think that's sometime between 2 and 3 am each night. LOL! NOT FUNNY. On occasion, I'm not even kidding!!

I just have one more thing to share--a sneak peak of a quilt just accepted for a future issue of Quilt Magazine. But that's all I can show you for now!!

I just finished the long arm quilting and it is shipped. One more project off my list, which is good because I feel market fiercly creeping up. I have 3 boxes of fabric stacked and waiting their turn for market projects. Have a great week, and Keep Quilting!!

What Inspires You?

2011-03-07T17:22:00.000-08:00

A splash of deep color in nature

I think it goes without saying that our friends and family inspire us the most, and without a doubt our God in heaven makes it all possible, but beyond the obvious, I want to share some of the things that inspire me, in little ways, day in and day out. Sometimes it's just a flash of color, a beautiful shape, people, spaces and an atmosphere around us that let's our imaginations fly. It promotes creativity, and without it, I would be a very unhappy person. I HAVE to create, it is part of who I am, as I know it is with all of you out there. Sometimes it's just fun to share. So this week I dedicate my post to some of those things and to all of you who feel it with me.

A sunset sent from God

A beautiful vase

Sewing with friends!

A Mentor who doesn't know she is! (Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill)

Wonderful publications with new insight!

Color, color everywhere.

A workspace that''s comfortable, with my favorite things and colors around me.

And ALWAYS something quirky and cute!!! Love those sneakers!

I took a little time to start a new project that has been waiting on me for months. I've started to repaint and recover an old cedar chest I found for $40 at an estate sale last year. Poor thing was so ugly and abused, but I could see it's potential, beyond the obvious one of protecting many of my quilts! So here are some before pictures, and as soon as it is finished I will post the AFTER pictures and find this beautiful old chest in it's rightful place in my home.

On the left is the poor old fabric that just doesn't do it for me at all. The chest was a dark brown stain with old white knobs on the front. I may change the knobs, not sure yet, but the blue and white fabric will recover the seat bench and hopefully give it a new crisp look. It will attach to the lid, which by the way, I just found out has a very dangerous self locking latch on it. We took it off last night, and the Lane furniture company is sending us a new, safe lock, preventing children from being trapped accidentally inside. I feel better already! It will get another coat of paint tonight, and when I have it in the bedroom under the window, you will see why the new color scheme will fit in so well!
Until then, keep creating, and keep Quilting!

February Flu!

2011-02-28T10:21:00.000-08:00

Don't you love it? Cold weather, wind and snow, a warm fire popping in the fireplace and and nice big pot of homemade soup on the stove. Oh yes, and to make the picture complete let's not forget the FLU! My husband missed almost a whole week of work with the worst flu he has had in ages. I had it last fall, or at least I thought I did, and hoped to avoid it this time but this morning I woke with the wonderful stuffy head and headache, however I'm feeling better already so hopefully I haven't caught the full blown version! lol!

So March is on it's way, and market time is in progress with designing, fabrics arriving at the door, and the long arm machine is warmed up! Just finishing up a beautiful quilt by Diana, a great friend and customer, of her Meet Me in Paris quilt by Scrappy Apple Yard, and owner John'aLee Burke. Makes me want to get my kit out and get my own quilt started! It's a beautiful pattern and I love her fabric choices.

I've been working with some wonderful lines this month, some I can't show yet, but I do have a couple of scans of a line called Aqua by RJR Fabrics.

Watch for some ideas in the works soon!

The plum tree out front thinks Spring is on it's way. It's a beautiful sunny day outside and what an inspiration to start the Spring projects! I'll have more to share soon! Until then, Keep Quilting!

Superbowl Sunday! Plus sewing machine for sale!!

2011-02-07T10:46:00.000-08:00

One day I don't quilt is Superbowl Sunday! I need to give my full attention to the game, and no matter what team you were rooting for, it was an awesome game this year!!! Of course I have to gloat a little, because the Packers WON and it was so fun to watch!!! What a great game! And I was thinking, you know those cute little paper dolls fabrics you see out there in the quilt shops? Well, what about a new line, using these great little uniforms? LOL!! Looks just like paper dolls to me! Perfect, just perfect!!!

Ok, I know I haven't brought it up yet, but I didn't post last Wednesday as per my New Years resolution, but it wasn't because I forgot--I was working very hard on deadlines, and the work had to come first!! You must always be flexible with resolutions, or they just won't work! So I may be posting more than once this week, which might just about break my record!!!

Here is a sneak peak of a few things that I've been up to in the last couple of weeks. This is a line from Benartex call Berkley Square. It shipped last week and so did........

this one after the long arm quilting was done! This was a fun quilt, I know I showed you the top last time, but here is a little bit of it quilted!

One more project was made with an RJR line and sent off to a magazine last week! It is an adorable baby or crib quilt I call Annabelle's Basket, using the A is for Annabelle line.

I designed this quilt using the alphabet panels in the same line and the pattern is officially for sale through me! If you want to purchase a pattern, send me a comment

Annabelle's Alphabet pattern

to let me know.

Ok, here is the bigger item for sell! Before I put it on Ebay, I thought I'd post it here! This is a brand new Bernette 46. I test sewed one seam on it, and it has never been used since! What was I thinking when I bought this machine, you say? Well, it was so darn cute, and at a good price, and very lightweight so I thought HEY, I think I want this! But I already have two other machines, and between the two, I never get around to setting up a third station because I just don't have the room! I was really impressed with this little machine though-- it sews great, is easy to use, and would be a wonderful machine for travel, a new sewer, or just sewing in general. It comes with a 1/4" foot as well as the other accessory feet and I have the original box. I will sell if for what I paid for it. It retails at $298, but you can buy it for $149 plus shipping (about $35 UPS). Let me know by sending me a comment and we can work out the details. If it doesn't go, it will be on Ebay in the near future!!

I will be hiding out in the long arm room this week, getting jobs out to customers and trying out some new ideas! So I'll be back with you soon, and until then, Keep Quilting!!

It's a Birthday Month!

2011-01-26T09:15:00.000-08:00

John and I on our honeymoon 18 1/2 yrs ago!!

Happy Birthday to my husband John, my son Mike and my stepdaughter Christy! I'm so proud of you all and thankful for you in my life!

And what a birthday month it is! Someone is turning the Big 4-0 this year, and I don't think it's my husband!!! lol!! We are celebrating with a fun poker/birthday party on Friday night for John.

My son Mike, and his lovely bride Deanna

Mike has the best birthday present of all- a new baby is on the way, due the end of June. Grandma can't wait!!

Christy and my oldest grandson Justin!

And my beautiful stepdaughter, Christy, who gave me my first 4 grandchildren has a great day planned with friends and a fun trip.
Congrats to all of you!! Wish I could be with ALL of you!

I've also been working hard on new quilts and new fabrics not yet out in the stores. They are pretty cool lines and I'm having a ball working with them. Here are just a couple of sneak peaks!!

This is a Benartex line called Floralicious and the colors are so much fun, I just had to make a fun design with butterfly appliques and easy blocks in a horizontal row setting. It goes on the long arm machine today!

This is a new quilt I designed using the House and Home fabrics by Benartex. You can tell that spring is what we are working on now! One way to beat those wintertime blues!! I'm honing up my longarm skills and really enjoying a new way to fill in the background of appliques.

It's a fun line, with a border print. I have more coming so stay tuned for the next two quilts going out this week. Never a dull moment here at Peddlecar Quilts!! Enjoy your week, and keep quilting!!!

Maggie's Medallion quilt in Mc Call's Quick Quilts Magazine!

2011-01-19T08:37:00.000-08:00

The newest McCall's Quick Quilts magazine just came out with my Maggie's Medallion quilt in it to share with everyone. This is a flannel quilt, made from an RJR Fabrics line called Sutton Hill.

Like the magazine says, this is a pretty easy quilt to make. It's all large half square triangles, with the added trim of a pink strip across the diagonal seams on part of the blocks to emphasize the on point look. It's a pretty good size, measuring 85 1/2" x 85 1/2".

I'm working on some new lines for Benartex right now called House and Home, Floralicious, Rural Jardin, and Berkley Square. I'll have more to share soon with those lines as the tops get finished and ready for the longarm.

Well I can't go further without mentioning the beautiful weather we have been having here in Vegas! We hit a record high this week of 74 degrees! Which has been kind of a shock after the snow we had just a few short weeks ago!

I couldn't resist the temptation to get outside and prune more plants, clean up the back yard and take the dogs for some really nice walks. The weatherman says we are soon to drop about 20 degrees so I guess we have to enjoy it while we can!! lol! And speaking of cold weather, I know we don't come close to comparing with the rest of the country's cold weather this year, but it really puts me in the mood for baking goodies, cooking soup and getting out my favorite books, like Pillars of the Earth and the book I just finished, World Without End, by Ken Follett. He is such a great storyteller and has a way of bringing his characters full circle. Not to mention the research he has done to support his story lines during medival times in the 1200-1300's. So facinating and educational to boot!

I highly recommend these great novels. They weren't to the point of making quilts in those days, but they did make a beautiful scarlet colored cloth, so I'm sure that quilts were to be in the distant future! lol!

I'll have much more to share by next week as my projects progress, and I'll be back with you then, so until next week, keep quilting!!!

Fons and Porters Easy Quilts Spring 2011

2011-01-12T11:10:00.000-08:00

I got a real surprise in the mail the other day. It was two copies of the new Fons and Porter's Easy Quilts magazine for Spring 2011. My quilt was on the cover!! I knew it would be in an issue at some point and time, but I wasn't expecting the cover! This is exciting I thought! Then I started to thumb through the pages and found two more quilts I had made last fall. Now this is really exciting!!

The cover quilt is called Rainbow Hippy, and is made from the Flower Power Line, by RJR Fabrics. Here is a computer image of the design. It is a flip and sew method that is much easier than it looks. After sewing the strips into certain combinations, you sew them in a certain order on a foundation paper--(NO not foundation piecing)
and flip and press the strips as you go. Then trim the whole block and it's done! Sew blocks together and you're done. This is also a great pattern for all those leftover scraps. The strips are all 1 3/4" wide. But be creative too--you can make strips any size you want and do a clever version of this quilt.

The next one is Prairie Flowers , a line by Benartex. I didn't realize this would make the Easy Quilts magazine, as I didn't think it was so easy! But really when I think about it, the pattern is easy--it just has a lot of pieces so it takes time. The title didn't say Quick and Easy! LOL!!

Then I found a great EASY quilt that I had made last year (it sounds so long ago!). It is called Brooklyn Blues or Brooklyn Heights if you go by the fabric line name by Benartex. It looks like Fons and Porter is now giving bonus patterns online, and this is one they will have on their website soon. You just click on the Bonus Quilt Patterns button and it should be there for you to download free!! Keep checking, as the magazine is not yet on the stands, nor posted on the website just yet!!

So I can hardly believe that I have been so good as to come back and post in exactly one week! I intend to keep this up, (it is my resolution you know) and I'm really appreciative of all of you that have not given up on me in the past few months. I'm working on my time management skills and posting more tasks on my lists to make sure I get everything done without a stress headache!!

I wanted to also share some great sunsets we have had in the last couple of weeks. Winter is out best time ever for sunsets, and luckily for us, our large back windows stare right out at the western sky.

This was the first pic I took that evening, right off the back patio, and then as the sun went further down, I got the beautiful reds I love so much.

Well, as promised, I will be back next week! Have a great week and Keep Quilting!!

P. S. Let me know if you like my new Logo!

Happy New Year! I'm going to be a new Grandma!!!!

2011-01-05T11:49:00.000-08:00

The best news ever came to me while I was at the cabin with my friends. My son called by conference call with his lovely bride and my husband on the line to inform us that we were going to be Grandparents in June! I was so excited it made me cry. I am overjoyed and so happy for them. We won't know the sex of the baby until Feb and then Grandma will be very busy collecting baby things!! What fun this will be and I can hardly wait.
Heres a pic of the lovely parents!
What wonderful parents they will be!!! I'm so excited!!!

I was shocked when I saw how long it had been since I last posted. It was just before Market and the days have been spinning by ever since!! One of my New Years Resolutions is to post at least once a week. I've never had as busy a year as 2010 and for awhile there it was all I could do just to keep up with the workload, the holidays, and having friends and family with us which was so much fun!

I have so much to share with you all and will do my best to not bombard you all at once!! I have had quilts in several magazines recently, and started a personal project by Leanne Beasley called Leanne's House. Four of my best friends are working on this Block of the Month project with me and we are having a great time. Everyone is going at their own pace, and one is learning how to do stitchery! Here's my first blocks so far. I haven't finished the stitchery part yet, but I'm well on my way! This is so much fun and very relaxing having something to do in my chair in the evenings.

I wanted to share my latest magazine issues with you also, as I made cover for Fons and Porter' Jan/Feb issue! What a great way to start the year!
This quilt is called Interlocking Stars and I've been getting wonderful response from quilters. I am so blessed and grateful for this business in my life! Fons and Porter also featured me in their Best of for the year of 2010. It features my Country Sunflowers quilt from last year. I was thrilled!
Below is the Country Sunflowers quilt they show.

Country Sunflowers quilt

Finally, I have a new "cyber image" in the latest Fabric Trends magazine Winter 2011 for a special issue showing only computerized images instead of the real quilt! I designed this Moonflower image from RJR's Thimbleberries line.

I have a few pics to share with you from Market. I hope everyone had a great Christmas and have gotten through the crazy winter weather the country has been enduring without too much hassel. I will be back on a weekly basis or sooner--I have so much upcoming news to share and I want to keep my resolution!!! Happy Quilting!

Me and the Interlocking Stars quilt at the booth in Houston!

Floral Fancies quilt at the Benartex booth in Houston

Prospect Park for Benartex at Houston

Scarlet Story for Benartex

Habitat for Benartex

A is for Annabell from RJR

Is it Fall yet?

2010-10-20T21:21:00.000-07:00

We woke up early to a huge crack of thunder in the dark and flashes of lightning that lit up the whole room. It poured most of the day since, and I think Fall is really here. SO unusual for Vegas in October to get this kind of weather, but we are enjoying every minute of it! We began to think that summer would never end. The heat was never going to let up---so it was nice to turn off the AC and just open the doors and windows. Speaking of windows, Roxy was not too sure about the whole thing. I guess she just had to check out the weather in the window most of the day. Poor Roxy, no walks today!
Doesn't she look just pitiful? Maybe her real name is Pitiful Pearl. She stared out that window for hours!

So, while listening the the pound of thunder I kept myself very busy sewing today. I also picked out fabric for a new tree skirt. Winterbury by RJR Fabrics. I think it will make a really pretty tree skirt. I'll keep you posted on that one!

I love this line. There will be a new quilt and tablerunner coming out in this line for next year. There is just a hint of gold lines in some of the fabrics and they have that elegant feel.

I'm also practicing hard on improving my longarm skills and here is the back of a quilt that shipped this week for Houston. Of course sometimes, the back shows the quilting even better than the front of the quilt! I must do a wholecloth someday. It's on my bucket list!!!

Here's the front of the same quilt!!

It's difficult getting the designs to show up on really busy fabrics, so deciding what to quilt is the biggest challenge!! This is a line called "Chloe" by Benartex. It will show at Houston Quilt Market.
Here's another sneak peak of a quilt for RJR Fabrics called "A is for Annabelle". What a sweet children's line this is!

This quilt uses an alphabet panel that is just so cute. And instead of binding, I made a ruffled edge. I love my Bernina #86 foot for ruffles. You can adjust the dept of the pleat and the distance between them. It makes doing ruffles a snap!

I wasn't expecting to attend Houston Market this year, but I had one of those days when everything just happened to fall into place in one day, and well, I'm going! I can hardly wait to see my favorite booths, make contacts with people I usually only talk to on the phone or visit via email, and I"m really looking forward to seeing the latest trends. I'll take my camera and report back! Until then, I have 3 more quilts to finish and ship next week for Market. So until next time, keep quilting!!

Fall is getting close--that means Houston International Quilt Market is too!

2010-10-14T21:07:00.000-07:00

If you can imagine this quilt rotated, then you get the real picture! This is an RJR fabric line called Sutton Hill, and it is a great new flannel that will be out shortly!

Here is a sneak peek of a new Benartex quilt that will be at the show this year. The line is called Habitat. There is so much to share with you, but alas, much of it will have to wait until market is over! At least I can share a clip!

The work has been coming in fast, more boxes of fabric almost everyday. The deadlines are quickly approaching, and in spite of myself, I think I will make it!! Do you ever have one of those days when you forgot to look outside before you knew the sun went down? LOL! Well, that's market time! Soon I will have so much free time I won't know what to do with myself. Oh, but I have plans, lots and lots of plans!!!

I do try to take walks with my girls though, every single morning. The quail are out and the mornings are cooler, so it's a real joy and gets me ready for the day ahead. There is a new Christmas BOM I have been working on for next year, more magazine issues coming soon and lots more to share. And just in case I don't get back to post in time---Happy Halloween!!!

I've been busy!!

2010-08-11T11:27:00.000-07:00

Well, who the heck isn't busy these days? I've been sewing, sewing, and sewing. I've got so much to show you!! These are just a few of the latest quilts I've been doing for Benartex, P&B, and RJR Fabrics. I tried to add more but there must be a limit on the pictures allowed per posting! I'll add more soon. In the midst of all this quilting and sewing, we also put down laminate wood floors in my sewing room, the den and our master bedroom so there hasn't been a minute to spare most of the time and I've really missed my blogging, the chance to read all of your blogs too. I have a few more going into magazines, and some those I'll have to share with you later, but here are a few from my busy summer! It has been productive though, and I've really enjoyed putting together some new designs. This first photo is a sneak peak of an quilt for a future Fons and Porter magazine. This one uses parchment paper as a foundation, but no foundation piecing! It's a fun one to do. The line is Flower Power by RJR.
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Isabella in the making, almost completed!

Word Play by Benartex
ready to ship for an upcoming F&P issue

See the Aldo Zippy quilt by P&B Textiles

Aldo Zippy in Fons & Porter Baby Quilt
Fall 2010

Isabella, see on the back cover of a recent
Fons and Porter magazine!

The Full Pantry quilt is alot of fun to make, see below!

New Benartex line Sew Chick

Full Pantry pattern available for purchase $9 from me.
RJR Fabrics Farmers Market!

This quilt is a 1930's line by P&B Textiles for Fons and Porter, which should be out soon. I love using prairie points on occasion, and this one is just the right size for a table topper.

Nellie's Garden

This is and RJR line called Tropical Breeze and I sell the pattern now as well. It is 70" x 70", and easy to do!

A Paula Nadlestern line by Benartex, you should be able to find this kit in an upcoming Keepsake Quilting catalog!

I have much more to share, but until then, I will leave you all with the wishes for a wonderful summer, and kids safely off to school soon. Where has the time gone?
Keep Quilting!

I'm back, I'm still alive.

2010-06-09T17:08:00.000-07:00

My gosh, how time flies. It has been pretty crazy with Spring Market work, and then my Dad became very ill and I flew to Seattle to spend some time with my parents. He was in the hospital for 13 days at the ripe old age of 88 before they finally decided he could come home, much to everyone's relief. He had an intestinal blockage that finally fixed itself, and we were all glad that he didn't have to go in for surgery before it was over. Along the way I got a great pic of Mt St. Helens from the window seat. It was a clear beautiful day so I was thrilled to see it so clearly. I remember my parents telling me how they actually heard the blast when St Helens blew. Amazing.

So now after several long weeks, I can say that I actually finished all 9 quilts, plus designed 15 more. There will be alot of quilts coming out in magazines this year from many of these. The first one this year is the Summer issue of Fabric Trends magazine. I also got a full page add in Fons and Porter for a quilt I designed for Quiliting Treasures last year! It has been busy, busy, busy. I'm really thankful that alot of the pressure is off on deadlines. I'm still designing more, and have 4 more quilts to make. A few longarm jobs in betweenand I should be all caught up! HELP! I need a vacation!!!!

This one I think I posted in the past while it was still in progress. This line is called Summer Solstice by RJR Fabrics.

The heat has been unreal here in Vegas for almost a week now. Last Sunday was 110! Summer came quick, I hardly knew Spring was here. Summer here can almost be like those cold snowy winters in the midwest. We just stay inside and quilt! lol Well, I guess not everyone quilts, but that's what's going on in this house!

Personally, I just love strawberries and they are in season. Love that strawberry shortcake. I always make mine using a white cake mix to bake the cake, then serve it warm with sliced sweet strawberries and your favorite whip cream. Speaking of cake, I have a whole new design called "Eat Dessert First". It's adorable and I hope you will enjoy it too when it comes out. Here's a little sneak peak for you!

There are cupcakes too in the pattern. I'll keep you posted on when it will be out there!

I know it's not Thanksgiving just yet. But I am so thankful for my Dad's recovery and the fact that I have a job in these times. Hope you are all well and happy, and I definitely plan to be back soon.

Until then, Keep Quilting....

Fiber Arts Show, Pahrump, NV

2010-04-20T08:28:00.000-07:00

Best of Show!!!
The Pahrump Fiber Arts Show was held on April 9-11 this year, and I was very honored to be asked to judge the show this year! It was a great experience, I learned alot, and met some wonderful ladies and quilters at the show. There were some BEAUTIFUL quilts to peruse, and I was like a kid in a candy store!! LOL! But I wanted to share some of these beautiful quilts with all of you! The bargello quilt was just fantastic, the color choices really took your breath away! I have these posted at random here. There were a few really cute and whimsical quilts as well, like the frogs in the water!!This one is Judge's Choice

The Best of Show was an exquisite piece of work, all hand stitched applique and hand quilted. I wish these pics showed up better!

I have many other here at random, for you to see.Frogs!!Here is just another sneak peak at some of my own handiwork, a couple of quilts that are heading to Spring Market 2010!

There will soon be some upcoming magazines to share with you as well! The weather has been wonderful, but the sewing room is calling. Lots more work to do before Market! Until then, Keep Quilting!!

Easter is coming!

2010-03-27T23:09:00.000-07:00

Peanut is wondering what is going on around here. There are eggs everywhere. Real ones and glass ones......

And rabbits of all things.But Roxy doesn't seem to be bothered with all this nonsense. She's just waiting for the peeps to come out. In full force. She knows how it works around here.

The flowers are in bloom, the weather is getting nicer and it won't be long before we start eating outdoors again. The flowers have been beautiful so far! Of course, when it's spring, it also means Spring Market, and I've been busy busy busy. Here's a sneak peak of one that has already shipped out! I'll have lots more to show you soon!

I'll be sharing a new logo design with you very soon too! And in the meantime I know what I'll be doing.......Keep Quilting!!

New Addition to the Sewing Room

2010-03-09T15:51:00.001-08:00

I think my poor husband might be glad he's going back to work this week. He had some vacation time to kill, and we decided to stay home. We went to the movies, and out to dinner, and before he knew what hit him, he was moving furniture and hanging shelves up for me!! Well, I have to say, it really was his fault. He decided he didn't want the elliptical in the dining room anymore. "What? You mean it doesn't look good in the dining room?" I exclaim. Well, NO, not particularly. So, the quest was on to find a place in the house where it would fit, and I would still use it. Yes, I do use it. I won't tell you how often, but I do still use it. So into my sewing room it went! It weights about 200 lbs, it really is a nice one, so we finally put those furniture sliders under the base and "slid" it right into my sewing room. Of course this demanded a total room makeover, so before you know it, I'm changing quilts on the walls and hanging all those little hooks and shelves I've been meaning to get to for eons. We moved a huge cabinet in the corner to the opposite corner so that ever important and quintessential elliptical would fit .
Now here's a shot looking in from the doorway, and you really don't even know it's there!

Moving quilts meant the longarm room had to have some changes as well, so he really didn't know what monster he had uncovered until it was WAY too late!! lol!

New quilts now hang in the longarm room, and I really enjoy the new view.

Ooops, yes, those ARE Twilight posters on that far wall. Ok, you caught me.

I also have the only quilt I've ever sent to a really big quilt show hanging there. I sent it to Road to Calif in 2004, and it was accepted. It won Best of Show in my quild that year for our quilt challenge, and I have to say, it was one of the most fun quilt projects I ever made. The theme was God Bless America, and I finished it on the day we went to war with Iraq. I'll have to show a more close up pic in the next post. It is raw edge applique, painted, couched and was just fun in general finding fabrics, like feathers for the eagle.

I also got my old bench from an old dresser that is long gone painted and recovered. It looks way better than it did in that old antique ugly green.

Ok, so yes, I have been quilting as well. I'm going to get this quilt on the longarm by tomorrow. All the blocks are done and I should finish putting it all together tonight. I cooked dinner late last night while I was in the mood, so I don't have to cook tonight!

The fabrics are from RJR called Summer Solstice. This quilt will be going to Fabric Trends Magazine for their Summer issue 2010! The missing secret here is the sashing. It will look totally different when the sashing goes into the design.

Next I'll be doing a cool paper piecing design from these fabrics by Benartex, I'm just waiting for the black to come in.

I'll show you progress as we go along.

Until then, keep quilting!

Mountain Snow

2010-02-22T12:17:00.000-08:00

For the last several days, we've been talking wonderful walks and loving the outdoors. The temps have been near 70, when today we woke up to this view from our backyard! It was cold and it had snowed even on some of the foothills around us! Can you believe the winter we are having this year? We have already surpassed the average rainfall for the entire year, and it is only February! Beautiful though, and we are thankful for any precip we can get!
So I finished my Santa, and thought you would like to see him, charms and all. The cross stitch has now gone back into the basket because Spring Market work has arrived with a vengence!

I have designed a total of 14 quilts, with only 2 more to get approved, and am excited that I am now also working with RJR fabrics in California!

Two boxes of fabrics have arrived already and one top is almost completed. My days are going to be getting shorter and shorter as more fabric arrives. I'm very excited about Spring Market--I will have so much to share with you!

My Valentines flowers are still holding up well. Daisies are my favorite, and I'm inspired to build a quilt with daisies in the near future!

I've also gotten a project off my list for the sewing room and recovered my press board with a great new line called "Sew Now" by Alexander Henry. What is great is that it also comes in decorator weight, which I put on the press board. I have the regular cotton to make curtains as well, but for now the curtains will have to wait.

This is made from a piece of birch plywood, then covered with batting, then the fabric and stapled to the back. I've been using this board for years and I love it because it gives you such a nice big surface area. It measures 2' x 4'.

This is the latest longarm job I am working on for my friend Debbie. This is quilt called "So Many Blocks" and she did a beautiful job on it!

Well I can't finish this post today without addressing the friends in my life who are or have family members suffering with cancer. My heart goes out to you, and you know who you are. We tend to think we have problems in our lives until we learn of those we love whose husbands, children, wives and friends are battling with this disease. It is a strong reminder to hang on tight to those we love, make the most out of every moment. I'll keep you in my prayers and know that I love you very much. Until next time......

Happy Valentines Day!

2010-02-10T09:43:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentines Day to everyone! It's right around the corner! Whether you are weighed down with snow, rain or maybe a little sunshine is finally peeking through the clouds, I hope you all have a great day!!!

January and February have been busy months for me this year so far. There has been lots to do. My husband gave me a Nook for Christmas, and it arrived in February because the back orders were so huge! I've actually been enjoying READING and relaxing when I give myself the time. I'm must be improving because I never use to allow myself time for reading and playing around. It was always work, work, work!!! Don't you find it's easy to get caught up on the treadmill?
I know there are alot of reading devices out there now, but I love my new Nook, it's easy to hold reading in bed, and I can download a new book for a much lower price at any time of the day or night! I have a few to read all lined up, and some to my different series that are coming out soon
. If you've never tried one, and really enjoy reading, I highly recommend a reading device of your choice! I should be on their commercials! LOL!!

The rain has lifted today, and we have a beautiful mountain range covered with snow. I know most people to the north and the east have been really getting slammed with major snow, so my heart goes out to you all and especially in DC! We have really enjoyed the rain, more than I've seen since we moved here 6 years ago. They say it's an El Nino year, and we needed the rain so much!! Maybe it will make a small dent in our drought and low levels at Lake Mead. I hope.

I've continued to work on my cross stitch when I watch TV with my husband in the evenings, and it is coming right along! I have all kinds of designs I'm looking forward to working on!!
He's not finished yet, but I'll keep you posted!

What else have I been up to? Well, the real work these last few weeks has actually been designing quilts for new fabric lines that are coming out at Spring Market. These are just a few of the designs that have been approved so far, or possibly making it into magazines in the future. I have one quilt approved for Fabric Trends magazine in the summer issue of this year. It will be a line I'm not showing here yet by RJR fabrics. It is called Summer Solstice and you can actually see the line on their website. http://www.rjrfabrics.com/ . Look under fabrics.

This one will be in Fons and Porter magazine this year, not sure which issue yet, but it was approved. Sorry that I can't show you the whole design yet, but it is a cute crib size quilt.

I'm busy with Benartex and P&B Fabrics as usual, and here are a few that are already approved. I sure hope the fabrics start coming in soon!!!

There will be no such thing as time for myself or reading OR cross stitch once these fabrics begin to arrive on the trucks! LOL!
So until they do, I am really enjoying getting some longarm jobs done, and making a little time for the other things in life I love to do.

So until next time, Keep Quilting!

How's the weather?

2010-01-18T11:07:00.001-08:00

We have been getting the most georgeous sunsets you can imagine, and today the much needed rain has come in. We have a prediction for rain all week, which is not too common for this area. So I want to start out with a picture of another beautiful sunset view from my backyard!

This year, one of my goals is to finish up all those UFO's and projects sitting in bins or boxes that need to be used and enjoyed. This is a quilt from the Loa retreat 2009 that I just finished last week. Once the tops are done, they are going into the rotation for the longarm room so they can truly become quilts!! This is a one block wonder quilt with a few cubes thrown in for good measure. Every block was made from the border fabric. It's a fun project, but one I will probably not repeat!! LOL!!

Here is a panel from yesteryear, seems like ages, and it it ready for the longarm too. It's from the Celebrate Spring collection by Moda

Finally, I got my first Fig Tree quilt done, this one with cute houses in lots of colors. I just love simple and clean patterns like this one. I want to hang it on my sewing room wall once I get it quilted.

Design work is already starting to come in from Spring Market, so I'm trying to enjoy some of my own labors before the sewing room gets to that "sweat shop" stage!! There are some promising new lines out though, and I will keep you posted!

This one got it's borders last week and I bought the binding as well. I love this quilt. Every fabric is some form of cherries. It will be large enough for a twin bed and it's such a happy quilt!

Ok, one more confession to make. I have rediscovered cross stitch and have jumped in with both feet! I can't get them done fast enough before I find another pattern I'm dying to make. This guy is a Santa that will have charms on his coat by Just Nan, called Peddler Santa. Gee, I wonder why it struck a chord with me!! I also discovered a designer by the name of Michael Powell from England who does BEAUTIFUL designs of cottages and houses in Europe with a whimsical tone. He's NEXT!!

So I can't end this post without another lovely sunset out my back window. Thoughts and prayers too for the people of Haiti. They need all the help they can get.

Enjoy the weather and keep quilting!

Bunny Hill's new Snowbound BOM by Anne Sutton!

2010-01-05T11:14:00.000-08:00

Well, Anne has done it again, she has been so generous and kind to give us all another wonderful Block of the Month for FREE--all we have to do is download her patterns from her Bunny Tales site or her Bunny Hill website. I don't know about you, but snowmen are my very favorite! Thankyou Anne, for sharing with all of us your wonderful patterns. I just had to tell everyone all about it!!! What better way to start out the new year, than starting a fun quilt by one of our favorite designers? How can we go wrong?!! So I will be back soon, but first, I have a pattern to download and some work to do while I have the time! Keep quilting!!

2010-01-01T19:00:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! I had to get the year off right by at least posting on my blog today!!! But the fireworks were beautiful from the TV screeen last night, because, guess what, I really feel much more like these faces of stone or misery because, just great, I now have the flu! So I missed the New Years Eve party last night and won't be able to see some of my favorite quilting friends

tomorrow! I hope I don't look as bad as this guy, but I haven't dared to look in the mirror!!

Anyway, since I need to make myself somewhat useful, between fevers and naps I have been trying to get my little pincushion turtles ready to give at the party tomorrow that I am now not attending. That's right, they will be quilting and eating and visiting without me, lest they get this awful stuff themselves, and I'm not about to share the flu anyone! Hopefully my husband will be spared, but that is yet to be seen!

So I thought instead, I could share with you what I'm doing here, making these darling little turtles out of some fun fabrics that I hope they will like. I have 3 down, and the last 2 to finish sometime between now and tomorrow late afternoon. John has offered to deliver them for me to the "party house" in spite of myself!!

At first they were sort of hard. It is a pattern by Heather Bailey, and she calls these cute critters Henrietta turtle pincushions.

This is the beginning, and John says they look more like dinosaurs at this stage, but after careful stuffing and lots of seam clipping, I think I'm getting the hang of it!

I'm sure if I didn't have the flu, it would all seem so much easier! Ha Ha!

Here are some turtle shells in the making, just waiting for their wool felt flowers to be attached.

I love this one,

I this one is really ME! Gee, I wonder if I will get one too? HA HA! You know how that goes!!

But wanted to wish you all a very Happy New Year, I think it's going to be a great year, in spite of the flu!!!

Wasn't I saying something like that this time last year? Hmm,, can't say I remember, I have a fever you know.

So when you feel good get to that quilting!!

Where have I been?

2009-12-16T09:57:00.000-08:00

Roxy says we've just been hanging around! Silly dog! Life is easy for a dog in our house! Can't say she's been working too terribly hard!! I can't believe it's been a month since I posted! Wasn't it just Thanksgiving yesterday? Good Grief! Well, Thanksgiving was a nice quiet holiday for us and even though it was the 2 of us plus the dogs, we had a big turkey and all the fixins! It was really a very relaxing restful day, and I haven't seen one since!! The very next day it was time to decorate and get back to work! But we enjoyed it while it lasted. Christmas is now definitely upon us and we are getting ready to leave for the kids homes in Sacramento by this weekend. Yes, dogs and all. Sadly though, we won't have Cindy with us anymore. She was not doing well, and it was time to stop her suffering. We will miss her, as we had her for almost 16 years. She lived a long happy life, and now Roxy and Peanut will have to do their best to help us heal.
In case you haven't found this issue on the news stands yet, my Geisha Palace quilt was featured in the Feb/Mar 2010 issue of Quilt Magazine! You can find it on page 30. This quilt is really fairly easy to do. A couple of templates, but they are large so it is easy to put together. The fabric is Memoirs of a Geisha by Benartex.

I've had some requests to put pics on my blog that show different colorways of the Spiral Tree Skirt. So here you go, this is from a class I taught last month at Quiltique in Henderson, NV.

This is a 3 hr class, and as you can see, the students are making great progress in a hurry. In no particular order, you can see Sarah, Karan, Chelsea, Cindy, Jan and Patti, Dixie and Margaret! Beautiful girls!!

We have a Winner!

2009-11-12T07:46:00.000-08:00

Drum roll please! You all had a great chance to win this giveaway! I put your names in a basket, closed my eyes and drew one! Congrats to Sherri, of A Quilting Life, you have won the giveaway for a new Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks magazine! Sherri, send me an email with your address so I can ship it out to you! Thanks for all who participated. I really appreciate your comments and hope you do enjoy the magazine, even if you have to go out and buy one!!! It has lots of great blocks in it to inspire some wonderful new quilt designs.

Today is Shop Hop in Vegas, so the girls and I are going to be all over town today, checking out the shops and of course finding a great lunch somewhere!! Eating is a top priority after all! I'll fill you all in on how it goes, and all the great new finds! Sherrie, since you live fairly close by, maybe you are coming into town for Shop Hop too! That would be fun. Just look for the crazy bunch of ladies who laugh too much!!

Have a great day everyone---and keep quilting!

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks! Giveaway too!

2009-11-10T23:13:00.000-08:00

Check this out! Quiltmaker has come up with an ingenious magazine issue with 100 blocks from todays top designers! This is a collectors edition issue. Here is the link to find out more about this magazine--http://www.quiltmaker.com/100blocks . Follow the 100 Blocks Blog Tour daily from now until November 13th at quiltmaker.com/quiltypleasures for inspiration, ideas and giveaways galore! Look for 100 Blocks from Today's Top Designers in your local quilt shop, or purchase it at www.quiltmaker.com/100blocks. I feel so fortunate to be asked to participate along with other designers to make my own block which I call the Star Crossover block you see above. This block works well as a secondary design when set side by side in rows. Use any colorway you choose. This block was made from the line called "Sophie" by P&B Textiles! Make a comment on my blog and be eligible to win a copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks! The winner will be chosen by Thursday, November 12th, so tell your friends. If you are quick you might win! The winner will be chosen at random. But even better, keep visiting www.quiltmaker.com/quiltypleasures for new links and more prizes each day until the 13th! And don't forget to keep quilting!

I love Fall

2009-10-22T18:02:00.000-07:00

I just love fall. The crispness in the air, the cooler days and evenings, you can almost smell Fall!!
In the latest Fabric Trends Fall issue, they are showing off my Radiant Poppies design, from the Flower Show 3 line by Benartex. Unfortunately, there is a mistake on the measurements for the corner blocks only, and it didn't get caught before the magazine ran the issue. They have the correction posted on their website, and just so you know, the corner squares are cut 10 1/2", not 12 1/2", and the same for the little borders on the corner squares. So please make sure you change that part on the pattern if you decide to make the quilt!! I guess it had to happen sometime, but I just hate having mistakes in the pattern!!!

Here are a couple of quilts that went to Houston Market this year, this one is called Snow Days by P&B Textiles.

This next one is the finished quilt for P&B Textiles line called Elizabeth Anne by Alex Anderson. I call the quilt Sherbert Showcases. I still have a Block of the Month coming out with Benartex soon, and I'll update some pics for it as it starts to arrive. Maybe a quilt shop near you will carry it!!

It is nice that market is over, and I've been working hard on a class at college trying to learn Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. It's an art class actually, and I'm really enjoying it. But there is so much to learn, I'm going to have to practice, practice, practice.

Last week when California got the big rain storm we didn't get a drop, but the clouds really came in and gave us some beautiful sunsets. This is one of my favorites. You can really see the rays coming through.

So in the spirit of Fall, I thought I'd share just a few of my favorite things, collected, or painted by me a long time ago, and a quilt to boot. After the long hot summer, I am so happy to see Fall here, and know that it won't be long before we see the kids and grandkids for Christmas. Oopps, I guess I said that way too early. Are we ever really ready for Christmas?

At least now I'll just keep on sewing, quilting, painting and try to enjoy the season. Maybe I can even keep up on my blog!!!! Have missed you all and it's nice to be back.

Until later, keep quilting!!

Market is right around the corner!

2009-09-28T22:47:00.000-07:00

Time is going faster than ever, and this year Houston Quilt Market is two weeks closer!! I have a few sneak peaks of some quilts that willl be hanging at market this year.

This one is ready for the longarm machine right now. A BOM for Benartex, soon to be made out of a new line by Nancy Halvorsen called Tried and True. This photo is a sample for show before the new line arrives.

Alex Anderson's new line by P&B Textiles. This block shows off the large print. These colors are so beautiful!!

One of the blocks in the BOM

There was a great side trip 2 weeks ago, even at Market time I can't miss out on the yearly Loa retreat by Marsha Chappell. It was nice to get away from the Vegas heat and enjoy some rain and thunderclouds in this tiny little town of Loa, Utah.

The trees were starting to turn color in the higher country.
You can see the yellow and gold high on the mountains.

This is part of our group ready to unload all the "stuff" we need to sew to our hearts content.

Becky and Kelly are just hating life. You can see some of the quilts coming to life in the background as we start laying blocks on the design walls.

Janet is working hard too, see that intense face?

More quilts coming together.

All the quilts looked so different, it was a really fun project.

This is my quilt, still needing a few more vertical seams to be sewn.

After all the fun, it was back to work when we got home, and the midnight oil is burning.

Soon market will be behind us, and I'll be able to get out the fall decorations and recover my dining room chairs! Maybe even make a quilt or two just because!!

Until I can get back, keep quilting!

Surprise Cover of Fons and Porter!

2009-09-04T10:08:00.001-07:00

Well I had some really exciting news last week! I had no idea, but my Country Sunflowers quilt, made from the Farmyard Toile line by Benartex, made the Fons and Porter Cover!!!! It's my first magazine cover, and I was thrilled. It's not a hard quilt to do at all, and the appliqued sunflowers are very easy. So I hope that some of you get to see it!

It has been a crazy busy couple of weeks, with market fabrics coming in and I am now also a new college student! So my time is really getting filled up with work and learning, and sewing and quilting! I'm so excited to be taking a class in digital imaging, which will really help me in my business of pattern making. I have huge goals but it is always many baby steps to get there. I just keep plugging along, and I know with time and much effort, I will get there!

I just had to share with you a beautiful quilt that one of my customers, Kimberly made, and I got it finished for her on the longarm recently. This is one of my favorite patterns called Cottage Garden by Alma Allen from the Quilting in the Garden book that came out a couple of years ago. I love the colorway that Kimberly chose.

I believe she took this quilt class at Darlene Finney's company workshop, Quilters Quarters, in Henderson. One of the teachers, Eileen Hersley is fabulous when it comes to applique.

More exciting news! I have worked for several years, first as an employee, and then later as a teacher on occasion for a store in Henderson called Quiltique. It is a beautiful shop here in town and they made it to the Fall 2009 issue of Quilt Sampler magazine. Congrats to them!!! Since I am now in the business of designing, they asked me if I would work up a design for their quilt featured in the magazine.

Soooo, I said yes, and the results are this new "Out of the Box Argile" quilt made with very contemporary fabrics and colors which is so characteristic of the store!
We all got to pose for a store photo. The owners of Quiltique, the Tibesars, Jennifer, her Mother and Father, Jan and Bob, and sister Kara are in the foreground, from center to the right. I am on the front left, and the rest of the employees and teachers are all there, except for Kay McCain, manager of Bernina who was out of town. Sadly, Karen in the pink passed away unexpectedly last month after the photo was taken. She will be sorely missed.

Here is a picture of the quilt. Check it out when you get the chance!! It would be really nice in traditional fabrics too.

Last weekend I did manage to get away with a few friends for some relaxation (I know, at Market time, am I crazy?) at my friend Kelly's cabin in Utah, and this year we had new wildlife to enjoy. Thought you might really get a kick out of the family of chipmunks that came to feed on the porch. We started with seeds and nuts, and before long they were nibbling on watermelon rind and all kinds of goodies to fatten themselves up for the winter!!! Check out Mr. Cool and Casual, laying all stretched out while the others fed themselves. He looked just like my dog Roxy when she stretches out on the kitchen tile floor when its hot outside! He's a real mess! LOL!!!

It was a great weekend out of the smoke from the Calif fires and time to recharge my batteries for the weeks ahead. I will soon have some sneak peaks for you to see on my Houston quilt market projects.
I'll try to get back soon, you know if you don't hear from me right away I am busy sewing and quilting like crazy to meet deadlines! Until then, keep quilting!

Alex Anderson saw my quilts!!!!

2009-08-11T11:00:00.000-07:00

I just learned some exciting news this morning. Alex Anderson, famous quilter, designer, Quilt Show host and author of many books like the one to the left, has been video taping P&B Textiles to help us learn more about fabric production and design. The latest video, at this link: http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/blog_video.php?video=pbtextiles12.html has 2 of my quilts in the video and Julie Scribner, who I work with at P&B tells the world that I made them! Never in my wildest dreams did I expect that! I'm just so excited and wanted to share this with you. You do have watch the video for a few minutes before Julie starts to show many beautiful quilts they have hanging on the walls. So I hope you look into http://www.thequiltshow.com/ with Alexanderson and Ricky Timms because they have so many great things to share, teach, and help us all become more creative with what the good Lord gave us. The video was posted on Aug 11, part 12 of the tour of P&B Textiles, and is located on their daily blog.

So now, I have to come back down to earth and get busy sewing! You just never know what the day may bring! Like Alex's book says, Keep Quilting!

Christmas in August and spring flowers too!

2009-08-09T22:26:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again, time to teach the spiral tree skirt project! This has been my most popular class and they are fast and easy to make, with no need to match any points or seams! It uses a 9 or 10 degree wedge ruler and is completely made from strip sets! I have the patterns available for $9 each if anyone wants to order, just send me an email! Or leave a comment and I'll get back to you.

I had to make one more change to my sewing room, and that was to be able to actually REACH the design wall! So I moved a quilt and put it on a different wall and I love it. It is so much easier to get to!

I have been longarming like crazy lately and had to share this one quilt made by my customer Kimberly. It was such a detailed and beautiful pattern, all made with civil war fabrics. So of course I had to quilt each block differently!!

Here is just one of the 9 inch blocks in the quilt.

This pattern is called Golden Memories by Lori Smith.

And here is the quilt on the longarm. It was a beautiful quilt, now I want to make one too! hmmm, I wonder when I will get around to that! So many things on my list!

Just had to share some of the beautiful flowers I'm getting this year. I mean, for the middle of August, they are usually spent, and very droopy from the heat. But it's been a good years so far for plants, and they seem to be hanging in there.

I'm really glad too, because I just love flowers.

Even the African violets in the house are happy.

The monsoons were definitely here in August. So the rain has really helped. Nothing better than a good afternoon rain on a hot day.

Be back soon, until then, keep quilting!

Oh the Sunsets!!

2009-07-22T00:32:00.000-07:00

Living in the desert has it advantages. Sure, it's HOT this time of year, but oh those sunsets! Monsoon season is here, and last night we were out on the back patio watching the thunderstorms roll in, with lightning across the sky and the thunder rumbling. It rained for a good 20 minutes and it really smelled so good. We get so little rain here that I so enjoy the storms when we have them.
The last couple of weeks the sunsets have been so beautiful. Golds, pinks, crimson. I ought to make a quilt out of all these colors!!
You just had to watch as the sun went down because every few minutes the sky changed.

I took these pictures right out of my own backyard!
I wanted to thank all of you who wrote in about what you do with your quilts. It was fun to hear how you use them, and if you wash them. I started a batik quilt for a client, and I have to admit that I ALWAYS wash and rinse the batik fabrics because they never fail to run. But thanks again, it was fun to hear from you!!

So these last few days I've been a little busy with a bit of everything. I decided to go through my tons of old magazines to save the patterns I really want to keep, and have filled a binder or two. I've also been working on my applique blocks, and this one here still needs a 3 dimensional butterfly, but I'm not so sure I'm going to put him on! The background borders you see here are from the block underneath, and I still have to sew the borders on this one too. What else have I been up to? Well, I just couldn't resist another painting job. My husband learned a long time ago

to leave me the painting! I love to paint, but I must admit I was sore the next day! Just couldn't take those beige walls any longer. I tried, but I just didn't last. Had to have some color in the room to warm it up! This is a quilt I finished longarming recently.

I've been working also on last year's BOM that I love. Here they are on the design wall. Now mind you, I have absolutely no green in my house, but I love this quilt. It is a Marti Michelle template quilt called Hidden Stars, and I finally finished it!! I'm still in shock. A quilt done for me, imagine that! Now to get it in line for longarming sometime this year.

My sweet daughter knows me so well. Here is my birthday present, and who can resist a stack of layer cake and jelly rolls and charm packs by Moda? I started digging around my stash to find another set very similar that I'm going to combine with these fabrics and start my sampler quilt from the Elm Creek series. The blocks are 6 inches. I haven't decided which format to use yet, but I think these fabrics will be so perfect!! I'm a lucky Mom for sure. Tomorrow will be a busy day, longarming and cutting out another project. Houston Market will be in full swing before we know it, and the new

projects are already starting to roll in. In the meantime, I'm going to keep working on that UFO pile!!

Until next time, keep quilting.

What do you do with your quilts?

2009-07-08T11:49:00.000-07:00

I was just browsing my favorite blogs when I came across "Sisters Choice Quilts" (you can find the link on the right) and she was talking about how to store and use quilts, how to wash them and whether or not to prewash your fabrics! Check out her site, she has some great information there. She lays her quilts on all the furniture and beds, (imagine that!) and I tend to hang my quilts all over the house!!! So I thought I would share with you how I use my quilts so that I can enjoy them as much as possible in our home. I have yet to finish a quilt big enough for my bed, but it is in the making. I, like her, have little dogs, and I always worry that they might tear one of my quilts! I guess that must mean I like my quilts better than my furniture! LOL!!! I have one exception, and that is these two older wedding ring quilts that are in pretty bad shape, and I let the dogs lay on these when I am sewing. I love this couch now in my sewing room. It is a cozy place to stop and relax, read a book, or just have a nap with Roxy and Peanut by my side. The design wall is above the couch, which isn't terribly easy to get to, but it's the only spot I have, and I can't get along without a design wall!

I try to make sure that my quilts don't hang in direct sunlight at any time, and I do move them around as the seasons change. In fact, I love quilts with a seasonal theme just for that reason!! Another wall in the sewing room. Here is a 4th of July wall hanging.

I just love color, and I'm a contemporary enthusiast as well as loving the traditional quilts. This one is so easy, and a free pattern for the Kona Cottons. If you look down the hall to the front door, you can barely see another quilt hanging from a rod, using two curtain tiebacks turned vertically so the rod can hang on the "hook". This makes it really easy to switch out the different quilts. Again, those Kona cottons. I did this a long time ago, making Amish blocks, and framing them to hang above my kitchen cupboards! I have 2 more to make, and finding a 12" square frame is not easy. I just cut the mats down on the inside to fit the 9" blocks.

There is a machine embroidered quilt in the bedroom. I'm now in the process of finding a quilt that better suits the space. Too much of it hangs behind the headboard.

In the longarm room, I love hanging quilts to inspire my quilting and I just love looking at them!

I painted two walls last week in this aqua/greyblue historic color and I really like the warmth it gave to the room. I might still attempt the other walls!

So the question is, what do you do with your quilts? Besides giving them as gifts, which I think every quilter does!! Do you prewash your fabrics? Do you throw your quilts in the washing machines? Do you really USE your quilts? Write and let me know! I love sharing information!

Until then, keep quilting!!

Congratulations to Mike and Deanna!

2009-06-23T16:28:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know, I have been missing in action for awhile now. Not that I had that much to do for my son's wedding, really, but oh the anticipation! We went to the mountains above Lake Isabella, CA., where I raised my kids, and my son and his beautiful fiance, Deanna were married under the pine trees on a beautiful, even if a little bit cold, day! Here is the happy couple right after the ceremony. We are so happy for them. It has been a long road to each other, being separated for 10 years before they found one another again, and I don't think anyone had a happier face that day than the two of them!!

I loved their cake, it was so darn cute. Her colors were black and white and the cake was adorable, and very good!!!

The wedding party together, down the hill. It was so much fun for my husband and I to see and visit all the kids that use to hang out at our home when they were young, and raz some of them about raiding the refrigerator in those days!! Deanna was so beautiful, and oh that dress!!

My husband and I with Mike.

Their flower girl was so adorable!!! And that cute little black and white dress!

My twin granddaughters were enjoying the day.

I really didn't want to come home, we had such a wonderful time. But I did get SOME work done before the wedding! Here is a quilt for Benartex that I just finished.

I've been keeping a secret for a long time! But the secret is out!! This quilt on the longarm will be featured as the store quilt for Quiltique in Henderson NV for the fall issue of Quilt Sampler magazine!!! I am so excited!!!

The pattern will be available in the magazine, but I must warn you, it's not a beginners pattern!!! I did my best on the quilting....and I'll let you know when the issue comes out again!!

Until then,

keep quilting!

Happy Birthday Charlotte!!!

2009-05-20T23:50:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday to my beautiful daughter Charlotte! Actually her birthday was May 13th, and she and her husband and her stepson were in Hawaii enjoying some time off and a nice vacation. Just can't let it go by without wishing her a wonderful birthday month! Besides, I had to brag a little!! She is the BEST!!!

Spring Market!

2009-05-20T22:39:00.000-07:00

While I was in Utah a few weeks ago, I saw this quilt in the Corn Wagon Quilt Co. store and fell in love with it. It is made completely of Kaffe Fasset fabrics which I love. So I collected more pieces to add to my collection so I could make my own version, but definitely with Kaffe Fasset fabrics. The pattern is called Cinnamon and Ginger by Allison Designs, and I am going to make my border in the shot cotton instead of a print. So here are the fat quarters I've chosen so far, and we shall see how it comes together, but I really liked the dark blue/purple shot cotton for the background. I'm so happy to have a bit of a break from Spring Market quilts, that I hope to sew up all kinds of quilts that are on the shelves waiting for me, and this one is high on the list!!

I am actually even finding time to read books and plant flowers, a couple of other favorite pastimes of mine. Right now? Life is good. Time on my hands is a good thing!!

It has been over 100 degrees for days, and little Roxy, who isn't so little anymore has had enough! We got home from a morning walk and she plopped down with all legs spread on the cool tile floor to cool off! She is a real mess!

This is the finished quilt I called "Earth's Windows" by a line called Mendicino by P&B Textiles. I'm anxious to hear what response it got at the show.

I'm going to share some exciting news I received 2 days ago about the next 3 quilts I designed for Benartex. They were all picked up by magazines from Spring Market. That has never happened before, and I'm excited to hear more details. But thought you might enjoy seeing them here for a sneak peak.

This one is from a line called Memoirs of a Geisha,

Flower Show 3,

and my favorite, True Blue by Eleanor Burns for Benartex. I got so inspired by finishing up all the quilts that I decided to change my sewing room up a little. Well, maybe alot. I had this extra couch that was in the den before we turned it into my husband's poker room. It stayed in the living room all winter, which made it nice and cozy, but I was dying to get a feeling of extra space in the living room for summer. So I had this wild idea that it should go into the sewing room! I got out the good old tape measure and before you knew it, my couch was standing on end because it wouldn't get through the door otherwise. Yes, I did this all by myself, because well, when I get something in my head, I just can't wait!!! It's not a real heavy couch, and with lots of manuevering and leverage I managed to finally get it into the right spot, and there you can see that I have my own couch for stretching out and doing hand work right in the sewing room! When I told my husband what I was up to all he could do was laugh on the phone.

I think he knows by now that where there's a will there's a way!!

So here it is and I love it! Couldn't be more perfect! Roxy is still not so sure!

See you soon. Keep quilting!

I'm Back!

2009-05-05T08:47:00.000-07:00

I went to the mail box yesterday, to find my newest Hancock's catalog, and while browsing through the pages last night, I found two of my Benartex patterns! I was so surprised and excited to see them there! These patterns will be shown at Spring Market too, and you can order them through Hancocks now. You just never know what will happen next!
You will find these on pages 96-98. I included a copy of the front of the catalog so you can know which one to look for.

With Spring Market almost here, I am done with all the work, but for one more quilt to finish when the last piece of fabric is due to arrive today!!! I just have to finish piecing an almost completed top, quilt and bind and ship directly to Pittsburg! This last one is a last minute quilt to be sure, but it will be one of my favorites in the show. It's for the new True Blue line by Benartex, designed by Eleanor Burns. I went on an unexpected trip to Utah for 4 days last week, and many of my friends helped me out so I could go. I'd been working many hard and long hours for weeks and the break was just wonderful. I don't know what I would do without such wonderful friends. True friends are surely hard to find, and I am so grateful. My husband John pitched in too, helping with the house and laundry, (yes, I said laundry), he is a real KEEPER!!! After so many 2 am nights, I never thought I'd catch up on my sleep again, but here we are, so close to market and I can give a huge sigh of relief that it is almost over! This was really rewarding though, as the designs keep coming, and I'm excited to say, I think I am starting to improve. It feels good.

Here is a sneak peak of some of the blocks that are being finished today into a complete quilt. I love this blue/yellow colorway in Eleanor Burns newest fabric line. Again, it is called True Blue, and I'm seeing it on magazine pages already.

Here is the newest edition of Fons and Porter, and when it came, I found that my latest design for Quilting Treasures was already being published. They are selling this kit in the magazine, and the pattern is free on the http://www.quiltingtreasures.com/ website, just go to free projects.

There is so many exciting things happening lately. This one is top secret until May 15th. This is a sneak peak of what's coming, but I can't tell you yet or I'll have to kill you!!!

The quilt on the longarm is for Benartex and will be showing at Market too. It is an oriental line called Memoirs of a Geisha. Beautiful fabrics, and a totally new design.

I'm sending a snapshot of a quilt I am really excited about. This is Mendicino line by P&B Textiles, and I call it Earth's Windows. It is NOT your Grandmother's attic window design. The only reason I can show you the quilt in progress is because it is at a distance, and you just can't get the effect without seeing it all at once. The borders are not on yet, and I'll send finished pics of these after market.

This is a quilt shop we found on our way to Salt Lake City, Utah. It is in Springville off of I-15, and is called Corn Wagon Quilt Co. This is one of my favorite shops, but we hit a bunch of them, further north. Pine Needles, and Quilts, Quilts Quilts, Etc was another favorite. Even The Scrap Apple in St George on the way home. I'll have to show you the bounty in my next postings. Utah was beautiful with blooming tulips everywhere you looked and snow capped mountains, and blooming trees in purples and pinks. The weather was wonderful and cool, and honestly, it has taken me 2 days just to reacclimate myself to the desert! It will be in the 90's today, and I'm thinking " Wait---it's only May for cryin out loud"!!!
These tulips were so beautiful and in all kinds of colors all over Provo and Salt Lake City. We went to a Women's Conference at BYU and it was fabulous. I loved every minute of it. My friend Tina invited me along and we had the best time, taking classes, eating, quilt shop hopping, eating, sleeping and shopping. Did I mention eating? The best food ever. Now I am going to have to make up for lost time to get in shape for my son's wedding!!! I have 6 weeks! Yikes!

Here is another shop we enjoyed called Elaines Quilt Shop outside of Provo.

The UPS man just arrived with my overnight package. I must now get back to work!!! Only one more!

Missed you all! Keep quilting!

Working on Spring Market!!

2009-04-16T09:17:00.000-07:00

I miss you all so much, but am so busy working on the Spring Market jobs. I still have 5 more quilts to complete by May, so time is of the essence and I really would like to be blogging and visiting all your sites!!!! Miss you guys and love all your stuff, I will be checking in on you as soon as I'm able. Just trying like crazy to NOT STRESS and work steady, get the jobs done and be a happy girl!!! LOL!!! I'll send you some sneak peaks real soon so you can see what I've been up too. I have been working on some great projects so stay tuned for sure!!! I have an attic window that is definitely NOT your Grandmother's attic window!!! I am so excited about it and getting such great responses already!!!

Hugs to you all, I'll be back soon!!!!!

Let's go Sailing!!!

2009-03-30T22:20:00.000-07:00

I can't think of a better thing to do today, than to go sailing out on the warm ocean with the breeze in my hair, watching the sunlight glint off of the water and smelling all that salty sea air. I grew up on the coast, sometimes I really miss it. The moist air, the sun on my skin, the sound of the waves and the seagulls overhead. Sounds like heaven right now!!! I found this picture today and it just took me back. Instantly. I always thought I'd like to retire in Moro Bay. They have a great quilt shop, so with all the beautiful flowers and green grass, why, all I'd need is a picket fence!!!
But since we live in the desert instead, we have great sunsets and a different kind of beauty on the mountains and on the desert floor. I like it here too, just need to see that ocean once in awhile.
The trip to St George, UT was a great success and the weather was wonderful. It was a really relaxing day which I was in desperate need of, and Roxy just makes me feel like I don't know how to relax at all! Look at her, paws were crossed before I got the camera and she doesn't have a care in the world!!!! LOL!!! But back to St George. We enjoyed a wonderful lunch at the Bear's Paw and starting hopping from quilt shop to quilt shop and mostly just looked and admired, but I found a few things too that I had really been searching for. A great sale once in awhile didn't hurt either!!!

I found the prettiest panels by Quilt Soup, and the grand daughters have a birthday coming up, so, well they just seemed perfect. I got different borders for each (they are twins) and I hope I get them done in time for birthdays, but if not, there is always Christmas!! They will be 9 this year and the sayings were perfect.

I absolutely love Fig Tree everything, so I got their newest book and some patterns. I have so much fabric I've been saving to make with patterns from Fig Tree, and can hardly wait to get started. I promised myself I'd finish some BOM's first.

I discovered today that P&B has my Sophie's Squares quilt pattern up on the site now!! This is the quilt before I sent it off. If you go to http://www.pbtex.com/ and click on free patterns, it is one of the first patterns there!!! This was such a fun little quilt to make. Cheerful colors.

Like I said before, I promised myself to to finish up some work. I actually spent time this weekend working on a quilt I've been trying to finish for over a year. I'm getting very close! I hope I like it when I get it all put together, as there is alot of green going in between the blocks!

These are some of the green panels that go with the blocks! Amazing, they don't even look like they belong to the same quilt!!!

Tomorrow there is much to do, and darn it, sailing is not going to be on the list!!! But I hope to get alot done and get one step closer to finishing the work for Spring Market. More fabric is also on the way, so I'm going to do my best to take it one day at a time!!! Famous last words. So happy sailing and keep quilting!!

Sneak peaks at new market stuff!!

2009-03-26T19:48:00.000-07:00

Well, I got two tops completed today, and they are ready for the longarm room. Roxy and Peanut were helping me out today in the sewing room, and they had plenty to say about what was going on in there! The wind was blowing like crazy today and they stayed inside for the most part! Usually their backs are turned to me while they look out the window to see who's walking by!

I have some sneak peaks of blocks to share with you, the blue with the African ladies are doing their wash, and this is the cutest line called Labor of Love by Quilting Treasures.

I have a couple of blocks to show you from the Sketchbook collection by P&B Textiles also. These blocks are easy, and would work great with any line, but I love the bright colors of them. You know me and color!! I love pastels, but I always seem to go stronger and stronger in my fabric choices.

This next picture shows a beautiful quilt made by my friend Karen, and she asked me to longarm quilt it for her. That fabric was just georgeous and I love the Storm at Sea blocks. She added sashing, so I tried to make each block stand out. Isn't that border fabric just to die for? And blue and white ALWAYS works!!

Tomorrow I am headed to St George with friends to eat, shop, visit and just get away together, imagine that, a real day off!!! Should be fun. I'm anxious to see what's new in the quilt shops right now, and enjoy good food with friends. I'm saying my prayers also for my dear friend, whose husband is having major surgery tomorrow. I pray that all goes well, and she knows who I'm talking about. So on that note, I will end this for now, and talk to you soon. I saw a really great quote today that I will share with you,

"Any day spent quilting is a good day"

Spring Weather is here.

2009-03-16T14:34:00.000-07:00

It is suppose to be in the 80's by tomorrow and I have all the doors and windows open to enjoy the great fresh air. Here are the slackers of the household, enjoying a beautiful spring day, snoozing. Hmm, that use to be my quilt, but then who's really noticing that?!!! Roxy is getting older, which really hasn't changed her puppy ways too much, but she does enjoy a nice afternoon snooze!

Peanut doesn't want to feel left out of course, so she decided to join in on a rest from the tough dog life she leads. Are we spoiled or what?

I'm sure many of you know about the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer, which of course I love and have read all four books twice so far. Yes, I did say "so far". This is her latest book out, called "The Host". I love her writing, but I have to warn you, it is tough getting started on this one, but once you get through the first few chapters, this book will hold you like a vise while you read. I am about 3/4th of the way through, and I'm enjoying the story so much. Very suspenseful love story, but nothing so far like Twilight. The Twilight DVD comes out this Sat. I already have one ordered. I use to tell people I never read anymore, but Stephanie's writing just grabs me and won't let go. Have any of you read it yet?

Well, in my last post I said I want to make a table runner once a month. So far, I have the fabrics and the ideas, just no sewing in the works yet for me. Lots of company projects are just getting in my way!!! I planned to sew this weekend, but the weather was just too nice, and I couldn't stay inside. This line is the new Fig Tree line, and when you go to Moda Lisa, listed to the right on my favorites, you can get this free pattern, which is the one I'm going to use for this tablerunner. The line is called Pastierre, if I spelled that right, and I love the colors as usual. Joanna at Fig Tree just has a way with color, doesn't she?

This is a border print I discovered in a shop last month and I decided to make a simple table runner out of it using the border stripe to do all the work for me!! I love the bee hives and birdhouses and these colors will look great in my great room, no pun intended there!! LOL!!!

Do you remember those watercolor quilts we all use to make? I loved those things, they were great for scraps too, but took a long time to lay out. I think it was worth the effort though. This is one I did that I love to have out in the spring. It suppose to look like a flower box under a window.
Years ago when I thought I couldn't quilt, because of my RA, and I didn't know about longarms back then, I taught tole painting classes and this is one of the few pieces I have left. I brought out some of the Easter decorations since Easter is less than a month away!

I tried again, to turn this pic, but with no success, so forgive me for the sideways glance, but these are wool felt eggs that I machine embroidered for Easter. They were alot of fun to make, and if you have any embroidery software, you can come up with your own designs and just stuff an egg!!!!

Yes, Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill, I do love bunnies too. This is an old favorite that comes out for Spring. It just wouldn't be the same without her!!!

Until next time, keep quilting!

Free Patterns!!

2009-03-11T11:10:00.000-07:00

I have been working with Benartex (http://www.benartex.com/) for almost 2 years now. I just discovered where they are hiding alot of my patterns on their website!!! I always thought they would be under projects, but instead you need to click on a fabric line and they have projects under each line. I wanted to share with you this free pattern for the Samara line, called Victorian Paisley. Here is the link:

http://http//db.benartex.com/storelocator/FMPro?-DB=invimage.fp3&-lay=internet&-max=15&delay=no&-op=eq&-Format=quiltcol.htm&-sortfield=primarysort&-sortorder=ascend&-sortfield=recordid&directory=49Z&quiltgal=quiltgal&-sortorder=ascend&-find and here is the quilt! This was easy to make and I love the combination of the light blue with black in the fabrics. When you click on the link, you can download a PDF file with a much better image of the quilt. I will post a new quilt for you in my next posts, so you can see some of the new designs I have done and new fabric lines that should be in your stores by now. This one is the City Blooms line and is another free pattern when you click on that line of fabric on the website. This one is great for beginners.

I have a close up of some of the quilting too.

I received a box from UPS yesterday, and thinking it was another fabric line that is ready to be made, I didn't open it before I went to my Dr. visit. When I got home I finally opened the box to a huge surprise. My Victory Garden quilt was in the box, and I was so excited, because this is the first quilt of mine ever to go into Fons and Porter magazine. I just love this quilt.

I think I showed it to you before, that was a long time ago, so for anyone that hasn't seen it yet, here it is in red,white and blue.

It was in the Fons and Porter Dec 2008 issue.

I love table runners, and I have given more of them away than I actually own. I don't have one for Easter now, so I want to do at least one tablerunner a month, just to do something for me. I learned the hard way, that working hard is fine, but you have to balance out your time with some time for yourself once in awhile. I thought this would be a perfect way to keep on track because I tend to just keep working, and the break never comes, because after all the work is done, more work finds you!!!

The flowers are starting to bloom outside and after a little chill, we are going to have 80 degree temperatures by next Tuesday!! I hope to be planting the annuals this weekend. The yellow jasmine is already in bloom and my african violets too!!

I got the picture a little blurry!!!

My favorite thing to do, next to being with my family and quilting, is gardening. In Vegas, I have found it to be a real challenge. And with Roxy dog, who loves to bite sprinkler heads off, and eat the flowers it is even more of a challenge. I will really have to work with her this spring to teach her to stay off!!!

She is the sweetest girl you'd ever meet, but still very much a puppy. She wants to please but gets bored very easy, and Peanut just doesn't want to play much lately because sher hurt her leg. She is getting better and Roxy and I go on walks without her until she feels better. Long walks also keep Roxy from getting so bored that she chews on things, and I give her lots of rawhide chews too which she loves.

Hope your weather is warming up. I'll be back soon, until then keep quilting!

Is Spring here?

2009-03-08T11:58:00.000-07:00

Well, my plum tree in the front yard sure seems to think it is Spring!! I love the beautiful blossoms and they fall off all too quickly, but I sure enjoy spring. The skies have been clear and blue, and the temps vary from 58 to 76 degrees these last few weeks. I love Spring, it all feels like a new fresh start and it isn't hot in the desert yet. The dogs like it too, it is getting warmer for walks and now Peanut is enjoying the walks with Roxy and I. The SPCA called us about 2 weeks ago to ask how she was doing, and here is a great pic of her, just before a nap. She has put her weight back on, and she plays with Roxy and is a well adjusted happy girl again. She has the sweetest personality and we are glad she is a member of the family now.

More fabric shipments are on their way, and soon I will be fabricating more quilts for Spring Market. As soon as I am able, I will share my new ideas with you.

I have just finished this block for a quilt I am making called "Forever Flowers" by the Quilt Company. I have another pattern set from them with bird houses all over and sunflowers in the borders. I love these patterns and I really enjoy picking out my own fabrics instead of buying kits! I think after this is quilted and finished that I want to embellish it with beading too. What do you think? There are still 5 more blocks to complete, and the border is very involved with pieced tulips, etc, and I can hardly wait to get this together. The only thing holding me up is the time it will take to applique all the blocks. One down, 4 more to go! With the borders on it, the block measures 20 inches!!
I have sent more finished quilts off to Benartex for Spring Market, and this is a sneak peak of a quilt for the Flora and Fauna line.

This one is an upclose of a quilt I designed and shipped for P&B Textiles. This one is easy for beginners and uses almost every fabric in the line. It's bright and Spring looking!

Along with all the good, sometimes there are a few tough spells and recently I had an episode that landed me in the hospital. I am fine now, and working as always, so I am thankful for that. The same week we learned that my kids Grandmother passed away and it has been difficult and we miss her.

My daugther was born in the Spring, the month of May actually, and she was born at 8:45 in the evening. I remember waking early and looking out the window the next morning to a beautiful Spring day, as a very happy new Mother. Sometimes her birthday lands on Mother's Day, and it couldn't be more fitting. The good things in life definitely outweigh the bad. I'm really thankful for my children and my family and friends. Enjoy Spring, and keep quilting!

Quilt Almanac issue #98 2009

2009-02-10T23:20:00.000-08:00

I just got a surprise package in the mail last week---it was 2 issues from Quilt Almanac magazine! The fun part is that it has my Cider Mill Road quilt that I designed and made from the Benartex line by Nancy Halverson. I didn't even know it was out!! I took a picture of the article, but I just can't get it to post in the right position. If anyone can tell me how to rotate a photo in a blog I am all ears!!!

Nice sideways shot, huh? I didn't take it that way, but well, you get the idea.

Our old car blew up and the hot water heater went out within the same week, so some good news was nice to have!! I have been a busy bee around here trying to get deadlines met and making all kinds of new projects.

I will be teaching another class on the Elm Creek Quilt series and this quilt is called The Winding Ways Quilt, after the book by Jennifer Chiaverinni. I now have all 10 stars made, (here's one) and am working on the alternate blocks. I really like the border fabric-- it looks alot like the quilts that came out a few years ago by John Flynn.

We have been getting alot of rain, and this one morning it was snowing big flakes the size of silver dollars. I tried to get a good pic, but they are hard to see!!

Getting back to the quilts, I have also been catching up on the longarm jobs. This quilt, made by one of my customers is such a great one. I love the fabrics. I just couldn't resist turning those big dots into daisies!!

Another beautiful customer quilt done all in civil war fabrics. I just had to do feathers! I'll have alot more to share with you soon, there is alot in the works right now. LOVING the cool weather while it's here, it just feels like time to quilt.

Happy Birthday Christy!!

2009-01-24T14:49:00.000-08:00

This is our daughter Christy and her husband Dirk. One of the boys, Bryson above them!!!! Her birthday is Monday. Happy Birthday Christy!!! We miss you so much!!!

I just got the new catalog from Hancock's of Paducah and as I was thumbing through the pages when I saw one of my quilt designs! That was a surprise! It is the Ellie Fun quilt, fabric by Quilting Treasures. It's on page 114 if you want to peek!

The Ellie Fun quilt at Houston Market last year.

Well, I am finally over the flu and way behind on my work, but I'll give you a few sneak peaks of some of the quilts that will be showing at Spring Market this year. This one is from the Cosmo Chic line by Benartex.

Here is a close up of City Girl Holiday by Benartex. I love this line, the colors are so beautiful. I can think of all kinds of things I'd like to make for Christmas next year!

Here you can see a few blocks. Wish I could show you the whole quilt, but until I can I'll keep a few close ups so you can see what's new!!

Another quilt I am working on is from a line called Samsara. This is a beautiful line by Benartex. This block in the center is the fabric that inspired the whole quilt!!!
It is one of my favorites, because I love the black with the light blue, and the old world feel to the fabrics.
It has been a really nice week, feeling better and getting out of the house once in awhile. We went out to see Barry Manilow's show last week and it was a really good show. His voice is just as great as always.

Before I go, I want to show you this pattern by The Quilt Company. I think it is called Heart and Home. I just love it, and will be doing this as a block of the month this year. Some quilts are just too hard to resist!!!

I hope everyone is feeling great, and the flu season is OVER!!! Although my daughter, Char, said she has it this week. Feel better really soon Char!!!!

Until next time, keep quilting!

Happy Birthday to my Son Michael!

2009-01-13T12:04:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to my son, Mike. He is 34 today. This is Mike and his fiance, De Anna. They are engaged to be married June 13th of this year. Have a great birthday Mike!!!!!

It's called the FLU!!!!!

2009-01-13T11:25:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone, this darling little block can be found on Anne Sutton's blog, http://www.bunnyhill.blogspot.com/ and it is free! It is cute or what? Anne, you've outdone yourself again! Anyone interested can find it on her site!! Ok, now I know I have some explaining to do. Where have I been, you might ask, besides lounging around the house, on couches and chairs, reading books and watching TV, maybe even sleeping for hours on end. How lazy can a person be, you might say. There are only 8 quilts to be quilted and bound and shipped away. Well, I'll tell you where I've been, having a VERY long date with the Flu!!!! Now I'm not suppose to take flu shots with my compromised immune system, but this session with the flu has made me wonder. NO fun, no fun at all. I finally got in to the Dr yesterday and after 2 shots, 3 meds, a breathing treatment and strick orders to STAY AWAY from everyone, my little doggies have been my only partners, during the day that is. My husband has been so much help, but he does have to work too!! So the dogs and I have had great conversations together, if you can call it that, and I am finally getting somewhat functional!!! I didn't even want to blog, you know, I was sure no one wanted to hear about all the lovely symtoms, but as my Daughter Charlotte told me, I was seriously lacking on my posting!!!! Hopefully I will soon be forgiven and we can focus on more pleasant things!!! So I'll share some great pics for you to enjoy while I recoup.

Roxy and Peanut have become the best of friends. Here they are enjoying the sun on a lazy afternoon.

A sunset view from the couch.

The last quilt I completed for P&B Textiles and is already in their hands. It was a study in value.

I was having trouble adjusting to my new longarm frame, but it is finally getting better.

If anyone has heard of The Quilt Show with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims I highly recommend joining the membership. They always have a free BOM by Sue Garman, and just look at the pattern for 2009! I was so excited, because I had planned to buy the pattern anyway, and now I can just print the patterns on my computer!!! Check out the site, it is awesome. www.thequiltshow.com

My newest favorite book by Kaffe Fassett. I may not be able to go shopping, but there is the computer, you know.

Another night in misery on the couch was made doable by this georgeous sunset.

And lastly, my little buddies, Roxy and Peanut, showing me just how to relax when you don't feel good. Cindy is doing well too, but she likes her dog bed better.

I'll have some new things to show you very soon! So hang in there with me, but whatever you do, don't catch the flu!!!!.....and

Keep quilting!

Christmas Swap

2008-12-30T11:43:00.000-08:00

I want to send many thanks to my secret Christmas Swap partner, Cheryl, of Willowberry Designs in Australia for my beautiful
gifts for Christmas!! Look at the beautiful Redwork wall hanging that she made for me! I just love it Cheryl, and it is hanging in my longarm room already! She added fat quarters in Christmas green and red, plus a tea towel, handmade hot pads and her own personal tree skirt pattern! I also love the beautiful buttons Cheryl! I was amazed by all the beautiful things you sent me, and I will use and enjoy them all. I am really looking forward to trying out that pattern for Christmas next year! Many thanks also to Chooky Blue for putting on the swap. It was my first time participating and I enjoyed it so much that I'd like to do it again next year! Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and that your New Year will be the same. Look forward to seeing what everyone is up to in the new year!!! I will have more to share really soon. Keep Quilting!!!

Record snow in Vegas!!!

2008-12-18T09:55:00.000-08:00

Here is the view this morning, after all the clouds moved away. I'm sure you may have heard already that we had record snow!!! It is so beautiful! We measured 9" at our house this morning. It started yesterday morning and never let up all day, continuing on through the night last night. My next door neighbor didn't even go to work today, and there were alot of cars abandoned on the side of the road. Luckily, we have all wheel drive, so my husband got off safely. We are down a steep hill so he did have to wait until the road melted off before he could leave. These pictures are the view from our backyard this morning.

Yesterday Roxy was facinated by the snow, and played in it every chance she got!!!

Even Peanut joined in on the fun. They didn't know what to think of all this white stuff!!

Here is the birdbath last night. At that time it was almost 8 inches deep!!

Snowing in the dark, it was coming down heavy!!

Here's a shot of the backyard last night.

The view from my sewing room! Needless to say, try as I might, I didn't get much sewing done yesterday!!! LOL!!

Early this morning.

The front yard and the car WITHOUT 4 wheel drive. It's still sitting there!!

We might be lucky and keep some of the snow until Christmas. It is a beautiful day and I am so thankful that I now work from home!

Merry Christmas everybody!!!

Snow in Vegas!

2008-12-16T09:59:00.000-08:00

This morning we woke to snow on the mountains and very chilly temps outside! This picture shows the view out my front door, and the other is from our backyard.

You can see the whole range of mountains got snow all day yesterday. It mainly snowed on the west side of town. Beautiful!!

These are a couple of my favorite Christmas cross stitch pictures. I made this one of the mouse years ago
and don't know what I did with the pattern, unless I gave it to my daughter, Charlotte to make. It was one of her favorites. She is an excellent cross stitcher and the next picture is of a Christmas scene she gave me one year for Christmas. I cherish it among one of my most precious gifts as she was going through a difficult time back then and it took so much of her time to do all that work. She had a cute little dog then named Ginger, and she use to say that Ginger snaps but she doesn't bite!!! If you look at the lower right you can see where she added Ginger to the picture and I think it is so darn cute!!!!

I finally got my longarm room put together, hung some of my quilts on the walls to make it "warmer" in there! LOL!! I have it all organized and am finishing up another job today.

Here is a pattern I did from Houston Market for P&B Textiles! They made a flyer so you might be able to get the pattern at your local quilt shop if they purchased the line, called Siena. The fabrics are just beautiful.

I also now have a pattern ready for the Laurel Cottage line from Benartex! This quilt is another one I made for Houston and it is called Cozy Cottage Days. If anyone is ever interested in a pattern, just leave me a comment and I will get back to you . This one is $9. The border fabric is mitred.

Now that the longarm room is complete, I was able to reorganize my actual sewing studio and bring in a new cutting table which I needed desperately!! I have my embroidery machine now set up at all times, so I can sew at one table and embroider at the other at the same time. What a time saver that is going to be. I actually have room for a design wall now too, so I think I'm going to get alot more done in alot less time. Tomorrow I will be finishing up a new design for P&B Textiles, then I start 6 new freshly designed quilts for Benartex to be done the middle of January. Who says you get a break for the holidays? Lol!! I will be a happy camper not having to move everything as I work!! Which reminds me, I better get busy!! Keep quilting!

Twilight Christmas version

2008-12-12T16:57:00.000-08:00

A blogging friend Debbie die Steppdecken des quilter showed me this really funny version for Christmas of Twilight! I had to add it to my blog so you can see it. It will only make sense if you've seen the movie, and it is a riot!!!! Enjoy!! Just click on the picture.

Christmas parties and puppies

2008-12-11T19:30:00.000-08:00

My husband called me yesterday from the SPCA. We have been trying to find a play friend for our Roxy, since Cindy is as old as dirt and doesn't want to play anymore! Sorry Cindy!!! I ran out there with Roxy in tow to meet a prospective new buddy and we saw several, until I spotted this little girl in a cage by herself, hiding and shaking in the corner. She was pitiful!!! I just couldn't stand it, and so she came home with us and we have been reahabilitating this sweet little abandoned girl, and we named her Peanut. She was very afraid at first, but today was her first full day, and she is adjusting even better than I expected. They found her loose on the road, tired and hungry. She was saved by the SPCA the day before the pound had her scheduled to leave this world. Poor baby!!!! Anyway, we think she is adorable, and we are doing our best to teach Roxy to have patience with her. They play some already, and I think she is going to be A-OK. How could anybody turn away from that adorable little face? Roxy is sharing her bed with her by the Christmas tree.

Well, the weather report says a chance of snow all next week! I guess it has been known to put a foot or so on the ground in Vegas, but I have only seen a couple of inches since we have lived here. My african violets still think it's summer by the window.

I had to show you the beautiful sunset we had the other night. It lit up the whole room with beautiful color. My camera flashed in the window, but you get the idea. This was the view from inside the house!!! Even little Roxy's eyes are glowing!!!

Darlene Finney, owner of Quilters Quarters in Henderson had her end of year Christmas party Tues night and it was so much fun. Beautiful quilts hung on the walls and we all got to see projects we all worked on throughout the year. Very inspiring!!! These two are versions of the museum quilt by Kaffe Fassett. The one on the right are his original fabrics and colors. They measure 120" square, and have 6" blocks, so they really took some work, but so worth it!!

This is a shot of the owners Ev and Sandy of Fabric Boutique in Las Vegas, and friend Beverly is on the right. She was one of our most prolific quilters this year!!!

Carrie Ketchum made this beautiful Storm at Sea quilt. Great job Carrie!!!

There was show and tell throughout the evening and great food as well as good company and friends to visit.

Here is Bev with her Holiday Redwork quilt that I taught at retreat this year.

Here is Darlene, with her brother, and husband Jack to the left.

It was like a mini quilt show!!! Beautiful. Thanks Darlene, for a wonderful time!!

Tomorrow I hope to ship the last presents and longarm one quilt before Sat. I still have 4 stockings to embroider names on and then the packages can all be sent off! Is there light at the end of the tunnel? I think I can see a glimpse!!! Breathe deep. We're almost there!!!

Twilight and Christmas quilts

2008-12-06T23:38:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I have a confession to make. I'm a grandmother and I'm crazy for Edward Cullen in the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. Rob Pattinson is so perfect for the part!!! He is exactly what I imagined when I read the books!!! I may be old, but I am not dead!!! LOL!!!

My husband and I went Christmas shopping in the mall today, I must be crazy, but it was alot of fun, and while standing in line a young girl was wearing her Twilight T-shirt! I asked her if she was reading the books--she said she was on the 4th one and hadn't seen the movie yet. Her Mom was on book 2!! I was way ahead of these two and they laughed when I informed them I'd already seen the movie twice!!! I'm sure they must have thought I was a very cool grandma, right? LOL!!!! Anyway, being a Twilight fan seems to defy age!!! I loved the movie and will buy the DVD as soon as it comes out. The best part is, they are already working on the sequel for book #2, New Moon. I can hardly wait!!

The Christmas season is here in full force and with Thanksgiving being so late in November, I'm feeling like there is no time at all before Christmas will be here!! I'm really wanting to enjoy the season, and thought I'd share some of my favorite Christmas quilts with you. This is a spiral tree skirt pattern that I have been selling at the local quilt shop and also have taught several classes. It looks real hard but is very easy with a 9 or 10 degree wedge ruler. Everyone loves how fast it is to put together, and it makes a great gift too.

This quilt is called "Frosty Frames" and I made it a few years ago. It is applique and the snowmen I made with white flannel. It's a fun quilt.

This is a wreath wall hanging I taught classes on in the past and is made using the "watercolor" technique on fusible grid that was so popular when the watercolor quilts came out. I glitzed it with sparkles, but they are hard to see in this photo.

Here is a bargello style Christmas tree from last year. It is glitzed too, and the pattern is called Christmas Stardust by Grissley Gulch Gallery. Hope to get the rest of my shopping done soon, and feel more caught up....er, uh, is that possible this time of year?!!!

Christmas Swap!

2008-12-02T12:31:00.000-08:00

My package arrived for the Chooky Blue Chrismas Swap! My partner is Cherly Goss of Willow Berry Designs, and I am so excited!!! I just made a quilt out of your fabrics this year and I love your style!!! I can only see the outside fabric, but promise not to peek inside, (it is wrapped in clear wrapping!!). The outside of the package says something about buttons, patterns, fabric, ok the suppense is killing me!!! I hope I can wait that long!!!! Thankyou!!!!

A new room and Thanksgiving!!

2008-12-02T11:52:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm not being very good at this lately, I can't believe it's been so long since I have posted!!! Somehow everything got out of whack and there has been so much going on, that I'm lucky to pay my bills on time!!!

I just found out a couple of weeks ago, that this quilt, called Sunflowers at the Farm, from a new Benartex line called Farmyard Toile, will be going into a new issue of Fons and Porter magazine sometime next year!! So keep your eyes out for the pattern!!

This quilt will be shown in the Jan/09 issue of Quilt Magazine. It is called The Apple Orchard and is done in Nancy Halverson's line called Cider Mill Road!!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! We have so much to be thankful for!! We had a houseful! Four adults, 4 kids, and 3 dogs in my little house made for lots of cozy gatherings and fun. The kitchen seemed to run non stop and there was lots of turkey for everyone.

This is me with one of my twin Granddaughters, I think this is either Presley or Peyton. We had all gone out to dinner for her older brother, Justin's birthday. The girls are identical!!!! The other twin is in her air mattress bed below with Roxy.

One of the new dogs in the house is the kids new puppy Max. He is also a rat terrier with brown spots and really pretty green eyes! All the kids had a quilt from Grandma, so Max had to have one too!!! See his doggies on the quilt?

Here is Max with Bryson, our younger Grandson.

Since everyone left, Roxy just doesn't know what to do with herself!! She played with Max constantly, and now all the attention in the world won't make up for him!!! We walked this morning, but instead, she is in mourning, poor Roxy!!!

She loved sleeping with the kids

Here is the other reason why I've been so busy. This is the beginnings of a new longarm room for my quilting!!

It went together in just 2 weeks. I still can't believe I have my very own longarm room!!!

The finished room, with baseboard still to be installed.

My new longarm table came on Saturday, and since I have been bringing everything that is longarm related into the room. I finally have a place for the batting and treads.

There are still some hanging rods to be put up, and more quilts to be hung, but I am so excited to get started. I have alot of work to catch up on!!!!

Nine new quilts have come in for companies due in January, and more longarming to do. I hope I get the Christmas tree up soon!!!! I always have it up by this time. No bah humbugs allowed!!!! I will be back soon!!! I've missed you all!!! Happy Holidays everyone, find time to quilt!

Houston Market 2008

2008-11-05T11:37:00.000-08:00

Maybe I didn't get to go to market, but my friends at Quilting Treasures sent me these great pics with Marie Osmond at their booth!!

Here is a quilt I made for Market from the Ellie Fun line by Quilting Treasures. Thanks for sending this pic to me Donna!!

Another great pic with Marie Osmond, and my Quilting Treasures friend, Donna McKinney at the booth.

While everyone was at Market, a few of us were enjoying the Utah mountains at a retreat I taught this weekend at my friend, Kelly's cabin. We are all set up and ready to quilt on Friday night. It was cold outside, but with a fire going and good food, we hardly noticed!!

It rained really hard one day, and then the hail storm came in, and turned the ground white in no time!

There was a warm fire to keep us cozy.

Here is Phyllis Suiter with her completed Victorian Christmas Star quilt. She was the first one done!! Great job, Phyllis!! She was my walking buddy in the mornings too, we had alot of dessert to walk off!! LOL!!

Shopping in St George is always fun, and this store is no exception. Lazy Cottage had beautiful quilts hanging out on the porch.

Now we are home, and back to reality for awhile. Little Roxy is at the vet today, getting spayed. I pick her up after 3:00, and I sure hope she will feel ok really soon! It is such a relief to have the Market quilts finished and now I will concentrate on the longarm jobs that have been waiting for me.

Before long the holidays will be here and there is so much to do before then!! Good stuff, like Jury Duty, Dr's appointments, you know, fun stuff like that!!!

I hope I can get some homemade goodies and gifts done in time, and enjoy it along the way. My longarm room is being framed this coming weekend, and I'm getting the bug to clean out and sort through the whole sewing room. Imagine being able to find something the first time!! Well, a girl can always try! Lol! Until next time,

keep quilting!

Fons and Porter Magazine issue!

2008-10-22T14:33:00.000-07:00

Ok, so this has to be a record for me. I mean I'm blogging twice in one day and before this you hadn't heard from me in weeks!!! I just got the mail, and my new Fons & Porter Magazine for Nov/Dec was there. I found my Victory Garden quilt on page 46!!!! This is one of my favorites and I wanted to share it with you!!

All of you that are going to Market have a great time and tell me all about it when you get back!! It was a new longarm room, or go to Market, so the room won, but now that the time is here I am itching to go!!! Have fun everybody!!

Light at the End of the Tunnel!!!

2008-10-22T10:30:00.000-07:00

Someone in this household is very happy that I am finally done with Market quilts!!! Roxy just can't believed that we haven't gone for more walks and that I haven't been able to play with her all day long! Last time I looked outside it was hotter than blazes and now it's FALL!!! Where did the time go? The Market quilts have all been sent away, and they will be hanging at Houston. I couldn't have done it without the help of my good friends who helped me bind so I could meet my deadlines. Thankyou to Darlene, Kelly and Janet. I love you guys and don't know what I would have done without your support and helping hands! You are the best.

I have a few more sneak peaks at some of the new lines and new patterns that are coming out soon! Below is a line from Benartex, called Laurel Cottage.

Pie, anyone?

I'll be able to share more with you after Market!!!

Some of you have asked about the pattern for the Mariners Holiday (or Victorian Christmas Star) that was in Fabric Trends Magazine. I will have the patterns ready to sell by the end of Oct, this month. I have kept all your requests so far, but if anyone is interested you may email me at jnagle4@cox.net to inquire about them.

I may have some fun projects coming out later for Marie Osmonds fabric line too! So stay tuned!

Also, we have made a big decision! My husband is actually going to give up part of the garage for a new longarm space where I can get my work done! I will post pics as soon as we start the project. I am so excited to get more room in the actual sewing room, and maybe I will stop getting bruises from bumping into corners everytime I turn around! Everything seems to being falling into place! I am getting a bigger, 12ft table for the longarm as soon as the room is ready. I can hardly wait!!! Can you tell? AND I get to paint another room! My favorite thing to do! Now I have to figure out what color, hmmmm.

Talk to you soon!

Fabric Trends issue for Fall 2008

2008-10-06T10:23:00.000-07:00

Well, it's here! The fall issue is out on the stands now, and I had to share with you the page in the back with my quilt!!! I am really excited! I've had someone ask about a pattern, which they don't give in the magazine. Bert, I can't answer your comment, you don't have it set up for reply, but if you will send me your email address I will write to you, and thanks for your interest.

Here's the one page photo in the back, hmmmm, I'm thinking it is time to update that picture, it is already 1 yr old. I am still working fast and furiously on quilts for Market, which might explain my weekly posts. When those are over, I will be back more frequently, I have really missed visiting with all of you!!! At least the weather has made a change for the Fall season and I am really enjoying the cooler temps.

The pictures below are some of the quilts shown at the Loa retreat. I thought you might like to see what people are doing out there. I love show and tell, it always inspires me to do more, and even something better than I've done before. Hope you enjoy these, which are just a few of the beautiful quilts we saw in Loa, Utah.

The blue and white is a quilt done by Marsha Chappel.

Tina Paris and her finished version of last year's quilt, which we all put together differently. Marsha is on the right.

Love these colors!!

Karen Martin and her beautiful Mariners Compass quilt.

I had to share this beautiful quilt with you, made by Pat Gibbs, designed by Kaffe Fasset from his Musem Quilts book. You could stare at this forever and still not see everything! Darlene Finney, owner of Quilters Quarters in Henderson, NV, taught this as a block of the month last year. Of course there were SEVERAL blocks each month!! lol!

Did you ask me if I had mine done yet? Oh, good, I'm glad you didn't!!!!!! What a beautiful job Patt!!!!!

I'll be sending some more sneak peaks very soon----- so check back with me! In the meantime, the sweatshop is going strong!!! Till next time....keep quilting!!

I've been out!

2008-09-26T10:09:00.000-07:00

Sorry, everyone, I have been away from my blog for much too long. I have just returned from a quilt retreat and have been gone for about a week, plus my due dates on my Market quilts have been quickly approaching. I have lots of pics to share with you, however, I also left my camera in my friend, Kellys, truck from the retreat so will have to wait to post the newest pics for you of what I've been up to! In the spirit of sharing anyway, I decided to post some pictures from past retreats so you can see where I've been and some of the beautiful country I've been enjoying in Utah. This is the barn we stay in at Loa, Utah, where Marsha Chappel has been holding a retreat for what is now the 5th year. These are some shots of the barn and the view from the barn too, across the fields. It is so peaceful and quiet out there, that is, until you get in a room with 20+ women!! We had a great time though, and I want to save more info until I have my camera back so I can share what we were up to!!!

The red and white quilt above is one I made for Benartex last Spring Market, and I am so excited to tell you that it will be in the next issue (Nov/Dec) of Fons and Porter magazine!!! So keep your eyes out for that issue. I have no idea how they will show the quilt, but they had it in their possesion for some time, so I am really anxious to see. The line is Victory Garden by Eleanor Burns.

The next quilt, I call Victorian Christmas Star. I designed it also, and it is another line called Splendid Holiday by Benartex. I am so thrilled to also tell you that it will be in the Fall issue of Fabric Trends as a "photo finish"!!!! I can hardly wait to see that one too!!! I am actually making one of these for myself as well, and plan to teach a retreat from this quilt.

My little Roxy is frequently a holy terror, and my husband is now calling her Roxilla, as in Godzilla, when she gets so hyper and onery! LOL!! But we love her to death and she makes us laugh all the time. I just got a tip from my friend, Darlene, to give her some soup bones, raw, to keep her mind on those instead of pulling up my marigolds by the roots!!! Darlene has a company called Quilters Quarters, which is a studio in her home, and I am teaching class there today. We will be working on the Redwork Snowman quilt I showed you in past posts.

Please be patient with me for a while longer, I will definitely try to get more posts on here soon, and when Market is past I will have tons of more free time! I am presently still working on 4 more tops to piece, and longarming 6 quilts between now and the middle of Oct. I getting tired just thinking about it!!!

Talk to you soon!

Diane

New projects, class and longarming jobs done!

2008-09-09T08:55:00.000-07:00

I have so much to share this time. I was teaching a quilt class last week, we made the New Years Quilt, a kit from Jennifer Chiaverini's book with the same name. I always learn from my students, and sometimes they have something wonderful to share with me and the class. My friend Debbie Peterson is a great heirloom sewer and look what she made for a new grandchild on it's way soon to the world. She has pintucked, entrudeaux stitching and embroidery, not to mention the beautiful batiste fabric and delicate sewing. She's a huge fan of Martha Pullen and is really doing beautiful work, don't you think? Here's a close up of the christening gown.

These are the last two of the Elm Creek series of books and I've ready every single one she's written. We started an Elm Creek Series of quilts at Nancys Quilt Shop and it is alot of fun.

You can see part of the quilt and some of the fabrics in that line. I still have to quilt mine, but I will have time for my own quilting later this year. Right now I am really under the gun with work for customers and companies!

Here's a close up of the block.
I wanted to show you some of the longarm work I have been doing lately. I just finished up this one for Mary Bittle, she did such a great job on all the applique, and I learned how to do McTavishing when I took Karens class last May in Salt Lake. I love this quilt---she's lucky she got it back! LOL!!

My husband held it up for me so you could get the idea of it's size. It measures 84"x84" and he's back there somewhere!! It is from the"Quilting in the Garden" book by Barb Adams, Alma Allen and Ricki Creamer. It's an awesome book.

Now this one I did for Quiltique, a beautiful quilt shop in Henderson, recently and it was a really unusual design and fabric, but lots of fun to work on.

Here'a close up of the center.

Thanks to all of you who offered advice about the coyote problem. We have since closed the doggie door at night and I go out with Roxy if she needs it. Last night we were out around 3 am, and within 10 mins I heard the coyotes yipping again, not too far away. Play time was over for her, I scooped her up and we went back inside!!

You never know who is going to greet you on your blog! When I wrote back to someone that looked really familiar in his pic and had left an unusual post, I asked if I knew him, that he looked VERY familiar. He wrote me back to say that yes, I knew him, he took me to the 1967 Prom!!! I was so shocked, I haven't seen or heard from him in over 40 yrs! So fun to touch bases with old friends and get that connection back again!! You just never know!!!!

Ok, I have been reading the Twilight series, like I mentioned in my last post, and now I have finished the second book too. This is really tough, I can hardly put them down and I have work to do for Pete's sake!!! I am hooked for sure, will be finding the next in the series as soon as I can. These stories are awesome and you can bet that I will be at the movies to see the first one in November!! I have so many more things to share but it will have to wait for now. Talk to u soon......keep quilting.

Diane

Coyotes in the neighborhood

2008-09-02T08:55:00.000-07:00

Ok, so we had a little scare last night. We had the doors and windows open, enjoying the cooler evenings when my husband, John, said he heard coyotes outside. He went out front to investigate and there was a coyote barking and howling right in front of our house! Now mind you, I am an animal lover all the way, but we live on a mountain on the southwest end of the city and our neighbors have been telling us about friends losing their pets to the coyotes here. My little Roxy goes into the courtyard out front, and through the doggy door to the back yard, where all the fencing is wrought iron and it's only 3 ft high! We don't want to loose our sweet puppy to the coyotes! Until we actually saw him, we really weren't too concerned. But now, we watch our puppy like crazy at night and don't let her go into the yard alone. The housing here has invaded the coyote's territory, so I can't blame them, but sure don't want to offer up my puppy as a meal either!! I have a pic to share with you of a family heirloom quilt that I was unaware of being in the family. My aunt told me that my Grandmother passed this quilt on to her and it was made by my Great, Great Great Grandmother at the age of 15. My Aunt Judy let me borrow it so I could figure out a pattern for it, and so far no luck in the EQ6. I am so busy with market quilts right now that I will have to wait until Nov to really work on this pattern. I want to make a reproduction quilt that copies the design perfectly. I have to give my Grandmother credit, this is a difficult pattern for a 15 year old! It is a feathered star with a twist! Has anybody seen this before? I think I will have to hand draw the block in EQ. It is very worn, but I love the colors.

We had some major thunderstorms last week, and here is a shot from my back patio of the incoming rain. You can tell by the pic that we are high up on the mountain above Las Vegas. I don't have a view of the city, but these are the mountains to the southwest of us. It just poured that day and I was able to turn off the air conditioning and enjoy the relief from the heat. The nights are starting to cool down so I know fall is coming soon, yippee!

Here is a panel and border to a new line I'm working on for Benartex. It is called Gotham. I will have a quilt made from it soon. When it gets closer to Market I can start sharing my designs with you all. I must be crazy, but I am doing 10 quilts for market this fall. I have .....let's see.....hmmm.... 7 weeks to get 7 more quilts done. Yikes! I love it though!!!

Here's the panel, neat isn't it?

My girlfriend is sharing some books with me I hadn't heard about before. They are best sellers so I'm sure some of you know about them. The first in a series is called Twilight, by Stephanie Meyers. I hear a movie is coming soon. Can hardly put this book down, but I only allow myself to read it before bed. Too many quilts to make right now!! If anyone is reading these let me know!!!

Until next time, keep quilting!

Diane