Holy Cow, it's August already!

I don't know where July went, and it's really sad, because that was my birthday month!!! :( But I guess life must go on, and boy can I tell it's getting closer to fall, because Houston Market is quickly closing in on us, and I am trying to get projects out to companies as soon as they arrive so I'm not making the mistake I made last time of 6 quilts in 6 weeks! Talk about the time going fast!! I lived, breathed, ate and slept (or NOT) quilts!!
Here is a close up of a block for my newest quilt for Benartex. The wheel design I derived from the wheel in the fabric---you can see it on the big piece. This is a beautiful line coming soon from Benartex, has a very oriental flair and really pretty colors. I will post more about it in the future!



Here is my July wall hanging, sadly before I take it down, and decide what new wall hanging I will put up for August. This one is a pattern by Country Stitches that I made a couple of years ago. It was fun, with all the buttons. I sew all my buttons on by machine now. Most machines have a button-sew-on program that ties the knot before and after the stitching. It is so fast and easy. Put your feed dogs down, make sure with the hand wheel that the movement of the needle will match the width of holes in your buttons. Then they sew on in seconds flat. So fast and easy. My Bernina has a special foot just for holding the button in position. If your machine doesn't have a program for sewing buttons on, use a zigzig setting, lower the feed dogs and adjust the stitch width to match the holes in the button. See, you're a pro already!

My African Violets are finally blooming again. I began to wonder if they ever would show their little petals again!

I just have to share with you one of my collections that are starting to take over my kitchen! I got my first bird when we went on a trip with friends to Death Valley. These funky little chickens are made by the Indians and are painted up so cute! (I only collect funky chickens). Well recently, my friend Faye, from Arizona, sent me a beautiful surprise. He is the big yellow bird she picked up for me in Zion National Park. I just love him! His colors are perfect. I have them all displayed in front of my very colorful Radiant Suns quilt that I made 4 years ago. This hangs in our entry. It was the first batik and curved piecing quilt I had ever made. I love jewel tone colors. Well, I guess you can see that, but I thought my chickens were perfect right there. My friend Janet gave me the cute one on the left with real feathers! I love it! (big picture)

I also wanted to share that I found a new blog by my friend Suzanne, my favorite quilt shop owner in Bakersfield, Ca called Strawberry Patches! Her blog is http://patches.typepad.com/ and she is having a great giveaway right now so be sure to go and visit her blog!!

Back now to finishing up that quilt, and I will have some fun finished projects to show you real soon!

Diane