What I'm working on...

Again, it's been a while since I've posted. I haven't completed anything since my last post. I did attend the John Deer embroidery event. He has some interesting history on machine embroidery. After the first 3 hours of a 2-day event, I got feed up with the event. It was heavily focused on sales, not just his products, but every quilting/sewing tool imaginable. Even to the point of pushing top of the line embroidery machines. Instead of me paying to attend, they should have paid me for my time. In all honesty, I can say that I did learn something but for the price and time, I will not consider attending one again too soon. Here is a photo of a scarecrow pattern I have that I'd like to finish before fall. I've only had it a few months in my stash. I'm hoping it doesn't become something hanging around for years.

Here is a fall scene I made with Dakota Collectibles embroidery designs. I hope to get this one done by the end of the month. I haven't been slacking, just working on tops but no major finished yet.

Another fall scene I worked this week. This one is from Anita Goodesign machine embroidery design called Covered Bridge. This is gorgeous. I don't like the 30+ color changes, but it sure makes a difference to the shading in the final result. Hope to finish this one too by the end of the month.

I did piece the quilt top from my previous post. Even got around to adding the borders. I just need to make the back before it goes into my WIPs pile. Not sure what I'm doing with it at the moment. I completed my last week as President of a large guild this month. I'm really excited about that. Now, I just have to plan the Quilt Show being held in September. By the way, the cell phone cases went over really big. I think only one person did not have a cell phone so I suggested they re-gift it or use it for their I-pod.

I also met with a hand quilting group, hoping to persuade them to quilt my DJ quilt. No go. While they admired the quilt, they would not touch it with their thread and needles. Gosh, guess I'll have to start back working on it myself.

I feel like so much is in my head but I can't remember it to type it all. Now I remember that I want to share that my birthday is this Tuesday, July 28th. It's not a big year and I don't have big plans but do enjoy having them...as compared to NOT having them. VBG

Enjoy your week and maybe I'll chat with you soon.

-------------------------- Type-u-later, Tea in MO http://www.teaquilts.com

Design Wall, Split 4-Patch, and Other Happenings

Even though I tried, life got in the way and I wasn't able to blog for a couple of weeks. First, my mom retired and I attended that celebration. The pictures I took have her hugging someone of flowers and/or gifts in her face area so I don't have a suitable photo to show. The event was nice but the occasion was a God send. I wanted her to retire years ago and am so excited that she finally put up her gourmet chef's hat. On July 3rd, I made this design wall from Sew Many Ways. I used an old flannel sheet that I'd already started cutting for my surface. I had to piece sections together to get the correct measurements. I had to go to two hardware stores to get all the PVC parts but it is well worth it. I haven't used it yet as I'm piecing larger items at the moment. The only change I made to the pattern was to hem the bottom of the sheet, not leaving raw edges. I started this Split 4-Patch quilt for my brother in November 2008, wanting to have it done by May this year. That of course didn't happen. However, while waiting, I found the perfect stripe fabric for the 1st border and binding. I cut about 40 inches of fabric on the bias to make both the border and binding, cutting 2.5" strips. It was tedious but I like the "wave" effect created by this fabric. This one fits a full-size bed but was made as extra cover, not the main bedspread.

I forgot to mention last time I wrote that I won the guild's optional blocks. I'll probably receive some more at the next meeting so I haven't done anything with them yet. Any ideas, especially for what to put in some of the empty jars? I'd love to hear from you.

Let's see, what else is going on? I am piecing my Stepping Stones Friendship Stars blocks into rows. Here is a picture I took in 2006. The sampler blocks are from a local quilt shop's BOM. The original setting was to use plain sashing with corner stones between the blocks. I decided upon this setting instead. Made the setting blocks but never pieced them together. I found the pizza box that held this treasure when I cleaned my old sewing room (now storage) this weekend. My plan for this weekend is to attend a 2-day John Deer Adorable Ideas embroidery seminar. I've attended one featuring Anita Goodesign in the past and really enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to this prsentation although I can't spend much money. I finally broke down and purchased the Accuquilt's Go Cutter. In addition to the cutter, I also purchased the 2.5" strip cutter and the 8.5" rag square dies. Yikes! I'm hoping to get a lot of scraps cut and to make binding for the 35+ quilt tops that need to be quilted in my UFO pile. If anyone has the cutter, let me know your thoughts.

That's all I can think of at the moment. Chat with you soon.

-------------------------- Type-u-later, Tea in MO http://www.teaquilts.com

Finished Scrappy Ocean Waves

I just finished sewing binding on my Scrappy Ocean Waves quilt. I started this quilt in the fall of 2008. I free-motion quilted feathers every here and there. Of course I couldn't take the time to mark them. Not perfect, but not bad for my first time, especially since I did not follow the process I should have by marking first. This is just a piece for my scrap lecture; doesn't have to be perfect. By the way, the blue is a quilt on wall that I pinned the ocean waves to so that I could take a photo - it's not part of this quilt.

Now I got to see what to do next. I was supposed to have a yellow and blue split 4-patch quilt for my brother made in May and that didn't happen. I went searching through my fabrics but can't find the perfect border for it. Maybe I'll go shopping for that and get that one completed. He is looking for his quilt to be finished any day now. You know how they think...it doesn't take too much time to make a quilt, right? Yeah, right!

Ohh, I forgot to share photo of the totes my quild made. We had some home dec samples donated by local store. We decided to make totes for Voices for Children. We collected 68 bags. Way to go!

Here are the three that I made; I had to place them upside down on my sofa so that they would not slide down.-------------------------- Type-u-later, Tea in MO http://www.teaquilts.com

Reporting in early this week

FYI: I respond to comments personally as sometimes I'm not able to access by blog away from my home computer where I can post comments and send e-mails. At that point, it's easier for me to reply to an e-mail. If you too have the same question as a previous blogger, ask away and I'll send you a response too. Now on to the good stuff. My quilt guild met last evening and here are pictures of my flower challenge quilt. I machine embroidered 50 different flower designs from various designers. The quilt path created during piecing reminds me of paths. So, I decided to name this quilt after a local garden in my area, Missouri Botanical Gardens. The quilt has a few butterflies, an owl, a bird or two, and a couple of bees. All the print fabrics are floral. It was a joy to make this quilt. The quilt won two ribbons: 1st place in Wall/Bed Quilt and 2nd place Viewer's Choice. Here is a close up of the quilt for your to see. I used a friend's long arm machine to quilt it. Nothing fancy, just wanted to get it done. I did meet my weekly goal of completing the knotty purse and Christmas Charm tote. The purse is being donated to guild for a brown bag raffle drawing. The tote will be used to deliver Christmas gifts. I don't plan to complete anything else over the weekend as I'm teaching a class on Saturday. Oh, I have to make a quick handout for that as well. Gee, it seems I always have plenty to do...

-------------------------- Type-u-later, Tea in MO http://www.teaquilts.com

Retreat Weekend

I had a productive "extended" weekend. I was hired to present two classes to a local quilt guild during their quilt-away. I hadn't gotten around to visiting the facility so that was another advantage as I'd wanted to see the facility for consideration of use by two quilting guilds I'm a member of. I did get my banner made that I mentioned in my last post.

I taught the Exploding Star class. Most of the participants made about 1/4 of the quilt. The themes ranged from 2-color quilts to feed sacks to controlled scrappy. They all had their own personality. One of the students in class wanted me to upload a photo of a half-square triangle quilt I started. When she last saw it, I had only the center pinwheels pieced. This baby is now HUGE.

One of the benefits of being at retreat is that I got to attend three lectures by Marti Michell. She gave great handouts and if you love her templates you would have enjoyed her presentations. I have 2-3 sets of her templates but don't use them too much - just depends upon what the project and process involved. And before you ask, yes, Stacey Michell was there as well. Stacey does a magnificent job with hand dies. I purchased two of her "hula hoops" to use on some Hawaiian applique patterns already in my stash.

During retreat I was very productive. In addition to teaching 2 classes, I put mitered borders on my scrappy 3-d stars quilt. I worked on the knotty purse, getting to the point where I was to add a magnetic snap. I did not have a snap so that project was put on hold. Marti Michell had so many log cabin quilts that I started another one, never mind that I have two that need quilting in my UFO pile. The off center log cabin squares were cut from scraps I'd taken to the retreat so these four blocks will not be actually pieced to each other. I have lots of strips cut at home that I plan to use to make this a really scrappy quilt. I plan to make eight large blocks (64 small log blocks). I got a tad further on my class sample for the Charm Tote class as well. I enjoyed the retreat and the guild members. I had so much fun (other than an attack of "the ants") and look forward to working with this guild in the future.

I plan to finish the purse and tote this week to get them off my UFO list. We'll see...I also have to get ready for a class I'm teaching Saturday on the X-Block ruler. Oh, and before that I have a quilt guild meeting on Thursday that I'm the president of and it's challenge quilt night. And then, Friday I have a craft guild meeting. Hopefully I can cut logs for my log cabin quilt. In addition I have to put back the things I took to retreat and do a little housekeeping to get me through the week. Gee, I'm tired just typing of all the things on my to-do list this week. Come back and see me some time.

Don't be a stranger.

-------------------------- Type-u-later, Tea in MO http://www.teaquilts.com

Completed the Exploding Star and more WIPs Listed

Hey, I'm posting more than once a month again! I decided that trying to remember an entire month of things I've done when I'm very productive is difficult to do. I had a productive week. I hand sewed the binding on my flower challenge quilt (picture will be posted after June 18th). In addition, I basted my scrappy ocean waves quilt. I just decided that it did not need a border as it's just a lecture sample. I placed the blocks on point and then figured out how to piece the setting triangles and corner blocks. It was a lot of fun. I need to learn (and remember it) how to make smaller quilts when needed only for teaching.

The big drum roll goes to the EXPLODING STAR! I completed the quilt last evening about 9:30. It took me five days of quilting on my sewing machine to get it done. The quilting process was pure torture and many times I had mental images of destroying the quilt (but not in actuality.) This one has truly been a labor of love. I started this quilt September 24, 2005. It took me about six months to piece as I used it as my chain on/off project. I've taught the class twice before completing the quilt. I just decided that I wasn't going to teach it again as a quilt top only. Sometimes impromptu, crazy goals is what it takes to get me moving.

Here is a round robin quilt organized through a swap group. I may get this one basted after I make a backing for it. I have a simple flag that I made years ago that would make a good start for the back. I have outgrown the simplistic nature of the flag and couldn't decide what to do with it.

This week I plan to make a name banner and teach at a quilting retreat. I'm in the process of packing class items. Then I will have to decide what projects I'll work on in my down time. I have a couple of scrap quilts that I've neglected for too long. So, I'll probably take a couple of those. But first, my embroidery club meets tonight so no sewing for me today. -------------------------- Type-u-later, Tea in MO http://www.teaquilts.com

Still plucking away on UFOs...

I'm getting a lot done but still have 117 UFOs on my list. I'm just amazed at that. Fellow quilters believe I don't have UFOs when I get so much done. I am definitely a technique junky, quickly getting bored with the repetition sometimes required in quiltmaking. I abhor quilting large quilts on my regular sewing machine so I have a lot of bed size tops that are ready for quilting. I'm teaching the Exploding Star quilt next Friday at a guild retreat and decided (last minute of course) that I should quilt this quilt for the class. It's almost embarrassing that I started this quilt 9/24/2005. When showing it to students for show-n-tell in 2007, they wanted me to schedule a class. I started a miniature version for class (which is not completed either) as I didn't need two this size. Yesterday I basted the top and began quilting it. I have about 1/5 of it quilted. I'll keep you up to date and let you know if I can get it done by next Wednesday. If you'd like to see more of my WIPs look at these two pages on my website: http://teaquilts.com/wips.htm AND http://teaquilts.com/more_wips.htm I haven't updated the site in a while as I'm using blogger temporarily. Some of the WIPs are completed, like Turning Twenty Again and Batik Quilt. I hope you enjoy looking around my site. -------------------------- Type-u-later, Tea in MO http://www.teaquilts.com

Wrapping up for the month...

My two year tenure as president of Flower Valley Quilting Guild will end at our July meeting. I made cell phone cases for the members who volunteered this past year. Some of them worked on two or more committees and they will also receive a lace bookmark. I need about 30 cell phone cases and 5 bookmarks. I figure while I'm making them for guild members, I may as well make them as gifts to co-workers and family for Christmas presents. I made 60 cell phone cases and 10 bookmarks. NOTE: I couldn't get all 60 cell phone case in one photo. Here is the Turning Twenty Again quilt completed. It took a while but I got the binding added (all by machine) so this one is officially off my UFO list. I will probably give it as a wedding gift to my step-daughter next year...unless some other wonder idea pops in my head. By the way, I'll add a better photo on my website (http://teaquilts.com/) as I couldn't get a good photo. This quilt fits a queen or king size bed.

This month I quilted my 2nd challenge quilt for this year. I pieced the top last year but didn't get around to quilting it. It's horrible how we set something that we love aside and don't return to it in a timely fashion. Sometimes challenges are a great idea to move some of those WIPs. I just can't stay focused on any one quilt from start to completion. I can't show you a photo until June 19th. The theme is simply "Flower Valley Blooms." No size requirements and makers can interpret the theme as they please. I now need to make the binding and then sew it onto the quilt.

Another project I completed was this Ruler Holder I found in one of the Fon's & Porter Magazine (not the main one but a side publication.) It is very handy. I have it hanging on the wall behind my door to my sewing studio so it's not taking up valuable wall space. I only need to see it when I need to pull something out of it. I hope your month was as productive as mine.

-------------------------- Type-u-later, Tea in MO http://www.teaquilts.com

Have I Got a Lot to Tell You!

I made this "She Loves Me, She Loves Me Knot" purse (pattern can be purchased at this link as well as photos of purses made by others: http://www.youcanmakethis.com/info/featured-products/She-Loves-Me-She-Loves-Me-Knot-Handbag.htm ) for my mom for Mother's Day. I started a second one for me but haven't completed it yet. She loves it and has already toted it around town. My step-daughter graduated from St. Louis University this month. She has a B.S. in Social Work. She entered the 5-year master of science in SW so she will obtain her MS next year. We are so proud of her as she graduated summa cum laude! Way to go Cary - here she is with her dad, my husband and a photo of the very large graduating class from SLU. Since I'm telling you about school type stuff, here is a photo of my niece before leaving for prom. I've attended three graduation ceremonies this month. I have one more to attend this weekend for my nephew. It is an exciting time in my family. While on the subject of family, here is a family photo of most of the attendees of our Memorial Day celebration. Approximately 6-7 people who attended are missing from the photo (a little camera shy.) My family usually eats all holiday meals together, rotating between members' homes. When asked what I did for a holiday, I tell them this, but this photo shows the closeness of our family unit. I have finished my flying geese challenge quilt. The requirements were to make a quilt using flying geese as the main theme. The geese must be pieced and the quilt top could be no larger than 30" on any one side. In addition, the quilt must be completed which includes the binding. I started the quilt 4/7/2009 and completed it 5/3/2009. I purchased this pattern about 4 years ago at Hancocks of Paducah not knowing that I needed to also have the accompanying DVD for piecing directions. So I figured out how to piece it myself. I changed the pattern a little to meet the flying geese requirement and used my own method for piecing the top together. The "Soaring Compliments" pattern by Caryl Bryer Fallert can be found here: http://www.bryerpatch.com/wkshops/soaring_compliments_2day.htm . As you can see in the photo, I won first place! I was pleasantly surprised as the competition was fierce.

Here are all the challenge quilts. We had art quilts as well as traditional styles entered. The above challenge quilts were due at our quilt retreat. Memorial Day weekend, Friday through Sunday, I went on a retreat in Greenville, IL. We had so much fun and the food and hospitality was excellent. Here you see the retreat attendees taking a fun group photo.

Here are the projects we worked on. The pattern is Bamboo and Pinwheels. You are making blocks for both quilts at the same time. I added an additional row to each wall quilt size and plan to add borders to make into twin quilts. These will go to twin great-nephews. Come back in a day or two to see the 60 cell phone cases I've made. I just need to add buttons to about 20 of them. Then, I will upload a photo and take off my UFO list. Also, I'm making a few free standing lace bookmarks.
I also found the fabric for Turning Twenty Again quilt. I had quilted it and then couldn't remember where I put the binding fabric. Well, after looking for a couple of months I have finally found it. I hope I get enough time this week to add the binding to the quilt (all by machine of course.) I know this was a long post but I just had to share what's been happening in my life. I hope that was okay as I was so excited that I had to tell you.
-------------------------- Type-u-later, Tea in MO http://www.teaquilts.com

What have I been up to?

It's been a month since I posted. Life has been very busy for me. I hosted two meeting in my home, Dear Jane and quilt guild meeting. Having the meeting forced my hand to clean up a little more than norm and put away sewing projects. I'll talk about what I finished for the month first and then let you know how the rest of my month went. Here is my Window of USA wall hanging earlier this month. This is BFC Creations embroidery design. I had difficulty trying to decide if I wanted to frame it or make it into a quilt. Financial and time constraints won and I made the quilt instead. I pulled at least 20 fabrics for the border until I found the perfect fabric to complement the threads used in the design. Another project for me this month was to make ribbons for the quilt guild's challenge. I don't do much digitizing but decided this would be the time to try. It took all day, but here are the results. In addition, I also started my challenge quilt this month (can't post a picture as other members will see it). The challenge is to make a quilt with flying geese as the main theme. The quilt must be less than 30" square. Yesterday I finished the top and started quilting it.

Here is a 3-D butterfly I made using another BFC Creations design. Very interesting technique. I had originally wanted to use these as my award ribbons, but it took too long to stitch out...about 8 hours work each. Of course I would have had to make 4 so I could keep one for myself. Due to schedule, I had to change to the awards mentioned above.

Let's see, what else have I been up to? I attended embroidery club this month and had a lot of neat items to show (see previous posts.) I also went to Paducah last Saturday to attend the quilt show. It was a fun packed day spent with two other quilters. I was so tired afterwards. We also went to the AQS book sales, Hancocks of Paducah, and the mall (they have a few vendors there as well.) I held back on spending this year. I did purchase the 17" square Olfa rotating mat as I've been waiting for JoAnns in my area to obtain or the price to decrease. Neither has happened so I bit the bullet. I'm using it already so I guess my purchase will not be in vain. Another wonderful thing to happen is the vendor for Sew Ezi (http://www.seweziusa.com/) was there. I had a problem with a wheel on a table I purchased 2-3 years ago. She was so nice and gave me new sets of hub caps for all my wheels for free. I've contacted them in the past regarding table inserts online and I highly recommend this company.

Enough for now and I've got work to do.

-------------------------- Type-u-later, Tea in MO http://www.teaquilts.com