Wednesday Work to Winter Wonderland

2 sample blocks set straight with borders.  This will be a
table topper.  The final design will be on point.

Hey ya'll.  I had to go into work for a while today, then made a quick run by the fabric store to get a couple of fabrics for my new "Linked Up" pattern I'm working on.  I'm so excited to be designing this quilt and will be sharing it with you soon!

Colors for my sample "Linked Up".

I'm using "Town and Country Blue" by Pepper Cory for Studio E Fabrics and a medium gray Kona Cotton by Robert Kaufman in the sample.

Ready to go, unfortunately the TV
wasn't.

Right about dark, the snow began to fall here.  Right now, we have somewhere between 3 and 4 inches and it's fast falling.  Will be great sledding snow tomorrow, unfortunately I must work.  I dread the drive in, in the morning.  We made snow cream a little while ago, and let me tell you Mayfield has nothing on the real thing!  This is the first snow cream we've had this year and it is soooo good.

Strips, strips, and more strips.
Ready for another gray, then
cut into units for "Linked Up"

I enjoyed watching Bonnie Hunter's Quilt Cam as I sewed lots of strips together this evening.  I recently bought a new Smart TV so that I could watch Bonnie's Quilt Cam on my TV instead of my small smart phone, but after much fussing tonight, I found out that YouTube doesn't stream LIVE events on their Smart TV app.  They say that they are working on it, but who knows how long that will take, so I just watched it on the good ol' phone.

Well, it's late, and 4:30 will come wayyyyy to early in the morning.  I had better get some sleep, unfortunately my brain is working overtime thinking of the new design, and I don't want to sleep.  That's the only disadvantage to having your studio in your bedroom!

Stay warm, and until next time, quilt on!

Monday with Friends

Hey ya'll.  Worked yesterday, so I was off today.  Started out the day taking a sweet quilting friend, Lou Anne, to the eye doctor.  Took along my EPP (English Paper Piecing) project.  I've been working on my "Grandmother's Flower Garden" for probably two years.  I call this my "piddle" project.  I take this with me when we go camping.  I've taken it to the beach, on vacation, doctors' offices, etc. and work on it a little at a time.  I have no deadlines, no final ideas in mind, no recipients as of yet, I'm just simply working on it, hence "piddle project."

Janie (owner of J-Creek Fabrics), myself, Jackie, and Lou Anne!

After lunch at Zaxby's, and a few other errands, we met another friend, Jackie, at our favorite LQS, J-Creek Fabrics.  Jackie and I were there to pick up fabrics for the classes we are taking at A Mountain QuiltFest in Pigeon Forge, TN in a few weeks.  Lou Anne had a few things she needed to get as well.  While at J-Creek, we saw another local quilter who is always a contributor to our quilt show.  It's always great to catch up with friends!





I loaded up today on fabrics.  Janie's selection is amazing and she is always a blast to be around.  Not only did I pick up fabric for my classes, I got a backing for the Bargello I just finished, and borders for the bright version I'm working on now.

Top: Fabrics for class "Pipe Dreams"
Bottom Left: Fabrics for "Cathedral Stars"
Bottom Right: Misc. fabrics for Bargello quilts.

Well, supper is done, now I think I'll go work on the Friendship Club Raffle Quilt and my Bargello quilts.  I said yes to working tomorrow, on my day off, so no sewing tomorrow, however it does mean I'll have some extra money for QuiltFest!  Until next time, quilt on!

Snow Means Sew Day

Second Bargello, almost all the same colors.

My first Bargello.

I love snow days simply because they mean sew days!  I've been busy today working on several WIP (Works in Progress).  Last night after my post, I set out to finish piecing a second "My Lil' Bargello" top.  The one pictured was my first Bargello.  When I made this one several years ago, the pattern called for fat eighths.  I purchased fat quarters which was enough for 2 quilts.  I had done almost everything shy of putting the final top together, so I pulled that project out of the box and finished it.  Now it's ready for quilting.  I also demonstrated this pattern at our quilt show in 2013 and never finished putting it together so that is on my wall now.  I also have enough fabric for 2 in that colorway so surprise everyone knows what they're getting for Christmas (just kidding).

Colorway #2, coming together quickly.

Lots more fabric!

I've also finished hand-stitching the binding down on a baby quilt started many years ago by my mother.  She is giving this as a gift to a friend who recently had a baby.  Working on these Bargello patterns has my brain in overdrive for Bargello quilts.  I've had several friends share the same picture of a Pink Ribbon Bargello quilt on my Facebook wall over the last few days.  Well, I took the hint and ordered the pattern today.  You can find the pattern here.  This comes from Erica's Craft and Sewing Center in South Bend, IN.  I'm excited to start this Bargello.  I plan to do two of these.  One will be donated to Relay for Life and I plan to do one in teal blues in memory of my grandmother who passed away in December 2013 only seven days after being diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer.





I'm also working to further organize my creative mess and get my printed patterns all into books sorted by style or some other yet undetermined method.  I've purchased the notebooks and dividers, so hey I'm halfway there.










I also had to share what was for dinner tonight.  I'm originally from North Carolina, but until the last year or so I have never liked grits.  I know, I can't be southern and not like grits, but butter and sugar in instant grits (which was all I knew growing up) is just plain gross.  I however, have become quite the fan of shrimp and grits, so tonight I decided to try them at home.  I Googled "Shrimp and Grits" and used a recipe from Bobby Flay of the Food Network.  I of course, tweaked them just a bit for me, and let me tell you they were sooo good!  Despite the snow, we had a neighbor over for supper and I shared my shrimp and grits with both my parents and our neighbor Judy, none of which had ever had them.  Everyone liked them except my father, which is no surprise to anyone.  If it's not beans and potatoes, forget it with him.

Okay, my sewing machine is screaming for a few more stitches before bed.  The hospital calleth my name for tomorrow, however with the forecasted temps of negatives in the morning, I really don't wanna go, but I must.  Until next time, quilt on!

Grand Illusions, Competitions, and More

Hey ya'll!  It's been a crazy busy few weeks since I last posted, but I've gotten lots accomplished.  Last Wednesday, I sent my completed quilt to the Mountain Quiltfest in Pigeon Forge, TN.  "God's Meeting Place" has officially been entered into the competition and I'm sharing pics today.  If you haven't been following me long, let me catch you up.  This quilt is entitled "God's Meeting Place".  It is an original design from a painting of the first home of my church, East Fork Baptist in Cruso.  This quilt was created for the Mountain Heritage Challenge at A Mountain Quiltfest in Pigeon Forge, TN in March.  The show is a month away!