Archive for March, 2010

New Digs!

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

We have arrived!! Well, we arrived a few weeks ago but have been waiting for internet service! Apparently, this house hasn’t had cable in a decade or more and needed all new wiring. Actually, this house hasn’t had a lot of things in the last decade but we knew we were getting into a fixer-upper so I have no room to complain. As you can see in the picture, I’ve got my studio (formally known as the living room) functional albeit not completely unpacked and definitely smaller than my other set-up. The room is sorely in need of good lighting as the beautiful picture window only works well when the sun is shining. But I have found my sewing machines and spent yesterday afternoon sewing so all is right with the world – even if I am tripping over boxes to find the right threads and fabrics. Stay tuned over the next few days as I upload pictures from all the recent classes.

Life is All About Changes

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

And changing I am. We are in the midst of a major upheaval. Our house has been sold. We close on Monday and are moving closer to my husband’s place of employment. However, we don’t move into our new house until Friday – one week of homelessness shouldn’t be too bad.  I have packed and scrambled and cleaned and donated to goodwill all week long – Below are pictures of the current state of my studio.  My husband assures me it’ll be a piece of cake to reassemble my long-arm sewing machine. I haven’t sewn a stitch by hand or machine in over a week and am currently experiencing withdrawl symptoms!

The Friendly Star

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

I’m sure this block has another name but I’ve decided its the Friendship Star’s close relation so I’ve dubbed it the Friendly Star. I am sorry to say I have not made my sample this month as I am in the middle of moving from one house to another. Although the sewing machine is not yet packed, the rotary cutter and mat are so I’ll catch up later!

The pattern for this block is done the old fashioned way –  cutting triangles and sewing them back together. There is a quick piecing method to get 1/2 squares and 1/4 squares but I did not use it because when you are finished, half of your blocks will be twisting the other direction. If you look closely at the  four 6″ blocks in my quilt, Starry Block of the Month, two of them  rotate the other direction.  That’s how I figured out that little quirk in the quick piecing method!

Starr BOM Friendly Star

Good Luck and enjoy! Try to send pictures of your progress. I know everyone would love to see the colors you’ve chosen.

Off to AQS in Lancaster! March 24 – 27

Monday, March 8th, 2010

Finished blocking these two quilts and have sent them off to the AQS show in Lancaster, Pa. If you make it to the show, maybe you’ll remember that you saw them there if you know they’re going to be there in the first place! I will not be able to attend the show as we will be right smack-dab in the middle of moving from one house to another that weekend. Say hello to my quilts if you get a chance.

You can see them full size in my gallery – How Many Ways Can A Goose Fly and All That Glitters is Not Gold

Machine Quilting Class at Bear’s Paw

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

These ladies worked hard – quilted hard and were pretty exhausted by the end of the day but I think they really got something out of the class.  Judging from their samplers, I think we had a Picasso or two in the class!

Katie’s Diamond Star – Boy! She’s fast!

Monday, March 1st, 2010

Katie started this quilt in the Diamond Star Class just one week ago – she’s finished it and already started on a second one!!! I absolutely love the blues! Its beautiful!