December 2021 Trip to Fort Wayne, Indiana

My friend Kay and I went on a quilting get away December 15th. We hadn't been on a trip since February 2019. Between Covid and my own health issues, any get away was next to impossible.

These Happy Chance fabrics were purchased at Quilts n Gifts in Bluffton, Indiana. This store is an A+ for fabric selection, service and quality of products.  Definitely worth the drive.  

I used this fabric in my Upstream Quilt. The finished quilt will follow. It turned out to be a baby size. I liked the pattern and I will try it in a larger size with another fabric grouping.

I used this fabric for a queen size cat quilt.

41ST ANNUAL SMOKY MOUNTAIN QUILT SHOW

Friday August 5th and Saturday August 6th 2022

Watch for photos and updates of our quilt weekend adventures. 

                                      https://www.smokymtnquilters.com/quilt-show.html#/

 

A study in Squares

December 2021

After getting back to sewing, I decided to use some  swap strip squares I had accumulated. I took a long look at them. Not enough to join on their own. I had a lot of 6" charms also.  I combined them; half stripe and half charm. 

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I wanted to add a border of black and white fabric but I didn't have enough of any one so I made some 2 1/2" inch strips of a variety and used those instead                                                              

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I wanted a bright color to go next to the black and     white row.  I had quite an assortment of orange and  went with that. Using the same 2 1/2" gelli roll                   method. Ending up with eighteen 19" blocks. 

And that's where I'm leaving these blocks until I have the space to trim them all to the same size.                                                                                                                                                                                   My next process will be to add another                  2 1/2" border of white with black circles that I purchased on a recent trip to Indiana.

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A study in Black White and Lime Green

It all started with an inspiration on Pinterest.

A photo and no pattern.

I like 2 1/2" strips and 5" charms.  The two just seem to go 

together. From looking at the layout I felt that I could

incorporate my collection of 5" charms of black and white fabrics 

with a solid background.  I just happened to have a large amount 

of lime green fabric I found at a thrift store. 

One of my favorite colors besides bright pink is lime green.  

International Quilt Festival - Chicago 2019

Kay and I made a trip to Chicago to see the International Quilt Show and as usual we turned this weekend into a packed adventure.

Nothing like going from one cold area to another. This has definitely been a polar spring so far.

Kay was the driver. Coming from Columbus, Ohio on Thursday March 28th, 2019 to pick me up in Delphos, Ohio. Heading to Chicago via Rt 30. We got to the Rosemont area in the afternoon, Lunching at the hotel. 

Our hotel, the DoubleTree, was right across the street from the convention center and the convention center parking and walking distance to the L.  We each purchased a 24 hour pass and headed downtown. Got off at Monroe and found the CIBC Theater.

Attached are a few of the quilts that were featured in the display area. 

These little house are pretty amazing in the round.  Apparently it was a challenge, as there were a variety of them in assorted styles and colors

Quilt Nine Patch Baby Quilt

I have a lot of fabric. I enjoy the piecing and assembly process of quilting.  I see it as a challenge. 

So I've an assortment of quilts in various stages waiting for a proper home.  Someone who will appreciate the time and work I put into each quilt.

This was more girl themed and I gifted it to a long time family friend upon the birth of their granddaughter.

I love making the crib size as it doesn't take long to assemble with batting and backing.

L I nks to Shows

Quilt Shows
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March 28 - 30, 2019

Quilt Festival Chicago
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Fab Shop Hop

February 1-28, 2019
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One Stop Shop Hop

April 12th & 13th 2019

October 11th & 12th 2019

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QuiltCon 2018

In February of 2018, Kay and I went on our first quilt adventure that required flying.  California seemed like a good location to go to from COLD Ohio in February.  

A direct flight from Cincinnati to LA got us there in the midst of rush hour traffic.  

A 28 mile drive from LAX to Pasadena took 1.5 hours. 

WOW... I'm glad Kay was driving. I was the navigator.  

There was fabulous assortment of quilt styles and designs. Here are but a few of the photos I took.        
What was really interesting was the way they took traditional designs and changed them up.                    Adding different colors and layouts.                                Really breaking the rules.

These little octagons were attached to the top of the fabric and quilted on.There was fabulous assortment of quilt styles and designs. Here are but a few of the photos I took.                  

What was really interesting was the way they took traditional designs and changed them up.  Adding different colors and layouts. Really breaking the rules.

These skinny strips were a quilt as you go. 

Even the attendees were an example of creative quilting in their handbags, clothing and colorful hair colors.

Using quilt pieces left from another project Part 1

We all have pieces left from another project that didn't quite make the size that we needed or we just made too many.  Not sure what the case with this was but I found many such pieces when I was cleaning out a box of UFO's.

I decided to work with them by making them a uniform size.  8" X 8" is a good size to expand on. Some of the pieces were already 8"x 8" while others needed to be extended.

I used a coordinating fabric 2.5" X 8" to add to one side of the 8" x 8" piece.






I then joined three sections into a strip.          Four strips into a topper.

This 3 x 4 square is just about crib size but I really think that it needs at least another row of color.  The border with the dots really gives a lot of color choices to choose from. 

Adding a border really can extend the little amount of squares that I started with.

Ann Arbor Adventure with Kay Part 2

Another group of shops we went to during our Ann Arbor adventure.

Pink Castle Fabrics
So many different fabrics.  The store itself had a very lofty warehouse feel to it.  Lots of Asian and foreign fabrics that you just don't see anywhere.  Too much to decide on.  I'm saving this place for our next trip to Ann Arbor for a purchase.


The Quilting Season

The ladies here were were a real joy.  They were getting fabrics ready for their big Christmas Open House. WOW.... lots of great samples. I got these chicken fabrics.  The chickens are a set of place-mats but I'm not sure yet if that's what I'll use them for.  I've got more chicken fabric at home along with some black and white fabric that might work out also.












Sandhill Crane Vineyards Wine & Wool Festival

Very busy.  Lots of vendors and all sorts of yarn and roving.

Ann Arbor Adventure with Kay

On Friday July 28th and Saturday the 29th 2017, my friend Kay & I set out  to discover the Quilt & Yarn shops of the Ann Arbor Area.

Here we are at our new favorite the Ann Arbor Sewing Center.
WOW....what an fantastic selection of fabrics. Great parking and very friendly staff.

I always say "I've got plenty of fabric at home", but we definitely found some fantastic fabrics that we could't be without.

I found these sweet little kitty themed fabrics and peach with tiny white hearts just happens to  work with some fairy themed fabric I've already got in my stash.

Some cherry themed fabric to add to my
Traverse City cherry theme.  The cherry trees and vintage camper was so cute.  It was hard not to buy the other camper fabric.

Yoga fabric.  Love it.  OM
I think this will make for great mug rugs to give to my yoga buddies.

Boat fabric to add to my lighthouse

 collection.

Halloween Quilts

It's time to start thinking Halloween. One of my favorite holidays.  I love the fabric that's come out.  All the different colors and themes. Day-of-the-Dead. Gray, black, purple and orange. 

These are all small baby size quilts. Quick and easy to make.

Esp this one with panel fabric and strips added in to make them all fit together.

Another panel quilt with coordinating border fabric added.

Panel and fabric purchased at The Red Rooster Quilt Shop in Columbus, Ohio.

Sewing area Organization

I've taken the time to revamp my fabric. Organize and Purge. Doing this always reintroduces me to fabrics I've had and often makes me wonder why I've got them!

My shelving is standard Sauder Shelving purchased at the Ready To Assemble Furniture Store in Lima, Ohio.

Everything labeled as to style, color or fabric groups.
It's like my own fabric store!

I always feel that "Out of Sight, Out of Mind" is important as far as my supplies go.

I just need to remember that the next time I'm at a quilt shop.
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I also have an wonderful combo ironing board made with screwing two small shelves together and attaching a shelve board covered with padding and ironing board fabric. It gives me the rectangular ironing space and storage underneath. Both things a regular ironing board do not offer.

The shoe size storage boxes and mini laundry baskets stack nicely.

Mug Rug Swap

I have been a member of Swap-Bot since 2009.                                     I have swapped a variety of crafts and supplies with hundreds of people all over  the world.  The mug rug is one of the swaps I've done recently.
If you've not tried a mug rug yet, now's a good time to give it a try with these simple directions for a variety of mug rugs. It's a great way to use up scraps for a quick and easy "mini quilt".  They make great gifts and are very inexpensive to mail to anyone.

Here is the mug rug I made for a recent swap.

Mystery Quilt 2015

I had done this mystery quilt a few years back a few years ago with a Yahoo Group called OhioQuilters.  I really haven't been too active with it lately, but when I came across this quilt, I was reminded of how fun it was to make.

Groups are a great place to meet other quilters with out having to leave your house!    Try it out.

This is another top I had sitting around forever and finally found the time to add backing and binding..  My theory is that we all have a certain amount of creative process built up inside and we just need to keep making it/doing it until we just can't do it anymore.                                                                                                                                                                                      I make quilts, Afghans, whatever with no particular "receiver" in mind.  My only rule is that they "want" or will appreciate the gift. I would be sad if it showed up at the thrift shop but it could be a more grateful receiver would be the final owner instead. 

Columbus Area Quilt Adventure

On Thursday June 8th, my friend Kay and I went on a quilt adventure in the Columbus, Ohio area. We try to go to another city or state when we can but today we stayed local and had just as much fun.                                                                                      We started the day at Quilt Beginnings.                 Always a great place for new fabric combos, ideas and inspiring samples.  The staff is very friendly and helpful.

  

Then we headed to another one of our favorite places,

  Sew To Speak. Which has an assortment of quilting, sewing and knitting supplies.  Eclectic fabrics and patterns. Friendly and helpful staff combined with wonderful samples.  They always have something new that I can't leave without.

I purchase a linen piece to coordinate with a few linen items I had acquired on a few previous trips. The gray with light dots I got at  Sew To Speak, the gray cats on the black background I got when we went to Pittsburgh to the Knit and Crochet Festival in March from a vendor at the  show.  There were actually quite a few quilt vendors which was great as Kay and I love both knitting and quilting.  The rolled piece of red hearts on the tan background I purchased in Chester England last year at Liberty Bell. 

I would really like to incorporate the three fabrics together into a clutch or a bag of some sorts.

 

After all our shopping it was time for lunch and an adult beverage at The Whitney House in Worthington

Then we finished off our day at the Red Rooster Quilts 

Where we each bought a 5" charm pack of Poppy Mae by moda.