Thursday, February 28, 2013

Bliss Quilt

 How can it already be the last day
of February?
It feels like the last two months
just sped by!
Winter here in Arizona is so beautiful, 
that I wish I could stretch out
March and April to last year round :)
**
I have a few more 
Show and Tell quilts
 to share from our
Mesa group.
 Karen was binding her
wonderful quilt 
made with 
Bliss fabric.
(designed by Connie and Camille
for Moda Fabric)
This was such a popular fabric line!
I have a quilt made with Bliss
and saved every little bit of left over pieces
to use in my scrappy quilts.
 Karen's quilter did such a nice job.
 And I love, love, love the scalloped border.
 Jamie finished her
black, white and red quilt.
 As a pianist, the musical notes fits
Jamie's talented personality.
Pattern: 
by Threaded Pear

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Kissy Fish Quilt

 Today I met with our
little Mesa Quilt Group.
Such a nice gathering of ladies!
We convened at our church, spent a few hours sewing
and enjoyed the most wonderful lunch.
 Vickie was working on binding the cutest quilt for 
a new grandson.
Kissy Fish
 is
made with soft Minkee
on both sides.
As you can see, it's very easy baby quilt to construct. 
One of the most fun parts about this quilt
(along with the cute fabric)
is that the
Quilting does the talking :)
 Kissy kissy fish swim across the quilt,
 with lips puckered,
surrounded by bubbles of air.
 Random waves float across the fabric,
giving movement to the quilt.
 You can appreciate the quilting even 
more by viewing the back of the quilt.
 Can you see the 
Kissy Fish in the border?
Vickie said she comes from a family that loves to fish,
so this quilt will be a nice introduction to the sport
for her grandson.
Lucky little boy :)

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Free Modern Quilt Patterns

 McCalls has published a 
FREE
e-book
with 
3 Quick Quilts.
Yes, you read that right!
This e-book is free
and can be downloaded 
I like Editor-In-Chief Beth Hayes
description of Modern Quilts:
"Notable for minimalist aesthetic, 
use of bright bold colors,
and large doses of white and other neutral colors,
asymmetrical designs, and 
free form piecing."
The 3 patterns from the book are
quick to make
and on a beginner to
confident beginner level.
 Pattern #1
Baubles and Beads
 Pattern #2
Rainbow Rhythm
Pattern #3
Lemon Squeezy

Monday, February 25, 2013

Gems of the Desert Quilt Show

 Before moving to Arizona,
I lived in the beautiful red rock country
of St. George, Utah
Every other year the 
hosts
the most wonderful show!
 If you are in the area
or even passing through,
make sure to stop and see
Gems of the Desert
Quilt Show
March 29-30th
 This is a very well run show.
The guild has over 200 quilters,
with several National Award Winning participants.
 St. George is located 120 miles North of Las Vegas,
and a
45 minute drive from
Zion National Park
The headquarters of 
is close to the convention center
(yes, you can shop there!)
and there are 6 quilt shops in the area.
A great place to visit!

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Easy Easter Table Decorations

 Last night I helped teach a class at my church on
Easy Easter Table Decorations
and wanted to share a few of our
ideas with you.
Many times we are looking for fun ways 
to spruce up our tables
that don't take a lot of time or money.
 My part of the program was
to teach
a Proper Way to Set a Table &
Bunny Napkin Fold
 These easy napkin folds only take a minute to make
and add a bright spot to the table.
I followed the instructions from this
You Tube Video
by Better Homes and Gardens
 Dorothy taught us how to make
Baa Baa Black and White Sheep
using cookies and marshmallows.
 One lady liked her sheep so much she named 
one "Marsha" and the other one "Mallow".
(tee hee)
This would be a great project for 
the kids and grand kids to help with.
 Tutorial offered by Tip Junkie
 And Corrie had the supplies ready for us to create
Easter Egg Carton Chicks
Another easy project perfect
for the kids to make.
Tutorial offered
 by 
Jeromina Juan of

Friday, February 22, 2013

Blogger's Block of the Month Finish

I finally have a
FINISH
(yay!)
on my 
Blogger's Block of the Month
quilt.
ran this BOM from
 September 2011- September 2012
 She asked twelve well known quilters
like Sherri McConnell, Pat Sloan, John Adams,
Allison Harris (Cluck Cluck Sew) and 
Sarah Fielke (The Last Piece)
to name a few,
if they would each take a month
and design a block, 
complete with tutorial.
 The original setting had 12 blocks,
but I got a little carried away
wanting my quilt to be a little bigger,
 and made 
2 blocks most months.
 I pulled from my
Kaffe fabric stash for each block.
Love those Kaffes!
 I even used Kaffe's  
solid Shot Cottons 
for the sashings.
 It was really fun to see what these designers would come up with 
each month.  Some of the blocks were simple
and some were a little more complex.
I liked it because it was a 
skill builder.
(and a good way to use up scraps!)
 I'm all about using what I have right now,
and so the outer sashings were even scrappy.
A mix of three colors of Shot Cottons for the edgings.
Thank you Jackie for inviting us along on such a fun
Block of The Month!

Thursday, February 21, 2013

More Quilter's Eye Candy

 Show and Tell
this month
from the 
Nimble Thimbles Guild
is like
Eye Candy for Quilters
So many beautiful quilts!
 Lee Anna and her sister Melanie
do amazing volunteer work
 in training of service dogs
for people with disabilities.
They made this quilt as a gift to the new owner
of one of their dogs who was
recently placed.
What a beautiful gift!
Zander, their most recent Golden Retriever in training,
usually accompanies Melanie to our meetings.
It's fun to see him hanging out
like one of the guild members.
Another quilt by Lee Anna and Melanie that will be given as a gift
through Power Paws.
A bright and happy purple quilt.
Embroidered blocks for a grand daughter.
The back of this quilt is as nice as the front.
Indian design made by Berta
Some of the Show and Tell quilts were quite large.
Joanne designed this as a gift for her daughter 
who lives in Japan.
The lower blocks represent
sliding Shoji doors.
Thank you Nimble Thimble ladies
for sharing the gift
of Quilt Inspiration
and Eye Candy!