It's A Girl!!

My daughter Amy, who is expecting baby #3 called me the other day.
We now know, It's a GIRL!!!!

Amy and Dano adore their two little boys, Isaak (age 3) and Noah (age 1).
And they would love another little boy, too.... but they are very excited it's a GIRL!

I've had this feeling for some time that a little baby girl was on the way.
A few months ago I was visiting my friend Monica and she was making these cute little dresses for her own daughter.

Monica created this easy design after seeing dresses on the market, and gave me the directions to follow so I could make some too.

That afternoon we went out together and shopped at some of the quilt stores here in St. George, picking out more fabric for dresses.
(I just couldn't help myself.)

Monica put ready made buttons on hers. Since I'm into making covered buttons right now, I knew I had to use my own made out of matching fabrics.

I also went out and purchased some cute little girl tops and pants to go with the dresses.
This size will fit a 6-12 month girl, so it will be a while before they can be used.
I can hardly wait.

Happy Father's Day

me, my dad, and my sister Robyn (about 1958)

Happy Father's Day to all the men who have worked and sacrificed so much for their families.

And Happy Father's Day Mr. Cactus.
Five children, a grandfather, and you can still do back flips into the pool.
Now that's impressive.

Texture Magic Bag

I work for a wonderful company called Superior Threads. They have a new product on the market called "Texture Magic" that I've been wanting to work with.

Texture Magic looks like a light weight interfacing type fabric. You sew it to the back of a fabric, apply steam and it shrinks 30% in every direction.

Judi and I worked on some projects while I was at her house, and I made a bag using Texture Magic with the bottom fabric.

First I cut out a piece of green fabric and Texture Magic, allowing extra for shrinkage.
I used a red thread and sewed wavy lines from edge to edge.

Using a steamer, I ironed on the Texture Magic side and within 10-20 seconds the fabric crinkled up. It was very fun to watch this process.

I then cut out the right sized piece for the bottom of the bag.

"Dee Dee's Bag" by Sorbe Girls Designs (Diane Phipps)
pintura@ourranch.com

Of course I had to add one of the covered buttons I've been obsessively making.

Judi made a "Lilly Apron". When she saw the ones I made for my girls, and how easy they work up, she wanted to make some for wedding presents. I think she looks so cute wearing the apron she needs to hurry and make one for herself.

A Day of Visits

Today has been a wonderful day of meeting with friends. When I knew I would be in the Salt Lake City area, I made arrangements to go see THE Nanette of Freda's Hive. It was a year ago that I read Nanette's blog, and my life hasn't been the same since. I started my own blog and have now met so many of you. I count my self LUCKY.
Kim of Bitty Bits and Pieces lives near Nanette, so the 3 of us met at Nanette's house this morning.

Nanette, Kim, Nedra

Nanette showed us her latest projects. She just got this quilt back from the quilter.

I always love to see peoples workspace. Especially those creative souls who design patterns for us to enjoy. This is Nanette's bulletin board.

And all her vintage and Japanese fabrics stacked neatly in rows.

Some of the bags Nanette has designed.

And racks of her quilts.

We talked about the latest things we are working on, our families, and how much we have in common. Even though I live a 4 hour drive from these women, I consider them just like sisters.

Thank you Nanette and Kim for including me in your world.

After leaving Nanette's I went over to Kim's house. I wanted to see her sewing room and the place where she designs all her patterns. Kim is currently posting contributions at Moda Bake Shop. Make sure to go over and see the fun things she has created.

One of my favorite "Kim" quilts is her Kaleidoscope. Today I saw it made in 3 different color ways. This one is her Halloween version.

Cute little hand clutch purses.

In her sewing room, Kim uses boxed cubicles for her projects. The plastic boxes stack perfectly inside. When she's ready to start the next project they are easy to see and reach.

I couldn't take very many pictures of Kim's quilts in progress because she is in the process of getting several of them published. This is one she published in 2004 called "Holiday Squared" so I could show her work.

These ladies are so talented. It's a pleasure just to rub shoulders with them.

My next stop was to see my dear friend Janean. A few weeks ago Janean fell and severely broke her foot. She required surgery and now 3 screws hold the top of her foot together. She's been laid up in bed trying to keep her foot above her heart as she heals. How boring is that? We talked quilts to get her mind off the things she would like to be doing but can't for now.

This is the latest quilt she just got back from the quilter.

Ouch!

Janean has the most beautiful home, decorated with lovely quilts here and there. Her husband Ralph just made her a quilt ladder as a Mother's Day present.

Look at the detailed work he put into the ladder. Ralph is a real artisan.

Quilts by Janean.

Before heading back to St. George I went to visit my girlfriend Ruth. ( the one who had the beautiful wedding reception in her backyard recently). Two days ago a mud slide came down the mountain in Draper and caused a lot of damage to the 2 houses next door to Ruth and Craig.

They had experienced fires on the mountain last year, and have had a lot of rain in the last few weeks. This mountain has been a concern for the city for months.

Fortunately the mud slide missed the Steed's backyard.

Unfortunately it went right into the yards of our friends the Maylett's and Olsens.

Olsen's were in Scotland on vacation and flew home to a basement and yard full of mud.

Disaster crews , family and friends having been working night and day in the clean up.

Olsen's had a car in this driveway that was encased in mud nearly to the top of the tires.

Maylett's home sits just a little higher than Olsen's. The mudslide went past the side of their house, filling the window wells, and pushing out the windows to the basement below. Most of the initial impact filled their son's bedroom. Fortunately he wasn't in his room at the time.

The crews have already pulled out drywall and cleaned up most of the mud.

It's a miracle no one was hurt considering all the damage done. That's the good news.

The bad news is none of this is covered by the Maylett's flood insurance. If the water had come in on the main floor, they would have had some coverage, but about the only thing covered in a basement is the water heater.

It's been a rough few days, but Malett's were cheerful and telling jokes.

Shanna said she's considering offering therapeutic mud baths in her back yard for a small fee.

More rain is expected, so the women and teenagers were lining a runoff ditch with rock. They are hoping to divert any more water away from the homes.

Make sure to include the Maylett's and Olsen's in your prayers. They've certainly been in mine.

Wasatch Shop Hop Day 2

We've shopped. And we've hopped. I didn't think it was possible, but I think we're hopped out.
Today was day 2 of the Wasatch Shop Hop. So much to see and we loved every minute of it.
A lady named Elizabeth left a comment and asked what a Shop Hop is. She didn't leave an e-mail or a return blog address, so hopefully I can explain it simply here:
For the Wasatch Shop Hop, 15 stores get together each year and organize an event that lasts 4 days. They provide maps between each store, and quilters are challenged to visit each one. You can have a card stamped to show which store you visited. They offer wonderful prizes for anyone who hands in a completed card. There are free patterns, sales, refreshments and just a good time.

I saw this sign in one of the stores. (not the exit!) "Each new day brings another good reason to quilt."
I think this will become my new motto.

Our first stop was Broadbents in Lehi, Utah. This store has it all: furniture, knick knacks, baby items, and most importantly an amazing quilt section.
Broadbents was built in 1882 and has been family owned and operated since that time.
For the Shop Hop their themed block is "The Antique Store".

(?), Laurel, and Flora, three delightful ladies who work at Broadbents.
Laurel said "Just make sure people know WE are not the antiques!

They did bring in a wonderful display of antique quilts just for the Hop.

This was Broadbents setting of all the quilt blocks.

Didn't they use a perfect border fabric.

My friend Janice just won a ribbon at the Springville show. Janice is the fabric buyer at Broadbents and is so talented!

This quilt is called "Omigosh!" designed by Sue Garman for Quakertown Quilts. The double nine-patch is made with 1 1/2" pieces!

I have the pattern, but haven't even thought about when I'll make it.

With all those millions of pieces can you understand why I procrastinate?

I really didn't want to show you any more Halloween quilts, but I just couldn't help myself.

This one hung from the ceiling and was so fun!

They were out of patterns, so I didn't get a name.

The quilter did an excellent job of "reading " the quilt.

Beth and Judi in front of Quilting Cottage in American Fork, Utah.

Next stop: Cornwagon in Springville, Utah

Cornwagon's theme was "The Toy Store".

This picture just doesn't show all the small little details in their setting of the "All Around the Town" blocks.

The movie posters, like the one showing Pride and Prejudice were maybe 1/2" wide.

The red half square triangles in the window were probably 1/8th inch. Teeny tiny!

Fun things all over the store. This is from a Melly and Me pattern.

Sue Spargo had just been here teaching a class. Sue lived in Utah at one point and I have loved following her work ever since.

Sue really knows how to incorporate wool, cottons, beads, and many different types of embellishments into her quilts.

Marianne Michaels teaches rug hooking classes at Corn Wagon.

We had a "Kim Siting" while we were there!

And another Lori Holt quilt up on the wall.

Amy McClelland owner of American Quilting in Orem, Utah.

Amy Smart of Diary Of A Quilter made this cute Vintage quilt for American Quilting. We read each other's blogs. So of course I had to go in the back room and say hello to her.

This is American Quilting's block setting.

Amy McClelland designs many of her patterns in wool.

Again, more Halloween... but I love them all!

**I didn't take any pictures of "Gracie Lou's Quilt Shop" because I was so busy drooling over all their cute bags and quilts. Their store was so wonderful! The owner, Shasta Parry is one talented lady and has just started designing children's clothing. If you are in Utah any where near Salem, make sure to stop by and see their store. The address is: Gracie Lou's, 416 North State Rd., Salem, Utah.