A Bright, Cheerful Studio

I'm going to try to add pictures each week of great studios that I find on Pinterest. I love looking at how others stash their goodies and create spaces to work.

I believe that all these pictures are of Mary Engelbreit's work space.

Whether it's hers or not, it has so many fun things to look at!

I love that almost every space on the wall is filled with amazing things!

It looks like it has snowed outside but this studio space is still bright and cheerful! I notice that the walls are white. Maybe I should paint my studio white....hum.... Hope you enjoy!

Stitching During the Storm...

Last night we had a horrible storm with high winds and hail. Thank goodness our neighborhood missed the GRAPEFRUIT SIZE hail that an area right down the road from us had! This is what everyone's yards and driveways look like today.

So the electricity went out. I lit some candles and did some hand stitching! I thought about the women who made quilts many years ago when they were on the prairie with no electricity. All I got done was to sew together one block of the wedges that I already had cut for a wedding ring quilt. This morning I ironed it and have been thinking about whether to put these blocks on a yellow or white background.

I'm thinking white wins hands down. I'm also thinking that in the center of each, I will applique some flowers or something. These aren't good pictures but the white really does look better.

So thank you God that this house was not damaged and that I have a garage to house my car! I'm also thankful for candles and have made a note to buy more! I won't be taking light and air conditioning for granted any time soon!

Boo Quilt Blocks--Yet Another UFO

Oh, I know....more blocks! Last night I found the strips I cut last year for this little quilt. Needless to say, my A.D.D. kicked in and I thought that, if it was going to be finished for this Halloween, I'd better start on it.

So I don't know if this qualifies as a new ufo or because the strips were cut, as just working on an existing ufo. Well, it's officially a ufo now!

I got 16 blocks finished and am thinking of doing 4 more and adding a narrow border and wide border.

We have some adorable Riley Blake Halloween fabrics in the shop that I could use for the border....so I'm off to play on this lovely holiday from my "real job"!

Have a wonderful Memorial Day. I thank God for those who made it possible for us to have the freedom to do whatever we want on this day of remembrance.

Worked on Sophie Quilt Blocks Today

Today I played with making quilt blocks from the pattern "Sophie Quilt" by Cluck Cluck Sew. I think it's cute for any age girl! It's easy too. What a nice way to spend the day!

  

A Word About Quilt Fabric

I made this little quilt before I was associated with 44th Street Fabric shop. I wanted to show you how different fabrics can be. The black fabric used for the border was purchased from the shop and is a high-quality black fabric. The black fabric used in the quilt was a cheap fabric. They looked the same when I made the quilt. This picture was taken when the quilt was about a year old. It has been sold and is actually hanging in a math professor's office at Harvard. My point is though, for beginning quilters, don't do as I did and try to save money on solid fabrics. Buy good ones and you won't be sorry!

Whale in the Woods

This is an amazing piece by artist Adrian Rojas. Can you imagine stumbling on this whale in the woods when you are taking a little jog?

Halloween Bunting is Here!

The oh-so-cute Halloween bunting is in the shop! I made up a quick string of just the letter flags (there are star flags too) and here they are! So easy! I sewed backs on mine and turned them but you can just cut them out and string them if you want. I will probably go back and do some embellishment with black ribbon, rickrack and I found some little bat trim. Just thought I'd show you because people have been asking. As usual, please ignore the camera work. I'm still trying to visualize a Canon Rebel into my hands but it hasn't happened yet.

Wow! This is Wallpaper!

I salute the creativity. I don't think I could live with this though. I can't imagine this on more than one wall. But maybe I'm just not cool.

Update on Little Hunter

My son Jason was at the farmers market in Dallas buying fresh produce and he heard a tiny cry coming from a stack of flower pots. When he checked, he found a tiny kitten. He asked the people running the booth and they said they had no idea where the kitten came from and the pot had only been there for the day. Well, Jason took the kitten to the vet who told him that the kitten was at the most, only 3 days old and would probably not survive. Jason and his friends took turns feeding Hunter from a bottle and Jason took Hunter to work with him. It was touch and go but...

Here is Hunter today. Happy, healthy, curious and BIG. I love happy endings! Good job Jason (and everyone else you got to help you)! Hunter looks great!

Jet Airplanes Breaking the Sound Barrier!

I never realized that you can SEE a jet airplane break the sound barrier! Amazing!

Cute Fabric Equals Cute Bag

Fun on a Friday afternoon...  Shouldn't you be cleaning, you ask?   Ha!  I laugh at cleaning!

One Seam Flying Geese Quilt Block - AMAZING!

Amazing, time-saving way to make a Flying Geese quilt block by sewing only one seam! Had to share with you! From Ricky Tims and Alex Anderson!

Flower Power Blocks

I started the border blocks for a Flower Power quilt (from the book by Mary Lou Weidman-yes we sell in the shop). These are "wonky blocks" that are made without a template. This is a fun quilt to make so far. Next thing on this quilt will be the flowers in pots. I don't know how I'm going to do it with no templates. Yikes!

Fast No-Sew Pincushion Tutorial

I found an old pitcher on Etsy and had to have it because of the little dog handle. I had a mug with a handle like that when I was a child. I decided to make it into a pincushion and thought I'd share it with you as a little no-sew tutorial. It will take you no time at all and makes a great gift for anyone who sews. Just take a tea cup or little cream pitcher, a 12" by 12" square of fabric, a handful of stuffing and an elastic hair band.

Put stuffing in the center of the fabric square, pull up the corners and twist with the stuffing inside. Wrap the elastic hair band around two or three times, pull on the ends and you have a little puff. I used a smaller square of fabric that was just sitting by the sewing machine so mine is really messy. When you have that done, just stick it in the cup and poke it down.

You can cut off the fabric ends right below the elastic band if it doesn't fit like you want it to. You can also add some glue on the inside of the cup to hold it if you want. I don't like doing that because it ruins the cup.

Then you are finished. In less than 5 minutes you have a little pincushion that's easy to carry around the house for small stitching projects. I like using little pitchers because you can put your thimple in the spout. I can't find my thimble at the moment but you get the idea. Hope you enjoy this!

What I Did Yesterday

Yesterday I just wanted to sew...mindless sewing. A while back, I picked a palette of colors from this photo of flowers and pulled fabrics in those colors from my stash. They've been sitting there mocking me. So I cut strips and started sewing. I like it so far but now I'm bored with just sewing strips. I know there is probably something wrong with me but I can't help it. I just keep starting new projects and getting bored and adding them to the ufo stack. I always promise myself I'll finish something...but....

Is there a U.F.O. support group?

Mother's Day 2012

Happy Mother's Day to the Mom's who made my Grandchildren possible! Love to you all!