Wicked

Either you run the day or the day runs you. -Jim Rohn

I have my TO DO list which follows me day and night...another productive day ahead, as soon as I drink more coffee! HAPPY FRIDAY TO ALL. 

My girls did something very special this year. They took their Dad on a date to a concert, Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band. It was his fathers day gift. They laughed about all the veeecations (as Dad called them) when they sat in the back seat and listened to Bob Seger CD's over and over again (or cassette tapes, you know what I mean don't pretend you don't). So off they went on their date and had a great time. 

Now it is time for my mothers day gift! They are taking me to see WICKED Yup! Tomorrow my girls and I will be in the historic Fox Theater in Atlanta seeing the most fabulous musical WICKED. If you are ever in Atanta try to go see the Fox it is an amazing place.

I don't know what I'm more excited about, the theater or just having a girl date with my sweetie pies. So, this weekend we will all be home enjoying each other and having some family time. My Son in Love will be absent :( we will miss him this weekend but he has coaching responsibilities. If I know those girls, my rear end will end up in the car at sometime, going shopping at some point. oh boy

I will need to mind blank the fact that the calendar has turned to October and now we are DAYS away from Market and Houston. I'll be like Scarlett O'Hara and think about it tomorrow or Monday. 

Martingale Monday #5. This time I'm including the ode to binding thoughts!!  Looks like the books are shipping early next week. Yahoo. I'm going to sit on the driveway and wait until they come. Come visit me. 

Winner Week #4

Everything in life is luck.

 -Donald Trump

Week #4 and we have a winner. Dance with our winner, cheer and stomp your feet. Ok sit down you may bust a hip! Here is the Random Number thingy which I have followed instructions and still can't get the stupid thing uploaded properly. I will blame the computer but most likely it is operator error.


True Random Number Generator Min: Max: Result: 61


Here is our LUCKY WINNER...CINDI. whoooo hoooo Congratulations girl you won the whole Enchilada! Please contact me and I'll bring you the prizes cuz you are in GEORGIA!!!! AND YOU ARE HOLDING A QUILT THAT WAS ON MY LAST BLOG POST...AND YOU ARE MY LUCKY FRIEND TODAY.
SERENDIPITY, I love it when that happens.

I finished the binding on Mary Beth's new quilt. She has moved out and now is living on her own. I guess that makes us officially EMPTY NESTERS. I know I'm supposed to be happy about this but I miss her. She is decorating her bedroom in purples and greens so her aunt Tricia and I made her this quilt while we were in the mountains last month. Leisa quilted it and I finally got the binding on it. The quilt is large I swear Omar the Tent maker size. I don't usually make this type of quilt but I do like it a lot. It is a Turning Twenty Again. It was easy I made it scrappy and not line specific (no surprises there). I would make one again. YUP! 

 Scrappy back toooo. Used the fabric I have and stitched up the back! She is going to love how cuddly it is those green strips are flannel. so soft. 
Now I have to go wash it because my kids don't like to get "  crunchy" quilts. They are quilt lovers and cuddly like that too!

Yesterday

All my scattering moments are taken up with my needle.  ~Ellen Birdseye Wheaton, 1851

YESTERDAY. There are so many things to say about yesterday. Several years ago..I think  around 2002, a group of us  formed an unbelievable, magical circle of friends and quilting. We have gathered at a camp here in Georgia twice a year and we have ourselves a sewing and fellowship filled good time. I can't EVEN put it all into words how many memories live at that camp. Yesterday I went down to the camp for the day to spend sometime and sit and sew. My time is limited because.........well you know it is the market prep and other work obligations that prevent me from being able to spend a whole week at retreat. YESTERDAY I needed that place MORE than I even knew when I was driving there. One day, not a whole week, was all I had time for right now so off I went. I enjoyed it so much and I loved being there with friends in that room YESTERDAY! 

Here are some photos of the finished quilts that were flying around the room. With peanut  cheeto gallery comments.

Sharon and this wonderful blue and tan. She had a terrific technique for sewing the blocks that made the quilt construction sooo easy. What is better than blue and tan I ask..What is better than Sharon? I wish you knew her. I love her, she is the most generous kind hearted human being. A very special friend.

Get ready cuz here comes Margo's show and tell. #1

Margo #2   we call her Magoo not Margo it is a term of enderment trust me. I think this is a Thimbleberries quilt. sheesh

 

Magoo #3 is on the left. This quilt has a story. See those blocks? All of the Crows (as we called ourselves) made those blocks and we traded them. Magoo put the quilt together with everyones block. The other members of the group (myself included) tried to remember where we had put our blocks. Magoo actually made the dang quilt. Holey smokes way to go! My little block is in the top left corner. (I sure you knew that !)

MAGOO AGAIN #4. And she works full time as a nurse!

Ok you guessed it more Magoo #5. Showing my Slice of Christmas pattern for Tree Skirts..sooper dooper Thanks Magoo.

Magoo has to sit down now because it is Sharon's turn. I would tell you our nick name for Sharon but I would have some splainin to do..so for now she is Sharon II. Sharon I was the short one in photo one. Sharon II does amazing hand quilting. This quilt is a commission quilt from someone who wanted it hand quilted. Fabulous quilt and Sharon is putting some wonderful handwork on the quilt.

This baby is worth a closer look!

Sandy's baby quilt or maybe it is Vicky's not sure but I love that Suess fabric!

Cindi's pumpkin table runner. I considered throwing her on the ground and taking it away from her..But then that just is not nice and Cindi is the nicest person!

Leslie top and Cindi with a Star Quilt they made at a recent retreat. I don't really know the name of the quilt but I do know it used a fancy specialty ruler. I'll find out more. Both these quilts are going to be great. The quilt was a terrific border too.

Teresa and her Neutral quilt. This quilt is so sophisticated and wonderful. Teresa has the best eye for choosing fabrics and color. She made the model for the quilt on the cover of my book. She is a most excellent quilter and I am grateful for her sewing help! She is peaking from behind the quilt most probably making some funny wise crack.

There was a quilt I missed that Debbie was making a child's quilt..I will get a picture and post it as soon as I run Debbie down! haha I'll have to put my sneakers on!

Once again I have overloaded you with photos. I hope you will forgive me but I really love to show quilters off to other quilters. 

Yesterday (sing with me)
All my troubles seemed so far away...OOh I believe in YESTERDAY!! DEE DAH DEEE DAH DOOOOO

Martingale Monday Week #4

Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love. 

- Mother Teresa

Martingale Monday #4...here we go again. Fix yo self a cuppa or a gulpa and let me show you some quilts! 

I think this quilt is more of what a lot of people would think of when they sit down and decide to make an all neutral quilt. It is softer, lighter more subtle. The technique is so much fun and super fast! It is what I called a Double Disappearing Nine Patch. Of course the explanation of the technique is in the book. If you are looking for a quilt to give as a wedding gift or a fast finish this quilt is the ticket. By the way, I always make neutral quilts as wedding gifts. Young couples taste and decor change with every Pottery Barn Catalog edition.. but neutrals are timeless.  The name of the quilt is Summer Stitch In. Named for the week long super fun retreat I host every year. Some of you will remember my posts from July with all the fun and quilts (100) we worked on.(and the shenanigans)

 

 Notice no borders..you can add borders if you want..it is your quilt! 
By the way did you know that I use neutral quilts as table cloths in my home?? If you come over for dinner I will put one on the table just to prove it! I don't worry about spills..I can always make another quilt. I worry more about spills on my family linen table cloths than my quilts. I can't replace them! Heck if you come over I'll serve you spaghetti pie on a quilt table cloth. (You will be drinking from a sippy cup with a plastic bib on.)

 Here are the goodies you can win this week if you post a comment on this blog and tell me if you make binding from straight of grain strips or bias. Why do I want to know? You will find out next week on Martingale Monday #5. The winner this week will be announced on Thursday after I have several sippasss of coffee.

Drum roll..(ok just stomp your feet, who carries a drum around?) Here are the goodies I am giving away this week to dah winner. 

'

Kim Brackett's second book. I swear this girl has got it going on. I loved and made a couple of quilts from book #1 with my Silver Thimble Club...now she hits us with this baby. oooooh baby baby. I may like this book better than the first. No..yes...I don't know but you are gonna flip!

My book..shipping to stores next week. You can also order it from my web site with free shipping until Nov 15th.

My favorite ruler Creative Grids 6.5" x 12.5". I walk around with this thing in my hand. Even when I'm baking cookies. I love me some Creative Grids (I'm not paid to say that just so ya know, but I could be bought haha)

If you know me this needs no explanation..JUMBO BAG! That'll get ya through the day.

Ok that is is IT now go tell me your thinking on binding pahleeze. 

Success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties. 

-Helen Keller

Here are some quilts that I thought you might enjoy from our last Thimbles class. I had left my memory card to my camera at home (sweet! another totally gifted move on my part) so I missed some photos. As usual the Thimbles group never disappoints with their accomplishments. Betcha wish you could be there in person. Well you can... on the third weekend of each and every month.

This is an amazing piece by Pat B. paper pieced and all that jazz! My jaw hit the floor when she whipped this baby out.

Here are a couple of close ups of Pat's eagle. What I want to say about this is serious stuff...listen up! (please). Leisa quilted it and while her quilting is absolutely amazing it complements the artistry and sewing perfection that Pat did. I'm telling you one enhanced the other! Sewing and custom long arm quilting. I have had some things quilted in the past and they turned out so  that the longarm quilting overpowered my the piece work. I have such respect for the artistry and skill of a great long armer! I also love to see the artistry and skill of the quiltmaker be highlighted at all times. I wish my photos were better but then...I'm no artist with the camera so I let both Pat and Leisa down..sheesh.

Twister going on right there! If you haven't tried this it is tons o' fun!

Karin with a quilt for her granddaughter. This quilt looks like SHERBERT. It is one happy quilt.

Pat B again...sheesh she has been reeeely busy. Love this quilt..but then there is that eagle. Pat is standing on the left in case you see her in the grocery store tell her you like her quilts.

Guess who..It was Pat's day for show and tell. Kitty Kats!

I may have shown you this one before but here is Sarah and her SELVAGE QUILT. Did you hear me? those are selvages..many many many. Guess where Sarah is RIGHT THIS MINUTE? CHINA probably buying silk (and ripping the selvages off of it.) Or walking on the Great Wall of China or sumthin like that. 

 

  

 Hope you all have a terrific weekend and will join me on Martingale Monday #4...there shall be quilts and prizes!

Winner Week #3 Martingale Monday

Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify.

-Henry David Thoreau

I have been literally burried in my sewing room finishing new quilt for market. The quilt is safely off to Leisa to work her magic with the long arm and I'm surfacing and onto other items on a massive TO DO list.

Thank you all again for your fabulous comments. I'm so glad you are enjoying this little "walk through" the projects in my book. It has been so much fun to write about the quilts and remember how they were all born. It is like falling in love all over again.

I drew for the winner so here it is. Number 46!!! PATTY FROM MA.

True Random Number Generator Min: Max: Result: 46 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Congratulations Patty (nice name!) Contact me privately and send me that snail mail address! Is it snowing yet in MA? (it is cold there I hear!) 

Tomorrow I want to show you some quilts from Silver Thimble Club and some outstanding quilting. 

I'll be back..it is nice to have that " Big Project" completed...and I can breathe a little better. At least for today.
 

Martingale Monday #3

Always remember you are unique just like everyone else! - unknown

I hope everyone had a smashing good time this weekend. I know I did! This was Thimbles weekend and there was fun and laughter and quilting. What can be better than that? 

I want to show you this quilt which is in MY BOOK.. The name of the quilt is French Silk, so named after one of my favorite pies. (no I will not name a quilt cheetos that would be just wrong on sooo many levels.) This quilt is super simple to construct.  The most amazing thing about THIS QUILT is that it is made from a combination of cotton fabrics and SILK. ok so don't pass out and knock your head on the floor...and don't tell me I'm crazy. This quilt was so much fun, when together like BUHHTAH and is so lovely the way the light catches the silk after it was quilted. Quilted not by me, but by Leisa Wiggley longarm artist superior! and I dooo mean ARTIST. 

I'm showing you the photo that is in the book because it also shows you the Elegant Bolster Pillow that is also in the book. I think this photo is great. Here is the funny thing. I named the bolster pillow "Tootsie Roll",   but for obvious reasons I had to change the name, or get a legal team I guess. I swear I could NOT come up with anything. So Elegant Bolster Pillow it was. The creativity of that name knows no limits.

Here is the 411 on working with silk. I used dupioni. I like that name. dupioni, dupioni, dupioni, it sounds really up town don't you think?? The down side to silk is that it doesn't ravel.... it falls off in chunks so I used a stabilizer which was just the ticket. The solid brown parts of the quilt were the silk units the other two fabrics were regular cotton quilting fabric. Nice huh?  This pattern design is screaming for any print that you would want to use as a focus..you could really highlight some fabulous fabric with this design. just sayin!

Here is a flat shot of the quilt.

Here is the Elegant Bolster Pillow sitting on the steps in my house.

I loved stepping away from traditional cotton fabric choices and watching the results unfold right in front of me. I hope this will encourage you to try to quilt with silks. (and lots of the fabric companies are starting to put out lines of silk, isn't that nice they did that for my book!) There are so many gorgeous colors and weights to choose. I will be doing this again you can bet on it!!!

Here come dah prizes. Put a comment on this here bloggie and tell me your favorite  genre or look for your quilts.  If you comment you will win a chance to snag the autographed copy of my book.of course.

 And this book.. Holey Cow those people at Martingale are all quilters.. I loved them before and now that I know they are ALLL QUILTERS I love them even more. I wonder if they are all sitting around in staff meetings whipping down binding and comparing each others 1/4" seams. Is it a prerequisite to getting a job there? Do  you submit a quilt along with your resume. dang!  They wrote this book and I want to keep it but ... it will go to some lucky winner..A Bakers Dozen written by the staff of That Patchwork Place.

And for the bonus extra prize...I love these little babies. I'm a cliping fool with these Wonder Clips. Great for sewing on binding (I'm a hand binding lovah myself)  You are going to win the giant box and there are 50 in the box! whooo hoooo. That is two books and a box! 

BTW this photo is sideways and I don't know why!
Comments! I love the comments it is such good reading. And a welcome break to marathon sewing which is going on at Silver Thimble World Headquarters.

Cheeto Picker unleashed!

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.

Dalai Lama

I have gotten a lot of comments and requests to explain the finer points of the Cheeto Picker.  First of all I have discovered that snacks pertaining to sewing time are a very personal thing. From Herbal Tea to Bubble Gum I think I've heard it all. I do have some confusion on one topic that I would like to explore. Lots of people said that they have NO FOOD within a mile of their quilting projects because they worry about making a mess. But many of the NO FOOD club said they have coffee or tea or Coke while quilting. HUH????? What is that about? I use coffee and tea to dye my projects if I want them to look all vintage like and aged..I'm confused. With all do respect tell me do you people drink coffee through a sippy cup?  How could a harmless cookie do damage to a quilt? I'm going with the idea that people who don't allow food near their quilts are using this as a means of diet restriction and self abuse. Eat some cake! Literally.  I bet the members of the "no food near quilts club" are extra skinny.

So now we get to the subject of the best kind of snacks, sweet vs salty. My preference is for both. I come from the more is better way of thinking that is why fat quarters don't make sense to me. Why buy a fat quarter when you can buy 5 yards? seriously friends..

There are 2 winners in the Best of Quilting Snack category. The first! Well of course it is the beloved Cheeto. Heaven in a bag. 

The Cheeto is problematic in that it can be messy. WELL QUILTERS the answer is often right in front on you on the notions wall of many quilt shops. It is the Cheeto Picker! Long enough to reach to the bottom the the large bags you get from Sam's and Cosco. Delicate enough to hold on! You need to be aware that you should not blindly grab for the Cheeto Picker because you can end up with your seam ripper impaled on your lip. I know this..how? 

If your local quilt shop does not carry these babies just ask them to order you one. Please leave my name out of it.You are on your own I have already made a fool of myself at a national level...get your own Cheeto Picker.

The picker can be used in other ways as well. Popcorn especially this time of year I just love caramel corn. It is a versatile tool.

Then there is this...you can watch your feet and fingers blow up while sewing and eating. SALTY!

The winner in the sweet category. Perhaps the MOST perfect food to eat while sewing. TWIZZLERS!! YAHOOOOO

 It comes in giant 2 lb. bags. Which makes sense to me. I have always believed that more of a GOOD thing is best. Fat quarters make no sense to me. Why buy a fat quarter when you can buy 3 yards! Twizzlers can be eaten totally hands free, the technique is as follows... Pop one end of the Twizz in your mouth and feed your self while you sew. It takes a bit of practice but after a 2 lb. bag you will have it down pat. I do not suggest you practice this in one sitting but I won't elaborate on that point.  2lbs = a lot of Twizz!

When you come to my Silver Thimble Club you will meet Mary Agnes she and I will show you how to have a hands free Twizzler race. I believe I am and reigning champ..or we will just go with that cuz this is my blog.

At this point I need to tell you that there is one food that should never be brought into the sewing room.

 Powdered no less. Can you imagine the powdered sugar all inside your precious sewing machine. This is just wrong on so many levels. Please trust me on this I know I'm right! BTW I bought a bag of these babies just for that photo. What I don't do for my blog. They were delish!

Okay now that I have given you the best...get to the store, get your snacks and picker and start your engines. You will be happier quilters and you will get so much more done because you will not be runnin back and forth to the dang kitchen. Please let me know if this blog tutorial was helpful. I would love some "feedback" 


Do we need to discuss adult beverages while sewing? nah

Winner #2 Martingale Monday!

But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life, and thanks to a benevolent arrangement the 

greater part of life is sunshine. 

- Thomas Jefferson

We have a winner again! Week #2 of the Martingale Monday fun is history. Just you wait cuz I'm going to party down next Monday.Visit me Monday September 19th for more book talk and some prizes. 

This week the winner izzz!

Number 69
(will somebody tell me how to get that cute little box on number generator onto my blog..I have tried and it is not workin for me. I'm gonna pitch a hissy fit..southern style)

True Random Number Generator Min: Max: Result: 69 Powered by RANDOM.ORG

 Susan from IA

Susan chews bubble gum while she is sewing. I think this is hilarious. I can just imagine her blowing giant bubbles obstructing the view of her machine and thus her 1/4" foot. How funny.  Well Susan you have won yourself 2 books and one big cone of Aurfil thread. That should require you to stock up on tons of DOUBLE BUBBLE cuz you got some sewin to do! Contact me with your snail mail addy and I'll put Sir Quilt Dude on the shipping stuff. (he is th highly paid servant to Silver Thimble World Headquarters thhadd be me)  

In honor of everyone who put their snack preferences in writing through the comments on Mondays blog I will take you on a snacking while sewing journey tomorrow with photos and instructions for proper snacking. You can always get a tutorial on how to make a dang half square triangle but only HERE will you find a tutorial on snacking and quilting. TOMORROW! This is an important ground breaking blog...do not join weight watchers today..you might want to put that off until you hear from me.

JOY RISING

Here we go again...sing and dance with me!

So it is Monday.... I'm sewing and getting ready to fix dinner. The door bell rings..and these arrive. 

With this lovely card. (Good thing cuz I might have had some splainin to do if you know who got home from work and I was getting flowers!)

Well don't that just FROST YOUR CAKE..flowers and everything! How nice. Those people are so sweet.  I dashed off a beautifully written thank you email. (my mother is rolling her eyeballs in heaven right now.."  so you don't have time to write a proper thank you! I raised you better than that!"  ).


Then I went back to sewing and dinner prep..


UPS man arrives (usually between 5 and 6). I told Mary Beth to get the package cuz it is probably the toner Dad ordered for the printer. 


NOPE...NOT THE TONER...IT WAS THIS!

The book, MY BOOK, I can hold it in my hand. It has pages. I can't even tell you the emotion. Is this real? Do I really have a number in the LIBRARY OF CONGRESS? I can't believe it. I suppose it was such a long time comin that it is now an out of body experience. I have to tell you this...and I mean this..(BRACE YOUR SELF CUZ I'm gonna get all sappy and serious here...) My overwhelming emotion is gratitude.  I'm so grateful to my family for the support, my friends who lift me up and are the flowers in my life garden, to the members of the Silver Thimble Quilt Club..to the Martingale people...and to anyone who may decide to purchase my book for their quilting library...I'm sooo humbled by the whole thing. I'm mean it people..there are tears flowing as I type. (too  much information huh?) 

Ok so where does one keep this precious book?

They will notice it up there that is for sure! (bad glare sorry)

For guests who need to have something to read while visiting the luxury suite. We can light those candles on the back of the facilities for ambiance.

In here, everyone opens these doors 10,000 times a day right? And next to the sweet tea..this is the south you know!

One should never text while driving...but this text doesn't count  does it?

We will store it in here. I'm the only one that turns the thing on anyway. It will be safe in there.

Another email was sent to Martingale Headquarters here is how it read. 

Dear Martingale friends of my Mom,

Mom was making my favorite dinner. Roasted Pork Loin, with those yummy roasted new potatoes, fresh green beans and mom’s awesome homemade yeast rolls. She was so happy she got flowers today..Then the UPS truck came and Mom said the toner for the printer was here. WRONG.

It was the book..

The pork loin is a charred remain.

The roasted potatoes are the color of her HavenStone quilt (which I called dark and creepy anyway I like purple)

The green beans are dried and stuck to the bottom of the pot (which I have to wash)

And the rolls are hockey pucks.

Thank goodness the Sweet Tea is safe in the fridge cuz Mom is GONE MENTALLY…

Sincerely yours,

Hungry in Atlanta

The Wys family

So that was my day yesterday. Nothing out of the ordinary happening at Silver Thimble World Headquarters.