http://robynefmelia.blogspot.com/2010/10/sold-money-is-in-bank-this-time.html

Choosing fabrics for a sampler quilt is quite intimidating!  After an hour of putting different colors and patterns together I was overwhelmed and took a break.  Then I thought why don’t I do this like a true 1920′s farmer’s wife would [...]]]> So I’ve completed the first two blocks of the Farmer’s Wife Sampler Quilt. 

Choosing fabrics for a sampler quilt is quite intimidating!  After an hour of putting different colors and patterns together I was overwhelmed and took a break.  Then I thought why don’t I do this like a true 1920′s farmer’s wife would have done it!  That’s the spirit!

So I gathered all my fabric scraps and pieces and three paper bags.  Tim and I then took all the piles of fabric and separated them into the paper bags into lights, mediums, and darks.  Then I stuck my hand in the bag and chose without looking the fabrics for each block.  I used whatever came out of the bag….just like a 1920′s farmer’s wife used whatever she had available.  Of course I’m lucky enough to have more than she likely had so I have to discipline myself to actually use whatever I pull!  Now, that’s a challenge because I may not like the colors or patterns that I pull but I must use them!!  Oh boy, there’s a goal!!!

Here’s block 1 – Attic Windows

Attic Windows

And block 2 – Autumn Tints

Autumn Tints

I scanned these blocks so the Autumn Tints looks more wrinkled than it is actually!!!

My husband and I tried having a fishing contest this year.  He caught one 24″ northern.  I caught two weeds, one small northern wrapped in weeds, and one 175 lb. Norwegian! 

My darling husband was unwrapping the [...]]]> We’re back from the lake!!  Had a great time except for one trip to the emergency room!

My husband and I tried having a fishing contest this year.  He caught one 24″ northern.  I caught two weeds, one small northern wrapped in weeds, and one 175 lb. Norwegian! 

My darling husband was unwrapping the weeds from my northern when the fish jumped and Wham! the hook jammed right into his hand!  He tried to pull it out without success and he started to get light-headed.  I got woozy just watching him!  We got off the lake ASAP and I drove way beyond the speed limit to closest hospital which is 30 miles away!

The hospital folks were wonderful.  Who knew hospitals actually have “fish hook removal kits”?  The nurse told us they bring  a rag doll in at the beginning of fishing season and by the end of the season they usually can’t even see the doll!  Guess hooking a human is more common than you’d think!

All is well now. 

Back home I’m starting the Farmer’s Wife quilt.  There’s a group on Quilted Paradise that are making this quilt all together.  Each quilter is making their own quilt but using each other for support and motivation.  Two blocks per week was the goal.  With 111 blocks, we’ll have  a quilt in one year!

The pattern is from the January 2006 issue of “The Quilter” magazine.  The fabric is from P&B Textiles Rosewater collection.  This fabric is absolutely gorgeous!  These pictures don’t do this quilt justice if I say so myself!

The fabric  is a watercolor pastel in [...]]]> I finished my first long-arm machine quilted quilt!  Go me!

The pattern is from the January 2006 issue of “The Quilter” magazine.  The fabric is from P&B Textiles Rosewater collection.  This fabric is absolutely gorgeous!  These pictures don’t do this quilt justice if I say so myself!

The fabric  is a watercolor pastel in pink , purple, yellows, and some green.  Designed by professional designer Barbara Campbell, the quilt is a combination of nine-patch heart blocks alternated with simple squares. 

I chose a rose pattern for the quilting.  At first I thought heart quilt pattern because that’s the layout of the blocks, but in auditioning patterns it seemed the pattern on fabric was calling out for some definition.  The watercolor sort of blends the pattern so I felt a rose quilt pattern would bring out that definition.

I hope you like it.

Quilts, Inc. is [...]]]> The Spring Quilt Market trade show was held in Minneapolis, Minnesota this year.  Attendees are reporting it was fabulous and “just like old times.”  Now for those of us who have never been to Quilt Market “just like old times” doesn’t mean much, but Quilt Market veterans are reporting great times all over the internet. 

Quilts, Inc. is the producer of the semi-annual trade show markets.  One in the Spring, the other in the Fall.  This is where all the new and wonderful fabrics, patterns, tools, and notions are displayed and demonstrated.  Just my kind of place!

My new home business, Quilting Colors and Fun!, will qualify me to attend the next Quilt Market Trade Show.  Fall’s show is being held in Houston, TX at the end of October.  Never been there!  It’ll be so exciting I’m sure!

A friend of my father-in-law sent [...]]]> Today is the day we honor our heroes who gave the ultimate price in protecting our country.  Let us say a prayer for those who are currently serving in the military too.  They take great risks to provide us with the freedom we enjoy and treasure.

Military Memory Quilts

A friend of my father-in-law sent this photo.  It was taken at Ft Campbell last week.  This couple’s sons both graduated from West Point.  One of them was killed in a helicoptor accident while serving.  A couple of months ago,  the parents  were invited to Fonda, Iowa, along with several other gold-star families, for a brief ceremony when quilts such as this one were presented to each family. A small group in this small town have, over past years, made hundreds if not thousands of such quilts for gold-star families.  The brother had heard of them, and sent most of the items copied and incorporated onto his brother’s quilt. Amazing!!!

Wouldn’t that hurt?  And what if you have short arms? 

No, not arms!  Long-Arm Quilting machines, of course!

I use my home sewing machine for quilting.  Quilting on a home sewing machine is great for wall hangings, baby quilts, I-spy quilts, and twin-size quilts.  Full-size quilts get [...]]]> Do you quilt ”on” a long-arm or “with” a long-arm?   

Wouldn’t that hurt?  And what if you have short arms? 

No, not arms!  Long-Arm Quilting machines, of course!

I use my home sewing machine for quilting.  Quilting on a home sewing machine is great for wall hangings, baby quilts, I-spy quilts, and twin-size quilts.  Full-size quilts get a bit cumbersome to work with in such a small space but it can be done.  And although I know a few quilters who quilt queen- and king-size quilts on their home machines, I find them too large to achieve first-rate quality quilting.  So for large quilts I send them out to be quilted by a long-arm quilter.

But……

Last night I had my first lesson using a long-arm quilter at the local quilt shop!  When I got home, I showed my husband Tim my practice quilt.  He was nearly speechless!  (Only nearly - Tim is rarely speechless!)  “Honey, you’re good, but Wow, in one lesson?!”  I laughed and said, “Yeah, well, it’s amazing what those computers can do!”

Say what?! 

Much to my surprise, the local quilt shop’s long-arm quilter is computerized!  The stitches and pattern come out so clean and even!  It’s astounding!  It’s beautiful! 

However, quilting on a machine like that is more like doing CAD-CAM work than quilting.  The “art” when quilting with/on (yeah still haven’t decided which is the correct term) is not in the quilting itself since the computer does it but in the quilter having the talent or artistic eye to look at a quilt top and decide what sort of quilting pattern would be the best for that particular top.  No small feat when there’s an infinite number of patterns!

Not all long-arm quilting machines are computerized though.  The computerization add-on is quite expensive so while a quilt shop or maybe a professional business may afford the computerization most home-based quilting is still done by the quilter not the computer. 

Would I do it again?  You Bet!!

Will I do it again?  Yup, this Sunday!

Quilting – an activity that began hundreds of years ago with scraps of fabric, a needle and thread that may now be done by computer!

I have loved this show from the pilot showing!  And I’m glad it’s ending so I can move on [...]]]> I am very excited about the LOST finale tonight!!  I hope I like the ending as much as I anticpate!  What a colorful show it has been. The music is beautiful and so well done. 

I have loved this show from the pilot showing!  And I’m glad it’s ending so I can move on with my life!

Til tomorrow,

Happy stitching,

Peggy

 Graduation Open House parties are multi-generational [...]]]>  

 Graduation is one of the most momentous events in the lives of students and their families.  Graduation is a time to celebrate the graduate’s accomplishments and to wish them well in their future endeavors.

Congratulate them with a gift they will love and treasure… 

A Graduation Quilt!

 Graduation Open House parties are multi-generational events with moms, dads, grandparents and friends all together.  With an Open House, it’s difficult, and probably unnecessary, to plan too many activities.  An activity everyone will enjoy is helping you create a memory graduation quilt for the graduate.

When you order a custom graduation quilt from Quilting – Colors and Fun!, you will create a fun activity that gives each guest an opportunity to share a special memory or to pass on some words of wisdom to the new grad.  Grandparents especially like this activity – they are full of wisdom!

After you place your order, you will be sent a packet of fabric squares and a set of fabric permanent marking pens.  Place the fabric squares on the tables throughout the party.  As each new guest arrives, invite them to use the markers and fabric squares to write a message to the graduate.  The message may be congratulatory, best wishes, a memory of times past, advice for the future.  Anything the guest would like the graduate to know from them. 

They may sign the square or not, it’s up to them.  Of course if they don’t sign, the grad will not know who said what but that’s OK too.  

After the party, send the fabric squares back to Colors and Fun! to have your customized, hand-crafted quilt created in top quality 100% cotton fabric.  You may request the quilt in the graduate’s school colors, or not, depending on your grad’s preference. 

A beautiful (and useful!) gift your graduate will treasure for years to come!