Two Posts in One Day!

I have an extra post for you all today! I went in to the shop and decided to show some pictures.
Here is my favorite part of the shop--the fat quarter table! It's just beautiful!

Here is my favorite sample from the shop. Its a wool sampler, and we have it in a kit. I'm definitely going to be making this one!

Here is a picture of our wall that has samples of different wool projects:

This case has samples of some punch-needle and Bareroots stitcheries.

Some more wool pictures:

A new Fig Tree line:

Part of our Amy Butler line:

And, finally, here is a sample of a Bareroots pattern, stitched by Barri herself!

Triangle Fat Quarter Folding

I have a fun little tutorial for you all: Triangle fat quarter folding. Its a great way to fold fat quarters to give as a gift. Here we go:

First, lay out your fat quarter and fold into thirds, lengthwise.

Tuck up the lower left-hand corner. This is what will make the point of your first triangle. It may take a little adjusting until you get the hang of it. Start folding from the bottom right-hand side.
Continue folding until there is a small flap left. Tuck flap inside.Now stack, criss-cross style. Tie with a ribbon or piece of twine and you're done!

Stop Right There, Janice!

Sorry...had to give my Aunt one more warning...I'm posting a picture of her Christmas gift, and I don't want her to peek! So, here it is!It's the "Pick A Pocket" tote bag that was in Quilts & More, and designed by the fabulous Monica. When I was back in Idaho, I took my Aunt to the quilt shop to help her pick out the fabrics. She had a hard time doing it herself--I think she went to the shop like 3 or 4 times. They must've thought she was a stalker. So, those are the fabrics we picked out. Its Amy Butler and Freespirit fabric. She wanted it to be 'stiff', so I added some buckram. Let me tell you, that was an adventure! I think I broke 3 sewing needles. I didn't have any bigger needles, and the Jo-Ann's by my house is closing in February (they are moving just down the street) so they are running out of inventory and not ordering anymore! Aargh! Its like a twisted, sewing version of a "Got Milk?" commercial!

Mental Sanity...

I'm getting there! I've been a little overwhelmed lately. I had to actually write down a list of all the things I need to do and prioritize it. Instead of shuffling around my house like a crazy woman, trying to figure out what I should do first, I had a nice little piece of paper to tell me. So...I finally finished little Ella's quilt.Her mommy picked out the fabric-Woodland Bloom. I also finished an appliqué pillow for a class I will be teaching in a few months. No picture yet, though--my camera battery died! So be prepared for more pictures tomorrow!

Mailbox Love from Japan!

I got a HUGE surprise in my mailbox today!! A package from Lecien. It technically came from California (from a lovely woman named Nireko). To make a long story short, Monica, who knows Nireko, told her about my previous post and my Minni Muu love. So Nireko got my address from her and mailed me some gorgeous COSMO embroidery floss! And let me tell you...it is the silkiest embroidery floss I have ever felt! She even sent along a portfolio of all of their colors. It has the actual floss on it, not just a color image. All I have to say is..."Goodbye, DMC!" I don't think I'll ever be able to go back.

I'll have more posts soon. I know I've been missing for awhile (holidays and all that), but I have a lot of finished projects to show you!

The Hunt for Minny Muu is Over!

All right! All you people scouring the web looking for Minny Muu Volume 3: your search is over! As I mentioned, I recently started working for a local quilt shop, Epicurean Crafts.
I talked the owner into carrying Minny Muu fabric! Okay...she didn't take much convincing--she saw it at Houston and thought it was adorable.
You've probably seen the fabric on Monica's blog, or on Melly & Me. The owner is in the process of overhauling the shop's webpage, but you should be able to pre-order it now. It will be arriving in the next couple of weeks, and I CANNOT wait to start sewing with it! I'm definitely going to have to make the "Once Upon a Time" BOM and Monica's Happy Zoo quilt (its a free pattern!), and maybe a purse, or a skirt for Liberty....okay, I'll stop myself now!

And the Winner Is...

I called my random number generator (Aunt Janice) and she said number 17! Congratulations Conni! Please email me your address (there's a link on my profile page) so I can mail it to you before I leave town for the holidays. For all of you who were not winners this time, there are more giveaways to come!

Now for a couple of sneak peeks. Here are some pictures of what I'm working on for the shop:

Announcement...and a Giveaway!

**Clarification: You have until midnight on Wednesday, November 19th to enter in the giveaway!**

I have an announcement to make! I have recently taken a job teaching quilting and embroidery classes at my favorite quilt shop! I am so excited! I barely want to talk about it in case I jinx it! Its a wonderful shop with wonderful women who work there, and I will tell you more about it in the days and weeks to come!

Now for the giveaway! Below is a sneak peek...there may be some more surprises in the winner's box! Here's the rules:
Leave a comment between now and next Wednesday and tell me either your favorite class you ever took at a quilt shop, or one you would like to take. Post a link to the giveaway on your blog and you'll get another chance to win! I will randomly select a winner Thursday morning. Good luck!

Cinderberry Stitches--Done!

I finally finished my Cinderberry Stitches embroidery. All I have left is to quilt it, but I'm going to have to wait awhile...I still have the Shangri-La quilt on my machine. Its taking me awhile to finish that and take care of the babies at the same time! I should have it done this weekend. Here's a close up:I also got my Ottobre magazine. I ordered it on Monday from Australia, and it arrived with the mail this afternoon! In case you don't know about Ottobre, its a pattern magazine, so it has patterns for all the clothing shown.

I love the jacket and bubble skirt!Wouldn't this dress be fabulous in Heather Bailey fabric?

BOM

I signed up for the Autumn House Block-of-the-Month by Bunny Hill Designs. It starts in January, and I can't wait!

I also saw some swatches of the Oh-Cherry-Oh line by Moda coming out in February. I am drooling! I might even have to make Liberty a cute dress out of it.Is anyone out there going to Spring Quilt Market in Chicago this April? I told my husband, "I am GOING!" I wanted to go to the one in Houston, but we went to Disneyworld around the same time. So Spring Market will be my "momacation"!

...and boy are my arms tired!

I have been machine quilting all day, and boy are my arms tired! I definitely need to get some of those quilting gloves to help hold the fabric. Anyway, it is not nearly as scary as I thought it would be. I can tell this is going to be a whole new outlet for me!

Of course, I had a devoted audience:

My happy boy (his hair is growing in blond!!)

Wilbur has a talent of finding the most comfortable seat in the house:

Back to the grindstone!

Sewing Away!

I've been busy sewing away! I'm finishing up my Cinderberry Stitches project, preparing two quilts for machine quilting, peicing two more quilt tops, and I just started the Moda Mystery Designer block-of-the-month. I just love the fabric! Especially the mint and chocolate one! Makes me hungry. I also finished another Dear Jane block:
I had a really hard time getting a picture of this one: my camera wouldn't focus right, and it kept curling up on me (it's only about 4 inches square, and has a lot of seams!).
I have also started designing a few quilts: a miniature quilt, and a combination pieced and appliquéd quilt about the life story of one of my ancestors...she was quite the character. She was a pioneer woman, farmer's wife, writer, and preacher! I will be posting some of her writings, so keep an eye out for those!

Stafford Quilt Show

It has been a busy quilt weekend for me so far! I had the quilt class Friday night (which was a blast), my first Bernina class today, and then I hit a small quilt show afterward.

The Bernina class was amazing! I have wanted a Bernina for a while now, and I kinda wondered if I got one if it would live up to my expectations. Let me just tell you...it has exceeded my expectations! Most of the women in my class have had Berninas before (some for over 25 years!), and they got a newer one for the stitch regulator. I learned so many cool tricks today. I can't wait for my class next week...we're going to focus on the BSR foot (Bernina Stitch Regulator).

Now to the quilt pictures!

Of course I go straight to the appliqué quilts!

Isn't this machine quilting beautiful? I'm a little obsessed machine quilting right now, because that is my next challenge

A miniature quilt (about a foot and a half long). Look at those perfect points!

More machine quilting!

A wool appliqué quilt

This was all quilted by machine!

This entire quilt was hand appliquéd and hand quilted

Hydrangea, my favorite flower!