Wondrous New Year!

I recently ran across photos of something called a "Star Trail".  They were magnificent.  So, I  looked up Star Trails on Wikipedia & sure enough, they're for real.  Due to the rotation of the earth, the motion of the stars can be captured in stunning, time-lapse photos!  Here's one that's in the public domain:

Star Trail

Is that fantastic or what??!!  Of course, I'm wondering how they did that.  Is it real or photo-shopped?  I have no idea, and I don't really care :)  In this New Year, I just plan to keep my eyes OPEN WIDE & enjoy all the wonder around me!!  I hope you do, too.  Faith.

Happy October!

Oh, I love it when the weather turns to fall.  It seems an exciting time to make changes - maybe it's the schoolgirl in me that just wants to try something new - whether it's a daring fabric combination or a recipe with lots of ingredients!  The fresh autumn air is invigorating - the colors in nature are deep & inspiring.  Here's a peek at some of my designs dressed for fall:

So, what does a cool snap inspire in you?  Faith.



Angel & Butterflies

It has been HOT ... HOT .... HOT!!  I'm more of a fan of cold as it's pretty easy to get warmed up - just add more clothes or wrap a wonderful quilt around you :)  But, HOT ... there's only so much clothing one can remove!  LOL  So, off to the mountains where our wild Angel lets us know how to do it.  I tried to get a photo of her soaking her fanny, but she's too quick for me!  I'm pretty sure she's shaking & drinking at the same time - quite a talented puppy!

This is one of our favorite local spots - Hayden Creek.  Years ago, my dh noticed what he thought was the Greenback Cutthroat Trout when fishing for little brookies.  But, that's an endangered fish in Colorado & he thought he was seeing things.  He was!  The following year, a restoration project began. 

Now, all you can do is soak your fanny & take great pictures of butterflies!!

Things could be a whole lot worse :)  Faith.

Spring Came & Went!!

Well, I don't know what happened to my heart-felt resolution to post at least once a month!  Oh well, let's catch up :)  I've been:

1. Designing the 2012 Shop Hop Block for Stitcher's Garden.  The theme this year is "Games People Play" - very bright & fun - WAIT 'till you see!!

2. Demo'ing at the Pueblo Quilt & Stitch Expo - back in April.  No booth this year, but I had a GREAT time perusing the offerings.  Got some quilting loot & reconnected with vendors & friends.  Couldn't resist the BUTTONS of course - Jill has some of the best & her button enthusiasm is contagious - Jillions of Buttons

3. Creating spring samples!!

Here's Easter - this cake was truly superb.  The recipe for "Scripture Cake" was from the aptly named Cook's Country magazine:  "Lost Recipes - Kitchen-Tested Heirloom Recipes Too Good to Forget". 

Among other things, the recipe included cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, coriander, raisins, figs, pistachios & almonds!!  It was a heavy, old-fashioned cake with leftovers frozen to be savored in small pieces throughout the year.  I renamed it "Resurrection Cake".

  

4.  Enjoying NATURE - Spring is so full of joy & hope - no matter how bad Winter was, Spring always rejuvenates my spirit.   

Tulips & Butterfly Girl - I think she's reading a Quilting Book!



Apple Blossoms (soon to be Apple Pie!)

 We don't always get to enjoy a "real" Spring here in Colorado & true to form, temperatures zoomed into the 80's quickly.  Oh well, among other things, Nature reminds us to enjoy every moment!  Ooohh, I just saw a hummingbird .... gotta go!!  Faith.

The Secret is LOVE!!!!

 How was your Valentine's Day?  Full of Love & Sweetness??  I hope so.  I was tired & crabby, but that's when you NEED love the most isn't it??!! 

So, I'm sending a belated Valentine's Day cuddle from my Angel (because doggie hugs count)!.

And, mucho blessings to all who hugged someone whether they were "huggable" or NOT!! 


 




This is a "Joyful Heart" that was made especially for Valentine's Day - cheery cherries & happy dots. 

Have you ever run across fabric that you can't seem to get enough of ?? 

That's how I feel about this stuff - I just LOVE it!!

And, finally, I made up a sweet wall hanging I'm calling:

"The Secret is Love" 

It's for my favorite sister for a very special birthday. 

And, yes, the Heart is made of 1" squares :)  I'm sure there was an easier way to piece this little quiltlet than cutting 1 1/2" squares & sewing together.  

For example, I could have sewn strips together  & subcut.  One of the drawbacks of being a designer is you tend to frame every project as if you were writing a pattern  - it's along the same lines as "when you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail".  Except, I didn't! 

I just enjoyed cutting & sewing all those little squares together - one at a time - for my sister - who loves flowers - and celebrations.  Every square was another loving wish!

What's the "secret" part you ask?  The four hearts on the bottom are flaps that cover hidden pockets.  Pockets to hold good fortunes from cookies; pretty buttons & earrings that have lost their match; champagne corks & loving wishes from your favorite sister, Faith.

Snow, Chaos & Christmas!

 It's been awhile since we've had a white Christmas. That might surprise you since we live in Colorado, but we're just outside the foothills where the prairie begins.  We have to drive for about an hour (due west) to experience John Denver's, "Rocky Mountain High"!  And when it snows, Colorado is so sunny, it usually melts the next day.  So, this was a really wonderful treat for Christmas.  It snowed & snowed & it was really, really cold.  Outside was beauty & bliss - inside, well that's another story!

 

 I did a little googling of "creativity" & "chaos" & found quite a bit of scientific, as well as philosophical articles.  Aaaak!  Too many Christmas cookies to focus clearly, but here's my favorite:

“You must have chaos within you

to give birth to a dancing star.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche 

  

Yeah, well, I'm not really sure about that - you be the judge!

I began with Pink Chalk Studio's Countdown to Christmas tutorials!!!  Oh, my - snowy bliss outside & creative bliss inside!! 

I absolutely fell in LOVE with Day 9 Home for the Holidays by Retro Mama

This is Retro Mama's original design (blue roof).  The tutorial was excellent - lots of photos - easy to follow.  The pdf templates were great. 

But, of course, I needed to add my own touch!  Some curtains in the window, a bit of hand embroidered flowers, etc.  Did I mention I LOVE Ric-Rac??  Best invention ever!

After I showed them to friends, they said:  Wouldn't it be great if they had a little pocket on the back - you know, to hold things?!  Like a lavender sachet or a little note ....

Ten hours & LOTS of cookies later, I did it!  That probably wasn't the best combination for productive thought, but it's Christmas!! 

I also added a little fiberfill stuffing to the chimney for support. 

These are SO addictive!  I found even MORE buttons -snowmen & moose & trees & little hearts for doorknobs ... 

I really liked "fussy cutting" Santa & reindeer for a fun rooftop  (bottom right).   

So, there they are - my DANCING STARS!!  Now, I better dance on over to my sewing room & get that chaos mess cleaned up! 

Hope you had a wonderfully-creative Christmas, too!  Faith.

P.S.  My favorite Christmas song that always makes me feel grateful for living in this wonderful place:  Colorado Christmas, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Fun with DOTS!!

Today, it's all about DOTS; polka dots.  I love them.  In all forms.  Once they catch your eye, you see them everywhere - falling from the sky (snowflakes are really snowdots when you don't have your glasses on) - tangerines on a lime-green plate - blurry lights on a Christmas Tree (again, better with glasses off).  Buttons are really useful dots.  But, of course, I love fabric dots the most. Like I said, they've been everywhere lately:

The fabric on the right is from a very sweet collection by Holly Holderman (LakeHouse Drygoods).  The flannel fabrics on the left will become a scarf, perhaps with scalloped edges  (half-dots) & yo-yo's (gathered dots) - gives me chills just thinking about it!  The cups came from a local thrift store that a good friend introduced me to - New Horizons. 

New Horizons recycles everything they can & what isn't fit for sale still goes to GOOD USE!!  And, that kind of completes the circle DOT!  Faith.

P.S.  If you still haven't heard enough about polka dots, see this:  Polka Dot Origin  As for me, I think it's time to get out of the house & go play in the snowdots :)

9/11 & Freedom Quilt Experience - Denver, Colorado Capitol Building

Remembering 9/11/2001:
I had taken time off from work the previous week to be with a very, very sick dog & was still exhausted from the ordeal.  Normally I listened to the radio on the long drive in, but that morning I treasured the silence.  I was so exhausted I didn't notice the mood of my friend on our ride down to the cafeteria for coffee.  He asked me how I was doing.  I said Mollie-dog would recover.  He just stared at me.  He knew I would always remember it was he that broke the news of 09/11.  I am grateful for his gentle tolerance when I said - "I'm sure it was an accident."  He said no.  We didn't speak after that.  TV's had been set up in the cafeteria.  Except for the broadcasts, it was a silent day - each person lost in their own thoughts.

A quilting friend sent me a great article on a 9/11 quilt memorial in the Denver Capitol building.  I hope, as someone who loves quilts, it will bring you comfort.  Here is an excerpt that really says it all (the link follows):

"It is not so hard to imagine the women who made these quilts taking this day into their hearts, going to the fabric store, running their hands over the bolts of cloth, breathing the smell of cotton as the yards are measured. It is not hard to see them cutting and pinning the squares, ironing each block, heat rising from the fabric. If each act is a meditation, each quilt is a prayer. One piece bound to another, the individual contributing to the greater, stronger whole. It is an easy metaphor."    

                                                                       Cynthia Martin, Quilt Curator

 

Read more: Griego: Quilt display in Colorado Capitol a magnificent comfort - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/griego/ci_18870203#ixzz1Xl94yQHg
Read The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: http://www.denverpost.com/termsofuse

Olde Schoolhouse Quilters 13th Annual Quilt Show - Part 1

I just love everything about quilt shows!  There's always something to inspire & usually there's a "boutique" where you can pick up some pretty good bargains (more about that on later posts - I hope!).  So, when a friend asked me to join her at the 13th annual quilt show in Westcliffe, Colorado, I jumped at the chance - the scenery on the drive out there is spectacular & the quilts were, too - I think you'll agree!

The venue:  Old Westcliff Schoolhouse Museum
304 S. 4th
Westcliffe, CO

September 1 - 4, 2011
10:00 am - 5:00 pm Daily

Westcliffe Tour

Here is The Olde Schoolhouse Quilters Raffle Quilt - appropriately named "Westcliffe Spectacular".  I bought some tickets & my fingers are really crossed!

Tammie Baggett (Designs to Quilt) quilted it in copper metallic thread that added a glorious shimmer.  It was pieced by many in the Guild & the binding was superb!

(Sorry about the pink block - bottom right in photo - I assure you it's a camera malfunction - not a fabric choice!)

The Guild's challenge for 2011 required the quilters to add three different style fabric borders to a panel.  These were not your ordinary "add a couple of straight borders & call it done" projects!  (I must confess to making more than a few of these!  Now, I'll have some great ideas in my repertoire!) 

This lovely Oriental Wall Hanging took 1st place in the challenge.  It was made & quilted by Leilani Robinson & includes:
            hand beading
            free motion quilting
            origami buttons (!) &
            hand embellishing.

 This creative quilt is called "Drivers' Training".  It was made & quilted by Kathy Metcalfe.  There's lots going on in this quilt, but my favorite part is the velcro-attached "garages" on the bottom border.  They provide removable storage for little cars - great idea!



This quilt kept me amused for quite some time - think of what it would do for the little ones!

I have this fabric panel in my stash - it's by Stephanie Brandenburg from her Day Dreams Collection - truly lovely.  However, I didn't envision a quilt such as this! 

Sue Davidson created several borders including one that is made of  hand-strung beads (lapis, turquoise, cornelion & glass) with lots of quilting (what I would call "thread painting") & embellishing - wow!

"Moonlit Canine" made & quilted by Judy Elkington was spectacular!  She cut up her pre-printed wolf panel so that it appeared to be a mosaic piece of art.  Her borders included piping, pieced & paper-pieced (my favorite!).  The wolf pieces were applied with fusible web & then machine quilted. 

I like how she rounded the fabric "tiles" instead of leaving them angular.  I'll never look at another wildlife panel the same again!

Well, that's enough for now.  Part 2 coming soon!  If you're in the area, there's still time to get in on that raffle quilt.  But, I think I'm going to win it, so you might just spend your $ in the boutique instead :)

Singing Kaffe's Song

I have enjoyed Kaffe Fassett fabrics for years - actually I LOVE everything he designs (read about him here:  Kaffe Fassett  - warning - you won't be able to stop - each article/project is more intriguing than the one before!)  But I must confess, I've been hesitant to use his luscious, color-drenched fabrics in my own quilting projects.  Why?  Because it's outside my comfort zone & I'm afraid to fail?  Maybe.  For goodness sake, how do you tell the lights, mediums & darks from one another?  Where does the eye have a place to rest?  Where do you start?

I finally stopped procrastinating & began with a modern pattern with LOTS of WHITE in between colorful blocks.  Hmmm...  Great design, but boring results I must confess :)  Should I just have used one of his designs & made it easy on myself?  Not quite ready for that - no matter how much I love looking at his quilts, they just aren't me - at least not yet.  I want to "sing his song" but, in my own voice!

So, with the remaining scraps I made one block of my New Traditions design.  Oh my!  It's singing to me!



I finished the table runner in record time & I couldn't be happier with the results.  Thanks Kaffe for writing such a glorious song :)   

Busy July!

Oh my - the whole month of July went by without a peep from me!  Well, lots happened & I have the photos to prove it!

The end of June was busy, busy with the 7-store Heart of Colorado Shop Hop.  I was asked by Stitchers' Garden (Pueblo, Colorado) to design their Block!  My first commissioned project was a lot of fun - Susie & Nancy were a joy to work with. 

The theme was "Nature's Treasures" & they had special Batiks designed for the occasion.  I designed the center block - which I called "Prairie Sun & Wind" - Susie & Nancy designed the setting which incorporated six blocks from the other participating quilt stores.  I think you'll agree the results were superb!

Next was a Presentation & Workshop for the Monarch Quilters' Guild on 07/11/2011 - a really enthusiastic, creative group of quilters.  Here are some photos on their website from my presentation:  Monarch Quilters  Be sure to go to July-Page 2 for more photos.

Workshop:
I taught paper piecing using my "Snapshot" Photo Frame Pattern & designed a special "Aspen Leaf" block for them.  What do you think?

Purchase "Snapshot" Pattern
Mention this post & I'll include the "Aspen Leaf" Block with pattern purchase!

The other big event for the month was a camping trip to the Gunnison National Forest.  A little bit of rainy, cool weather to escape the 99-104 degree weather we've had lately - lots of solitude - great hikes - fishing for the hubbie - Angel got to swim a little (or should I say "dunk herself" in the shallow water).  I just sat there at times with the biggest smile on my face doing absolutely NOTHING!!  It was heavenly.  Then ...

  

... it got even better when a huge herd of elk came grazing through the valley.  It is the biggest herd we've seen outside of Rocky Mountain National Park.  And, it was glorious!  

I hope you were able to enjoy some of "Nature's Treasures" this summer - whether at your favorite quilt shop or miles from nowhere ;)  Faith. 

Grandma's Quilt

A long, long time ago my dh's grandmother made quilts for all the grandkids - not sure how many that was, but it was a bunch!  I wasn't part of the family then, but I remember this quilt because my db (dear boyfriend) brought it with him to the beach one day - yikes!  I wasn't yet a quilter, but I was a sewer & I could only imagine how much work went into those quilts.  I'd like to remember we were careful with the suntan oil (double yikes!), but maybe not ...

Well, I'm finally cleaning out ALL the boxes in the basement (a very big YIKES!!) & ran across his quilt.  Did I smell coconut oil, or just imagine it??  After being gently washed & dried in the fresh breezes outside, I'm happy to say - no suntan oil, no soda spills - it's as good as new - or old, depending on your view.  Quilts aren't just about design & fabric choices (that's a blanket for goodness sake!) - quilts are sewn with hopes & dreams & wishes for the future built into every loving stitch.  And, now many, many years later, my dh can wrap himself in the comfortable past & remember your hugs & talks & sweetness.  Thanks grandma - he needed that :)