Saturday, May 5, 2012

Saturday Stash -- I Won!

 My friend Deb says I win everything.  Well, maybe not everything -- but I won this:


The Cocoon Fat Quarter Bundle from Maureen Cracknell Handmade's giveaway!  I even won the colorway I like best, "Moth."

Which is actually kind of funny, because Colorado has been inundated with an unusually high number of Miller Moths this year.  Miller Moths are harmless, but annoying.  I've been awakened several night lately by the sound of them bouncing against the window, attracted by the light of the moon!

Even so, isn't this fabric stunning?  The giveaway was sponsored by Fat Quarter Shop, where I bought extra yardage of the Coral Liv  for the border of whatever I decide to make with this wonderful collection.

I interrupted packing for my trip to the Home Machine Quilting Show to play with my prize, selecting some of Robert Kaufman's Quilters Linens to go with.


I purchased the Quilters Linen from my favorite etsy shop, Fresh-Squeezed Fabrics.

The khaki fabric in the back is Moda Bella Solids, the color is Cocoa.   I can't remember where I bought it -- on sale, though!


Any ideas what I should make with these lovelies?  I'm thinking maybe the Brioche and Baguette pattern from Modern Quilt Relish, it would really show off the large print.

Thank you, Maureen and Fat Quarter Shop!






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Friday, May 4, 2012

It's Finished Friday

I quilted two quilts on my Mega Quilter this week.

The first one is the Brown Bag Surprise Quilt from Sunday at Ruth's Stitchery:


 The dark color is purple, it doesn't show up very well in my photo.

I used an overall meander stitch with a new polyester-wrapped poly thread, "Omni" that I bought from  Superior Threads at the Cincinnati Quilt Festival.  This thread has a really nice sheen, it looks a lot like rayon thread, but it's much stronger.

The second quilt I long-armed is "Strips and Ladders."  The fabric is Lily Ashbury's "Summerhouse." and the backing is some pepto-pink from the stash.

 

I pieced this quilt at Granny's Attic's "Quilting in the Pines" retreat in Idaho last October.  I quilted it with the same thread, but used a loop design that is really fun to quilt.  I just put on some swing music and loop-de-loop!


I'm going back to "Quilting in the Pines" next week, and taking this quilt along to put on my bed.  It's been snowing this week in McCall, so I might decide to take two quilts!


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Wednesday, May 2, 2012

WIP Wednesday and We Have a Winner (sort of)

 The Aubry Number Generator chose number 37, which is Kari.  Kari commented on April 29, but sadly is a "no reply" commenter.  Kari, please contact me before Saturday so I can send your goodies to you.  If I don't hear from Kari by Saturday at noon MDT, I'll choose another winner.

I have two "finishes" for this week, but I'm saving them to show you on Friday.  So here is one of the two quilts I pieced while I was in Ohio last month:


Recognize the fabric?  Yep, it's Sarah Fielke's "From Little Things," that I found at the Cosmic Cow in Lincoln, Nebraska!  The pattern is "Ups and Down" from the April/May 2011 issue of "Down Under Quilts."

I'm linking up to




I mailed my registration for Quilt Camp and I have the quilt for my bed (we have to bring our own linens) quilted, bound and in the washer.  I've pretty much decided what projects to take along, so now I need to go chain myself to the cutting table!



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Monday, April 30, 2012

Monday Excitement -- and More Nebraska Quilt Shops

Most people don't like Mondays much.  But this Monday is shaping up to be a a Very Good Day!

First, I won!  I won one of the Fat Quarter Bundles from Maureen Cracknell's Handmade Cocoon Giveaway, sponsored by Fat Quarter Shop.  I even won the colorway I like best, how's that for lucky?  I'll post photos as soon as I receive my wonderful prize.

Second, I quilted my first real quilt on Meggie, the Mega Quilter:

My husband (and photographer) said, "But you won't be able to see the quilting in a photo."  DUH.  Actually, I think it turned out pretty good for a first try!  I used the ubiquitous "meander stitch" and a new poly thread from Superior Threads I got at the Cincinnati Quilt Festival.  The thread has a lovely sheen and it worked like a dream.

I pieced this quilt yesterday at Brown Bag Surprise at Ruth's Stitchery.  Do you recognize the pattern?  Yep, it's Yellow Brick Road.  My go-to pattern for quick and easy, and Ruth's fabric choices never disappoint.  I made it for a friend from church who recently underwent heart surgery.

This photo shows the fabric colors better, but isn't very flattering to me -- that's why I'm usually behind the camera!



Now, for the final "Nebraska Shop Hop 2012" report.

After departing Lincoln, I headed west to Seward and The Udder Store.  The sister store to The Cosmic Cow, the owner warned me that it is "a work in progress."  I was delighted with the selection at The Udder Store, although I had bought everything I wanted at the Lincoln store.

Once again, I took Highway 34 west, avoiding I-80's springtime construction.  The Quilt Basket in York was hosting an in-house quilt show, but I was hurrying to hit one more shop before closing time.  I foolishly returned to I-80 for the last leg to Aurora. The Picket Fence specializes in BOMs and kits -- and it was an even 100 degrees Fahrenheit when I arrived in Aurora!

Having learned my lesson, I kept to Highway 34 and arrived in Grand Island just in time for a quick turn through Material Girl before they closed.  Once again, I took a recommendation from the quilt shop owners and had dinner at a local Italian restaurant.  The shop opened early the next morning and I scored a great collection of Kaffe Fassett shot cottons.  Material Girl offers a huge selection of Kaffe Fassett, Amy Butler and other contemporary fabrics.



A second shop in Grand Island, Nana's Country Quilt Shop, is a haven for Reproduction fabric lovers.  They were hosting a Schnibbles quilt show, it is always fun to see the fabrics different quilters choose for quilts I've made myself.

Next up was The Quilters Cottage in Kearney.  Not a big shop, but a big selection.  By now, I was starting to flag, so I don't remember much about Kearney!

I do remember the next shop, because I was surprised at how contemporary a shop Prairie Point Junction turned out to be.  I guess I thought "Prairie Point Junction" sounded like a "Kansas Troubles" and "Thimbleberries"-type shop, but they really have a great selection of contemporary fabrics and a huge selection of wool felt.  I will definitely turn away from the Interstate to visit Cozad next trip East!

The Quilt Rack in North Platte is one of those shops that looks like it won't be much from the outside -- but is wonderful inside.  Row after row of color-sorted fabrics, the newest 30s repros and lots and lots of pre-cuts make this shop worth turning off the Interstate for.

My last stop in Nebraska was The Silver Thimble in Ogalalla.  This is one of those smallish shops stuffed chock-full of fabric.  I finally found the light blue polka dot fabric I'd searched for in every shop from Colorado Springs to Cincinnati and back again!  I visited enough shops to earn 27 points on my "Official Stamp Card."  Not sure what that means, but I had fun and found some new (to me) shops.

Because of the time zone change, I made it to Fort Morgan just in time to visit Inspirations Quilt Shop before they closed for the day.  I love this shop, but it's a long drive to Fort Morgan from the Springs, so I don't get out there often.  Inspirations has lots of kits  and beautiful samples quilted in their own shop.

Whew!  I count 30 shops visited in two weeks!  No wonder I might be a little fuzzy on the details of some!

Remember to go to here to sign up for my giveaway.




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Sunday, April 29, 2012

Sunday is for Scraps -- and Nebraska Quilt Shop Hop

Today is Brown Bag Surprise at Ruth's Stitchery, so I won't make much progress on my scrappy quilt for this week.

Not only is this my week's scrap quilt, it is this month's UFO.  I drew #10 UFO, and it is another oldie but goodie, a Split Nine Patch I started years and years (and years!) ago.  I started this quilt before I even thought about managing my scraps -- the magazine that has the pattern is dated 2000.


This Split Nine Patch starts with 3" squares of light and dark fabrics, and 3" light-dark half square triangles.


Some of these fabrics are from a P&B Textiles fat quarter bundle I bought when a shop here in the Springs went out of business -- 10+ years ago!  Which just goes to show, fabric doesn't go bad.

Here is the first finished block (made when I started the quilt):


Clearly, I wasn't as precise in my piecing back then.  I will have to see if the new blocks come out the same size, now that I know what 1/4" seams look like.

And now, a review of some of the many shops I visited on the Nebraska Shop Hop 2012

I started hopping in Fremont, which is about 30 minutes northwest of Omaha.

I Love Sewing may become my second-favorite shop in the state.  They have an outstanding collection of contemporary fabrics, and really, their staff is the friendliest I met during the entire two days I spent in Nebraska.  I snapped up some International Harvester (tractor) fabric -- because crops are green, tractors are red!

I also visited Sunshine Stitches, whose staff told me where I could find my own elusive "Shop Hop" bag.  Another Omaha shop I visited is The Quilt Studio.  The location seems unlikely (it's right next door to an auto repair shop) but the selection is out of this world!  I would swear they have every fabric in the Kaffe Fassett line, and many many other contemporary fabrics as well.

From Omaha I headed to Plattsmouth and Seams to Be:

 My GPS had a little trouble finding downtown Plattsmouth.  Beatriz (the wife of Ferdinand Magellan, and the name of my GPS) tried to send me down one way alleys and dead end streets.  But I persevered and found quite possibly the largest quilt shop in Nebraska next to Material Girls in Grand Island!  They have a very wide selection and their helpful staff advised me how to get to Lincoln without driving on the Interstate.  Highway 34 is a scenic two lane highway with minimal traffic through beautiful Nebraska farmland -- much better than struggling through construction zones on I-80.

My first stop in Lincoln was a shop that was not part of the shop hop, but which I've wanted to visit since my first trip to Lincoln two years ago.  The Quilted Kitty doesn't have a lot of contemporary fabrics, and I didn't get to meet the kitty, but they have an extensive display of Cat's Meow wooden plaques.  I got the Nebraska plaque and may have started a new collection.



Aaahh -- The Cosmic Cow.  I first discovered my favorite shop in the world two years ago when I visited the International Quilt Study Center and Museum.  I only had time to visit one shop, so I asked the clerk in the museum's gift shop where I should go.  She asked "What kind of quilts do you like to make?," and I replied "I'm really into the modern quilts right now, Kaffe Fassett and Amy Butler."  She instantly answered, "You HAVE to go to The Cosmic Cow."  Who could resist a shop with a name like that?

I had seen a collection of fabrics I loved on someone's blog the night before.  It was Sarah Fielke's "From Little Things," and I thought I'd never find it in a shop.  Imagine my delight when they had the complete collection at The Cosmic Cow!  This trip, they came through for me again when they had the solid grey-green of Malka Dubrawsky's "A Stitch in Color."  Woot woot!!

Tomorrow:  More Nebraska quilt shops and my Brown Bag Surprise quilt. 

Remember to comment to enter my giveaway here!


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