Silvia's Steampunk

I know, this post is delayed (I was supposed to do this yesterday).  I didn't... but, I did manage to do a bunch of paperwork as well as some website and blog stuff that had been backed up.

So here is Silvia's Steampunk quilt.  The pattern is by Jen Kingwell Designs.  Silvia chose to piece her Steampunk in reds, whites, and gray/blacks -- I absolutely love her choices!  I have to apologize on the photos.  Normally I pin the quilt to a board and take it outside in the beautiful sunlight for the best effect.  I'll explain a bit more, the board is 8' x 8' and I need another person to hold the board while I take the photo.  Yep, you guessed it, no one is around right now so you'll have to settle for indoor studio pics.

A close-up for detail:

And a peek at the back :

Silvia wanted to keep a modern impression with the quilting so we went with a lot of ruler work.  Oh, and I finally had a chance to use one of  the new stencils by Jodi Robinson/JR Designs (although not for its actual use).  I only used a tiny little corner of this one - yes, I could have done it without the stencil, but that would have involved more planning and thinking - the stencil made it super quick to line up!  You can find these templates here.

Okay peeps, that's it for now.  I've got some new class samples to get stitched -- have a happy weekend!

A little catch-up...

It seems that I've been in a perpetual state of catch-up since I was sick with that awful sinus infection.  I have reorganized my schedule twice, and finally, there is light at the end of the tunnel.  I should be caught up and back on track before the end of the year!  Yay, relief, it looks like I might actually have weekends again!

Part of being behind is my failure to post on my blogs as much as I'd like.  I'll work on this in the future so you all won't be out there in cyber-suspense.

First, we'll time-hop back to October.  I was working on a super rush market quilt for RJR Fabrics - these are always hush-hush.  I had shared a sneak peek on my facebook page as I couldn't resist -- these fabrics are amazingly gorgeous!  The photo doesn't really do justice - make sure to visit your LQS and check out this fabric . As most of you know, I'm never able to share the full quilt pics until after market, so here is Star Gazer, in RJR's new digital print line Wildwood Way line.  The quilt was made by Wendy Sheppard - isn't it gorgeous?!!  I enjoyed adding some stitches to such a beauty!

Here is a screenshot (RJR/Instagram) of it hanging in Houston at Fall Market along with RJR's description telling you all about it!

So then, sometime during October (it is all a blur...) I had a studio organization week happen.  It was long overdue and totally required as you couldn't even move in there - and my studio is already single-file only!  Even with behind so far behind, sometimes shut-downs are totally necessary.  Here's a peek at the organized/semi-clean studio:

And a peek at what was the massively disastrous side - the amount of stuff under this table was insane!

Thank goodness for my Momma, she was here visiting and totally keeping me focused and on-track! This major organization is also in part to some big changes happening soon.  I can't wait until I'm able to share them with you -- be patient, it'll be a little while...

I managed to finish this beautiful Baltimore Album for Priscilla -- isn't it beautiful!!

Of course, the lighting wasn't perfect -- isn't it always like that, too much sun, not enough sun, too many clouds, etc.  Here are a couple pics of the back:

I think that's about it (I'm sure I'm forgetting something) - more soon!

JoAnn's "Forever Blooming"

I managed to squeeze in JoAnn's quilt this week.  I say squeezed in because I am so very far behind schedule.  The pattern is by Pearl Pereira of P3 Designs.  The quilt is a gift for JoAnn's granddaughter - I'm sure she will love it!

And some detail pics:

And a couple of peeks at the back:

Becky's Trip Around the World

Becky's Trip Around the World quilt is finished!  There was a slight delay in finishing since we had to prepare, then go through, then clean up from Hurricane Matthew.  We had only minimal damage and all is good now.

I must apologize for the pictures - the hurricane shutters are still up and the lighting is awful.

Here are two views of the front:

And two views of the back:

Now to pull out my schedule and start moving client quilts around as I'm once again seriously behind.

Sherry's Black and White Beauty

I have finally finished Sherry's  beautiful black and white quilt.  Well, not really finished as I still have the binding to attach, but finally finished enough to share pictures.

What an ordeal this quilt has been through.  I started it back in the beginning of August.  During the two weeks it was originally scheduled, we had intense storms.  Normally we have a daily storm which lasts 1-2 hours but, these storms were sporadic, and beyond intense -- crazy lightning.  For those that don't know, out property has been hit by lightning three times -- I absolutely do not quilt during storms.  Anway, the quilt was way past my schedule deadline.  But then... I got sick.  Suffering from a severe cold turned sinus infection I continued to stitch (slowly) on the quilt.  Hindsight being 20/20 I should have never touched the machine.  During my sick/medicated inertness I was stitching what I thought were okay stitches.  Fast forward a week... yes, starting to feel better.  Oh dear, what I thought looked okay was awful.  Yes, I have since made my husband and best friend promise to never allow me to stitch while sick again.  So... rip... rip... rip... and more ripping.  But I'm now so far behind schedule and have some serious deadlines to keep so I rip in all my off hours and stitch during my regular working hours.  So for the past two weeks I have pretty much worked every hour of every day, including weekends.  It's been rough, and I'm almost back on schedule... almost.

Enough of the back story -- here are a bunch of pics of this beautiful quilt - Midnight Gardens.  It consists of some of Sherry's original blocks as well as some from Aunt Millie's Garden (Becky Goldsmith and Linda Jenkins/Piece O'Cake) and measured in (before quilting) at 81" square, I used two layers of batting (80/20 topped with wool).

Isn't it a beauty?!!  Here are some detail pics:

And, of course, the backside (my absolute favorite):

I'll be spending the rest of today (and probably tomorrow) binding until my fingers are numb so that I can make Sherry's deadline.

Vintage Rose - a new Quiltworx Pattern

Vintage Rose is a new Technique of the Month by Quiltworx to be released in January 2017.  I once again was delighted when Judel asked if I would quilt one of their new cover samples.  This is the wall version, there is no border, it just floats on the background.  The piecing was done by Cindy Haddick a CI for Quiltworx and she did a wonderful job.  It is constructed of Anthology Fabrics, I used Hobbs 80/20 batting and Glide thread.  Quiltworx will be offering some of my quilting designs for all the computerized peeps out there.  I'll be sure to let you know when they become available.

And here are some detail pics:

And, of course, the beautiful backside:

After I was more than halfway through quilting I thought of a really cool awesome design that I should have put in the blue (center) and black (outer arcs) geese areas.  Well, it was too late to change the design and after ripping out stitches on another quilt all of last week, what was already stitched was staying.  I'm hoping to get my design idea sketches to Quiltworx before the digitizing starts  Make sure to check out the Quiltworx website or follow them on Facebook to see info on the Technique of the Month, as well as many digitized designs for their patterns - some by me!

Bonnie's Log Cabin

Here is Bonnie's log cabin with a super cute freehand edge-to-edge. And you all thought I only do customs, right?!!  Nope, I do edge-to-edges as well!  And I've got to admit, as much as I love custom and heirloom work, sometimes it's really nice to do an all-over freehand -- it's kind of mind-clearing. 

The pattern is Love Blooms by Heather Mulder Peterson. 

Teddie's Table Topper

Tonight I finished Teddie's table topper (had several days with rumble delays).  Didn't it turn out super cute?!!  And see the little hummingbird -- Teddie had requested that I put a hummingbird at one of the flowers.  At first I wasn't sure it would fit as there isn't a lot of room around those flowers but, sure enough I made it work

And here's the back - yes, there are still a couple of threads to clean up and the backing fabric needs to be cut away but, aren't solid backs awesome?  They really show off those stitches!

So while posting the picks of Teddie's topper, I came across these two quilts I stitched for Donna.  I had rushed these before my teaching gig at Quilt Odyssey and just realize that I never shared them with you, so here they are:

Next up is an amazing black and white quilt for Sherry - that one is going to take me a while so don't fret if you don't hear from me for a week or so....

Build-A-Stitch 2 is done!

Finally, after squeezing in every possible moment to work on it, Build-A-Stitch 2 is finished!  I am so excited to share it with you:

Build-A-Stitch 2 contains 60 new stitches!  Part 2 is set up more as a sourcebook, it is full of stitches -- some of which are a little more complex than the first 20 (Build-A-Stitch). If you haven't tried the Build-A-Stitch technique, you'll probably want to start with Book 1.  For those of you that have already conquered the first twenty stitches, watch out, this book is full of fun (and info too)!  You will have a stockpile of go-to stitches when you're done with Book 2!!

If you want to order, click here or the photo above to be taken to the website store. You can also use the Buy Now option in the right sidebar as well.

Thank you all for wanting more stitches - none of this would be possible without all of you!  Now, on to Book #3!!!

Quilty Catch-up

So last week I finished two quilts for Jan.  I know I'm late in sharing them, and yes, they've already been shipped back.  It's been busy over here - working on the second Build-A-Stitch book, prepping for my next teaching event at Quilt Odyssey, celebrating an anniversary, and doing that dreaded yard work.  The hubby and I have been spending every weekend pulling out giant palms around our pool enclosure.  What a mess - these palms are like bamboo -- just a massive growth - the more we trimmed them the more they grew - and the root system is like an entire universe!  Anyway, it's been lots of work, and no, we're not finished.  So you can understand why I haven't posted these quilts... when we're done work for the day I tend to just collapse.  Okay enough domestic-type stuff - back to quilty wonderfulness.

First is Jan's Harley T's from around the world - I had to share some of the shirts, they were awesome, and such an appropriate backing fabric:

Then was Jan's wool wildlife quilt.  She always does amazing wool applique quilts.  This one is super cute, and a peek at the backing, too!

Super cuteness, huh?  Now to try and squeeze in two light customs before I have to leave for Quilt Odyssey... fingers crossed!