Asian Fabrics and a Fabulous Pattern

This is Peg's quilt.  Each large block is a different Asian fabric.  I love this pattern so much I am adding this to my list of 'gotta-do's.'  Lots and lots of ruler work went into this one.  Isn't it pretty?

I think this would look great with some of the larger modern prints, too.

 The back looks pretty cool, too.

To Mia with Love!

My youngest granddaughter, Mia, who turned three on December 2, moved to a big girl bed well over nine months ago and I just finished her quilt for the new bed.  I recycled her window valance, bumper pads, and dust ruffle, added some new fabrics (lots of new fabrics... too many fabrics) and came up with this cheery quilt.  I say too many because I ended up buying almost double the needed fabrics trying to find just the right mix.  I had even made all the blocks with completely different sashing strips, and then ripping them all apart and starting over!

This is going to Montana tomorrow.  Wish I could just take it to her...

My other daughter, Mia's auntie, will do the binding for me.

Gray

Christina made this for a challenge -- it was part of a batik exchange.  She left me lots of open space to have fun. This wallhanging is 36" square.  I really did have fun with it, and learned a few lessons along the way, too.  I am so glad I used the purple contrasting thread on the ghost trapezoids.  It's so hard to know how things will turn out, and I have really been trying not to do so much frogging.

Tea Party Meets Feathers

This is Carolyn's sweet quilt, and it has a beautiful story.  Carolyn's mother made the center blocks before she passed away.  Carolyn added to the blocks and finished the top to give to her sister as a Christmas gift.  I tried to keep a unified theme from border to border and not add too many different motifs.  I used Glide thread and Hobbs 80/20 batting.

 I love it when you can actually see your work from the back, don't you?

Simple and Sweet

I just finished this sweet quilt for a customer.  She made it for her daughter.  I really enjoyed myself doing this one... not one issue or thread break, ahhhhhhh, and I just got to do some really fun quilting.

and here's the view from the back...

I have been so busy with customer quilts, and travel.  We just returned from Montana where we visited our little grands and their parents.  It was wonderful!

I was so busy before we left that I forgot to take pictures of two more customer quilts I finished.  Looking forward to Christmas and more relaxation...

Are you making tons of quilty things for Christmas?  Do you think you'll get them all done?  Last year I over-extended myself... I made quite a few aprons for family and friends, and then made quilty gifts, too.  I always think I can do some last minute gift making and it just makes me crazy.  I am vowing not to do it this year....  Hopefully I will listen to myself...  :)

Feathers Galore - Scrappy Triple Irish Chain

I just finished Laura's Triple Irish Chain.  The only request Laura had was for feathers and she wanted it special - it's a gift for her parents.  I used my arc and made a plastic template.  I marked each corner with the template with my marvy marker.  I was able to do the feathers, pebbles as well as the frames all in one motion, just one start and one stop.  The feather border was measured, marked, and then remeasured and marked, hmmm.  

the back...

 different lighting

Thanks for looking!  

Tools

Ask a longarm quilter what tools they use most and you'll get a myriad of answers. Another great thing about this art form...so much variety. 

For this quilt I am using One of Renae's arcs, a Sew Clear 6" template for the feather curls, a Marvy marker, seam ripper, tweezers, an audible  book, and a handmade template.   I'm sure there are more...:). 

What are your favorite tools?

Missing Quilts and Labels

I haven't seen this in quite a while...  I don't think I've lost it...yet...  I can't really blame its missing status on anyone else...I don't think it's been stolen, and I'm not really alarmed because i have misplaced an item or two in my life, and they have always turned up, right where I left them.  So weird...

I haven't torn the house apart, but I have looked around a bit.  I took it to a quilt shop in Bakersfield to show my work, hoping to get some referrals from them.  That is the last place I've seen it.  If it fell in the parking lot, I don't know how they would have known it was mine because I DIDN'T HAVE A LABEL ON IT.

I really do need to start placing labels on my quilts.  I need to find a permanent pen that doesn't wash out.  How do you label your quilts?

Do You Agree that Quilters are Generous People?

If you think about it, most quilters give their quilts away... for weddings, babies, memories, and so on.  Some of my quilty friends have never kept one quilt.  Wow!  I have a friend who lays a quilt on the bed top of each guest, and when they leave, they get to keep the quilt.  Amazing.  It sure makes me feel good to give away a quilt, as it does for you, too.  Sometimes it's very hard to give a quilt that you made with the intention of a gift, and then it becomes your newest favorite.  Agree?

As a quilter for others, I have the opportunity to see so much generosity, and really lovely quilts.  These three little pieces were made by a customer/friend who will be giving them away soon.  Just because, no special occasion.  Nice.

Surprised

This is Laura's quilt and I love how it looks.  That's not what surprises me.  I just didn't realize how great it would look with an edge to edge (even though this is my favorite new panto), and how beautifully this greeny/goldy Glide thread shines and looks super gold stitched out.  I know I ask this question from time to time, but I'm really hoping that if anyone is reading, you will tell me your new favorite pantograph. Where did you first spy your favorite?  I saw mine on Teresa Silva's blog... quilting is my bliss.