CatHouse Chat

BABY QUILTS!

Yeah, I've been assembling more quilts, and I've got a friend who has requested one (so she gets first pick)... But if my dear blog readers need a unique baby gift which will give years of joy, snuggles and comfort, please let me know, and I'll send you my prices.

ALL my baby quilts are made with 100%, high quality quilting cotton fabrics, and 100% cotton batting. They get washed, effectively, three times before my customers receive them: all the fabric gets washed before I sew it together, the completed quilt gets washed, and then washed again immediately before I mail the quilt to my customer. I use Shaklee™ detergent, which is mild and kind to fabric, and very kind to baby's skin. I have detergent sensitivities, and Shaklee™ is all I use. Certainly, there are no guarantees, since everyone's body chemistry is different, but Shaklee™ has worked for me for 10 years. So, I do all I can to make sure your baby's skin receives nothing but warm, soft, cozy snuggles!

Each quilt top is unique, and the fabrics provide ample opportunities for finding objects, colors, and shapes. I use bright fabrics to stimulate a baby's vision and give them opportunities for their eyes to explore. The backing for all my baby quilts is high quality, 100% cotton flannel in unique, child-friendly fabrics. Each quilt will have at least two, random flannels so that the back of each quilt also provides its own fun. Your baby will spend many hours in discovery, surrounded by the highest quality of quilt-snuggles your money can buy!

So, here are the six tops I've just completed:

 

UPDATE: Here are typical fabrics I use on the back of my baby quilts (just a sample, I do not guarantee the presence of ANY particular fabric)

Baby quilt centers -14 of them! I've been busy!

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One quilt project that's almost done...

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the Beloved Munchkin exhausted by a day at the quilt show

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Ah - the quilting haven has been INFESTED!

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Oh, lord, she's quilting again!

Yeah... It seems that the cold weather, while also encouraging attempts by my poor ol' bod to get sick (I can't get sick before December 13th!!!), brings out my desire to create snuggly quilts. I've been wanting to do a Winding Ways quilt for a long time, with some of the fabrics I've been collecting for several years now.

Here's what a Winding Ways pattern looks like - you can do it in two fabrics, two colors, two values (light and dark) to create the secondary design:

This is the basic layout idea, which was included with the cutting templates I purchased to make this block. These templates happen to be made by Marti Mitchell, but there are many manufacturers. I like a lot of Marti's templates, because they are very accurate, and she gives excellent directions and suggestions on piecing that make things a LOT easier. As you see, the Winding Ways block involves curved piecing, which means that cutting and sewing MUST be done very carefully.

I've collected a pretty good stash of authentic South African indigo fabric from my dear friend Sandy McKay from Cotton in the Cabin. Every time I go to the MidAtlantic Quilt Festival in Hampton, Virginia, Sandy remembers me because of my love for these unique fabrics and my inability to leave ANY cut of fabric on her shelf, LOL. I've used these fabrics in several quilts and garments, but I've always wanted to make a "Chocolate and Blueberry" Winding Ways quilt using the indigo and some gorgeous taupe-y-brown-tan-pinkish fabrics that I have also purchased at the Quilt Show.

Hm... I'm still trying to decide if I'm going to go in February 2009. The Show is always held on the last weekend of February (starting on the Wednesday before), and I didn't go last year. Anyone want to help me convince my Beloved Hubby that I Really Ought™ to go? *snicker*

So, here are my South African indigos... Oddly enough, when you buy them off the bolt, they are very stiff - even more than brand new jeans used to be. However, when you wash them (and that takes some specific techniques so the dye doesn't run later on), they turn into the soft drape-y feel that your favorite pair of well-worn, comfy jeans that you've had for years.... Lovely fabric - I just suggest to quilters that they give a light starch to them before you cut and sew, because they need that extra body.

 

Now, since Winding Ways requires curved piecing, I can't just zip through sewing and churn out blocks like I do with straight piecing. I can still chain-piece, but I have to go much more slowly, and PIN, PIN, PIN!!!

 

Here are some blocks waiting for the last seam to be sewn - the convex curve you see on top is the upper layer, and the more subtle, light fabric in the concave curve is the bottom

 

Now, there are two types of blocks, dark "flowers" on light background and light "flowers" on a dark background. If you look closely at the layout picture (the first one) you'll see how the two blocks combine to make a larger circular pattern. For my "dark" fabric, I'm using the blue indigos, and for the "light" fabrics, I'm using the taupes, which range from a pale tanny pink to a darker brown.

Here are some "dark" blocks:

 

And here is a "light" block that I haven't sewn yet:

 

These blocks will finish to 8.5 inches square (well, give or take...) and I'm planning on a 5x5 layout, with a narrow inner border and a wider outer. So, if things go as I plan, I ought to get a 59-ish inch square quilt to cuddle in!

Before I retire for the evening...

... I would like to say, "Voila!"

Seven new baby quilts, all quilted and ready for their labels and binding - after which, they'll need a good home with a little boy or girl who can appreciate the snugglies!

Now I've got to load a quilt for a customer, so I can get it back to her and earn a little $$ for myself! ;-)

FOUR down - #5 and #6 loaded up!

Yay! So now I've got four of the eight tops quilted, and am just loading up the fifth and sixth. I'm not too worried about these guys, because I've had six on my machine before; but it's going to get interesting when I baste #7 and 8 on...

Anyway, the ripping really didn't take that long (it was just a little tedious), but I was having a little trouble with my stitch regulator. Basically a stitch regulator keeps the same number of stitches per inch, no matter how fast I move the sewing head. I don't always like to use it since it feels more jerky to me than when the needle is moving at a constant, regular speed. It is very helpful when doing precise work, like stitch in the ditch, as it will keep the stitch count the same even when I'm moving very slowly to keep the needle right on the seamline.

I called APQS and they got back to me very promptly (I love that company!). It seems that all I needed to do was tighten up the regulator sensor on the table carriage. So, that's done and things seem to be working nicely. I'm glad that I'm encountering all this while I'm working on MY quilts, though! If I'd loaded up the paying quilt I have waiting and had these issues, it might not have gone so well. I hold an absolute terror of "killing" someone's quilt top because my machine isn't adjusted correctly...

*sigh*

Fortunately, Noelani's stay in the spa has relaxed her and boosted her already willing spirit. One thing they did was add some little hard rubber disks between her and the chassis, and they've cut down on a lot of the vibrations:

I also had them install a new hopping foot (the metal bar that's the "sewing foot" in a normal machine) that has a taller "wall" than my old one so I can use rulers without the foot riding up over them. No more attaching and then removing that hard plastic collar!

Anyway, here are the two quilts I just loaded:

 

 

I've been having issues uploading the last two photos, so since I started writing this post, I'm almost done quilting these two tops. That's the GOOD news...

The BAD news is that I've just discovered that I'm about... 4? inches short on my backing!!! Aiigh! So, I won't be able to load both top #7 and top #8. I'll load one, but turn it 90 degrees. Unfortunately, although my batting is wide enough, the BACKING (again with a goof on the backing!) isn't, so I'll only be able to load one in this orientation.

Head, meet wall. Repeat as necessary...

*sigh*

Remember all that ripping I had to do?

A whole row of quilting that looked good on top, but looked like this on the back (click to embiggen):

A whole row (plus about 1/4 of the next) that I've had to rip out.

Pretty much all of the quilting in the purple flannel had to go. Fortunately, it's fairly easy to clip the bobbin thread and pull long lengths out. Then I'll re-roll the quilt onto the feed-lead and simply pull off all the top thread.

Nevertheless, it's a real pain. But, on the positive side, I'm half done, and have been enjoying listening to some podcasts from Ligonier Ministries, so it's not all bad...

More baby quilts in the making!

The first two of eight total:

Just like I like 'em - bright and colorful!


These are the first two of the batch of eight tops I completed the other night. I'm going to keep putting them on two-by-two and quilting them. I've rolled on six before, so I'm hoping that the take up bar will accept eight *hopeful grin*

I really need to get off my rear and make a video of how the quilts get made...

Now working on...

Quilts from Aunt Kat launches on eBay!

Quilts from Aunt Kat

This is the first baby quilt I've put up on eBay, and I'm hoping that (with the proper category now) it will sell properly. I also have a page here on CatHouse Chat listing ALL the baby quilts I currently have available, with a widget connected to PayPal.

So, please - tell your friends and help me spread the word! (Thank you, thank you, thank you!)

I forgot to tell you!

I SOLD MY FIRST QUILT!!!!

"Quilts from Aunt Kat - Unique quilts for your unique child"

Mom and Dad's cleaning people saw this one as I was finishing the binding, and fell in love with it. So, they purchased it for their 2 month old granddaughter! I finished up the binding and ran it through the washer and dryer, so it's all ready for them to pick up when they get to Mom and Dad's today.

[bouncing happily]

So, if you've got a baby coming, or a grandbaby, and want a unique and sturdily made quilt to give them, let me know!

(Of course, this means that I've got to finish the binding on two other quilts, make several others, take pictures of each, and set up my PayPal Storefront Widget... So... Off to the salt mines! LOL)

UPDATE: OK, I've gotten the PayPal storefront widget up and running... So, go on over, drool over the quilts (all pic are clickable for a larger size and descriptions) and either buy or tell your parent/grandparent-to-be friends to take a look-see ;-) Thanks to all my wonderful, fanTAStic friends for all their encouragement on this new endeavor!

Ready for a week at the "spa"

Yeah, yeah, haven't been posting, yadda, yadda... I've been crazy busy doing other things - cleaning house, tormenting child, snuggling husband, baking bread, quiltingquiltingquilting...

Last week I did two paying quilts on Noelani (my APQS Millennium), and really noticed that she was complaining a bit. Now, this is not surprising; I've had her for almost eight years, and she's never been sent in for service. She's been a real trooper - always saves me when I pull some boneheaded maneuver, and just takes up the slack as pretty as you please. But, she's a little tired and therefore a wee bit cranky. Her needle will run on with single stitches after I've signaled a stop, and she's got a few other issues which tell me it's time for her to get a nice little vacation at APQS's service spa.

So, Sunday, I took her off the table

As you see, her front handles are off in this picture - I also had to take off her rear handles, her light, and the two roller bars (you can see one under the Ziploc bag) so she could fit back in her crate. Waaaay in the back, you can see the rolling carriage which bolts her to the table (above the JoAnn's Fabric bag), and the Beloved Husband took off the stitch regulator box (you can kinda see the wires there where the carriage meets the sewing table) to send in, too.

Now she's all packed up and fastened in, and her UPS limo will arrive today or tomorrow to whisk her away to the APQS factory, where they'll give her a good massage, a facial, and a nice relaxing time of rest and rejuvenation...

OK, Noelani, enjoy your trip - I know the "spa" will treat you well, and send you back all bright and shiney, ready to get to work for me! ;-)

Amazon has just gotten more dangerous..!

Because, according to a report I saw at TechCrunch, they've just acquired Fabric.com.

I already adore shopping for books, music, kitchen gadgets, and so on at Amazon, and now they're going to lure me in to buying more quilting cottons (yes, I know Fabric.com has all types of fabric - I'm going with my obsession, OK?) to add to my already significantly large Wall of Fabric.

I. Am. Doomed!

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Off to the Quilt Show again

WOMGuildShow2008
Originally uploaded by Romeocat.

Here I am in front of one of my three entries. This one is called "An Imperfect Christmas," because the diagonal stitching in the stars simply refused to stay straight. Since this was my own quilt, I decided not to fight it, and added a little extra waver in all the stars.

I'm going to be leaving in a little while to spend the day helping out at the show (selling raffle tickets, monitoring the quilts, receiving admittance fees, yadda), so I won't be blogging until later. I'm currently uploading the last of the pics from yesterday to my Flickr site - I'm showing about 45 left to upload as I type this - and I've put them all into the White Oak Mountain Quilt Guild set.

I also want to add the photos of my other quilts, but I'm going to have to post this (via Flickr), and then go in to Typepad and add the others...

OK, then, well... I'll start with the three quilts in the show that were pieced by others, but quilted by me... First off is the Lone Star quilt that my sister-in-law, Kathi (yes, it does get confusing, 'cause the family calls me "Kathy" vs "Kat") pieced for a class she did at the local library:

It's beautiful, isn't it? She did a wonderful job... Me, I'm not as happy with it as I'd like - I need more practice in the traditional quilting pattern in the Lone Star since my points didn't meet up the way I wanted. Ah, well, I'm also probably my own worst critic...

This next quilt is pieced by Mary. Mary also does machine quilting for hire, but she specializes more in the all over designs, and wanted me to do this for her. She told me she's not really fond of this quilt - too much purple maybe? LOL - which baffles me. She did a great job on piecing, and it lays very flat which is a big help to a quilter. I also love the Mariner's Stars she has in the second border - BEAUTIFUL!

The last of the quilts I quilted is by Norma. I love the autumn colors, and again, Norma is another lady who practices perfect piecing! I had a lot of fun quilting the feathers in the light sections in the center of the quilt.

Now for the two other quilts in the show that I both pieced AND quilted:

Just little wall hangings (OMG, where am I going to hang them? Wall space is at a premium!) I did from kits this past Fall

OK, that's all for now - I've got to get ready and then dash out to the show! ... Oh, and I wouldn't mind any prayers you might wing my way: yesterday I was having a terrible time with allergies, and I'd prefer not to repeat that ordeal, LOL

It seems to be my day for life-blogging...

Because the sun is shining, the birds are singing, snakes are warming up to go do their snakey business...

The laundry is out drying on the line -



And I've completed another quilt top -



The hubby's home, it's Friday, and life is simply... GOOD!

Thanks, God!

LOVE this quilt! (part 2) UPDATE!!!!

WOMGuildShow2008
Originally uploaded by Romeocat.

Here's the other patriotic quilt I like - big, bold and beautiful...

Yep, I definitely need to make my own!

UPDATE: I'm uploading all the pictures I have to my Flickr site. Please comment there so that the ladies can appreciate how much you enjoy their quilts!!!

LOVE this quilt! (UPDATE!)

 
WOMGuildShow2008
Originally uploaded by Romeocat.

I don't recall who made this quilt (I'll probably get the name today), but I love it! It's one of two red-white-and-blue quilts that I remember seeing, and they're both wonderful...

I really think I need to make a patriotic quilt for myself...

UPDATE: I'm uploading all the pictures I have to my Flickr site. Please comment there so that the ladies can appreciate how much you enjoy their quilts!!!

Preliminary quilt show pictures

It was fun helping out with the show set-up... Not that I really did a whole lot; I got sidetracked by a few people who were just delightful to get to know (quilters are like that - wonderful, fun people!)... Nevertheless, the show organizer obviously put a LOT of work in, and things ran pretty smoothly - there were even several husbands helping out, God bless 'em!

I'm going to put the pics below the fold so I don't kill anyone's bandwidth ;-)

UPDATE: All photos for the show are being uploaded to this set in my Flickr stream. Please make sure you go check them out, and comment on Flickr so my quilt siblings can see your compliments! Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou!!!!

White Oak Mountain Quilt Guild Show (UPDATED)

Today I'll be down in Danville, VA, helping to set up for our guild's quilt show tomorrow and Saturday. We've got about 150 quilts registered to show, so it will be quite busy over the next couple of days. Tomorrow I'll be down at the church (St. Lukes UMC) taking pictures of all the quilts and visitors, then I work the show all day Saturday.

So, if I'm lucky, I'll be posting some really good pictures of some lovely quilts for your enjoyment!

UPDATE: All photos for the show are being uploaded to this set in my Flickr stream. Please make sure you go check them out, and comment on Flickr so my quilt siblings can see your compliments! Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou!!!!

Quilt shop hopping...

Almost 350 miles, six out of seven stores, 12 hours from leaving the house to returning to it... I'm pooped!

However, I did find this awesome focus fabric in browns and greens and pinks and turquoise-y blue that just SCREAMED "Buy me, buy me, buy me!!" It was 25% off, and I got four yards - lots for a king size border (ripped on the lengthwise grain) with plenty left over to include in the center of the quilt and other projects.

I have someone in mind for this quilt, but I'm also totally in love with this fabric and the coordinates I picked up today that I'm not at all certain that this quilt will ever make it out my door... ;-) I'll need to check in with my buddy and see if the fabrics will work for them, or if I'm totally off base with the color scheme... And I know you suspect what answer *I* want, LOL

Life's kind of a pain when the DSL goes out...

The customer service folks - the telephone people and the maintenance people - were great over the past several days. Apparently, a dump truck ran over/bumped/crashed into (whatever) some switchbox or something, and the Fairpoint Communications people worked 'round the clock to get things back up and running.

Now, so far I like their people, but I'm not sure yet about the company itself. Fairpoint bought out out local teeny-bopper providers, PMT Net, about a year ago, I think. Now, PMT Net wasn't any great force of nature; they were a small company, and out upload/download speeds weren't usually what was promised. The Beloved Husband and I are hoping that Fairpoint will be able to really get the service up to proper standards - AND lower the price! We're paying an ungodly amount for broad band each month, but I suppose that's part of the trade off to living out in the boonies. *sigh*

Of course, so long as Fairpoint is the only game in town, I doubt we'll be seeing better prices any time soon...

But, on the upside, I got a LOT of quilting done! I added the binding to David's quilt:

After I managed to pry the Darling Munchkin off this black 'n' red Christmas top, I loaded it onto my machine and quilted it:

And then I made a quilt for my Daddy's 90th birthday in May. I used flannels from a Judie Rothermel kit I'd bought five or six years ago, and - since there was plenty of fabric - I modified it and made it bigger. So, Daddy's going to get a lap quilt (about 56" x 64" or so) to help keep him nice and cozy warm:

For Daddy's quilt (and yeah, I still call him "Daddy" even though I'm 44 - because he *IS* my Daddy, and he's the BEST Daddy I could possibly have had!), I just did a quick and utilitarian meander, since anything more elaborate would have gotten lost in the fabrics. I've already got the binding on the front, so all I need to do is sew it to the back, just like on David's quilt. However, all this sewing and quilting has KILLED my arms (the left one in particular - it's all buzzy-numb [pout]), so I'll need to take it a little at a time.

Hm... Suddenly I'm wondering if I should have posted pics of this, 'cause MOM reads my blog, and she's been agitating for a new bed quilt for a little bit, LOL. Mom, I promise - you'll get your own lap quilt for your birthday, all right? ;-) So, no poaching Daddy's!

*giggle*

Yeah, "Domestic Diva," here...

Not only have I been cooking up a storm (dinner, anyone? LOL), I've also been quilting:

This one is for my dear friend, David, over at Third World County... It's very late: I promised he'd get it at least a month ago! [hanging head in shame...] But as you see, the quilting *IS* almost done... The label and binding ought to go quickly, once I take the quilt off the machine (famous last words!).

And, of course, I've got a couple of loads of laundry to fold and put away (where does it all come from?! There are only THREE of us!), and vacuuming...

(And I ought to note that the "Domestic Diva" appellation is courtesy of my dear friend Lisa, who insists I need  a bumper sticker with that on it... *giggle*)

UPDATE: Oh, look! the "finished" (no label and binding yet) product!

"National Quilt Museum of the United States"...?!

My dearest buddy, who is very linked in with all the US Senate happenings, just let me know that the Senate is looking for a unanimous affirmative vote for H. Con. Res 209 (see here and here for text).

HConRes 209 (and how *DO* you abbreviate that? What, precisely, does it stand for? Must ask...) seeks to designate the Museum of the American Quilters' Society in Paducah, KY, as the "National Quilt Museum of the United States."

What can I say about the MAQS? This is like the Jerusalem, the Rome, for all dedicated quilters - here in America, at least. Once a year, the American Quilters' Society organizes a show in Paducah, KY, with the Museum as its crown jewel. *EVERY* American quilter worth her (or his) salt wants to attend this show at least once in their lifetime.

The Museum was founded to "educate, promote, and honor today's quiltmaker." I do not know how many quilts the MAQS has - well over a thousand, I would assume - but they are all chosen to exemplify the beauty of style, incredible imagination, frugality, craftsmanship, and whimsy of the American quilter through the centuries.

So, although this may seem a bit of a triviality for Congress, as a quilter I must offer my hearty endorsement!

Pass HConRes 209!!!

Hey! Look what I did!

I started this top back in 2006, and it's ALL hand-pieced (hand sewn). It's a generous sized laptop right now, but I'm debating whether I want to add a border or two (yeah, I'd sew those on by hand as well...).

And then, of course, I've been told (and kinda reluctantly agree) that it would be criminal to do anything BUT hand-quilt the dang thing - remind me why I do these things to myself?!

But, I'm pretty proud of myself! Of course, now I need another project I can carry around and hand sew while traveling. I do need to complete a top from a kit by Judie Rothermel; I've got all the blocks done, I just need to sew in the cornerstone sashing, the setting triangles, and the borders... Yet, I've also wanted to do an apple core scrap quilt for ages - I'm just not so certain about handling the curved seams (although hand sewing curved seams is much easier than on the machine, or so I'm told).

Anyway, this quilt (the template is the "tumbler"), is obviously going to be special, which means that this is the last time the cats will be allowed on it...

... Well, at least for now!

The Quilting Kat rides - er, QUILTS - again!

UPDATE: Well, it turns out that "Quilting Kat" is already taken, and by another lady in Virginia. SooOOOoo, I grabbed Kat's Quilting instead because the Beloved Husband liked that better than "Quilting by Kat... *sigh* I'm going to host that storefront/blog here on TypePad, but the design I'm trying to set up is beating my butt at the moment...

Well, I don't know how this will affect blogging, but I've decided to re-open my machine quilting business. The Beloved Husband rightly says that we need to pay off the credit card (evil thing!), and no one around this very depressed area of Virginia wants to hire a 40-something who only wants to work part time because of family constraints.

Besides, my beautiful Noelani, my APQS Millennium, really could use the work! Certainly I'm pretty prolific (when I'm sewing), but even *I* can't keep her supplied with enough tops to quilt!

I had gone down to my local quilt store on Thursday to get some backing for a quilt top. I wanted to let them know I was going to start up my longarm business, and make sure I wasn't stepping on anyone's toes - quilters are a very friendly lot, but courtesy and grace go a looooooong way.

The shop had recently bought their own longarm, a different brand than Noelani, and I spoke at length with the lady who they'd hired to quilt for the shop. We had a lovely time, and I thought perhaps the shop could use some of the pantographs (all over designs on a long scroll of paper - you follow them with your machine using a pointer or a laser, and the machine sews that pattern onto the quilt top)I had but never use, so I offered to bring them down yesterday (Friday).

How fortunate that I did! My friend quilts all-over designs, whereas my specialty and passion is freehand and custom quilting... So, when I went back yesterday, she had brought her own top in for me to quilt!

The Beloved Husband was quite impressed that I had gotten a paying quilt so quickly...

So, if you're a quilter with a top in need of quilting, I can do that!Give me a shout out at my e-mail (right hand column, under my picture), and we can talk about it. Rates are starting at $0.015 per square inch; so measure your quilt, multiply the length by the height, and then multiply that number by .015, and you'll get a good idea of what it will cost. Remember, that's only a guesstimate: I'll have to verify the measurements, and the type of quilting you want may cause the price to rise - my colleague's quilt is $0.02 per square inch, and I'm giving her a hefty professional discount.

Oh. And *NO* sheets: Noelani is a very flexible and forgiving machine, but she hates sheets, and her bobbin barfs all over them.

So, blogging will be lighter when I've got quilts to load, but I'll also try to take pictures and talk about some of my successes and nightmares... In the meantime, I hope my friends will pray for me and for my success. It will be nice to contribute financially to the family, and this is a great way to set my own schedule and earn a little pin money.

Technorati Tags: quilting, machine quilting, longarm, APQS Millennium, business

Ah, it's that time of the year again...

This morning I woke up to a lovely frost all over the county - it was GORGEOUS! One property I pass by on the way to the Munchkin's school has large pastures on rolling hills, and the lush green had turned into a subtle sage-green which glinted in the morning sun. As I returned to the house, "smoke" was beginning to rise off of hay rolls and lawns as the sun warmed things up and the frost evaporated...

I LOVE THE FALL AND WINTER!!!

So, of course, you know what this means, right? I go into quilting mode! My family moves from the "upstairs" living room down to the cozy basement (a wood stove will encourage that), where we'll snuggle, and watch good movies, and do homework, and read, and give the dog and kitti-purrs lots of skritchies.

My oven will be cranked up to bake bread or roast chicken, the crock pot has come down off the shelf and has already served up a delicious stew (but I have GOT to cook Raven's Cranberry Pot Roast and her Apple Cider Pot Roast).

Thanksgiving will be spent with my parents in Florida, but Christmas dinner is mine... I'm looking forward to the seasonal fun that's coming up. Heck, I may even be able to set up the Hummel crêche properly this year!

I've also been getting quite fed up with the lack of character and integrity displayed by politicians of both parties, which are - unfortunately - frequently mirrored by the local party representatives and followers (remember that nasty Joe Stanley fiasco?), and I am therefore fairly soured on the whole topic. I think that I'm going to change direction for a while (well, actually, I already have, I guess) and post more family and Bible stuff. Maybe I just need a few months of ignoring current affairs for the next couple of months before *sigh* Election '08 really ramps up.

I'll also be working hard on my program, Sacred Hideaway, which "airs" on Radio CIA every Monday and Wednesday at 6pm Central time. One of the things I need to do is record the Christmas posts from last year so they can be aired during December... and I need to get back to writing my meditations in Ephesians - I kinda left y'all hanging in chapter four, didn't I? LOL

So that's what's going on... I'll get some pictures up (mm, gotta snatch my hubby's Canon EOS and see what I can [or can't] do with it...), I'll post some recipes, I'll do some Bible study, and refresh myself.

And maybe when the spring rolls around, I'll be willing to wield the flaming Sword of Truth and Justice on behalf of the conservative part of our country

While writing this, I was listening to "God Of Wonders" by City On A Hill

Technorati Tags: Bible study, Radio CIA, cooking, winter

Quilting up a storm

Yep, I've been bit by the quilting bug again! I've been happily ignoring this blog in favor of whipping out some - if I may say so - beautiful work!

First, I've been doing a lot of hand piecing. Now, I've actually been working on this "charm" quilt (each one of the pieces is supposed to be a different fabric, but I'm cheating a little) off and on since last Thanksgiving, but in the past week and a half, I've made quite a bit of progress.

Even at the beach...

... I'm doing some piecing for a quilt.

What?!

I LIKE this type of sewing - it's relaxing!

More beauty: Worshipful creativity

I didn't post about this quilt last week, which was a definite oversight. It's so beautiful and moving that I can't believe I've put off posting it for so long!

First a video, and then I'll upload my pics. The pics will be small thumbnails, so make sure you clicky-clicky to see the full size, OK?

Anyway, it's called "Radiance of the Son," and the quilter really put her all into it: any church would be proud and honored to display this intricate piece!

If you look in the red portion, you will note that everything is very densely quilted, except for that Florentine scroll. This is a method that's called "false trapunto:" it mimics true trapunto, which actually adds more batting (or stuffing) material to give the puffy 3D look.

Note also the careful detail the quilter used in the outside arches: I believe that those white threads are couched to the quilt top, but when I looked closely, I couldn't see the fastening stitches. I wonder if she did it by hand, or by machine?

Now, look at this picture of the back of the quilt (boy, I'm SO glad the "white glove lady" was so enthusiastic about showing us the back!)> See that Florentine scroll pattern? Yep. It matches exactly with the front of the quilt!

I do NOT want to know how many headaches the quilter got while lining them up so exactly. The other viewers and I couldn't decide if this pattern was hand-stitched (very detailed, precise, and uniform work!) or if it was an appliqué.

You'll also notice the detail on the left: the quilter used a dark thread in the light backing. It makes the design look like it was carved in stone, doesn't it? It's also very unforgiving, since every oopsie will show up. Normally you'd use a patterned background to hide your quilting, but this woman really pulled out all the stops!

Here are some more close-ups of the quilting. Again, they're all clickable, so make sure you check them out. Be prepared to be WOWed!

What a beautiful masterpiece!

Free from guilt!

OK, so it's only "quilt guilt," as the Beloved Husband termed it - but I am now free from it!!!

Finally I sent off the long-delayed quilts to my sister and to Kender, so I can stop avoiding thinking about the Post Office!

Here's my favorite sister's quilt:

And, to remind you, here's the quilt I made for Kender (it's called "Firecracker," 'cause it fits K-man so well):

Unfortunately, I forgot to have the Darling Munchkin snuggle-test them and take pictures... [pout] Oh, well, next time!

This would have driven me crazy! (OK, “crazy-ER!”)

The lady who made this quilt did it all by hand, and the majority of the piecing kept her sane while she was undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

The information sheet hanging next to the quilt says that there are almost 13,000 (yes, that's thousand!) pieces in this quilt!

Each one of those hexagons is 3/8" across. That's, like, the size of my pinkie nail! The quilter used the English paper-piecing method, which is very accurate, but there's huge amount of preparation.

Again, this was done by HAND!!! Yikes!

It's a lovely, lovely quilt - and what a great way to bring some beauty out of pain and illness.

Best innovative quilt

Wait 'til you see this one! Wow!! This quilter meticulously planned each and every detail, including quilting even on the binding! It's no wonder this got a blue ribbon...

See that careful progression of values from light to dark to light? Those feathered stars require attention to detail and very careful, precise piecing so you don't lose those points...

Look at how the artist used quilting to add dimension and new design elements. A good quilt catches your attention at a distance, and lures you closer and closer. The closer you look, the more detail you discover!

The space between those lines of quilting is no more than 1/8" - and again, the artist uses the quilting to add detail and new elements.

You can see, on the right side of the picture, the double piping next to the binding, and on the left is a single line of piping which very subtly sets off anf frames the center of the quilt.

Speaking of binding, you can see the quilting on it, but here's a close up:

Just completely stupendous!

Simple beauty

I just love this quilt. It's so simple, and yet very complex. The design is easy, easy, easy, but the careful choices in color, value and hue, and the way they're organized just make this quilt sing!

I really liked it... (and I think I need to take another picture...)

The pin-tuck detail in the border is lovely!

Here's a shot that will let you see the play of light across the quilt a little better:

More cat-quilts

Cats and quilts just go together! I think it's the snuggly-cuddly quality of both. Of course, I don't s'pose those fish are "feeling the love," though *grin*

The all seeing-eye...

And now a celebration of those wonderful purrs:

Each framed kitty was about the size of a post card, and the careful attention given to fabric selection really showed in the quilt. You could stand and look at this quilt and discover new nuances all day!

I love purrs and quilts - and when they're put together, they're wonderful!

Is it live, or is it Memorex?

Here's another fantastic quilt. Really, when I took this picture, it was like I was taking a picture of a picture. If you start to zoom in, though, you get a different story:

Pat Durbin made this quilt, and it must have taken her forever! As you close in, you can see that each "pixel" is actually a 1/4" square of fabric. She didn't sew them together like you normally would; I'm wondering if she actually fused it onto a backing.

The detailed quilting adds shaping and depth to the quilt, enhancing it so that the skin textures seem real. Ms. Durbin also overlaid this top with a very fine tulle. I think it's to help keep this together, but it is also a layer of depth so it looks even more real.

Look at the shine/reflection in one of the sunglass lenses:

I'm not sure if you're able to see it, but that little 9-patch which makes up that reflection - less than an inch across! - has its own little quilting motif and makes that reflection... reflect!

Wow. Just... WOW!

The stunning craftsmanship of Diane Gaudynski

I should have known - or suspected - who quilted this quilt. Ms. Gaudynski is the Queen of gorgeous, precise machine quilting.

I'm only going to link to the quilt because we weren't allowed to take photos. But this was one of several quilts displayed which were part of a quilt exhibit called "Alzheimer's: Forgetting Piece By Piece." I highly reccommend that you go to the site and enjoy more of the quilts: there are several on the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative website.

Anyway, click the link to see the quilt, and make sure you click on the thumbnail to see a larger photo of it.

Show-stopper!

There are so many incredible, gorgeous quilts here - as always - that it's difficult to pick out one that *I* think is the best. However, this one didn't evn get a ribbon, which I think is a crime!

This is an original design by Irena Bluhm, it's 54' square, and she calls it "Hawaiian Punch." You can certainly see why: the bright colors the appliqué, the composition...

But take a close look:

Those vines are actually stitching, which enhances the light, airy feel of the corner motifs.

This is very detailed quilting - tiny stitches, densely placed (and no, it's not handwork - that is done my machine), with intricate free-hand designs.

How about that faux-trapunto?!

The quilting in the background is so thick that it makes the unquilted areas puff. The artist also used special pencils and inks to add shading in the appliquéd pieces, which further enhances the 3D effect.

Here's something to give you an idea of the scale of the quilting. My hand is perhaps 3 inches in front of the quilt. I was very careful NOT to touch the quilts: it's poor etiquette, and will also sully the quilts with oil and dirt from your hands.

At any rate, this unique and stunning quilt really knocked my socks off! Don't you agree?

Quilt-mania Update

All right, it looks like the moblogging thing won't work: even when it appeared the post got uploaded... it didn't. The Hampton Coloseum isn't happy with Verizon, I think.

So, therefore, thus, and because, I'll be taking pictures and pictures and pictures with my camera and then posting them. *sigh*

I won't be able to post like I wanted [pout], but I promise to take pics, and *IF* I keep my brain going, I have my digital voice recorder: maybe I can do a podcast associated with pictures? I've got an account with Splashcast, which is supposed to do multimedia, so perhaps that will work...

BUT!!! I have cat-quilt-pics...

It's my sis-in-law's fault

"Punch-buggy!"

"Cadillac-whack!"

*slurp* "Ford Probe!"

(Don't ask... seriously!)

Staying at the Embassy Suites

Beautiful!

First stop...

...is always the indigos! Oh, by the way - I'm HERE!

Prepare for quilt-blogging!

I'm leaving this morning to go to Hampton, Virginia, for the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival!

This has been an annual tradition for me and my sisters-in-law since I started quilting (sucked in, I tell you - it totally wasn't my fault!) eight years ago. I've only missed one year - last year - and that's because we'd moved and it was just too problematic. I was, however, remembered: my favorite vendor, Sandy McCay, had bundled up an indigo fabric pack for me! I always spend a fortune at her booth, because I love those South African Indigos so much.

At any rate, I'm going to - hopefully - ignore everything and enjoy wallowing in quilts, quilting fabric, quilting gadgets, quilting books, quilting conversations, and so on, for whis whole weekend! I posted several pictures two years ago (you should be able to see most, if not all, the posts here), and I plan to go crazy with it this year. Some of the posts will be via my cell phone, and I daresay that I'll go back and clean up/edit those posts, so if things look a little jumbled sometimes, have some patience and I'll fix it from my laptop. Eventually.

So stay tuned to this quilt-blogging channel! Programming ought to commence at around 2 p.m., ET...

Woo-hoo!!!!!!

(And why do I keep hearing the Pointer Sisters singing "I'm So Excited!" in the back of my head??)

I am DOOMED!

I have finally succumbed to the addiction. I have been captured by the lure. I have joined the ranks of some of the most obsessive, the most creative, and the most devoted of quilters. I have become a “Janiac.”

I just started a new block of the month through a quilt shop in Texas, Stitchin’ Heaven. It will last for two years (!!!!), and if I’m diligent and persistent, I will have my own “Baby Jane.”

“So what?” you say. “What the heck is a ‘Baby Jane,’ anyway?!”

Baby Janes are quilts based on the famous (in quilting circles, anyway) masterpiece by Jane Stickle, which is dated 1863. There are 169 blocks set 13 x 13, as well as an intricate scalloped border with 52 pieced sections. Each of the interior blocks measure 4 ½” x 4 ½” and are exquisitely detailed. I’ve done two and am working on a third - and I’m already very impressed with Jane’s sewing skills.

I’ll be using the definitive Jane Stickle book, Dear Jane, by Brenda Papadakis, as well as the block construction notes provided by Stitchin’ Heaven. Brenda has a wonderful website dedicated to “Janiacs” and all things Jane - I highly recommend that you stop by and familiarize yourself with the project.

One of these days, I want to go up to the Bennington Museum, which houses the original quilt, so I can enjoy it firsthand. It is only put on display during September and October, so I suppose I’ll need to figure out a way to go up and visit my brother... Yeah, that’s the real purpose of going to Vermont. Really. Uh-huh! [rolling eyes at self]

So... Would you like to see what I’ve done so far? Of course you would! I will, however put it beneath the fold so this post doesn’t run on forever...

See? I *HAVE* been busy!

So let me show you why I haven't been posting (I mean, besides being lazy, LOL).

First, we were cleaning things out and getting them organized:

I know, I know...

I KNOW I haven't been posting... But I've been quilting like a demon, here (pics up tomorrow), and have also been cleaning out the house. Yeah, it's not spring yet, but the Beloved Husband and I figured we'd get an early start...

We've made good progress: the downstairs storage room has been emptied of stuff that needs to go out to the "Hanger," the Christmas stuff has been put away (finally! Now we've got to get rid of the tree....), I've got new shelves down in the quilting area, and the future "library/guest room" got emptied out quite nicely, too. Perhaps I'll take pics of all that, too - but without the "before" pics, the "after" won't be quite as impressive.

Saturday, the Munchkin and I will be going up to Roanoke for a horse show. We won't be competing (although our friends are urging both the Munchkin and me to start showing [!!]), but we'll lend support and extra hands to help out our stable. Maybe I'll take some good pics there and post them as well.

So that's what I've been doing - and for those of you wondering about "Resolutions 2007," yes, I am current with my Bible reading, and YES I'll try to post something tomorrow, OK?

I need advice on Kender's quilt

I have the center all done, and am pretty pleased with how it's turned out. However, I'm not sure which fabric to use for the red, inner border, so I'm asking for input. The blue fabric that's on the outer edge is not the actual fabric I'm going to use (I've had to order the fabric I want), but it gives an idea of what the quilt will look like. Here's the center:

So, here's the first fabric. It's a little more casual and less geometric than the other choice -

And then here's the second option. It's a little difficult to see, but it's very geometric, and has gold metallic highlights. It's slightly smaller scale as well...

So, what do you think?

Oh, heck - did I screw up???

Uh-oh... I may have made a mistake loading the quilt... I have no idea how; I'm more than usually paranoid about stuff likt that. However, I loaded the quilt along its short side, rather than its long side...

... I may have to take it off and add more backing ('cause I sure as HECK ain't gonna rip out all the stuff I quilted already!!!!)... Which means a bulky mass on my regular sewing machine, and then on my ironing board, and then also to reload on the big quilting machine.

I.

Am.

SO.

Screwed!!!!!

But, the bright side to this is a) my sister in law will love what I've done, and b) she won't mind the additional backing, and c) I *do* have some fabric of my own that will blend just fine.

[banging head on wall - I seem to be doing that a lot recently]

Nevertheless -

AAARRRRGGGHHH!!!!

Technorati : mistake, quilting, quilts

Pearl Harbor Day, Virginia Blog Carnival, and other housekeeping stuff

First of all, as always, my very deep gratitude goes out to the men and women who served so bravely and honorably in World War II. Today is the 65th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor - the most devastating attack on the United States until September 11, 2001. Japan woke the sleeping giant, and America responded with courage and perseverance.

Now, of course, even after Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan is one of our good friends. After the hellfire we rained down upon Japan, we came in and helped them rebuild, and then we left - and that's actually what we want to happen in Iraq. I hope and pray that the America of today will look back and remember the lessons our parents and grandparents learned in World War II.

Thank you, veterans! Thank you so much!

Secondly, the Virginia Blog Carnival will be hosted next week (December 11th) by Alton, of I'm Not Emeril fame. Alton has been rather quiet, lately, because he's had a lot on his plate. But now, he's diving back into the thick of things again. So, make sure you send in your submissions to the Virginia Blog Carnival, either at the submissions page, or to vablogcarnival -at- gmail -dot- com by Sunday evening.

Oh! And make sure you stop by Alton's place and congratulate his daughter on becoming a sheriff's deputy! I pray that God blesses her with safety and honorable service.

Finally, this is probably all I'm going to be posting today. I've had a quilt from my sister-in-law loaded onto my quilting machine for months, now, and I really need to stop procrastinating and QUILT the darn thing (I'm sure she'd appreciate it, anyway, LOL). If I'm very, very good, I'll be able to get it done before I need to pick up the Munchkin from school... but that means I've gotta "git!" right now!

    Technorati : December 7th, Pearl Harbor, Virginia Blog Carnival, quilting