Benartex Ambassador group Totes

Welcome back everyone!  

We invite you to join the 

Ambassadors as we show

off our fun group project...

TOTE BAGS:)

There is some 

adventurous stitching!

Our mission was to 

reinterpret the logo

shown below and 

that was really the 

only rule other than 

making a bag:)

Look at these gorgeous

fabrics we had to play with.

This is the Wave Texture

basics line by 

Jackie Robinson

Based on the logo, I chose

Sky, Fuchsia, and Lime.

I love playing with this

simple petal shape and 

 I knew that I would

do hand applique' 

with embroidery, 

so here is BloomX:)

I also knew that I 

didn't want to do a 

conventional tote bag

but something more 

usable for me.

At guild last month, a

couple of members brought

in these cute project bags

with vinyl fronts and I 

was completely enthralled!

This direction meant many

challenges for me as I 

hadn't done a zipper since

7th grade Home Ec when

I made a slumber bag in

the shape of a roller skate.

I so wish I still had that bag-LOL.

First Challenge:

Learn how to put in a zipper-

CHECK!

I had to go buy a couple and 

they were on sale, buy 3

get 2 free....What was I 

going to do with 5 zippers??

The bag turned out so cute and now

I want/need more zippers-lol!

Of course, how I put that zipper

in was not how I would need

to do the one for my project.

And do you think I go online

and research first?

NO!

I like to make it up 

(and mess it up) as I go along:)

NEXT...Vinyl.

Again, let's make a mistake

first and then ask google.

Best tip for sewing vinyl:

Use tissue paper so that

it doesn't stick to your 

presser foot/feed dogs.

It sewed beautifully and

the paper comes right away.

Here is BloomX

sewn in between 

some color strips &

I remembered to add

my handle-whew!

Here is the vinyl

side of the bag 

showing some of 

my favorite tools

and a new workshop

sample for

Intro to Hand Applique'.

I do hope you will 

follow the other

Ambassadors as

they too share their 

creative interpretations

for Benartex!

 

SPLENDIFEROUS

Meet SPLENDIFEROUS!

Thank you again to 

Simply Vintage and 

the Quiltmania team

for showcasing my work

so beautifully!!

If you click on the Simply

Vintage link above you 

can purchase your own copy.

Here were the original layouts 

for this design and it would be

so fun to make a center pieced

medallion and add the applique'.

Then I started playing with

a long wall hanging and 

layering the applique' sets

from the 4 way layout.

It is just so cheerful and a

 bit smaller.

Then I was onto fabric selection.

One of the color ways was done

in peaches and pale greens.

That stuck with me and I set out

to replicate that idea minus the

use of pastels because that IS NOT me:)

Many lines were used and most

are older because I pull from

my stash most of the time.

Now the instructions are 

written for fusible applique' since

I try to listen to my audience but

when I have the time and the 

LOVE for a particular design,

I really love to hand applique'!

Once I had the embroidery lines

done, the flowers just jumped 

onto my background:)

This has to be the busiest

design I have ever done and I 

just adore it!!

Simply Vintage decided to 

photograph this as a table runner

and it is lovely that way too.

I didn't even think of it that 

way because my brain had a 

set plan if you can relate-lol.

Thanks for reading along &

keep stitching:)

 

FQSG Antique Quilt Block Challenge

The March 2021 issue of 

AQ magazine is out and inside

you will find an article by Moi :)

Last year the Florida Quilt

Study Group did an antique

block challenge with very

few rules, thankfully!

I was overly ambitious and 

worked on 2 blocks because 

each had different fabrics that spoke 

to me. Using techniques 

from my Fabric Collaborations

workshop, I created 2 unique pieces 

and then wrote an article about 

the process for AQ.

Our Fabulous exhibit is 

now on display

at THE Quilters Hall of Fame

in Marion, Indiana. 

THANK YOU, 

KATHY METELICA CRAY!!

IF you can't go in person,

they have their own youtube

channel where they have put

the whole exhibit for you to 

see from home!

ONLINE EXHIBIT

February 23 - May 8

Florida Quilt Study Group:

Antique Quilt Block Challenge

The challenge was to take an antique block and incorporate it into a small quilt measuring 24" x 24." Artists were allowed to use the block whole, cut up, or dismantled. The could add vintage or new fabrics; whatever it takes to create a quilt of their own design and creativity.

AND, I made the exhibit poster

which is super exciting!!

KEEP STITCHING;) 

MAY 2020

MAY 2020

This month deserves EVERY

bit of bold, larger, underlined

text available to me!!

 We started the month by going

to Virginia to help my mom

with some things around

the house and to spend

Mother's Day with her.

We did tons of yard work

and I got covered in ticks-YUCK!!!!

Once home, one of the bites

wasn't reacting right so I was

tested / treated for Lyme disease.

My test came back negative but

to this day (2 months later) that

one bite isn't right.

Be careful out there!

Unfortunately, this would 

be the last trip my 

sweet Biscuit boy would make!!

When we got home, he became

more listless and his chronic

illness/allergies made him

absolutely miserable and so

we made the heartbreaking decision....

My heart will always have a hole

in it and I MISS HIM!!!!

Came across this old photo of

my Great-Grandmother/father & 

my father and aunt as children.

I vaguely remember her but

never met my GGfather.

My aunt passed young as well

and I will always miss that I 

didn't get to know her as an adult!

Of course, more masks were made!

The sweet "B-sharp"onesie

(last name Sharp) 

Jim designed is finished and

ready for delivery!!.

Isn't it adorable?!!!!

The kids had a bassinet that didn't

come with the little stars

meant to hang over the baby.

So it was requested I make a 

couple of stars to fill in...

I went a bit over the request:)

Using my friend, Susan Marth's,

Tiny Dresden templates, I made

2 that could form the 

rays of a sun that I embroidered

a sweet face for.

 Stuff it and finish by appliquéing 

it to the rays!

Then make a star and moon to 

hang together:)

 Flying the first time since everything began

was interesting but not as bad

as you might have expected.

Southwest is awesome and 

has a 'middle seat stays empty'

policy that I appreciated.

Not as many people were flying 

but still....& everyone wore a mask!

The terminals were ghost towns since

only passengers were being allowed

in so a bit eerie but fine.

EVERYTHING was worth

it to meet this new little

sweetie in our family!!!!

There were a few bumps in 

the beginning with mom 

and baby but both

came through with 

flying colors and I 

couldn't be more in LOVE!!!

Hello Charles.

 Dad, Mom, and baby:)

Me with My baby and her baby!!!!

It is a feeling beyond words

to see your child with a 

little of their own!!

Charles enjoying my work:)

I had decided to have him call

me Bobbin instead of Grandma

1. to be different since I will be long distance

2. the quilting theme...duh:)

When I visited, a conversation

about what I would call him had me 

saying 'poppet' from British

references and an old movie I 

enjoyed, WILLOW.

We rewatched that movie and

he doesn't call them poppets but

"Bobbins"!!!!

YAY!

Hello Bobbin.....Well, Hello bobbin.

~~

"ROMANTIQUE" is Simply Vintage

I am beyond thrilled to announce that one of my 

FABRIC COLLABORATIONS 

samples is featured on the cover of this awesome magazine!

~~on stands now~~

"ROMANTIQUE" is the upper left picture and

 it is quite a lovely piece, if I do say so myself:)

Simply Vintage always creates a special little graphic

to go with each design and look how sweet my graphic is!

Thank you, Simply Vintage!!

For those not familiar with FABRIC COLLABORATIONS, 

here is a quick overview.

I fell in love with the fabric in this ca. 1880s block.

It became the jumping off point for the lovely piece, "ROMANTIQUE".

It is romantic and antique:)

Detail of some of the embroidery.  

The samples become a 'search a block' to see if you can 

find the designs I created to match the fabric design.

Simply Vintage magazine is one of the Quiltmania publications and they do fantastic layouts and an overview of some of the antiquing to be found in a feature city each issue.  The magazines are more like a book and a great resource for summer trips.

If you would like to read more about my process 

on this post, Fabric Collaborations

Going to Houston Festival?  I know you are intrigued about collaborating with your stash so come to Festival and take the Fabric Collaborations class with me!

Keep stitching~

INSPIRED FREE MOTION QUILTING Blog Hop Begins

I am excited to be a part of presenting 

this book to future fans!

Today kicks off the blog hop for Bill Volckening 

and Amanda Leins new book.

Follow along for chances to win a free ebook.

January 7: C&T Publishing, Bill Volckening

January 8: Amanda Murphy of Amanda Murphy Design, Kim Lapacek of http://www.kimlapacek.com/

and Stephanie Palmer of The Quilter's Planner   

January 9: Teri Lucas, Lynn Harris, Debby Brown of Debby Brown Quilts

January 10: Robin Koehler of NESTLINGS by Robin, Patty Murphy of Patty Murphy Handmade,

Mary Abreu of Confessions of a Craft Addict

January 11: Joanna Marsh of Kustom Kwilts, and Amanda Leins of Mandalei Quilts

I will see you back here on the 10th with 

some tips on how I used the book:)

Day 18: 2018 Review J-F-M

Time to look back a bit to where my year went. Here is a pic review and then some other posts to look back on.

Top row represents January into February.
I did so much appraisal shadowing these 2 months that I was very thankful to have time to go to St. Louis for a quilting retreat with friends from when I lived there.
This Blog Post discusses the retreat from a few years back when we were younger:)
Pics on top row are 1. View on the way to the airport to fly to St. Louis, 2. an aerial view of STL, and 3. my St. Valentine's Day Décor at home.

Second row: 1. My very first appraisal booth all on my own. What a fantastic day!  
2. My baby girl finishing nursing clinicals!! I am a very proud mom and she shines at whatever she puts her mind to and she has worked so hard for this!
3. We had a bit of a warm up late in February and so my husband and I took a rare moment to go sit by the water and have a beer together:)

Bottom row: 1. I finally met Kay:)  You have heard me talk of her in my Heritage Architect stories and it was great to meet her and go see her ice dye exhibit.
2. We lost a dear friend to cancer this year.  When we lived in NC, Paula and Sharon lived down the island a bit from us.  I met them through a business meeting and they owned the Wood Gallery that I exhibited in for awhile.  We spent many weekends at their place for oyster roasts which I had never heard of before them:)
We  moved and they moved but we were able to visit them in New Hampshire-WOW!  Their new gallery was even more amazing!!
Being with them was a joy with lots of laughter and love.  Our hearts break for Paula and are thankful she has family near to help her.  We love and miss you Sharon!!
3. I finally got to take a Brazilian Embroidery class. That pic is the class sample and it is gorgeous!!  Good to keep learning even when you think there isn't anything else.

In March we also had the annual COC charity auction. Click on COC to read about my donations. 

I do keep very busy. I wonder what my bullet journal would have looked like that first quarter??  Maybe we will see this upcoming year:)

Pop over to see who else is blogging...

http://muppin.com/wordpress/index.php/the-2018-31-day-blog-writing-challenge/