Stabilizer Free

How to live dangerously and go stabilizer free...

I like to stitch away from myself and counter clockwise being right handed (pic 1). This allows for a smoother line/curve.

With stabilizer you can travel your threads without shadowing.

This particular project has no stabilizer and this little curly-que goes the wrong direction for my stitch preference.

Take multiple tiny stitches directly ON the traced line until you get to where you want your line to start

 (pic 2).

Now as I stitch in my preferred counter clockwise direction, my stem stitch will cover my travel stitches.

The next time you get started and forget to stabilize or decide that it will get in the way of wanting to hand quilt, you can go stabilizer free!

New Hand Work patterns



So the hard part about being a designer is not being able to share immediately!!  There can be months between creating and editing and publishing.  Those are months I keep things in the vault so that when you see them, it is a WOW moment vs. "oh yeah, she showed that 4 months ago and 2 months ago, etc.".

 

The patterns below are perfect examples.  I worked on these feverishly during Jan and Feb for a March show.  Then Market preps started and I didn't get around to sharing with you.

You can find these on the What's New page of my website and don't forget my new shipping policy for your guild.



CELTIC MUSIC # 511

I have a newly found appreciation and love for doing hand embroidery.  There are so many lovely threads out there and I don't limit myself to what is right or wrong.  If the color is right, I use it.  Many times I have been asked if something was done on the machine due to its delicate look....NOPE, I just used machine quilting thread 40 weight because the variegated color was too luscious to pass up! 
For so long I have wanted to do a Harp piece and Celtic Music is just that with a vine of shamrocks added for whimsy.  It was stitched with YLI machine quilting thread.

HARLEQUIN HEARTS #510

Harlequin Hearts is a reboot of my Hearts in Bloom design with a new layout.  That is the absolute fun of applique.  If you like the design, buy it because you can applique, hand embroidery, or do wool work with the templates.

SWEET SWIRLS #509

Sweet Swirls is a revamp of my Benign Fusion.  Again I am donating 10% of MY sales of this pattern to Colon Cancer education just like with Benign Fusion.

The Swimming Sea: SEAHORSE #429

The Seahorse was so so so fun to make and I already have an octopus and some fish designs waiting for me to find time to play.
This is the first in the series so check back occasionally to see how far I have gotten:)

Next week I will be posting the run down of the Market booth designs....Stay tuned!

BUSY BUSY BUSY

If you have wondered where I was, I have been very busy!  January brought that pesky 2 week flu that was really hard to shake. Then my husband had it too so in that one week overlap, we were pretty pathetic together!
That put me 2 weeks behind on my work deadlines with a February trip looming. February is when I usually make the trek up to Virginia to attend the Mid-Atlantic quilt show with my mom and spend some time hanging out with her.  It is fun and I usually run into some NC friends along the way.  This year's entry into the show was none other than my Butterfly Cabin design. 

Available at Nestlings by Robin website

I also talked mom into taking a beading class with me.  As a reasonably intelligent person, I am sure I could have figured out the Peyote stitch myself but it is always easier to learn something hands-on.  So we indulged ourselves with an all day class with Mary Stori and I highly recommend her.  The class went smoothly, at a good pace, with her telling us stories while we beaded.  Her samples were beautiful and it was like a class and a lecture all rolled into one.

While at mom's, I was able to finish quilting 3 new red work pattern samples so I could sit and write once home again. Plus I fused some things and traced a couple of red work pieces for her. 

Once home, I got busy writing my patterns...coming soon...and preparing to demo at my guild.  Mom came home with me and patiently sat knitting while I worked the first 3 days she was here.  Got to love a mom, right?!

Now I am finishing a design that I started before VA. that needs to be sent in for photography...more about that exciting news coming soon.
This is the down side of publishing- I have such fun things to show you but I can't, YET:)

HAPPY 2013!

My wish for 2013 is that we all find a measure of happiness in it. Whether it be with your family or through your work or taking up a new hobby, life is way too short to not BE happy and it is your choice to do so.

Tardis in Kaleidoscope

 I spent my holidays watching Dr Who mini marathons with my family and starting Downton Abbey with my daughter.  Happiness, to me, comes in many forms; but one of the most enjoyable, is tv viewing with stitch work in my hands.  I kept busy with fun new stitch patterns for this coming year:)

On Christmas Eve we walked around our town's pond where hundreds of luminaries had been lit with messages for family and friends.  We even found one for our Coasties.  It is a beautiful tradition that is enjoyed by many in the town.  Let's keep them in our thoughts all year long!

What have you been doing the last 2 months?? Final

Once home from my VA/NC trip it was time to kick it into high gear.  The spring tradeshow for the quilt industry is in May and I had a lot to do before then. Before I could start anything though, the dreaded taxes had to be done.  It would be so nice to be uber organized but no, receipts had to be organized and blah-blah-blah:)

After they were done though I got to the fun part--Finishing quilts and making final decisions about how my booth will look!  Patterns are heading to the printer very soon and there will be fresh new designs for everyone- Piecers and Paper Piecers, Appliquers, Red work enthusiasts....

Thankfully this year I found a long-arm quilter that I meshed with who took on the task of my 4 larger projects.  She seems to really understand what I like and they are coming back one by one looking fantastic!  It is like finding a new hair stylist whenever I move...hate that.
So above and below you will see small details of 2 new designs and Kathy's beautiful quilting.

Kansas City here I come!!

Houston Market 2011

Houston in the Morning

The adventure of Houston Market 2011 began as I flew into Houston on Oct 27th to meet fellow vendors/room mates Susan Marth of Suzn Quilts and Celine Perkins of Perkins Dry Goods.

On Friday, Oct. 28th, the Schoolhouse Series started.  Susan started the morning at 10:20am and in the same room at 1:55pm, it was my turn to ask, "Does Your Shop Have a Niche I can Scratch?".  I design by what makes me happy and not by what all goes together as a style so shops and quilters will find applique, redwork, and paper piecing designs from me.

 Above is my booth and although I have been in business for 6 years now, this was my first time vending at Market.  The thrill of that is overwhelming until you get into the rhythm of talking to the shop owners and then it just flows....SO Much Fun!

                                               

This is Susan Marth of Suzn Quilts

and her collection of 12  'In Season' pieces.

 Here is Celine Perkins of Perkins Dry Goods

with her new goodies for Market shoppers.

Houston is a lot of work with Set up, Take Down, 8-10 hour days on your feet but the rewards are great as well if you like meeting lots of people and sharing memories with wonderful friends.  Spring Market is in Kansas City in 2012...Hope to see you there.