Tasting Table Tuesday

Today I will baste a quilt, and hopefully start the quilting process.  But I can't share that one publicly just yet, so for now, I'll show you some of the treasures I bought at MQX earlier this month.

Kaffe Fassett Shot Cottons.  I just couldn't resist.  Don't have a plan yet, but I'm sure I'll think of a way to use them.  I just love the way the colors shift depending on the light.  Gorgeous!

And I was thrilled and surprised when I looked up and saw that one of my favorite on-line fabric shops was vending there!  Sew Fresh Fabrics has a great selection of modern fabrics, and I just couldn't walk away without buying some.  In fact, I stopped there twice and bought both times!  They have great color bundles that are perfect for stash building.

Cheers!

I Learned Something New!

My Compass Rose Block.

I was so fortunate to be able to go to MQX East a couple of weeks ago, and take a Judy Niemeyer Paper Piecing class from Jackie Kunkel of Canton Village Quilt Works.

I tried paper-piecing several years ago, and only remember that it was so confusing, with constantly having to flip it over from front to back, always checking to see if my fabric would cover that space properly.  The whole process seemed awkward, kind of like backing up a car and only using the mirrors - having to reverse everything in your mind.

Well, this method eliminates the flipping.  For my mind, it's perfect.

If you ever get the chance to take one of these classes, it's worth it - trust me!

All my other classes were lectures.  It's amazing how inspiring and motivating these conventions can be.  I came home with my mind overloaded with ideas.  Now I just need to make the time to try them all!

Of course, the quilt show was amazing too.  So many wonderful quilts.

And the retail therapy didn't hurt either :)

I bought tools, thread, and MORE fabric...  More on that next time.

Cheers!

Tasting Table Tuesday - Lots of Projects

My oh my...  So much to catch up on...

A few weeks ago (this post) I told you that Family Ties #3 was out to be quilted.  It came back from the quilter looking gorgeous, as expected.  Then I added the scrappy binding using even more of the neckties from my client, added the label and shipped it off to it's new home.  Family Ties #4 is next.  The last in the series.

And remember the Vintage Hankie Quilt I mentioned in that same post?  Well, that is now assembled and ready to go out for quilting as soon as I find the perfect backing fabric.  I painstakingly stitched each hankie to a background of Essex Linen in Natural, using a narrow zigzag stitch and matching Aurifil 50wt thread.

The thin Aurifil thread virtually disappears on most of the hankies.

If you remember, I was on a mission to find fabrics for the sashing from an old collection called Morning Glory by Robyn Pandolph.  I used these fabrics to make a quilt for my daughter several years ago and they are no longer available.

But I just knew it would be perfect for the scrappy sashing strips...

I spent hours searching the internet, then discovered that one of my good friends just happened to have some in her stash!  Oh Happy Day!  When I combined hers with mine, there was enough to do all the sashing as well as a scrappy binding!  Like she always says - "sometimes it's not what you know, it's who you know".  How true!

I added a 6" border of the Essex Linen to give the longarm quilter room to do some of her exquisite custom quilting.  The quilting alone is going to make this a show stopper - I guarantee!  Her work is amazing...  just wait and see...

This weekend I took some time out and worked on a "me" project.  Have you guessed what it is yet?

That's right!  A new purse - and it's mine!

It's the Two-Zip Hipster pattern by Dog Under My Desk.  I've made this bag a few times for customers, but never for myself.  You see, I'm going to the Machine Quilter's Exposition (MQX) in New Hampshire next week and wanted something easy to carry that would also hold my iPad.  This fits the bill perfectly!  And I've been in love with this gray IKEA fabric for ages and was just waiting for an excuse to make myself something with it.

The outer slip pocket will be perfect for stuffing brochures and papers that I pick up along the way, and the zippered one will hold all my little loose stuff.

I lined it with a pretty light aqua cotton, and it has slip pockets for my digital camera and phone.

And of course, every new bag has to have a matching wallet!

Did I mention that I'm going to MQX next week???  I'm so excited!  I was there five years ago and have wanted to return ever since.  I've signed up for several lectures, as well as a Judy Niemeyer Paper Piecing class taught by Jackie Kunkel of Canton Village Quiltworks.  I've followed Jackie's blog for quite some time and am in awe of the projects that she and her students accomplish.  When I discovered that she was teaching at MQX this year, I jumped at the chance to take one of her classes.  This is the block we're going to make.

Like I said before - I'm SO excited!!!

Cheers!