May Quilter's Calendar

Well, of course I wish this was my quilt.....but it isn't!  Here's the scoop - Mary Canterbury says she cut the bricks 4 1/2" x 2 1/2" and the white spacers 2 1/2" square.  Make as many as your size requires....Mary used 7 bricks per row for this child's quilt.  Start with a brick, then a spacer, etc on the first row then start with a spacer, then add the brick, etc on the second row.  Use this alternate pattern until your desired length  is reached.   This pattern would also work beautifully with 6 1/2" x 3 1/2" bricks and 3 1/2" square spacers for a larger quilt...don't you think?  I love the green dot Mary is auditioning for the back of her quilt. 

To download the May calendar for your desktop screen saver, go here.  By the end of the merry month of May, you'll have Mary's quilt completed for the next child on your gift list! 

I have my permission!

I gave myself permission - a very long time ago - to put the clippers and shovel down once the wheelbarrow had a full load.   It's worked wonders on  my attitude toward working on weeds.  I don't always stop after one load full, but today I did.  Yes, you are right, the wheelbarrow is not really at a full load.  Oh, Well!!!

Life's too short not to be able to take pictures and blog so

I'm off to make my May Quilter's Calendar

Forever Green - A Journal Quilt



Forever Green



My first journal quilt in several weeks  - raw edge applique on a felt background.  A whimsical design with frayed edges.....I think that aptly describes me! 

~ some folks wouldn't recognize me with combed hair and lipstick ~

linked to Three Creative Studios Flickr Gallery

Polka Dot Patchwork wall hanging (or table runner)

I'm not bored anymore!  The other day I mentioned that I had been bored with my work....well, that day passed when I pulled these pieces from my Kaffe Fassett fabric bin.  What started out to be a table runner very quickly became a wall hanging.  Oh, it could be either - it's 17" x 50" - so as soon as I finish the handwork on the binding, I'll try it on the table and on the wall to see where it should land.  To be honest, it will probably go on the market for sale!  Oh! It's 'Polka Dot Patchwork'.....does the name fit?

Cardinal Nesting

We had a huge storm last night - as did a major part of the country - but the mother cardinal protected her nest against the wind and the rain.....

   as she proudly displayed for me this morning ~

Love Kim Klassen's new texture ~ luminous ~ used on both pictures

Three Creative Studios April Color Palette Challenge

And my response to the challenge - using all four shades of blue - free motion quilting in tanish/taupe.  It's often times so difficult to come up with an original name for a quilt that will aptly describe it - but this one was easy 'cause it's "Just Between Me and Blue"

Linked - Three Creative Studios - Flickr Photo Gallery

Practice (may) make perfect! Free Motion Quilting



my free motion quilting practice - flame flower a design by Leah Day



Flame Flower - in my April color palette challenge quilt

Back of  April color palette challenge quilt

I've been bored with my work these past couple of days.....but will continue to press on to find a path that pleases me.  I'm finding that large pieces of fabric is hampering my style.....what I really like to work with are those little scraps and snippets of fabric - those that are cut or torn  into non-sensical shapes that have no meaning to anyone but me.  More thoughts later - but for now I must get on with my day!

Free Motion Quilting Video: Landscape Stitch

Leah Day's Free Motion Quilting

Firey Comet - a video tutorial - free motion quilting design by Leah Day

Firey comet quilt design - free motion quilting tutorial by Leah Day



Enjoy!

"non-pattern" modern art quilt pattern

A Silly BooDilly quilt tutorial - I loved it and made my own rendition of a non-pattern modern quilt ~

 And the beauty of a modern art quilt is to quilt it in your own personal art-quilt style!

Patchwork Bunny - Handmade - Easter Card

Here's my inspiration - a bunny ornament from The Sometimes Crafter.  But, since I didn't want to make a Christmas ornament - not for Easter anyway - I printed out the template, knowing I could do something with this great idea.  Since I was in a hurry this morning, I just pulled a few solids, not worrying too much about placement, put together a patchwork large enough to accommodate the bunny template.  I drew the template on the paper side of fusible then ironed that on the back of my patchwork.  Cut bunny out on the drawn line, pulled the paper off the fusible, then ironed him/her onto the cardstock.  Stitched around the bunny,  cut the cardstock to 5.5" and folded in half.  Now I can write my Easter note on the inside of my newly handmade Happy Easter card. 

Recycle - Easter - Egg - Note - Card!

I've put several eggs in the mail this week and still have one to spare! What a fun idea shared by Poppytalk.....original design by Anne Weil of Flax & Twine.  Recycled cereal box and miniscule scraps of fabric - yep, that's all it took to make my Easter Happy!   Rather than put my cards into a banner as Anne did, I made them larger and personalized each one with a note to the kids.  They measured 5 1/2" x 4" -  just the right size for those envelopes I buy 250 to the box!

Market Day - A Chandelier - Left Behind

This is what I had to leave behind last week while out browsing for ideas to make subtle, i.e., inexpensive, changes to the home front!  This chandelier would look lovely as a faux chandelier (meaning not wired)  in my bathroom, but it was oh, so expensive.....Sadly, I had to leave it behind - but not before I took a picture for my blog scrapbook. 

April Calendars and Tulips

Make me smile ~ It's going to be a busy day around my house.....So, I wanted to get this thought in early!

Transform a place mat into a purse ~

Or maybe two!  Nothing to it ~  I finished the first place mat purse here using half the place mat.  Okay, so it's now many months later but, yes, I have transformed the other half.  One has a zipper, the other magnetic snaps.....I like each one as much as the other.  They'll both go on sale here and here at Marty in Motion. 

Some good things happened along the way.....to Friday!

"lots sometimes" by Glasvegas really kept my attention. 

As did the jar of red tea roses!

What was even better was taking them to a higher level in photoshop! 

And Material Things ~ 

vintage venetian

Kaffe Fassett fabric and a Cozy Modern Quilts table runner pattern ~

You have to really look closely to see the block pattern from Cozy Modern Quilts.  This Kaffe Fassett fabric was just the cat's meow - a perfect combo - busy fabric and simple pattern!  I'll have to think about how to quilt it!    Table runner pattern is on page 50.  Author Kim Schaefer describes her table runner as vibrant and exciting.  I think mine is too. 

Look! What's on the table now?

I found this picture in a magazine some time ago and immediately declared it "too busy for my taste!"

But in retrospect????  Here's what I layed out on the table this morning to be my next table runner.....and it somehow doesn't seem to be too busy.  It's okay to re-think one's postion on how busy is too busy!

Orange You Glad You're a Pinwheel? Quilt

I've been really busy this week sewing another binding on a quilt.  Finally finished, washed and dried for that great quilted look and now, it's for sale!  Yes, I can!  And did I tell you that orange is a neutral!  At least in my house it is ~

So many pillow choices - what's the best fit?

It's a tough life in this house! So many choices ~ but I finally found one just my size!

And another thing I love about spring ~

Imogene + Willie

Just click and enjoy!  Then, smile all day ~

Amy Christoffers' cardigan in two colors

ChristoffersCardigan1, a photo by juliusdbunny on Flickr.

What I love about spring ~ I can still dream of winter cardigans! Love this Any Christoffers design ~

Journal Quilt #12

I first layered, then stitched down, the pieces of blue fabric to make a background for my broderie perse applique red flower/ tree.  I liked this flower because of it's flat shape on one side!  I've heard of broderie perse but didn't really know what that was until I went searching yesterday.  Very simply, in French "broderie perse" means Persian embroidery, but it also came to refer to the lovely applique of printed chintz flowers and other motifs onto a solid fabric. These exquisite quilts have been made since the 1700s.  Because of the cost of chintz, ladies would cut the flowers and other motifs they needed to complete their design then would pass the remaining yardage on for others to clip and use. 

Okay, I broke the rules, but my 'solid color' background fabric suits me just fine.  And, because of the busy background, I felt that one flower was very adequate.....and a fun journal quilt to make.  Linked to Three Creative Studios Journal Quilt Flickr Group. 

Behind the Scene ~

I've been president of a local quilting group for the past two years and found myself asking lots of folks for lots of help - including Mary.  Mary isn't shy,  but when I would ask for her help on a project, she would always tell me that she liked to work behind the scene.  She never failed to volunteer, but it was always to do something "behind the scene."  Well, I caught Mary behind the scene this week.  This is the cutist little quilt she made for a darling great-grandson!   What a great idea Mary had to add contrasting borders, then a large border filled with pinwheels to pre-printed fabric panel - trucks even! The picture is a little blurry, but that's Mary's fault (!) - she was wiggling and talking while working  "behind the scene."  I waited and waited for a better shot, but it never happened.  For that reason.....

I'm linking to KatEyeView  "exploring with camera - waiting to click."

What I liked this week

Pansies that stand up and smile!

Chamomile for tea time

Miniature Quilts

Construction complete - I added a 1/4" red border then framed it with a 2 1/2" muted green border.  I think I'll hand quilt this one - since it measures only 15" x 19"!

Card trick - another miniature I did last year.  While the small pieces are a tad tedious, miniatures really are fun to make and can hang anywhere - grouped or solo!

Louisiana Soul Food ~

Sal's fresh strawberries picked from the Pettito strawberry farm.....Butler's blueberries harvested locally from their blueberry patch in July and frozen.  I purchase several gallons and freeze so I'll have blueberries all year long.  Oh, the bananas are a product of Guam and the fat free yogart came straight from the dairy shelf!  A most delicious and tummy-satisfying breakfast.  Would not do for those on a sugar-free diet!

Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas

Sounds good to me.....

1 can green enchilada sauce
l large can green chilies (chopped)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream
1 medium onion (chopped)
1/2 tsp. salt, pepper and garlic salt
2 cups cooked chicken (cut up)
10 flour tortillas
2 cups Monterey cheese (grated)

Mix 1/2 enchilada sauce with the chilies, soup, sour cream, onion, seasonings and chicken.  Place 3 tablespoons mixture on each tortilla, sprinkle with cheese and roll up and place seam side down in a greased 9" x 13" oven proof casserole dish.  Cover with remaining enchilada sauce then sprinkle with remaining cheese.   Cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours before cooking in 350 degree oven for 35-40 minutes.

Can be divided into smaller dishes and frozen before cooking.   Ready to heat and serve after a heavy day of sewing! 

by Judy Etier ~ Casual Gourmet cookbook: North Louisiana Quilters' Guild

Batik Folly ~ A Lap Quilt ~

Batik Folly - back from a favorite long-arm machine quilter.  I sat today and hand stitched the binding down.  It'll go on sale tomorrow.....in the meantime, go ahead and visit Marty In Motion - where everything is for sale! 

Design on the Wall

I'm delighted to have gotten this far - but did I say, I'm not having fun yet.   Why, oh why do I feel so compelled to start what I finish.? And why, oh why, did I even desire to start this little 15" x 20" something?

I saw the picture/pattern in a miniature quilts mazagine dated around 1994 - should have let that one age some more.....beyond insanity! 

Continue on your journey to see the design wall of other beautiful quilters.....Yes, they are having fun!

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm - or did I say oooops!

I once heard Nancy - of  Nancy's Notions - declare that she changed her sewing machine needle at the start of every new project!  And, then I've heard of some who change the needle every year or so!  Since I'm not sponsored by a needle company, nor am I poverty stricken -  I take the stand that it's time to change the needle when it breaks....and....well.....folks, that would be today. 

You see, when I finished putting the cording on the little linen pillow yesterday, I didn't replace the zipper foot with my straight stitching foot.  And, for the totally uninformed, the zipper foot requires that the needle position be moved either to the left or the right of the foot.  So, when I turned my machine on this morning the needle was in it's usual place - that would be in the center! And there is nothing but steel in the middle of the zipper foot.   Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm, I mean oops!  

Now the fresh needle and I can get on with the day!