Finding a Rhythm - and a Reason

Sometimes it can be difficult to stay on track. Who am I kidding? I haven't been on track for months now and my challenge is getting BACK on track. And what better way than to dangle a carrot so I have something to reach for? 

Now, not to get ahead of myself I am fully aware that they haven't even begun looking at submissions for vendors. It is a juried process, and given the fact that I've never done one of their shows before it is a reach to think I may be accepted. HOWEVER, it is a wonderful goal toward which to work. And the worst that can happen is that I am not accepted and I have to find another venue for selling all of the items I've been working on to have inventory in stock. 

Like... more coasters: 

maybe some more pot holder sets, and if I'm REALLY on top of it I'll perfect those darned oven mitts! 

I was having a discussion with a couple of different friends recently about the efficacy of Etsy. It really is great to have as a passive option for selling one's wares, but I'm feeling it's well past time to find other more effective venues. So, fingers crossed I'll get into this holiday show — but if I don't it has at least gotten me thinking about more possibilities.

Do you all use some of these self-guiles to get things done, too?? 

Trying something new

For a while now I've had people ask me about making oven mitts along with the pot holders I enjoy. The truth of the matter is, I don't use an oven mitt (I find them uncomfortable) so it never seemed a priority for me. But lately I've been thinking about how to expand the appeal of some of my sellable items. 

So a couple of weeks ago I began the process by making 2 rectangles of quilted fabric, using muslin as the backing, and my usual combo of one layer of Insul-Bright batting and one layer of Warm & Natural 100% cotton batting.  For this first test run I also decided to use a fun fabric that's been sitting in my stash for years...

And then yesterday I finally got around to tracing an oven mitt I happen to have (which might never have been used as far as I know) using a micron pen on the muslin side of the quilted sandwiches. Mirror images on each side. And pure luck would have it, once I actually cut them out they just about matched! 

The next few steps went quite smoothly.  I learned while playing with a different kind of prototype a couple of months ago that when putting a binding on a narrow circular edge one should do that BEFORE closing up the seam. So, on went the binding to each of the sides of the mitt and then I sewed approximately 1/4" to 3/8" from the edge all around the rest of it.

It seems I made the thumb a little short and high up, so that will need adjusting. 

And as I was turning the whole thing right-side-out I realized I should have been using a poly thread for the outer seam, as I heard little pops of snapping stitches here and there in the process. Ooops. And then there's where the fabric on the underside didn't quite make it into the seam... 

Oh, and remember that cool loop I made with the binding? 

Did any of you all see that coming? Obviously I did not. I never was good with figuring out the engineering of a 3-D object — the same thing happens when I try to attach straps in a lined bag. My first attempt always has them inside the wrong layer! 

So as I've mentioned, this is just a trial run, but one that I think did its purpose. I got a pretty decent prototype made, and it revealed some of the problems I need to fix. It will just make it easier to try another one soon! And let me tell you, I have PLENTY of Halloweeny fabric to play with!!

A little wish list

Well, I have not gotten much more sewing done in the last week since I wrote that last post, but as I sit at work in the nearly 90°F afternoon and just flipped on the A/C window unit I keep ogling the fabric shelves. 

I've been really good about not buying fabric lately, primarily because I haven't been doing ANY sewing, so it's hard to justify that I'll actually use any of it. But a girl can dream, right?? So I've put together a few combinations of fabrics both new and not-so-new that have been tempting and teasing me for anywhere from a week to 6 months or more. And I may have inadvertently found a combination of 3 that go together SO WELL I just have to get them! 

Welcome to the tip of the iceberg. 

L-R: "Down Under" by Mint Blossom for Northcott; "Tree Rings" by Martha Nagley for Rowan (and let me just say I fall in love with every color way of this print I see!); "Volumes - Hand Drawn Garden" by Anna Maria Horner for Free Spirit; "Nordika" by Jeni Baker for Art Gallery Fabrics.

This grouping maybe not so well coordinated, but I love them all for different reasons. And I have NO idea what I would use any of them for! 

L-R / top to bottom: "Briar Rose" by Heather Ross for Windham; "E-I-E-I-O" by Jack and Lulu for Dear Stella; "Winter's Lane" by Kate & Birdie Paper Co for Moda; "Belle - Coriander" by Amy Butler for Rowan; "Uno" by Stof; "Go Fish" by Hoodie's for Timeless Treasures.

After spending the last 2 days working on this, I don't think this post was ever meant to make it to publication. I learned that though it is possible to write a new post from my iPad, it is not easy to do. This is what I get for letting the blogging skills wane for so long!

Okay one last photo of goodies that may become my first actual purchases from this list (or at least a couple of them): 

L-R / top to bottom: "Jungle Jive" by Maria Kalinowski for Kanvas; "A Ghastlie Web" from Alexander Henry Fabrics; "Broome St. Floral" from Alexander Henry Fabrics; "Cosmos" by Laura Gunn for Michael Miller; "Lush Uptown" reprint by Erin Michael for Moda; "Modern Meadow Herringbone" by Joel Dewberry for Free Spirit; "Poppy Modern" by Jane Dixon for Andover. 

I hope that you all have found some sort of inspiration in my jumbled up head and are more successful at using the creative energy for working in your sewing rooms than I have been lately. Soon enough, soon enough... 

Back in business

As some of you may have noticed, I've kind of taken a hiatus on the blogging front this summer. Between travels, summer activities, change of schedule and having been focused on just a couple of long-term projects, I suppose the updates (and desire to share) fell to the wayside. 

But I'm back. Slowly but surely. 

For one, during my awesome travels I took an old trusty friend along: 

This may be a completely foreign object to some of you youngsters, but this is a medium format camera gifted me by a friend and former classmate nearly 10 years ago.

The film I shot on the trip was just dropped off yesterday for processing. Yes, Portland still has a few places where one can process not just film, but MEDIUM FORMAT film. What a relief. 

Now, of course I also had my little snappy digital camera along, as well as my iPad which served as an alternate camera at times. But it's the film photos I am most curious to see. It had been a LONG time since I've shot film and gotten it developed. In the efforts of keeping this a dedicated quilting and craft blog I'm avoiding dumping the Alaska and Vancouver photos here, but if you are at all interested, please let me know in a comment and I'll be happy to share in a future post!

And speaking of LONG time... yesterday I sat down at the sewing machine I have at home to work on some make-up bee blocks. I had cut out all of the initial units when I was in the studio last Monday in order to bring them home and work on them on days/evenings I couldn't get to the studio. The block consists of many half-square triangle units and is super effective! My bee-mate Amy designed the block and has a great tutorial up on her blog, 13spools: http://www.13spools.com/2013/06/flock-of-half-square-triangles-block.html. Anyhow, I took out the thread and bobbin that were in the machine, put in lighter thread, wound a new bobbin and set the whole thing up. Then I started chain-piecing... and chain-piecing... until I got to the end of the 15 square chain. Then I went to cut the thread and flip them over to stitch the other side:

and something didn't seem right. They pulled and started gathering strangely... and then I looked closely on the bobbin side of things. 

What's up with that??? Now, either the bobbin case wasn't properly seated, or the top thread wasn't properly threaded through the machine, but either way it was an easy fix. Too bad it only showed on the BOTTOM of things so I didn't notice while zipping away at the squares and wasted all that thread (not to mention time).

Is this what's called "getting rusty"?  Guess it's time to scrape of the road dust and get back to business.

Busy busy busy

It looks like June will prove to be a busy month for me. I am sure that I am not alone in working better under a deadline and with specific goals, right? 

​restocking some pot holder inventory

Last week received an order to restock some pot holders and coasters at Storeroom Vintage. I have to admit it came kind of out of the blue, but I was glad to get the text.  I had posted a little bit about this venture back in early February here, and after taking the first group over there neither of us really followed up after that. Until now. And this time I'm going into it with a little more direction, which I think is helpful. There will be more of these popping up in the next week or so!

​still considering some rearranging - be warned

And though it may not seem like it, I've been working bit by bit on the strip quilt. Making a few new strip sets each week, adding the triangle units to what is already up on the wall and then spending another few days pondering. I got a really good suggestion for a way to alter this minimally, but hopefully with maximum impact. I hope to have this top pieced by the beginning of July. The quilting will be a whole other bridge to cross!

​Blocks from the April round of do. good stitches Bliss circle.

And of course the quilt bees! The photo above is for the Bliss circle of do. Good Stitches, which has been undergoing some changes. I have been a member of the Bliss circle since I joined do. Good Stitches a little over 2 years ago. There have been 2 hosts for the circle in that time, the latest of whom chose to take some time away as of early May. Was it compulsion that prompted me to volunteer for the position of host, or simply a desire to see the circle continue and thrive and come back together? I think it's fair to say it was a little of both. But yes, this means I am now host and moderator for the Bliss circle, and happy to be doing it! It's been fun to really touch base and communicate with my fellow bee-mates in this, and I seem to have gotten an overwhelmingly positive and energized response from most of the group, which helps SO MUCH! Amy is getting us started out again this month with her own Flock of HSTs block and tutorial on her blog, 13spools. Amy has chosen the perfect type of block to get us running again, and I'm super appreciative! And in the mean time I'll be putting more of the HST blocks shown above together (and I've collected a few more from members of the group since that photo was taken) and hope to get that quilt top finished by mid-June.

Of course there are also still the Friends + Fabric bee and the Simply Solids bee, marching ahead beautifully to keep in mind!

And now for the non-quilting-related stuff... J and I have finally gotten started on one of the home improvement projects that's been on the list for a little while now. We marched on down to the big Depot store and placed an order for 2 pallets of bricks, sand and gravel to be delivered to the house this week. We're (okay, so far it's really been just J) rebuilding and widening a walkway from the driveway past the veggie garden area (which has yet to be planted this year) to the backyard, as well as laying a new patio in the backyard. 

BEFORE

GOING WIDER

ON ITS WAY!

BEFORE

EXCAVATION BEGINS

AND CONTINUES

AND CONTINUES STILL (of course I had to include a picture of me helping out at least SOME)

There are a couple more collaborations that are only just beyond the "discussion" stage, but I don't foresee a whole lot of movement on those in the next month. You know what that means, though... Stay tuned!

And though I am sure other things will be popping into the mix over the next few weeks, I feel good about what's on the table, both literally and figuratively! So, enjoy the journey, and if I maybe don't post quite as often as I sometimes do, just imagine that I'm dutifully at work on one of these fun, gratifying projects (and if it's the outdoor one, that image should include a margarita!)

Pillow Talk Swap Goodies

I told myself once before that I would not do another of these. There are a couple of reasons for this:​

1. It takes away time I should be using more productively.... but it's so FUN!​

2. I put undo pressure on myself to get things just so. ​And I've gotten burned in the past with not receiving the same in return (or not receiving AT ALL in return).

3. *and this is the most important* I only have so many seating options in my home and there are way too many throw pillows as is. Every time J sits on the couch, he tosses a pillow to one of the unoccupied arm chairs (or vice versa).​

So, when I saw the sign-ups on Flickr for the 10th round of the Pillow Talk Swap I was wooed. ​Against my "better judgement." But so glad I participated, as there is a great energy among the other participants (as much as one can gauge energy over the internet, that is). And most everyone seems as excited and involved as I am, bringing their A game. 

But even if you bring your A game, sometimes it's hard to know if that will be the direction that the recipient wants. I am hoping that what I have come up with will find a happy home!​

Arriving here has been quite a journey. Several sketches, fabric pulls and further editing, reading all of the responses to all of the photos posted in order to glean the reactions from my secret partner. It weighs heavily on a person!​

​The first round of sketches

​fabric pull #1 - partially rejected

​fabric pull #2 - mostly rejected, but helped immensely with narrowing down

And the drafting begins

​The paper-pieced units

However, deciding what to use for the backgrounds was more of a challenge, for some reason, and held me up for quite a while. I've been going through some serious second-guessing issues lately. First on the commission I'm doing for my brother and B-I-L, ​and more immediately on this swap. And sadly, I was getting no answers on the site. Or rather, I was getting some lovely answers, but not necessarily from the right person.

And yesterday I decided it was up to me to decide.

So I have moved forward and finished the pillow to send with its little extras (including a hand-printed BINGO game about my fair city of Portland!!)​

​One of these things is not like the others...

​mellowing a bit...

So I made my decision and got to the piecing. Have I mentioned that I have a lot to work on with curved piecing?? Not one of my fortes but better than some other options! And thank goodness for being able to finesse some of the errors with quilting!!​

​Stuffed with the ONE 20" pillow form I have, usually occupying the cover I received from Brittany in the Pillow Talk Swap #4!

​And then there's the drastically different back...

​Taking a little more sedate, sophisticated approach for the reverse (if a connect-the-dots print can be considered sophisticated).

​... and the little extras. I'm excited to pass these goodies along, and it all fits in a USPS Flat Rate envelope! YAY!

I hope she loves this. Don't know what else to say about it. I'm glad I finished on schedule (barely) and only noticed 1 serious mess up, which I'll happily be pointing out to it's new owner, but don't dare to reveal to the public at large. ;-) Thanks for stopping by!

Missed another one

I had every intention of joining the fun at The Blogger's Quilt Festival over at Amy's Creative Side. I even started writing a post. But I never finished that post, and therefore did not submit it for entry in the Two Color Quilt category for this quilt.​

That will not stop me from enjoying browsing all of the other amazing entries, casting my vote in as many categories as I can make it through and being a part from the role of spectator. And I hope others of you are doing the same. And if you see something that rings your bell, I would love to see a link in the comments. It's always fun to see what turns other people's heads. I'll try to do the same :-)​

Quilt Market Recap

It's hard to know where to begin, so I feel I should just jump right in. As I've mentioned in previous posts, and I'm sure as many of you are already aware, the Spring 2013 International Quilt Market was held in Portland, OR this year. Marie generously registered me as an ambassador for Cool Cottons, for which I am truly grateful! Since she had actual appointments with fabric companies on both Friday and Saturday I was manning the store those days, but had set aside Sunday for wandering through the Oregon Convention Center. Another bonus of the event was all of the peripheral events attached. In addition to the class with Jacquie Gering (blogged here) at Modern Domestic, there was a Happy Hour event, dinner with a wonderful group of folks, some new acquaintances but all familiar from their blogs and/or design companies, and a special PMQG program for its monthly meeting. And a late-discovered plus is that I was joined by my friend Cherie, of Pieced by Cherie for the show itself!

So, on to the photos (not as many as I would like, but really one just gets caught up in the energy and spectacle of it all and forgets the camera hanging from her wrist).​

​A new design from an old favorite of mine.

​A new discovery.

​A little corner of Anna Maria Horner's section of the Westminster Fabrics booth.

​Everyone seems to have been agog at Heather Bailey's booth - the scale embroidery on the wall really was something else!

​Cherie and I were drawn in by their booth and designs.

​Cherie got the information on these guys... it was a company I was not so familiar with, but we were intrigued. I'll add details if I find out :-)

​Jeni Baker's (In Color Order) booth, debuting her second fabric collection with Art Gallery Fabrics, I believe. Beautiful work!

​A Quilter's Dream - a plethora of great patterns to choose from!

​A great booth put together by Busy Bee Quilt Designs, right here in the greater Portland area!

​And not to be left out, I had to get at least ONE photo of myself with someone exhibiting... and who better than someone I know and like as much as Michelle!?

​It was a blast to wander around, bump into people I have gotten to know over the years in this industry, and just take in all of the eye candy and positive energy! I walked away with a bit of swag - a few new buttons, brochures and tear sheets for some great pattern designers and publishers, the germ of an idea for a new venture planted by someone else, a set of the first 5 issues of Modern Quilts Illustrated by Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr (and we had an awesomely engaging chat with Mr. Kerr, what an interetsing guy!) and a GORGEOUS  collection of the BEST thread on the planet - at bargain wholesale price!

However, I can't believe that Cherie and I forgot to get our picture together at Market!! Maybe next time, right?

​I also have to give a shout out to the lovely group of ladies who let me join them for dinner at Tin Shed Friday night - it was a pleasure spending time with you all, and getting to know new faces! Jenn, Jessica, Caroline, Latifah and Connie. I'm not yet active on Instagram, but maybe one day will join the 21st century and switch out my cell phone for one of those "smart" things!