My First Quilt

My First Quilt and My Latest Quilt

I have been coursed by Camille, Carrie and Brenda to post about my first quilt and my latest quilt. (read about it more on Camille's blog) I am so super bummed that I threw away my first quilt. Yes, Yikes, Gads, I did. I have been made about it ever since. My first quilt was made using a sampler pack from Keepsake Quilting in Centre Harbour, ME. I ordered through a catalog and mailed them a check for a pack of 1000-1" squares. Of course this was in 1980 and 1000 seemed like a really big number back then. I knew nothing about quilting much less sewing but that didn't matter. My sister sewed her entire wardrobe all thorough high school and went to college to be a Home Ec teacher. If she could sew then certainly I could quilt. Can you spell COMPETITION? I began sewing these squares together and I am sure I thought that I was going to be able to make a full size quilt. I sewed and sewed and sewed 29 rows x 34 rows using 986 of the 1000 squares. Whew! My first quilt was a whopping 15" x 17" before I put a 3" binding on it. Camille thanks for the encouragement because I thought this quilt was just a memory but I did come across a picture of my "pride and joy". Yes the rust velvet couch the quilt is laying on proves that the pictures is from the 1980's (inherited the couch with the husband)Okay I guess I would say that the quilting bug did bite and many, many quilts later I am proud to show my latest finished quilt. It is an oceans waves variation made using Rounneries by French General. I love how it turned out and I am thrilled that McCalls has picked it to be in one of their future magazine issues.

Looking through these OLD pictures I did find a few more of my treasured old quilts that may have to turn into some future blogs!

Tag you're it. Show us your first quilt and your current quilt.

Chicago and more...

I am not a photographer but I certainly pretended to be one this past weekend in Chicago. Camille from Thimbleblossoms and Joanna from Fig Tree and myself all attended the Country Living A Celebration of Creativity Women's Entrepreneur's Weekend. Basically a good reason to go to Chicago and hang out! These 2 gals certainly knew how to "work it" for the press on the Country Living catwalk.


Joanna and I took pictures of each other taking pictures! Camille has a great post about the weekend in Chicago. Walking the streets of the Lincoln Park area was a wonderful area to stop and try out the new things Camille had taught me about my camera. I must admit I take pictures of things that are a bit odd. Signs that make me smile, couples making out on Navy Pier, dogs out for a walk are just a few of the shots on my camera. I learned also that you have to take hundreds of shots to get the really good ones. I learned of a new lens that I need to order. (done!)

What mom wouldn't smile at a stinky pants sign?

We took the train out to an antique mall in Edgewater. Joanna met a delightful man! Don't be jealous Eric. (Eric, did you like your gift Joanna picked up for you?)

A picture perfect day in Chicago which helps during the photography class!

Spending an entire weekend with these 2 talented ladies you certainly learn alot. Yes, I swore that what happens in Chicago stays in Chicago. I won't spill the beans about feet, snorting, flying bat costumes. I will share how thoughtful these 2 gals are. There was a huge statue of the American Gothic painting at the Art Institute of Chicago. Everyone knows this painting! As a kid we had this painting in our home. ..(remember I am a natural blonde and come by quirky things naturally)... I did not know this was a famous piece of art, I always thought it was my grandparents. Don't laugh! It looks just like granny and grandad Collins. I was amazed when I went to a neighbors home and asked, "Why do you have a picture of my grandparents in your home?" Well, Joanna and Camille must have had some time to spare at the airport because they were so KIND to send me this picture. What photoshop skills! I will return the kind dead with my own photographs and photoshop skills when you least expect it.

One note of business! Sweetwater introduced their first line of fabric at Quilt Market. Now they have a blog! Add it to your list to follow!

http://www.sweetwater.typepad.com/

more quilt market

Taking inspiration from the fresh smell of clothes hung on the line the entire moda booth was designed as an outdoor clothesline. Every detail from the market invitation to the clothespin bag signs shined in the brightly lite Pittsburgh convention center. The natural light was a little overwhelming in the morning, but I guess you could say the future is bright with moda. If your salesperson comes home with a tan you can certainly see why by this picture. (quilts shown- Close to my heart tablerunner & quilt by Laundry Basket, Aster Manor by 3 sisters, Blessings by Brannock & Patek)Sandy Gervais from Pieces from my Heart always has an adorable booth. Her entire booth was recreated as a Thanksgiving dinner. The quilt shown here is a turnover quilt featuring her Gobble, Gobble line of fabric due in stores in August. Great, quick easy project because using the turnovers all the triangles are already cut for you. Sew them together and applique the turkey!Sandy covered her pans with a piece of her fabric. She said she couldn't cook anything since she packed her pans to use in the booth.

It was hard to walk past her booth without getting hungry. What a great idea for a store display! Moda Jelly Rolls for the big feast!

A quilt that was in the United Notions booth that I loved is this quilt from Lori at Bee in my Bonnet.

This picture does not due the quilt justice. There is so much detail that every where you look there is something else that makes you smile. More pictures coming soon.......

show and tell

Just a few pics today. busy working. So I will post post a few pics. I guess the title should really be show and no tell. I will get more pictures tomorrow and post more details.
Sherri Howard, Angela Yosten, Camille Roskelley, Bonnie Olvasen. New Thimbleblossoms fabric in background
new American Jane pattern that I am dying to make
Sandy Gervais's booth is an adorable Thanksgiving dinner set-up. Yummy!
me, Sara Fielke, Holly Hickman chilling on a boat.

set-up day one complete

Due to the limited flights and travel time from Dallas we actually came in a day earlier than normal. This gave us a day to relax and get situated in Pittsburgh. We met some local musicans. We went into a local dining spot and there she was...the queen of market, Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill. We knew we had to be in the right place.

Of course we had to get our Market energy.Here is a before picture. Looks simple, right? We have put down almost 4o00 sq ft of flooring. We got alot more down today but I did not get many pictures. Afterall I had to stay focused on my actual job. I promise I will take more pictures tomorrow.If you have never seen what set-up is all about. It is ALOT of work. If you don't believe me just look how hard Joanna from Fig Tree is working. You thought she just did pretty fabrics and patterns! Her booth is going to be beautiful, I think. ( her new fabric is laying on the table)Wish you were here,

quilt market fun

Here I am at quilt market. 2 days of set up, 3 days of show and 4 hours to take it all down. Tell me what you would like for me to blog about while I am here.?

and the winner is...

Hello to all,
I learned something about blogger. If you make a post and save it to be posted at another time, it doesn't work like that. It was a tie between Alesiha and Another Amy with both guessing 987. The number is 985. I guess officially Another Amy is the winner because her guess came in first. (Aleshia I will send you something for second place)
Working hard on fantastic new stuff for Quilt Market. The new things will be avavilable in Stores beginning September. Check some of the things out by going to the moda designers blogs listed in my side bar.
I thought I could at least show you a sneek peek of 2 of the projects i am working on. When it is quilt market time we tag team on alot of projects. I think one of the quilts has about 6 different people working on it. I wish i could tell you more but the shops get to see it first in Pittsburgh. Check out the moda designers blogs!I maybe posting a few twitters bits of info as the countdown to market continues.





Gotta go sew, sew, sew,
toodles,
Lissa