24FQ Challenge is done!

Well, it started clear back in February, when another group of friends wanted to do the 24 FQ Challenge with me. We all plugged along and MOST of us hung in there to the very end. I chose a bundle of fabric my hubby bought for me, "Feedsack Reproductions" by Windham Fabrics. Not my usual type of fabric, so it was a challenge to take 30's fabrics and make them a little more contemporary. I did for most of them, but I did so some very traditional patterns too.
1. We had to make a twin size quilt.. remember Judy's One Hour Challenge, Gratitude? Here's mine!

2. Then we had to do a Medallion....here's my off-centered version..3. We also had to do an applique..I showed this month's ago..remember "The One who Got Away" ? 4. My traditional quilt, this fabric just screams for a few traditional quilts...

5. And "Remember Me?" -another one I have shown before. Made using some of my Grandma's tea towels.

more to come.........

24 FQ Challenge, #2

and continuing on (I had to do it like this since Blogger doesn't like to load lots of pictures at one time, we'll see how I do at trying to fool blogger! LOL)
6. "Tower of Spools"- I've always wanted to do a spool quilt--and so I did! I designed it in EQ6. and forgive the crooked pictures, I can't decide if I put them on the wall that way or I take crooked pictures! Sorry if you have to lean your head all the time! LOL7. "Spinning Stars"-one I designed in EQ6, it was supposed to be a large table topper, and oops! not enough fabric..then a small table topper..still not enough..so it's a Table Runner now! 8. "Scrappy Tumbling Blocks"- I just love doing these little things! I've done so many now that doing "Y" seams is a cinch! I don't even mark them anymore, but I do have a mark on my presser foot that tells me when I'm 1/4" away. 9. 8-point Stars--I can't decide whether to make these into two pillows, one rectangular pillow--or alternate them with plain red squares and make a BIG pillow? So, they are not 'complete' quite yet... 10. Postcard--I decided this was a great way to remember the challenges that I have done..the fabrics are all right there! and now Blogger would like me to quit..but I'll be back....more coming...

24FQ Challenge Finale!

And now I was down to just bits and scraps of fabrics, but we were supposed to use 100% of the fabric (okay--that's my personal goal. I suspect some of them threw the last bits away!) If you remember the last challenge, I made a Thread Bowl out of the rest of tidbits. I didn't want to do the same thing, so I crazy patched a foundation piece and was tired of doing it. I thought I'll just make it into a pin cushion and stuff it with the rest of my fabric bits and finish it off with stuffing! And marked it, #11

The Ends! :)

and there you have it folks--100% of 24 Fat Quarters (plus no more than 2 additional fabrics)! I have the other gals pictures of their challenge quilts on my website if you'd care to see what they did. Scroll down the page and click on the link for Quilt Challenge.

Fall classes

some of the classes that I am teaching this fall..and quite a few of the samples are part of what I worked on this summer

Tea Party!

Mom--on her 70th Birthday.

My Mom turned a milestone birthday this year and since she moved away from me when I was just still a kid (well, I was married with a baby), but I was YOUNG! I have never been able to 'do' anything for her birthday and decided this would be the year. And having a tea party seemed like a fun thing to do. And it was! And with the help of some dear friends, it was a beautiful party that all my Mom's friends enjoyed. I took lots of pictures and even got the mini scrapbook done, now that should be a record!

As each lady arrived, I took her picture, complete with hats and gloves (per the invitation). It was so much fun. One lady said she just didn't have any fancy gloves, so were her surgical gloves okay? What a hoot! My type of humor indeed. In fact, I really wanted to do a little skit with me and a friend where she is 'advising' me the do's and don't's for a 'proper' tea party. It would include me with rubber gloves, a ball cap, tennis shoes, toilet paper streamer hanging out my mis-matched outfit and wanting to serve 'fancy' bologna sandwiches, with the crusts cut off, of course! It didn't work out as one of my friends had to leave town (she helped fix some food) and the other came in the night before. (she helped doing last minute preparations and cleaned up and most important--She POURED!--I guess that used to be really important back when tea parties were in vogue--so I'm told!) So, no skit--but it would have been funny! A partial view of the food table..I served: Honey Almond Chicken Salad Sandwiches, Pimento Cheese on Rye, Lemon Poppy Mini Muffins, Mini Eclairs with Custard, Shrimp Tartlets (courtesy of Martha), Radish Sandwiches, Key Lime Mousse in Chocolate Cups, Whipping Cream Poundcake (another Martha delicacy!), Chocolate Dipped Strawberries, Lemon Curd Tarts and Norwegian Sweets..oh and English Breakfast Tea. Were they a happy bunch, or what? what a fun day getting to meet some of Mom's friends and honoring my Mom on her special day. Happy Birthday Mom.
For favors, I took card stock, folded it into thirds and made a 3D triangle--on the inside I suspended the coolest pyramid silk teabags that were Vanilla Caramel Truffle flavored. Believe it or not, they were made by Lipton and I found them at Wal Mart!

more quilt show pictures

I sure wish all these quilts were mine! There were a lot of neat ones this year. It's amazing how many people stopped by, thinking they were for sale! LOL

and more yet

I won't show ALL the pictures of the quilts--but at least you get an idea of how nice they all looked. It was a lot of work, but so worth it. So many people enjoyed it and over half of the people were not even quilters. But people just like to look at quilts, which is why I make this a non-prized Quilt Show. Even beginners can be proud of what they have accomplished and the general public just likes to see how creative people really can be. Thanks for stopping by my show..even if it was a virtual one! :)

some of the Quilt Show

Ahh..to be home and have things work again! :)
Here are some of the shots from my Quilt Show that held last Sunday. Over 100 quilts were hung all around my yard--from tree to tree! It was the most perfect day for it, 78 degrees and low humidity and plenty of sunshine. There were quilts by me, my students and some of my quilting friends.

My Middle Name is..

I've been tagged by Vickie (who found it at Jolly Jabber blog--join in to win FREE fabric!) and so here it goes..
we are supposed to tell something about ourselves using our Middle Name--glad I have a short one.
S- sinfully passionate about my quilting
U- usually can be found in my studio or at the computer
E- eager to try new things

And who to tag? whoever would like to play along! I hate to single out people and leave someone out...so consider yourself invited to join the fun!

best laid plans...

I thought I was really well prepared for leaving on my trip by getting a few posts into draft form and then I could post real easy while I was gone. Well, for some reason, it won't bring up my drafts and it stalls out...so I'll just share a picture of a quilt of mine that's on my computer that I don't think I've shown. It was a Spinning Spools that I probably did 10 years ago for my hubby. I don't think he ever noticed it was spools..he just liked the colors! LOL

My hubby's tournament is over, brownies included and I headed further down in SC to plan and prepare for a Tea Party for my Mom's birthday. I have never 'done' anything for her on her birthday since she moved away when I was 18--so I thought I would take this opportunity to do something nice. It's been fun planning, decorating and cooking. I even took the time this week to make her a blue and yellow flannel rag quilt (she's been coveting mine ever since she saw it!). The party is on Friday and then I'm home free! It's been a whirlwind month with many big events. When does life start to slow down? or does it? LOL