Sister's Choice Quilts

Getting Ready for Some Sewing!

 
Woo hoo!  In about a week I am going to be getting together with some friends and do some sewing!  Mostly I am excited to see my friends, but also I wanted to get a seriously wonderful project ready to work on during the time that we will be sewing together.

I am working on a really lovely pattern called Shiloh, by Bonnie Blue Quilt Company.  I started these blocks a number of months back, BM.  That would be Before the Move.  Quilt projects come and go, but I have to say, this one really got my pulse racing.  Love these blocks.

 
Here are a few of them laid out on the floor of The Studio-That-Isn't.  The jury is still out on whether or not the red blocks get to stay, but for now, I am thinking they are ok. 

I started out using a kit, and ended up using a few of the fabrics from the kit, and supplementing most of the others with scraps from my stash.  Then I discovered a layer cake of a collection called Arnold's Attic and went to town using that.  Why do I buy kits anyway?  I always end up changing them up completely.

 

See what I mean?  Aren't those just too wonderful to not include in my quilt?

 
This quilt has a L.O.T. of flying geese units in it, and I wanted to get all my units lined up and ready to go for my block construction.  No cutting for me while I am on retreat.  That never goes well.  I tend to get distracted and cut my 6 1/2" squares all 6 1/4" or something equally tragic.

What I will be doing is using my Fit To Be Geese ruler to trim my flying geese units to precisely the right size.  If you haven't tried this tool, you simply must. 

 Best tool ever for making perfect flying geese!

Vive La France

Thank you all for your encouraging and supportive comments on dealing with elderly parents.   It is so difficult to know if one is making the correct decision.  You want to do the best for them, and yet it has to be convenient and safe and affordable.  Luckily, there are lots of choices out there, and I know we will make a good one. 

Still no updates on the quilting studio, so I am joining the ranks of the majority of quilters--Using the good ol' kitchen table.

I got Baby E's Central Park quilt back from the quilter, and must get the binding on ASAP.  Baby E is due in 13 days!  I went with Sara to her doctor appointment yesterday and he says she is about to burst.  He is not willing to let her go beyond her due date, so we should have a baby in the very near future.

This photo shows the beautiful quilting off very well, I think.  Debbie at Prairie Queens did it and I love the design she chose.  And the thread color is a pale yellow, which seems to be the perfect choice.  April convinced me to go with an aqua binding, and I think it sets things off very well.

Forgive me if I am a bit distracted today.  I just learned that a very dear friend of mine passed away.  He was a better friend to me than I was to him, and my heart breaks that I won't be able to tell him how much I valued him over the years.  I hope he knew.  I saw him a couple of weeks ago, thank goodness, but our conversation consisted mainly of trivialities and promises on my part to see him more often.  My fondest memory of him, and I have many, is one July 14th evening when he was at my house for a dinner al fresco.  He burst into song, singing the French national anthem, La Marseillaise, in honor of the date.  He knew all the words.  In French.  All the gentlemen at the table joined in, amazing everyone present.  Vive La France.  He was a jewel amonst men.  My friend Debasis Sen.  I will miss you.

 

 

Look What Thelma Sent Me

 
No.  Not the glass of wine silly.  The coaster it is sitting on!  Is that not the sweetest, cutest thing ever?  And so Thelma.  The fabric has both cupcakes AND daisies.  Or Cupcakes 'n' Daisies.  This is going to stay by my right hand side forever.  In the morning I will put my tea on it.  In the evening I will put my wine on it.  Until the end of time.

Do you know that she made these for all the participants in the sew along she organized to make Eventide?  The fabulous Miss Rosie quilt pattern of the same name?  Wonderful sew along--perhaps one of the best ever.  Thelma is one of those people who always, ALWAYS goes the extra step to make things special.  I love Thelma!

And just in case you spill on the pretty side, look what's on the back:

 
Have you ever.  In your life.  Seen anything.  So adorable?  Thank you Thelma!  I hope some day I am as nice as you.

Thanks a ton, everyone, for all the comments on my kinda sorta border thoughts for my Rummy quilt.  Whew.  That was close.  I just don't have a minute to shop for the perfect fabric for a border for that quilt, and it deserves the best.  I am going to hold off on the border (Monday deadline or not) until I find the perfect solution.  Done is definitely not better than Perfect.  And also, thanks for the comments on the inner border.  I was totally thinking, oh well, let's just go with tan--and that may not be the best idea either.  You guys are the greatest.  You are all almost as nice to me as Thelma.

Have a splendiferous Easter, if you celebrate that holiday!  I am going to our traditional family brunch at my dad's house in Palo Alto.  We are all praying for sunshine so our overflow crowd of 25+ people might be able to spill outside.  No way will we all fit around the table. 

It is so funny.  At our Easter brunch, everyone always brings the exact same pot luck offering every year.  One sister does the meat (sausage and bacon), one sister does a breakfast eggy casserole, one sister does a fruit salad, one sister does croissants, one sister makes mimosas, and I always (carved in stone, tattooed on my forehead) bring Blue Berry French Toast.  And after sipping mimosas and eating croissants all morning, as you may imagine, no one does anything the rest of the day except nap.

Now I Have A Really Big Head

 
So, here's the new hat I got to accommodate my ginormously swelled head after reading all your amazingly kind comments about what you like about my blog.  It is ten gallon size at least.  What sweet, thoughtful, supportive friends you all are.  I can't tell you how much I appreciated hearing from so many of you!  If I had 400 odd prizes to give, I would love to give one to each and every one of you who took the time to comment.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.  I has been my privilege and pleasure to be blogging for 1000 posts, and your loyal readership means the world to me.  Truly, it is what this experience is all about. 

Here are the three prize winners! 

Linda W.  Here are her first sentence or two:  "Nicole- I have been a "lurker" for more than 2 years. I guess with your amazing giveaway and more than 350 comments, it's time for me to chime in too! Congratulations on your 1000th post! As a beginner/intermediate quilter, your blog has provided amazing information and inspiration."  Linda wins the Breakfast at Tiffany's fat eighth bundle.

Anita.  Here is part of what Anita said:  " Your willingness to show your failures as well as accomplishments, what not to do (cause I did it) approach, great recipes, product tips, tutorials...I love it all!"  Anita wins the Blackbird Designs layer cake and jelly roll.

Debbie R.  Here is part of Debbie's comment, which totally made my head band fly off my newly large head.  " Most of all, I admire you as a person: you are open, honest, caring, creative, passionate about quilting, and a wonderful communicator, teacher and friend to all those who read your blog."  Debbie wins the four Wisscasset charm packs, and I am throwing in a couple of Schnibbles patterns too!

Email me to let me know your addresses, girls, and your goodies will be on their way to you.  Thank you all, each and every one,  from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to speak to me.

Here is something else that is making my heart sing:

 
That's our baby in there!  She has to sit tight for a few more months, but it won't be long and I will be teaching a new quilting recruit holding her in my arms.

Do check out Monique's blog Open Gate today for her post and tutorial on the quilt she is making from her fabulous new book Fat Quarter Winners from C & T Publishing.

 

 

1000 Posts

Today is a very special day for me.  Today marks my 1000th post of  the Sister's Choice Quilts blog!  Can you even believe it?  Not sure I can either.  I started blogging on February 12, 2007, and here we are today.  My first post garnered me eight comments!  Not sure how I pulled that off.

Well, yes I do.   In early 2007, I had been reading a few quilting blogs and leaving comments, and when I started up my blog, those people were kind enough to leave me a comment in turn.  Throughout the four years and two months I have been blogging, I have met some truly lovely people.  Some people have been regular readers since the beginning, others have moved on to other interests.  I hope that I have been able to provide topics of interest and that on those occasions when I have shared my opinions and feelings that it has been well received by the majority of you. 

It has been a supreme pleasure to share my quilting journey and my daily escapades with all of you dear readers.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your comments and emails and support.  You add so much to my daily life, it cannot be measured.  For me, it is all about your comments and feedback.  I try my best to answer as many of your comments as I can, and have enjoyed getting to know some of you in the process.

To thank you for your readership (for however long you have been with me), I am going to do a celebratory give away.  Just leave me a comment to this post, telling me what you like about my blogsite Sister's Choice Quilts, and you will have a chance to win one of three prizes!

 
One layer cake AND jelly roll of Harvest Home by Blackbird Designs.

 
A fat eighth bundle of Breakfast at TIffany's by Fig Tree Quilts.

 
Four charm packs of Wiscasset by Minick and Simpson.

I will announce the three winners on Tuesday, April 12.

Thanks again for your support and interest in my blog.

Hello Sunshine, and Let's Meet a New Friend

 
"Honey?  What's that strange light coming from the sky?"  Oh, it's the SUN!  Hello sunshine,  hello.  It's been dark for a very long time....We have had something like 25 consecutive days of rain here, and today it didn't rain!  With any luck, we will have a few days to dry out before the next storm blows in.  And if we are really lucky, there won't be any more storms and the sun will keep on shining until next November.  Wouldn't that be lovely?

Speaking of lovely things, I want to introduce you someone you may not know very well.  Her name is Monique Dillard, and she is the designer behind the pattern company Open Gate Quilts.  Bet you are familiar with her patterns!  She has been designing marvelous quilt patterns for years, and has a strong presence in many of your local quilt shops.

 
She often features one of her beloved Old English Sheepdogs on her pattern covers.  Are you placing her now?  lol She is also well known, and beloved, for her two fantastic rulers "Fit To Be Geese" and "Fit To Be Square", both essentials for every quilter, in my opinion.

Well, Monique has had an excellent year!  She debuted a gorgeous line of fabric called Olde World Style.  My dear friend Thelma made a quilt with Monique's fabrics, called Olde World Stars.  If you are a regular reader of Thelma's blog, Cupcakes 'n' Daisies, you may have seen it.  This is Thelma's picture of her quilt.

 
Well, the exciting news is, the marvelous and talented Monique is coming out with a new book, and has invited Lisa, Thelma and I to do a book tour on our blogs!  The three of us, plus Monique will be doing a month of periodic posts on quilts from her new book, "Fat Quarter Winners".  You are going to love this new book.

Being a lover of scrappy quilts, I am thrilled that there is a new book on the subject of using fat quarters for making quilts.  Monique is a firm believer in using one's stash, so in her book, you will find a ton of ideas on using up that gorgeous fabric you all have on hand that deserves (yes, deserves!) to be made into a quilt.  (Your fat quarters are all calling out "Pick me, Pick ME", can't you hear them?)

The book tour will start on Monday, April 4, and we promise you a month of new ideas, tutorials, information and inspiration! 

In closing today's post, I would like to say something about the designers, patterns, books, fabric and tools that from time to time I endorse on my blog.  In the past week there has been some chatter in Blogland about individuals possibly being "on the payroll" of the companies or individuals they praise.  Well, I am not on anyone's payroll, and in fact, do not know anyone who is!  Sometimes I wish I were, but nope, nobody is funding me to say nice things about them.  Quilt related goodies are not raining from heaven down on my house, I can promise you. I am absolutely sincere about anything I rave about here.  Any person or product I review will be written in my own words, from my own heart.  With very few exceptions, all items will have been purchased with my own meager funds.  If I like something, I will tell you why and how, and show you lots of pictures of why it works for me.  And I hope you know me well enough by now, to realize that if I don't care for something, I will be honest about that as well.

Bad A** Sandals, Pork Chops and My Antonia

Do you ever find yourself with absolutely nothing of interest to blog about?  Do you do what I do, and imagine your blogging friends (um, that would be all of you) sitting around in your living room before dinner with glasses of pinot grigio and what you might talk about?  Well, here is how it might go today.

 

"So, did I show you my new sandals?  I love these, even though they cost more than I make in a week.  Totally worth it, for when you want to get that hip vibe that doesn't come easily once you reach a certain age.  I feel slightly naughty wearing them, like an aging rocker or something. Oh, and yes, they are totally comfortable and I am keeping them well out of Ozzie's reach.  Yes, how cool is that, the leather is totally edged with zipper.  They are some German brand, Paul Green, I think.  I love it that I take a 6 1/2 in a German shoe.  That equates to 9+ in American sizing!  I will need to wear them for about six years to amortize out a decent price per wearing.  It's ok though.  It is the last personal purchase I will ever make.  The rest of my disposable income will go towards my new grand child.  Oh, and fabric".

 
"What's for dinner?  Oh, pork chops and mashed potatoes.  It is my all time comfort food Go To Recipe.  My mom used to make it.  You brown some pork chops and sprinkle with diced onion.  Spread a can of Campbell's cream of chicken soup over all (I like to dilute it with some white wine-pinot grigio is fine), cover and cook for 40 minutes or so.  Meanwhile, cook up some russet potatoes and mash them.  The gravy the pork chops make is wonderful spooned over the top.  Yum.  No, it isn't gourmet--far from it, but man, is it good".

 
"What am I reading?  Or, shall we say, 'What's on my Kindle?'  That would be My Antonia, by Willa Cather.  This is such a fabulous-must-read-classic.  How on earth did I live this long without reading it?  If you haven't read it, well my goodness, you need to.  Right away.

The story is set on the Nebraska prairie around 1918 (when the book was published).  Antonia is a Bohemian girl, whose family emigrates to America and settles on the prairie.  It is a fabulous story on so many levels.  First, it is a story of the American immigrant and the struggle to make it in a harsh new land.  Second, it is a story of a couragous, stalwart young woman who had none of the advantages we enjoy in this more Feminist-Friendly time we live in.  The author was obviously a feminist, way ahead of her time.  Third, it is an All American novel.  The prairie, our immigrant ancesters, the heroism of brave women pioneers, and the random tricks of fate that shape our lives are all there in this book. 

The book is written from the point of view of a bystander, who observes Antonia's life throughout the years.  Many of the significant things that happen to her, happen 'off stage', and we only learn of them through his narration and perspective.  This book is an American Masterpiece, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.  My copy of the book, which I am enjoying on my Kindle, was FREE on amazon.com!"

OK, it's time for dinner, enough of this chit chat.  Now you know more about me and what makes me tick, that is for sure!  Shall we move into the dining room and eat those pork chops?   

New Blog to Check Out: GIVEAWAY!

I want to tell all you blogging friends about a great new quilting blog and a fabulous Give Away!

My favorite quilt shop, Prairie Queens, in San Jose, California is always on the cutting edge (no pun intended) of all things Quilty.  Their fabric selection is unparalled, the staff is helpful and friendly, their quilting services are awesome, and their projects and classes the best anywhere.  Interested in applique, wool work, or maybe embroidery?  They offer classes and supplies for those interests too. They have on hand over 7000 bolts of fabrics!  They get new things in all the time, and have great sales to make room for the latest fabric collections for many different companies, including Moda, Andover, Michael Miller, Maywood, and Lecien.  They also offer many kits for sale, and sometimes you have to act fast when those come up on their website---they sell out fast! 

Prairie Queens does a lot of things very very well, and now they have entered into the world of blogging!  Be sure to link up to their new blog Prairie Queen's Press.  Their blog will have posts on quilting, techniques, featured designers, new fabric lines, recipes, and more.

Now, if I haven't gotten you all excited about checking out the Prairie Queen's website and the Prairie Queens Press blog, here is an incentive you will not be able to resist:

 

This entire new fabric collection, Georgia Lou (Lecien), designed by the amazing Brenda Riddle of Acorn Quilt and Gift Co will be given away by Prairie Queens if you go to their new blog and leave a comment!  What are you waiting for?  Click on this link to go right there!

 

Everyone Needs These

How cute is this?  Or this?

Pam from Library Gal Quilts and Debbie from One Stitch Off have started up a little jewelry business!  They have begun making these adorable stamped metal jewelry items targeted towards quilters. 

Don't you want one right now?  Wouldn't it be the perfect gift for all your quilting friends?

Tomorrow is the the first full day of PIQF, the Pacific International Quilt Festival, the biggest quilt show in our area, and Pam and Debbie are going to be at the Honey Run Quilts booth, selling their jewelry.  If you go, be sure and stop by and have a look.  But don't buy up ALL the Keep Calm and Quilt pendants, I need one for me.

If you can't get to PIQF (I am so sorry for you), you could contact Debbie and Pam at 1stitchoff@gmail.com and get some of their fabulous jewelry. And here is the coolest thing---if you want a particular message, they are happy to customize your piece for you. 

 

Think You Can't Make Friends Through Blogging?

Well, then think again.

I am flying to Chicago today, to meet up with three women I met through blogging. Lisa of Stashmaster, Thelma of Cupcakes 'n' Daisies, and Allyson of Fat Cat Quilts.  We all four met through blogging, and are going to meet up in person at the O'Hare airport in Chicago, Illinois!  Today!!

Lisa and I are old friends, having met up twice previously, but Thelma and Allyson are new to us.  We have been friends for over a year, through our blogs and mutual sew alongs, but this is the first time we meet face to face.  I am so excited, my words just can't express it.

We are kindred spirits, that I know.  We share a love of the same sort of fabrics, the same type of quilt designs and  a similar world point of view.  We began our friendship by commenting on one another's  blogs, and then through more frequent emails.  Our blossoming friendships have added so much to each of our lives.  If you have certain blogs that you love to read, please don't hesitate to comment frequently.  That is how you get to know each other.  Don't for a minute think that the blogger is on some other plane than you yourself.  She is just like you.  She will love to get your comments.  She may even respond to you, and one thing leads to another, and before you know it, you have a new friend.

Please believe me.  Blogging is the best way to meet people who share your interests and passions.  In the almost four years I have been blogging, I have met some of the loveliest people ever,  including the quilt designer I most admired, Miss Carrie Nelson of Miss Rosie's Quilt Company.  Three years ago, Lisa and I, who as I mentioned, met through our blogs, decided to meet up and take a class from Carrie.  That decision proved to be one of the most rewarding either of us ever made.  Not only did we forge a strong bond between the two of us, we also made friends with our Quilting Guru, Carrie Nelson.

Blogging.  Making Comments.  Making Friends.  Try it, you won't be sorry.

I will be back on Wednesday, with lots of stories, pictures and quilt projects!  Check back then, and in the mean time, go make a comment on one of your favorite blogs!