Sister's Choice Quilts

Blended Challenge Finale

This Blended Quilt Challenge has just been the most fun.  In fact, I became a bit obsessed with the possibilities that were out there for making any number of exquisite quilts using the blended fabrics method.  I picked an easy one to begin with:  a medallion style quilt top.  With a medallion quilt, you begin with a center panel or print and continue building rows around it, adding borders until it is the size you want in the end.  These quilts can be quite large, and actually go together fairly quickly because not a lot of piecing is involved.  This pattern is called "Memories of Versailles" and is from the Blended II book by Marsha McCloskey.

While I was waiting for the fabrics pictured above to arrive in the mail, I started playing around with some lovely florals from the Dominique line by Moda.  I chose a pattern called "Burgundy Star", also from the Blended II book.  My idea was to make a black, rose and green quilt.  Here are some of the blocks I made:

I made a couple dozen blocks and laid them out on my "design bed" in the guest room, and made an interesting discovery.  Some of the blocks just did not work with the others.  I pulled those odd ball blocks out and guess what?  I thought they were stunning set apart by themselves and may be even more interesting than the "good" blocks.  So, I went back to the Bernina and made a couple dozen more blocks along the theme of the "odd ball" blocks.  And this is what happened:

Sometimes the blocks you think aren't working can turn into a great creative idea when left to shine on their own.  I think my quilt has kind of a British Colonial feel to it, in those wonderful neutral toiles and paisleys, with just a touch of black and sage to catch your eye.  I ended up changing the Burgundy Star pattern by making more blocks and putting on two additional borders.

Of course I still have all my pretty black, rose and green blocks from the original blended quilt concept I had, and someday will turn them into a quilt as well.  Some of you may recall I was playing around with a blended blue log cabin idea as well, and I know that one will get finished one day too!  So many quilts to make.....

It has been incredibly enjoyable to work along with my very talented blogging friends, Perry, Cindy, and Lisa on this Challenge project.  What a terrific way to get to know like-minded people and to share the passion for quilting.  Not to mention, how the imposed Challenge Deadline forces you to keep up your sewing and get the quilt top finished!  It has been a blast girls, let's do another one soon!

Please go check out Perry, Cindy, and Lisa's blog posts today to see what amazing and beautiful quilts they have made!

I Won a Blog Contest!

My goodness.  I just won something!  Dear Jane from  Sew It Create It had a blog giveaway going on and I made a comment on the required day.  Miraculously, my name was the winner!  You see above the lovely things she sent me, all the way from England.  A terrific tote all made out of denim jeans, and appliqued with a flower on one side, and a teddy bear on the other!  The pocket you see there is really an operational pocket.  As if that wasn't a enough of a treat, she also included two British Patchwork and Quilting magazines!  I am just over the moon with my good fortune and the new friend I have made "across the pond".   

I am so blessed to have met so many lovely women in my blogging journey.  Thank you Jane.

Hit the Ground Running

I think I mentioned a few posts ago that I have been invited to teach Miss Rosie quilt patterns at my favorite local quilt shop.  I had two quilts in mind for this spring calendar session, with the idea that I would teach one class in March and the second one in May.  I received a phone call from the diabolical Miss April at the shop, saying, by the way, they need my quilt top in two days so it can be quilted in time for the shop Open House on Feb 2 when all the teachers display the quilts they plan to teach.  I muttered to April that I had just returned from Nashville, and that I would "do my best" to get the quilt made in two days.

Well, guess what?  I did!  I have never slapped a quilt top together this fast in my life.  The quilt is called Gingersnap and is from Carrie Nelson's "It's a Dog's Life" book.  The fabrics are various fat quarters from the Fig Tree lines Day In the Country and Urban Indigo by Moda.  The class will be called "What Would Miss Rosie Do?"

Ozzie has discovered a new favorite spot in my family room, where he can perch and still have his eye on me.  I believe in a past life he was a mountain goat.

I have been one busy girl the past week or so, and I have so many of your sweet comments and emails to respond to.  Tomorrow I will set aside some time and get back to all of you!

Drumroll Please

We have a winner!  Cindy of Too Much Fabric, Too Little Time has without a doubt the messiest work space I have ever seen.  She has PILES of things.  What a colossal mess.  Her hands must have been shaking with fear as she took this picture, because it is a teensy bit blurry.

I had a very hard time deciding on who was the messiest, so I believe I will have to name a second place runner up.  That would be Jan of Miss Jan Quilts.

Send me your addresses girls and a little something will be coming your way in the mail!
Congratulations?

Challenge Week 7

Only one more border and this quilt top will be finished!  The final reveal won't be much of a surprise, but I have a little something extra up my sleeve as a bonus.  Please check out Lisa, Perry, and Cindy's blog sites to see their progress on this joint Blended Challenge Project.

I returned from Nashville yesterday, all revved up for a successful Spring Fashion Season.  My mind is just whirling with great ideas rattling around.  The clothes are better than ever!  I met so many fine women, and got loads of wonderful suggestions for presenting the clothing line to my customers.  There were 2500 women at the convention!  What a fabulous opportunity to meet interesting and successful women and get to know them a bit better.  There is nothing better than a supportive community of women!  I felt rather overwhelmed when I arrived--this event was HUGE! 

I am so glad to be home safe with my husband and Ozzie.  Ozzie was jumping out of his fur with excitement to see me.  He has calmed down now however, and is relaxing in one of his favorite sunny spots.

Once I get unpacked and organized, I will post the winner of the Who's The Messiest Tag.  One person certainly has gotten the most votes!  You slob, you!

Rhinestone Cowgirl Princess

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Greetings from Nashville.  I didn't think this whole country thing was quite my style, but I have to admit, it is growing on me.  Think Rockabilly, line dancing, ribs, big hair, cowboy hats, fringe and rhinestones.  Oh my, I can definitely say that it is fun, even if I won't be adopting the rhinestones and fringe in my wardrobe.   And the guys line dancing in their boots and fitted jeans isn't too hard to take either. 

Talk to you Monday!  We will see who gets the prize for Messiest Work Table, plus you will get to hear about another new venture I will be undertaking:  teaching Miss Rosie classes at my favorite quilt shop!!!  Now that is a dream come true for sure.

A Little Bonus

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Well, here I am in Nashville, getting my training on how to be a fashion consultant for the new company I am going to be respresenting, and having a wonderful time.  One teeny little detail that was mentioned, but not really *emphasized* was that there would be Shopping Opportunities.  That being the understatement of the new century.  It turns out that in between my training classes, I can take a little break in this huge warehouse sized room full of past season's clothing.  Which is on sale for 65% off.  I may have to send my dirty laundry home by UPS so I have room in my suitcase.

Fashionista

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I am taking on a few new things lately.  One is that I have been accepted to be a fashion consultant for a Southern California designer's clothing company!  Loving clothes almost as I love quilting, this is a great opportuinty for me to indulge that passion.  Tomorrow I leave for my corporate training in, of all places, Nashville, Tennessee.   I will post a couple of times while I am away, and will return your emails on Monday when I return.

On Monday we can see whose mess is the messiest and the loser winner will get a little prize to add to the mess on their cutting table.  Check out these folk's links and let me know who you think deserves the prize.  Jane, Julia, Sharon, Lisa, Perry, Cindy, Lee, and Pam. If I haven't mentioned you, do send me another email with a link to your messy photo and I will include it in the contest consideration.

Bon voyage for now.  Or should I say "Yee Haw"?

Blended Quilt Color Options, Week Six

I am having a very happy time playing with ideas for blended quilts.  It has become a bit of an obsession, really.  And my Blended Challenge friends are a bit stalled out these past couple of weeks, so I hesitate to blather on about the subject of Blended Quilts, but I just can't help myself.  I am obsessed again, just like I was with those darn napkins during Christmas.

I had all my red, black, green and pink blocks laid out and something just wasn't working for me.  I asked myself, "Which blocks stand out as the ones that don't go with the others?"  The odd balls were all very neutral in color and just weren't jiving with the more colorful blocks.  I set them aside and gasped.  A quilt out of these calming hardly-any-color blocks would be amazing.

Here are all my colorful blocks, sitting by themselves, pouting, like the girl who didn't get asked to dance.

Don't fret Sweetie, we will have fun soon.

Mess, Mess, Who's Got the Bigget Mess Tag

My friend Karen at Living Life at Leehaven recently posted a picture of her messy cutting table and played a game to see if she could spy 15 things on its cluttered surface.  I thought it was such a cute, fun idea and asked her if I could steal her concept and start a tag game.  Let's see who has the messiest table.  If I think it is you, I will send you a prize.  Post your photo on your blog and let's have a vote!

So, here you see my work space, which is a total joke, since you can easily see there is absolutely no room to do anything at all, since there is no clear space to speak of.  Can I spy 15 things?  Oh, no problem.

1)  Basket of left over scraps and a roll of something called buckram. 

2)  Tape measure

3)  Open book--Blended II

4)  Calculator

5)  Parts of blended blocks I may or may not use

6)  Scraps of background fabrics for blended blocks

7)  Background, green, tan and black fabric I  am auditioning for more blended blocks

8)  Chalk marker

9)  Scissors

10)  Cutting ruler

11)  Precision Trimmer

12)  Pin holder

13)  Iron and ironing mat

14)  Parts of blended block I will definitely use

15)  Diet Coke

There is a lot more under there, but I think 15 is more than enough to mention.

I consider myself a very organized person, as evidenced by the smidgen of the tool grid you see above my cutting table.  Thread is all arranged by color, rulers hung by size and type, rotary cutters lined up, and a few inspiration patterns on a hook.  But the cutting table work space just gets away from me in my creative moments.

Hmmm, who shall I tag?  Karen is already in, Lisa for sure, and Susan,  Pam,  Sharon, Perry, Cindy, and ANYONE ELSE who wants to play!  Let me know if you post a photo on your blog so we can have a look!  Whose got the biggest mess?