Sister's Choice Quilts

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!

Happy Fall!

According to what I read on the Internet, the official Autumnal Equinox is tomorrow, but it feels like fall today.  I got the binding on my little Roundabout Schnibbles, and it adds a rather festive accent to the kitchen table.  See that bowl in the center?  That came all the way from Ireland.  My son's girl friend carried it every step of her journey the first time she came to California to visit us.  This time she came out, she brought me a silver bracelet, which she laughingly said was far easier to manage.

I finished my stunt sewing project and got it into the hands of my amazing quilter, Debbie from Prairiequeens.  Now that I have ticked that off the TO DO list, I have been working on getting my projects ready for the three (yes THREE) classes I am taking with Carrie Nelson of Miss Rosie's Quilt Company in Illinois this coming weekend.  Tuesday I finished 100 four patch units for one of the projects.  I feel compelled to get as much prep work done in advance to for two reasons---1) it reduces the bulk of what I have to pack into my suitcase, and 2) it makes more efficient use of my class time. 

Have you ever gone to a quilting class or retreat and had some poor slob in the group be completely unprepared?  They spend the first hour picking out fabrics and the next hour cutting, while everyone else is ready to jump in and start sewing.  I don't want to be that woman.

I bet you are wondering what I am going to be sewing on while in Illinois at these three quilting classes.  Well, I am carrying my Singer Featherweight from 1947 with me on the plane!  My sister Kate travels with her Featherweight often and says she never has any issues with airport security.  One TSA agent had to ask her what the heck it was, but other than that, she breezes right though. 

My machine had not been serviced in some time, so I took it in to a Sewing Center in San Jose for a tune up.  Can you imagine schlepping that thing two thousand miles to use in a Miss Rosie class only to have some dumb mechanical issues?  I got my machine back, all clean and shiny, quiet and even stitching.  But, wait.  WTH?  What is that that THING stuck to the front of my antique sewing machine? 

OMG.  Someone slapped a *sticker* on my sewing machine.  Now, I don't mean to be unreasonably cranky, but don't you think they might have asked me first if I wanted that tacky sticker on my vintage equipment?  I absolutely, definitely would have said "NO!"  So, if you ever go to Ray's Sewing Center in San Jose, California, be sure and state your preference in advance regarding the whole sticker thing.  Honestly, what nerve.

Oh, here is a link you all have got to check out, speaking of outrages.  Just read what happened to Tula Pink, one of my favorite fabric designers.  If you design fabric, I doubt it could get much worse than this.

Getting My Projects Ready for The Trip

I am in the throes of getting myself ready for my trip to Illinois to meet up with Lisa, Allyson, and Thelma.  We four gals are meeting up to take three classes from our Quilting Guru, Carrie Nelson of Miss Rosie's Quilt Company.  Now, this adventure is super exciting on a multitude of levels.

First, the four of us met through blogging!  All of us have quilting blogs, and have enjoyed following one another's projects over the years.  Lisa and I have met up twice before, and this will be our third time getting together.  I am coming from California, Lisa is coming from the Seattle area, and Allyson is coming all the way from Skagway, Alaska!!  Thelma lives in Illinois, and has the shortest distance to travel.  All four of us share a huge admiration for Carrie, her projects, sense of humor and techniques.  We fly into Chicago this Thursday, and the fun will begin. 

Thelma, who is clearly the most organized of us all, has planned our itinerary, complete with spreadsheet, and has volunteered for the dubious honor of driving us all around.  There will be many quilt shops to visit before we actually get down to the business at hand, which would be the classes we are taking from Carrie.

My task this past weekend has been to try and get my projects ready for these three classes.  One is a pattern called Ashcombe, which I posted on recently.  I had a huge collection of purples in my stash, and was interested in doing a bit of "busting" and maybe use some up.  I had posted a picture of the pattern, and asked you all what version I should make--the larger blocks or the one with blocks that were strip pieced.

As usual, I got some great advice from all you blogging friends.  I decided to go with the more intricate look of the strip pieced blocks, and add some additional larger prints into the mix.  I don't think the pattern picture does the pieced block quilt justice.  I think my purples, with their range of values are going to subtle, but really pretty.  I have a nice creamy tone on tone for the setting triangles and block separater units.

I've finished all the small size units, and hope to make a start on the larger ones before I leave on Thursday.

By the way,  you all are simply amazing.  I learned so much about embroidery from your comments and links to my post yesterday.  This the absolute best thing about blogging--I get to meet such fabulous people and learn something new everyday.  I feel like my blog is truly a dialog with so many of you!  Thank you.  Love you guys!

A New Interest

Can you guess what it is?  Embroidery!

Last week I visited a quilting event where there were numerous vendors.  One of the booths where I found myself lingering was called Bird Brain Designs.  (Love that name).  Bird Brain is about all things embroidery and stitching related.  Robin Kingsley is the bird brain (couldn't resist) behind this company, and she has come up with what I think are some of the best embroidery designs out there. Most stitchery patterns are way too juvenile or "cutesy" for me, but Bird Brain Designs are more whimsical.   Robin also has a blog, which is really fun to check out.  The online store is definitely worth investigating, as there are free patterns provided.  One of the most recent ones, "Beware, the Witch is Coming" is adorable.

Who wouldn't want this on a tea towel????  Check it out, it's FREE!

So, as often happens, I got a bit carried away.  I started to chat with one of the ladies at the booth, who helpfully led me around and showed me all the cute pattern designs the company offers, plus what all I would need to get started with my own embroidery projects.  Before I knew it...

I had a stack of tea towels to embroider, some seriously cute patterns, Perle cotton in a gazillion colors and all of this stuff:

I think the thing that is absolutely irresistible to me is the thread.  All those colors.  Oh my.  So pretty.

So, now I have myself some new projects to work on.  My first step is to get the cute stitching designs transferred onto the tea towels.  I bought a pack of something called Transfer-Eze, which you put through your printer and copy the embroidery design onto.  I forget exactly how it gets put on the tea towel--maybe I iron it on?  Of course I could always go buy a $50 light box and trace the designs myself.  Or, there always is the tape-your-pattern-to-the-window-and-trace method.

My question today is directed to all you embroidery ladies.  How do you transfer your designs onto the surface to be embroidered?  Do you have a favorite pattern company?   Do I need a class to get started, or can anyone with basic (but rusty) embroidery skills just plunge right in?

Maison de Garance

Have you gotten yours yet?  This fabric collection, Maison de Garance is just so pretty.  It is designed by French General for Moda, and I own an entire fat quarter bundle of it!  No idea what I will make of it, but I do know that it "goes" with a lot of other things in my home.

At the moment, I am working on a secret sewing project for a quilting designer who is coming out with a new book in the near future.  She allowed me to choose the fabric collection I wanted to work with, and Maison de Garance is what I chose.  I wish I could show you my project, but that is just going to have to wait!  Here is a sneak peek at some of the browns I am using in my project.

Does this color combination of red, brown, tan and cream remind you of anything?

Remember Chocolat by 3 Sisters for Moda a few years ago?  Gosh, I loved that fabric collection as well.  I made a fun sampler quilt out of it.  Here is a picture of the quilt top prior to being quilted.

 

Love that starred lattice treatment.  This quilt now lives in my living room.  Ozzie and Sophie think it just may be their quilt, but they would be so wrong about that.

EEEEEK!  One week from today I leave for Chicago to meet up with Lisa (Stashmaster), Allyson (Fat Cat Quilts) and Thelma (Cupcakes 'n' Daisies).  I have three projects to get ready for the classes we plan to take with Carrie Nelson.  How am I going to get my projects all ready for the trip, finish this stunt sewing project and pack a suitcase of appropriate clothing?  HELP!  Focus, Nicole.  Focus.

Blissed Out

This is probably the cutest darn fabric collection to come out this whole year.  I know there have been others on my Top Five List (Luna Notte, Park Avenue, Rural Jardin, etc), but this one is right up there.  Bliss by Bonnie and Camille for Moda.  Cute. Cute. Cute.

I was out shopping at my favorite quilt store this week, and picked up a little stack of fat quarters.  I have an idea of what I want to do with them too.  But, shhhhhhh, it is a surprise for the girls in my family.  It isn't too early to get started on my Christmas presents, don't you know.

This is just one of several makeup bag patterns I have come across lately, that I think would be adorable made up in cheerful feminine fabrics such as the Bliss collection.  What do you think? 

Do you have a favorite make up bag pattern?  Would you share a link to it in your comment?

Are there any good tutorials out there on the Internet? Any tips anyone has to share will be welcome.

I will be making a good dozen of these little bags, so I will be sure to share my successes and failures with you all!

No Resolution

Thank you to everyone who commented on Sara's issue with the long arm quilter who switched the backings on her two quilts.  I was amazed at the response from so many of you Long Arm Quilters who said you would do ANYTHING to make the situation right again for your customer, including picking out all the quilting and re-doing both quilts.  I even got a phone call from MY long arm quilter, offering to re-quilt Sara's quilts for free.  (Haven't I been telling you that Debbie is worth her weight in gold?).

Unfortunately, the long arm quilter who did Sara's projects was not so generous. 

She said she was very sorry.

And that was that.

No offer to make it right by re-doing the quilting.  No offer of a refund on the quilting price.   No offer of a reduction on the price of the third, yet to be quilted quilt.  

But she was very sorry.

So, Sara asked her to mail her back the remaining unquilted top and backing.  She expressed her disappointment in the service, in the waste of her time and materials, and by the apparent lack of concern regarding the major error that was committed.  And her shock that no compensation was offered.

Sometimes, "sorry" just isn't enough.

Added later:  Sara has no interest in "outing" this quilter, as many readers have suggested.  She has no vindictive feelings towards the woman and her business.  The quilter lives out in the middle of nowhere, and probably doesn't have many customers as it is.  And now she has one less.   So, what have we learned here?

When you first try a new quilter, ideally, it should be based on the recommendation of others who have used her services, not sight unseen.

Be very clear as to what materials are to be used with each quilt.  Perhaps make an inquiry as to how the quilter stores the customer's materials so they do not become mixed up.

Have a detailed conversation with the quilter regarding thread, quilting design, batting, etc.  If she isn't writing down some notes to keep with the quilt top, encourage her to do so.

To start out, just give the quilter one project and see how that goes.

What Would You Do?

Sara called me in a bit of a panic today.  You see, she had taken three quilts to a new quilter in her area, and had gotten two of them back.  The quilting was well done, and it was expensive to pay for the work.  She still has one quilt left to pick up and pay for.

Even though the quilting was well executed, there was a problem.  You see, the quilter had gotten the backings mixed up between the two quilts.

This quilt is going on the brown leather couch in Sara's living room.  This quilt was supposed to have a modern brown backing that coordinated with the April Cornell Sonnet fabrics.  (Sorry, the furry creature in the foreground is Remy.  He just had to be in the mix of things).

This quilt was meant for a baby (hence the Sandy Klop American Jane prints) and was to have the paler, more child like, green print backing.

She paid for the quilts, and when she got home, realized the error.  What would you do?  She still has one quilt left to pay for.  Should she tell the quilter of the mix up and ask for a reduction on the price of the third quilt?

She says she is very happy with the quilting, but is really bummed out about the backings being mixed up.  Obviously it isn't reasonable to have the quilting taken out and the backings swapped out.  Do you think some sort of monetary adjustment is in order or should she just live with the mistake?  Should she even tell the quilter that a mistake was made?

Tell us what your thoughts are.  Would you make a fuss?  Ask for some compensation on the  price of the third quilt?  Just live with it?  Would you go back to this quilter in the future?

I Did OK With the Hair

I look pretty good, huh?

lol  Well, I may not be as cute as Katie Holmes, but my home hair coloring project did turn out ok.  It is similar in color to Katie's at least.  No grey roots showing, and I did not trash the bathroom.

My hairdresser gave me explicit instructions, and I was using the same products she uses, so I couldn't really go too far off the track.  It did come out a shade or two darker than when my hairdresser takes care of me, but the results are even and look natural.  No hints of purple or burgundy.

Isn't that the worst, when you see some poor woman who has dyed her own hair and it is a distinct burgundy shade?  Not a good look.

Now that the kids are in Disneyland, I feel like all I want to do is put on my jammies and stay in bed until the wedding this weekend.  But I can't. I have to work every second until Thursday night.  I swear I have been steaming wrinkled trousers, folding the same damn sweaters umpteen times, and waiting on customers who are super labor intensive.  Gosh, when I go shopping, I do not want ANYONE'S opinion.  I know what I like and what looks good on me.   I just can't understand women who need a sales person to stand hostage in the fitting room giving advice and suggestions.  "Do you want to try a size up?' (To the poor schmuck who is squeezed into the size 10 and needs at least a 16). "Is that puce a color that goes with other things in your wardrobe?"  "Oh, that dusty violet really suits your hair coloring, and look how it coordinates with those grey jeans and your pebbled leather bag".  And when they waltz out of the fitting room, wagging their behind in the adorable skinny jeans, you KNOW all they want to hear is you squealing, "Oh, how cuuuuuuuuute!"  It's ok, that is what they pay me to do.

I waited on a woman today, who was like that.  She was made up like a burlesque queen, and was wearing a huge hat (sort of like the ones in yesterday's post).  She was buying a tweed suit jacket that she claimed she planned to wear ***golfing*** (I do not make this up, Friends).  She couldn't decide between the Extra Small or the Small size, just kept holding up the two jackets in front of her over and over.  She didnt' want to take off the hat and mess up her hair by actually trying them on, don't you know.  Plus, she had a diamond ring on that had a stone the size of a GOLF BALL, I kid you not.  Do you think she takes it off when she plays golf in her Chanel suit jackets?  My colleague and I had to keep the store open an extra half hour after closing while she held us captive while she decided.  Her husband ( who was at least 40 years older than her--that would make him about 120), just sat in a chair in a coma while she shopped. 

Yup, life in the fast lane, that's me.  Home dye job and all.

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