They Liked Me...

A

 Before I start a new week, I want to show you the ribbons I earned

at our 2014 Disconnected Piecers Quilt Guild Show. I was truly grateful

for the recognition for quilts I created over the past two years. Only one

was actually created to be a competition piece, and I was thrilled to have

it awarded for my efforts. So without further ado, let's get to it, shall we?

 "Over The River - My Way" earned a First Place ribbon in the

Collaborative - Bed Quilt - Small - Mixed Technique category.

You'll notice two blue ribbons. One is for me and the other will

go to Pat Alderman for her stellar longarm work. She made my

handwork and piecing look even better! (Thanks, Pat!) 

The third ribbon (in the first photograph), was awarded to the quilt

for "Viewers Choice".  After people viewed the show, they chose 

their favorite quilt and left their vote in a ballot box on their way

out. They liked me! I'm honored and humbled to have received this

ribbon, because it was given by a vote of my peers. (squeeeeeee!)

"Princeton Plates" received a Second Place ribbon in the Collaborative - 

Bed Quilt - Large - Mixed Technique category.  Pat Alderman

also did the longarm work on this quilt, so the second red ribbon is hers,

too. The large ribbon on this quilt is for "Best Track-Mounted Machine

Quilting". That ribbon will also make its way to Pat, as it was specifically

awarded for the work she did to enhance this quilt. She really deserved it!

 You can just imagine how pleased Handsome was to hear that "his"

quilt received this recognition. The quilt now resides on the guest room

bed, and it's perfect and soft for afternoon naps. He's got braggin' rights!

 "Martinique Plates" competed against "Princeton Plates" in the same category. 

It earned a Third Place ribbon. The judge later told me the difference between 

Second and Third was her assesment of the quality of fabrics used in one over 

the other. ("Moda™ Martinique vs Northcott™ Princeton.) Northcott™ won.

Susan Slaton did the machine quilting on this quilt and we stood next to 

each other during the judging. She was disappointed that her work didn't win 

the category, but I assured her that I adore this quilt and will cherish it always. 

 "Princeton Plates" earned a Third Place ribbon so Susan and I will each have a

ribbon to place on our wall for this quilt. (Thanks, Susan for your fine work!)

 I'm so glad that I was able to take photos of these quilts as they hung in the 

Exhibition Hall. The lighting really helped to show off all the beautiful 

longarm work, and we can see the entire quilt to its best advantage. It's back

 home in our master bedroom now, and I'm glad it's where it belongs again.

 You may remember that I made this small quilt as a model for a 

hand-applique' class  at Crazy Quilters last fall. When I finished

the quilt top, I asked Pam Wyka (who works there) to do the longarm

work. She did such a nice job. This quilt also earned a Second Place

ribbon for me, but this time in the Collaborative - Wall Quilt category.

One ribbon is mine and the other will go to Pam. (Thanks, Pammy!)

 This quilt now sits on our dining room table and looks right at

home against the same soft, muted colors in our area rug in the room.

 Last, but not least, is an Honorable Mention ribbon for The Pink Panther.

It competed in the Wall Quilt - Small - Applique' category.

 This quilt was a fun exercise in generating a realistic reproduction of 

an image - a well-known image at that! - in fabric and fiber. I had a 

great time creating it, and appreciate the recognition for my effort.

This show proved to be so much more than I ever dreamed or expected. 

By the time we got to returning quilts to our members, I was so tired.

Susan Slaton's "Dots & Jots" received a First Place ribbon.

 I had just received the Viewers' Choice Award and Susan and I were

folding and stacking our own quilts to take home with us. She said 

that she could have sold this quilt about 18 times over the weekend,

and I told her, "19. I love that quilt! It's so darn happy looking!"

l-r: me, Susan Slaton

As we continued to talk, Susan folded, placed it on my pile and gave it to

me as a gift. I asked her if she was serious and she assured me that she was.

I started to cry as I thanked her. She hugged me, told me to stop bawling 

and I whispered in her ear, "I think I need a nap."

It's Show Time...

"Over The River - My Way"

It's finally time...This week is Quilt Show Week for our guild.

I've entered five quilts for competition and display.

"Flutterby"

All of my quilts involve applique'.

If you've been reading my blog since I first learned this technique, you

may even chuckle a bit. You'll know that "I've come a long way, baby!".

"Martinique Plates"

I know that my friend, Flo would be proud of me if she were still here.

"Princeton Plates"

The week begins today with quilt judging for ribbons. Our guild has

about one hundred forty quilts, and most were submitted to be judged.

"The Pink Panther"

These are all my entries. I'm also having "Over The River" and

"Martinique Plates" appraised. Once "Martinique" is valued, I'll

know that "Princeton Plates" will be approximately the same value.

I'll be scribing (taking judge's notes) and helping turn quilts for

evaluation all day today. I'll be back on Wednesday to let you 

know the results. (Especially if there's anything "crow worthy"!)

 This is the week we've been working toward for the past two years.

We'll be crazy busy, but I want to savor it all.

I have to run. Judging starts at 8 o'clock this morning.

Wish me luck!

(There's still time to order raffle tickets, too! Just send me an email for details.)

Not Too Shabby...

...for a Shabby Tote, that is.

I finished the model for my next class. Now, to write the pattern for it.

Sewn with sweet, floral fabric, vintage lace and button, a dreamy image

and a floral accent on the pocket, all merging to become one girly bag.

 It can be sewn with or without batting. Then, add a pocket inside

for your keys or cell phone and voila! Grab your tote and head off

to the nearest flea market, shop or event to show off your creation.

You know your friends will want one, too! They make great gifts.

I'm really excited to share my pattern and techniques with the 

students who sign up for this class.  It's going to be so much fun!

Just imagine them bringing all their own laces, buttons and trim

to class and then letting their imaginations run wild. Wheee!

Once the pattern is written, I'll also be able to share it with you

via Craftsy. I'll let you know when it's up on my shop site, so you

can play with your vintage stash, too! I'll also have little kits that

will include the outside fabric, and image of your choice with

coordinating vintage lace, just in case you'd like a little headstart.

I'll put those up in my Etsy shop. I guess I'd better write that pattern!

Today, I'll be teaching "Flutterby" at Crazy Quilters. 

There really is nothing quite so rewarding as the look on a student's

face when you can tell they've learned a technique you're teaching.

I'm going to be looking for that today.

I hope you have a creative day today, too.
Later, girlfriends!

Winners...

 I finished the quilt top for "Flutterby"...and I think it's a winner!

 This is to show you the whole quilt top.

 This is to show you my cute knees. lol

 After I finished the quilt top, I assembled a new Strawberry Rose Pincushion.

I had done the stitching a while ago, and now it's finished for a swap I'm in.

 I joined Erin and her other participants at Why Not Sew? Quilts blog for a 

Strawberry Pincushion Swap. This swap was right up my alley. A real winner!

 I'm sending it off to my swap partner today. I sure hope she likes it!

Oh! It just occurred to me that you're all here to find out 

who the winners of my 1600th Post Giveaway are! 

Silly me!

Well, let me announce the winners now!

The winner of the fabric assortment is:

#25 GILL

 The three FOUR (I added one more!) winners of 

"Home Comforts" are:

#14 JOYCELM

#61 GLORIA M

#60 CLARA

and

#41 MRAY

 and finally,

The three FOUR (I added one more!) winners of 

"Simple Things, Small Joys" are:

#50 CHARLOTTE

#1 LEANNE of Quiltmekiwi

(See? #1 does win!)

#4 MINIMISS*

#64 SHIRLEY*

If there isn't a blog link or (*) after your name, please contact me with your full name

and address so that I can send your prize to you. You can send a message to me via the

email link on my right sidebar.  I'll mail your prize as soon as I have your information.

(If I don't hear from you by next Friday, October 11, 2013, I'll draw a new name.)

Congratulations to everyone who won a prize

and

Thank you to all who entered and visit Brynwood.

I appreciate each and every one of you.

xo

 Whenever I have to go to Sarasota, I figure I lose a half-day in the studio. Such 

was the case yesterday. I had appointments to keep and didn't get back home until 

nearly 2 pm. I made a bee-line for my playroom and almost finished my quilt top.

I only have one more corner assembly to construct, and then I can sew all four

corners to the quilt. I'll be finished by noon, and then I'll sit back and admire

 it before I go grab my camera to take pictures. Hoping for good, natural light.

 Right about the time I was ready to take these, it started to rain. Good for

the yard. Bad for capturing images that reflect the most accurate colors.

I'll be sure to get much better ones of the finished piece to share with you.

Today is the last day to enter my 1600th Post Giveaway. 

You have until midnight to add your names to the pot, and I'll announce

the winners in tomorrow's post. Here's the link to go to the post.

That's More Like It...

 A lot of good rest overnight and starting with a clear head yesterday morning...

that's all it took to work through the problems I had with my current project.

I read - and then re-read - the instructions, and then I set about correctly

assembling the first three borders (and appliqued' corners) on my quilt project.

 Funny how daylight made everything so much easier! It went together

like a dream...considering that I went to sleep more than a little flustered.

 Today I'll be adding more blocks and borders. I'm quite sure that by

the end of the day, I'll have this entire, cheerful quilt top finished. 

If you haven't visited in the past week, you might want to head

over to this post to enter my 1600th Post Giveaway. You only have

until Friday. I'll announce the winners on Saturday. Good Luck!

I Almost Cursed...

 Almost. But I didn't. I bit my tongue and got out the ripper. Whew! 

I went to Paneras last night to see my girlfriends, but I didn't stay as late

as usual because I wanted to get back home and make some headway on

my "Flutterby" quilt top. I should have visited longer, because everything

I did had to be taken out and redone. I don't know about you, but I really

dislike ripping out sewing machine stitches...and I did a lot of that last night.

I made all my first border strips...backwards. They were supposed to have

three light triangles on each, and finish with untrimmed dark pieces on each

end. I didn't realize they were all backwards until I'd stitched two of them

onto the center appliqued' block. I couldn't figure out why it wasn't looking

the way it looked in my pattern. It would have helped to pay more attention

to the pattern, but I guess I have a little "corgi" in me, because I thought I

had it figured out the first time without having to check my work as I went.

 So, I finally got this far by 12:30 last night and decided I'd better quit while

I was ahead. I'll start fresh today and sew the borders and corners with a

clear head. You can bet I'll be paying closer attention to what I'm doing.

I'm also glad that I have plenty of the fabrics to finish my design. First, I'll

have to cut more fabric before I can complete the second borders. sigh

The good thing about this is that I'm getting out the "bugs" for my students.

I'll be able to tell them where they might get tripped up - and save them the 

grief and aggravation. I want to make sure they're not cursing in class, too!

Making Flutterby Progress...

 It was a beautiful weekend, indeed. In addition to family time, I was also

able to set up the corner blocks for my upcoming "Flutterby" class quilt.

 I took these photos while I still had nice light in the studio, but by the

 end of Sunday evening I had finished stitching two of the corners. I'll

finish the other two today and then I'll start assembling the blocks.

Don't forget to enter my 1600th Post Giveaway, too! Click here.

It's ok if you're not a quilter, if you enter and win, let me know and

I'll choose something else just for you, too! (Knit, read, scrapbook...)

Wishing all of you a wonderful, light-filled and creative week.

Flutterby...

 I have been busy this week working on a new quilt. It wasn't all rearranging

furniture and moving the studio around, you know. I'm going to be teaching

new classes in October, so I thought it might be a good idea to sew up the

projects ahead of time. Yeah. Nothing like waiting 'til the last minute.

One class I'll be teaching is a sweet quilt called "Flutterby" by Whimsicals.

It involves hand applique', simple piecing, and finishes under 50" square.

 I'm nearly finished with the center motif and will work the butterfly corners

 next. After they're finished, I'll work my way through the instructions to

 complete the piecing assembly. I like to go step-by-step, so that I know

 where my students might get hung up. I can work out any bugs so they

won't have to. (So far, the instructions are great and easily understood.)

I'll be working on it all weekend, so I'll give you an update on Monday.

Don't forget to enter my 1600th Post Giveaway. Just click HERE.

Thanks to all who have already entered.

I'm enjoying all the comments you're leaving for me.

 You are all so sweet, and I appreciate every single one of you.

 I'm glad that winners will be chosen by the Random Number Generator.

It takes the pressure off me. (I so wish I could give everyone a gift!)

Good Luck to all of you!!