Joe, Quilting

Posted on February 22, 2009 by Suzanne

In case you can’t tell, that look says “You are not seriously going to take my picture, are you?”

That looks says “Hey, a guy can’t quilt an entire quilt at one go. He needs to take a break, stretch his finger muscles out, before he can give the rest of the quilt his full attention.”

That quiltings says “Joe 09″ — because all artists have to sign their work.

Joe’s meandering doesn’t show up very well in photos, I’ll try to take some other shots in better light.

I bought this as a kit last year, with a certain young male relative in mind.

I showed Joe the picture of the quilt and asked if he’d be OK with it as his quilt show entry. He contemplated it a bit, and then said “Colin likes construction stuff, right?”

(Colin is his 3 year old cousin, the one I had in mind…but I didn’t tell Joe that…).

Joe informed me that he would like to quilt it, and that when it was done wiht it’s trip to New Hampshire, we should give it to Colin for his birthday.

I think I might be winning the battle to turn them into civilized human beings.

Just remind me of that the next time they giggle hysterically over their bodily noises.

Look deep into my eyes

Posted on February 16, 2009 by Suzanne

WEll, my kid’s eyes, anyway.

I have seriously got to stop trying take pictures at the end of the day when there is no light. How many times have I said that? Sheesh. I hate it when I have to learn a lesson over and over and over.

So the other day, I was debating between knitting and sewing.

I did both.

I’m several more rows on since this picture. This yarn is so yummy. This is a kit, came with several different kinds of yarns (different fibers and textures) that were dyed to match. It’ going to be a ripple afghan, and it’s pretty easy to knit, doesn’t require too much brain power, but just enough brain power that it isn’t boring.

This still needs borders. And a back. This is what Joe is going to quilt for the Kids Can Quilt competition. We’re goign to start to run out of time to do this, so I’d better get busy.

This was from a kit that I got last year at Road to California. A large part of the quilt top is the printed stripe. I pieced the stars and the square in a square blocks in the middle. The pattern was from the manufacturer and had an error. Ugh. The star points? They had you cut them 1/4 inch too small. So…it’s lucky I have such a large and varied stash, as I was able to find something in the right color that would substitute.

I think that’s all I know for now.

TTFN-

Suzanne

That carpet

Posted on February 11, 2009 by Suzanne

The one thing I like the LEAST about my new studio is that carpet. My first quilting machine started on carpet, then I moved to painted concrete, then to hardwood floors, and now back to carpet. I hate it. But then, I’m not a big fan of carpet, period, so I might be biased.

For one thing, dropped pins are likely to get themselves shoved into the pile of that Berber.

For another thing, this particular carpet is in desperate need of a really good cleaning. Yuck.

It’s kind of fun to take and then post pictures of my surroundings that I haven’t “staged.”

Do you ever “snoop” at pictures that people have posted, wondering about the “stuff” that they left in the frame?

Well, here you go. Here’s the scoop on my stuff:

The quilt has since had it’s borders added. Will is going to quilt this one for the Kids Can Quilt category at the Machine Quilter’s Exposition in New Hampshire. Joe’s quilt is almost pieced. These are the two quilts I’ve mentioned in previous e-mails.

The quilt is one of my own design. I think this is my third version of it. The pattern is almost written. Pretty soon I’m going to be looking for pattern testers for a number of different patterns. If I don’t keep getting sidetracked by a million other things.

(Did you notice MY handwriting in the picture?)

Mary Jo asked about the quilt you could see in the background of yesterday’s picture. That one is a quilt that my friend Miki designed for me when I wrote my 2nd machine quilting book. It’s called Gotcha Covered (the link takes you to Knots & Bolts). The quilt on the pattern cover looks totally different. *MY* version of the quilt is on the front cover of my book.

And somewhere, I have a picture that shows more of it…but where?

Well, this shows more of it, but you have to ignore the extra “stuff” in this picture:

(Though they are awfully cute stuff. Anybody want them? You can have them. Two for the price of one, today only.)

TTFN-

The Giveaway Quilt

Posted on February 2, 2009 by Suzanne

stay tuned for the outcome, comments are closed, thanks to everyone that entered.

When last I rambled about what quilt I would be offering in this giveaway, I think I left off at Plan D.

I’ve decided to go with Plan E. A quilt that is already quilted and finished.

This quilt was originally purchased by my Grandmother. It was one of those “hand-quilted” things that was pretty badly hand quilted. She let me have it, I took it apart, and then requilted it with a new backing. I can’t remember the exact dimensions, but I think it fits a FULL size bed.

For a number of reasons, she does not need it any longer. In fact, it’s been quilted since April 2006, sitting in a pile waiting to for the binding to be finished every since. So it’s not like I’m taking quilts off of people who are going to be cold. It doesn’t really suit the style of my husband or children, though they don’t seem to scruple too much over which quilt they DO grab.

Nearly all of the hearts are quilted differently. I’ve uploaded a gob of pictures to my Flickr account:

Heart Quilt pictures

If you commented on the Housewarming Party post, you are already entered. If you haven’t entered, you can comment there or here. If you comment here ALSO, I will only enter you in the drawing once.

But:

I know you don’t like to hurt your chances of winning, but if you could post about this on your OWN blog, I’ll enter your name another FIVE times, just leave me a link to your blog.

I’ll have the boys help me draw a name on FRIDAY, February 6th, around 4PM CST.

Due to the downtime issues my blog has experienced this week, I’m extending the deadline until MONDAY, February 9th, around 4PM CST. But that’s it. I really will do the drawing that day.

You won’t hurt my feelings if you don’t keep the quilt. Maybe you have a granddaughter that needs a quilt, or maybe you’d like to pass it on to a worthy charity. Maybe you are a beginning machine quilter that would be interested in having this for some ideas and reference.

I do have to warn you that I have to finish binding it before I can send it to you…I promise to get to it as soon as I can. I have to finish binding the Daisy quilt first…

Good luck!

Suzanne

stay tuned for the outcome, comments are closed, thanks to everyone that entered.

Workin’ on a UFO

Posted on October 12, 2007 by Suzanne

After spending part of the day working on an altered book (I’m so far behind in my round robin project, oy….), I decided to spend this evening resurrecting an old UFO. I don’t even really remember when I started this. Or why. Well, I know why: it was for a baby, but I got this far and decided that it was too much work for a baby girl that wasn’t related to me, so I shoved it all in a bag and it’s been sitting, just waiting for the perfect opportunity….

I have enough of the fairy fabric to have 35 squares, plus the starry sashing will make it about 35 by 47. I usually like to make baby quilts big enough to be toddler quilts, too, but this one might stay on the smallish size, and when it’s outgrown it can be a biggish doll quilt. Oooo — doll quilts! They are all the rage right now, aren’t they?

Tomorrow is packed full of football fun — I have to take a turn in the concession stand for 2 hours before the boys’ game — it’s the last game of the season!

TTFN-

Suzanne

p.s. Have I mentioned that my SISTER is expecting?? NOT ME. Don’t even think about it. Twin boys is more than enough for me….