Exile. How sweet the word! Sweet hubby and I decided to exile ourselves this week. Away we flew in Dad’s RV, away to a nearby, not-to-be-disclosed location, away from phones, away from email, away from the rest of the world. We got to our destination, plugged in, and hunkered down. Yes, there was snow on the ground, but we were warm and toasty inside. We watched movies and read and ate ice cream and pretty much just sat around until our rear ends were sore. Then we laid down and watched more movies. We only left the RV to treat [ ... ]
Jan 27
2012
Exile. How sweet the word! Sweet hubby and I decided to exile ourselves this week. Away we flew in Dad’s RV, away to a nearby, not-to-be-disclosed location, away from phones, away from email, away from the rest of the world. We got to our destination, plugged in, and hunkered down. Yes, there was snow on the ground, but we were warm and toasty inside. We watched movies and read and ate ice cream and pretty much just sat around until our rear ends were sore. Then we laid down and watched more movies. We only left the RV to treat [ ... ]
Category: blue things, giveaways, published, Sapphire Star, traditional quilts
15 Comments
Jan 17
2012
Earlier this month, we set up George in the folding table that came with it. To my surprise, somehow my measurements were off and the table was 3″ too long for the space that was available. Because of that, when the table was set up, it was nearly impossible to freely move around in my studio. That was okay, though. The plan all along was for George to eventually live in my 4 foot by 8 foot work table. Yesterday, sweet hubby decided he might as well prepare George’s permanent home sooner than later.
We started by carefully studying the custom [ ... ]
Category: studio
5 Comments
Jan 16
2012
I just got my IQA (International Quilt Association) Digital Journal for Winter 2013. It has the award winning quilts from the 2011 IQA Judged Show in it. All I have to say is, seriously? When “Windblown” won the big award at the Houston quilt festival, they told me I would have to say a few words at the awards banquet. Not my favorite thing to do, and I didn’t do it well, either, but no one told me that they were going to print my acceptance “speech” (if [ ... ]
Category: awards, Windblown
3 Comments
Jan 14
2012
Today was Craft Day at our little church. It’s a really nice time where the ladies can all gather together for food and fellowship. We each bring whatever craft we like and sit and work and chat. Ahhh…relax!
I grabbed the Sapphire Star quilt I’ve been hand quilting. It’s been sitting for several months and I really need to start working on it more regularly.
Anyway, I got to church with the quilt, my needles and thread, and my thimble and peacefully began quilting. I’m just doing a simple running stitch 1/4″ away from the [ ... ]
Category: blue things, Sapphire Star, tools
2 Comments
Jan 12
2012
I’ve been going through a slow thaw. Sweet hubby and I traveled to visit my dad last week. We stayed with my brother and sister-in-law who live in California. They’ve been caring for Dad the last few years. My other brother who lives in Japan came, along with his wife and daughter, and my sister and her husband came from Oregon. It was nice having a mini family reunion for a few days.
For some reason, it has been very difficult to recover from the three hour time change this trip. Both DH and I have been moving [ ... ]
Category: family, studio
2 Comments
Jan 03
2012
I realize that sometimes it is a good challenge or deadline that motivates me to get things done. Maybe you work that way too? Within a Quarter Inch is hosting a Studi-O-rganization project for 2012. There will be homework assignments, tutorials, projects, challenges, giveaways, and guest bloggers.
I’m a sucker for all kinds of organizing ideas, so it sounds like fun to me! Plus, I’ve gotta learn how to keep my studio uncluttered and cleaned up. (I know, I know, put things away when you’re done using them!) That’s [ ... ]
Category: organizing
One Comment
Jan 02
2012
Have you wanted to give free-motion quilting a try? Or, do you want to improve your skills? You might want to join SewCalGal’s 2012 Free Motion Quilting Challenge. I thought this would be a great way for me to get to know George. Maybe it would motivate you, too.
Each month there will be a different guest teacher who is a free-motion quilting expert. Quilters like:
Frances Moore
Diane Gaudynski
Leah Day
Cindy Needham
Wendy Sheppard
Paula Reid
Patsy Thompson
Irene Bluhm
Ann Fahl
Susan Brubaker Knapp
Don Linn
Sarah Vedeler
(I confess it [ ... ]
Category: free-motion quilting
3 Comments
Jan 01
2012
I want to introduce you to “Quilt Queen.” I just finished her on Friday, but thought sharing her with you today would be a great way to start the new year! She’s just 24″ square, and I created her as a way to experiment with different ways of using a glue stick in quiltmaking, which will be the topic of an upcoming “Out of the Toolbox” article in Quilting Arts magazine.
Queen Queen is definitely not part of the “quilt police”! Instead, she is kind and benevolent, eager to learn every new technique that is available to us [ ... ]
Category: Quilt Queen
8 Comments
Dec 30
2011
I am delighted to announce
the arrival of
George
December 30, 2011
37 lbs.
29 by 18 inches
7:17 p.m.
(Yes, I was in labor ALL day!)
And, yes, it came with the red bow
I love that it arrived in a box that says, “Caution – Extreme Excitement Bundled Inside*
* Contents may cause excessive hugging, squealing, jumping, and fist-pumping!”
(I also love the fact that this last sentence is written like it’s blowing in the wind because the machine was earned because Windblown won a big award at the IQA Houston show!)
Category: studio
13 Comments
Dec 28
2011
I’ve always wanted a design wall, but we live in a fairly small house. I’m extremely blessed and thankful that I have a dedicated space for my stuido area, and I like that it is a part of the family room so I’m not isolated. But, I have too many things that I have to fit in my studio and there is no possible way to have a completely empty wall for a design wall. I told you earlier about my portable design wall, but there isn’t even room for that in my studio.
Over the [ ... ]
Category: studio, tutorials
3 Comments
