And the winner is...

Wacky Woman and Julie Shepherd.  Actually it is two winners.  This are the only two responses that I received on naming my 9 patch pizazz.  I combined the suggestions from both and came up with "Mai Tai Tango".  I love it!  Ladies, send me your addresses so I can send you your fat quarters.  Thank you for responding.

Now one to some new stuff!

This is one of my next classes.  Hochy Mama blocks by Mary Lou Wideman.  Pretty wild!  I just love it.

I hope to get it quilted this week between all the busyness.

I wanted to show you pictures from my French Braid class but I can seem to download the night class.  The day class is Monday, so after that class I'll post all of them.

Here's Daniel.  We are celebrating his first birthday tomorrow, even though his birthday was on March 17th.  Between all the illness with the kids and work and just everyday craziness, we could not get it all together.  It should be fun and crazy with all the kids.

Passion - Days Gone By

 

Here is my quilt I made using a folded tuck technique we learned from our Loose Threads group.  Our word was passion.  The picture is of my husband's parents.  To me they demonstrated a form of passion that showed love and respect.  When my mother-in-law died you could see the huge loss my father-in-law experienced.  Their dedication is still an example to us all. 

I used laces, trims, little plastic flowers and two pins I found in my mother-in-laws things to make this as memorable as I could.  I hope to make three more some day for my daughters.

Trunk Show!

Here I am giving a trunk show to the Nipomo Guild. The ladies (and one lovely gentleman) were so wonderful.  They made me feel right at home.  I had a fantastic time showing one large suitcase of somewhat traditional quilts and  one of art quilts.  They all seemed to like them.  The test is how many questions they ask after the trunk show.  They asked quite a few.  I was so blessed to be able to spend the night with my friend Sue and her wonderfully sweet husband Dennis.  I look forward to doing this again (both spending time with Sue and doing another trunk show on the coast), I hope!

Here is the finished quilt.  I spent quite a bit of time quilting it.  I am trying to challenge myself not to cop out and just do an overall design when the quilt is busy.  This is good practice and I love the end results. 

Any suggestions for the name of this quilt?  The winner will receive a fat quarter from three of the fabrics in this quilt.

I taught this handbag class and had one student so I was able to make this one during the class.  Of course, I had a great time because Sarah was the student.

This week should fly past in a flash.  I am teaching three classes this week, working two mornings, our Loose Threads group is meeting (my quilt is finished and I will show you that soon), other appointments and a dinner to go to Friday night.  I look forward to Saturday just to quilt!

The weather should be beautiful this week so if you are in California get outside and enjoy it.  Off I go to teach class.  Taking my camera so I can show you my students beautiful work!

A Little Bit Of Green

"Top of the morning to you!", happy St. Patrick's Day, and to my precious grandson, Daniel, Happy 1st Birthday! 

I just thought I would share a little of what I have been doing this past week and all the green that was involved.  First, this is the theme quilt for Orange Blossom Quilters.  It is a new little quilt each month.  This is March.  It's not quilted yet but I finished appliqueing the leaves this morning (green thread!)

I just got this quilt back for the quilter (Jeremy), and have yet to put a binding on it.  I ran out of material and thought I had something but it looks like I have to go shopping.  Do you think they will have green material for sale today?  This quilt is called "Lydia's Irish Dream" for a friend who is going to graduate this year from high school, she loves Ireland and the color green.

Remember this quilt from the last post?  Well, I took it to Thimble Town to get something for the border and with some help realized I didn't like the green I had used for the settling triangles.  I brought some mottled pink and orange home (which I used only a small portion of the three yards I bought!) and I also brought home another fabric which I did not use.  I finally went with my instincts and used a batik green I had and made the border with triangles (which had been brewing in my mind for sometime).  I am a lot happier with the quilt.









The color green has taught me so much this week.  Go with your instincts.  Trust your self.  If it doesn't work you have only your self to deal with.  If you take someone else's suggestions over your own instincts, and you are not happy with it, you still are going to be upset with yourself, and now someone else. Don't under estimate yourself!  This is a lesson we can all learn.

I will end with some pictures of the Common Threads Block of the Month and my gifts from my secret pal at the Kings River Quilt Guild.  HAVE A GREAT (GREEN) DAY!

Joy, Soul, and I need help!

Here's Keira shouting with joy!  This started as an assignment for our Loose Threads art group.  Take a photo, manipulate it in photo shop and then make a quilt depicting "Joy".  Not really knowing what to do, I cut it up, fussed it on, quilted it and added beads (which I am not quite done with).  When I showed it to her, she knew who it was.  She is 2 1/2.

Our next project was adding three dimensional flowers and using the word "Soul".  Here is my 12 x 12 inch "Heart and Soul" quilt that I am going to send off to the SAQA online auction. 

I took a class Saturday from Judy Sisneros through the Common Threads quilt guild.  She was a fine teacher but I hate my quilt.  I wish I had just used my own fabric ideas.  I can't decide on a border either.  I took the class because I had the book but I think I would have liked it better if I had done it on my own.  Help!  What do I do with this?  I am stuck on what direction to take for the border. 

Break Time!

I've been working on store samples for Thimble Town and finally finished this top.  The other one is on the design wall only partially put together.  But I hope to have it done Monday.  This quilt contains 156 blocks!  I thought I was never going to get it pieced.  It is from the book "City Quilts" by Cheri House.  I am teaching one of her patterns tomorrow but I don't have a picture of the quilt.  I'll take one tomorrow and post it.  I love the simplicity of the quilts when they are done but I find myself struggling to put them together because they are so mindless.  The one on the design wall is also from this book.

These are blocks of the months for two of my guilds.  They gave me a break from the store samples.

Hope to have some more pictures Monday!

Aren't birthdays great...

...when you finally get to celebrate with friends!  Yesterday, I finally got to spend the day with two of my friendship groups and they celebrated my birthday.  First, Needle Divas met at Grace's and she put on a great lunch for us.  It was a little sad because there were only four of us.  Five were missing including our special friend Kathy who just moved to Colorado.  We all miss her very much!  But I did receive a card and fat quarter from her.  Thank you Kathy!

Notice the dish towel from my Needle Diva friend Carol!

Then our "Loose Threads" art group met during the evening.  Here are my birthday banners.  Each one made one to reflect their own personalities.  I just love them!  I have a special place all set to go but I need to work on the tabs to hang them.  Stupid me forgot to tell them how deep to make the tabs for my hanger.  When I get them hung I will post a picture.

I just want to thank all of you who have stuck by me even though I have been very lax in posting.  I hope to change that.  Stay tune for more productivity from me!