Little Bits

I spent some time just doing little bits of stuff.  Here is a bowl I made for my friend, Bethel.  She had this shabby chic fabric.  I really like how it came out so I bought some similar fabric for me.

These are some more blocks for the civil war block of the month.  I'm all caught up, till next week anyways!

Here are my "Trash Can Cards".  I made them from pieces out of my trash can.

Years ago I bought a pattern and the screen to make these little zipper bags.  Never made them.  I needed some birthday presents so dug through my stuff and instant presents.  Of course, I had to add something inside each one.

What's Happening?!

 The bug guy came to spray this morning inside and outside the house so I have to be out for four hours!  Wasn't planning on that long.  So here I am at my hubby's office, with Starbucks, working on my blog.  Aren't you glad!

When I was in Hanford, Jennifer and Teri wanted to see some of my art quilts.  I ended up selling five of them.  Awesome!  Didn't know they would like them.  Now I know what to make them for Christmas!

Strip Club was earlier this month.  Here is my sample.  It's not quilted yet because I ran out of batting.  It's on the way!  I also made a table runner with the scrapes I was going to throw away.

Tiffany and I visited three quilt stores during the Central Valley Shop Hop.  Here we are at Thimble Town.  Giddy-up!  

 Tiffany and I have such a great time together.

Last week I spent four days in Monterey with Jeff.  He had a conference to attend so I went along for the ride.  It was beautiful of course.  We ate too much and drank too much but I got to sew.  These blocks are from a quilt design by Don Linn.  We are hoping to make it into a pattern.  He already has the templates and some directions but they need work, so that is my project for the next month.  I hope to have the top done soon.  

I also started working on the next block of the month I am doing with Bolts in the Bathtub.  It's done with civil war fabrics.  I'm five months behind but the first month is 20 setting blocks.  I finished them this past weekend!  Now if I can just keep going...

Our Art Challenge group met yesterday at Bolts in the Bathtub.  

I demonstrated different free motion quilting techniques to use with art quilts and brought in several quilts for them to look at.  Our group is getting smaller and I hoping it's because May is such a busy month. 

Here are some projects that were brought in.  The first is from our class on three dimensional leaves and flowers.  I love it!  Isn't it just beautiful.

The next few were from our class on rubber stamping and stamping with other objects.  These girls decided to use what was in their yard.  They also used Tulip brand paints.  I think I need tho try this.

I especially love this piece done with an artichoke leaf.  I can see a cool quilt with this!

The next adventure in quilting this week is to finish the next section of our ongoing Prairie Star paper piecing class.  Then off to Hanford Monday for Needle Divas and Loose Threads, breakfast with Katrina and the kids (it's Becky's 6th birthday today, Ephram's 8th tomorrow), an eye doctor appointment and maybe some goofing around in Visalia.  Then off to another Doctor's appointment Wednesday in Santa Clarita.  If any of you are interested the doctor said my heart appears to be fine but I'm having some major issues with my  lungs and my oxygen levels. More tests this past Tuesday so hoping for results next Wednesday.

That's it for now. I hoping to go back to the house soon so I can quilt!

Having Fun with the Orange Blossom Quilters

I was in Visalia this past weekend.  I presented a trunk show to Orange Blossom Quilters and taught a beginning paper piecing class on Saturday.  I had the greatest students, some I knew and some new faces.  It was great fun but it made me miss the guild so much.  I wish I could find somewhere where I fit in down my me.

Here are their beginning works of art.  I'm looking forward to their finished pieces.

A Preview of my next Loose Threads Challenge.

This is just a little peek at my next Challenge piece for our Loose Thread group due May 19th.  Here I was quilting it but it is all done now.  Stay tune for the whole quilt soon.

I'm traveling right now.  I was in Hanford, Visalia, Ripon, Stockton and now Redding.  Next is Hanford again next Thursday.  Friday will be Thimble Town in Visalia and Calico Mermaid in Porterville.  I teach in Lancaster on Saturday and then Jeff and I head to Monterey.  Busy but relaxing.  Waiting to see what the doctor says May 9th about my heart.  I'll keep you posted.

Scrap Therapy Update

Remember this table topper (mine).  These are the projects my students made with the block they learned.

This month we made placemats.  I thought I was making 6 and ended up with 12.  The following are what the students got done in class.  Its a quilt as you go so they are quilted too.  Some of the circles have to be appliqued down yet.

And this will be our next project in June.

Another Class

This is the Advanced Paper Piecing Class I'm teaching at Bolts in the Bathtub and here are some of my students centers.

This class is 6 lessons every other month so look forward to more in the coming year!

Loose Threads Challenge

I really must post our Loose Threads Inspiration Board challenge quilts.  My pictures aren't great but I hope you enjoy them.  We each made an board with things that inspire us. Then we passed the board and made a quilt that was inspired from that board.  It has proved to be really fun.  My challenge has been to make an art quilt.  I'm too traditional these days.  I was happy with my quilt till the critique.  I since have been reading and studying up on what makes a successful art quilt.  I just wish I had more hours in the day to develop all I have learned.  But I'm determined!

Sara was inspired by the feather in Barbara's board.

Grace was inspired by the strips and colors in Karen's board

Barbara was inspired by the center photo from Sara's board.

Barbara says her piece isn't finished but I love it.

  Barbara (Sindlinger) was inspired by the Starbucks card on my board. 

Karen was inspired by some of the psychedelic colors on the dog for her piece.

I had Grace's board and was inspired by the orange, circles, and lines.  I have some more work to do to it.  

Here is Adena's board.  She just joined in and we are looking forward to some inspiration.