Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people. Eleanor Roosevelt

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Little Boy Blue

It seems more often than not, I'm starting things at the last minute. Today is no different. 
Friday night I have a baby shower to attend and what else would I bring but a quilt? 
So I'm sewing up a bunch of left over pre cut two inch squares and I will then add them to a panel I bought. Yes, I'm cheating. 

I'll be back later this week. 
Take care, Brandie

Monday, October 28, 2013

Alphabet

This weekend wasn't as productive as I had hoped, but I did finish my alphabet stitches. One more half-done quilt to add to my UFO basket. 
Now I did clean out two closets, under the kitchen sink and my laundry/storage room.
It's a great feeling to have a bit more space and lots more organization. Almost as good a feeling as new undies!

As cool as it is now, I think it's time to pull out my hand quilting. I could quilt and keep warm. 
Or I can just stay wrapped up with Max and a book. That's probably today's plan. I deserve a rest after fall cleaning. Right? And some chocolates. I deserve some chocolate. 


Have a happy Monday!
Take care, Brandie


Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Scrappy 4

I finally sat down and finished a few more pumpkins. 
There are only four more to complete before I add sashing. 
I'm feeling a bit slow so don't hold your breath on seeing this finished anytime soon. 

I did a bit of hand work. It was procrastination. I should have started it weeks ago but I forgot. 
It needed to be done for a party last night and amazingly I finished it just in time. 
I hadn't done reverse appliqué in awhile but it went smoothly. 
I made an awfully ugly cake but I was in a hurry and ran out of cream cheese. I had already made three batches of Maple Cream Cheese frosting and I was pressed for time. 
I listen to Hubby and wished what he said would be true, "It doesn't have to look good to taste good".
I think he was right again because I came home with less than I brought!

Have a Happy day!
Take care, Brandie

Friday, October 18, 2013

What I did during my summer vacation

All things change. One minute you have a spare bedroom for when your daughter visits. Then suddenly that room is no longer your daughters but her uncles. Not really a fair trade but I'll adapt. 
Most of you know that my daughter had moved to San Luis Obispo. I of course was hoping it was a flight of fancy and she'd move right back home. But after a year, she made it permanent by moving all her belongings from home to her new apartment. 
So this summer started with loading then unloading a Uhaul. 
It wasn't all work and no play. We spent lots of time with our feet in the sand and our tummys full. 
The summer ended with a train ride home. I decided I needed an adventure and boy did I get one. A 12 hour ride home. But the plus side was I could visit the restroom (tiny) as often as I needed. And another plus was that with the middle of the week being slow I had a lot of room to move and stretch without having my back go out. Big plus!

Now that I'm home, it's time to return to my scrappy pumpkins. Wish me luck! Hopefully I'll be back with some pumpkins to share on Monday. 

Take care, Brandie






Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Quilt Show Post 3

This post is all about the goodies. Quilt shows and vendors go hand in hand and not even the most disciplined of us can't resist those booths of goodies. And I certainly did not! This year we had 17 fabulous vendors and I did my part to make them happy.
I found a flour sack at our guilds mercantile booth, along with someone's left over civil war strips. I thought they'd be a good match for a someday project. (This is all Thanks to Barb who inspires me with  political fabrics and fabulous presidential quilts)
I couldn't resist these 6" solid strips. What for? I don't have a clue but they seemed like something that would be good to hold the dust.
Those lavender half yards will go good with my embroidered alphabet blocks, when I finish them that is.
Tis the season for all things orange, so I picked up a few of those. I just couldn't help myself!
Then I found a few fat quarters that may find their way into my hexie quilt, when I get back to it. (Story of my life!)
I really, really couldn't resist the linens! I love them all! But I especially love those putty colored linens and white embroidery.
Then there were all the hankies. Someday (someday) I'll get around to putting them together.
I just can't leave a monogramed hankie behind. This are the staples of my collection. Do I have a plan for them? No, but I'll give them a good home.
And how could I leave this lady behind! She matches my framed mermaid, they could be sisters or cousins!
One of our guild members (Judy P) had a booth and was selling her "girls". When I came around the corner and saw her mermaids, I bought one immediately! Then I came back and saw a new mermaid and traded. It really was a hard decision to make, they were all fabulous!
I wasn't lucky enough to win a basket of pumpkins, but I did win a jar of batik scraps for appliquéing. As you can see, Dorian loved the presentation!
And what better way to celebrate the beginning of October than with a black cat. I brought out a few decorations and Sheba made herself right at home completing the perfect look.

So there is my economy stimulating post. It was the most fun I've had in months! After all the work, all the standing, the swollen ankles, bruised toe nails and blisters, I really had a great weekend. But after heading two shows, I'm done! I want to be in the background from now on. Go back to being a wall flower, I'm really good at that.

Today I finally get back to a "normal" day. I have the laundry going and next it's time to reacquaint my bottom to my sewing chair. Those scrappy pumpkins are calling.

Take care, Brandie

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Quilt Show Post 2

We had so many wonderful quilts at our show, I am having a really hard time showing you all of them. Again, these are just the few that caught my eye.
I was amazed at everyone of these quilts. One of the perks of my job was that I was there alone with the quilts in the early morning and at night. For three days I wandered around taking pictures. You would have thought by the last day I could have remembered every quilt but I still saw something new each day. It may have been the colors that caught my eye on day one. Day two could have been reading every description and day three I saw some amazing quilting. I love quilts and I was inspired. So on with today's show.
This is another from Loretta

The beaded detail was impressive

Kitty Pippen

She's a Master of Sashiko

Nancy McCartney with a Gorgeous Christmas quilt

Cindy Green with perfect stars, I'm jealous!
And my humble quilt.
With a surprise in the right hand corner. This is my first ever judged quilt and I have to say I was really surprised at the ribbon. I'm a relative new-be in the quilting world and I'm still learning to do just about everything. I don't claim to know everything or be a master at anything.
Let me share with you what I learned from this judge because we can all benefit.
"Dynamic visual image.
Applique technique is well mastered.
Unfortunate bearding.
Colors all work well together.
Binding should be consistent width around the quilt.
Pink piping enhances overall design."
Since I drew and designed this quilt, I was thrilled that she like the "dynamic" image. And I was even more thrilled that she thinks I have mastered applique because I love to do it.
Now the "bearding" is because I used white batting in a black quilt. So we will never do that again, right girls? No white batting in black quilts!
She said that the small dot I used to bind the quilt with wasn't constant all the way around. We need to be careful not to use a pattern that isn't constant. At times in my binding the dots are straight and at times they look angled. I may take that binding off but I also may keep it on as a visual reminder.
So all in all, if you ever get a change to have one of your quilts judged, do it. It's a great learning experience.
Though I do wish she had said something about my quilting, but maybe there wasn't anything good to say or there just wasn't time?

Tomorrow I'll be back with my quilt show goodies.
Take care, Brandie