Graduation Day

This was a good day!

Maria Elkins Workshop

Maria Elkins came to our guild this week and gave a great lecture on the quilts she has done. Check out her website, I think you'll be inspired. She gave a workshop today called "Making Faces" We sent her a photo and she manipulated it in Photoshop Elements and gave us three copies. It was done in a grayscale with four layers. We were to pick four monochromatic fabrics with a high contrast. At first I thought I'd like to do some grays to blacks. Solid fabrics, you know, safe picks. I did bring them just in case.

I ended up going with blue. When the workshop started I thought to myself, what did I get myself into. I thought we were going to have to cut out tons of little pieces. It wasn't that way at all. We worked in layers. It went well. It isn't as hard as it looks.


We were all amazed at how our photos turned out. If you'd like to try this, visit Maria's site, and check out her DVD. She has also been published in "Quilting Arts" magazine.

One kid down, and four to go. Juice says she wants purple for hers!

Old Man Winter

Winter is still officially a week away, but it has decided to visit us early. We were hit with a lake effect snow last week that left us 10" of snow, and yesterday it started up again. Rain, ice, and snow last night, and now the county has declared a level two snow emergency this morning. I'm so glad I don't have anywhere to go. The lake effect machine has started again, and we're supposed to get upwards of a foot. The snow belt will get double that! Gotta love Lake Erie!

If you need to find me, I'll be in the studio finishing up those Christmas quilts!!

He's at it again....

The big guy is at it again. It's a gift, so I really can't say much more. Tune in at a later date for the big finish! It's going to be beautiful!!

A New Baby on the Way!

My oldest niece Jessica is having a baby!! The little bundle of joy is expected to hit the shores of Lake Erie some time in February. We are all excited for her.

At last count, this will be my mom's 7th great grandchild! Hopefully, I didn't forget anyone!

Here is a picture of the quilt that I made for her. It was an American Jane Pattern, and the fabric line was called "Punctuation", by Moda.The quilting pattern is moon and stars, which I have nicknamed, "Sweet Dreams". I've always told my children that if mom isn't near when you need her, take your quilt, and wrap it tightly around you. You will then have a hug from the momma.

So, just to make sure this new precious one has enough hugs, I've also crocheted an afghan for him. (Yes, we know it's a him. I'm bummed about that. There are so few surprises in this world, I think that the gender of a new baby should be left to find out for the special day!)

May the Lord bless you and keep you Jess, may His face shine upon you, and bring you peace!
I know the joy is on it's way!

.....and the cow jumped over the mewwwwnnnn!!!

They say that life is but a vapor, and I'm really beginning to believe it. I've known Sierra since she was a newborn. Now she's all grown and having a baby of her own. What could be more perfect for a new born than a comfy log cabin quilt. I just love the simplicity of it. They have always been one of my favorites. There's a story behind the quilting pattern. When Sierra was a toddler, she loved to recite the nursery rhyme, "Hey Diddle Diddle". When she was about to finish, she would end it saying, "...and the cow jumped over the mewwwnnn!" The facial expressions were the best. She would crunch up her whole face all the while. Just precious. When I saw this pattern from One Song Needle Arts, I knew I had to use it. It's a cow jumping over the moon!

Sierra, my the Lord bless you and keep you, may His face shine upon you, and your little one.

A Quilt from Bubba & Blogger's Quilt Festival

Welcome to Blogger's Quilt Festival. To celebrate the big show in Houston for those who can't attend, Amy has done a wonderful job of gathering together a vast number of blogger's to hold an online quilt show. Click on the link on my sidebar, and you will find all of the info there. There are lots of great prizes to be won too!! The quilt I'm featuring today was not pieced by me, but I quilted it. It was made my John's, (my DH), Bubba. She made a lot of the clothes that his dad, uncles, and aunt wore, as well as ulitarian quilts for the family. She died a little over 25 years ago, and John's aunt was holding two of these unfinished quilt tops. The quilts were made with home dec fabrics, and she even left some of the paper with fabric descriptions attached to the squares.
Since I am the only one that makes quilts in the family, John's aunt gave the two tops to me. I quilted this one up, and gave it to DH for our anniversay a few years ago. I have yet to quilt the second one. I chose a flannel for the back. I just love the softness, and warmth that flannel brings to a quilt.

Have a great time at the festival!! Thanks for your hard work Amy!!