Showing a distinct lack of concentration?

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At the beginning of January it seemed that all those “real artists” out there were choosing a word for the year. Not to be left out I chose the word concentration. I didn’t share it with everyone but it was out there and I was concentrating. I think I did pretty well getting stuff done and deadlines met. I cut out a few activities that were more distraction than use and then I set off for California…

Blame it on the sunshine and the blue skies, or maybe the mountains and the palm trees but I realized today that there has been a distinct lack of concentration in my life since coming home…

That needs to stop!

So, I got myself out of the shower (isn’t that where all the best thoughts take place?) and prepared for the day. I set to work and typed up the minutes of our Riverwalk Quilters Guild meeting of January 8th, before I set off for Pieceful Heart Fabrics, instead of wasting the half hour I had…

Before Christmas we had been approached by Hilary Decent to tape a segment for a new show called The Ladies Room for NCTV. We finally taped a class/demo making yo-yos this morning. Clover yo-yo makers make the whole process so much simpler and along with eleven ladies we had some fun. I now have a supply of samples including this cute heart made from a Valentine fabric charm pack and mounted on black fabric covered foam core…

There will be some further taping to do, including some time in the studio and then the program will be aired in a few months time.

Since coming home I have sent out the typed minutes to all interested parties and now I am concentrating on my blog…

There have been 9 days since I came home and more than that since I last caught up so what was I doing?

While I was still out West I got some knitting projects finished…

A skirt and a dress for Ruby,and a sweater and a hat for Benjamin.

I also learnt some basic smocking techniques which Sheila made into a very pretty dress for Ruby…

Thank you Sheila for encouraging me to persevere and for all the time you put in to matching the plaid I so thoughtfully chose!!

Since my return I started my 2012 BOM from Sue Spargo… still in progress…

I taught a fusing class at Pieceful Heart…

Marie and Donna “enjoyed the journey”.

I hosted bee at my house…

Here is Jean with a quilt she will be donating to philanthropy at the guild on Tuesday,and Sharon with her first ever quilt. She machine quilted it herself and just needs to finish the binding.

and I did make lots of yo-yos…

but it didn’t feel concentrated.

Now I am concentrating. I will be mindful of my time and efforts. I have my challenge piece to finish (and start) for guild on Tuesday and a Machine Quilting 2 class tomorrow. Better get to it!!

 

More fun in SoCal!

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Monday found me with friends at Inland Empire Quilters Guild in Corona. They were one of my first bookings when I spoke there three and a half years ago. This time I was debuting my new Language of Flowers talk with forty of my flower themed quilts, some fabric flowers as prizes and information from the American Society of Florists. Nobody went to sleep and people laughed at appropriate times so it seems fit to repeat in the future…

Afterwards there was time to inspect the quilts more closely…

Imperial Blooms deserved a second glance…

Tuesday was spent at leisure… we visited a yarn store and a quilt shop in Riverside but didn’t do much shopping. Then today I dragged Sheila (if you can say that when she did the driving) down the mountain into LA to visit Mood Fabrics – as featured on Project Runway…

It took a while to dig through the shelves of fabrics but I found some silk chiffon for my MOG dress and then took a swatch of something brighter for the MOB outfit I will be needing later in the year. We were cute enough to get a cloth bag each… very cool!! It is big enough fit my handbag so I will able to use it as hand luggage on the way home. It’s amazing how all those very small purchases add up when it comes to fitting them in a suitcase!

I managed to take a photo through the windshield as we passed downtown LA on the way home. It looks just like it does on the TV with the mountains and palm trees against a bright blue sky. There was even a blimp floating above the city to complete the picture…

Tomorrow, Palm Springs!

Fun times with Sue Spargo!

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Well I made it out to SoCal before the snow hit Chicago… Sheila and the sun were awaiting me at Ontario Airport! I removed my socks, collected my luggage and we were ready for some fun.

We enjoyed the afternoon at Road to California, visiting all the vendors but hardly opening our wallets. Perhaps this means we have finally grown up and realize we have nearly everything we can possibly need in life? I bought some #24 chenille needles, a pretty little flower pin and  a yo-yo scarf and that was it! I picked up some upgrades for my sewing machine from the nice gentleman in the Bernina booth. Apparently wool, monofilament and metallic threads are all going to be a breeze to stitch! We will see.

Friday was spent “at leisure” and we set off bright and early for our class on Saturday.

We signed up for Red Clover with Sue Spargo way back in July on the first day registration opened. So, with kits in hand, needles, threads, coffee and a banana we were prepared for the day. Sue opened with an overview of wool applique Contemporary Folklore style and we set to work.

Here is Sheila with her pieces basted, ready to whip stitch down. Note extra light and trash bag. She knows what she is doing!

We got most of the block stitched down and the day was already over! Like a good girl I went home and did my homework and returned on Sunday with all my pieces stitched and prepared to embellish…

Sue spent the day chasing after her full class, teaching stitches, dispensing advice and sharing from her goody bag of speciality threads. Here she is, letting us in on the secret of a perfect bullion stitch…

By the end of the day I was halfway down one side of my block…

Do you like the bee?

We took a full lunch break to get around all the quilts in the show. After all that is the point of a quilt show isn’t it? It was fun to see a couple that we had seen at PAQA, including Denise Havlan’s little quilt This Year’s Vintage which had a ribbon on it!

Before we left we needed a picture with Sue, a happy if weary trio…

and I thought I needed a picture of the destination… This is Sue’s finished Red Clover quilt.

I think it might be a few months before mine is done. Watch this space!!

Sue is a great teacher, friendly, knowledgeable and patient, everything I was hoping for. We have her booked for Riverwalk Quilters in 2013, more fun times to look forward to.

 

Half way through January already!

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I don’t seem able to keep up at the moment… According to the computer it is Tuesday today. It’s been snowing so I stayed in all day. Steve is on his way home from Dallas so it doesn’t really matter what day it is… other than I am going away on Thursday so I know I need to get things done. It’s like High School all over again. If I’m not actually ten minutes away from the deadline what’s the rush? I’m going to be doing my homework on the plane. I can feel it in my bones (whatever that’s supposed to feel like?)

I guess I have achieved a few things this month…

I made some samples for Pieceful Heart Fabrics. Here is Soho, a table runner from Busy Bee Quilt Designs, made using some rather lovely William Morris prints.

And this is Yellow Warbler from Bigfork Bay Cotton Company. My machine decided it didn’t like monofilament thread so I had to keep changing color for the outlining. 
I visited the Village Quilters in Wheaton on Safari with African Folklore Embroidery. I had lots of new pictures to show them. My lizard is rather lovely, complete with bullion stitches on his back and silk ribbon french knot flowers…

The next day brought the Riverwalk Quilters annual party…

We unveiled our just finished raffle quilt…

Wow!

… and had lots of jumble available for purchase. You know what they say about one man’s trash being another man’s treasure? It certainly seemed true on this occasion. We made over $800 for guild programs.

      

We also had a raffle for an antique quilt and a basket of pajama party related “stuff”. I was delighted to win the quilt, a double wedding ring lovingly restored by Loraine and Darlene.

Here it is on the bed in the yellow room…It looks ready for company!

Then Saturday I had a full class for Machine Quilting 1 at Pieceful Heart.  Sunday, it was time to explore with those African Folklore Embroideries. We had fun stitching, drinking tea and sharing stories…

      

My Ndebele Dolls came along too!!And that brings me to yesterday…

After a quick trip to get another spool of the Mettler thread I was using for the border quilting, I finished Imperial Blooms!! I haven’t put a hanging sleeve on it yet so maybe the dining room table isn’t the best place for a picture but you can get the idea.And a close up of the border quilting…
I tried to remember Sue Nickels’ wise words at guild in December about slowing down and enjoying the journey. I have never spent so much time on one quilt.

I will be including it in my luggage on my trip. Sitting here, looking at the snow outside, makes Southern California seem like an even better idea…

I am so looking forward to visiting the Road to California show including two days of classes with Sue Spargo. I have lots of questions to get answered before I start the next  Block of the Month quilt… I will also be premiering my new lecture, Language of Flowers,  at the Inland Empire Quilters Guild (remember what I said about leaving homework for the plane?…)  and then going on a road trip with Sheila… and not needing boots and a winter coat!!

It will be February the day after I get back…

 

Schedule updated!

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So now I have the doubtful honor, privilege and responsibility to keep my own schedule page up to date!

Well, it is done…

I have added all my spring classes to my calender. The newsletter came out last week and I was able to get all my new samples and supply lists to Pieceful Heart on time!  ”Go Me” is what I say…

Here are my new samples…

I have two new Quilter and Child classes.

First is “A touch of the Irish”. It’s a simple pieced shamrock block with a border that can be made into a wall hanging or a pillow-cover. I will supply the pattern and we should be able to get the project completed in the class.

The second Quilter and Child Class this spring is “Upwardly Mobile” which uses a Patrick Lose pattern to make a fused banner. I am just expecting the tops to be finished during the class so that is what my sample shows…

I have a finished banner complete with satin stitch, quilting and fused binding but that takes a little more time to complete so there will be home work after our time together!

My other new class this season is a demo/workshop on Kanzashi flowers using the plastic flower makers from Clover. They are easy to use but I think I have a few tips and tricks to bring to the table and add to the fun. My sample just shows one of each of the large size flowers with added buttons.

All the class times and such are on my schedule. I am also offering machine quilting, fusing, beading, embroidery and other fun stuff. With a wedding and a couple of trips planned it should be enough to keep me busy and out of mischief!