Hoop Up!

I realize, as I've been working on the final block for Hoop Up! Stitch & Send Swap, that it's been a while since I shared anything new in that department!

My last block is for Missy. Her theme is Nursery Rhymes...I love "Hey Diddle Diddle" so it was easy for me to choose what to stitch for her.


I'm pleased with it so far, but have some outlining still to do and also some filling in.

**05-04-2010, edited to add** Finished and on it's way to Missy!

The next two blocks are finished and have already made the trip to their new homes...

For Cathy, a fairytale-ish woodland theme:


And for Nicole, a Paris/or France theme:



Two others in our group have added to Nicole's French street scene---a florist's shop and a pet grooming salon---what fun!!

This has been such a great group of stitchers! We all agree how much fun we've had and how sad we are to see it coming to an end. The deadline for finished blocks is April 30th. Maybe there will be a Round 2?

Marilyn

Project Plume

The KC Modern Quilt Guild meeting last night was so fun! Actually, all of the meetings have been fun...but last night was the runway showing of Project Plume...


Fabric designer, Tula Pink, is a member of the guild--she is everything you would want in a designer--modern, sweet, fun...and also generous in so many ways.


At our February meeting, thanks to Tula and Moda Fabrics, 36 charm packs of her latest line, Plume, were given to members interested in a quilting challenge...oh yes, please and thank you:)

The guidelines were posted:

- use ONE charm pack of Plume fabric
- use only one HALF YARD of additional fabric for the top (any fabric of your choosing, does not have to be Plume)

You do not need to use all of the charm pack pieces or an entire half yard. That's just the maximum you get for the quilt top.

(front)

- any fabric for the back and binding

(back)

- bring it to the April meeting
Not a competition, just a fun challenge. It will be great to see what everyone will come up with!


And it was great to see what everyone came up with. I would say mine was kind of basic next to some of the others, but I like the results and I'm now using it for a table runner.

If I find pics of the challenge quilts, I'll be sure to add the link here so you can enjoy them too!

*04/21/10* Edited to add: Shea (Empty Bobbins) posted these pics--Enjoy!




Have a wonderful weekend!

Marilyn

"Quilting Bee Blocks"..... the Blog

There's a new blog in town (blog-town, that is). It's Quilting Bee Blocks and it is a great source of information about virtual quilting bees all in one spot.

If you're interested in joining a virtual quilting bee, this is your go-to blog.

If you're already in a bee but have questions, this is the place.

Looking for quilt block tutorials? Looking for quilt block inspiration? Yes, and yes, you can find it there.

Quilting Bee Blocks was started by Erin (Two More Seconds). I first learned about it when she contacted me about my photo of a quilt block I recently made for Stash Busting Bee International. My photo is now located in the blog header.....do you recognize this block on the far left of the header?


Exciting, huh?

Also, exciting is the Grand Opening Giveaway going on...read all about it on this post, then have a look around while you're there;)

Marilyn

Happy Easter!

May all that God has planted within you
rise vibrant and growing this Springtime.

Wishing you a Happy Easter!

(Art, "Awakening Dawn," and greeting by Mary Southard, CSJ...courtesy of Ministry of the Arts)


Marilyn

March Quilting Bee Blocks

Creating virtual quilting bee blocks this month was really fun...lots of pure, bright colors and three block patterns I made for the first time.

Rita, Sew Connected 2, sent gorgeous shot cotton fabrics and asked for blocks with love, home, family themes...


Barb, Stash Busting Bee International,
was inspired by a Red Pepper Quilts block, bright and scrappy...


And Meg, Bee Obsessed, requested star blocks of pink, purple, orange & yellow on white backgrounds...



Coincidentally, Meg turned out to be one of my DQS8 partners, but I didn't know it at the time I was making her block!

It's looking like April is going to be a good bee block month too with new and different ideas/themes!

Marilyn

Craft Day Shadow Boxes

Today, thanks to Liam's mom (who wanted me to continue with craft days) and his grandpa (who wanted that too and offered to take care of Liam), I enjoyed time with my regular crafting group at Karla's.

Vicki, (This Art That Makes Me Happy) was so nice to send several of her shadowbox die cutouts and Altered Fairies Creative Scraps to Karla for us to play with...sweet, huh?


Beth's:


Shawn's:


Mary's:


Karla's:


And mine:


What fun to craft the same project but end up with a variety of results...thanks so much, Vicki!!

Marilyn

Sweet Boy.......

I spent my days this week with this handsome young man...

...our 3 month old grandson, Liam ;)

And I get to do the same thing again next week and for seven more weeks after that...because I am the lucky grandmother providing day care for the little guy.
I love my job!

We had a great week and I'm learning quickly about the new equipment and toys available since my children were babies! Who knows how up to date I'll be by the time summer arrives:)

The change to my schedule is moving around the time I have for crafting, at least initially. But when it comes to prioritizing, there are two things I always find time for, family and creating!

Marilyn

Alice in Wonderland Tags!!

My package from Karla's "Alice Tag Book Swap"
came in the mail today!

It's beautiful--Karla does such a nice job of choosing tags that look good together.


She also painted the picture of Alice for the covers of all the tag books...and added the little "Drink Me" bottle--cute!

(front)

(back)

From Jessica (Kids Napping? I'm Scrapping!).....


From Cami (Creating Myself).....


From Rochelle (Southern Girl...Northern Woman).....


From Hope (Thoughts of Whimsy).....

(front)

(back)

From Ellie (Ella's Edge).....

(front)

(back)

From Amy (Ruby Moon Designs).....

(front)

(back)

A huge THANKS to all of you for your gorgeous tags!!
*******************************************************

These are the six tags that I made for the swap.....


one for Karla for being a sweet hostess.....


and three for myself.....

because it was such a wonderful theme and I was just having so much fun making them!

Marilyn

Quilts, quilts.....lots of quilts!

First, let me show you the Doll Quilt Swap 8 beauty I received from my partner, Meg (Boutique NutMeg Designs)!


She picked up on my love of Anna Maria Horner fabrics and put them together in such a fabulous way...and doesn't it look great on the warm tan wall in my craft room?!

Meg is so creative...she also sent the cutest notepad and note cards and wrapped them up so sweetly with ribbon and crocheted flowers!


Thank you so very much, Meg!

******************************************

More quilts? I'm happy to oblige:)

Lots of Show & Tell quilts from the March 11 meeting of
KC Modern Quilt Guild:



and the February 25 meeting:



After seeing these amazing quilts, I went home from both meetings inspired and ready to sew!

However, I'm currently in the midst of a clean-up, re-organize project in the craft room. Maybe I can rush through that and move on to sewing.....OR maybe I can scoot the craft room stuff aside--I'm an expert at making piles--and move on to sewing! Care to wager?

Marilyn