Escape From Reality..........

the View From My Scrappy Mind!

My newest lecture and trunk show happened last night at Nimble Thimbles Quilt Guild in Mauldin, South Carolina.  It was great to get to speak to the 47 members and 2 visitors about using scraps in your quilts and systems used for storing and sorting scraps of fabric.

 Our world is a crazy place right now and quilting has always been my refuge from the stress of everyday life.  As a nurse for 33 years, I deal with life and death on an ongoing basis so having a way to escape from that stress is essential to my sanity.  My quilt studio is that escape.  Being able to go into the studio and immerse myself in fabric, patterns, and projects is a true blessing.  Do you have an hobby that you too can escape from the daily stress of life?

I always enjoy getting to speak to quilters about my love of the process of making a quilt.  I believe everyone should quilt!  

As Jenny Doan says, A quilt is such a precious gift.  It represents so much time and care.  When you wrap up in a quilt that has been made just for you, it is as if each stitch is there to remind you that you are loved!  I hope you have many opportunities to experience the magic of giving and receiving such a precious handmade gift.

Recently my cousin Brad who is having health issues asked me if I could make him a Clemson Tigers quilt, as he is a huge fan.  I was able to make him his quilt and get it to him.  His joy in receiving it was priceless.  I know that when he is wrapped in his quilt he knows he is loved.

I used a hand guided Puppy Paws panto by Jessica Schick which I ordered from Urban Elementz for the quilting.  I also used a variegated thread for the quilting.  It turned out great!

Another day in the life of this quilter.  

Happy Quilting,

Shelia

On My Design Board Today

Finished quilting mom's 9-patch variation today and now on to the binding.  So I have moved on to another project.

On my design board today is my brights 9-patch quilt.  Think I have enough blocks pieced so now moving on to piecing the top.  Love the brights.

 So what is on your design wall today?

Happy Quilting,
Shelia

An Unexpected Day Off

As a nurse I usually work Monday-Friday so I rarely have a Friday off, but today was an unexpected gift of being flexed off work due to low census!!  So what do I do?
QUILT OF COURSE.

I'm loading a split 9-patch variation that mom pieced into my frame to quilt.  I spent the morning cleaning my long arm table and rails, cleaning my machine and giving her a good oiling.  Warmed her up then loaded the quilt to get started.  This maintenance takes times but it pays off in a smooth running machine.  "Sweetpea" loves her maintenance and rewards me with some great quilting.  This is a top that I will be using in a lecture I will be giving later in the year.  

Just being in my studio is uplifting.  I have some music playing and all is well!

Happy Quilting,
Shelia

Bonnie Hunter

Most of you, if not all of you, know Bonnie Hunter from Quiltville.com  She has been an inspiration to me for many years and in that way has inspired my mother also.  I remember the first time I mentioned to mom that I wanted her and me to do one of Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilts, mom was a little afraid that she could not do one, but I persevered, cut her pieces and off she went......and she has not slowed down since!!

In January my quilt guild had Bonnie come and teach two classes and a lecture/trunk show.  I was thrilled and quickly signed myself and mom up for all of the classes.  

On January 9th we took the Cathedral Windows class with Bonnie.  What fun!  We had a full day of piecing, laughing with Bonnie and all of the ladies from the guild who attended.

On January 10th mom and I took Bonnie's Scrappy Trips Around The World class.  Now this one was right up my mom's scrappy alley.  She loved this class.

Below is a write up  that Bonnie put on her blog about mom.  Precious!

Some Very Betty Show & Share!

I want you to meet BETTY!

Betty is shown on the right, next to her daughter Shelia, and between the two of them they are quilting up a storm in South Carolina.

From what I’ve been told, Betty WEARS OUT sewing machines with all of the beautiful work she does, including featherweight motors!

She is a power house of productivity, and everyone knows that Betty will take any and all fabric strips and strings and sew string blocks to her hearts content –with all of the blocks being made into quilts for local charities such as habitat for humanity.

The world definitely needs MORE Bettys!

Last night after my presentation with the Nimble Thimble quilters in Mauldin, Betty brought up FIVE beautiful quilts for show & share that she has made from my designs.

And let me tell you also – Betty does not do ANYTHING on a small scale!

Take a look:

Betty and Texas Braid

from Adventures with Leaders & Enders!

She has a beautiful sense of what works when working with scraps – I think I’ve met my match!

Roll Roll Cotton Boll from String Fling!

And Celtic Solstice with a smile!

If you are looking for the pattern for Celtic Solstice, it’s found in the Digital Downloads section of the Quiltville Store.

Wait, Betty!  Come back here!

I’m not done with you yet!

Betty’s lovely Easy Street from MORE Adventures with Leaders & Enders!

And to the oohs and ahhhs of the crowd -

Betty’s Orca Bay also from String Fling!

Check out the back:

Fishies!!  So awesome!

Betty, it was just wonderful meeting you and getting to spend the last 3 days with you and your guild family here in South Carolina.  I can’t wait to come back and see what you have sewn since I left!

There are many other wonderful show & share photos in the slide show.  And be on the lookout for Connie's  completed Allietare top which made an appearance!  It's wonderful!

Thank you Bonnie Hunter for such a sweet write up about my little mama.  Mom just turned 80 on March 5th and she loves following your blog.   Quiltville Bonnie's Blog 

Happy Quilting everyone,
Shelia

Learning To Listen To Your Quilts

Today I got to spend the morning in class with Karen Kendo who was teaching us how to "listen to our quilts". 

Awesome to see see her beautiful work and get reminded how to look at each part of the quilt and see what is needed to bring that quilt to life.
Since I began my long arm journey in quilting I have loved learning all of those "tips" that help you decide how to quilt a certain quilt.   Karen is an accomplished quilter who has a giving heart and shares her knowledge with others.  Thanks Karen for a wonderful evening lecture at our guild last night and a wonderful workshop today.

Happy Quilting,
Shelia

2016 A New Beginning

Happy New Year to everyone.  As we start 2016 my husband and I spent New Years Eve going through our Gratitude Jar and remembering all of the blessings that we had during 2015.  It is so easy to remember all of the crap that happens each year, but remembering all of the good things is what makes you who you are.  Growing through the bad things and living your life through the good things. 

This gratitude jar sits on our buffet in the dinning room.  Each time something good happens, we have a blessing, or something we want to remember happens we write the date and the event down.  Then on New Years Eve we go through and take turns reading the events.  It is amazing how quickly you forget some really special events that have happened.  I encourage everyone to make yourself a gratitude jar and use it.  We are so blessed in our lives and those blessings make our life abundant.

This year I am serving as the Vice President of our quilt guild.  I am in charge of booking our speakers and workshops.  I have been hard at work getting things lined out for the coming year and hope that everyone will enjoy the mix of speakers and workshops planned.

I am especially excited to be welcoming Bonnie Hunter.....YES.....THE Bonnie Hunter will be here on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday at our guild.  Mom and I are taking both of the workshops, Cathedral Stars and Scrappy Trips Around the World.  Bonnie is also doing her Scraps and Shirttails lecture at the guild meeting on Monday night.  EXCITED!!

Happy Quilting everyone,

Shelia

And The Winner Of The Giveaway Is.............

Thanks to everyone who left comments for the giveaway.  I love being able to share part of my love of quilting with others.

I had 12 comments to the giveaway blog post.  I used the random number generator to pick the winner.  

And the first winner of the books and fabric quarters is:

Commentor number 8 Vicki H.  Vicki I have sent you an e-mail. Please send me  your mailing address so I can get your winnings in the mail to you.  Congratulations.

The second place winner of the 50 scrap rectangles or tumblers is:

Commentor number 2.  Quilting Tangent I have sent you an e-mail.  Please send me your mailing addressing so I can also get you your winnings in the mail.
Congratulations to both winners.

Happy Quilting,
Shelia
 

Cleaning Up In The Studio.......and It's Giveaway Time!!

I Just Love A Giveaway!!
 
Each time you clean up in your sewing spot or studio you find things that you haven't used in forever and don't think you are going to use them.  That is what is on my plate today. It has been a long weekend of being on call and being at the hospital many, many hours.  To de-stress I retreat to my studio.  Sometimes it is just to sit and read some quilting magazine, sometimes it is to clean off my sewing table (so I can see the top again).  But whatever I do it is relaxing to me and I love my studio.  I am blessed more than I deserve.

So in the spirit of giving I am going to have a giveaway.  So make sure that you let everyone know to come to the blog, leave a comment so you can be entered into the drawing.  I will draw a winner on Wednesday morning at 5:00 am EST using the random number generator and post the winner.  Please make sure that you leave me your e-mail address so that I can contact you for your winning prize.  Good luck to everyone.

I'm actually giving away a first and second prize.

First Prize will be:

• Book Perennial Patchwork by Jackie Robinson 
• Quilt Lovers Series Log Cabin #2 by Four Corners 
• Makin Muffins book by Susan Devins
• 10 Eight yard pieces of fabric

Second Prize will be:
Winner's Choice of one of the following:

• 50 - 3 1/2 inch Tumbler Pieces from Scraps

OR

• 50 - 3 1/2 x 6 1/2 inch Rectangles from Scraps

God has truly blessed me in my life and my quilting over the years and I would like to pass that blessing on to other quilters.  Good luck to everyone and don't forget to leave your comment to be entered into the drawing.

Using Prefused and Precut Fabric Pieces

Yesterday I showed how I used some selvage scraps to make a new piece of fabric, put fusible web on the back and cut it into a flower to use on a pincushion.  I have used this bin of prefused fabric many times in the past to add that extra "little something" to a quilt.

This quilt originally started from the 1600 Jelly Roll Race pattern and when I finished sewing the strips together it I felt that it needed something extra and wanted to redesign the quilt.  I picked some of the yellow flowers out of the bin and tossed them haphazardly onto the quilt and loved the water lily effect it had on the quilt. 

I appliqued the flowers on the top and felt like I was viewing a calming pond, hence the name.

So this bin of prefused fabric shapes has a place in my quilt studio.  I can mix and match the colors and shapes to make beautiful adornments to my quilts and projects.  I have some of the selvage pieces also in this bin to make flowers and centers for upcoming projects.

Happy Quilting,
Shelia

Making Items For Quilt Show Boutique

Each year at our quilt show we have a boutique with items made by our members for sell.  I have been collecting selvages to make some things with and this is what I have made this time.

This is my bin of selvages that I started with.

I made a piece of fabric by sewing these scrap selvages together.  I then fused wonder under fusible to the back of the new piece of fabric.

Now I used my Accuquilt Go Funky Flowers die to cut a flower out of that cute piece of "found fabric".  Remember this is what would have been thrown away when someone cut pieces of a quilt.

As you can see there are several pieces that are cut when you use the die.  I put fusible web on the back of the piece of fabric prior to cutting.  Then after I cut the pieces I can put them in my pre-cut bin of fusible "things" to use on quilts.

This is the bin that I can go to when I need a little extra "something" on a quilt.  I used the flower piece I cut to make this pincushion for the quilt show boutique and put the extra pieces in this bin to be used later.  They are ready to be appliqued onto a project when needed.

 

I think the pincushion turned out cute.  And I have more fun coming as my friend Suzanne brought me a bag full of selvages. 

Yeah for my bee friends, you rock!!

Happy Quilting,

Shelia 

 

Mom Has Been String Piecing Again

My mom, or the "energizer bunny" as we call her, loves to string piece and uses my scrap buckets to make beautiful quilts.  Each week when she comes over for Bee night she usually takes home a bag of scraps from the bins underneath my cutting table.  This is the view today of the scrap bins after cutting fabric scraps the other day into tumblers.

Mom will have a great time when she comes this week for Bee.  It always amazes me how beautiful a quilt that is made from scraps can be.  Mom has been working on quilts for her grand-daughter and her husband, also for her great grand son, and great grand daughter to give to them at Christmas.  She keeps me very busy quilting.  My mom will be 80 in March as out sews all of us girls in the bee.  I love that!!

Below is one of the quilts she string pieced using the bin of scraps.

I love seeing all of those fabrics floating in that quilt.  She used the floating 9-patch setting to set these string blocks.

 

I had fun with the quilting, freehand funky swirls.

 

She used telephone paper to piece borders and then cut them to the width she needed.

So as Bonnie Hunter always says, "scraps are worth as much as the whole fabric" which means if you paid $10 per yard for that fabric all of the scraps are still worth $10 per yard.  Mom is able to get multiple quilts out of the scraps that we put in the bins while cutting out other quilts.  

As we cut out pieces for quilts we are working on we put the larger pieces beside my Accuquilt Studio cutter.  We then take those pieces and cut into the scrap pieces in Bonnie Hunter's Scrap Users System Bonnie's System

Below is my bins with pre-cut fabric pieces ready to use in quilts.  I used some of the 3 1/2 x 6 1/2 pieces in the pink breast cancer quilt for Melissa.  It was quick and easy to go through the bin and pull out different pinks that I had cut from scraps.  It made piecing her border effortless.

 

After we cut as many pieces as we can for the system we put whatever is left into the scrap bins to be used in string quilts.  As awesome system of working to use every bit of fabric that we have paid for.  We definitely get our money's worth out of our fabric. 

Happy Quilting,

Shelia 

Identifying My Chickens.....The Egg Factory Workers

My little homestead family has grown this year as we added chickens.  I went in with some friends at work and we purchases a group of brown egg layers, some easter eggers and the hatchery threw in an extra something.  They are now 19 weeks old and I am trying to get pictures of each to identify each of the breeds that I now have.  Fun but confusing at times.  They each have such personalities as you will see with some of the names.

First we have Suzie (My Bee friend Susan picked her as her namesake) She is a Light Brahma, see the feathered feet.  She keeps everything stirred up in the coop.  She is a hoot!

Next we have Lucy.  She is also my little buddy.  She is a Delaware and Aurucana mix.

 

Then we have Reba (after Reba McEntire) she is a beautiful girl and follows me everywhere in the pen.  She is a Welsummer.

 

Next is the "Triplets".  These three girls are always together and I can't tell each of them apart.  So they are the triplets, Ashley, Doe, and Rae.  They are Columbian Wyandottes.  They are the first ones to get to worms when Roger tosses them into the pen.

Then we have Freida and Freckles which are Barred Rocks.  They are always at my feet, pecking me with "love bites" as Roger says.  And as you can tell they don't hold still for long.  Freida below jumped before the camera took the picture.

Caught Freckles with the next round of pictures.  Can't escape the camera girl!  Just check out that attitude.

 

Red is my Rhode Island Red.  She is a big girl, probably 6-7 pounds at least.  Heavy girl when I pick her up and lots bigger than the other girls.  I think she is my one who is laying now.

Then I have "Blackie" who is my Black Giant chicken, she is a beautiful solid black which just shimmers in the sunlight.  She just recently let me start petting her.

Dixie is a Red Star.  She is my jealous one as I have spent the most time with her.  She doesn't like me to have anything to do with the others.  She will actually come and head butt someone out of my lap.  What a girl!  She had just settled into her cool hole and was not coming out for the photo shoot.

Two Dark Cornish are beautiful girls.  Their feathers have a pattern that when the light hits it you see either brown in their black feathers or a turquoise.  It is wonderful.  The first two pictures are of Coco and her brown tint to her feathers.

Below is Teal the cornish with teal colored tint to her feathers.  She obviously did not want her photo taken.

I also have a Black Star who I am calling Star.  She is a quiet, shy little thing but holds her own at the fodder bowl.  She jumps right in to get her share every morning.  I had a great picture until "Dolly" hogged into the shot.

Now "Fuzz Butt" as I have called her since she was a peep was the fuzziest think in the box.  Cutie pie.  She is a Partridge Cochin, see the feathered feet.

 

And bringing up the end of the show are the two Araucanas or Easter Eggers.  They will lay blue/teal green eggs.  (that will be exciting to find).  These two have some real attitudes, but loving ones.  They have really filled out their beards and side burns as I call them.  The first is Dolly (Parton of course).  You see she is giving me a speech for taking her picture and not petting her.  I started calling her Dolly when she started singing along with me one day.  What a girl!

Up next there is Loretta (Lynn of course), she is talkative but not as much as Dolly.  She is my second Easter Egger and is a cutie pie.  No where near as "talkative" or bossy as Dolly.

So although it is not quilting related, this is part of my daily life now.  I am no chicken expert and I may have not identified each one appropriately, but have attempted to do so as accurately as I can.  Hope you enjoyed the tour of the Egg Factory here at our place.

Happy Quilting,

Shelia