A little catch up...

Lot of stuff has been happening over here, most of which is client work (still behind) and the rest isn't too quilty (just causing more behind-ness).

So here goes, in absolutely no particular order:

I had a birthday!

My son moved into his own place - wow, yep, that one is kind of bittersweet.  I'm so proud of him and the man he has become and yet he's on his own... when did that happen?!!  I swear he was just starting high school last week!

I discovered I can charge my phone on the Vision 2.  I know, it's the little things, right?!!

I actually attended two guild meetings - here's one:

I managed to sew, yes even if only for one evening:

True Colors (aka White Lines) debuted at IQA's newest show Quilt! Knit! Stitch! in a special exhibition - here's a peek

photo by Janet Lee Santeusanio

This... which needs no further explanation.

And finally, the great news that two of my quilts were accepted into MQX Quilt Festivals - Springfield. Yay! If you're going, you can say hello to True Colors (aka White Lines) and The Thing with Feathers.

The Thing with Feathers

I think that's about it... at least what I can remember.  Til next time quilties!

Stupidity reigns in the land of chaos...

or... chaos reigns in the land of stupidity -- either one works equally well in this case!

This title could easily be a weekly post in my studio - at least lately. Most of you know I'm crazy behind on my client schedule, if not, surprise! And by crazy behind I mean like 5 quilts should have been finished already, so those, plus the amount of time to catch up which usually doubles the time behind -- it's a crazy kind of scheduling math, one I try to avoid at all cost!

So anyway, I'm working on a super-secret project for someone. Yep, super secret. So when it arrived I opened the box pulled it out and said OMG... it's awesome and quickly put it back in the box. A little back story - this super secret project is for the wonderful Sondra (shesgotmojo) Millard, aka Mojo Quilt Designs. She dyes the most beautiful fabrics. I purchase some of these beauties from her, some just by chance, others I custom order.  Well... I ordered one early last month to match a competition piece I'm beginning soon. Here are the fabrics for my quilt - a bunch of silk dupioni that I've been collecting for some time now:

So I sent the fabric picture to Sondra as I'm beginning to spoil myself with custom dyed backs that totally match the fronts. Here is the amazingness she created (the photo is borrowed from Sondra's Facebook page):

So tonight, I'm sitting here wondering when the backing is going to arrive as it's been a couple of weeks now. Hmm... maybe? Yep, if I actually took the time to look at all the items in the super secret package (not just the awesome quilt top) I'd see that in addition to the super secret project and the backing for the super secret project, there was also my backing. Yes, it is times like these that I don't just feel dumb, I wear it proudly!

So here is a picture of my backing that I snapped just now:

It is beyond gorgeous.  Now I really need to get started on this quilt!!

Oh, and I can't forget the super secret project - no, I can't share it, but I can share Sondra's backing for it - amazingness:

JTA Field Trip!

What a great day!  Today should have been a Journeys Thru Art meeting day, but instead we went on a field trip.  Well, half of us did, two of us are summering in Maine (nice right?), and the other two just couldn't make it (not so nice).  Let me tell you -- FUN, lots of it, happened today.

We started early this morning (early for me, probably mid morning for the rest of the world).  Here's my usual road trip pic:

Our actual field trip was to the Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts to see the Florida in Fabric II exhibit.  It was a really nice exhibit.  I'm kicking myself for not submitting something.  Eons ago I saw the call for entries and was like yeah I can do that.  Then life snuck up, smacked me in the forehead, and I pushed it aside.  Silly girl!

We weren't sure where to park so we asked this guy... he escorted us!  Pretty awesome huh?  Well that, or we looked suspicious...

So here are just a few of my favorites, in no particular order:

And, as if all that wasn't enough, our field trip continued, deeper into Florida (notice the dirt roads):

Nancy is having a new kitchen installed and since we were up in Melbourne, we had to stop by the granite place to help her decide - this was my top choice (for Nancy, I had many choices for myself, if I needed some granite), the color is Typhoon Bordeaux (please comment and tell her how awesome this piece is):

And Nancy is a wonderful driver... really!  Nancy is one of my best friends, and we have a never-ending inside joke about her driving -- the parking situation, that's new!  I love this - this picture made my day!!

So after all that came the quilt shops.  Our first stop was The Quilt Place in Rockledge.  I was fairly well-behaved and purchased project stuff only.  On the left is a blue for accent frames and a yellow/blue batik for a background on an old project (these pieces will go together on this old project) - I'm hoping the background fabric matches, it's close.  On the right are a super cute ladybug fabric and a cool wobbly stripe.  These will be for place mats for my son and his girlfriend.  I also had to get on a list for my Row by Row license plate as they didn't have any more (insert super pouty face here).

Then on to Boutique 4 Quilters in Melbourne.  Again, I was pretty good - a new 9mm open toe foot (because I suddenly can't find mine?), and some greens and blues for leaves.  They will be used in an upcoming applique project that is brewing.  And yeah, I got my license plate!!

Oh wait, I can't forget the awesome selfie mirror in Nancy's car:

It was a pretty awesome day with some great friends!  Now to find my calendar to schedule our next field trip!

True Colors (aka White Lines) is FINALLY finished!

Hard to believe, I know!  Like I have said in the past, this is the quilt that refused to be finished.  Her she is wearing just a few sparkles.  I know the previous photo without the bling is a much better pic, this mornings sunlight wasn't as perfect, although it still shows the bling and quilting so I'm not complaining:

I love bling, and could have easily added crystals everywhere on this quilt. But, I'm learning that is one of my personal preferences. Not everyone likes bling, it actually bothers some people. So knowing this quilt looked pretty amazing already (you all told me), I decided to just add a little bling. I'm hoping I hit that perfect balance - no worries, I'm sure you will let me know. I am really happy with this quilt. And no, I didn't think I would ever say those words. She has a few issues, no need to name them here - if you can't find them I'm not going to point them out!

Here are just a few pictures I snapped during the bling process:

So if you don't already know the entire story of this quilt, here it is, from the beginning:

2/22/2012 Bobbin work - longarm style
8/9/2012 Update on True Colors/mexican pinwheel
6/6/2013 Over-Extended and Undertimed (also known as everyday)
2/21/2014 WIP Inventory
6/29/2014 The quilt that refused to be finished...
7/11/2014 Week in Review, plus a few days...
7/23/2014 Soaked and Blocked
7/24/2014 White lines...
7/27/2014 Update on White Lines...
8/3/2014 True Colors (aka White Lines)

I realize some of the links also link back to previous post, but this is the majority of them in chronological order.  I really wish I could remember when I officially started the center pinwheel...

Don't forgot, you can see this quilt debut at IQA's newest show Quilt! Knit! Stitch! at the special longarm exhibit. I'm not sure where she'll go after that.  Even with all the issues this quilt has I think I will still send it out to competitions, she really is a beauty!

True Colors (aka White Lines)

Is she finished or not?  Still on the fence about adding some crystals.  Not too many, I had always intended on putting crystals on this quilt, just enough for a little bling here and there.  What do you think - crystals or not?  They will be happening today, if they do go on, because this beauty needs to be shipped out tomorrow!

This photo is from this morning, outside, in optimal sunlight.  I don't know if any more of the white lines are visible -- I'm no longer using a flash to check.

So again I ask you -- bling or no bling?  I'm leaning toward minimal bling with some beautiful black diamonds... I guess you'll have to wait and see.  Don't forget, this quilt debuts in a special longarm quilted exhibit at IQA's newest show - Quilt! Knit! Stitch! in Portland, OR - click here for the show details.