Update on the goings-on in my little world...

Today is setup day for AQS Grand Rapids.
If you are there, you'll notice I'm not...

Yes, it is true, as much as I would love to be there, things have happened and plans have changed, and my cute (albeit chubby) face won't be at AQS Grand Rapids or OSQE Pittsburgh.  I would have been showcasing my talents as Quilting Artist in the Gammill booth sharing how awesome their machines are but life happened and crazies have landed and no... I'm not there.  I know this is a bit disappointing for a few of you who I was hoping to meet, but I am sure we will meet soon, at another show perhaps.  I'm not sure where I'll be next, but no worries, I will definitely let all of you lovely quilties know as soon as I do!  As disappointing as it is, it is also kind of neat -- it's like I've found two weeks that I didn't have.  That's cool, I might actually be able to get ahead of myself... hahaha... wishful thinking I know!

But loads of stuff are happening anyway!  Just adding to the fact that I am totally insane so why not just let the pot boil over with craziness?... right?

I'm trying to catch up on client work -- ehhh, that is a never-ending battle.  You get ahead only to fall behind again.  It is good though, it keeps life interesting and kinda keeps me on my toes.  And I do try my best to keep 3M in business with my plethora of post-its!

A quick run down on everything I have going on.  If you don't remember my last accountability post was on June 6 (check it out if you don't remember) -- and... not much has happened since, okay I lie, a lot has:

Kaleidoscope Quilt (aka Dance in the Rain)
I did manage to work on this for a couple of days.  I finished all the strata and started assembling the pie pieces.  Not too bad for less than a weekend's worth of work.  And the good thing is I managed to work on it -- it was stuck in that bad never-gonna-get-this done place, so some work is good!  Still have oodles of stuff to finish on this one.  I love the designs that are happening.  I totally did not plan any of my fabric placements -- just made the strata and hoped for the best.  I will be adding some applique -- the eyes might need a spot to rest every so often!  And, I still need to piece the border - more strata - have to grab some more fabrics from Natalie. Once this beauty is finished it WILL be amazing!  Right now it's still getting there!

H2O Challenge
My project for this years Journeys Thru Art challenge.  I'm calling it Drops.  I am so excited!  I spent a few hours and made some drops.... now to find a gazillion more hours!  But aren't those drops freaking amazing?!!!  I love when I impress myself -- it scares me sometimes when things turn out so perfectly that those little hairs on the back of your neck stand straight up!  IDK, maybe that's just me -- but it happened, they stood straight up and tinglies went up and down my spine.  One of those wow moments!  I can not wait to find more time to finish this quilt!



Martin County Quilters 2013 Member Challenge - Black and White
Just wait until you see this -- it is totally amazing and cool!  It is just about finished being colored and then needs to be quilted.  It turned out so amazing that I actually entered it into MQX Quilt Festival - Pacific Northwest!  It is a wholecloth which I am using fabric markers to color in one of my zentangly doodles that I drew specifically for the challenge.  I'm calling it Down the Rabbit Hole, and this is the only picture I can share at this point -- just wait though, it'll knock your socks off.  Well, unless you don't wear socks, then perhaps your flip-flops will fly?!!  Now I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that my quilting will accentuate my drawing and I don't mess it up!

PSL Crazy Quilters 2014 Member Challenge - fail... I have nothing more than the last update.  The entry deadline is still in November.  My idea board is still blank.  Hoping my last minute magic kicks in on this one!

True Colors - I have drawn out the quilting design and I'm quite pleased.  That's it though, I still need to transfer the main lines to the quilt and then squeeze it into my schedule somewhere!  Soon!!  This quilt wants so badly to be born.

New Un-Named Quilt
Progress!  It has been named - Arachne's Dauntless Spin - why you ask?  Of course it is a long story, here is the short version... one of my besties said it looked spider-webby, which you can't see just yet but yes, some of it really does resemble spider webs.  So me and my little researcher brain had to find a name to match the spider-webbiness of the drawing.  Hmmm.... well..... wow.... not much.  Then I found the story of Arachne and Athena... and hey, the quilt is made of silk and spider webby and and and... there you go, that's how my brain works!  So while I can't share the drawing with you (only a few have seen it -- its going to be a surprise), I will share the fabrics with you -- beautiful aren't they!  I can not wait to work on this quilt!!

Un-Named, Yet-to-be-Designed Fantastic Idea for a Quilt
Absolutely no progress on this one at all...
my idea totally matches the Up Up and Away theme for MQS and I think it would be totally awesome.  The only problem I'm having is drawing it out, fabric'ing it up, quilting it... you know... T I M E.  Ahhhhhh, we'll see, this is on the back burner for now.  Even if I don't finish it for the Up Up and Away challenge I will still finish it because it is awesome in my head!

Where The Heck Did That Come From? - new un-named wonder
I have had these fabrics for forever and a day, or two... they were originally planned for something else and well, that something will never happen -- the one block took me an entire day to make.  I don't know about all of you, but I do not have enough time to devote an entire day to one block... ever!  So scrap that idea and the fabrics are now available for this amazing thing that just popped out of my head -- no name for this one yet but it is total coolness!  So again, I can't share the quilt just yet but here are the fabrics.  But here's the weird part.  I am not a print person -- lately I have been trying to rid my stash of all these crazy prints I've picked up over the years.  I think part of it is I like to see my stitches and prints don't always allow that.  But amazingly, this quilt will be using two prints!  Proud of myself in a weird sort of way.

I think that's it... probably not, but I've made blogging progress and added reminders to my calendar not to ignore you wonderful peeps!

Over-Extended and Under-Timed (also known as everyday)

I feel the urge to share every single project I'm working on right now including all of their deadlines.  No, not for the need of bragging.  More of a need to holding myself accountable!  And unlike a little paper list, I can't lose my blog.

Kaleidoscope Quilt aka "Dance in the Rain"
This was started about a year ago, and I've already missed the two intended deadlines.  Still making strata, still cutting pieces, still need to piece pie shapes, still needs a lot... need to get more fabric from Natalie for the borders.  Yes, this beauty consists of 9 levels of her hand-dyed fabrics!  Anyway, I have hit the brakes on this one, can't even force myself to work on it... why, not sure.  I love this and can't wait to get it ready to be quilted.  It's just not in the creative front seat.

H2O Challenge - "Drops"
This years challenge for Journeys Thru Art (my art group) is H2O.  I chose this photo - "Rain" by Adam Hart-Davis -- with permission for reproduction in fiber form.  I can not wait to get started on this.   I have already purchased several fabrics along with organza, Angelina fibers, and other interesting things in an attempt to create the rain as well as the intense light glow in the background.  Should prove to be fun as well as trying.  Drops deadline is this fall... I'm shooting for the end of October.



Martin County Quilters 2013 Member Challenge: Black and White
Well... I have nothing.  Nothing to show you that is.  I have a couple of ideas in my head -- will they come to fruition?  That is a good question.  Deadline: November 14, 2013.

PSL Crazy Quilters 2014 Member Challenge: Palms in Paradise
Entry Deadline: November 2013 - must be finished by February 2014.  Ideas - none, fabrics - must use FQ provided.

True Colors
No, this quilt is still not done -- it has already missed multiple deadlines and it is still not done.  I did finally finish all those little applique circles!  But, it needs to be quilted, and well, I'm kinda busy quilting all over the place at shows with Gammill, as well as customer work.  And it really needs the quilting designed and then quilted... a little different than just quilting it.  You can read about the history of True Colors here.  The good news is I've actually pulled this quilt out and thought about the quilting design, so that's technically progress!


Un-Named New Quilt
This quilt was just drawn out a few days ago.  Well really it was drawn out several different times over a two-day period -- I stopped at drawing number 4.  I am super-duper pleased with it, it is screaming to be born, screaming!  Right now it is getting all my creative attention.  NO, I can NOT share a picture just yet.  I can tell you that it will be done entirely in dupioni silk (one of my favorites).  I can also tell you that it will use the lavender and white dupioni yardage cuts that I purchased in Jersey a few years ago.  It will also include several other colors.  It will consist entirely of applique.  Yes, I kinda like applique -- no, it will not be hand applique!  No specific deadline on this one, except that I want to finish it first!

Un-Named, Yet-to-be-Designed Fantastic Idea for a Quilt
This is my possible idea for the 2014 MQS Theme of Up, Up, and Away.  Can't share, but I've got a fantastic idea.  Fingers (and eyes) crossed that what I see in my head looks that good in fabric!  Deadline - before MQS 2014 entry deadline, which is ??

Mari's First Quilt
No, I'm not actually working on this.  Mari is!  Mari is my son's girlfriend -- she is a super adorable fun-loving full-of-life spirit that is crazy excited to learn quilting.  She went through my stash and picked out some fabrics.  I'm teaching her piecing - she is loving it -- she's starting with some simple strip piecing.  I am so super excited over this as well!  Once she is done piecing her quilt she'll then learn how to use the Gammill and she will quilt her very first quilt all by herself!  And no, absolutely no deadline on this one, just had to share!!!



So I think that's everything for now... probably not, but close!

Gammill and MQS 2013 - Wichita, KS

I landed in Wichita... a small airport, yep, tiny... 

no, this is not an exaggeration -- okay, I'm sure there are smaller airports, but you know!  The only thing between people in the process of exiting the airport and people still to go through security are a few stanchions... seriously.  Oh, and there are only two baggage claim thingies.  And... it was 92 degrees when I landed (hotter than SoFL) -- obviously the peeps in this airport were chilly at 92 degrees - they are all wearing coats, okay almost all of them.

And it's kinda nice when you arrive after everyone else and most of the hard work is already finished.  Not that I am required to set up, but if you're there, you help!

Power lunch before the opening of the shows shopping frenzy -- I am so happy and honored to be part of the Gammill family!

And here's the big entrance thingy...

And look who I get to stitch on again!

And there's Outta the Loop hanging beautifully!

And some creative signage... this place was closed down, but after speaking with some locals it is just a bad-luck spot, everything that has been there closed down.

And back to my purpose, the - more all over feathers - my absolute favorite!

Since I was quilting away so fast, I took a little break and tried some stitches on the Charm.  Yes, I am stand-up quilter who moves the *pencil*.  The *paper-movers* have nothing to worry about with me... kinda proves I'm human, huh?!!

In my defense this is only the second time I've actually stitched on the Charm.  Its not too bad eh?  I'm pretty sure I'll stick to standing up and pushing my giant pencil to stitch!

Not that quilting isn't fun, but sometimes you just need to visit the local sites.  We were told we needed to see the Keeper of the Plains.  What, you ask?  There is an enormous statue and every night at 9pm they light it up.  So, we all pile into the Yukon (yes, that's pronounced Yuck-un - LOL) and drive down the street -- okay, we took a minor detour to Gander Mountain -- to see what all the hubbub was about.

And on my last day at the show I finished the quilt -- totally awesome!  I just love that silver-grey dupioni!  Don't forget to follow Gammill's website for info on when these beauties will be auctioned!

And I finally got to meet Claudia Pfeil.  We talk a lot on facebook, but this was our first face to face meeting - she is just the sweetest - and super talented too!

And during the banquet Linda Taylor received the Lifetime Achievement Award -- Mr. Stafford (Gammill) gives an admirable speech highlighting Linda's 20 year relationship with Gammill Quilting Systems.

And of course, Ricky Tims provided wonderful entertainment!

To sum it all up -- MQS was a blast!  

MQS... honorably!

Yay me!  Last week, while at MQS, Wonderlust got some new bling... an Honorable Mention ribbon!  I was tickled, actually still am!  My husband laughs at me and tells me that an Honorable Mention is really "first official loser" -- NOT!  It means I did well, that my quilt was recognized.  Seriously, I am nuts -- my award could be for "Ugliest Quilt Evahhh", and I'd still be tickled pink winning a ribbon!

So here is Wonderlust wearing her new bling!  Thanks Claudia Pfeil for the photo!

I don't want to multiple-post the same thing, but I must share this one, which is now an absolute favorite, provided by Lisa Sipes...

Yes, that is Lisa (better known as McLisa on Facebook) crazy-quilty-girl-loving all over my quilt!  And if you haven't seen any of Lisa's work check out her blog -- although I would find that hard to believe.

In the meantime I'm crazy-seriously working on a new small wholecloth, not "Mama's Got the Blues", a totally different one.  I'll let you know more as I know more... scary huh?

Oh and also trying to "rush" my Journeys Thru Art projects.  So that we might possibly show them in November... stress "trying to rush" but in a good way, not a crazy-must-finish-way.

Have a happy day quilties!