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!

and a new quilt is born...

WHAT?  Yes, you all know how busy I am right now, the deadlines I'm supposed to be missing -- I mean meeting, and everything else in my crazy wonderful life.

My main deadline was the World Quilt Show Florida IV (Mancuso).  My second deadline was the PSLCQ Guild UFO Challenge.  For these deadlines I was going to use the same quilt -- True Colors.  World Quilt Show entries were due by 9/24 and the UFO Challenge is due 10/3 -- seemed totally possible in a crazy sort of way.  Well... it was Wednesday or Thursday when I realized that four days was NOT enough time to quilt True Colors.  So what do you think I did?... seriously... wait for it... I designed a small wholecloth to whip-up over the weekend.  Am I  *bleeping* nuts... YES!  I am *bleeping* insanely nuts, well beyond that of the normal nuts person!  But not really.  A small wholecloth is one design, one fabric, one color thread, and some background fills.  Totally possible over a weekend, remember I said small wholecloth and I'd be using each and every possible hour of that weekend.  The amount of quilting planned for True Colors will probably span out over a two-week period (if not more).  So, True Colors will just debut at a later show -- and, I have failed at my UFO Challenge -- no worries, I can live with both.

So here goes the weekend in photos:

 

Now... the name -- Sidewalk Chalk
Cute huh?  How the heck did this quilt get named that?  Let me start with I did not name this quilt -- and it's a good thing!  Lets go back to me quilting... grey fabric, chambrey to be exact.  I LOVE GREY... it is a problem!  Anyway, you have to realize that while I'm quilting my face is maybe 10-12 inches from the fabric the entire time.  This grey is the color of concrete.  I'm using they most beautiful pastel variegated thread.  All I can see is concrete.  When I spritz the quilt with water to remove markings all I can see is wet concrete!  So... with concrete on my mind I'm thinking of names... hmmmm... concrete?  Pretty thread?... concrete?  You can see this is going no where.  So, texting begins with one of the besties...

Me:  concrete?
Bestie:  you can't call it concrete - that's ugly
Me:  and... it looks like concrete, with candy
Bestie:  no, that just does not sound right
Me:  well, it freaking looks like concrete, cement, call it what you may
Bestie:  sidewalk... and the thread looks like chalk on the sidewalk

and a new quilt was born, thank you Lisa!

Wrong-doings turned RIGHT!

...not really wrong-doings, more like should have been doing something else.

I am behind on customer quilts -- what else is new.  But, the weekends are mine, or at least they should be!  Most of the time I only take one day for myself, but this weekend I took both days - can you believe it!

You've all heard about my latest deadlines... quilt shows, guild challenges, etc.  Well, this weekend I should have been working on True Colors.  Not, nope, didn't happen... I know, I know!  True Colors has two deadlines - I know, something can't have two deadlines... the first one would be THE deadline.  BUT, in this case it really does have two.  The first one being the World Quilt Show Southern States Competition in West Palm Beach.  The entry deadline for that show is 9/24/2012.  Possible... if I quilt like a mad woman, do nothing else, and fall yet further behind on customer work.  The second one being the PSL Crazy Quilters UFO Challenge (read a bit about it here).  That is not due until 10/3/2012.  See - the same quilt can have two deadlines... if I miss the first one it will be bad, but still okay.  I'm babbling...  back to the topic of this post!

Saturday morning I woke up super early, after less than 4 hours sleep (that is my norm lately).  It was a dreary miserable rainy morning so I decided to piece the background of my MCQG challenge.  That would be good and would solve the boring rainy morning.  Well, that is how it started!


[NOTE:  IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE MY MCQG CHALLENGE STOP READING NOW]
and... that was your warning!  

And, if you missed the first post, click here!


To catch you all up on my weekend, here's some show and tell -- and being that I'm babbling it'll probably be lots of tell:

Let me say again, I am not a very scrappy person.  I love big blank fabrics so that my quilting pops.  So, this will be a very good attempt at controlled scrappiness!

And there's the fabrics!  Well, some of the fabrics.  Notice, not very many prints.  I am becoming a "fabric snob"  -- no, its not a bad thing, it's just my thing.

And, messiness is starting.. maybe this is why I haven't been piecing that much lately?

Almost done with the darks, dirt, ground, bottom, whatever you want to call it.  Let me share one of my biggest peeves... pressing.  I press seams OPEN.  ALL of them, OPEN!  You don't have to, it's just something I do, I prefer it, but I won't force it on you... well, unless I'm quilting for you, then I'll fill your ear with it.  Oh, and you see that one strange fabric that is so much different than the rest?  Hint:  it's a kinda' calico-ish brown -- that's not mine, that was the swap fabric.

And the lights -- notice the difference in row sizes... trying to keep it interesting -- it's scraps you know?  And look at the darks, see that tiny little braided strip?  Cool huh?  it is from the same fabric as the very far left side (a basket weave), just cut differently.  So far that's my favorite one!

And now, to sew the darks to the lights.  Looking pretty good.  That's pretty much how I saw it in my head.

Now, some of you know how much I love brown.  It is one of my very favorite colors.  Well, I also have a favorite fabric line -- RJR Handsprays.  Eons ago, while still working at the quilt shop, I bought 5 yards of the brown Handspray -- I think it was called chocolate.  Anyway... this is the very last piece of that five yards.  WHAT you say... no worries, after I bought that 5 yards, I bought another 3 yards!  I'm good with the brown!

BUT, since it was the very last piece (hence the word SCRAP), I had to piece two little sections for my tree applique.  Pretty cool huh!

And here's the tree all cut out ready for edge turning:

And here is the tree on the background fabrics.  Looking just like my doodle!  LOVE when things work out the way you planned!  So here is the first peek at Bend

So, now all that's left are the leaves that need to be made and attached to the tree.  There are 33 in the doodle -- not sure how many will actually make it to the quilt.  And to add the text of the quote.  Then all of the applique will need to be stitched down and then quilted.  But I'm thinking I made some great progress this weekend!  Oh, and this will finished to about 40" wide, right now it's about 46".

Update on True Colors (mexican pinwheel)

I believe it has been almost forever since I've posted anything quilty!  I've posted my #PHOTOADAY challenges, I've posted two Fact-Filled Friday's already.  But not much quilty stuff...  that doesn't mean I haven't been creating, it just means I've been crazy over here in life-land, and I've also been doing a lot of major custom's for customer's (check out the other blog here).

A couple of months ago I decided to take part in the Crazy Quilters (one of my guilds) UFO Challenge.  You were to bring in 2-3 unfinished projects and let the members chose which UFO you would finish.  Well, I brought in two UFO's -- my silk embroidery quilt and my mexican pinwheel.  Well, mexican pinwheel won.  As part of this, my challenge is to have this quilt totally finished by the deadline of the October 3rd meeting!  Really?  Did I really sign up for this?  I usually work much better with deadlines... usually.

So, all those times that I'm not living life, and I'm not working on customer's beauties, I've been making circles.  Little 3/4" circles for around the border.

So, I was circling away when out of nowhere OCD showed up!  How could I possibly keep making circles and not know if there was a sort of balance to the colors...

So the circling continued until there were 88 of those little buggers!  

Also during all that circling the mexican pinwheel was named True Colors.  I was workng on making circles one night and it just happened to be after notifications of a quilt show and I was on facebook reading some "not-so-nice" comments.  Most people were congratulating others, but there were a few that weren't so joyful.  They weren't vicious, just not very nice, almost making the point that the quilts that were accepted were somehow less significant than others.  More like referencing that, but not actually saying it kind-of-thing.  So during all that "commotion" I kept saying wow, some people are really showing their true colors... hopefully my true colors never get that nasty shade of green!

So here is the latest picture of True Colors.  I've finished placing all the circles on the borders, now to just stitch them on... machine or hand, still not sure.

See, I have been working!  Until next time, happy quilting, stitching, piecing, appliqueing... what ever floats your boat and makes you happy!