Friday Fun Day!

Yes, Fridays are my sew day.  My day off to work on my own stuff -- sewing, quilting, fun stuff -- you know the creative fun zone!

This afternoon me, Nancy, and Mari worked on tie-dye shirts.  The shirts are for the red, white, and blue party at the guild next month.  What a blast we had!

We all tried a different folding technique.  Mine is a bullseye pattern, Mari did a chevron, and Nancy did a spiral.  I can not wait to see what they look like.  Outside they go in an attempt to speed up the dry time.

Oh, I mentioned bullseye, chevron, and spiral folds.  If you are interested in doing tie dye just head over to google (or your favorite search engine) -- there is a superabundance of info out there in internet land for so many different types of folds.

While the t-shirts were outside drying I couldn't help myself.  There was still a bottle of yellow dye in the kit just screaming to be used so I grabbed an old tank and a cute curly stencil and...

Do you notice those dark stripes across the shirt?  That was a mistake turned awesome!  Don't you love when that happens?  When I sprayed the dye over the stencil it left a dark line from the overspray as well as a bright white line from the stencil edge.  So where the line-ups were I manually sprayed a dark line.  To keep it looking planned I added several other dark lines.  I think it turned out pretty cool!

Okay, fast forward several hours of drying...  Yes, they are still damp - but we need to cut all the rubber bands and lay them out flat for additional drying before the heat setting.

Here is mine - the bulls eye:

Here is Nancy's - the spiral:

Here is Mari's - the chevron:

It was a super fun day and I think we all did some pretty amazing tie dying!  If you get the chance you should definitely try it (if you haven't already)!

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!  

Catch up between Quilt shows!

Somewhere between MQX Manchester and AQS Paducah my Mom came for a visit.  A much needed, long overdue, absolutely necessary visit.  I miss her, even though we talk on the phone at minimum three times a week, I miss her, the chats over coffee and cookies, the giggles, the scrabble marathons... you know the special things. Well, she was only here for three days so it was quick, but I did manage to snap a couple of pictures during our one day of relaxing nothingness:

 

 And just to keep our Saturday mornings fun and entertaining, here is Mari (my son's super adorable lovable girlfriend) playing with some dry ice.  We are weird... in a strangely fun way!

And I totally managed to do this -- even if only for a short while:

And two nights we had a critter on the concrete out front:

I know, you're all repeating it in your heads... red next to black is my friend Jack, red next to yellow is a deadly fellow.   And silly bat... wings are for flying!

And then it was Mother's Day - psst.... I ordered my gift early.  I saw this wonderful vendor in Paducah who made these totally awesome bracelets from vintage typewriter keys.  Guess what? ..... .... .. it just so happens that I collect vintage (cool word for really old) typewriters!  Anyway, there was a bracelet that said 2QUILT4$ -- wow, really, cause that's kinda what I do.  BUT... I didn't buy it.  I got home and kicked myself because I really wanted it.  Turns out I'm a strange sort of detective because I found that very same vendor on Etsy!  Guess what?  .... ... .. I ordered my very own personalized bracelet -- cool beans huh?

Mother's Day started with a surprise breakfast for me as well as Mari's Mother and Grandmother.  Then the kids took me to Downtown Stuart for a nice afternoon of shopping.

My hubby took over for the evening part:

 I had a wonderful super full-of-love day!

And then... the mower died.  Well, it didn't die, it just needed some expensive attention from the repair peeps.  You really use your mower a lot in Florida -- darn grass grows ALL year long!

So... hopefully you feel full of information and totally caught up.  Quilts?  What... who has time to quilt?  LOL, no really, oodles of stuff coming up -- and another post in a few days sharing all the wonderfulness that was MQS!

Gammill and AQS Paducah 2013

Again I'm going to make an attempt to translate the blur of fun in my head into a clear comprehensible post...

I landed in Memphis, TN.  I know, I was headed to Paducah, KY...
The Gammill peeps were swinging by and picking me up on their drive to Paducah -- awesome huh?  Now that's what I call star treatment!  But, it also turns out that Memphis is a pretty hopping place!  It just happened to be lunch time so we stopped at Beale Street for lunch.  Now, don't underestimate the word lunch... more specifically, ribs, from the Blues City Cafe -- outstanding!

And then comes booth set-up -- yes, everyone helps.  It is a little crazy, kinda chaotic, slightly strenuous and kinda' sweaty, but it's fun!

And just to keep it interesting, I timed Doug and Martha while they set up the Home Pro table -- yes, 12 minutes - and that was while moving out of other vendors way and talking!  I did not, however, get a picture of the process... dumb I know!  

Also, what you probably didn't notice in those booth set-up pictures is that giant crate.  That was a little surprise for me!  In that crate was Old Glory, Gammill's special Quilts of Valor machine.  I would be stitching on Old Glory - awesome!!!  This machine has a one-of-a-kind paint job and it is amazing.  If you ever get to see it in person you'll totally understand.

And if enough awesome stuff wasn't already happening... check out the back cover of the AQS Paducah Show Program!  Yes, that's my Gammill ad!  Cool beans, huh?!!

Here is Betsey sharing with a wonderful group of ladies how awesome it is to stitch on the new sit-down Charm!  And, of course, the local news showed up, here's Rhonda sharing the Vision 18 on the Home Pro table!

Now, back to my purpose in the booth.  I'm a Gammill Quilting Artist which means -- many wonderful things -- but, I'm at these shows to share with people how amazing these machines are, and how much can be done with them.  And that quilting is much more than stitching a top to a backing, it is a true art form!  So I start with a doodle and then mark it on some beautiful fabric.  I tend to mark a little more than normal to assist my attention issues.  With all those people talking and watching, it helps me to stay focused and on track.

And then the stitching begins -- be warned, this fabric does not know what color it wants to be... it is purple, blue, or pink, depending!

And why am I always smiling?... just look at the evidence!

And, done!  Isn't it beautiful?!!  Don't forget, these artist quilts will be auctioned off later in the year, make sure you keep an eye on the Gammill website for more details!

and some close-up detail pics:

And here I am with some amazing women!  Martha (A Touch of Thread), Karen (Wildflower Quilting), Rhonda (Gammill Quilting), ME, and Betsey (Gammill Quilting)!

And... I can't forget that I had a quilt in the show!  Here I am with Flies and Weeds.  

You can read all about this quilt in the May/June issue of Machine Quilting Unlimited Magazine!!

So, since I finished the quilt a day early (again), we pulled out the all-over feather frenzy that was started in Manchester, if you don't remember, click here.

And I managed to finished this one too... this is my favorite so far!  I absolutely love quilting like this -- total play, this is when my brain is in a happy place!

On an awfully sad note, while I was in Paducah, my friend and fellow Journeys art group member passed away.  I was truly thankful that her ceremony was the day after I returned home and I was able to be a part of it.  Judie, you were an amazing woman and artist.  Hopefully I'll see your art in the skies, cosmo cheers to you!

Judie, you will forever be missed!