One Creative Family

I have been thinking a lot of the first few quilts I made.  I thought here I have been sewing all my life, so what is the big deal about quilting?  The first quilt was just alternating squares and I embroidered randomly on it.  Easy….Hahaha. I learned the lesson of NEVER say “easy peasy”.

My next quilt was for my son.  I went to the Public Library and got a book on quilt blocks.  I read the minimal directions and thought, “Ok I will make the bear paw”.   Some how every block I made had to be added to or cut down to be able to piece the quilt top.  I was learning and it WASN’T as easy as I thought.  I got the thing together. A friend told me I needed to give it a name.  Damn Thing was not an acceptable title.  So that Christmas my son got “Trials and Tribulations”.I was hooked.  I had to figure out what I was doing wrong and correct it.  Thanks to Youtube, friends from work, and many visits to my 1st Saturday Sewing Group who offered many suggestions and books I am always looking at ways to incoarporate something into a quilting project.

Our house is filled with quilted something or wood something and we wouldn’t change it a bit. Quilting has become such great therapy.

Thank you for visiting this one crazy quilting fool.

 

Last year we took a long planned vacation from Missouri thru the SW United States.  It was a trip we planned for 15 yrs.  While Hubby planned the National Parks we would visit and see I planned on Quilt Shops I wanted to visit.

Our first Quilt shop stop was in Taos, New Mexico.  I am not sure what I loved the most, the fabrics and patterns, or the first impression of the store.  The Taos Adobe Quilting Shop lived up to their name and reputation.  This quaint little shop does take order and ships them to you.  Visist them on line and enjoy their shop. http://www.taosadobequiltingandmore.com/They do have a Face Book page so check them out.

Our next stop was in Cortez Quilt Company in Cortez, Colorado.  We found a variety of fabrics and so many things to see.  The clerks were so friendly and helpful.  Visit their site and plan on seeing them if they are in the area.  http://cortezquiltcompany.com/

Our third shop was in Estes Parks, Colorado.  Here we found 2 wonderful shops.  Our first stop was Cottage Bliss.  Walking into this quaint shop was like walking into your best friend’s shop.  We were greeted as a long lost friend and chatted for quite a time while looking.  A wonderful stop.  http://www.cottageblissestes.com/index.html   A truly must visit.

On our way to the fourth stop was still in Estes Parks, and we were looking for the Stitchin’ Den.  We walked for quite a while had some trouble finding it till we looked up. There it is.  Up a hill, up a set of stairs, in a set of doors under a sign for a Restaurant entrance pointing to the back of the building.  This shop has yarn, fabric, something for everyone.  Even some tea while you shop.    What can be better on a chilly October day in Colorado.  http://www.thestitchinden.com/about-us.html

Last stop was in Colorado Springs.  We can NEVER go to Colorado without stopping Colorado Springs.  Our first trip as a newly married couple 44 yrs ago and I can’t even remember the number of times going so it was a MUST to get fabric on this trip,  This shop was Nana’s Quilt Cottage. We walked into a wonderful shop that was filled with beautiful flowery fabrics of the past.  The shop made me immediately remember the days my Mother would lay fabric out on her bed and cut and snip, then take it to the machine and POOF like magic have a new dress for us girls.   http://www.nanasquiltcottage.com/store/

So if you are planning a trip to New Mexico, and Colorado here are a few stops for you to consider.  We also found out that all most all the National Parks have quilt blocks you can purchase.

Now to plan another trip….

Please keep the people of London in your prayers.  So sad.

We have been trying to get everything finished up for the sale Saturday.  I have only a few more things to finish up and then will be done.  I am assuming most of you know about Missouri Star Quilts and Jenny Doan.  I have been working on her Cathedral Window block.  Makes it so easy and without hand stitching.  It can be a quilt as you go block.  I made some place mats and had 4 finished inside an afternoon.   //www.youtube.com/watch?v=akKU0zg-qaw&t=126s

The placemats.

What a beautiful day it has been.  Nice and sunny in the low 80’s and butterflies are all over my yard.  No, not just my garden, but in my quilts also.  A few years ago I was involved in a block swap and loved it.  We all made 11 butterfly blocks and then swapped them.  I made this wonderful quilt and have decided to revisit my pattern and use some of my extra fabrics to make another one for our Nov. sale.

This was so much fun and making new friends from all over the world.  I need to find my pattern.  Another search will unearth some wonderful finds.

Here are some pictures from our trip from Omaha, Nebraska Zoo.  Butterflies are so graceful.

Happy Memorial Day to all and thank you to all the Military who served our country.

Cutting table is finished and in.  Working great and I just can’t wait to use it a lot.

I now have a place for my old buttons and threads.  I started cleaning the sewing room this morning and then Hubby thought a trip to Omaha, Nebraska zoo.  It is about 3 hour drive from Independence, MO and we had a great time.  It was cool enough that the animals were all active.  Great day to be outdoors.

 

 

 

 

Hubby finishes my cutting table today and I can’t wait.  He is putting the final coat sealant on it and then tomorrow it will be in my sewing room.  This will be perfect as I am ready to do some cutting.

Today I will be trying my hand at some English paper piecing.  A few weeks ago at the auction we went to the lady did a lot of this and I have so many little pieces she had cut out and sorted so today while Granddaughter is I will have some hand work to do.  She likes helping my by pulling the needle and thread thru the fabric.  Maybe I can get the sewing bug in her early.

Does anyone have any suggestions or hints for English paper piecing?

Are you trying anything new to do?  What is it and what brought you to do this?  You enjoying it?  I am curious and anxious to hear.

Lately I have been sitting at my sewing machine working on several different projects for Craft Fairs.  I keep getting more ideas and while some of them take lots of time there are many that don’t.  If I am not sewing I am watching the humming birds and squirrels playing outside my window.  I can get side tracked by the critters very easy.

Today sees the start of a pattern testing for a friend and I can’t wait to start on it.  I will post a picture when completed.  We will be opening an Etsy store soon (once I figure out how to get it set up.)  I hope this will be as easy for me as many have reassure me it is.

This is what I I have played with this week.  I have found these little booties in some of my finds at the auction last week and decided they would make wonderful pin cushions.  Then some small orphaned blocks made pin cushions.    Well my flying geese are calling me so have a wonderful weekend and be safe.

 

Reading Donna’s post on Russian Windows reminded me of some of the old Churches built in Schulenburg, Texas.  Schulenburg is an old old German and Chez community.  There are several churches.   They have about 7 churches.   It is called the Painted Church Tour.  These are some of my favorites.  These churches are still in use and Schulenburg is located South of Huston, Tx.  Such a wonderful small community.  Now go check out Donna’s blog.  https://myonebeautifulthing.com/2017/05/17/ivan-khafizov/

Went to an auction on Mother’s Day and 90% of the stuff there was quilting items.  Fabric, books, patterns, quilting table, sewing machines, and OH MY GOODNESS so much more.  Women can go STUPID NUTS!!!!! Some men also.  There were bolts of fabric and the bolts were going anywhere from $7-10 per bolt.  Crazy thing when you look at the bolt there may be less than 2 yards on the bolt.  The quilting table went for $1000 and there was a Janome sewing machine that went with it.

Beautiful hand quilted quilts went for $5-35.  One lady was buying then and then taking them to craft fairs and selling them for $75-350.   My haul.  I was lucky in that when I purchased a bundle of things people offered to buy one or two items from them and it paid for the bundle.

 The quilting table and all that went with it.

Yes, believe it or not, I came home with more than 1/2 the money I took with me.

I woke up this morning trying to figure out where to put all this stuff.  I love that issue.

Enjoy the day.

I have been suffering from Spring Fever.  We have been outside a lot working in the yard and it is showing it.  I have to get myself in gear for the craft fairs tho.  Too much to do and too little time.  Good excuse tho.  I get so side tracked these days and so I am making lists to do everything I need to get done in a day.

This morning I was outside cleaning the back fence row and taking some pictures.  This afternoon I am baking Red Velvet cake and Strawberry Shortcake for tomorrow.  Then tonight cut out a quilt for a pattern I am testing.

Just a few of the things I have gotten completed.  Top right pot holder sleeves for pans, bottom right Tortilla warmers.

Now to leave you with some yard photos….

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