Twenty-Four!

Who knew that twenty-four little blocks could be manipulated in so many ways. It took me twice as long to decide on a final layout for these little beauties than it took me to actually make them!

So, what do you think?

Cheers,

Dionne

ATWQS is coming to an end....

This is the last quilt to come through my door. It has been a year in the works; with ups and downs. But here it is, the very last.

I quite like all the motion in this quilt. All, or at least most, of the blocks have the feeling of motion to them. It's like a colorful garden of whirlygigs!

Next ATWQ top to arrive in my mailbox will be mine!

Cheers,

Dionne

ATWSQ - Scrappy Star

On this swap quilt block I made another scrappy star, but this time I framed it with a nice bright red.

Isn't that postage stamp block great? I love the churn dash block as well.

But the quilt top itself is a lot bigger than just these three blocks.

They all look GREAT. It was too big to get them all together on my design wall. But it's going to look great when it's done!!

Cheers,

Dionne

Cottages for Ginger Monkey

This little village is another swap quilt.

This one is for Ginger Monkey. I love the trees amongst all the cottages.

And that barn is FANTASTIC!! I wish I could say I made it but alas, the block I made is another little cottage.

Cheers,

Dionne

Lady Belle's Butterfly Garden

I made this butterfly quilt block for Lady Belle's swap quilt.

I actually got the idea and made up a pattern for it from another one of the blocks.

I am really enjoying this quilt. I love how everyone's blocks work so well together. What do you think?

Here is a picture of all the blocks together. The butterflies, the flowers, the bird -- all the colors.

It's really beautiful.

Cheers,

Dionne

Scrappy star for the latest Swap Quilt

Here are all the squares in teh latest swap quilt. This one has a huge variety of colors and designs.

I made the block in the lower right hand corner.

There is a close-up of the block I made.

This is a scrappy star, made with all scraps and a tone on tone background.

These squares are a great way to use up some of your left-over scraps -- especially the smaller ones!

Cheers,

Dionne

Summer Sadie

Summer Sadie is the one who organized the Around the World quilt project.

Looking at Sadie's quilt top was a lot of fun. The second block was made by her mom and it's really sweet because it is signed 'Mom' Isn't that sweet? I love the idea of a quilt top that has gone all the way around the world is signed also by mom.

My block is the last one. This is a simple block, but I still, really like the lines and colors.

Cheers,

Dionne

Around the World Quilt Swap for Katel

Here is the quilt (so far) for KatelNorth:



These are all such beautiful blocks. There are some beautiful star blocks, all the blocks have beautiful fabrics. One of my daughters LOVES the Frog block with the loooong tongue.

My block is the last square, the blue star:

Cheers,

Dionne

Kendall's Around the World

Yes, I know. It's been nothing but around the world lately. But I've a flurry in my mailbox, and although I'm still working on the Spice Market Batik, I'm not going to show you anymore until I get to the next big step.

So this quilt is for Kendall. Let me give you a rundown of where the blocks are from:

Row 1 - Virginia, US (Kendall's starter block), Memphis, Tenn US (x2), Surry then Cornwall UK

Row 2 - Wiltshire, UK; Leeds, UK; Waterfield, UK; Holland; Australia

Row 3 - Brasil; Cape Coral, FL, US; Austin TX, US; Reseda, Ca; Palmdale, CA

Row 4 - Oakland, CA; Lake Bay, WA and finally to me in Bellevue WA

And a closeup of my own block. Not sure why my block looks wonky, it's really not.

Cheers,

Dionne

Anita's Around the World Quilt block swap

Well, here's another one done and in the mail.

This one is for Anita (Bake and Sew). The block I made is the last block on, bottom right. All the blocks are lovely, but one of my favorites is the one from Australia. That bird with the hand embroidered plumage is just beautiful!

Cheers,

Dionne

Maria's ATWQS Quilt Spoiler!

Well, here is the latest Around the World Quilt Block Swap quilt. This one is for Maria.

(Maria - if you don't want to see your quilt blocks until they come in the mail - DON'T READ ANY MORE!!)

In this quilt, blocks were made by women all over the world; from Florida, Brazil, California, United Kingdom, The Netherlands, etc.

Oh, yeah, and also one block from Washington State!

Cheers,

Dionne

Latest on the Spice Market Batik

Here is the latest on the Spice Market Batik quilt I'm working on. It's going to be super large - bigger than my design wall.

This quilt is going to be beautiful when it's done, and I think it's coming together nicely.

I have one piece on the design wall placed backwards, but I'll just let you figure out which one it is. Do you see it?

Well, no worries, the quilt wasn't sewn together at this point. Thank goodness for design walls!

Cheers,

Dionne

What I've learned...

What I've learned in the last two months.

I've learned that cancer has a voracious appetite and lung cancer never goes away.

It's always too early to say good-bye to loved ones, even when the end is inevitable.

Sewing doesn't fix everything, or mend all broken hearts.

But the human race has an immense amount of creativity and through the miracles of modern medicine, the body can endure amazing things.

Also, people can live with very little useful lung capacity.

I was making a surprise for my father and at a certain point it just became too difficult to look at my project sitting there. I had other projects in the works, but somehow, I couldn't bring myself to put my father's project aside to work on anything else either. Silly, I know.

But I think it's time to open up my sewing room again. It's rather dusty. But it's time.

Cheers,

Dionne

Around the World Quilt - Brazil

This is the progress on Glaucia's ATWQ - The blocks are all looking so great. I love how nicely they look together. They all play so well!

Eight blocks in and only sixteen more to go!!

Here is a closeup of my block. I had a bit of difficulty with this one, I changed my mind mid-block on the design and almost nearly didn't pull it off.

Cheers,

Dionne

A Sneak Peak of Spice Market...

Here is just a little peak at the Spice Market quilt blocks. I'm making this gigantic quilt, and because it isn't for my family or a gift (What I really mean to say is that I don't have a flexible schedule, flexible pattern or flexible fabrics).

So, of course I have had a few.... well, issues. Lets just leave it at that!

Anyhow, here is a really small look at some of the finished blocks.

Cheers,

Dionne

Ricky Tims Super Seminar -- The Quilts!

I should have taken MANY more pictures, but I was really overwhelmed with how awesome everything was.

Alex Anderson had several beautiful quilts, but this one I really loved. She hand quilted the entire thing. It wasn't too big, but really a beautiful scrap quilt.

Ricky Tims brought his quilt called 'Simple Gifts' ~ this is the one that came in 101st out of the 100 Best Quilts list. It's really spectacular! He talked at length about the methods he used on this quilt and in the bound handout, he gave us some very detailed techniques.

Ricky also had his quilt called 'Bohemian Rhapsody' This quilt is really amazing, we spent a great deal of time learning about Rhapsody quilts.

Ricky even had his notes on the Rhapsody quilt that is hanging in the Museum in Paducah Kentucky.

Libby Lehman's quilts had the most spectacular threadwork. She was so funny, and it was amazing to me how much she knew about all the different sewing machines out there.

And finally, my son was so excited about Ricky Tims that he drew his own version of a Cave man quilt (Ricky Tims invented the technique Cave Man quilting). He made me promise I would bring it in and give it to Ricky Tims.

Ricky was so great about it! He even kept it with him all weekend and on the third day, when I was working on stage I turned around and found that he still had it with him.

This was a GREAT seminar and I highly recommend it to anyone who considers it. Don't hesitate, drive as far as you have to, just GO!

Cheers,

Dionne

Ricky Tims Super Seminar -- WOW!

I recently volunteered at a Ricky Tims Super Seminar. At first I was a bit skeptical about going to this event, it's not cheap. It lasts two and a half days ~ or three very long days if you volunteer.

My skepticism started when I was told that there would be no sewing. This was going to be an affair

that was entirely spent sitting down, listening to or watching Ricky Tims, Libby Lehman, or Alex Anderson speak and sew. I am a pragmatist. If I'm going to spend that much money and time to attend an event, I really wanted something to show for my time, as in some sort of ... well, something that I created as a result. Evidently, I wasn't giving the added knowledge any kind of merit.

As a

volunteer, you are compensated with a certificate to spend at the Ricky Tims store and the opportunity to see all the work and effort that goes on behind the scenes to put on a seminar of this caliber. Any discount on the entrance fee is only the same one offered to all participants, if you sign up as a group you get a modest discount.

In order to make my decision, I polled everyone I could find that went to one of these seminars and they all said the same thing - GO!

So, I went. I also volunteered. I'm SO glad I did. The amount I learned from these three amazingly talented artists was beyond measure. Also, I found out so much about their personalities as well. They really are funny. Even Alex Anderson, had a constant smile and an easy laugh.

Libby Lehman and Ricky Tims both rolled their sleeves up and worked just as hard as all the rest of us at pulling things off the truck and getting them set up. And then again at the end of the show, in tearing down the set and putting everything away. Libby Lehman had her ankle wrapped from a recently recovered broken ankle, yet she was there first thing in the morning and nearly the last to leave. She is also an absolute riot! She is just so very funny!

Sadly, the seminar won't be coming again to our area for a very long time. But if I ever get the chance to take another class with Libby or Ricky I will RUN to be the first in line.

I did learn a lot from Alex Anderson, and she was very gracious and kind. But I'm not a hand quilter.

I'll post more about the conference, and some pictures of some AMAZING quilts.

Cheers,

Dionne

It's a Great Mail Day ~ Cupcakes!

A while ago, I participated in a Mini-Cupcake Quilt swap.

Today in the mail, I got my BEAUTIFUL quilt.

It's from Brenda at Pumpkin Patch Primitive Quilt Shoppe.

Look at how gorgeous it is! There is handquilting and hand beadwork, and the colors are wonderful.

Not only that, she wrapped it in a wonderful piece of flannel. AND she included two lovely MODA charm packs.

AND a really fun cupcake quilt pattern.

Cheers,

Dionne

The latest Around the World Quilt

This is how the latest Around the World Quilt is looking. I really like how this is turning out.

I really love all the framed pictures and how, when they come together they make a kind of picture.

Cheers,

Dionne

UGG, It's a Great Giveaway!

Giveaway The First

When I moved to the Pacific Northwest from toasty California, I was in culture shock. The rain wasn't even remotely as bad as I was lead to believe, cloudy ~ yes, but the rain is most often a drizzle. No biggie, the torrential downpours in Sacramento and even in Arizona where when it rains, it floods.

It's the colder climate that has been difficult for me to acclimate to. I wouldn't have survived the first few winters without my UGG minis. I know these boots have become a sort of fashion icon (or don't depending) but I use my UGGs as slippers, and I LOVE them!

My purple minis come just over my ankles and they are snuggly warm! Here is the link to the giveaway! I hope I win a new pair of Uggs!

Giveaways, Two More

Rachel Griffith has a special relationship with the Quilt Shoppe and is hosting another terrific giveaway HERE.

Also Heather, at A La Mode Fabric is having a giveaway HERE.

Cheers,

Dionne

Latest Friendship Star Swap Trickles in...

The last Friendship Star swap has been trickling in...

I've always loved stars and star

blocks. When I first started doing them it was really intimidating, all the triangles.

I think the worst part was getting the sizes right. If I concentrated on getting the sizes right then I couldn't seem to get good points.

That was years ago, and I hadn't given a Half-square triangle a second thought in eons. But in swaps, when I'm hosting at least, I've learned to separate out confident beginners from those that have more experience with triangles and stars.

Of course, now I'm working on perfecting my curves and my applique. Both seem to allude me a bit still and personally, I dont yet count my self an expert in those areas.

But I know, after all my experience with triangles and those pesky points, that practice helps. And it helps A LOT!

Alas, I'm a chronic over-committer as my husband likes to point out when I whine a bit too much about my busy schedule.

So.... I'll be around.....

but my blogging might be a bit sparse in the coming weeks....

But, I'll be around...

Cheers,

Dionne

Robots Run Amok!

I have this philosophy that you should never make a promise to a child. Children don't understand or care about extenuating circumstances. So making a promise to a child is like telling them that it will never rain and things will never go wrong in life. This philosophy serves me well when, on occaision, fun plans must be changed.

But sometimes I forget! And I did promise my son his own quilt when he got his big-boy bed. I made this promise a very long time ago, and he never forgot!

The hunt for the perfect Robot quilt has emerged successful! I found this fabulous fabric called Nuts and Robolts that has a lovely panel that can be cut down into 8" squares as well as some fabulous supporting fabrics.

I found the perfect and simple pattern in Fons & Porter and Voila. My easy framed blocks will be placed with easy Nine Patch blocks!

On a final note, I was really excited to see my 'HOWL' in Tonya's quilt top 'Slither-Eek-Boo' ~ Pieced letters are so difficult for me and I loved how my HOWL came out. And it looks fabulous along side all the other Halloween noises!

There are some wonderfully talented ladies that contributed to this quilt top and I am so happy to be included among them! Not only that ~ I have learned so much from Tonya as well!

Cheers,

Dionne

Pieces of April

Did you know there was a song by Three Dog Night called Pieces of April?

I didn't. Actually, I'm ashamed to say, I'm sure I know songs by Three Dog Night, but I can't name one off the top of my head. They have some really famous ones too, I'm sure.

Well, I took a break from sewing, [and cooking and cleaning and working and all the other commitments that go along with a busy family] to check out my friends on the internet and I ran across this GREAT blog.

It has nothing to do with Quilting, and nothing to do with sewing either. So this is a bit out of character for me, because I generally reserve this blog for mostly quilty-thoughts.

But here it is: Pieces of April Check it out!

On other news, my July swaps finally finished. And I was so happy with the results. My little swap club, which we hosted through a private blog has grown bigger over the last year and we finally did a website for it. But now that we opened it up to the public, I've decided not to spread myself so thin with so many different swap groups.

Between that and all my Quilting commitments (and the family and working full-time) it's a good thing!

On that note, the September swaps have opened for sign-ups. We only do three swaps a month currently (beginner, intermediate, and expert) and so far every month has filled up since we started almost a year ago. Check the Swap Club schedule out if you are interested: iQuilty.com

I've decided that today is a beautiful day to tackle applique!

Cheers,

Dionne