When "Later" Catches Up with "Now"

or ...when fabric throws up in your studio

You know how it goes -- holiday gifts and orders to make last minute (why didn't I stick to my October cut-off?), holiday guests, parties, stuff.  "Oh I'll just throw it in my studio and shut the door for now -- deal with it later."

Then end of year too-good-to-pass-up clearance sales.  Oh and don't forget those Market orders placed in October that arrived in January.  THIS is what happened to part of my lovely sewing room.  (The other side is worse!)

It will hopefully not be too long before I can show you some nice "After" photos.

SHINE ON - Entry in the ROYGBIV (Rainbow) Blogger’s Quilt Festival

Amy over at Amy's Creative Side has been holding a Blogger's Quilt Festival since 2009.  The online quilt candy contests have been timed to coincide with Quilt Market in the Fall and Spring of each year.

Voting for favorites in each category is Nov 1-7

Winners will be announced Nov 8

This is my entry in the ROYGBIV (Rainbow) Quilt category.  I really appreciate your consideration of it for your vote: 

SHINE ON was made for a musician friend's 50th birthday.  She was really freaked out about turning 50.

I love rainbows and bright colors.

When I saw the awesome quilts in the "Made in Cherry" quilt along, I knew I'd found the perfect birthday gift.

I spent an entire day arranging colors on my design wall to get the right amount of "movement" from color to color and pastel to dark.

A trip to Ikea produced the wonderful print background fabric.  The random names of numbers written in slate script were perfect for my message.  (A second return trip across town to Ikea was required when I cut the triangles in the wrong direction -- live and learn.)

I quilted random stars and loops, further echoing the theme that your age is "just a number" and stars always remember to SHINE ON!

This ended up at 90"x90"
It's pictured on a king sized bed.


I am currently in the process of making a similar quilt for a customer. 

Blue Butterflies - Two Color Entry in the Blogger’s Quilt Festival

Amy over at Amy's Creative Side has been holding a Blogger's Quilt Festival since 2009.  The online quilt candy contests have been timed to coincide with Quilt Market in the Fall and Spring of each year.

Voting for favorites in each category is Nov 1-7

Winners will be announced Nov 8

This is my entry in the Two Color Quilt category.  I really appreciate your consideration of it for your vote: 

"Blue Butterflies" was originally made as an auction prize for my family reunion.  (After fierce bidding, my sister ended up winning it in order to give to our mother).  My mother loves blue and white. She visited me during the time that I made it, so it makes me happy that it now lives on her bed.


The blue butterfly fabric is from Kona Bay.  Although it is no longer available, Kona Bay recently released another very similar line in many gorgeous colors, including a deep blue.  They have many lines of saturated blender fabrics with shadow motifs like leaves or dragonflies, etc. that would work well in this type of pattern.


I used up the rest of my precious blue butterfly fabric in a copy for a customer to give her parents on their golden anniversary.












Needless to say, it is a rather time-consuming quilt, but the results make it truly worth it.  I'm considering  making this design next in different shades of purple.

This quilt measures 97x97 - a nice Queen bed size
(shown on a King sized bed in the first photo)

Pattern is "Rob Peter to Pay Paul"
It was with quilted feathers on the top and flowers and butterflies along the borders.

Sunday Morning Soundtrack

Here is a little brunch music for you today. Enjoy.