Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Goodbye 2014


A year of home dec renovations and updates, longarming for others, bee blocks, mini quilts, quilts for our home, and a whole ton of English Paper piecing. 

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Snowfall Table Runner {Pattern}

Three years ago,  I made a decision to update our Christmas decorations.  I was looking for something more "me" and less "everyone else".  I found it with my Christmas Country .  



One of the key items that caused my desire to change was my Snowfall Table Runner.


I don't like to think that I give "empty" promises to followers... 
I don't break them.  I just deliver them late. 

As promised...I finally finished the Table Runner pattern!

http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/quilting/home-decor/snowfall-tablerunner/124179


You can find it on my Craftsy Pattern Store HERE for a .pdf download.  

And yes. Its free! I'm just trying to butter y'all up for the ones that won't be in the near future!


P.S.  To those that I promised other patterns/tutorials.  They are coming.  My technical difficulties ended up being a blessing. I was able to organize all of my photos and tutorials better!!  Keep your eyes peeled!!!

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Best Wishes {Quilt}


 I decided to make a quilt for my grandparents for Christmas. . They are also my godparents, which in many ways, has made me feel even closer to them, despite  vying for their attention with my other 10 cousins!  I wanted my respect, honor, and love for them to come across in a quilt. 


I had picked up this Sincere Best Wishes Fat Quarter Bundle for some unknown reason....possibly the postcard fabric in particular?  I found it perfect for them. The colors reminded me of their sunroom. The birds reminded me of their birdhouse collection, that I now have in my possession, and the postage fabric reminded me of my grandmother's love of written letters from us. 




I settled on the Thistle pattern from my Simply Fat Quarters book from the Fat Quarter Shop. Maybe it was the similar colors that drove me to choose it?? 


The blocks were definitely fiddly with lots of parts, but I find that the Fat quarter shop pattern writers really see you through to the end by breaking up the block parts well so it doesn't overwhelm you.   This is the third quilt I have made from the book, so the investment has been well worth it. 


I loved how the cornerstones, sashing and borders were traditional for some pretty traditional people. 


Just pretend you don't see those wavy borders!!  Wow!  I will admit. I was running on empty with so many quilts to finish. I was able to get the fullness hidden in the quilting, but I always highly recommend sewing borders properly. Your longarm quilter will thank you!


I really wanted to do a bird quilt pattern, but I just couldn't find one that hit he right note. The Paisley Flower pantograph in my collection seemed to fit the bill well. 


Paisley binding. To match the paisley quilting, of course!




The quilt was well received under their Christmas tree and I hope they enjoy using it as much as I did making it!


Quilt Stats 
Size:
Pattern: Thistle 
Fabric: Sincere Best Wishes by Henry Glass Fabrics,
Batting: Warm & Natural 
Quilting: Paisley Flower pantograph on HQ Avante longarm with Omni Natural Linen by Superior Threads 

Friday, November 14, 2014

Vintage Coin {Quilt}



One of my favorite things as a quilter is to get asked to complete a family heirloom.  



My neighbor always saw me quilting in the garage while the boys were out on the driveway and was fascinated.  She finally got the courage to ask me to finish quilting a top her grandmother the week she was moving away.  



She used to make aprons and sell them and made a three coin quilts for her granddaughters with all the leftovers scraps. There were other bits of home dec fabrics in the mix too.  It was a lot of fun to look at and no two coins were the same!


We decided on the Quirky pantograph with a gray minky dot she had picked up at the store.
 

I had some leftover gray texty fabric that she loved and used it for the binding.  I gave it to her right before she moved.  The next morning, she told me that she ended up sleeping under it because the moving company had packed all her bedding...she loved how warm it was and the warm memories it brought!




Sunday, November 9, 2014

Technical Difficulties

Last weekend, I was preparing to do a big software update on my iMac. I've been having trouble lately with my computer and it was suggested I needed a really good clean out and the latest update.  I had just completed my phone back up and update and opened my iPhoto's to get ready to back them up on my external hard drive. 

Then this happened. 


My photo library was empty. Before everyone yells at me. I promise. I DID have most of them saved. However, I use my iPhoto library as a "way station" before making decisions on deletion, organization, and storage of the photos.

It was the simple nagging feeling of "What did I not save? What might I have missed?" that had me panicked to the hilt.

After countless hours and days on the phone with Apple. We finally found them. It stumped even them, which validates my assertion that I wasn't crazy. 


126.74 GB equals three years or 30,0000+ photos. Family photos. Blog photos. Tutorials. Patterns. 

Scary. 

Now I'm trying to recover them, organize and save them properly.   Manage my new software. Update other software to work with the new software. Fun times. 

My point?  I've been getting a lot of requests for my patterns and tutorials that I've promised. I've been working on all of them congruently, so they could all have a cohesiveness. However, with my newest set back, I'm behind once again. 

This is my post saying. Please be patient. I'm trying really hard. Demands on me for my oldest son's college application process, my second son's preparations for high school entrance exams and applications, my third son's school struggles with his severe dyslexia, and my sweet Button's separation anxiety are drowning me this school year.

However, I keep saying this to myself. 

"The greater part of happiness depends on our disposition not our circumstance" ~Martha Washington.  


I am trying to be optimistic!
~Heidi

Friday, October 24, 2014

Scrappy Pillow

Sometimes the most simple thing can bring the greatest pleasure!


I received the cutest little packet of 2.5 square charms from my Schnitzle and Boo mini Swap. 


They are from Treehouse Textiles in Australia. My partner is from there!

I hung them up on my draw erase board with a magnetic clip. Stared at them daily and thought of a million things to do with them and a pillow seemed the best one. 
 

I played around with them and decided to do a rainbow order, of sorts. 


I had four extra charms and just raw appliqués them on the back. They belonged with their friends on the front, not in my scrap bins. 



I tackled a hidden zipper. No more envelope backs for me. 



And who doesn't like a black and white binding that pretends to be piping? 



The big problem?  


It makes my undersized loveseat sad looking in comparison. Good thing I bought a slipcover I'm going to reconstruct for it!!!!!

Happy Finish it Friday!
~Heidi

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Jamie's Birthday Quilt {Block 5}



It might seem strange that I'm sharing her 5th block first, but yesterday was her 5th birthday.   Since my idea was spawned about two months ago, it makes sense to start with this year's.  

I have a few ideas for year 1 through 4. But I'm going to start hunting around first. I want the blocks to be meaningful for each year, so I plan on taking my time as I go. 

If you have any cute "girl" blocks. Please send them my way!  I think I'm going to create a Pinterest board to collect ideas. 

~Heidi

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Birthday Blues

I've tried really hard to get away from posting grief posts ad nauseam on this blog.

But on days like today?  It's hard to avoid.
 

Jamie Lynn would be five today. I picture a tiny blonde girl, the image of her brothers, with flashing eyes of mischief and a devil may care attitude like her mother. She would be itching to be going to kindergarten this year, but we would be explaining that the rules state she would have to wait one more year.  I imagine there also would be fear as parents. We would be walking that fine line of helping her too much with her dwarfism and also trying to give her independence.

















But, alas, she is not here. 



















How do you celebrate a birth and death on the same day?  We are still working that out as a family. It was easy the first few years. Balloon and butterfly releases. Cupcakes.



The boys were younger and it seemed to fit. Now it seems odd. Its hard to explain.  It is also a struggle because Button doesn't understand. "Who is this sister I never met, but see pictures. This Jam-ey everyone says is family.  Why were my big brothers mad when I took her picture off the sofa table because she isn't my family?"  Who can really blame him?


My goal this year was to re-channel our "celebration". If the boys asked to do something?  I will certainly do so.  If not.....no pressure.  However, I still need something for me.  A few months ago, I decided that I loved this cupcake block I made for a bee quilt so much that I wanted to make one for myself. A new project dawned on that day in my mind.  A Jamie quilt. It's been established that quilting had been a major part of my therapy the last five years. It just makes sense that I should do so on her birthday.   My plan is to make one special block on October 14th for a while. This year will be the cupcake block. 


Throughout the rest of year, I will make the four other birthday blocks. I will not be stressed about it. I will not make myself miserable. I'm not sure when I will stop and call the quilt done. 


I will simply let it just be and have some quiet time with my girl in my studio.

~Heidi




Friday, October 10, 2014

Leaf Potholder Gift {Quilted}

I may have giggled when I had to look up my own Pattern to check if I was remembering something right.  Hubby needed something to send with a bottle of wine as a thank you for someone allowing to stay at their house instead of a hotel this past week.  These potholders are so quick and a lifesaver!!


I'm actually contemplating making some as gifts this year for Christmas.  We shall see!



Friday, September 19, 2014

Hex On the Beach {Quilt}




It's done.  Finally!  




Fun to watch the year long journey?
























Pretty straightforward.   A kit.  By Tula Pink.  English Paper pieced. 



  
Chevron longarm quilting by myself.  
























Backing and binding are Saltwater by Tula Pink.




 
I couldn't be more pleased.






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