Flag Quilt by Tom

It sure does my heart good when I see the result of creating a pattern that even a man would enjoy making.

This is Tom and he just finished the Frizzled Flag Quilt and he came to the shop to show it off.

Wow!!! He did a fantastic job!

The pattern can be purchased by clicking on the link to the right. Happy Sewing!

Show and Tell Tuesday...International Quilt Market

I started my sewing journey about 18 years ago.  I was living in Alaska working as a cook in a logging camp.  Each meal I made served about 100 men so needless to say when I got married...well, you can imagine I cooked enough for way too many people.  I had to learn how to scale it way back.  In between cooking all that food I found myself looking for a hobby and in the little town of Hoonah there was a quaint little fabric store and the owner introduced me to rotary cutting.  Which by the way, I still have the same mat and rotary cutter from all those years ago.  Don't worry, I've changed the blade since.

I was immediately hooked on piecing quilt tops and have never stopped.  One of the very first classes I ever took was at Greenbaum's Quilted Forest in Salem, Oregon after leaving Alaska.  I made Eleanor Burn's Double Irish Chain from Quilt in a Day.  To this day it is still used on our bed. 

As well as quilting, I have made a lot of bags...let's say probably around 300 at least.  I worked with a friend making customized bags and we were busy.  What a huge learning experience that was for my sewing skills...I'm pretty sure I could make just about any bag/tote while asleep.  Now I'm fully immersed at Greenbaum's Quilted Forest teaching, selling fabric, and writing sewing patterns.

This has all lead to the next step in my journey which is going to International Quilt Market.  What's that? you say.  I remember a few years ago wondering the very same thing.  So over the years I've read about, and asked people 'in the know' many questions about Market.  And after feeling confident enough and selling a few patterns here and there I decided to take the plunge and apply to be a vendor.

To those not in the sewing/quilting world...I explain it to them as a very large trade show, then they seem to understand better the big picture.  Too me though, it's like a HUGE candy store full of beautiful yummy treats to look at and learn from.  Not to mention all the very talented people/artists who will be vendors there as well.

So to sum Market up...spaces are rented to those selling their sewing related wares, it's wholesale buying so it's not open to the public, it's a high paced weekend full of meeting new people, learning, and hopefully above all else getting my name out there to quilt shops and distributors all around the country.

My house is a buz getting ready for Market.  I will show photos of my booth at a later date, so please visit me again.

Here's bird's eye view of Market in Salt Lake City.  I've also attached a link down below of some other photos I found that are fun to look at especially if you have an interest in being a vendor someday.


Happy Tuesday!   Hawthorne Thread

Show and Tell Tuesday...Liberty Love and Fabric Too

Today I'm 'Showing and Telling' a new book...Liberty Love!  This book has a great selection of quilts, small sewing projects, and clothing made from Liberty Love prints.  Liberty Love prints to me are a collection of vintage inspired designs.  The fabric is so pretty, but the real reason I love this book so much is the Spool Quilt below.

 I've always been in love with quilts with thread spools in them.  I also thought this quilt would be a super great way to use fabric from my stash...you know, the big tubs that are spilling over because they are so full.

I also picked up a few half yards recently of a collection called 'Center City' by Jay McCarroll for FreeSpirit fabrics.  Love the colors and geometric shapes.  I threw in a blue linen and a green Kona cotton...I think I see a bag out of these or placemats.  I just can't decided.

It's Friday!

I'm so happy to be home sewing today, but before I sit down at my sewing machine I thought I would write a bit about my goings on this past week...I will start with the biggest news first! ;)

1.  I've embarked on a 30 day nutritional program called "Isagenix"...lost 9 pounds and 11" in 10 days.  I'm super duper excited at this accomplishment so far and can't wait to see where I end up at the end of 30 days.

 










 2.  Getting panicky about getting everything done for Quilt Market.  I will be sewing 24 hours a day until then.
3.  Thankful for my father-in-law who made me beautiful tables for my Market booth.  He is the BEST!
4.  Highly annoyed that my doctor miscoded blood work so insurance won't pay....working on getting that fixed...

5.  Super excited to see a HUGE improvement in my daughter's Volleyball skills.  At 6'2" she is finally figuring out how to blocks those balls at the net and is slamming them to the ground.  I'm a proud mamma.  (she is number 12 in photo)

6.  Thrilled to watch my youngest daughter play her violin at her orchestra concert this week. She's playing so good...and she's so cute too.
7.  Finally getting caught up on laundry...aren't you happy to know that. :)
8.  So thankful for my husband!

Well, that just about sums up the week.  I would love to hear your 'going's on'...leave me a comment.

Show and Tell Tuesday

My dear friends had twins awhile back...in my hopes to find the perfect gift, I strolled thru one of my favorite places to shop - Aunt Bee's House - and found the photos you see above with the letters G and E in them which represent the babies first letter in their names.  I thought the photos were so clever, and decided they would be perfect for a framed piece.

I purchased a frame, some wonderful scrapbooking paper and went to work...it was very easy and didn't take too much expertise (which I do not have in the paper crafting world).  I stuck some little corner doodads on the photos and pressed them in place.  Cut a square of burlap and taped it down (which by the way...double sided sticky tape is a dream).  For the saying I used rub on stickers and Voila! a perfect gift for two perfect babies.

Happy Tuesday! janae'