See not too shabby.




The blue one needed to be a little bigger but she modeled that one too.  Cately enjoys being my little model here and there.  She tried on the skirts too but they are a little too big for her at this point.


What comes a little more natural is quilting.  After all that knit sewing I was super excited to get on my long-arm.  I know that I have had to practice the long-arming as well but it sure comes a lot more natural meaning the improvement takes wider strides.  The reason being is that it feels a little more natural and in turn is more enjoyable.  Isn't comfort the best?

I got to quilt this fun nine-patch from one of my most favorite quilting friends.  I tried out a quilting design that reminds me of feathers and I don't know if it is the color of this quilt but I kinda reminds me of country cowboying so I decided to name it the Cowboy Feather.  This cowboy feather was so fun to quilt  because it looked so dimensionally awesome as I was adding it to each row.  It was really enjoyable to make the wandering featheresk trail.  I have to admit that I have been skipping the pantographs lately to stretch my free-hand skills.  I quite enjoy that so much better.  It feels like driving a car in a winding mountain road.


I know that I started out a little shaky at the beginning of this year with the long-arming but just fast forward about six months and now things are turning out not too shabby too.


I think that the free-hand real feathering is just around the corner.  I just need to get the perfect quilt to try that all out.



So if I had to pick... I would pick things that are natural most days and then throw the practiced things in the mix every so often ;)

I know I have mentioned that I am superstitious before and I don't even know if that is the right term... I guess it is superstitious chance.  So there is sometimes a good day and sometimes that lands on the 23rd of the month and today was no exception... and 23 is my lucky number.  So is that Chance?, LOL, who knows.

The thing that I do know is that I was able to get somethings wrapped up and things seemed to go somewhat seamlessly.  So whatever was a happening it was refreshing :)  I finished my double trouble double wedding ring quilt!  Yay!  and yep eventually I will take a few more pics but for now these will do.


It is very difficult to take a picture of a king quilt, plus this quilt was double batted.  It was waaaayyy to heavy to hang up with tape.


Here is a little close-up outside.  I included four rings in my favorite green!  I like em.  


It took 25+ hours to quilt on my longarm.  It took who knows how long to piece and about two hours to bind.  


I don't really have great pillowcases that do the quilt justice yet but there is always time to get to those.


Here is one of the sweet quilt holders - and a peek at the back.


Hardest Quilt I have EVER made.  The end.

I have been trying to quilt my double wedding ring but I have taken little breaks to get some inspiration.  Through stitching I have found ways that it is NOT going to work and hopefully figured out how it IS going to work.  While doing this I have tried a couple different ways of quilting that now have to be unpicked.  So frustrating.  I hate unpicking all the long arm stitching because you can really get out of hand and there are OH SO MANY STITCHES.

Speaking of Inspiration - I love seeing snips of inspiration throughout my home just to whisper to me positive thoughts.  I have developed this a little in my wall hanging/table runner series and thought it would be fun to apply the idea to a smaller project... like a pillow or a framed quilt.  I have finished the first three patterns of my new series "Heart Snips" (available in my pattern shop tab #2 and in my Etsy).  They are just little snips of inspiration to display a couple of different ways.  So here they are -



And last but not least is in front of glass with magnets - I had this idea when I started making this series and I wasn't sure if magnets would be strong enough to go through glass??? but guess what!  They are! I found these magnets at my local Home Depot and I have had this old window frame from our home when we got a new one.  And.... ta da!!!  The magnets allow for an easy switcheroo too and it looks so cute hanging in my house.  I actually hang it on the wall but the lighting isn't the best in that location, so here it is sitting on my table.


Now let's talk about this first pattern, it has the sweetest flowers in it.  It is snip 05 to represent May (flowers), but it could be displayed all the time.  I just feel like the talent flowers is something I try to keep in mind because I want my talents to grow especially my quilting talents so through hard work and with love great things come to bud.  ps - the fabric I used was Riley Blake's ombre and it really worked wonderfully with these little buds.


The next snip is snip 06 to represent June.  June reminds me of ants because we used to have a little bit of an ant problem here at our house and for a couple of years they would make their way into our home in the month of June.  It was annoying.  But more importantly Life does fly, enough said.




I just want to mention that this series is a great way to use up scraps.  This snip in particular.  These little squares are just 1"so they are a fun way to mix in all your projects to make something new and fun.


This last snip is snip 07 to represent July.  I feel like there is no place like home of course.  I love my home even though it feels crowded right now mostly in my sewing room, but I do.  I think that it is home with my family and it is a place of refuge.  Also, I am proud to live here in the US of A and there is no place like this too.   And who doesn't love the fireworks.  Here in Utah we get two doses because it is our state holiday too.




I backed the pillows with a envelope construction and also in a color that pulls from the front.  I am kinda liking that right now.


Well, I hope you enjoy my new series.  I have the next few month snips in the works.  I can't wait to share them and hopefully my finished double wedding ring.  I hope all are enjoying the sweet summer :)  If I had to pick a favorite....

The summer shop is all wrapped up and the red quilt (check out a few pics in last post, I really loved that quilt) is in a new home with a very cute girl :)  I have listed a few things left over from the shop in my etsy so if you would like a cute little table runner or pillow or both or a baby blanket click over :)

Quilting is Art.  I have had a great week of cleaning my house, visiting friends, and helping family.  It has been a really fun one.  Also, I got the chance to dig out a Quilt-In-Progress!  but before that... a thought.  Quilting is Art.  I love the fact that you can try a million different ways to express a love for color or a style.  I got a chance to make an official ART Quilt, although I think of every quilt in that way actually.  I participated in a class that our local guild offered.

Ta Da -
What makes this quilt a little more ARTY than others is that it includes some more unusual items... like weeds and feathers.

Also, another thing that contributes to the ARTY quilt is the meaning that is thrown in there.  It is funny how each quilt I make I get a tender feeling for and I know I have mentioned this before.  Lately, I try to tie some significance to each quilt.  That meaning for me is usually something that I feel inside or things that remind me of people or experiences.  It is kinda cheesy and no one would really know but me, but I wonder if it shines through a little bit to others??  Anyway, with this quilt especially I did just that and I am pretty sure that was really the assignment I think? from our quilter's guild.  The teacher did the same thing in her Art Quilts she showed.

I won't bore you with the meaning but here are some close up pics.  I quilted it on my Long-Arm and it went pretty good but the weeds were a little thick so it was a bit shaky at first (but I guess that it works well with my meaning even if it was unintended).  PLUS - there are clovers in there!