Text Block Results

A couple of weeks ago I asked for your help deciding what to do with my TEXT fabrics. I got lots of great comments but still felt a little stuck. I could picture so many of the suggestions but I really wanted to stick with just the black and white text fabrics without adding in any colors.

A few of you included links in your comments and I sure am glad you did. One of the links led me to Blue Underground Studios, Inc. The quilt that I was directed to (Green Glass Door) was very nice but the one that really caught my eye was the one beneath it (In and Out).

Since it's for a bee group I used the idea and drafted my own blocks.

 Each member of the bee will get both a light and a dark text print. They will make anywhere from 2-4 blocks in any light-dark combination. I am really excited. I think it's going to turn out FABULOUS.

Thanks again for your helpful ideas. Even though I didn't choose these blocks on a direct suggestion, I wouldn't have found it without the comment and link from Valerie at vjwildman. She will recieve the gorgeous bundle of scraps in the first picture. Thank you!

Coming soon..... an update on my lost but not forgotten bee block poll. :o)

 

Google Reader

Many of you know that Google Reader is shutting down on July1. Honestly I don't know much about Google Reader because I don't use it. But I know if you don't have an alternative then you won't be able to visit me and I'll miss you a lot! :o)

I've had a few emails concerning it so I thought I'd mention it here. If you use Google Reader to follow my blog you need to find another option.

This is an article I found on how to save your info. and find a new reader. READ HERE.

I hope you can get it all figured out and continue to follow.

See you soon!

Back in the Saddle

Wow! It's amazing what a simple med change can do. A few months back I ranted about the struggles I was having. You can read about it here. Since then I have made a few changes in hopes of feeling better. The first was to change a couple necessary medications and the second was to start taking whole food supplements. Both seem to be helping quite a bit. I still need to implement an exercise routine but one thing at a time, people! :o)

Anyway, now that I'm slowly starting to feel like me again I've started catching up on some neglected areas of my business. Mainly my Etsy Shop (dun dun DUN!)

I spent the better part of the day adding a TON of patterns that hadn't previously been listed and re-listing those that have been sold out. Did you know Etsy does PDF downloads now? I didn't. That's how out of the loop I've been. :o)

Among the patterns listed are my brand new TECHNICOLOR quilt patterns. Which I haven't even shown here yet. So... here we go. :o)

 

Boomerang was the crowd favorite at market and it's my favorite too. You may remember the naming contest I had for this quilt back in March (here). Made up with TECHNICOLOR and a little trick in my technique and you have a fabulous new quilt.

 

Hashtag was named for none other than an ode to social media. I blogged the original last September but finally got around to writing the pattern for the new fabric collection. This is a fun pattern because it has the instructions for two different layouts. :o)

 

Starstruck is a close second to my favorite. I've been wanting to make a 60° triangle quilt for a while now but wanted something a little different. I love how it turned out! The stars don't show up right away when you first look at it. When you finally see them it's a fun and unexpected surprise.

 

Union Square was one of those that came together so easily and with great results. This was one of those quilts that I almost abandoned because of it's simplicity. However I've learned that sometimes the simplest of quilt can have great impact. Less is more, right!?

 

Now on to the good news! Each of these new patterns is available in my Etsy shop right now in both paper and PDF download. Another exciting thing is that for the first time ever I have the PDF version of Which Witch available as well.

 

As a thank you to you for sticking with me I'm offering a coupon code for 20% off your Etsy purchase through the end of this week. It works on everything in my shop. Just use code TECHNICOLOR at checkout.

Birthday Re-Do

Last week I became the mother of a teenager. My oldest child Preston turned 13. We've been planning on taking him to Lagoon but have had to re-schedule three times so far. Since I was planning on the amusement park and not feeling very celebratory his birthday consisted of an Olive Garden take-out lunch. Honestly I didn't think he cared, until a few days later when he sadly told me it was the worst birthday ever. So I asked him for a do-over.

 

Now let me tell you: I don't bake. Really. In fact we were at the LQS and I mentioned I was baking a cake. The ladies were full of encouragement but I told them I'm a horrible baker. Before they could offer more words of encouragement my younger two piped up "No really, she's not" Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence kids. :o)

 

I've come to accept this fact over the years. My talents are in other area (have you seen my quilts? fabric? argyle sock collection?) Nevertheless I decided to make a cake for my first born.

I chose a Minecraft cake. Are you familiar? Being that I'm not a baker it's only fitting that I chose to bite off more than I can chew for an elaborate-for-me cake.

 

I baked four 8" rounds of Texas Sheet cake. Used my Mom's famous chocolate frosting recipe and layered the four cakes. Then I cut them down to a square (cube). At this point I almost waved the white flag and admitted defeat. Half of the cake was crumbling away. But I summoned the spirit of Cake Boss and powered through. I had middle child helping me and cheering me on. I managed to cover the whole thing in chocolate frosting - a tasty glue to hold it all together. Then I battled the fondant.

 

I'd heard that marshmallow fondant was relatively easy to use and it was, just horribly messy. Powdered sugar everywhere. Oh, and I had to divide it and make 7 different colors. GAH!

My quilting experience came in handy when cutting the tiles. Middle child helped me with color placement on the dirt block; Grass on top, dirt and rock on the sides. The tiles definitely helped cover the horrendous frosting job and helped form a block.

 

 

After all was said and done I was pretty pleased with the finished product. And I think my teenager liked it too, what do you think?

 

His birthday re-do was a success! A fun and tasty cake, several Minecraft themed presents, his own 2 liter of Dr. Pepper (like Mother, like Son) and homemade Potato salad and Gourmet sandwiches for dinner.

(side note: I spent 6 consecutive hours in the kitchen yesterday. A record for me. Today I'm sore like I worked out at the gym. Um...I think I may be a bit out of shape :o)

 

His actual birthday may have been the worst but this Birthday re-do will go down in history as the best ever! Thanks for giving me a second chance.

 Love you P-nut!

Blurry Block Bonanza

Last week a bundle arrived at the house. Completely made my day! ACACIA by Tula Pink to work on my #tula100 blocks. I can't even begin to tell you how much I love this collection. Every piece I use just makes such a difference in my blocks.

 

If you're following along with the Sew Sweetness Tula 100 Quilt Along- we've made it through 12 blocks so far. Here are my most recent QAL blocks.

 

BLOCK 10: I don't know what happened to this picture- the block really isn't that wonky. Sometimes a little wonkiness goes a long way with a funky camera angle. But I sure love that Acacia print in there.

 

BLOCK 11: For this block I tried to make sure the angle of the print and the colors matched up throughout the block. I think I did pretty good. :o)

 

BLOCK 12: Simple and sweet. Two Tula collections: Parisville and Acacia.

 

As soon as I got my hands on Acacia I started planning blocks. First I just bundled up colors for each block. Then I decided to go ahead and cut the pieces needed for each block and stick them in the pages of the bool. But then that wasn't good enough either so I started sewing blocks together.

Each block is so fun and so quick that I just got carried away. I've sewn 32 blocks so far. This is the start to my quilt layout. I love seeing it come together.

It's not to late to join in the fun. Like I said, we're only to block 12 in the QAL and they're so addicting you can have a dozen sewn up in no time!
Tula's book is available at Amazon.

Jolly Jabber

I'm a bum and completely forgot to share with you that I was features on Fat Quarter Shop's Jolly Jabber on wednesday. Did you see it?

Head on over there to hear a little more about my newest fabric collection TECHNICOLOR.

Texting

I have this gorgeous bundle of texty-type prints. I LOVE IT! But it's not doing a whole lot of good sitting in a pile (xcept being fun to look at, of course)

 

Next week is the monthly meeting for the SLMQG and it's my month for the La Beeda Loca ( our bee) block.

I would love to have my fellow bee members play with these fabrics and help me make a quilt- but I'm having a bad case of quilter's block. ;o)

That happens often when I have a bundle I love so much. I don't want to cut into it for just anything. Finding the perfect idea because impossible.

So I thought I'd ask you.

Any ideas on a fun bee block for these fabrics?

If I choose your idea- I'll send you a bag of scraps (from these fabrics)!

Thanks!

Summer Time Blues

We are in full swing here. You know- whining, crying, "I'm bored", etc. Why is summer so difficult?

It's taken a full two weeks to find some kind of rhythm. It's not a pretty sounding rhythm, but you can make out a faint beat.

 

 

The other night we took our kids into the canyon for hot dogs and roasted mallows. This is how they would like everyone to believe they are- Causally sitting around the fire engaged in stimulating intellectual conversation.

 

This is what it really look like.

 

I fondly joked before school got out that I love my children more when they are in school all day. There is a bit of truth to that, don't you think? Absence makes the heart grow fonder. :o)

We're getting our groove. We're doing OK. They are finally realizing that Yes, chores are an acceptable way to spend your morning during summer break.

 

I think I might make it to September after all.