Category: Quilts

My Quilt Updates

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The quilt for my new little niece is finished and in the mail. I changed some of my plans on the border. I was inspired by Camille’s quilts with ric rac. I called my friend Gina Halladay and frantically ordered enough ric rac to sew around the border. Love it! I was going to sew it down but someone suggested that a baby would love touching the loose edges. Good idea, stiffy! I chickened out of appliqueing Savannah Lynne Tardy along the border so I had her name quilted along the border.(thanks, Maggi Honeyman) Also there are 2 Aunt Lisa’s in this family, so I am Aunt Izzy. Maggie also quilted “made by Aunt Izzy” in the corner. I can’t let the other aunt Lisa get credit for the quilt. Can I? Emily quilt is in the mail, give Savannah a big hug for me. Bear with me while I talk about myself a little more!

Yes, I was a cover girl on the April issue of McCalls Quilting. (no honey, not the cover of the sports illustrated swimsuit issue!) I just found out that this quilt will also be hanging in Paducah, KY. Wowser! Well, it will be hanging in Hancock’s of Paducah’s store, not in the actual show. I think I could still be able to say I had a quilt at Paducah, right?!

One thing you will not see in the magazine is the back of any of my quilts. Each year I choose a theme for my quilt backs. 2 years ago everything I made had plaids or wovens on the back. Last year was the year of the dots, the bigger the better for my quilt backs. This year is pieced backs. This is my attempt to use my stash, you know make room for new stash while helping the environment and the pocketbook. (or at least that what I tell my husband)

I took a quick picture of the back before I had to SHIP MY QUILT TO PADUCAH.

How time flies? My first post as modalissa was right before I headed of to Quilt Market. At the time, I gave you a preview on my Honeybun TM log cabin quilt. At least twice a year I make a quilt using as many different moda fabric collections as I can. I know this is psycho, but it makes me happy sewing and thinking about each of the designers.

This week I received my copy of McCalls Quilting- June 2009. There on page 40 (same as my age 🙂 is my log cabin quilt. I forgot how much I love this quilt. It is so easy but the way the blocks are sewn makes it look as if there are staggered seams. Basically half the blocks start with a dark center and half start with a light center. Maggi quilted it and really made the quilt sing! This quilt is scrappy and so to get your started on your very own, I am going to give away my extra strips from this project. There I go again, helping the environment and your pocketbook. All you have to do is guess how many pieces are in the quilt.

A couple of clues:

Not how many different fabrics, how many pieces. Simple multiplication- pieces in a block X how many blocks plus corner strips.

Tricky part- I have pieced the back, so this is where you just have to blindly guess. Sorry had to make it interesting.

Okay I admit it, they use a picture of me from when I was 40. Thank you, Beth!

I will draw a winner on April 19th. That way if you go to the show you can see the quilt in person. The AQS show in Paducah is April 21- 26.

I thought I would add a picture of the Prize. I will even throw in the blocks in all stages and the wonderful storage box holding the strips.

Support your favorite quilt magazines, quilt shows and independent quilt stores!

DALLAS QUILT SHOW

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The Dallas quilt show started out Friday with a day of downpours and floods in the area. I am sure this brought back nightmares to the previous year when rain poured into the building on the last day. The vendors were knee deep in the muck and slush. This was not the case this year. The rain went away and the quilters came out in droves. I apologize for the lack of pictures but I ran into so many old friends and of course I am easily distracted. Nostalgia by Linda Wiley of Mathis, Texas was one of my favorites in the 2 person category.

This wonderful Dear Jane quilt reminded me that this quilt is on my “to do in this lifetime” list. (I apologize I didn’t get the maker’s name-was distracted)I do not do the “A- word” but I always seem to take pictures of applique quilts. I guess that is Susan Stiff’s influence on me. I love using a ticking as a background. (remember this for an after market posting)This quilt is incredible. Carol Morrissey made it. She has a pattern company, O Carol Designs. I would like to think that I taught her how to quilt many years ago when I worked at the Olde Craft Store, but that is not the case. I am amazed at how people can get this kind of art out of their head and onto cloth.Another incredible artist that I am mesmerized by is Karen K. Stone. Her use of color is incredible. I can only imagine her fabric stash. There are a couple of her patterns that are also on my “to do in this lifetime” list.One of the things that Karen does is the tiniest piping that is added along with the binding. I tried to get a close-up of the small gold piping. I admire that she takes the time to do the piping. By the time I get to the binding I am ready to be done. I believe Piece O’ Cake also does this small piping. So with local teachers like Becky & Lynda from Piece O’ Cake and Karen Stone, I began to notice the small piping on several quilts.

Then I came to this quilt. Yes …..applique. It was vibrant and cheery and brightened the entire area. Just the perfect quilt to brighten up the day. The most incredible part of the quilt is the binding. It is covered cording (several colors and sizes) made into little semi circles sections. WOWSER!

Running in to some of my old friends.. Jackie you looked fabulous! Olde Green Cupboard was here from Florida. I love watching Katie’s locker hook rug demo. (yes on my to do list)
Quilt Country had some fabric I “needed” for my I SPY baby quilt. Another old friend had a cute booth full of retro items, Ruby Jane. I guess the only bad thing is I did not win the beautiful Amish raffle quilt.
One side note: I need all of you to remind me to enter some of my quilts next year. (Got to get over the intimidation factor)

Happy Quilting,

Feeling Lucky?

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Camille from Thimbleblossoms is quite energetic. She is having a contest on her blog. I guess it would be unethical for me to enter it 100 times, so I won’t. BUT, if you have not read it yet, zip on over maybe you can win. It is a great chance to own a treasure. I have told Camille that I would donate the fabric just in case she is running out. Maybe she will let anyone that posts on my blog get an extra chance at the drawing. I will keep you posted on that. In the meantime, enter the drawing and tell her modalissa sent you.

The part of Quilt Market no one talks about…

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The funny thing about Market is that no one seems to talk about what happens before or after. I guess that is due to how fun the during is!
I can compare it to is childbirth. Ya, it is fun making “them”, but then you have stretch marks, lack of sleep, poopy diapers…..need I say more?

I thought I would show you some of the after pictures of our booth area. (thanks, Jen)
I was glad she did not have her camera when I was stuck on the crate full of uprights and table covers! Once the salesmen have gone! the quilts are taken down!

A very clean shot of the area……………the trashy side is out of picture range

The moda crates. We pack and ship 2- 18 wheelers full of TREASURES! 110 chairs and chaircovers, 40 some odd tables, water and snacks to make sure our salesreps are nourished. Sometimes we don’t even let them go to the bathroom. (Note to self: Pack an outhouse to go behind the uprights)

Some of the quilt samples ready to be packed up!
The most amazing thing about it all is………… it takes us 2 very long days to set it up and less than four hours to take it down. This year we had some help from our Australian friends, Patrick and Shane, so we finished in record time, 2 hours and 45 minutes. Kuddos to the crew…..you know who you are!!
I use to be obsessed about winning a prize for the best booth but I soon learned to it hard to keep a neat, cute booth with 40 salespeople with 40 trash cans!! Imagine 40 people in your house for a weekend. Opps that makes me think of the upcoming Thanksgiving at my house!
So officially I give myself a prize according to the following:
Did all “the kids” get along?
Did anyone have to go to the hospital? we were close this time only 1 wheelchair was involved but no ambulance. thank you nurse, Amy
So, I officially can say WE won “the prize”.