San Diego Quilt Show

Well, today is day one of the San Diego Quilt Show. It was a surprise that I actually got in as a vendor. Someone had to drop out for me to get a space, and that is just what happened. So with just a few days to get ready, I jumped at the chance. Yesterday, my husband Dave and daughter Jill set up the booth. The show doesn't seem to be that big, only 61 vendors. But I hope that doesn't stop the quilters from coming. My neighbor Jane is going to help me today and my daughter Carol will help me on Friday and Saturday. Hope to give more updates tomorrow.

More Photos of My Quilts

Goodby Old, Hello New

OK, I confess. I do love scissors. Especially new ones. There is nothing like cutting into fabric with a brand new pair. It can be like cutting through air, or slicing through butter. Sharp, clean effortless cuts! Wow! I do have a drawer full. I love the different colors they come in. But, I can't pass by a good pair of black or silver either. Be it Gingher, Fiskar, Henkel or anything inbetween, I like my scissors.
But alas, they have all been put away. A couple new ones are now calling my sewing room "home". I just purchased two spring-action scissors. They work great and since my right thumb is giving me a hard time, they may become the only scissors I use.

I am patiently waiting for the fabric from Hoffman's to arrive. I am so ready to make up my new pattern in the beautiful batiks. UPS has already been here this morning with something else, but no fabric.

Batiks,Batiks, Batiks

Today, I went to the Hoffman warehouse to pick out fabric for my new pattern. Boy, are their batiks BEAUTIFUL. I can't wait to see them when they arrive in the mail. Sandy at Hoffman was very helpful, and I look forward to working with her a lot more. I will take photos of the fabric when it arrives.

Fabric Troubles

Yesterday, I made an appointment to visit the Hoffman Fabric warehouse to pick fabric for a new pattern that I am calling Native Star. I met a couple of Hoffman ladies at the Long Beach Quilt Festival and they invited me to use their fabric. How exiting!
I made this quilt up using some inexpensive fabric that I purchased at a well-know fabric store. I was very unhappy with the fabric. I have some kind of allergy to unwashed fabric. I cough, gag and my eyes water if I don't immediately throw the fabric in the wash when I get it home. Well, I did that, but I still had a bad time sewing with this fabric. I couldn't stand to throw out the left over scraps, so in the wash they went for a second time. All I can figure is that there was so much sizing and formaldehyde in this fabric, that it didn't all come out in the wash.
I do like the look of the quilt. The fabrics were pretty, but I will need to wash the quilt as soon as it is quilted.

Hey, Anyone See My Dog

Last Block Finished

I think I finished my last new block for the Above the Buffet quilt. I am calling this block Three Bottles. How's that for originality! I know I need to do a few more Wine Goblets, but that is it as far as new blocks go. Then I will lay them all out and see if I need to change any of the colors. Remember this BOM is going to be a surprise to me, also.
I changed this block a little. I added some little stripes on the bottles that kind of look like labels,
The next step is figuring out the lace edges on the shelves, or maybe some of the applique leaves. Many of the leaves will need to be appliqued after the blocks are assembled.
Today I will write the directions. They should be up on my website sometime this week.

Sewing For a Lifetime

I have a sewing addiction!
A zillion years ago, I started to sew. It started innocently. I sat on the floor next to my mother and her old Kenmore sewing machine. She gave me some scraps and a hand sewing needle. But that wasn't enough. I wanted to use the MACHINE! So my mother taught me how to sew on her old black monster. After all, back then it seemed very big and black! After awhile I learned how to follow a pattern. I guess I must have been able to read, but I was still pretty young since my first project was a doll dress.
My need to sew kept increasing, I couldn't get enough. When my mother was sewing, I wanted to sew. So much so, that I changed the thread everytime she got up to iron. Then I would sew a little, and change it back to her thread color when she was done ironing. I did this over and over and over! How I got anything done is beyond me. But it was worth it.
There was even a time that I burnt myself with the iron. I didn't think I would be allowed to iron if my mother knew, so I never told her. Not till dinner did she see my arm and back of my hand. I told her it was nothing, that it didn't hurt much. But believe me, I was putting cold water on it all day long. I still have scars from that burn! Imagine a little girl afraid that she might not get to use the iron!!!

Long Beach Has Come and Gone

Well. Long Beach Quilt Festival has come and gone. Thanks to everyone who came by to say hello. The three days were a lot of fun, but I sure was tired when I got back home. I received a lot of positive feedback about my quilt designs and that made me feel really good. I wish I had been able to see more of the quilt show, but that doesn't usually happen when you have to work a booth. The quilts that I did see, on exhibit, were nothing short of spectacular, and hats off to all of the creative quilters who obviously spend hours and hours perfecting their craft. I wish I could produce a quilt half as good as any one of those quilts.
My booth was just a half booth. So I was really cramped. The space didn't allow for all the quilts I would like to have had hanging. But it was a great first try and I can't wait for my next show!