A Check Off The Bucket List

If you have read my blog for even a day, you would know that I really want to get published in 'Quilting Arts' magazine and I really want a quilt to get accepted into Houston.
Well, guess what?  
I GOT PUBLISHED IN 'QUILTING ARTS' MAGAZINE!!!

They had a 'Map It Out' challenge and selected 10 winners to appear in the next edition of their magazine.   I mailed my little quilt off and then waited...and waited....and waited.   Finally it arrived and I was over the moon excited!

Here it is on page 81, in all it's little glory=)

Just to top my day right off, I get to work with 'Madhuri' from The Quilted Fish for a special little project.  It is so much fun.   I really could do my whole house in it, including my wardrobe.  Really!

Look at the selvage, how cute is that?

 Have a great weekend!

It's All About Me=)

I am joking with that title.. really.  
After my ten days of travel I am still trying to get my head out of the clouds and focus on a few tight deadlines.   In the meantime, I have some fun photos to show you.

Remember my Diva coat?   The other two Board members also made Diva coats and during the national conference, we proudly strutted our stuff.  I have never had so many people ask to take a picture of my behind.   I have to tell you this, one gentleman asked that question, and I smiled at him and said, 'Did you want me to lift the coat up or leave it down?'   His face turned so red, but it really was funny!

This is Laine and I.  She did hers all in thread outlines, it was very classy.  I took all the class right out of mine.  Much like the maker=)

Here is me, Laine and Judy...  without knowing both Judy and I did a polka dot binding.   

Laine and I got into the National Juried Show after the awards ceremony, (no, I didn't win one, as per usual=).  Here is me with my 2, I repeat 2 quilts that were juried in.

You can see the amazing winners here.

And here is some super duper exciting news.   My picture is on eQuilter... Luana Rubin's blog!   You only have to read the first paragraph. Please you must go and check it out.  Go right now=)

And lastly, at the end of the conference they have a banquet, and at the banquet they had a young Elvis impersonator.   Yes, that is me having him wrap a red scarf around my neck and giving me a kiss on my cheek.   I don't know which was redder, my face or the scarf!

Since I started my blog, I have lamented frequently about two things on my bucket list.   I stroked one off today.   I will post about it shortly, but here is a hint....  it is in the right side bar. If you didn't figure it out, then either check back in a day or two, or open your windows because I am shouting it out from the rooftops!

Catching Up

I have been out of town for 10 days in beautiful Penticton British Columbia for our annual national quilt conference, put on by the Canadian Quilters' Association.

While I was gone, had an exciting email.   Pellon is launching a new product in Jo-Ann's craft stores and sent me the following message:

Jo-Ann wanted to feature projects on the packaging ... we chose to showcase a variety of projects that were made using Peltex®.  I'm happy to report that  one of your projects was selected to be on the packaging. This also means that the project title and your name will be listed on the packaging.

This is the project, Cup O' Tea.  You can find the tutorial here.

I also managed to sneak away and do a few wine tours.

Now Quilt Market was on the same weekend as our national conference.   Don't even ask how sad I was that I had to miss market!

But one of my quilts was in the super awesome Amanda Herring's booth - The Quilted Fish.  By the way, her booth won 2nd place for the Booth Awards!   ( I like to think my quilt helped=)  heehee

Here is her booth:

And here is my quilt in there:

Thank you Sally for the great pics! Amanda's design team all made mini modern quilts for her to hang in her booth.  We are all posting tutorials on May 29th of our projects, so stay tuned!

I Am On The Road

 I haven't posted for a few days as I am at the other end of our fine country at the Canadian Quilters Association annual conference.   This year it is in Penticton, British Columbia.  

I have two quilts in the National Juried Show and am just so excited to see them actually hanging when the show opens on Thursday.  

I had time today to tour some wonderful vineyards and do a little wine tasting.

One thing I did notice is the doors on many of the wineries were huge.  Or maybe they just got bigger in my mind as the day went on!   Kidding=)

I better show a bit of quilting in here or you may really start questioning my passions.

This is a heart block made for a quilter who is having some medical issues and quilters were asked to make a 6 1/2" heart block.   Of course it is fused and machine appliqued, but the design is mine and I tried to make it whimsical by the little flair at the bottom.  I used The Quilted Fish's  polka dot fabric.

I will be back later in the week with more photos once the conference opens with all the shows!

Working, Working...

Oh, there is just so much going on right now.   Deadlines, submissions, preparations, and spring arrived!   That means everything else goes on hold and kids and mud and bikes and sunshine come first.

Although, once the sun goes down, the sewing machine comes up.   I have been plugging away at my new art quilt for classes.  Here is where I left off.  I stitched the petals down today.

I made this adorable little centre for it with greys and yellows and just love it.   Even figured out a new easier way to make it, love when that happens!

These very colourful little petals were made with the intent of going inside the large flower.  When I auditioned them, they just seemed too much.   And you know that must have been over the top, if I thought it was too much=)   Even though they are in the same fabric line, they just didn't 'work' for me.   

I then flipped them upside down and am very pleased with what happened.

 Now to get everything tacked down and maybe add just a little bit more embellishing!

Funky Friday #2

Look at this, I am starting a series!

This week was insane.   Literally.   Not even a joke.   But it kept on going and now we are at our second ever Funky Friday and I have something fun to show you.  

Remember this:

It is looking kinda flat and lifeless.   I used my magic wand and voila... look at it now!

I see that I better centre it a bit better, or maybe throw a few 3D butterflies flitting around in those corners.  

Disclaimer:  I don't really have a magic wand, in case you were wondering.

I love taking side shots of my quilts, they just show all that dimension.  

Here are the little petals going into the middle of this quilt:

This is for a class I teach on 3D quilts.   Trying out a new pattern.  

How is that for a Funky Friday feature?  I am even going to link up with Nina Marie.  

My Little Pom Pom Pincushion

Having some fun these days.   I have been making a few more tops for travelling and decided I needed a pin cushion as I kept misplacing the only one I have.   I had two, then sent one off, so was having to transport the one to the serger, ironing board, cutting table, and sewing machine.   I was constantly leaving it behind wherever I last was and my frustration level was starting to reach volcanic proportions.

I had a tiny bit of Madhuri left and some lovely pom poms, all from Riley Blake Fabrics.

 I sewed the pompoms to the back fabric first and then RST sewed the 2 pieces of fabric together.
I just love that diamond fabric to bits!

Riley Blake Fabrics also has a huge pin cushion tutorial collection.  Like gigantic!   Bigger than my fabric collection.   Okay, nothing is that big=)

This just cracks me up to bits.

Funky Friday #

See that title?   That would look like I am going to start a series of 'Funky Friday' posts.   I might.   What I mean is I am going to try, but if I don't, then you can't blame me because I never put a '1' in there to actually start the series.  So this is just a tester.   (Really it means if I can't get my act together and commit to a weekly Funky Friday, you can't blame me=)

So what is going to happen on Funky Fridays?   I honestly have no idea, I just had the brainwave 15 seconds ago.   But it might mean I show you something fun and different I just made, and maybe show you a couple blogs that caught my eye.   I figure if you read my blog, you probably don't read anyone else's as nothing can beat mine, so it would expand your horizons if I highlighted a few.    (In case you are new, I am sooo joking=)

That pretty much sums it up.   You can't expect me to know exactly how it is going to go, being the first, I mean 'tester' of Funky Friday.

Here goes.   This spring and upcoming fall, I am doing a fair bit of travelling and really like to pack light.   Mostly so I can fill my suitcases with fabric.   That means I am not bringing slippers.  Mine are fairly clunky and big and would take up entirely too much room.   My friend Kat created this pattern and I made them in 22 minutes flat.   From start to finish!  

Mine are not as fancy as hers, but I used an old pair of stretch denim jeans and cut them up.   Yes, I wear stretch denim... really at my age, everyone should.  Anyway, they were perfect as the top band fits nice and snug due to the elasticity in it.  

These would make amazing gifts for people that go camping or travel alot.

I learned today that Quilt University is only running till the end of 2013, the founder died suddenly in February.

Here you can see the 2012 winners from the International Quilt Festival, better known as the 'Houston' show.   The biggest juried show in North America.  Also just as noteworthy, the show that has sent me the most rejection letters.   I am still waiting for an acceptance one.   Yesterday I sent in my submission for the 2013 show.  FYI, July 17th may not be the best day to hang out with me.   That is when they send their 'You are a loser or You are a great quilter' letters out=)  My husband usually finds a reason to 'work late' that day.  

Now as for a great blog to take a look ,.  Geta's Quilting Studio is filled with talent and inspiration.   She literally started not knowing anything about quilting and is now publishing books.  Her work is perfection and she always has great eye candy and tips.

A Diva Denim Day

It is snowing again!  Seriously, can someone please tell Mother Nature that this is not the time to get in a fight with Mr. Snow.  Someone bring her some chocolate.

As you know I have my fabulous Diva Vest made and ready to wear.   I have already worn her to two trunk shows much to the delight of the ladies.  But I still thought she was missing something.  The back is all glammed up but the front just has spool pockets and the opening of the vest.   I decided that I should make something  beautiful, so that the Diva on the back would be proud of the Diva wearing the vest.

Here is what I made today.   Don't you just want one?  I used the Madhuri fabric again and covered the spools with it.  Sigh... so beautiful.   I am probably going to stop a lot of people in their tracks with my beauty now.   (Or they will be checking my sanity).

 And I had a little time to make these matching cuties.

Once I had my gorgeous necklace made, I dove into my denim and continued with my free motion piecing.

I have a few ideas of what I am going to do with the  blocks, but none are making me crazy with delight yet.   I figure if I keep at it, something will jump into my head.

MIA, But I Am Back

I took a little venture and headed down south for 31 hours.   An overnight at the brother in law's and then off to the Gwillimbury Quilt Guild for a trunk show.   You know things are going to go amazing when the gal introducing you actually took the time to memorize the stuff you sent her.  

And it doesn't hurt that the members were so gracious and accepting of my crazy 3D work either.   Love.That. Guild.

In the meantime, I have been keeping busy.  I finished off a small piece heading to Quilt Market.  I can't reveal it yet, but I think I am safe to show you the back.

See that little pink square in the corner?   Here is a better look at it:

This is my quilt label!  How cool is that.  Well it is if you are super lazy like me.  By the time I finish a quilt, I am done with it.  And I have no patience to make a label and sew it on by hand.   Doing the binding by hand is usually the last straw.   So now all I do is heat up my iron and fuse this baby on to the back of my quilt.   I then take out my Sharpie marker and put a title and year and I am done.  A friend ordered me these from Etsy, but I am sure you can get them anywhere.   If you have a few dozen lazy bones in your body like me, make sure to get the fusible labels.

Remember the Bestie QAL I am  involved in?   I finished another 'Swoon' block as well.   I guess maybe I am not so lazy=) Oh who am I kidding, I never got a sleeve on my last quilt, but tied jumbo ric rac to it, to act as a hanger.