Binding Stage

I am putting the binding on my quilt.  I love this stage. It signifies that the end is in sight and after hours of work, I will finally have a finished product. Right after the sleeve goes on=)

What I always have trouble on is squaring it up and getting it to hang flat. I use my special 90 degree steel ruler that carpenters use, but still can't get it quite perfect.

I try very hard not to pull the binding too tight so the corners don't curl, and so it hangs without ripples.

This is the best binding tutorial I have ever seen!

Designing Away

I have my design wall filled with fabric, circles and ric rac... trying to get an idea that popped into my head, went down on my sketch pad as a very loose design, to turn into a quilt from fabric!
Easier said then done.  First the circles had to get cut using my Accuquilt GO, then the fabric auditioned.  Then more fabric auditioned because the green I had beside the pink was just not working.
And of course, then more circles had to be recut as they suddenly didn't match the green and pink.

Then I took a pic of that and went to EQ7 and started again. Here is one of my rejects, it just doesn't work for me.

It might be the colours, but I did audition a whole bunch, I think it may be the different widths in the rectangles as I tried to create my own version of a log cabin block.  Either way, it hit the rejection bin=)

So what do you do when you have reject after reject?   Okay, maybe you don't have that happen, but I sure do.

I go and find some inspiration. This video is so great for making me feel like giving up is not a great option. The caption is 'The only person standing in your way is YOU. Find something in your life worth fighting for and discover a FIRE within you.' 

How amazing is that for a quote?

Or how about 6 ideas to inspire your work routine. Love the creative ideas in this one!

One of my favourite blogs is a new one 'Find Your Lula'.  Now I will admit I have been to the retreat twice and this blog is a spinoff from it... and simply put, you can find what you need for growth and inspiration and organic thought here. Another disclaimer I do write for the blog as well. 

Tell me, what do you do for getting the creative juices flowing?

Quilting Is Done!

I finished!   I spent the last few weeks grabbing minutes when I could to finish the free motion quilting on my latest leaves quilt. It was white thread on white fabric. And I didn't have a plan, just quilted whatever design popped into my head at that moment.

I was a bit worried that I would get bored without any use of colour but it wasn't until I had only 20 minutes of quilting left that I thought how much fun it would be to be using pink!  For the most part though, I was concentrating so hard on the design that I didn't focus on the colour.

Now I have to bury threads, cut, square and bind.

Now if you want to see more quilt eye candy, check out the winners from Houston this year!

My quilt in Houston, a tutorial to celebrate, learn about good design and gratitude!

It was there, my quilt hung in Houston for the first time in the juried show.  A great gal Debbie, found it and took a picture of it for me.

Another friend posted it on fb for me, and told me it was hanging beside Sheila Frampton Cooper's quilt!  (the one to the right of mine)   I facebooked that it was hanging beside hers, then wondered 'Is she facebooking  that hers is beside Jackie White's?'  

I am just being silly, mostly because I am over the moon that my quilt finally hung in that show that I have spent so many years trying to get into!

To celebrate, head on over to the great Craftsy quilt blog and look at my fun tutorial on 3D flowers. They are so easy and the sky is the limit in making these!

I simply have to point you in the direction of '10 Principles of Good Design'. While not everything applies, it is an excellent read.

Lastly is a powerful video on gratitude that has already garnered over 1 million likes.

To all of you that read my blog... thank you!