The Start of Something New

I have a clean slate this morning.

How can I make this project easy and undaunting?

See what others are making on Judy's blog.

Loving Libby

Libby Lehman's quilts have inspired me for a long time. I tried her techniques for the circles and ribbons and then cut it to pieces and made it my own. Now it's on it's way to Pigeon Forge for A Mountain QuiltFest.

On My Design Wall (Floor)

It's Monday morning and I'm still having problems with my quilt.

I started out with 2 separate tops and layered the dark one on the left on top of the lighter one on the right.

Then I made circles and cut out the top fabric inside of the circles to expose the lighter bottom fabric.

Next I added a gold satin stitch around the circles.

Then I started adding the stitched thread to make the ribbon. You can see how it is puckering and shrinking on the right side of the picture.

I decided to go ahead and finish the ribbon and went over it a second time with a slightly darker thread on the "big" edge. This caused more and more distortion.

So I decided to cut out the ribbon ... and now I need to decide what to do!

Happy Birthday Kirby and We Have a Winner

Can it be that our oldest grandchild turned 4 already? He got to go to Sunday School this morning and came back a smiling boy!

I remember when his daddy turned 4 and now he's helping his son cut the cake.

Great Gramma Lee helped Kirby with the Silly Putty and answered his many questions.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today we have a winner for Barbara's quilt book Simply Triangles.

Thank you, everyone, for playing along. And the winner is ...

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

     23       

Timestamp: 2012-02-19 21:20:58 UTC

kittykats said...

I also found you on one of the linky mondays on Quiltville. I have followed
you for a couple of months already. You and your family create such wonderful
quilts.



~Parting Shot ~

Grampa trying to make Tina smile.

A Quilt for Tina

Tina's first picture with her quilt wasn't a happy occasion!

I started this quilt at our Sewing Retreat in Virginia and just didn't have time to get it finished.

Sheila calms Tina for a better picture. Somehow she knows if you are sitting and bouncing or standing and bouncing!

Years ago we bought the nice L-shaped desk under the window for my sewing machine. It worked great, only I wanted a hole cut into it to drop my machine down for a flush flat table. Paul thought the desk was way too nice and new to cut a hole in it. So, we moved it across the room for office, computer, & printer work. It's "his" desk now. Then since he didn't want to cut a hole I thought maybe one of those old time L-shaped desk with a drop return would work for my sewing machine.

My sister Emily found a used one in Virginia for me. When Paul came to pick me up he brought the pickup truck and we hauled it home to Mississippi. It sits so perfectly in the corner right outside of my fabric closet. And I've ordered a "Sew Steady" table to wrap around the machine to fit up against the left part of the desk. Oh my, I just need more time to make quilts!

We were glad to have Ed & Marti join us for pizza last Saturday.

Simply Triangles -- A Giveaway

This is what C&T Publishing has to say about my sister Barbara's new book, Simply Triangles. Barbara is graciously letting me give away another book.

So what do you have to do to be in with a chance of winning this book? Two chances:

1. Leave a comment on this post.
2. Follow this blog - new and current followers; leave a comment to let me know that you follow.

Drawing will be Sunday, Feb 19, 2012.
(Please ensure that an email address is available on your profile or is included in your comment - NO EMAIL ADDRESS = NO VALID ENTRY).

Simply Triangles—a new book and a new giveaway!

January 2nd, 2012 in Contests
By Lisa Fulmer

 

"Scrappy Stars"

Happy New Year—we hope you all had a wonderful holiday! And we hope you’re ready for some fresh inspiration to kick off your creative projects for 2012.

Barbara Cline has a brand new book, Simply Triangles—11 Deceptively Easy Quilts Featuring Stars, Daisies & Pinwheels. You will love learning how to work with paper-pieced triangles to make beautiful and complex-looking designs. Barbara will teach you how to use your fabric color selections to make your quilt sparkle and glow.

Here’s some of what Barbara shares about her background in the book’s introduction:

I was brought up with six sisters and a brother in a loving Mennonite home in the beautiful Virginia countryside. Sewing has been a part of my life since I was a little girl. Mother used her talent to provide practical and beautiful garments for our family. Her sewing machine kept humming long after the girls’ dresses were completed, turning out an assortment of nightgowns, caps, coats, and mittens for the growing family. My grandmother introduced me to quilting when I was ten years old. The world of fabric came alive for me when my parents purchased a fabric store in my preteen years. I enjoyed learning about different fabrics and color combinations, as well as working with people. Some of the store employees were expert quilters, and this further piqued my interest in the craft.

 

Barbara (right) with two of her sisters, Polly (left) and Julia 

My sisters have been another source of inspiration; they have inspired me to join a quilt guild, enter quilt contests, publish patterns, and learn new techniques. We also get together once a year for a sewing retreat. As our little ones grew up they started to join us, and it has been a great opportunity for them to focus on sewing as well as on building relationships and interacting with their grandmother, aunts, and cousins. The retreat has become one of the highlights of my year. Throughout this book, you’ll find Life Lessons—simple, inspiring stories from some of these important people in my life.

Orca Bay & Sewing Retreat

The mystery quilt, Orca Bay that Bonnie Hunter has designed has been a lot of fun for me. I followed along, lagging behind with each step and it seemed I just couldn't catch up. And I'm still not caught up. I need to finish cutting, piecing, and adding the borders yet. Hopefully it won't be long until I get it finished.

My sister Polly the Patchworker and I got to see each other's quilts in real life this past week during our annual Heatwole Sewing Retreat. It was so special to be together and compare our quilts side by side.

And now I want to share with you some of the quilts and highlights of the week.

Our dear Mother worked on 6 doll comfort tops made from velvet.

My name sake, Julia, came and visited and cut out quilt blocks. We enjoyed her dry sense of humor and cracked up laughing.

Her daughter Queena sat across the table from me. We have many fond childhood memories of being with their family. Queena made this traditional top using 1930's reproduction prints.

My niece, Rebecca started this Jan Krentz star last year. She wants to add Hunter's Stars around it and make it bed size.

Another project of my sister Coleen's was to make 2 reversible denim/flannel rag comforts in size large!

My sister Sheila was glad to get the borders on her red and green quilt.

Cheryl, my brother Oren's wife, sewed on this heart quilt ...

... and this string quilt.

Some of my projects included this crib quilt for our son Craig & Ang's baby, Tina Sue.

I also worked on making a quilt from Father's shirts sewing them into boxes, and a small printed picture, and then I sewed some of my Possum Town, Delta Mystery quilt blocks together.

My sister Emily made this buggy wall hanging for her mother in law.

She also created this improvisational quilt using a bandana with cows as a spring board.

My sister, June, worked on her velvet clam shell quilt.

All too soon the week was over and it was time to go home. Paul and I gave Coleen & Claire a lift to Georgia where Glen picked them up. They were so grateful for the ride, but waiting for 1 1/2 hours for Glen wasn't their cup of tea. They were asked "When will the garage sale start?" and then other people wondered if they could help them. I'm sure they were glad when Glen finally came.

The Nieces & Nephews Join Us In the Sewing Room

Quite a few of my nieces and nephews were in and out for our week of sewing. Here Hope is starting to sew squares together.

Hope’s husband Ryan does some ironing for her.

Laying out the blocks for a baby quilt.

Hannah works on a velvet doll quilt that Grandmother pieced for her.

A happy Grandmother & granddaughter.

Javonne is making a quilt for Jermey.

Her smile says she’s pleased with the end results.

Jennifer weaves a small basket.

Autumn started a new quilt “Storm at Sea.”

She is graduating the colors for a non-traditional look.

Hope worked on sewing dresses, …

… four of them!

Jolene made this quilt with sweat shirts she has saved from working with the fire department.

Then she made a small throw using different fire department emblems.

Jillian decided to try a “Disappearing Nine Patch …

… for her daughter’s bed.

Claire Bleu …

… made this doll ….

… as a princess for a backpack for one of her nieces.

She also made 2 little purses and started a wall quilt of the world.

And don't forget to see other blog posts from our family.

Coleen

Polly

Barbara

and our nephew Josh's wife Hope