Schizo Saturday

Working on UFO's, several at a time...may have something to do with why I have so many. No matter, doesn't make me a bad person right? Just offensive to the quilt police!

Been fiddling with this OBW- the longest part of the process for me. Moving half hexes. Take a picture. Move again. Determined to get the thing sewed together sometime soon, but I can see I am not there yet.

These are cut from a mod witch fabric...if you look closely you can see them. I think it will be called Hexed Witches.

Meanwhile, I am sewing triangles for this UFO whilst I study the movement of the witches.

Makes for an interesting, somewhat schizophrenic sewing day!

Valentine Quilt Top Finished!

We added some borders and some hearts I had made awhile ago...and we had a nifty Valentine quilt top finished! Not bad for a first quilt for a ten year old! It's such a cool thing to see a budding new stitcher so enthusiastic!

From OBX Guild...

Remember that Monday night, 7 February is the Outer Banks Quilt Guild Meeting.

The meeting will be held at the Colington United Methodist Church on the curve on Colington Rd.

7 pm start time.

If you bring 1 1/4 yds of fabric – preferably batik, you can make your own grocery sack with no sewing. (you need a piece of fabric that is square or close to square).

Quilt Talk Radio:

    http://www.wsradio.com/internet-talk-radio.cfm/shows/Quilting-with-Rosie-Radio.html

    http://www.quiltershome.com/ – Pat Sloan

Hotdog Pillowcase how-tos:

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7moryq_ZRFY&feature=related

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrYWCma9wgM&feature=related

February 24-27, 2011

Hampton, VA - " Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival XXII" Hampton Roads Convention Center. A compilation of quilting, fiber arts, and wearable arts. It's the perfect place for quilt enthusiasts and textile artists to meet, shop,learn and explore their art.

UFO's and PIGS!

Judy's 2011 UFO Challenge and The Quilting Board's UFO Challenge of the Month 2011  and Jill's Year of PIGS have me inspired to make a dent in my project stash. I have been thinking alot about this  unfinished business, mostly because there seems to be a negative theme associated with having unfinished projects.

I admit there are many different types of quilters..some work one project at a time, have only the fabric for that project and complete it before conceiving their next work. Others, like me, have alot of irons in the fire...projects of varying age and completion. Often in quilting groups, the "virtuous" one projecters cast a wet blanket on us multitaskers. The question I ponder is...Does it really mean anything??

We humans make meaning out of everything...we measure our worth in so many meaningless ways and then carry that load with us. We are too slow, too fast, too curvy, too linear....the list goes on. Who decides what it means? Some external authority? the quilt police? the nun in our head?

I have thought about why I can sew some things start to finish, with no "unfinished:" state in between. Why some projects I leave and come back to? Why, Why , Why...I have even asked my husband.

In the end, I have decided to finish some of my PIGS-UFOs, AND that it doesn't mean anything that I have them or finish them. I am not going to feel guilty about my unique creative process and it's circuitous route to completion.

For me, the purpose of the passion, is in the process...
the fun of shopping for fabric,
the artistic part of planning a project,
the Zen of chain piecing and the whirr of my sewing machine motor,
the joy of sharing the love of sewing with my daughters,
the bonds of friendship forged in a room full of friends all creating at the same time,
the satisfaction of seeing someone wrapped warmly in one of my quilts,
the quiet hours I sit immersed in my own thoughts, in front of the machine, gazing out the window watching kids and dogs and snow or lightening or husband in the yard while I figure out my life...
These things are the joy of quilting....and sometimes, like today I finish something.

"A Quilted Memory" Workshop (TQG)

Just got an email from TQG...

"There are still some spots available in the Mary Kerr workshop "A Quilted Memory" on Saturday, February 5, 2011.

 Don't miss this unique opportunity to create a wallhanging to showcase vintage linens and discover ways to design a quilted memory.  

 If you are a member interested in attending, please contact Karen Lee Carter ASAP.   

This workshop is now also open to non-members @ $45.00.  If you are already attending, invite a friend to join you and introduce them to TQG! 

 The registration form is attached and also available in the newsletter.  

 Visit Mary's website http://www.marywkerr.com/ 

Questions?  contact Karen Lee Carter   email quilter@mac.com  

Quilter in Training

My step-daughter definitely has the sewing bug! She started with a pillowcase at age 8. For Christmas did pajama pants for her Mom and pillows for her Dad and Stepdad. The basic machine Santa brought at Christmas of 2009 is turning out to be a gret thing! Makes me happy that I can share something I love with her.

Catch Me If You Can-CWQ

Catch-me-if-you-can-block-CWQ

This was actually the first Civil War Quilt block...I am frequently out of order! I used triangle paper for mine....went quickly and accurately.