Pattern Is Finished!

Just a quick note. It's always a nice feeling when you finish something and get that "moving forward" momentum in your life. I have finished my Natural Fibers pattern and it is now for sale--$10.00 plus shipping. I really enjoyed designing this wall hanging/table topper.
I was glad to get this done and then I spent several hours working on a toilet seat cover that I had seen at an embroidery software class I attended. You don't see a picture of that, do you? Let's just say it is still in the process of being a "learning experience." I figured out what I did wrong and I guess I'll be going back to Walmart tomorrow for another toilet seat cover to try again. I'll post it if I have better success than today. I'm committed to learning my Viking software but it is so different from the Bernina software that I am really at almost a zero beginning point. Not complaining--just commenting. BUT, so far, I prefer the Bernina version. Hopefully, my learning curve will take me to a different place. However, I think I could have made a QUILTED toilet seat cover more quickly than this one is going to be done! (I made a New York Beauty one and it looks pretty sharp.)

Another Finished Project

Several years ago, I bought a Block of the Month complete package--reduced--at the quilt show in Jacksonville. It was the Maggie Walker Country Journal quilt. If I have actually made it, I would have had a medium sized quilt full of different kinds of chickens with a rooster in the center. It is hand appliqued and has lots of vines and flowers. Well, I did make a couple of blocks and sort of lost interest. And then I saw a table runner in a catalogue recently that had several roosters on it. And I said, "Hmm . . .looks good to me."
So, I dug out my finished blocks and made one more and then made the whole thing--three months worth--into a table runner. This picture doesn't look all that clear but I hope you get the idea (if you click on it to enlarge it you can see it better). I, of course, still have several months worth of chickens--and a rooster--left to make sometime, but I feel like I've made some progress. I have a chandelier over my dining room table that is a wrought iron rooster--so this goes QUITE well.
I want to thank all of you that held Smokey in your prayers this week. He came through the surgery quite well although he is very tired now. He can start back with a little walking tomorrow and each day he will feel better. We won't know for a couple of months whether or not the surgery was successful but the doctor feels that it was--so we're hoping for the best.
I did get a good start on writing the directions for my new quilt pattern while waiting for his release from the hospital the morning after the surgery and transferred it to the computer last night. I will proof read it tomorrow and make any necessary corrections. Now all I have to do is actually quilt the quilt. I'm working on it . . .

Moving Right Along

Since Christmas things have been pretty busy and I've not been able to do any of my personal quilting. Among other things, I just finished quilting the donation quilt for the 2010 Cobblestone Quilt Show. People are really in for a treat with this quilt. It was designed by Virginia Schrenker--with an able assist by Karen Kendo--and the result is simply wonderful. It was a challenge to quilt because of the type of background but, hopefully, it complements the design. Well, where is the quilt, you say? I guess you'll have to wait. There is still some 3-dimensional work to be done and then there will be a grand presentation at the next quilt guild meeting. I CAN tell you this though. You are going to want to purchase a LOT of tickets!
I do have one photo to post, however. While I was creating my Whither Goest Thou? quilt top, I felt that the main motif would making a really nice smaller quilt that I could design and have the patterns for sale. I was able to finally get back to that 2 days ago and just now have finished the top. It measures 41" x 41" and is called Natural Fibers--after the four cotton bolls in the corners of the applique. Creating a pattern like this can be somewhat of a challenge for the kind of math person who does everything by the seat of her pants (that would be ME). I did get it done though--with the help of EQ5 on the log cabin block sizes.
My husband will be going to the hospital tomorrow for a second heart surgery and I will be using some of the waiting time there in writing the pattern. I find it is much better to have something to focus on rather than spending the entire time stewing over the "what if's." So, hopefully things will go well and I'll come home with a finished pattern and, more importantly, a husband with a heart that is better regulated. Keep him in your prayers if you think of it tomorrow. Thanks.

At Last--A Finished Top!

It seems to take me forever these days to get anything done but--I am happy to say--I have finished the quilt top that I have been working on for months. And, like most quilts that I make, it ended up being almost nothing like I had envisioned at the beginning. All along I have had my trusted color advisor (my husband) offering me hints and giving critiques and, I must say, most of what he had to say was pretty helpful. I don't always agree with him but he sure makes me stop and consider other options. He has always been my biggest cheerleader and best support.
So, now I'm finished with the top and will move on to considering the back (I kind of already know what I'm going to do there) and then deciding on the quilting (this is the HARD part).
My inspiration for this quilt started with the background--which is composed of Japanese fabrics--the taupes and graytones that are so prevalent in their quilts. I have seen so many beautiful Japanese quilts at Houston and Paducah and so eagerly bought a stack of fat quarters when I saw them at a show. And there they sat for two years. Well, I've finally used them and, naturally, my quilt doesn't look Japanese at all. But it suits me.
Several people have told me that my main design reminds them of weather vanes and, although I kind of agreed with them, I couldn't really think of a title that would be appropriate to that idea. Until it hit me. Whither Goest Thou? kind of says it all. I think I'll stick with it.
Back to my husband. Not only is he a great support emotionally to me in my quilting, he is a great "implementor" as well. I have been working on designing a new class on making quilted mirrors (watch for it on my website soon!) and he has pitched in to make the frame-forms for the kit. (we DID have a little discussion about just what material would be best--I won!). Such a blessing to have a life partner who has a heart of love and generosity.