Whimsicals Threads

It's about time, don't you know?

I know, I know, it's been FOREVER since I've written anything here.  I've started countless times.  Have had lots of ideas.  I've even written them in my head - and please tell me that I'm not the only one who composes thoughts into stories in my head at a time when I can't write them down..... like when I'm driving or taking a shower....

No, the problem is not in coming up with the ideas or getting started.  It's more in the completion.

You see, I get started, then get distracted, then lose my train of thought, and by the time I make it back to finish things, everything that I wrote is so out of date that I have to start all over again.  And hope that I can remain focused long enough to finish.  Obviously, that focus thing hasn't been working in my favor recently. 

And I have to tell you that it is not only with my blog.  It's with everything. Which explains why I just finished my latest book a few weeks ago - the one that was supposed to be finished in May - and why there is a lag between when I got the books delivered to me and when I'm posting it for all of blogdom to see.

But because I'm determined to finish this one tonight, {even if I have to pinch myself to stay awake} I'll move it along and show you my latest book and projects....

 

 

Originally, I was going to do the book with only a few color pages showing the projects and have the text pages for the instructions in black and white.  More like my older books.  But after getting the entire book laid out, I just didn't like it.  So, I went back through the whole thing, added color to all the diagrams, and re-worked it to have color on every page.  And I must say that it was worth it.  A lot of extra work, yes.  But so worth the end result.

So, here are the projects....

This is such a cheerful quilt!  I was really trying to make the blocks look like buttons and flowers without having to do any applique, and I think it turned out well.

 

 

For this one, I took the owl that is on one of the prints in the Buttons and Blooms fabric line and appliqued him on the pillow.  The swirls that you see coming from the branches were actually stitched on with my machine, because I was trying to save some time.  I simply threaded my #16 pearle cotton floss through the upper part of the machine and used some Aurofil thread in the bobbin.  It was quick, easy, and effective!

This tote bag uses two small parts of the panel that is in this line.  They become the pockets on the outside (yes, that's a pocket, and there's another one on the other side using a different panel section.  I sized this to be pretty generous, so keep in mind that ANY fabrics can be used for this.  Make one for the winter and one for the summer.  I think a heavy weight home dec fabric would look great for this bag too.  I'm just sayin'.....

 

This table runner was so much fun to put together!  And I used up some more of my really jumbo rick rack in the process!

 

No, this one is not a panel..... it is actually painted on the fabric using the Shiva Paintstiks!  In the book, I give specific instructions on using the paint and in addition to the colors I used in Make It Merry (burnt umber, crimson, ivory black and meadow green) I used yellow ochre and slate blue.  If you've never used these paints, you're missing out!

 

You can probably tell that this is another portion of the panel print, along with the large border stripe print.  But my favorite thing about this quilt is all the buttons my mom stitched on for me in the border!

 

Once again I ask, can you ever have too many pincusions?!  I love the size and weight of this wool one.  The little needle book is removeable so you can stash it in your sewing kit, or leave it attached. 

And finally, Ollie the Owl.....

 

I had so much fun making Ollie and he seems content to sit by my machine and watch me stitch away.  Now, if only I could find the time to get to my machine to sew!

And that is all!  I have added Buttons and Blooms to my website, so be sure to check it out there....

www.whimsicalquilts.com

Before I go, I wanted to thank all of you for being so supportive and understanding while I try to get everything done yet still enjoy a little time with my kids this summer.   The high school graduation went great, and this summer has been awesome with both my boys home and all their friends congregating in our basement.  But the next several weeks are going to be hard, especially once they are both gone.  I will be finding out what it is like to once again have the house quiet and picked up.  Am I looking forward to it?  Yes and no.  But I guess I'll find out and I'll keep you posted!

Now, I can't believe I did it!  I finished an entire blog post in one night.  Wow.  I think that deserves a good night sleep.....

Good Night!

 

:: look what I got! ::

My very friendly Fed Ex guy arrived yesterday morning, and look what he dropped off!

Well, this is what it looked like after I unpacked the boxes and carried all these from the garage into the shipping, um.... I mean dining room.

I love that they come all nicely rolled like this instead of flat folded, but it still is hard to cut the fabric off these big rolls.  So, now comes the task of folding and rolling them onto the carboard bolts that my local shop gives me.  Hey, it's purposeful recycling, right?! 

I did unroll just enough yesterday to cut pieces off to take into my sewing room though.

I guess tomorrow, I get to start sewing!  Now, if I can just figure out what I want to make.....

:: quilts :: fall-o-ween blog hop final day

OK, this is it.  I hope you all had fun and get all 10 projects made.  Remember, if you want to share something that you made from these patterns, you can post it here.....

Flickr group

And you won't want to miss the free project today from Pat Sloan.  Personally, I don't know how this woman gets all these things done, but she does.  I'm amazed.  And just a tad bit jealous that I'm not nearly as productive as she is!

Ah well.  We can't all be great. 

So, on to today's topic, QUILTS.  Now here's something that I could spend a lot of time talking about.  But, I'm thinking that maybe it's time I let the quilts do a little of the talking, although I need to share a little bit of information about each one.

This is Fall Frolic, one of my very early patterns.  Although it has been out of print for a while, I still get requests for it.  And actually, after looking at it again today, I'm thinking it would be a good candidate for a makeover (that would be a makeover as in make-it-over again using new fabrics).  Hmmm... something to think about.

This next one is still one of my very favorite quilts.  Probably because I love the simple lines of the courthouse steps block.  But I don't think I'll be making this one over again.  I don't think I've ever been so happy to be finished with a quilt as I was when I finally got this one all together.  It is called October Sky and is in my book Full Circle.

And then there is Rusted Moons, which is somewhat of a fall quilt.  It has the fall colors and I had fall in mind when I made it, at least.

Ok, now brace yourself, because here goes my shameless plug...

A few years ago I did a fabric line and a book, both called Pumpkins and Spice, that is full of fall projects.  I'll show you a few projects that are in it.

 

And if you are a fan of panels, these came from a panel I did for the Pumpkins and Spice fabric line.  This was the first fabric line that I did a panel for, and although I love all the projects, the panel is getting harder to come by.  However, as it is with any quilts done with a panel print, you could always substitute something else in the center of them.  Or, you could just purchase a panel from me, since I bought a few bolts of it. 

I have a limited quantity, just sitting in my dining room.  I'm just sayin'......

And something besides a quilt that you might need for a windy fall day...

Notice that the top one here is made out of felted wool.  This hat is in my Tangled Up in Thread book and the next one is in Pumpkins and Spice.  Both an be done in either wool or cotton and I can't tell you how many times I've had people want to take the hat right off of my head.  Literally!

Ok, so that's enough about me and my quilts.  I hope you enjoyed yourself and keep checking back, even after the blog hop is over.  Just so you know, though, I do plan on going into hibernation for a few weeks to recoup and to try to get something ready for Quilt Market, so don't be surprised if you come back to visit and I haven't shared anything new!  It doesn't mean that I've forgotten.  It just means that I'm busy sewing, and writing, and everything else that needs to get done!

Although, I will share the news of the lucky Grand Prize winner on Monday.   That means that you have until Friday to get your comments on each one of our blogs.  Good luck to everyone, and thanks for hopping along with us!!!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Gudren of G.E. Designs  (gudrun.typepad.com)

Sandy Gervais of Pieces From My Heart  (piecesfrommyheart-sgervais.blogspot.com)

Roseann of Rosebud's Cottage  (rosebudscottage.typepad.com)

 Kari Carr of New Leaf Stitches (newleafstitches.com)

Terry Atkinson Designs  (terryatkinson.typepad.com)

Heather Mulder Peterson of Anka's Treasures (ankastreasures.wordpress.com)

Carrie Nelson of Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. (lavieenrosie.typepad.com)

Linda Lum DeBono Designs (lindalumdebono.blogspot.com)

Pat Sloan's Designs (patsloan.typepad.com)

gearing up....

Are you ready?!  I hope so!

Here's what it's all about.....

We have a line-up of 10 designers.  Each day, all ten of us will blog about a specific "word" or topic, and each day, one of the designers will post a free project, and it's all based around a fun "fall-o-ween" theme.  We are all donating goodies for several grand prize winners at the end of the blog hop, and I'm sure there will be other goodies given away by each of the designers throughout the blog hop.  

So tune back in this weekend to get all the specifics!

I'm also gearing up for Quilt Market, which is *gasp* a little over a month away.  Hard to believe.  BUT, guess what I got today?!

Boxes of fabric!!

This is a good thing, and a nice surprise because I was told that I wasn't going to get it for another week.  I got my workout this morning carrying the rolls of fabric from the garage to my "mock" studio (otherwise known as our dining room) at the other end of the house, unwrapping all of them, and cutting 1 yard pieces off so that I could put those in my "real" studio. 

Tomorrow, I'm going to try to persuade my 17 year old to help take the fabric off the rolls, fold it, and wrap it onto the cardboard bolts that my local shop willingly donated to me.  Whew.  It's a big job, but somebody has to do it.  I'd just prefer that it NOT be me!

So, right now, I'm sitting here looking at the 1 yard pieces that I cut and neatly stacked on my shelf.  Wondering what in the heck I'm going to make with it.  But I think my brain went to auto shut-off at midnight, so it's just going to have to wait until morning.....

waiting....

Finally, what you've all been waiting for....

Well, maybe YOU haven't been waiting for this, but I have.  And no, the tree in the back yard has NOT suddenly begun to sprout money, although that would be nice.....

Really, what I've been waiting for is the one last remaining strike-off for my new line of fabric.  And it arrived yesterday!

I know, some of you may be scratching your head and thinking "Wow.  A strike-off.  What is that? And why is it so exciting?"  (feel free to skip this part if you already know this!)  Strike-offs are sample pieces of fabric that the mills run in order for the manufacturer and designer to look at and okay colors, engravings, etc. before massive yardage is run. And although I got the strike-off pieces for most of this line a few weeks ago, there was one that they just didn't get right on the first two tries.  Wouldn't you know that it was the main one?! 

But, it came yesterday, and now I get to go through the painful process of weeding some out. And to do that, of course I had to lay them all out together, and while I was at it, I just had to take some pictures to share with you.

(... sorry.  I should have ironed these before snapping the pictures...)

Yes, it is finally the snowman fabric that I shared last January.  The big panel print was the one that I've been waiting for, and it's a little difficult to pick coordinating prints without it!

This line is called Winterberry Lane, but don't start planning your Christmas projects just yet.... unless you plan on giving a very belated gift.  (Do you see my big sad face?  Someday I'm going to figure out how to add those little face widgets, but for now, just imagine that one is here....) You won't see it in your shops until next spring, which seems like a long time away, I know, but will give you plenty of time to get something made for NEXT Christmas.  AND give me time to make something from it and hopefully include it in that new book that I need to get started on.  But more on that some other day.  Right now, I just wanted to give you a glimpse of the fabric to come...

I am excited about this line!  I'm not sure yet what I'm going to do with it, but there are a few ideas floating around in my head, and I still have 4 to 6 weeks before I actually get any yardage (yes, I get it before anyone else; that's one of the perks!  :: grin :: )  But in the meantime, I get to pack it up and send it back to Red Rooster Fabrics, then sit and wait.  And hope that it's not a long wait.

In the meantime, I'm still working on another line of fabric that will be for next spring/fall, and trying to get back into the swing of things with school starting up again.  My youngest started his senior year of high school last week and my oldest goes back to college this coming week.  I could say that I'm looking forward to a quiet house, but that would be lying.  I truly enjoy having my kids and their friends around.  Most of the time.  Ask me sometime when the drums, guitars, and music are drowning out my thoughts and I may give you a different answer.  But right now, I am content to watch them grow up and share life with them.  Once again, I am reminded of how blessed I am.

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.  3 John 1:4

Enjoy!