The Last Row

Today I start the last row for this quilt. This is a hint of the direction I'm going for the "ground". As I started my day doing my usual morning things such as dishes, laundry, beds, and general straightening up, I find that I have a wicked sinus headache and neck ache. I have about 16 inches to quilt today for the last row which really will take all day til dinner time. Before I finished last night, I created the last of the layering and planned to add a sprinkle of silk flowers along the bottom edge. My goal for this piece is for a floral whimsy. I've tried to come up with a name for this piece and it hadn't appeared until just now when I typed "Floral Whimsy". I've thought about it for days. Isn't that weird? I came close to asking for your opinion on a name.

Pretty Stitches

Today I'm working on the background of a big project for myself. I'm not pushing this project for a deadline. I'm ambling through it with stitching that stirs me at the moment. My largest goal is to stitch the background down in a consistent density and give it a little "eye" interest. As large as my background is that can be BORING, so there have been plenty of breaks in between areas. There is no hurry to finish because once the quilting is finished, there will be attaching a perfect binding and then embellishments.

So here is your teaser for today.

Personal time as a Quilter and other Glib Things

What does a quilter do with personal time this winter? She tries to get some of her own personal ufo's finished. Takes a couple of days ice fishing with her man, which leads to awesome fresh fish for dinner, and a happy man. She reorganizes her work space. I don't need an excuse for that, I just needed time. I'm super happy with the changes I made. It allowed me to bring a couple of my antique favorite things downstairs.

This is a White treadle that Mike and I bought in Texas at our first auction way back in the early 80's.

This secretary was traded from a local quilter who I'm still waiting for a quilt top to quilt for her for the trade. 

These are my Martha Stewart cube shelves that I decided to stack to take up less space. Heavy magazines and books on the bottom, and lighter art supplies on the top. 

So now that my space is fresh, and I'm feeling artistically inspired, I'm on to as much creative things as I can pack into a month. Then back to the steady pace of customer quilts. 

I love my career. 

What in the Heck is a Motif?

For this new project, I'm using a purchased quilting shape for marking a quilting pattern on a top, aka a "motif". The shape is one of my favorites for my cut out felt designs to use under my many fiber layers. This one creates a beautiful frame for my quilts. I believe it was purchased from QCI, Quilting Creations International.

Don't overlook your quilt stencils for inspiration.

The Start of a New Quilt

There are times when I can almost be dangerous in my procrastination. This is one of those times when I declare, "it's hung long enough" and I really need to follow through with this idea. It's January again and time for me. I slow down on customer things and selfishly work on some of my own long depressed art. This project has fermented so long, it should have been beaded and sent off to it's first show. Bad me. So here I am, finishing up the last of the paper pieced flower heads and deciding what else to pull from the stash to put into the mix. I've waited forever for The Warm Company to figure out their Lite Steam a Seam 2 problems and get the product back out there for me to buy a box. It's ordered and coming this week. Yeah!!!!! Next I will be drawing motifs for the felt and cutting till my hands cramp. Then it can go on the quilting frame for the magic to happen. I can see it in my mind and it is beautiful.