next stop: total quilt domination

Sweetie has started a sewing machine repair and resale business to add to our efforts to dominate quilt making from all sides. Check it out: http://www.pedal2themetal.vpweb.com/

We have 4 machines for sale already. Refurbished, clean, running smooth. A Singer 185k, which is a 3/4 size Singer that sews like a Featherweight. Sweetie and his teacher estimate that the motor has less than 5 hours of sewing time on it!! It is soooo cool and retro, I want to keep it (see, bad picture of the cute machine above); a Kenmore 8, which is a clean, basic workhorse of a machine, very simple styling; a Brother VX 970, also super clean, rarely used by its prior owner; and a vintage Zig Zag Dressmaker that looks like a Rocket ship; like the kind of machine Jane Jetson would sew on.

Pictures to go up later . . . so, stay tuned!

Quiltilicious has gone Retail

My sweetie (aka Jcakes), Kim and I have gone retail - we have a spot to hawk our wares, at a store called Ambiance, in Martinez. 816 Main Street. Quilts, totes, bags, quilt kits and other handmade finery or foolery. We are marketing our stuff as CherryLime Quilts.

Here is one of the quilts for sale:

I forget the exact dimensions, but I think it's about 48x54. Good baby quilt. $175 and it could be yours!! More pictures to follow of other awesomeness.

Recent Randomness

Queso, I had a great Thanksgiving and Christmas with my family, yadda yadda, super happy with my wonderful fella, (ridiculously happy, if you must know), went on a quilting retreat to Napa with the fabulous Sandy Klop as our fearless leader, worked on the Alice quilt, etcetera etcetera. Now you are up to date, and I can tell you that:

I am the proud owner of a Sizzix big shot pro die cutter! seriously!! At retreat, Sandy had her Accuquilt cutter there. OMG, so awesome to cut out quilts in lightning fast speed. But after doing some research, I decided the sizzix was a better fit for me. It is compatible with sizzix and accuquilt and other dies. The accuquilt won't take the sizzix :-( The pro is a beastly model that is super steady and easy to crank with a super big opening. I am looking forward to "cranking" out some good stuff soon, so stay tuned, dear reader.

Queso, wanna see what have I done lately? Well, at retreat, I took some leftover corners from the Peeps Quilt, and made them into pinwheels. . . then, I took the pinwheels and tossed them on a design wall and started randomly piecing them together with leftover background dots (love that Lakehouse fabric) and here is where I am headed -- I hope to have a small wallhanging that looks somewhat like flowers on stalks - I will applique in some stems and leaves. Picture on the left is near the start of the process and picture on the right is further along. I just love the idea of using those leftovers - Kim calls this one "stale Peeps" since it uses the leftovers from the Peeps quilt. I love it. The name that is. Not sure how this one will turn out.

these yummy bits are going to be sewn together to make a cushion, called a "honey bun pouf" - Amy Butler pattern. I found all of these fabrics in Napa at Quiltworks, and they were all ON SALE. HALF OFF. woot woot! I think they will go so well with my lime green shag rug from IKEA, don't you?


From the beach in San Diego the week after Christmas: We had such a great time! Took Pumpkin and the giant boys to Disneyland, then to San Diego to meet up with my Dad and Polly. We had a fabulous time!! Stayed at the Loew's resort in Coronado. I highly recommend it.

no, mine is not the hairy leg, thank you.

We even made playdough party cakes! My apologies to the staff who had to deal with the crumbs in the carpet of the hotel. Yikes.

Here we are getting ready to have dinner. Pumpkin is entertaining us with magic tricks. She is sitting on oldest boy Anthony's lap. Brian is to the right, and Anthony's girlfriend Jessica (Pumpkin's new bff) is on the left.

OMG, how cute did these purses turn out?!?!?! I know, right? Hella cute. These were made by me, using the amazing Monica's pattern, for my cousins Katie, Meghan, Madison and Shelby for Christmas. I am really pleased! oh, and there is my lime green shag IKEA rug.

The rug, again, as backdrop for the poncho I made for Pumpkin to wear at Disneyland. too flippin' cute. After this picture was taken, I added a wide border of the minnie mouse flannel to the edge. This pattern was from a book that I adore by Lotta Jansdotter.

Lawn Chair quilt

It's about 80 degrees out and I am working outside today. I can't believe it's November!  Maybe this summer day was brought about because I was putting together the Lawn Chair quilt designed by uber talented Monica of Happy Zombie fame.

I was laying out and sewing the rows of this while watching all manner of guilty pleasure chick TV. "16 and pregnant," "the Locator," "Four Weddings," and "Dear Genevieve ." Hey this tomboy needs to keep the chick card current or it might expire. . .
Its ok. Tonight's football game will wipe out some of those credits.

I think I will work on something with a wintry feel to get this weather back to cider-sippin'  and sweater wearing days.

Really?

Doncha just love that new commercial with the texting while doing all sorts of stuff -- Really? texting while you are playing baseball with me? Really?

So, same attitude-laden expression here when it comes to my works in progress - REALLY??

I got some organization up in here, and I discovered that I have 6 wip's that are "nearly done," as in just need quilting and binding or less -- one just needs some more eyeballs sewn on. yah, figure that one out - not a Dexter quilt or a Halloween thing -- it's my What a Hoot! owl quilt that I am sewing google eyes onto. Nearly finished with them too, it's just that if I work on it too much I get this feeling like somebody's watching me. Great, now that lame song will be in all of our heads today.

Next, I have 7 wip's that are "in the middle," as in I have some of the cutting and piecing done, like in the 25-50% done range: Lawn Chairs, swanky pinwheels, Harmony and Alice in Wonderland, and three projects from block exchanges where I have all of the exchange blocks and just need to do the alternate setting blocks to finish the quilts.

Then, there are 5 wip's in the "out of the starting gate" mode, where I have all fabrics pulled and ready, and I have actually begun cutting and/or piecing the blocks. It's no longer a fantasy project, tucked away on an island of my mind.

Finally, I have 12, yes another DOZEN for you math people, of projects that are in the "gathering" stage - I have the pattern, I have a lot, most, but maybe not all of the fabrics picked out and lumped together in a bag/bin, and I have not yet cut one piece of fabric. AY! Really? Yep, really.

ok, and let's just say that I have at least 10 other 'ideas' in the brainstem that have not worked their way out into the light yet. and, you can bet that I have enough fabric to make them all. of course, I will still not have the "right" fabric for all of them, but hey . . .

SO grand total, I get 30 here (*and for purposes of this discussion I am ignoring the very large and complicated block of the month kit that I have only ever completed half of the first block - a feathered star - because I am saving that block of the month kit for when I am in the sanitarium, thank you.)

I am going to put my pedal down, (sweetie is going to try and fix my big machine, but I still have 3 others I can use, so no excuses) and work on at least getting the first 6 "nearly dones" out and into the world by the end of the year, along with Lawn Chairs and Swanky pinwheels. Wish me luck. Really.

PIQF favorites

Here are just a smattering of the squillions of quilts I lurved at PIQF.
Sweetie took most of the pics so I need to grab his camera and get them too.

Quilt shows really get me excited to tackle my projects. I am making
progress on getting projects put together and organization too. In fact,
last night I reorganized ALL of my fabric and am getting rid of probably 100
pounds of fabric I no longer want. If you need some random fabric for scrap
or charity quilts let me know and I will figure out a way to get it to you!

Oh and got a curve master presser foot at the show and it so rocks my curved
piecing. Best gadget I have ever purchased, well other than a rotary
cutter. Got all the rest of the curved piecing done for the dotty quilt. I
would guess it's 5-10x as fast as not having the curved foot, and I thought I
was fast before. No pins, no picking stitches and no cussing.

Queso, next post: my w.i.p. list. Oh dear! That's like true confession time!
Happy Friday all

Quilt top finished!

Should have it quilted before we head to Disneyland on Wednesday so I can bind it in the car on the way down n back before the wedding on Saturday.   I really lke the way this turned out and I am glad I made it double the pattern size.
We are so excited to go see Mickey! Our little "pumpkin" has now idea how much fun she is about to have. Going with a 3 year old is so different than going with the big boys.  Princess overload for sure.

I am finally getting back in the groove after our car accident a couple of weeks ago and here we are getting ready to log some serious miles in the new car. Kind of nervous still when I drive. This should cure me.

Cute alert

Blast from our past! Pictures of us from 28 years ago, in my backyard in Phoenix. Then and now the cutest couple ever. We altered them to black and white and are having large poster size prints made. AWWW. I know, not quilt related, but I had to share. I look at these pictures now and I actually get a lump in my throat, and a tear in my eye. I was and am so totally in love. (Plus, I miss having those long lean legs, my gosh! that's enough to make me cry.)

Go forth and multiply

The wedding quilt is growing.  Here is the current layout.  Went from a 5 by 7 layout to an 8 by 8.  Cool.  Now I just wish it would finish itself.  I did all the hard work to make the blocks and figure out the layout, sheesh.

Off to celebrate our Nation's birthday. I do love a parade!

Curse you Alexander Henry!

I have blown my self imposed fabric diet, but he made me do it. Not fair really, I go weak in the knees for Alexander Henry fabrics anyway and THEN this fabric has my favorite holiday and with my favorite color pink! Mr. Henry please stop! No wait just kidding Al (can I call you Al?)
So I scoured the store and found these very different fabrics to go with.

The menswear looking plaid is by our local quilt shop owner Joe Wood. It's gorgeous! Gives the illusion of the texture of a fine wool. Then a pink star fabric that could be right at home in a baby quilt, and, natch, a polka dot. Kim and Sandy in our drop in group also each bought the same group of fabrics so I guess I chose well.

Oh you are wondering about my progress finishing things? Well the baby turtle is done. I made this from scraps left over from my big turtle quilt. If I knew how to link to my prior posts I would show you that one. ha ha. Thanks to Kim who whipped on the binding. Thank you! Just need to find a baby that wants a turtle blankie.

Queso, I traded a new project for a finished one so that's better than starting a new one without finishing another right?

Ok, well sock Al in the arm for me if you see him, k?

Happy Birthday America!