On Newsstands today!

      

I have a pattern in the newest edition of Easy Quilts magazine.  This is a fun quilt full of animals and burlap looking fabrics.  The fabrics are from Exclusively Quilters.

The magazine is on store shelves today!  Top Stitch Quilters did a great job on the quilting as well!!      Well, back to cleaning house (yuck)!  Maybe I can quilt a bit later.

Blog at you later,

Tiffany

On the Wall Monday

The blank design wall has morphed into a design wall with projects in progress!Like always I have many things going on at once.  I simply don’t understand the quilters who can work one project at a time.  If that works for them, that is great.  No way I can do only six projects at once!

Today I want to talk a little bit about the block that is top and center on my design wall.  This is the beginning of a Block of the Month Applique project that I am leading at Bolts in the Bathtub.

It is a wonderful applique quilt called Flower Box Medley by QP Designs.  I really am enjoying the creations by Colette Belt of Quilters Paradise in Clovis, Ca.

Now about the things I am learning and the things I know:

Do you pin?  I do!  I didn’t used to, but when I began to strive for better end result I had to do a self evaluation.  So here are some things that I do now…I pin!  Not always, but pretty much.  Sure does make my blocks and quilts flatter!  If you are a quilter, you need to know…  flatter is better!

Are you a careful presser?  Do you press?  Or do you iron?  I press (now)! Ironing is for clothes and can distort your block. Did you know that?I also decided after making the first block in this quilt (which I will not be ripping out or remaking) that I should press it differently. I definitely use Best Press! I love it!!

Can you see the pressing seams in the first block I made?I do not like hoe I can see the shadow of the pressed seam.

For the second block I pressed the seams to the dark little brown border.See the difference from the front?Here is the back.  I like this so much better.  Just a little attention to detail and I am a happier girl!Now to mark the block to get it ready for applique.  I use a Frixion pen.  The ink disappears with the heat of the iron.  Pretty cool!!I use a light box and trace my design directly on my quilt block.I also draw the applique pieces.  When the Frixion pen is just to dark, I use my Clover White Marking Pen.  If you have this pen, it it heat sensitive as well and the ink disappears when you place the iron over it.  the thing with this pen is…  when you draw with it, it needs a few seconds for the white to show up.  At first you may think the pen is out of ink, but give it a few seconds and you will see the results you need.Now my pieces are drawn and I am ready to sit down some television with my hubby tonight and applique away!!I do want to share that these pens, as well as other quilting tools are available at most Quilt Stores.  With that being said I will now climb up on my soap box a share a few thought…

Please support your local Quilt Stores!!!!  I know you can frequently get your tools at a lower price in larger stores or online.  Do you realize that your little store needs all the support you can give them?  If you support the Quilt Store, they may be able to stay in business.  If you go elsewhere they will go away!  Have you noticed how many Quilt Stores have gone out of business?  They need your support.  I understand that they all carry different selections and if you need something they so not have you will go out and find it somewhere else.  All I am asking is that you support the little guys whenever possible.

Thanks,  I am now getting down from my soap box, hopefully it won’t come out too often.

I will linking to Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday.

Blog at you later,

Tiffany

Applique & Adventures!

I have started a new applique project.  I know, surprise, surprise!  I can’t help myself, I see something I like and there I go starting another quilt!

So, I got the first block done, pressed it and put it up to admire!  Well, there is the problem.  I was having a hard time admiring it!  Why, you ask?  Well, look at that embroidery.  That is the problem… the embroidery.  I used a medium green floss trying to get it to show up, and that’s just it, it doesn’t show up.  I have these funny blue things floating out in mid air.I think I will pull out the embroidery stitches and replace them with the variegated green above.  I hope that work out better for both the quilt and myself.

This is the quit I am working on:

We will be using it for the monthly Applique Workshop at the beginning of each month at Bolts in the Bathtub.  If you are interested in joining in just contact the shop.  You can work on this project with me or work on your own project.

Here are some blocks from Sandy, she is working on another project, but I love this one too!

This is the finished quilt.  Both of the quilts above are from Quilters Paradise in Clovis, Ca.

Now on the the adventure…Saturday morning (much earlier that Scott and I usually awake on a Saturday) we got up and packed and ventured to Fox Field to meet up with Jeff & Paula Murphy.

Our daughter, Lindsay, is dating their son, Austin, and they invited us for a weekend in Lake Havasu.     We accepted the invitation and this is how the weekend went.

First, they took us for a flight in their airplane.

We had never traveled in a plane this small before and had a wonderful flight (except for that little dip Jeff did while descending for the landing).  Scott thought it was great, but I white knuckled it a bit.  I survived, so all is well!

Here is a view of the Lake as we arrived in Havasu.

Next, was a two day adventure on their new boat!  What a blast!

Here are our gracious hosts:  Jeff & Paula.

There were 4 coupes gathered for this adventure.        Next we have Henry & Robin.

Then there was Bruce & Heather (this is a pic from earlier in the morning) they flew from Lancaster to Havasu in another small plane.

And here we are…

We didn’t know anyone before the weekend, but went anyway.  We are so glad we did.  Other than the sunburns (which by the way we did use sunscreen, but just not enough and obviously missed a few spots, ouch!) it was an awesome trip!  So good in fact, that we are planning to do it again in September!!!

While we were in Havasu, there was quite a storm.  It poured and there was crazy thunder and lightening during the night.  When flying out yesterday afternoon you could really see how bad the storm turned up the mud in the river:

We also had some turbulence on the way home because of more weather. These are the storm clouds that were over Las Vegas.

We made it home safe and sound.  Took our showers and went out to dinner with Lindsay and Austin.

What a great weekend!

We have such a great life, full of fun and adventure mixed in with a bunch of hard work, so much to share, so…

Blog at you later,

Tiffany

Celestial Mysteries

A new Block of the Month (BOM)!

I have worked hard on this BOM.  I hope you join in and make your own version of this quilt!  I have put the first 2 blocks on my website for sale.  They are only $6.00 per block and with each block you get a pattern for a Bonus Quilt made with that block!

Here is an EQ7 version of the quilt:

You can join me on flickr.  Click on the logo below to take you to the Celestial Mysteries group.

 

I will be teaching a BOM workshop for this quilt at Bolts in the Bathtub, watch for dates and class times.  Click on the Tub below to visit their website.

Here is Block 1:

and here is the Bonus Quilt that you can make from Block 1:

Here is Block 2:

and here is the Bonus Quilt that you can make from Block 2:

I will be sharing the other Blocks and Quilts as I get them on my website!  As for now, this is just a taster.  Please join me on this Celestial journey and make and share your own blocks and ultimately, your quilt!!

Blog at you later,

Tiffany