This is what happens when I can't find my binder clips (found them 10 minutes after finishing this task...isn't that the way it always is). Adding some bits and bobs to the name tags...and on my left leg is Sunshine (snoozing as usual while I work!). When my light gets to be too much for her, she just curls in the opposite direction and keeps on snoring.  ..read more

 Another project that needs some attention...but is still in the "hold line" is this red/white quilt. I fell out of love with the original design; but do like these EPP elements of the quilt. So, am now thinking I can just use the fabrics for an entire EPP quilt in red white instead. Will keep you posted ..read more

 Still thinking on current projects. Have a sweet little simple flannel quilt done for Evie...the kind you can just toss on to the floor for her to play dolls on. Honestly, I did not need a new project. But, when at my friend Sharrons recently...we HAD to go to the quilt store and to the local Hobby Lobby. Could not pass up this cute little animal flannel. My binding will be in the red cotton fabric. I had cut some green flannel...but now think that will be too bulky so using standard quilter cotton instead. This is probably one of the projects that will be packed up and head to retreat ..read more

 Recently, I too inventory of all the projects that are "in progress". Believe you me...there were way too many of them! That's the price you pay when your attention is easily drawn to new things and your brain if always full of new ideas. At present, I'm busy working on two non-sewing projects for my local Quilt Guild. This Saturday, we have a group of 29 Girl Scouts (different troups, different age groups) coming to learn about Hand Sewing, Embroidery, and Machine Sewing. They are working on badges. My part is the Embroidery. So, I have designed three different little ideas...as the age ..read more

These are the fabrics I've been working with on a monthly quilt kit. It is traditionally pieced. I would like to have had more contrast and am really hoping that I like the finished quilt top. However, even if I don't...it would still make a perfectly usable quilt for someone. Keeping my fingers crossed!  Here is the laydown of the grouping titled Cotton Candy by the quilt shop. I'm now about half-way through the quilt and was keeping up nicely each month until the holidays hit. I don't think I did much more than the CQ promotion for Dazzling Diamonds book the entire month of November ..read more

 We have arrived at the "bling" part of our blocks. Beautiful Silk Ribbon Embroidery (SRE) and beads/sequins/etc. layered on top of the fiber embroidery just completed. Here is now Block #11 (which you saw me construct at the last post) now looks. If you compare the elements in the book photo (see page 59) you will note some minor changes. Well, the most obvious is that these colors are not the same as was used in the "Spring" inspired quilt in the book. Sorry this seam is vertical...can't rotate it. But, you should note that I've chosen to add some light green bugle beads between the ..read more

  My darling, my heart, my grand-daughter Aidan...seated at my left here; learning to sew a button on a bit of cloth...turns "20" today! Where has the time gone! I loved showing her how to sew. I'm now looking forward to doing the same with her sister...who turns "4" in February. I'm hoping that my lessons will "stick" better with her sister. Ha! Love you Aidan ..read more

Today we will continue our Dazzling Diamonds Sew-A-Long adventure! Hopefully, you have pieced most of the blocks this past week. Now, we are ready to embroider the seam lines. The specific embroidery stitches used are described in the book (pages 22-27). There will be some Silk Ribbon Embroidery (SRE) elements on many of these seams, but that instruction will be in our post on November 3rd. Today, we will concentrate only on the fiber embroidery elements. Each seam begins with a BASE embroidery section. This is then enhanced with additional elements of fiber embroidery and/or silk ribbon embro ..read more

Thought you might like some more photos. So, here is my piecing of Block #11. First, I used my light table to trace the major portions of the block to my foundation fabric. Here is what that looks like if I turn off the light table. This is what you should be seeing when you trace your blocks as well. REMEMBER to flip-over your pattern page so you are tracing the reverse image....since we are tracing on the back of our foundation fabric. Next we need out fabric patches to sew to this foundation layer. Page 17 of Dazzling Diamonds explains this approach in more details. Beginning at the ..read more

  I have printed out the Block Design sheets (use the link in the book, see page 16 in the book, under Block Construction heading. Using the crayon colored page shown in the previous post...I transferred all of the Fabric Palette color references (ALPHA) to each page (block) of design sheets. Here in Block #1 you can see (above) that I will be using the fabrics A, K, H, and B for this block construction. My next preparation task is to take my Foundation Fabric and cut out a rectangle large enough to hold the TRIANGLE block size. For me, I cut up some cotton in a light color...27 blocks ..read more