Practice makes....better

I don't think I'll ever make anything perfect, but I can learn from each bag and get better, right? Going outside the comfort zone wasn't so bad. Once I figured it out, they go to together much faster! I think they are getting better each time. I have now completed 2 bags and will soon start the 3rd (for me). Maybe someday I'll branch out even further with sewing. For now, I'll stick with quilted bags and quilts. I'm still working on that one for Grandpa (waiting for supplies to come in so I can sandwich, quilt, and bind).



Bag number 2 was made for my Aunt Kathy. She does so much to help me out and helped me learn to quilt (Mom, I'll give you some credit-you helped teach me to sew-Love you!). Kathy even lets me "borrow" her BIG quilting machine for some of my quilts. I have so much fun going to her house for an afternoon, picking her creative brain for quilting ideas, chatting, and learning more quilting techniques. I have never made her a quilt partly because she makes the most incredible quilts and her skills far exceed any I could dream of having. So a little bag will be one of many thank yous. Dinner and movie nights should help too...



A close-up. The bags are also giving me a chance to practice more ornate quilting patterns. I'm really liking the sparkles. I plan to put them on many quilts. Attending the HQMS show was well worth it!!! I learned how to use sparkles. Now off to make another bag, continue to get better, and use more sparkles!

Mmmm Chocolate

Every woman needs chocolate right? "Eat dessert first, give me the chocolate and no one gets hurt"; the list goes on. And what could be better than chocolate and quilting? Okay, probably not a good idea...eating chocolate and sitting around sewing and quilting. All those calories and lack of "strenuous activity" would go straight to the hips.

Instead base quilts on a chocolate theme...name them after chocolate dishes. Quilts for Chocolate Lovers by Janet Jones Worley does just this; also included are recipes for desserts rich with chocolate. Based on the "La Chocolada" pattern I created this quilt. I have been wanting to complete a bright and black quilt. I bought material a looooong time ago. Well, it's really bright and loud! Since I used different material, without the fiesta theme, I named mine "Psychedelic Flower Power." What you don't see in the pictures is the neon-colored, repetitive peace sign backing.

Outside the Comfort Zone

I decided I wanted to make a bag for carrying my laptop and other essentials when traveling. Well, my mom wanted one too, but taller. I typically don't sew anything, but quilts. I don't even hem pants, so the bag was way out of my comfort zone. I must have read the directions 14 times before the first cut. Well, I worked hard and finished the bag. I even modified the pattern and made the bag taller, maybe a little too tall. The pattern is "Bow Tucks Tote" and I sure hope Mom likes it. She deserves all the best.

Creativity takes time

I have been working hard on projects, but they really do take time. I finished a quilt top for a lap quilt for Grandpa, but it's not quilted nor is the binding on, so no pictures yet. After this one is finished, I have bags, more quilts, wall hangings, and projects lined up. I went to another quilt shop today (in Green River, Wyoming) and bought even more material. So many projects, so little time.

Today I thought I'd post a picture of nature's creativity. I wasn't expecting this plant to bloom this year, but I'm really glad it did. I ordered the bulb and planted it last Spring. It truly is beautiful, the colors fit me perfectly. ;) Better than the snow I woke to in Rock Springs, Wyoming. Where is Spring in this state? I want to see lilacs and tulips when I come visit over half way through May!

Oh, wait! I have been a little creative...I finished our wedding quilt. The top has been made for 2 years and I finally decided how to quilt it (after 4 years of marriage). So on our anniversary, I redecorated our bedroom hanging the quilt on the wall. Some quilt blocks were signed by guests at the rehearsal dinner. The material for borders and blocks came from our honeymoon in Hawaii. I know, I know...4 years is too long to make a quilt, but as I said, creativity takes time.

Baby Shower Bonanza

I have a terrific, wonderful friend...she's loyal, honest, caring, forgiving, and truly a great person. AND she's having a baby!!! May 29th is the due date, but I believe Elle Darlene Barber will be arriving before. In anticipation, I got busy creating quilts for her. Dawn (mom), had told me several years ago she wanted CLASSIC Winnie the Pooh in the nursery. Easy to find, right-no way. After hours of driving around the Salt Lake Valley to each quilt store (ya, sad, I know), and even more hours on the world wide web, I finally found the material (shout out to "Grandpa Terry" at http://www.etsy.com/). I ordered all the "Classic Winnie the Pooh" fabric he had and got busy cutting and sewing back together. I plan to post more detailed pictures of the quilts later. Unfortunately, I missed her first baby shower because of a business trip...and therefore, I missed the "shock and ahh" of the original opening. At least I got to see the "shock and ahh" on her family's faces. Still, I hope she appreciates the love that went into each stitch.




Dawn's mother-in-law, Michelle, called a few days before the baby shower and asked if I would make mini cupcakes for the shower. Since "Santa" gave me the book Hello Cupcake for Christmas 2009 with a decorating kit, I created some formal and some not-so-formal cupcakes for the party. The cupcakes were quite tasty...if I do say so myself. The "Petits" were pink and green colored frosting with small decorations (piped frosting). The baby faces were colored frosting and baby bottles made from pieces of shaped starbursts with mini marshmellows attached. Bonnetts were made from cut mini marshmellows. Shaping starbursts takes time! A big thank you to my husband, Steve, for bringing home more frosting after the work party.



Here's mom-to-be, Dawn.