The Winner Is...

Good Morning,  yesterday I put up these four new designs onto my website.  If you will be attending the Long Beach quilt show you will be able to see these items in person.  I am in space #917, please come by and say hello.

Celebrate the Holidays $10.00

Stitched Ornament Set $7.50

Stitched Pincushion Set $7.00

These Three Throws $9.00

 And now to announce the winner of the Primitive Quilts magazine...Linda!!!  I have emailed her already with the news.

Thank you everyone who posted comments and became new followers of this blog.  Have a peace filled week,  Laural

Magazine Giveaway Day!

The Fall issue of Primitives Quilts and Projects magazine has just arrived.  My design "Autumn's Smile" (3rd in a 4 part series) can be found on page 56.  Not that I memorized it or anything.

 So as a contributing designer I receive a few extra copies.

 And that means it's Give Away Day!!  Become a follower of this blog, leave a comment on this post or link this blog on your blog and you will be entered to win a signed copy of the Fall 2013 magazine.

I will draw the  winning name on Saturday evening and post it here on Sunday. 

Project Completed

Back in January of this year I posted this picture of my first block in a block of the month series that I was working on.  

I wasn't sure what the response would be, but I was pleasantly surprised by how well this little mystery quilt was received.

Today I emailed out the finishing instructions so that everyone who participated can add setting triangles and an outer border to their projects.

I plan on having this pattern available on my website.  It will have full color photos of each block and complete instructions.  This little Celebrate the Holidays quilt finishes 26" x 34".  Thank you to all the ladies that participated.  Laural

What I'ma Workin on Wednesday

Wednesday!  Here's what I'm workin on...new patterns.  The Long Beach show is fast approaching and getting new designs that I can kit for that show is a top priority.  This one, which has a working title of Christmas Three O' will have three designs in one pattern.  Simple piecing and stitching which will make these great holiday gifts.

 Second in my pincushion series, the samples are done, directions are in well lets call it sketch form.

 Finished product is such a huge part of the retail shows.  I have close to 50 pincushion "bodies" made. Now to stuff and package.

 My wools are all torn and folded.  I will be adding price tags to each.

That's my Wednesday to do list.  Should keep me inside, in the AC and out of trouble for another day.

Clean Up Day

I love clean up day!  Its the day I use to clean off my desk top of all photos that I had intended to write blog posts about.  So the post makes absolutely no sense but isn't that the way life is sometimes?  Constantly jumping from one project to another or one task to another.  One of my favorite stops on the So Cal Quilt Run was a cupcake shop Frostings, great display.

This quilt is on time out.  I'm doing the quilting on this purple and green quilt, it belongs to my friend Teresa who passed away last month.  There is no batting in it as she wanted me to use this $1.00 a yard purple fleece for the back and felt it didn't need batting.  Well this quilt is not happy, I can't sew for longer than a few minutes without the thread breaking and the fleece is soooo stretchy that I am having to reposition the top and back constantly.  So its in a time out till I can figure out what the problem is.

Our last Sup n Sew had a few of the girls sharing their projects.  Elisabeth shared some hand embroidery and applique' projects.

Mary had just started work on the Crabapple Hill pattern which I brought back from market.  Can't wait to see how this ends up after she "Mary-a-fies" it.

Susan, who is taking classes at Sewing Party in Laguna Hills, a shop featuring modern fabrics, was hand sewing these blocks.

I received a little pink cupcake stand as a parting gift from Elisabeth who won't be able to attend our meetings anymore.  Does anyone think a cupcake will last long enough in my home to actually sit on that stand?

Hope everyone had a safe and happy Fourth of July.  I was working on production for upcoming shows and putting the applique' together for a new Christmas pattern which will have three designs included in it.

Window Quilts

I'm going to admit to not being very motivated these days.  Can't exactly put my finger on the source, but I'm trying desperately to work through it.  When I worked at a craft consignment shop I used to buy these old wooden windows.  The plan was to back them with quilts and sell them at some of the shows.  

 Turns out they are heavy, bulky and pricey.  None of those things are good for hauling to and from quilt shows.  But they are very pretty and unique, so I continue to do it.

 While visiting one of my favorite local shops Fat Quarters in Vista CA, I found this new Judie Rothermel 30's convenience cloth.  I bought a yard which will yield me two windows.  But first I have to stitch in the ditch, yes around each piece.

 Then wash off the old, dusty window frame.

 Lastly, tack the quilt in place.

It still needs a picture frame hanger but I have time for that.  Yes, I still like making crafty items like this and even though it isn't very practical I will still haul it all the way to Long Beach and hope that it finds a home.

So Cal Quilters Run

There wasn't a plan in place to actually do the run this year.  In fact it wasn't until Wednesday that we even decided to go.  So picking one of the four sections we headed out early, on a hot summer day, to be a part of this long held tradition.  So many of the shops don't allow photos anymore that I have to admit I got a little gun shy about even asking.  So my only photos today are of the fabrics I purchased.  I noticed more modern fabric sections showing up in the shops than memory serves.  That's good because I really like these new fabrics.

 I found two civil war fabrics which just screamed to be taken home, the others are for needle case kits.

 The giveaway this year was a marble fat quarter.  Each shop also has a pattern published in a very nice full color book which retails for $19.95.

 In years past I have been busy working the run and never been able to go out and actually run.  I can see the appeal of it.  We got to visit stores out of our area and made mental notes on which ones we would come back to.  Of course the best part of the run is spending time with your friends who also enjoy the hobby of quilting.