I’ve mentioned in the past that I’m on a Relay for Life team, our goal is to raise money for The American Cancer Society. Our relay is next weekend and I would love to get more donations. I’m not very good at asking for money, which is why my donation page is pretty weak. It’s very easy to make a donation. Just click on my page and donate any amount you want. Every person has been effected by cancer in some way. You either have battled it yourself, or know someone who has. Please help me make a difference. Please help make more birthdays.

I appreciate it very much. Remember, any amount helps.

Carie

It’s even hung on the wall already! I like the way it turned out. I decided to make a 1/8″ binding instead of trying to do just piping. I wanted it to lay flat on the canvas and I was afraid that if I tried for a piped edge it would’ve been bulky. I just wanted that tiny bit of turquoise around the edge. This worked out fine. I glued it to the canvas after the black paint was dry. It’s different, but lots of fun. The quilt finished at 12×18 and it’s mounted on a 18×24 canvas.

I finished quilting a customer quilt today that was a lot of fun to play on. The back is pretty cool too.

 

I’ve wanted to see fireworks on the beach for quite a few years, and I finally got to realize that dream. It was everything I hoped it would be. There were families with huge bonfires, and store bought fireworks, (some of the illegal variety), for about 3 miles of the beach. It was very festive and the energy was great. We walked down the beach a couple of miles towards the town of Manzanita where there was to be a big display of action. We stopped about a mile from the town. It was a little windy, so we hunkered down behind a large piece of driftwood and waited for the big event. It was so fun to watch the action from my viewpoint. The sunset was beautiful, the wind stopped just in time for the fireworks. It was a great night.

On one of our walks we came upon this eagle I think he was just finishing his meal. I have a pretty good zoom on my camera, but I was able to get really close to him before he flew off. Very cool!

Jim and I had wonderful long walks on the beach… sounds so romantic! We really pooped out our pup though.

Before we left I was able to color in the guitar piece I had started. I really wanted to get this far before I left because it takes 3-5 days for the paint to cure. I’m thinking I’m liking it, not bad for a first try, but I’m going to darken the outlines somehow. I’m still working on what do do. I think I may try a different technique next time. Maybe something Deb Levy taught on 3 Creative Studios…it’s still marinating in my brain.

This year’s guild challenge was to make something using only the colors on your randomly chosen paint strip. You could add white or black but not both, and no applique. This is what mine looked like.  Obviously my paint strip was pinks and I added black. I drafted it out using Renae’s Amazing Rays tool and mostly commercial fabrics, there may be a few hand dyed fabrics in there. Anyway, it was a lot of fun to challenge myself with this type of piecing and I loved the challenge of using one color. I didn’t win anything but it wasn’t about that anyway.

This is my current work in progress.   It will only be about 13″x20″ when it’s finished. I still need to quilt the background around the guitars and then I’m going to paint the guitars with Shiva Paintsticks. If it turns out, my plan is to attach it to a stretched canvas. The guitar pattern is from Robbi Joy Eklow’s book that I’ve had for several years. I was watching Quilting Arts on TV, and I saw where they painted over the quilting and it looked pretty cool. Of course I had to try it. So, I’ll continue to work on this as time allows. I’m getting ready to head out of town for the weekend to be at the coast, so that’s what I need to be doing today.

Stay tuned.

I designed and made this quilt for my older brother Scott, for his 50th birthday. I gave it to him over the past weekend, so it’s OK to show you now. He really likes Native American designs and red is his favorite color. I quilted it with Native American  designs from different tribes’ bead work and basket work, which I found in the book “Native American Designs 2“.   I love the way it all shows up on the back. He loved it, of course, and I’m so happy and proud to have made it for him.

Click on any of the pics to see them larger.

This is what I accomplished while on my last camping trip. I still have to sew the “blades” onto the background fabric, but this is on my design wall to see what it will look like and I’m loving it. I really like the Quiltsmart interfacing. It made it really easy and very accurate. This is going to be one of those quilts that will evolve over time. I’m not sure exactly where I’ll go with it, but I plan to play with some ideas. Vicki’s fabrics are so nice to work with!

I got notification that my quilt “Spica” got into the Pacific West Quilt Show up in Washington. It’s a juried show and I am very happy to have gotten in. The show itself isn’t until Aug. 26-28. I’m planning on attending, it’s usually a very good show with some very beautiful quilts.

Now I’ve got to iron on some transfers to 30+ tee shirts for my Relay for Life team. If you don’t know what that is, you can click here to get some info. If you would like to make a donation to this very worthy cause, please consider donating on my page here. ANY donation is greatly appreciated!

Aren’t these beautiful! I certainly think so. These are the hand dyed fabrics I got from Vicki. They’re so gorgeous. This is what I’m planning on doing with them I’m going to use the Quiltsmart interfacing for the first time. The darkest color on the top of the pic is going to be the background. I’m really excited to start this, so I’m bringing my sewing machine camping with me this weekend. I know, it sounds kind of silly, bringing a sewing machine camping. But we don’t camp like we used to. For 5 days we will be along the Santiam River in our 5th wheel trailer with electricity. I’ll have the opportunity to sew if it rains, which is likely, and in the evenings. I can’t waste 5 whole days and not work on SOMETHING! My plan is to get it cut out today and ready to go. We’ll leave tomorrow, and by Wed when we head home, I’m hoping to have a good portion of the star done. I’m also bringing my Nook, knitting, a couple of quilts that need binding as well as sitting by the river, hiking and relaxing. All of those things are relaxing to me. I can’t just sit and do NOTHING.

Yesterday, I quilted the quilt I made for Cindy. It’s so darned cute! It’s for Lola, her motorhome. I can see that I’m into my purple/orange phase…what does that mean?

I don’t seem to know what to write about these days. I’m trying not to be on the computer very much, and I find that I can be WAY more productive if I can stick with that. Here’s some pics of some of the work I’ve been doing lately so you can see that I haven’t been slacking.

These are all client’s quilts that I quilted. Remember, you can click on any of the photos to see them larger.

 

My next project is to make a Lone Star quilt using some hand dyed fabrics from Vicki. The fabrics are on their way to me now, I can hardly wait. She dyes beautiful, quality fabrics. I’ll try to post some pics when they arrive.

For now, I’ve got to work. Thanks for stopping by.

I had the opportunity to quilt a table runner for a wedding. This will be on the cake table and my customer wanted it to look special. Shiny can really show off the quilting. She loved it and the bride to be was very happy too. I don’t have any other pics of quilts I’ve done recently. They’re either simple or I didn’t take a picture.

My week in Mexico was very fun. The weather was perfect (mid 80′s) and Cindy and I had a blast hanging out with our aunt.

Now it’s time to buckle down and get some major quilting done. We’re heading into camping season, and we got our little trailer, Betty, all ready with new curtains. Now I want to get myself a bike. I’ve got my eye on one, and a basket for Millie, then I need a bike rack for my car, and a bell….you can see where this is going. This is another reason I need to do some major quilting, I’ve got to keep that money rolling in to pay for my adventures

I thought this was inspiring. I try to live my life like this. It’s all in your attitude.