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Friday, January 27, 2012

Tucson Quilt Show 2012

A Friday "hello" friends!

What could be better than good friends, a road trip and a quilt show?

That is exactly what friends Diane, Joyce and I got to do last Saturday.  We had not even seen each other since last year!  I know that was only weeks ago, but still....... a girl needs her friends!


This photo was taken at the NQA 42nd Annual Quilt Show in Columbus OH last June.
The show this year will be June 14-16 -- be sure to come!

Back to the Tucson Quilter's Guild (an NQA Chapter) Show.

As usual, I didn't get a lot of photos of quilts taken.  I get so busy looking I forget!

Upon entering the show, we saw this wonderful mariner's compass variation made by Kathy Zimmer.



Note the ribbon -- it is a wonderful quilt!  Kathy was the show chairman.



This is an honorable mention ribbon, not Kathy's.  I just wanted you to see the wonderful AZ logo close up.

Many of the quilts were colorful and used a LOT of different fabrics like this one by Jean Troutwine.



I loved the spinning star effect.

One of my favorites was this one by Patsy Heacor.



The women are Arizona women of note.  The bottom left is Sandra Day O'Connor.  The faces are painted and thread painted.  Patsy did a great job!

Though I didn't take a photo of it, the best of show was stunning.  I spent some time speaking with the maker, but never got a photo.  There were a LOT of people wanting to get up close and personal with the quilt!

Though I took a few other photos, they turned out blurry and I didn't want you to go blind trying to see them.

Joyce, Diane and I had a great time.  We enjoyed a lunch outside though the selections were limited.  My theory is that it's not about the food, it's about the company, so the food choice isn't all that important.

We all visited the vendors as well -- of course we did, that's part of the whole show experience.

We visited with friends we had not seen in a while and met new ones.

All too soon we needed to get in Diane's van and head home.

Until next time,
Lois

Friday, January 20, 2012

Antique Des Moines Star Quilt

Hello friends!

I really am trying to be better at sharing before a week has past.  Today I'm sharing this antique quilt.  Actually, just the top is antique.  My dad found the quilt top or maybe even just the blocks at a farm auction.  My dad LOVED to go to auctions.  And you know what?  I loved it when I could go with him.

My mother quilted the top in the 80's and gave it to me.

It was used on our daughter's bed and she really loved it.  It did look wonderful on her four poster bed. 


Maybe she loved it a bit too much!

One day, I noticed that the blocks that were made with black fabrics looked like this.


The blue blocks did not disintegrate as badly.



I must have been hurrying too much as this photo is really blurry.

I would re take the photos except, this quilt was given to her for Christmas.

She was supposed to get this one and the duplicate that I am making for her.

I've been working on the "clone" of this quilt for many years   a while now.

The "clone" kept being put on the back burner so to speak.

My mother died the year I started it and I spent a lot of time in another state.  I was working on this quilt while my mother was in surgery to, hopefully, rid her of the cancer that was attacking her.  Even the "clone" has history.

Last night I finally took the last quilting stitch in the "clone"  It still has to be squared and the binding put on so there aren't any photos of it yet.  There will be another post on it.

It took some research to find out the name of the pattern used.  It's fitting that it is called Des Moines Star as our kids consider Iowa "home" as we lived there many of their growing up years. Another name I found was Lily, but Des Moines Star seems more fitting for an Iowa girl's quilt.

The block wasn't made quite right in the antique quilt, so I duplicated the error so the clone would actually look almost like the antique.



From a distance you don't see the flaws.

Do you mind the flaws in quilts?  I don't in antique ones -- the ones I make, well, that's a different story.

Hope you enjoyed seeing this quilt.  Soon I'll reveal the "clone" now that it is finally quilted.

Stay warm, my friends!

xoxoXOXOxoxo

Lois
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Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Kindle Cover

Whoa!  My intent was not to become a weekly blogger, but so far this year (2012) that is what has happened!  My plans are to post more often and, hopefully, the rest of 2012 won't be as crazy as the first half of January has been!

For Christmas I received a Kindle Fire and I am so thrilled!  Since it is back lit, I can read in the dark!  I love that one feature probably more than any other.  It seems I spend a lot of time riding in a dark car and have always felt like I was wasting time -- now I can read!  Yes, I've had book lights for regular books, but they never seem to focus where I need them to.

What I did not have was a cover for the Kindle so decided to make one.


This is what it looks like when it is closed.

It was simple to make.  This isn't exactly a tutorial, but it is an outline of what I did to make this cover -- the first of others since I learned a lot making it.  I also missed photographing several of the steps.  I was hurrying, as usual!

First I measured the Kindle and decided how much of it I wanted covered -- be sure to add the depth of the e-reader you have if you decide to do this.  I decided I wanted it to look like a clutch purse.

I made the inside first by cutting a layer of fabric (yellow with bees for mine) and a layer of batting both slightly larger than the size needed for the final cover to allow for shrinkage during the quilting process.  Then I quilted the two layers together with a meandering stitch.



This is what it looked like at this point.  I measured the corners of the Kindle for placement and attached 1/4" black elastic for all four corners to hold the Kindle in place.

Next I prepared the outside fabric -- cutting it the size I needed plus seam allowances.

I took a graphic from The Graphics Fairy which was the bee with the wreath.  I have also used this graphic on a lamp which I'll show you sometime.

I printed it on Avery T-Shirt Transfer paper to iron on the fabric -- in this case a cream colored canvas.



Follow the instructions on the package to make sure the graphic transfers well.  I think I should have ironed a bit longer as it wasn't quite as dark as I would have liked.




It looks fine here, but next I decided to add the word Paris and I did this using my computer, a light table and a Sharpie pen.

First I used a scrolly font to print out the word Paris in the size I wanted.  Then I placed it on the light table using drafting tape to hold it in place and put the fabric over the top centering Paris under the bee/wreath.



I traced the Paris using the Sharpie which came out a bit darker than the bee/wreath, which is why I think I should have iron a bit longer during the transfer process.




Next, I trimmed the inside and put the outside right sides together with it making sure the ends of the black elastic were pinned in place.  I stitched around the edges using a 1/2" seam allowance and leaving a 4" or so opening for turning.  After pressing, I top stitched close to the edge for a sharper edge.



Can you see what I did not do?

I really meant to add a Velcro closure which needed to be added when the elastic was put in place several steps back!  It does work this way, though.

The next one might have a zipper closing around the outside, but I do like the fact that it is easy to get to the power button and it is also open so the Kindle can be easily charged while the cover is closed.



So this ends up being a prototype for future Kindle covers that will be improved, I'm sure.

So that is it -- as my husband says, "It looks like it is just your style."  I agree.

What do you think?  Any suggestions for what you would want in a Kindle or Nook or other e-reader cover?

Oh, yes, I do still read traditional books, but they aren't back lit so only when it is light!

Until next time!

xoxoXOXOxoxo

Lois


I've liked up with The Graphics Fairy Brag Monday

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Laundry Sign

How can it already be a week into 2012?  this week has gone fast and I've had no time to breathe much less post!

I thought I'd share another of the Christmas gifts that I made.

This one is for our daughter who has 4 kids and does laundry for 4 kids, herself and her hubby.  That's a LOT of laundry!  She says she always has a load in the washer, a load in the dryer and clothes waiting their turn.

And then there is the folding!  I remember those days, but at least there were only 3 kids to do laundry for.

The words for this sign were "stolen" from a blog that I read.  Unfortunately, I either did not make a note on the URL, so if you saw this and know the blogger, I will definitely give her credit for the words.


This photo was taken before it was wrapped.  The angel above it was not part of the gift.  She watches over our dining room.

The frame was a new one, but one I had for a long time in the "frame" box -- it has moved a few times!

It started out brown with green metallic accents.  It was no long my style, so it got a coat of white paint and some antique glaze to age it. Hmm, it is probably already 25 years old, anyway!

The words were made using an MS Word text box.  The background used an option to color fade from top to bottom diagonally.  This was then printed on card stock and sprayed with a matte finish by Krylon.



The words say:

For one day service, do it yourself.

Ironing requires 2 week notice.

Not responsible for lost socks.


Thank you mystery blogger for giving me the words to use!

Mindy laughed when she read the sign.

I hope you got a chuckle, too!


Hope your first week of 2012 has been excellent.

Next time I'll show you the Kindle cover I made for the Kindle Fire I received for Christmas.

Until then, keep smiling!

xoxoXOXOxoxo

Lois

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Happy 2012

A new year!  Every January 1, we get a new year.  A blank year to write on.  What will your 2012 say?

In several circles, people are choosing a word instead of making resolutions that tend to always start, Lose weight, Get organized, etc., anyway.

I've tried to come up with a word for the year.  I came up with three:  Change, Adapt, Create.  There will be a lot of changes in 2012.  We will need to adapt to those changes and then go on a create what is necessary.

So my wish for you is that your changes will be minor, your adapting easy and your creations glorious!



"For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11

Don't be apprehensive!

Blessings for the New Year!

Lois