THE MYSTERY OF LIGHT

The upper photo is of a recently completed piece, focusing in on the quilting. I happened to drop it as I crossed the room and TA DA! A mystery of light before my very eyes.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

CHRISTMAS COMFORTS

Wishing you all the comforts of home this season.

A PREDICTION

Yes, I do sometimes give the sewing machine a rest. I am an avid reader and I predict this book will be the next "The Help". In other words a block buster book,turned into a movie. I know this because I have already done the casting in my head. Clint Eastwood will direct of course. So what's it about and what does this have to do with quilting?? It is about love, loss ,fear, hope. Are you listening Hollywood? It is also about the language of flowers. Little did I know this language was so detailed and complex. In the book there is a detailed guide. Did you know for instance, that baby's breath means everlasting love? I thought it was a cheap pretty fill flower. There are lots of messages sent in the book via flowers so why not in our quilts. I'm telling you it gives a whole new use for floral fabric of which I have NONE. From now on every quilt will have a piece of pansy fabric which means....think of me.

PROJECT IN PARTS

The whole to be reveled soon. 

PRACTICE MAKES BETTER

Runners warm up before the big race. As FMQ's ,we should warm up also. It limbers up the hands and the mind to get into the groove. Don't forget your warm up music! (anything classical for me).

OH BOY,OH BOY, OH BOY!

This was my response to the email from Insights from SewCalGal asking me to participate AS AN EXPERT in her FMQ challenge.
Triple the volume when I discovered "my month" is JANUARY!!!! I am still shaking in my boots, after all most of the well known in FMQ will participate. I can just hear them and some of you saying "Frances? Frances who? Check out her blog SewCalGal and join in the fun. Not to worry. I'm ready for my close up Mr. DeMille!.

BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE SPECIAL EFFECTS

It is not always clear what the intent is but I wanted to create depth. Starting out small and increasing the space between quilting is what I did. I think it could be interesting on the right project. ( another way of saying what the heck would you do with that?).

SPECIAL EFFECTS QUILTING

This is a fast paper pieced project that was really fun. My goal was to see if I could make the moon glow. It starts with a very white moon and then very white thread. It is important to keep the stitching perpendicular to the moon and the rays different lengths. Silver thread(rayon) could also work. What do you think?

A LITTLE APPLIQUE NEVER HURTS

I am trying to encourage my students to hand applique. It is frequently associated with tiny pieces that take years to complete. Not always so. This project is a simple shape, and goes quickly. You can make them small if you like. This is a 6 1/2 inch segment. Very portable. I love the simplicity. Hopefully they will too.

FREE MOTION QUILTING

Every year at my retreat the Two Wacky Women (Marilyn and Robin) create a bag for each participant. These aren't just any old bags. Many hours of thought and preparation go into this project. Just ask about the bag stories. I also usually give a gift relating to machine quilting and this year I think it will be a pincushion. Each unique with hand dyed fabric and a different stitch. I fill my pincushions with walnut shells and wool roving.One could be yours if you join us in March. Space is limited, so check out the link to www.twowackywomen.com.

TAKING ACTION

I read Lesley Riley's Blog re success frequently. She says when you find yourself in a slump, just don't sit there, take some type of action. I really need to decide on 2 projects for class and of course make those samples and I am also dragging my feet on quilting a project for a client.....who is paying me. Yet I procrastinate. So I started working on this project I am calling INTERCONNECTED. I loved piecing those little insertions and creating 3 1/2 in blocks. The quilting was going to be concentric circles but became large spirals instead. I love it. And I am going to look at it while I work on my clients quilt today.

LOOKING FORWARD

We have dates for next years retreat! Click on the link to the Wacky Women to get all the info, but if you are serious about starting to machine quilt or improving your free motion machine skills in a tension free zone, mark your calendar for March 23,24,25 2012. My method is no marking ( although it is covered in lecture format), demonstrates techniques without gloves or hoops. My goal is to get quilters comfortable using a domestic machine without a frame so that if you get the urge to quilt at 2:00 am you can just do it!

A REALLY BIG SHOE

Does any one remember the Ed Sullivan Show? No one could or has since pronounced show like shoe. It was always a challenge to hear someone imitate him. Anyway I have just returned from my annual Houston trip and pictured are just a few of my purchases. I could not get all the fabric in one shot. The quilts are of course amazing as always. I am again inspired to CREATE, CREATE, CREATE! If you have never gone, do yourself a favor and put it on your bucket list. Some complain that it is more a venue for art quilts, but there are plenty of traditional ones as well. Thanks for reading my blog.

OFF TO EMERALD CITY

Well, not exactly. I'm off to Houston in the early am, so I probably won't post tomorrow or again until I return next week with a bag(s) of treats and hopefully some new tricks ( I mean techniques). The Wizard of Oz was my favorite movie as a child and it was always shown in the fall. The leaves were turning and we were anticipating collecting all of that candy, attending parties and bobbing for apples. Those were good times. Happy Halloween my little pretties!

CONTEST

I decided to enter the weekly Halloween contest over at Quilting gallery. Vote for me!!!!

Quilting Gallery.com Go to weekly contests Vote. Thanks!!

GREAT HALLOWEEN QUILTS CONT.

Another " borrowed" shot of great imagination for the Halloween theme. I believe those are drunkards path blocks in the background. Again no info on the quilter. Wonderful piece.

FALL NIGHT

Still one of my favorite quilts, now in a private collection. The background is a hand dyed linen. Oh what memories.

THE LAST TO LEAVE

There comes a time when the last leaf is just hanging by a tiny tendril. A sure sign...fall is on it's way out.

READING IN BED

I love to read in bed, and I bet "others" do also. I would also have a snack . The title of this best seller( since I assume you can't read upside down) is LOVE AT FIRST BITE by A. Batt. I think a little moon light is needed and of course much machine quilting.

GREAT HALLOWEEN QUILT

I saw this on the web this am. There was no information except it was shown at PIQF last week. Isn't it great?

MARTHA MADE ME DO IT

I saw the how to make these bat wings as a costume for Fido on Martha's web page. What an outrage ! Every bat girl knows you have to earn those wings. You can't just attach them and fly off into the night. My girl is prepared for the weather with her wool sweater and just enough glamour wearing a silk skirt for that special night. No pattern available. She's one of a kind.

BUTTON KEEPER

He is as cute as a button. He may move around in my sewing room (after all a different view can change our attitude), but he is always there to keep me company. He is a really good listener. And by the way, fall is his favorite time of year.

ALL THINGS FALL CONTINUED

Sorry...I got side tracked by a quilt project (more later), so my month of fall postings was interrupted. I'm back with Casper's cousin and his buddies. This is a Wed. class project and I think he will be donated to the guild auction this month at our show. Every home needs a ghost or is it every ghost needs a home?

A LITTLE MAGIC

October requires a different kinda shoe for the" special night". A little ruby dust goes a long way.