Stitchin' Time

The most difficult thing about pattern  making for me is getting a good photo of my quilt for the pattern cover. Seriously, it is a pain! I have spent the evening uploading photos and nothing is coming together for me. DPI? What the heck is that? I have Photoshop, an inexpensive version, and I am constantly struggling with how to use it. This is definitely not my area of expertise. Give me a pile of scraps and watch me go! I can even write pattern directions! I just have a big problem when it comes to the covers. I would love to have someone else take over the production of the pattern covers. OK, enough whining.

 This one actually came out pretty good. I just got  it back from the printers and feel good about it. I still have to put it on my website, but for those of you who were interested in this pattern, it is now ready!

Here is what became of all the stars in the previous post.I made this one big enough for a queen size bed so I can sleep with it someday! The fabric line is Civil War Chronicles, from Marcus Fabrics. I LOVE the line! And Pati at Marcus Fabrics very generously sent it to me to play with. I loved making all those stars. They were so much fun! And I really think the sawtooth border gives it a great finish. I love pieced borders! I also love RED. Can you tell? I am naming this one Celebration Stars to honor Marcus Brothers Fabrics as they celebrate their 100th birthday!!! I for one am really glad they are still here to keep providing us with great fabric! And it just keeps getting better and better!

A New Twist

Call this a new twist, if you will, on the ever popular "klosjes" that are spooling around blogland. I have had pinwheels on the brain and they seem compatible, don't you think? 

Also, newly hung on my wall is my ancestor quilt that I showed previously here  and here. I got it back from Rosie, my quilter, and it looks terrific. You really cannot see her efforts in the photo, as she straight-line stitched around each block, and then added feathers in the squares and borders. It all complements my quilt beautifully. I love this little quilt for many reasons. The simplicity of the blocks, the family names and the sentimental stitching around the border. It all makes me happy!

P.S. The Ancestor Quilt was designed by Leslie Ison and Norma Whaley of Salt Lake City, Utah. I bought the pattern at The Corn Wagon quilt shop, 801- 491-3551.

SPOOLISH PLEASURES

Just a little quickie on my spool quilt, or klosjes, as they call them in the Netherlands. Apparently this spool addiction has spread far and wide. See Valentina's blog for some beautiful pictures and also how to pronounce klosjes.
I decided to forgo a pieced border and instead I added a plain border of what I call army green. It is a Jo Morton fabric and looks as old as the hills, which is why I love it. It gives the quilt a very old look I think. That little brown plaid spool that Karen made just kind of pops out! Karen made me a dozen little spools, and she has set-in seams in hers, so they all show this little square in the center. I mixed them in with mine and Joan's, which were made in a much simpler manner. I didn't want to give them back to her, they were too cute!

Speaking of Karen, I have threatened to send her racing goggles to wear as she races through her sewing projects. I have this image of her in my head with a racing helmet strapped to her chin and a maniacal look on her face as she grips her machine and puts her foot to the pedal. Check out her blog and see her Inca Gold quilt that she has already completed and quilted! What a woman!

FOOLS FOR SPOOLS

 

 I have been having fun making these little spools this week. Joan from Keeping You in Stitches, got me started. She was looking for people to trade spools with, so I joined in. We traded 25 spools with each other. Then I asked Karen from Sew Primitive if she wanted to trade some spools also. She and I traded another 12 spools.  In the end I laid them all out and this is what I got! I will be adding another border, but don't know exactly what yet. The blocks finish at 4-1/2". So far the top measures about 38" square.

 

Also, I have been doing a little cross stitching in the evenings. This is a darling one from Blackbird Designs. You may know that they have a blog and show a lot of their stitcheries there. Also they have free patterns occasionally. I have made a couple of those as well.  Don't we all just love to keep our hands busy!