WHAT AN EXCITING WEEKEND

What a show we had.  There were 17 entrants in the fashion show and each outfit was more beautiful than the next.  Here I am in my outfit that I made out of recycled denim.  The cap was also appliqued with beads added.  The rim was embroidered.  The cape has a collar that I did some crazy quilting on and is bound in green velvet.

The show itself was amazing.  There were so many quilts it took up the entire gymnasium at the school where the show took place.  What was even more amazing is that one of my quilts was given a ribbon for 3rd place.  I didn't even know until I walked by my quilt and saw a ribbon pinned to it.  There were so many beautiful quilts I don't know how the judges were able to decide.  The art quilts were amazing and so were the quilts involved in the paint chip challenge.

But my favorite part of all was the antique quilt and machine showroom.  I actually got to use the crank sewing machine and fell in love with it.  Now I am on the hunt for one.  Wow.......what a weekend.  This show has inspired me so much that I can't wait for the local one where I am also a guild member.

TWO QUILT SHOWS ON THE SAME WEEKEND

It is hard for me to imagine having one quilt in a show but having three in two different shows, well.....that is really something for me. The show in Providence Rhode Island is a national show and is suppose to be a big one but the one in Albany is going to keep me from getting to Rhode Island. Next year I will make sure I get to go.

The outfit I am making for the Albany fashion show is coming along although I have ripped it apart several times. At this point I am not even sure what it is going to look like. Be sure to check back because I will be posting pictures.

CRAZY QUILTING MAKES ME CRAZY!!!!!

Yeah, well some would say I was crazy long before now. I have been spending lots of time in the studio working on the outfit that I am putting in the fashion show. Boy is the time going by quickly but I always work best under pressure. There is still lots to do getting the ideas from my head to the sewing machine. Maybe I should enter a contest with myself to make me finish projects sooner.

I sent one of my quilts off to Providence Rhode Island where they are going to have a national quilt show in April. I want to go but I can't because the fashion show is during the same weekend. I am excited about all of it but the pressure is on and boy and I feeling it. Jay is really proud of me and his support really spurs me on.

I love it!

EXCITING TIMES IN THE STUDIO

It is the middle of March and there has been so much happening in the studio. The weather has been up and down...sunny one minute and snowing the next. I am happy to say that one of my quilts has been accepted in a national quilt show and I am so excited. In April, one of my creations will be will be in a fashion show. Stay tuned as more will be coming.

MY FIRST QUILT DONE ON THE LONGARM

I have been busy in the studio working on all sorts of things. And I am happy to say that I finished quilting my first quilt done on the long arm. It is for my grand niece Anaya. I hope she likes it. The machine is great but it is like learning to machine quilt all over again. I had a time with the tension on the machine but I know that this is part of the learning curve. The only thing to do to get it right is just to practice practice practice which is what I plan to do.

The next couple of months are going to be busy in the studio. I am working on some wearable art that I am going to submit and I am waiting to see if one of my quilts was accepted in one of the national shows. It hasn't been rejected yet so I am still hopeful.

I will keep you posted.

OH HAPPY DAY!!!

I am giddy...yes I am. BECAUSE.......I am putting a real quilt on my machine this afternoon. Not a practice one, a real one for my grand niece who is a year old. I actually made the top when she was about three months old.

Then I do the one for my granddaughter. And then the one for my husband. How wonderful.

I am so happy when I am in the studio. I haven't had a great deal of time to write on my blog. But once the holidays are over I am going to create my way through my library just like I promised a few months ago. I am rededicating myself to my art. And my resolution will be to post more pictures so that others can see the progress.

IN THREE DAYS TIME A COUPLE OF HOURS GREW!

I almost seriously injured myself three days ago. All I wanted to do was extend the frame to my long arm. I looked at the long arm when it was only crib size and thought...."It won't be hard to extend this baby". I mean, I was thinking that it would be just a couple of hours before I would be good to go. Yeah, well......

On the first day I evaluated all that I would need to extend her....ahh yes, I put the tools that came with it in this drawer....yup there they are! Where the hey did I put the pipe extenders,...ohh yes, right here. This is beginning to look good. I need to pull the pipes from under the long table and line them all up and I am ready to go.

Have you ever seen a forty pound sewing machine come at your face while you are on your knees holding up the back leg of the table while the front one is collapsing? No?...well let me tell you it is a very scary feeling. See, I thought that I would be able to extend the table without taking the machine off. All I had to do was just unscrew a couple of screws and then swap out the front leg that slanted for the one that is straight. I was there for 10 minutes trying to hold the entire rig together while calling (ok, I was screaming) out my husbands name. The dog who is a puppy ran for his life down the stairs whining the entire time. Finally I realized that I had to make a decision and fast. I managed to put the sewing machine, now cradled in my arm, and place it on the trunk nearby. I got the frame stable and I ran down the stairs to find Jay. He came running while the entire time chastising me for not waiting to ask him for his assistance and helped me stablize the entire thing. You bet there were hugs and kisses!

Day two was trying only because the holes didn't want to line up. OK, so I put the end together backwards. Who knew?!!!! I was so tired but determined to get to a certain stage before I left the studio for the night. I need a drink!!!

Finally day three helped me see the light at the end of the tunnel. When I left the studio that night I had the entire thing up and balanced. I must admit that it is truly a thing of beauty and I love her.

But if you think for one minute that I would do it again?.......I would but next time I will take the darn sewing machine off the frame.