New Beginnings

It's time to finally get back to my blog. Have you missed me? It's amazing how times flies. It seems like it hasn't been that long when in reality it's been forever. I will try to be better and do at least two posts a month.

Probably two years ago now (or is it longer?), my niece, Keezia, married a wonderful man, Grant Bostwick. They have been living in Australia for the past couple of years. I was finally able to meet Grant and give them the quilt I made for their wedding this past June in Maui, Hawaii. We were all there for another wedding. Her oldest sister, EJ, married another wonderful man, Scott Vick, in one of the most beautiful destination weddings I've ever attended. I missed Keezia and Grant's but by all accounts it was fabulous as well. Their wedding was in Mexico deep in a jungle retreat.

I have to say Keezia and Grant's reaction to their quilt was not only heart warming, it was one of the best compliments a quilter can receive. They said the colors were perfect for their room. Then Keezia said "I know I told you what I wanted, but this is exactly what I wanted and I didn't even know it!" I had been second guessing myself and was not at all sure they were even going to like the quilt!

Keezia and Grant with wedding quilt.

Here is a picture from my other niece's wedding in Maui. The setting couldn't have been more beautiful, nor could my niece. I chose this picture because it is one they will not likely forget. The minister was quite eloquent throughout the ceremony until it came time to introduce the couple. He introduced them as EJ and Vicky...the wedding party consisting of both of their children, two adult girls and two boys the youngest of which is still in High School, roared with laughter. After that he had a bit of trouble regaining his composure.I think light moments like this should be built into every serious ceremony!

Mr. and Mrs.Scott Vick

 Before the wedding I asked EJ what kind of a quilt she would want. Knowing that we are serious Packers fans, she was afraid I might be upset with her, which, of course, I could never be. She wanted to know if I would mind making her a Seahawks quilt. They entertain friends for the Seahawks games at their home all season long when they aren't attending a game in person and they wanted something to show their pride in their team. Below is what I created. At my husband's behest I did quilt a small "jewel" in the quilt that they have yet to notice. My husband can't wait to give them a call during the first Packers/Seahawks game this fall to make sure they find it.

Here are a few pictures of the process I used to make this quilt. The seahawk is appliqued and thread painted. I then cut it from the original piece and appliqued it to a permanent background adding more thread painting and quilting. 

The bottom section is painted, then quilted. 

Sketch and painting

Background chosen

You might be able to make out my little "jewel" if you look close at this view of the quilt!

I hope EJ sees this and thinks of her Grandma George. This is just the type of playful addition to a quilt she would have loved!

Alison Glass Feathers QAL & S. Caribbean Cruise

I got a really slow start to this quilt-along (QAL). Most of the participants are finished and have their tops quilted! I didn't pay close attention to the pattern probably because I lost it misplaced it for a while. Once I found it, I thought the 2" strip bundles I purchased for the fabric would work fine. The first two sets of blocks went together fine. I quickly realize d, however, many of the others needs larger strips. I could have sewn together strips but I didn't want that look.

I sent for some fat quarters to make up the larger pieces. Hopefully now I have enough. I may sew on this at our sew day this month for the VBMQG because the other finishes I need to complete wouldn't be as easy there. Anyway, this is all I've sewn since we got back from our cruise. 

Speaking of our cruise, we had a wonderful time! We went to Aruba, Granada, Barbados, Bonaire, Antigua and Labadee. We had a fabulous snorkeling excursion in Antigua! I would do that again in a minute! Here are some of our pictures:

Here is our ship, Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas.

Here's my hubby, Rick, getting ready to crawl into a slave hut that slept 4 men to see how big it really is. He's thin but 6'2". When he laid down, he touched head to toe!

Here are salt piles ready to ship out all over the world. Bonaire claims to have the purest salt in the world which they say is highly coveted. In front are the salt flats...it's salt water with rocks piled up to contain it until it dries and the salt is all that's left. Some of them are purple, which means they are closer to being dried and ready to use.

Here we are (in the middle) with our fabulous dinner mates, on the left are Roger and Dobie from Tucson, AZ. On the right, Aileen and Graeme from Glasgow, Scotland. We had some great times with both couples and hope to stay in touch for future cruise get togethers and maybe a visit to Scotland one day. Who knows!

This is a beach in Granada one of Rick's student's mom recommended. She was raised in Granada. We loved it. The water taxi we took to get there was lovely as well.

Here is Rick in Mangrove tree roots on our walk back to the ship from Reflections Beach in Aruba.

OMG...it's a bat with Rick's sunglasses...

On the right is the Excellence Catamaran. I highly recommend this excursion although it might be wise to avoid the rum punch...ask Rick. That's all I'll say about that! :) The people on board were from the Seaborne luxury line which was already docked once we arrived. They are waiting patiently for us to dock so we can come aboard.

Here is the lovely cove we docked in to snorkel. What a lovely spot this was. There were lots of beautiful fish and a lovely reef. Then we had a nice lunch with all kinds of drinks flowing merrily.

And here is us in front of the cat. Notice the lovely stairs that come down (to the right) to let you on and off. They are right in the center of the front of the cat. This was one of the best excursions we have taken on any cruise so far. The people were all so friendly, the guides were great, the food and booze plentiful and good. It was a blast! This, my friends, is what it's all about! 

Sue Nickels Class at the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Show 2014

Last week the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Show was at the Hampton Coliseum.I took a class from 9 a, - 4 pm with Sue Nickels. We used Bernina 750s which were nice. I liked the  machine because so many of the features from my Pfaff Creative 4.0 were on it. I forgot my pillow and at 5' 2.75" I can never reach far. The machine is very tall and the reach was awful. I would have liked it inside a table with an adjustable chair but it's my own fault I forgot a pillow to boost me up! I always seem to do that. It's a thing...

Sue did a demo for us every 20 minutes or so. She never talked much more than 5 minutes at a time so we had plenty of time to stitch. Even then, she had more than we could complete. I like that she plans her classes to keep everyone busy the entire time no matter how fast they go. 

I have never taken a class with Sue before. I thoroughly enjoyed it. She was funny, caring, always able to answer any questions and had many tips and tricks that I had either never heard or that dispelled some I had heard over the years. He technique for starts and stops will help my immensely! I usually have that one or two stitches that just seem to jump all over the place...no longer! She helped me tame that beast.

I will appologize right now for the color on these samples. For some reason my editing program and I cannot seem to get ont he same page and they are all over the place. Suffice it to say that all of these were stitched on a natural colored muslin. Use your imagination!

Sample #1 is one of my favorites. I have not yet filled in all the inner spaces but I love how nicely the echo quilting went and how rounded my feathers are for my first try, Sue's way. It really helps having a path for your stitching. I have never been able to quite figure out where to go next with feathers and often back track too much which causes thread build up.

#2 was fun but I have to work on the tiny stipple on the insides a bit. I had such a hard time seeing the thread with tone on tone, I may have to practice with more contrast for a bit first!

I love how #3 came out. It has a trickier path but now I can at least see where to go. I'll have to add some interior stitching and some echoing on the outside.

This last one, #4, is my favorite. Don't mind the darker lines on the interior grids. That will disappear. It was my first time using the Roxanne Silver Pencil to mark and I was a little  heavy handed! I love the nice curve of these feathers and how the extra stitching makes them stand out. I think I will put these samples into a small wall hanging in the near future. I love feathers. Wouldn't a small sampler be nice?

Okay...I said I'd try a collage. Not sure this is the one I like yet but here are a few of things I have completed in the past year. I really don't think this is all but a good sampling...enjoy!

I'll post again after I come back from my 11 day cruise on The Legend of the Seas with Royal Caribbean to the the Southern Caribbean. Aruba here we come...first thing tomorrow morning...I'll being back some sunshine and waves!

Finished More 12 x 12s!

As always I am incredibly behind. For the past two years my friends and I, the Quilt Sluts or if you prefer the more watered down version, Quilt Workers, have been working on a quilt challenge. We were inspired by the quilts from the book, Twelve by Twelve: The International Art Quilt Challenge by Brenda Gael Smith 

We decided to keep our theme "colors." In the past two years hopefully 12 of us have completed 9 different 12 x 12 art quilts with various color themes. I am still 3 behind but I will have them completed by our retreat in March. I have to push myself to make deadlines sometimes but usually manage to get things completed on time. In all fairness I do have a full time job at the library as well. We won't talk about the "Sluts" who are over-achievers in our group. They don't count since their mad skills put them in another class altogether, far beyond my scope! (You know who you are Shelley, Mary, Lori). So far most of the Sluts are debating over my color choices but that's okay, too. I choose to take creative licence over my creations. So...below is my 

GREY

And here is my 

RED

I need to block all of them I think to straighten them up nicely but all in all, I'm pretty satisfied. My original plan was to make them all one theme so they would make a more unified hanging in my room once we were done. That didn't happen. I tried doors and things to do with doors for my first two. Then things just didn't work out the way I planned and I jumped all over the place from there. Tonight I will try to post again with all of my 12 x 12s to date in a collage. 

Until then, quilt your hearts out! I have to head back to work after two snow days. Let's hope I make it to work in one piece. It not I guess I'll have to call my quilty friends to stitch me back together!

Sewing Up a Storm for Christmas!

I have been sewing everyday lately, which is something for me. To date I have made four green grocery bags from Sew Serendipity Bags by Kay Whitt. I gave one away at our Quiltworkers Christmas Social to my secret pal, Amy Walko. 

 Today I cut two more. I love the owls but I really like the way the flowers look as well. I need to make me one sometime but for now, I have more to make for Christmas!

This afternoon I finished one more gift...the Tardis zippered wristlet. These are still secrets so I'm not saying who any of these are for. 

Here's the back.

And the inside. The pocket should fit a smart phone or a passport.

And I finished one more divided basket, pattern by Noodlehead. I gave one away to my secret pal at the VBMQG Christmas meeting. I have three more made so that makes four. Here's the front with the pockets. 

This one might be my favorite so far. This is the back side.

And here's the inside lining and divider.

Here's the tote my secret pal, who I now know was Liz Berry, made me for our Christmas Social this Saturday. I really like the bright colors and dark background. If I turn it inside out it's reversible. It's black inside with a row of large pockets.  Thanks so much, Liz!

After the social Saturday, I came home and made seven of these lanyards for friends for Christmas. These were a very easy thing to make. I hope my friends will enjoy them. Again...not saying who they are because I haven't given them away yet!

What are you making for Christmas? Please leave a comment and share what you've been sewing! There isn't a lot of time left but I plan to make a few more. How about you?

Homemade Christmas at the Jebavys

I have been really horrid about posting to my blog but on the other hand, I have been busily working away at my Christmas list. Here are pictures of a few of the things I've made. Somehow I missed getting a photo of the yellow and gray divided basket I made for my secret pal at the VBMQG. I guess you won't get to see that one. 

These are a few of the green grocery bags I've been making from the book Sew Serendipity BAGS by Kay Whitt. My friend and fellow blogger, Mary http://fairlymerry.blogspot.com/, suggested I make the straps longer. I like them much better since I did. 

As you can see above the pouch holds the bag with a strap you can hang by your keys so you won't forget your bag when you run out!

This is my second bag. I guess I need to throw in a picture of my first bag so you can see how short the handles are in the pattern.

The flowered bag is my fourth or fifth bag now and so far my favorite! I put the bird on the back so the pouch didn't hide it.

Then I found a Lego man I though my hubby who is a Lego fanatic would enjoy. I still have to make this into a pillow for him but it's just a matter of time and keeping him out of the house long enough to work on it!

Finally, here's what I worked on today for hours! A Tardis zippered pouch. I am loving this but it's been sort of a bugger to do. I have to wait for some hardware to finish it which is just as well. I needed a break. It's really forced me to think things through. I'm loving the result so far. I just hope the recipient will like it as much as I do.

Here's a peek at the lining and inside pocket which should fit an iPhone or a passport! The color is a darker, richer blue on the outside with the inside being a black and white. I'll try to get the color better on the finished picture. Some days my camera just doesn't want to cooperate! Sorry!

What are you making this Christmas? Please leave a comment and tell me what you've got going. In the new year my goal is to make this blog a little better visually and learn how to make a collage so I can put multiple pictures like these side by side in a box. For now, what you see is what you get!