Two Places at Once

Yes, it can be done--with a little help from my friends.  Last weekend it was shows in Los Banos and Sonora.  The ever-enthusiastic group in Los Banos found me booth coverage from Jeanette Lopes, longarm quilter supreme.  The members unloaded and loaded my goods and helped sell to each other.  Gotta love them.   This small but mighty group is producing a lovely show every year.  Fun for me to see fabrics I sold them last year in quilts this year.  My favorite, though many to chose from, is by Darla Fagundes.  She used a lot of fabric from my stock and chose contrast fabrics with some great advice from Judy West.

Florentine 3

Gorgeous golden fabric from Robert Kaufman designer Peggy Toole.  Three colorways to mix and match--neutral Pewter,  radiant Jewel, and rich Earth.  The yardage is listed and fat quarter bundles will be ready soon.  Now, what to make...something old or something new.  I am madly working on the Fall RoseCard releases, and these fabrics would make a glittering cover.

Nearly PERFECT MOMENT

I love to cut my complete lines of fabric into Sample Slices 5"x 9 1/2".  Rectangles are such a great shape and this size shows off so much more of the fabric than 5" charm squares. 

Amy Butler's Soul Blossoms is 33 pieces.  I figured that 2 sets should be good for one of the Slice and Spacer patterns--PRISTINE or PERFECT MOMENT--11 slices wide by 6 tall.  I liked the light spacers of PRISTINE with Amy's Midwest Modern, so I grabbed a light fabric.  Heather Bailey's Nicey Jane print was perfect.  I didn't want it to be too dominant or make the quilt too wide, so I cut the spacers down to 1 1/2".  The quilt needed to be longer, so I added the 2 1/2" row spacers of PERFECT MOMENT.  I loved a green stripe from Nicey Jane, so I blasted away and added it to half of the rows.  WRONG! [interject buzzer here].  Found a good show, and ripped it off.  Went back with the more of the light.  The airiness and modern look is what I was after--whew.  I really better get a design wall up.


The darker row sashing would probably have been fine if the spacers were also darker, as it all is on the cover of PERFECT MOMENT.

This may be a new card someday--it would work well with a Layer Cake.

Meanwhile, here are the specs for this one.  Fabric for the Spacers and Row Sashing--1 1/2 yd.  Cut the Spacers 1 1/2" wide.  To offset the blocks, cut 2 3/4" off the right end of the odd rows, 2 3/4" off the left end of the even rows.  Sashing is cut 2 1/2" just like the pattern.  The top finishes 58"x 63".

New Tribute Star

I am busy working on the next 10 RoseCards for Fall Market release.  One design is a larger version of SILVER STAR--the throw size we have been making for years with 8 Fat Quarters.

Naturally, I had to try it with the Tribute line from Pat Sloan.  It will make a perfect quilt for donating to your favorite Armed Forces group.  We have used it many times over for young people's gifts as well--great in any theme prints or colors...and flannel, too.

The kit is listed in the Quilts of Valor--pricing based on $6/yd.  A draft of the pattern will be included, as well.  It finishes 56"x 70", using 8 fat quarters, 1 1/4 yd background, 3/4 yd border, and 5/8 yd binding.

While working, I listen to a lot of NPR and books on tape.  Today there was in interview with a publisher of Smith Magazine.  They feature "Six Word Memoirs", soliciting contributions through their website.  Labor Day, today, ended a contest with Work themed phrases.  My favorite--"What Matters is What We Do".

Shop Hop on the Side

Can't visit the kids without a stop at a local shop.  Glad I caught this one--Millie P's on Main Street in Anoka MN.  What a great vibrant shop--loads of bright fabric, samples, ideas.  My photos here don't begin to do it justice.  Check them out online, and better yet--if you are in the neighborhood like me....

Minnesota via Texas

So we don't travel in a straight line.  And when you fly Southwest, it is even less so.  But we had to see Leann's play in Austin.  Then way overdue for a trip to see the grandkids, we flew up to Minneapolis to spend the week with Evan's family before school starts.  Leann is a wonderful as ever to watch, and the kids are cute and clever.  Sigh--a much needed group of hugs.