Where have I been?

I have to apologize for the long dry spell in my blogging. I had to make a trip to the Minor Injury Clinic and am just now able to type and do things with my left hand. I am right handed but you would be amazed at what you can’t do without both hands! I had a disagreement with a new pair of scissors and they won. I bought a pair of Kai shears and good Lord; they are sharp to the very end. I was cutting fabric and Oops….. there goes my left index finger! Don’t get any blood on the fabric! After some debate as to whether to stitch or glue the gapping cut in my finger, the doctor decided I could get away with gluing. I as happy…I mean who wants to have a needle stuck in a laceration so they can numb it up? Glue it was. Took a bit longer for things to mess and heal up but we are there. My finger will be good as new again. Hope you will forgive me and I will try and catch up.
I went to the post office and look there’s a large white envelope in my box! Its fat, its soft, its fabric! Did you ever want to be a fabric designer? Do you dream about millions of yards of fabric with your designs on them? Well my budding designers you can and right now! I found a fabulous website that allows you to design your own fabric and have it printed! Get out those sketches and clean them up. Upload those award winning designs to www.spoonflower.com. And pick your yardage and pattern repeat. It’s that simple. You may want to do a test swatch (8” X 8”) or Fat Quarter first to check on pesky details like color and pattern size before you order your gazillion yards. Monitors are different everywhere and what may look like the perfect shade of purple may end up being a fuchsia. Yes it’s a bit pricey but hey can you put a price tag on your own fabric design? I think not. Okay I uploaded my logo… and aside from some color modifications…it’s just perfect! I was impressed with the fabric they print on, as I truly was expecting it to be shall we say “ a little less than desired”, but it’s really pretty good quality. And hey it is printed in the USA, which makes it so much more appealing to me. I like helping out fellow Americans to get jobs and keep jobs right here. So this can be a win-win all the way around. I know there are some other websites that do the same but Spoonflower has my attention. There is even an editor to do minor changes. While you are there browse some of the fabric designs that others have uploaded. Have a happy fabric day!


Robin

37 years and counting

It seems that the hot weather is here to stay for awhile. What’s a girl to do? SEW! I’ve finished up some older projects that have living in the closet for awhile now. I really am embarrassed to tell you how long they have lived there. Felt really good to get them off the stack. My hubby’s quilt has been on that stack for a long time and I dug it out and it’s ready to quilt. He has been in Emergency Medicine for 37 years this year and still going strong. I made him a small wall hanging with some machine embroidered motifs for his “I LOVE ME” wall. We laugh about his wall. He has pictures and golf balls on every square inch of that room. Not sure where he will hang the quilt but I am sure he will find a place. I had intended on making a lap quilt but he told me when he found out what I was doing that he would rather have the smaller size. I hope to have it quilted in the next 10 days.
Don’t know about you but my husband rarely gets any of the treasure from my quilting adventures. Not sure why that is but he has 1 quilt of flannel and that’s it. Guess it’s hard to think of things that guys would want from our hobby. Maybe we could all think a little harder what things we could make for our better halves. I know that without his support I wouldn’t be able to do this and wouldn’t get have as much enjoyment out of it. SO.. that being said, thank the man in your life for his understanding and support – even if that support comes in the form of silence. Sometimes saying nothing is worth everything. I am off to do more sewing where it’s cool. Fall will be here soon enough and we need all the time we can get to start and finish all those Christmas presents and projects we told ourselves we can get done before Dec 24th.

Happy quilting

Robin

First Quilt...Last Quilt

I think I am the last holdout. I mean for Camille’s blog post asking for us to show our first quilt and then our last quilt. I think go-go boots were in style.. Or maybe it was sooner than that. Not sure LOL. Think it was actually 2002. I hadn’t sewn in decades. I use to make all my own clothes and fell out of love with sewing. I had been through a traumatic time when I lost my parents and my 3 20 year old cats in a span of 2 years. I was desperately looking for a way to keep all the memories intact. My neighbor was a quilter and we talked about a memory quilt and what it would entail. I begged and pleaded with her to make it for me, but her pat answer was “You can make it”. I finally gave in and dug out the old sewing machine. I had to plan, no pattern just a thought. I gathered photos and bought some of that awful iron-on transfer fabric. Printed my animal pictures on it and began. I had no idea what a quilt shop was but Hancock’s was just down the street. I bought 2 fat quarter packs of PLAID HOMESPUNS! What was I thinking. I set out to make a wall hanging. That wall hanging now fits on my queen size bed. It’s still one of my favorite quilts and its place of honor is next to my side of the bed on a quilt rack. After that quilt there was no stopping me. I made 6 more that year. As for my last quilt well that would be Carolina Rose. As the saying goes..We’ve come a long way baby!

Funnel Cakes, Cotton Candy and More..

Our county fair is on right now and I always look forward to attending. I just love the fair. It brings back fond memories of my childhood growing up in Wyoming. Yes I was in 4-H. I showed livestock…lambs to be exact and entered in sewing, canning and cooking. Everyone did. My boxes in the attic have a few ribbons and rewards from my years in 4-H. What a great experience. I wouldn’t have traded those times for anything. This year as in years past I walk the entire fair. I look at every quilt and at every pie, jar of jam, pickles, and cakes. I don’t envy the judges at all. They all look so good! I mosey on down to the livestock barns and look at the entries there. I talk with the kids about their lamb, goat or steer. The bright and shiny faces, proud to show off the ribbons won and what their plans are for next year. The smell as you approach the barns are of hay and straw and yes the not so pleasant but it all mingles together to give that one of a kind memory. My photos are of some of the winners this year. While ribbons weren’t available for the photo as parents have securely tucked them away to the scrapbook at home, the winners themselves show in their velvet eyes the thrill of victory. Support these young people. They are learning valuable lessons for life that will make them outstanding citizens, responsible adults and productive leaders in our communities and our nation.
For us quilt lovers I have included pictures of some of the quilts, and one simply fabulous quilt shop. I apologize for the picture, but the “shop” was behind glass and it was difficult to take clear pictures of it. I think you can see how truly creative and fabulous this little shop is. And poor shot or not, warrants a place on my blog. Last but not least is the carnival. What child doesn’t have fond memories of the carnival? It’s a rite of summer and a rite of passage in our youth. What was your favorite ride? The Tilt-O-Wheel? the Ferris Wheel? or the carousel? Let me know that your favorite was and your favorite memory of the fair.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Happy Birthday America!

Happy 4th to all of you. What is your idea of the perfect 4th of July Holiday? Is it getting the family together and BBQing the usual fair of hotdogs and hamburgers? Going on a camping trip? Going on a picnic? Leave me a comment on what your ideal holiday plans would be or are. I am staying home and my husband is exercising the new BBQ. After realizing yesterday that the aerators weren't working correctly (what the blazes is an aerator?), he went on the hunt for a new BBQ. Much grumbling and Good God! they want how much for this? He came home with the purchase. Of course it's all in a box. All zillion pieces of it. Next..open book...on the 1st inside page is a full size picture of the screwdriver they included..with the caption "Screwdriver". Well the grumbling started again. After 2 hours the small BBQ emerged from the zillion pieces and resembles something like what we could cook on. No parts left over (and that my friends is a really good sign) but... there is a pin with a chain attached that neither of us can figure out what it goes to. Maybe it will be apparent later. We test drove the new BBQ last night and all seems fine. So today we will participate in time honored tradition of hotdogs and hamburgers, potato salad, baked beans, and soft drinks. No beer today as my other half has to work tonight. He is a paramedic and works in Oakland. It will be crazy and busy and probably not a good shift for those trying to protect and serve and alleviate suffering. As for me...the moment he hits the end of the driveway...I am off to the studio to exercise my life, liberty and pursuit of happiness in the fabric closet. Who could ask for a better day?

We went to the Alameda County Fair on the 2nd. Another fun summer activity. I took pictures and will share them with you in my next blog. Until then, have a safe and fun 4th and try not to eat too much.

Robin

Pattern Day

Today is giveaway day! I put your names in my sewing bucket..and drew one out! It’s CAROL! Congrats Carol…you blogged about my giveaway which gave you more entries! Thanks so much. So I will be sending your choice of Rose Parquet and my new pattern Carolina Rose. I can’t wait to see what you do with the patterns. Thanks to all the girls for participating in my giveaway.

I told you in my last blog that I was going to a quilt show “somewhere”. Well that somewhere was Madera, CA. What a really nice day and show. The quilts were beautiful and I had a hard time voting in some of the categories. My friend Barbara and her DH Denny and I left at 8am and got there just as the doors were opening. Gosh where do you start? Do you start with all the gorgeous quilts in the competition or do you hit the vendor mall? As it turned out the way the show was set up we could do both at the same time. Look at quilts…shop..look at quilts…shop. Perfect day. They also had raffles and a silent auction, a Food Court and lots of quilters! It really truly was a perfect day…well except for the 107 degree heat! Thank You air conditioning. We ate lunch after the show at a local restaurant that has been a town staple for many decades. Lots of good home cooked food. Doggy bags are the norm as their portions are HUGE. It was a good evening pawing through my purchases and looking over all the patterns and pictures. What

better day could we have?

Carol, email me your address so I can get your patterns out!

robin@seamsdelightfuldesigns.com

Robin