4 Cakes Are Better Than 1

 This post will be short and sweet as I'm heading out to Quilt Market in Houston tomorrow morning at the crack of dawn.  It's the largest trade show for the  quilting industry.  I'm introducing my Mini Mosaic Quilts patterns and kits.  It's a big deal and I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

In the meantime, the challenge for the Island Batik Ambassadors this month is creative borders and bindings.  

Of course I had to use my Curvalicious to create my border.  It is such a versatile template that makes the most intricate looking borders using fusible applique.

  It looks complicated, but it's very simple.  If you want to see how to create these borders, I made a video that you can find at www.Curvalicious.net.  You will also see many other ways to use Curvalicious.

I cut and stitched the border before attaching it to the quilt.  That made it less cumbersome to stitch.  Then I attach it to the body of the quilt.

This is the quilt before it is quilted- a beauty shot.

I chose to use my walking foot for quilting and I chose a curvy pattern - just like Curvalicious.  

I matched the  thread to the background so it only showed up on the cake and cake stand.

The final quilt is adorable and perfect as a celebration or birthday quilt.  I named it "If 1 cake is good, 4 cakes are better!"

Yum!

I am offering a free pattern for the cake block. I will share a link in my November newsletter.  

To get the free block pattern, sign up for the newsletter, by clicking  HERE.

and

Remember life is short, eat dessert first!

Is It About The Yarn?

When I origianlly thought about writing this blog post, I was planning on writing about how sometimes a respite of simplification can clear your mind to let the creativity flow.  I went up to the lake for 2 days before a crazy travel schedule that includes 2 nights in Virginia, 2 nights at home and then off to Quilt Market.  I left home with my suitcases packed for Market relieving me of that stress.

I was sitting on the dock, surrounded by beautiful autumn leaves with Bailey thinking about nothing.  That's very unusual since if I'm not thinkig about what I am working on now, I am thinking about my next 3 projeccts.  I found this to be so calming.  I could appreciate nature's bounty and my lucky lot in life.  When I clear my mind the peacefulness brings creativity.  It's a good way to break a creative block.  

And then we went to The New York State Sheep & Wool Festival, also known as Rhinebeck Sheep & Wool.

I was surrounded by thousands of knitters including my DIL and her Mom.  The night before the show we crafted our own sheep ear headbands.

They were quite a showstopper and we were stopped many times for photos! Not something that I am used to, but when in Rome!  So you may see me on IG in my sheep ears!

The colors and textures of all the different yarns and wool was mesmerizing.

I was determined not to buy any because most of my knitting projects end up getting finished by a wonderful friend of mine.  I either lose interest or mess up.  And tada! I did not buy any yarn.

So what does a quilter who deosn't knit buy at a Sheep & Wool Festival?

 Leather!  I found these beautiful leather handles that I think will look great with a quilted bag. 

 And they had a scrap bag  of leather strips for handles of all sizes fo $5.00!  I can't wait to make a bunch of wristlets.  I also bought some leather scraps for $3.00.

I loved this card with the border collie.It's a print of a paper cut.  I know someone who will really love this.

I also love all the live animals, perfect for photos - perhaps to make a new Mini Mosaic Quilt?

This llama was mesmerized by our ears!

So what does a quilter buy at Sheep & Wool?

Leather!

I bought these beautiful 30" handles that I have in mind for a quilted bag.

And they had scrap bags for $5.

These leather strips will be perfect for wristlets, lots of wristlets.

And the food - there was any kind of food you could think of.  We ate from this food truck and it was delicious.

Looking at the Festival in broad strokes, we were supporting small independent farmers who are in a business that they love and create beautiful fibers.

Is It About The Yarn?

When I origianlly thought about writing this blog post, I was planning on writing about how sometimes a respite of simplification can clear your mind to let the creativity flow.  I went up to the lake for 2 days before a crazy travel schedule that includes 2 nights in Virginia, 2 nights at home and then off to Quilt Market.  I left home with my suitcases packed for Market relieving me of that stress.

I was sitting on the dock, surrounded by beautiful autumn leaves with Bailey thinking about nothing.  That's very unusual since if I'm not thinkig about what I am working on now, I am thinking about my next 3 projeccts.  I found this to be so calming.  I could appreciate nature's bounty and my lucky lot in life.  When I clear my mind the peacefulness brings creativity.  It's a good way to break a creative block.  

And then we went to The New York State Sheep & Wool Festival, also known as Rhinebeck Sheep & Wool.

I was surrounded by thousands of knitters including my DIL and her Mom.  The night before the show we crafted our own sheep ear headbands.

They were quite a showstopper and we were stopped many times for photos! Not something that I am used to, but when in Rome!  So you may see me on IG in my sheep ears!

The colors and textures of all the different yarns and wool was mesmerizing.

I was determined not to buy any because most of my knitting projects end up getting finished by a wonderful friend of mine.  I either lose interest or mess up.  And tada! I did not buy any yarn.

So what does a quilter who deosn't knit buy at a Sheep & Wool Festival?

 Leather!  I found these beautiful leather handles that I think will look great with a quilted bag. 

 And they had a scrap bag  of leather strips for handles of all sizes fo $5.00!  I can't wait to make a bunch of wristlets.  I also bought some leather scraps for $3.00.

I loved this card with the border collie.It's a print of a paper cut.  I know someone who will really love this.

I also love all the live animals, perfect for photos - perhaps to make a new Mini Mosaic Quilt?

This llama was mesmerized by our ears!

So what does a quilter buy at Sheep & Wool?

Leather!

I bought these beautiful 30" handles that I have in mind for a quilted bag.

And they had scrap bags for $5.

These leather strips will be perfect for wristlets, lots of wristlets.

And the food - there was any kind of food you could think of.  We ate from this food truck and it was delicious.

Looking at the Festival in broad strokes, we were supporting small independent farmers who are in a business that they love and create beautiful fibers.

Road Trip!

Road Trip!

This post isn't about an actual road trip, it's about one of my most recent Mini Mosaic Quilts, that I've named Road Trip!

I thought Road Trip! would be a good name for this VW van.  

I'm sharing this quilt because I made it 4 times.  Why have I made it 4 times? 

I made it 4 times with different colorations.  My weakness in the creation of quilt of all different types and sizes is contrast.  It's my achilles heal.  

I must have trashed  my first attempt, because I can't find it.

So I tried it again, because I just loved the design:

I actually quilted and bound my 3rd attempt:

On my 4th attempt, I wanted to contrast the road with the sky, but it was too much ccontrast.

And a beige "street", did the trick.

The variety of fabrics used for each color make it very important to make sure there is sufficient contrast between the subject of the mini quilt and the background.  Sometimes it is more of a challenge and Road Trip! was a big challenge.  Contrast!

This past weekend, I needed my own road trip to take a break from preparing for Quilt Market. Shopping therapy is always therapuetic.  I love seeing what's new at Home Goods.  It's a great store for home decorating/quilt ideas.  I especially love their $.99 shopping bags at the register.  And lookie what I found!

Look familiar?  So cute and adorable, and no contrast issue!