Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Twin Quilts


I took my Lucy girl (a long-haired Doxie) to her groomer a couple of weeks ago and heard the good news.  Lucy's groomer's daughter is expecting twins -- a boy and a girl!  What fun! I just had to jump in and make a couple of quilts, of course.  A dog for the boy (appropriate for a dog groomer, right?)  And a cat for the girl.









The expectant parents have already named the babies, Carson and Zoe.  I was going to put their names on the quilts, but decided against it in case they changed their minds about the names. 

I think the quilts turned out pretty cute and will give them to the expectant grandmother at Lucy's next appointment. 













Friday, March 25, 2016

Winner!

CONNIE

is the winner of the 
Quilt Qwazy Queens' giveaway!  

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

I know you will enjoy your 
18"x24" Calibre Arts Self-Healing Cutting Mat


(Please note:  You may need to pay shipping and handling for your mat as it is being shipped through Amazon.)

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Quilt Qwazy Queens


stbs-Quilt Qwazy Queens BH-2


In honor of Worldwide Quilting Day, Marian of Seams to be Sew coordinated the Quilt Qwazy Queens Blog Hop for all of us to share our stories of how we got started quilting. Thank you, Marian, for all your hard work putting this Blog Hop together!

I was delighted when Marian invited me to participate.  I find it fascinating to learn what makes a quilter.  As it happens, I fell in love with quilting by accident.

In the summer of 1990, my friend Rita and I were sitting in my kitchen drinking coffee one morning talking about afghans and quilts.  I made the comment, "I don't understand why anyone would make a quilt when you can just go buy a blanket."

"You're looking at it wrong," she said.  "You make a quilt one block at a time.  It's not just a blanket, it's art."

She got me to thinking.  As an artist I dabbled in all kinds of mediums, but had never given much thought to creating with fabric and thread.  Rita challenged me to try my hand at quilting and I accepted the dare.  I thought it might be fun, as well as practical, to make a couple of quilts and have them to cover up with during cold, winter nights.  But that's not what happened. 

Determined to learn how to make a quilt, I bought the basic tools, borrowed my mom's sewing machine, and checked out dozens of library books on the subject.  My first quilt was a simple Trip Around the World.  It was wall-hanging size and so full of mistakes, I decided I could do better and made another.  My second quilt featured alternating 9-patch and Churn Dash blocks.  I was so proud of this quilt, I made a Maple Leaf quilt and gave it to my mother, a professional seamstress. 

It wasn't long before I began designing my own patterns.  Soon I was seeing the possibility of quilt designs everywhere and began devoting every spare minute I had to quilting, even to the point of waking up early just so I could sew a little before beginning my busy day of being a working wife and mother.

I was hooked.

I made quilts for all occasions.  I was even commissioned by our local library to commemorate The River Theater, one of the oldest theaters in town, that had been bought by Buck Owens and converted into a sound studio.  I gave away most of the quilts I made.  Even now I give away most of my creations.







In 1999 my house burned down.  I had to start all over again to build up my fabric stash and quilting tools.

In 2003 my web site Quilt du Jour (Quilt of the Day) was born where I sold the patterns I created.  I met so many wonderful quilters all over the world -- Canada, Italy, Brazil, Australia, just to name a few.  Quilters really are worldwide!  Quilt du Jour was a labor of love, but it never took off to the degree I would have wished, so after a few years, I shut down the site.

I never gave up quilting though.  I began quilting just because, learning new techniques, like applique and embroidery, and designing and creating quilts as the mood struck me.  Currently I am working on a book of new quilting patterns.  Hopefully I can find a company interested in publishing it.  Time will tell.
 
Thanks so much for stopping by.  Be sure to visit the other quilters who are sharing their stories today, too.

March 24
Just Because Quilts (you are here)
After you leave your comments at the above blogs
stop in to enter only at


During this blog hop, the Fat Quarter Shop is giving everyone a 10% discount.  The coupon is good for one purchase for each customer and is not good for use with gift certificates.  When you check out, just use the coupon code:  seamstobe316
 
And don't forget to sign up for the giveaway!  Through Marian, all of the participants of this Blog Hop have giveaways.  My giveaway is an 18" x 24" Calibre Arts Self-Healing Cutting Mat.  (PLEASE NOTE:  The winner of this giveaway may be required by Amazon to pay for shipping and handling.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Quilt Qwazy Queens Blog Hop

What are you doing for International Quilting Day?  Something fabulous, I bet.  But whatever it is you're working on, you need to take a moment and visit the Qwazy Quilting Queens participating in this hop.  You won't necessarily see quilting projects on every site, since this hop is more about how quilting journeys began, but it is sure to be entertaining! 

In addition to hearing quilting stories, there will be fabulous giveaways everyday!  And just for visiting and leaving a sweet comment, the Fat Quarter Shop is offering a 10% discount to anyone who uses the special code.  For more information on the giveaways and discount, visit Marian at Seams to Be Sew.

My quilting story will be revealed on March 24.  You won't want to miss my giveaway!  Hope to see you there!


March 18
Life In The Scrapatch
Sew Incredibly Crazy
In The Boon Docks
Quilting Affection
Words In Stitches
After You leave your comments at the above blogs
Stop In To Enter Only At
Seams to Be Sew

March 21

QuiltShop Gal
TeaTime Creations
Ravelly
Meadowbrook
Bumbleberry Cottage
After You leave your comments at the above blogs

Stop In To Enter Only At
Seams to Be Sew

March 22
Feather Your Nest
Grandmama's Stories
Pamela Quilts
Vroomans Quilts
My Quilty Musings
After You leave your comments at the above blogs
Stop In To Enter Only At
Seams to Be Sew

March 23
Elizabeth Coughlin Designs
Ridge Top Quilts
Quilt Art
Patchwork Breeze
Kwilt Krazy
After You leave your comments at the above blogs
Stop In To Enter Only At
Seams to Be Sew

March 24
Marjorie's Busy Corner
Just Because Quilts
Moose Stash
Batts In The Attic
All Things Sewn
After You leave your comments at the above blogs
Stop In To Enter Only At
Seams to Be Sew

March 25
Just Let Me Quilt
Sew Many Yarns
Quilting Queen Online
Jane's Quilting
After You leave your comments at the above blogs
Stop In To Enter and Also My Featured Day
Seams to Be Sew

Sunday, March 13, 2016

Sunday Quilting

It's a beautiful day today.  The sun is shining, the weather is a cool 66 degrees, and I want to quilt.  I've been to church, made tuna salad for lunch, and have just popped a roast in the oven for dinner, so I can look forward to some uninterrupted quilting time.

I love easy-to-prepare meals that basically cook themselves, but still provides my family a nutritious, yummy, homemade dinner.  Newlywed Roast is one of those recipes.  I named it that because it is hard to mess up.  Even the newest cooks will receive praise for this delicious meal. When you're in the mood to quilt, give this recipe a try.



Newlywed Roast

Ingredients
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
3-4 pound rump roast
2 tablespoons oil
1 packet dry onion soup mix (I use Lipton's)
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 can of water
6 peeled carrots
6 potatoes, halved

Directions 

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C)
 
Dredge the rump roast in the flour and cover evenly. Shake off excess.
In a 4-quart casserole dish with lid (preferable Dutch oven) over medium/high heat, heat oil and brown the roast on all sides.
In a small bowl, combine the dry soup mix, mushroom soup, and water; pour over roast.
Cover and bake in preheated oven for 3 to 4 hours until tender.
During last 30-45 minutes, place potatoes and peeled carrots in pot with roast to cook.

Serves 8 hearty appetites






Saturday, March 5, 2016

Perky Embroidery

 I wanted to share a quilt I made using my embroidery machine.  Sometimes a little something special is called for and a bit of embellishment can be just the thing. 



I kept the quilt design very simple, choosing bordered boxes, because I wanted the embroidery to stand out.  I found this free coffee cup design online (I forget where now) and set my Bernina to work.  I made 9 coffee cup squares (approximately 6 inches) and bordered them with a 2-inch pretty print for a finished block size of 10 inches.

The other squares (approximately 7 inches) were a perky print featuring coffee cups.  Their 1 1/2 -inch borders were a print of coffee beans.

There were 2 quilt borders, a cream-colored print at 1 1/2 inches and the darker border at 3 inches.


 



 

 The embroidered design was simple and fun and depicted her love of coffee.  (We are both big fans of Starbucks.) 



 



 The backing fabric was all about coffee, too. 

I like to make lap-size quilts because they can be completed in a weekend usually.  This quilt was approximately 39 x 69 inches.  For my friend this was the perfect size for her to cuddle under while she watched television.