Saturday, March 31, 2012

Retreating

Today I'm at the Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild retreat in sunny Lawrence KS. Who knew when we signed up 5 months ago that it would be a final four basketball weekend starring The University of Kansas? If they win, the main drag in town is going to be a crazy-full with rowdy college kids. We're staying within walking distance of Massachusetts St.

The game is starting soon, so who knows how the Jayhawks will fare. They say they're the underdogs. If they do win, I think I'll check out the crowd for a few minutes, then return to my safe hotel. I hope there aren't too many crazy fans staying here!

At the same time, here I am at a local hotel, and I spent most of they day using my sewing machine in a ballroom. It's been a beautiful day....and other than an outing to Sarah's Fabrics, I've been holed up here.

I have gotten so much done! My "whimsy" quilt should be pieced by the end of the evening. I did some more quilting on Hexagon Park (it's a Moda Bake Shop pattern). I completed 2 more blocks in  my Starry Night block-of-the-month (by Swirly Girl designs) - only one left!  It's a nice retreat. I have been getting to know my fellow guild members better and I've learned a few things. There are some neat prizes - I won a book that I've had my eye on for a while: Vintage Notions by Amy Barickman.

So, back to work, soon. I'm taking a little break at the computer, a chance to have some quiet time to myself. I've been eating way too much of all kinds of delicious snacks and goodies.


Saturday, March 17, 2012

Stitchin'

I've been in the mood to stitch lately - that is, hand work. I have been working on a piece of embroidery on linen - need to photograph it for you. It's a funny southern saying and it needs some embellishment around it to make it cute.

My other project is too funny. I found ucladoc's Etsy store while searching for a birthday gift for my sister. This crafter makes original and unique counted cross stitch patterns, and what hooked me was the anatomy and medical humor designs. I mean, who would think to make a cross stitch pattern out of an x-ray or a hand? Or an MRI of a brain?  Check these patterns out:

Wouldn't these make an awesome gift for your sister the physician or your brother the chiropractor?

I can't wait to hang mine in my office!!

Saturday, March 3, 2012

The Fab Shop Hop

Click to sign up!
In February, I completed the Fab Shop Hop. It's a virtual "shop hop" where you have to go to various fabric/quilt shop websites, find a special icon (the "bunny") and register that you found it. It's a month long hop, and you really need a whole month. There are over 150 shops on the list! That's a lot of hopping!

You don't have to find all of the bunnies. There are prize levels for 75 shops, 110 shops, and 140 shops.  Still, getting even 75 shops takes some diligence. But, it's fun - sometimes there are special promotions as a part of the hop - sales at the shops, patterns that you build (randomly you find a block pattern when you register a find), and sometimes bonus bunnies for extra giveaways.  Sometimes you come upon a shop you know in the real world - like someplace you visited on vacation or where you used to live.

The point of all this hopping is to generate sales for the shops. It worked for me, this time.

I have a quilt top created from a "Layer Cake" precut pack of a Moda line called "Whimsy," a style from few years ago. I can't find it in shops any more, and I'd like to make the back out of the same line. It has a specific color palette I'd like to match. Sure enough, a few of the shops in the hop had some left over Moda Whimsy!  Better yet, since its an old design, these shops had it on clearance! Bonus!

I found my backing fabric at The Quilted B from Washington state. The shop owner sent the fabric promptly, wrapped with a pretty printed ribbon from their shop, with a handwritten note of thanks. Excellent customer service. I hope to shop there again!

You can download all these images from the Moda website!!

I investigated several of the shops while hopping, if the style of the shop appealed to me. I bookmarked several as favorite shops

Well, yeah, you do have to exercise restraint and not overspend! Don't go crazy.

I also signed up for a newsletter at Stitchin' Heaven in Texas - they organize quilting vacations, like cruises and bus tours! I think that would be crazy fun to do. And their newsletter is called Hot Flashes - too funny. Sign me up!!

I hope you try the virtual shop hop. Maybe you'll win something. At the least, you'll have some fun and maybe even find a unique gift at a shop