Back at Curve Piecing and

loving it more and more. I am finding very easy ways to piece curves in fabrics without all the frustration that some find in doing so.  I have decided that I can pin the center of the curve and hand walk to the beginning of the strip and sew without using pins which makes things go a lot faster.  Here are the last blocks that I pieced.  These are test blocks, however I always use one large, or several medium for the preemie sized quilts I donate.

I must get back to choosing fabrics and more curve piecing before I loose my mojo.   Happy Quilting!!!

Trying to Get With Bloglovin

a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/6714959/?claim=p7qdupvmv7m">Follow my blog with Bloglovin

I am in the dark about this new bloglovin thing, but I am going ahead and follow the instructions they gave me and hope for the best.
I'm still working on all of my WIP's that have been laying around for a while.  I am also getting quilts ready for "Project Linus" donation.
It has been a bit dreary here for the past few days, and there has been a little rain also.  When it rains and is gloomy in S.D.  most of us get a little downhearted.  I use this time to sew.

Curves, Curves, and curves

revisited.  I have been working on the quilt with curves I showed in my last post.   I decided since most of the fabrics were retro, salvaged and a few new pieces I would consider it my "green" quilt and use green to separate some of the blocks. 

Close up

While working on this piece I had, and still have many challenges. I was going to add a strip vertically between the blocks.  But, after I added a strip to each block and found that going this way I would create too many seams that would have to be matches.  So, I went to plan B,and offset each row by 2 inches and added a strip of a printed fabric on the end of every other block to make them all go together without having so many seams to match. I pride myself on doing things the easy way, so if I can't figure out an easy way to do it I'll put it aside and come back to it later.

I have a few more pieces of retro fabric that I'm thinking about cutting up and making another quilt.  If you have any ideas for a nice design for either of these pieces please let me know so I don't have to think so hard this time.

Retro Fabrics

Curves, curves, and more curves

I have been very busy gardening and exploring my skills in curve piecing. 

Curves have always intrigued me and have been a challenge that I have taken on aggressively.  Wow, what fun and surprises you find in this kind of piecing and sewing.  The blocks shown here are both hand and machine pieced.  I have been working on this for over 10 years on and off sporadically.  It was challenging to decide how to put this "mess" together.  There is no rhyme or reason to it except I tried to distribute the circles so that the same colors were not too close together.  Most of the fabric is retro pieces that were given to me by a dear friend that has since gone on to be with the Lord.  I can't wait to sew it together.
I haven't really decided if it will stay exactly the way it is on the design wall, or whether it will have strips dividing the blocks, or whether it will have a border. 

The quilt below is a newer piece started last month during my curve adventure.  This is a picture of a work in the beginning stages.  I have since backed this piece and it is ready for quilting, but I do not have a picture yet. 

I have also included a little corner of my flower garden that shows my first amaryliss plant.  Now back to the work still to be done.

 Decisions, decisions, decisions.

Love suffereth long,

and is kind;love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.
I Corinthians 13:4

Being Made Strong When we are weak

I know this subject has nothing to do with quilt making, but I thought I'd share some of my inner thoughts today and pray that if you have been here, or are still here you can know that you are not alone.
I never make a resolution for the new year, but each day in my life I strive to gain strength in the areas where I am weak. I have been reflecting on my life during the past year, and want to be a better person today than I was yesterday.
It is sometimes hard for us to admit that we have certain weaknesses and short comings.  And we don't have to share this. But I find that each time I share there is always someone else who is struggling with the same things and we help one another . 
I don't know how to love others that do not seem to measure up to my standards.  A wretch un-done am I.  I pray, O Lord, please help me to love others more than myself.
Help me to give wholeheartedly of myself to those in need and to those who are the unlovely; to those who I might find less-than.
I pray for forgiveness if I find myself looking down on others.
I do not want to think more highly of myself than I ought to, and I pray for cleansing and to filled with the Spirit of God that I may not judge another.  I'm also praying that I will do unto others as I would have them do unto me.
Now back to the quilts at hand.

HAPPY NEW YEAR,

hallelujah,and amen.  Praise God, for He has brought us thus far.  I am forgetting those things which are behind and pressing toward the things to come. I'll be looking to Him, who is the author and finisher of my faith.
I pray for peace for each of my followers and who stop by from time to time.  I love your comments and kind words.
I hope that I can encourage you this year not only with my art, but with food for thought.                                 A new day has dawned, 2013

                            View from my front patio just before the sun rises
                                            about a quarter of a mile away

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Have you ever noticed...When she takes great risks, she's foolhardy--but when you do, you're brave.

This will be the last of the "'THOUGHT FOR THE DAY".  I do hope you have enjoyed these as much as I have and have given some serious thought about criticizing others. The purpose of these also were to bring us to see ourselves as others may see us, and to not think more highly of ourselves than we ought to.   
We should also remember that everyone has a right to his or her opinion, and that we should respect that.  I have taken some serious thought about each thought, and these were directed at me first.  Hope to talk about "Pet Peeves" next.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Have you ever noticed...When she says what she thinks, she's opionated--but when you do, you're being honest.

By the way, BLOGGER and I had a big fight today, but I WON.  At one point this morning I thought I was going to have to scrap everything.  LOL !!

THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

Have you ever noticed...  When she is mild-mannered, you call her weak-- but when you are, you're gracious.
                                        When she dresses well, she is extravagant-- but when you do, you're tastefully in style.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Have you ever noticed:  When she takes time to do things well, she's perfectionistic--but when you do so, you're striving for excellence. 

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Have you ever noticed...  When she tries to treat someone especially well,   she's buttering up the person...but when you do so, you're being thoughtful.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

Have you ever noticed...
When one of your friends don't like one of your other friends, she's prejudiced--but when you don't like one of her friends,you're a good judge of character.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

Have you ever noticed...
When I notice flaws in things, I'm critical-but when you do, you are perceptive.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Have you ever noticed...

When others are set in their ways,they're obstinate--but you are firm and resolved.
"Love will cover a multitude of sins"  I Peter 4:8

The Prize and the Pattern

Pattern pieces for strip placement

Finally I am able to show the original drawing and the position of the pattern pieces that would have been sewn together for the umbrella, and a set of the kind of strip set used for the stripes. 

Original drawing

Strip set                                                                      And finally the "Prize" 

Thank you all for visiting my blog.  Hope you will continue to stop by, and hopefully I will not be so long sharing as it has been.  Love to all.

And the "Winner " is

Miss. Debra.   Yes, it is an umbrella.  Now, where it is is still in the working. My initial intention was to make an umbrella quilt.  The look of water came in when I was looking for a background for the umbrella.  My thought was sky, but after putting it together I realized that the fabric really looked like water.  The pattern was drawn several years ago.  As I was organizing I found it among all my drawings and could not resist the urge to enlarge the pattern and make it.  As I was auditioning fabrics for the stripes I wanted in the umbrella I found my strip sets I had sewn when I was doing busy work.  You know when you just want to sew and do mindless work.  This is when I sew strip sets for future projects.  When designing the pattern I imagined paper piecing the strips,but why go to the trouble if all you have to do is lay the pattern down on the strip set and cut away. I was going to share the original pattern, but my camera and computer would not work together for some reason.  I will share a picture of the design hopefully tomorrow in my next post.  Miss Debbie, you must e-mail me your snail mail address so I can get the  card to you. I wanted to post a picture of the prize, but everything is working against me in the downloading department.  Will try again tomorrow.

Tell Me What You See

I know, I know I have been MIA, but I have good reasons.  I've had more demands put upon me in caring for my beloved. He's good and in good health, but I am constantly having more physical obligations taxed upon me.  I am not complaning by any means, just letting you all know I have been away from my  blog for very good reasons.  It is not that I could not have added a post here or there, but I have a lot of projects that I have been attempting to complete.  Below you will see one of my new patterns that I designed years ago and have just gotten around to printing the pattern and doing my first actual draft in fabric.

Please tell me what you think this is and or what else does this piece need.  And no, it is not a mountain.  To the person who closely identifies this will receive a prize of one of my picture postcards.  Prize to be given after I review the comments will be shown in next post.  You have one week from today which will  be the day after Thanksgiving Day since it falls on next Thursday.

So, put on your thinking caps and tell what you see.  I will reveal in the next post just what this is and a glimpse of the prize.



Designing and Redesigning with "Saturated Colors"



Modern Childs Quilt



Some of the pieces I am showing have been around for a little while, while I pondered how to finish them and some I just started recently.  I am having so much fun mixing and matching and contrasting fabrics.  I pulled out all the bright solids, dots, stripes, and beautiful multi-colored saturated pieces in my stash and I'm having a ball.  I've been like a kid in a candy store.  I have enjoyed the digging through fabrics that I haven't seen in a while or even had forgotten I had them.
 

I do store most of my fabrics in some kind of order.  For instance I collect black and white fabrics, they have a section, the African prints have a place, the solids have a place, the glitzy stuff that I only use in my art quilts have a home, the muslin and whites have a home. 

I do hope I can get back to posting a little more frequently.  I seem to feel that I need a picture or pictures to add to my post, so I delay posting because I hate uploading from my camera.  I think the pictures make the post more interesting.

Well, back to the drawing board, or should I say the ironing board.
For me it's the indoors or the patio in the summer as opposed to basking in the sun.
Have a safe and blesssed summer whatever you plan to do for fun.

Blogger has been real ugly to me.  I had the hardest time ever to post my photos, so they may look as if I have just thrown them on the page.

By the way, none of the pieces I'm showing here are complete. I like to work on more than one thing at a time.  I seem to lose interest very easily.  I'll finish all the tops and then I'll have a quilting marathon.  Some might call this ADD.  Lol!!!!!!

Modern Childs Quilt

My fabric print blocked for small art quilt

Wall Art Abstract

Modern Childs Quilt

God has strengthened me

during the month of June.  I've learned to trust God more and to believe in His hand of mercy as He leads and guides me through my adversities.  Sometimes things happen to us and we are led to not even keep on discussing it or bringing it up.  This is where faith comes in.  I do not feel the need to discuss what really happened, but, I do want to say God brought me through and He can do the same for you. 
I used to cry a lot, but since I've become a caregiver I cannot afford to fall apart and lay on my bed sobbing.  I have a lot of responsibility that I choose to attend to rather than  feeling sorry for my self.  All praises go to God for His unfailing mercies He extends to each of us.
I thank God for putting love in my heart so I'm able to give as needed to others.  Thought I'd share a zentangle that has hearts that represent love.
Have a good day and a safe summer.

Trees, and art quilts are

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        still on my mind.  I've been having a lot of business to take care of and have not had time to post.  I'm now beginning to see the light at the end of that tunnel.  Praise God!!

I have been designing a modern style quilt, this will be my first modern style quilt.  I have also painted the background of my latest tree quilt and have decided on the borders and trim I'm going to use on it.  I think. 



Sunrise in the Valley



The clothes making has been put on hold, but I intend to get  back to some new pieces this weekend. Here's a glimpse of what the tree quilt will possibly look like when complete, but don't be surprised if the border and trim is different the next time you see it.  It seems that the more time I have to critique something there's always a good chance it will change.  Well, I have to go now, I must get back to my gardening. I hope to post a picture of  my new dahlia and the finished tree quilt soon.  So, remember to put the pedal to the metal and keep on sewing.

Sewing, designing, and gardening

has been my routine for the past weeks.  I try to do a little of each everyday, hoping to get all of the outside work done before the heat of the summer.  It's early here for me so I thought before I get really busy I'd do a somewhat generic post.  Nature is wonderful and I'm loving all the blooms and signs that the winter is finally over, and spring has definetly SPRUNG.  Here are a few shots from my patio and back garden that I have been working in lately.  HAVE A BLESSED DAY.  And remember, this is the day that the Lord has made, rejoice and be glad in it.  

Beautiful Moth on the wall



Late Spring Arrival







Kalonche in it's full glory









Fushia bud just before opening



Fuschia making it's debut



Fabric for sale at Spoonflowers



Companion Fabric



Focus Fabric

 I'm taking a leap of faith and putting my fabric designs out there for sale.  This will be my first attempt at designing and selling fabrics.  I love trying new things and this is a first for me.  I was inspired by Kweli Kitwana who has an African American line of fabrics on this same site.  Thanks Kweli for encouraging me in this area. Follow the link on the right side of my blog for directions to my new store.  I have lots of designs to work on and have already started a some what small portfolio for new designs.  I'm very excited.

The tree quilt for my bedroom

is on its way to becoming a reality.  I got so enthused with all the various branches I could do until I've decided to make a series of quilts with trees.  The quilt I'm showing to day started out as a test piece for how to arrange the branches and how to use some new jacquard metallic fabric paints.  I am auditioning the fabric that is placed behind the piece so I can make a decision on just what I want for the outer border.  The other pieces are prospective quilts also.  I'm hoping to do a tryptich for hall or bedroom. 

I have also been making clothing for my self again.  Sun dress have been on my sewing table for a few weeks now.  I took the blue flowered skirt and added a blue bottom border to fit in with this years colorblocking trend. 

Machine embroidered leaves and shiva paint stick background

Trees are freezer paper templates to be painted over

Skirt revised to sundress

Auditioning outer fabric for borders.

I planted another bay laurel tree, and some rosemary.  The collards are all gone and I'm putting in tomatoes along with the garlic as soon as I finish some of my other projects.



The Glory of God

Front yard garden late winter

Front yard garden early spring

Backyard Beauties

African Daisies showing off

is evident at our home here in San Diego.  It seems as though winter was yesterday and spring has already sprung. We give praise and glory to God for his many blessings.

Amen, and hallelujah for this cabbage from my vegetable garden.

PRAISE GOD, FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW.