Around The World Blog Hop

I was invited to participate in a great blog hop by Angie N. who was invited by the Karen Miller. In fact this is a worldwide blog hop. Isn't that exciting. I know I'll meet all sorts of talented crafters, artists, quilters, and many more.
This summer has truly been a lazy one for me. All I've managed to do is loads of canning, baling hay and tending to critters here on the farm. With that said, allow me to tell you about my true passion.
I love making quilts and drafting my own patterns and designs which I love to share with others. The designs I'll be talking about are free to try out.

1. What am I working on?

At the moment, I'm working on getting some of my projects ready for quilting. I'll share a few photos of the more urgent ones below:

Animal Kingdom is a BOW (Block of the Week) that I designed a couple of years ago when my mom had heart surgery. I needed something to keep me busy as I sat with her in ICU. The hand embroidery kept me sane.  It took about three to four hours to embroidery each block and I was a little sad when I had finished them all.  

I had a package of animal charm square I used to separate each animal.  My granddaughter helped place the animal fabrics and place each animal in alphabetical order. 

The designs can be found on my BOM page near the top of my blog.

"Tea Time" is a BOM design that I drafted out several years ago. I love tea and coffee so this was a great way to honor that little morning ritual.

The designs can be found on my BOM page, too.

Since I live in the country on a farm, I decided to pay homage to "barns" as they are all over the place in this neck of the woods. 

This was yet another idea that I drafted and had a blast hunting through my stash for just the right fabrics. Just click on the work barn above to get the designs. If you have any problems or questions just leave a comment about it and we'll connect via email.

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre and how does my writing/creating process work?

I pondered this question for a few days and finally decided that most of my inspiration for designing a quilt comes from the fabric first. Most of the time I have a piece of fabric that I love dearly and build a quilt idea around it.

For example, below is a fabric I'd had in my stash for months. As I pulled it out time after time ideas began to formulate but I held off until I could dedicate my full attention to it.

I knew that this fabric reminded me of a lake. So with that in mind a solid idea formed.

I pulled more fabric to audition with it and settled on the greenish brown and then the sky fabric.

I used the backside of a bold fabric for the mountains because sometimes the backside works much better.

I then built up the distant trees and landscape.

Foreground and background are important and this is something I really have to work on to get it right. That concept is still a work in progress for me.

As you can see, I have a sense of humor with the crane about the eat the fish that is

 going for an insect.

I loved finding the fabrics in my stash to complete this project, which needs quilting....sigh. There's not enough time in my day!!

This is a free design for all to try.

3. Why do I write/create what I do?

I create because I enjoy the concept of thinking out an idea, drafting or designing it and then sewing it out. I'm not necessarily worried about the finished (Quilted out) product. I just want to see if I can get what's in my head onto fabric. And the fabric is usually my motivator. 

"In These Shoes" was made for my love of shoes. High heels in particular.

"Howdy" was a Fons & Porter challenge to make a mini quilt. This was my attempt. The quilt measures 23 X 27 inches & was my first silhouette type quilt.
I got Honorable Mention and was very happy because there were many talented quilters judged in the challenge. I think it is important to try new things that make us uncomfortable or challenged. It's a great way to grow and learn new of different things.

I designed the pumpkin and the houses because of the wonderful fabrics I've collected over the years.

"House Haunters" is a BOM that is free to anyone who wants to try it out. 

I call these four "Fractured Diamonds" which I demonstrated in a very short picture tutorial here. It was amazing to see the variations I could get just by adding another row or in the color change. As you can see, I got a little obsessed with making them.

The Texas Seal quilt had been tumbling around in the back of my head for five years. I'd purchased the gray fabric way back then. Gray is a tough fabric to work with at times for me so I knew I wanted to do something special with it. Since I'm a Texan, the Seal was a good idea so I started placing fabrics in a bag that might go into the project. Occasionally I'd use some of the fabrics for other projects......who has ever done that....(smile) but finally I got it all together and created the seal quilt. As you can see I used the silk purse method to applique the flowers around it just to add interest and I used some half fractured diamonds to jazz us the border around the seal. That pop of reddish color is a great zinger!!

The "From Tragedy To Hope" mini was done as a challenge from Project Hope Online Quilt Show 2013. I decided to participate and to go a step further, I donated the mini to the town of West, Texas as they had just recently gone through that terrible explosion. I'd hope the mini (12 inches sq.) would lend some peace, hope and knowledge that people were pulling for and praying for them.

This isn't a good photo but it is one of my first BOM designs which can be found on my BOM page and is free to try out. "Lazy Hearts" was fun and really pushed my thought process. I used 100% cotton fabrics along with wool and silk. I embellished with beads and buttons and used embroidery floss to stitch out the months. 

I was asked to make a donation quilt for our local school which I graduated from way, way, way back when. I was to use parts of the band uniforms which as we all know was not going to be easy because of the thickness of that polyester blend. Also, the color orange was so strong that I had to use colors to tone down its brightness. I drafted designs for band instruments, basketball, football, tennis and other stuff that would compliment the school's activities and would probably bring more interest to the donation process. 

I was very happy with the way things turned out and was told that the quilt was a booming success.

This little quilt measuring 24 inches sq. was made using a half square triangle quick making method. There are tons of ways to make HST, you just need to find one that works best for you. This is yet another of my designs that I named "Radiating Star." All of the fabrics came from my stash.

I'm also into making mug rugs which are coasters for your beverages. I love giving the away just to make someone smile. The Spider's Web was machine embroidered the other day (5 1/2"). When you leave a comment on this post, I will place your name in the old "hat" for a random drawing. I'll announce a winner on Sept. 15th. Please make sure that I can get in touch with you or the mug rug will go to the next person.
(see my "non-responder reminder near the top of my blog for understanding)

Well, this is just a small part of what I love about quilting. I hope you've enjoyed the little glimpse into my world. Thank you for stopping by.

It's also Design Wall Monday so pop over to Judy's to see what others are up to.

Oh my gosh! More & More..............

 

Our local post office lady thought I was a bit nuts asking all kinds of questions about shipping prices nationally and internationally and how much I could cram in the box, close it successfully and tape it tight. She just shook his head and shooed me away after the umpteenth question.......the box weighs 16.4 lbs. Just under the 17 lb. qualification.....Yeeeeeepy!!

Lookie what I found to add to my "big give-away!"

Yes, these books & more are going into the box.....that's why I had to know the weight.

I was so excited when I found the books. Of course I looked through them and thought "oh, why didn't I make that and why am I putting this in the give away!" Who am I kidding? There is no way that I'm going to make all those wonderful projects but maybe someone else will or they can re-gift it to another. Who knows.....I have to tell you, when I was looking through the books, several were duplicates. Has anyone else bought two of something? Good grief, the money I spent....oh well.

If you haven't left a

  comment HERE

to be counted, there's still plenty of time. The only requirement is that you have to be a FOLLOWER of my blog whether it's recent of you're an old timer. I'll announce a winner on June 20th, so tell everyone you know to pop over and leave a comment!!

Now to clear up, hopefully,

 that strange dog silhouette for some of my blogging friend who just couldn't see it.

Said silhouette frontal view

Boxer

Pincers

Can you envision the dog now? LOL 

My silhouette doesn't have eyes. I think that would have helped a bit. I'll do better next time.

From My Garden-BOW

 

Before I get to the next block "From My Garden" here's an update on my old blocks project.

I finished quilting and binding this little beauty. It measures 15 1/2 inches square.

A couple of close-ups.

I used DMC floss to enhance the veins on the leaf.

You can barely make out the two triangles at the top of the block which act as a sleeve. I love the way this one turned out. 

 

<><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Apple

is the next design of

From My Garden.

Enjoy!!

 

I'm having computer issues......probably something I did for sure so if you don't hear from me other than my usual Thursday mug rug, you'll know the computer thing is not good....sigh!!

From My Garden-BOW

 

Pumpkin

is the next block of

From My Garden.

I just love this block!!

 

I found the following recipe on the Internet:

 

Ingredients:

 

• 1 cup butter at room temperature
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup of firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 cup canned pumpkin
• 2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• (Optional - add 1/2 cup walnuts)

 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

• In large mixing bowl cream butter and the sugars together until light and fluffy
• Blend in pumpkin, egg and vanilla extract
• In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt
• Pour flour mixture into butter-sugar mixture
• Drop tablespoonful of dough 3 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets
• Bake for 10 to 13 minutes or until golden around the edges
• Place cookies on cooling racks
• Store in cookie jar or Ziploc bags.

 

House Haunters-BOW

Oh boy, it's House Haunters #3 block.

 

I'm really proud of this one. I used a bit of my most favorite fabrics (bricks)

on parts of the mottled cream house. It almost looks like most of the bricks have fallen off. 

I did not use all of the part of the pattern, choosing to simplify the windows and the door.

I used the red chimney and dark green grass to tie this block with the others.

 

 

Here's a close-up of the bricks that I've added to the front of the house. I'm using a non-stick sheet to protect the surface of my ironing board.

Here's a look at all three so far.

Pattern #3

Feel free to use all, most or some the house.

If you wish to enlarge or reduce the pattern, that's great, as well.

Until next week........ 

From My Garden-BOW

From My Garden is weeks' block is

cherries.

If you are just joining us this is fourth block. I am working from a seven inch square that will be trimmed to 6 1/2 inches. I'm using black DMC floss. To copy the previous patterns scan back to the previous Tuesdays.

 

From My Garden-BOW

From My Garden-BOW

Okra

 is the next block and pattern.

I arranged the okra the way I prefer. There are many combinations and possibilities so enjoy the process.

Remember, I started with a 7 inch block. For more information click Tuesday.

 

 

And now for another one of my little hobbies.......trees!

I love trees; young, old, branches, leaves, trunks, dead......you name it, I love it.

I love taking photos of trees on and near our farm. Get a look at this one...

 

You might see this as a quilt one day

 

House Haunters-BOW

 

Here I go again with another BOW (Block of the Week)! 

 "House Haunters"

I couldn't help myself.  I've been thinking about making haunted houses with a little character all summer.

So here's the first installment of 4.

I'm thinking of adding a fifth block of a dead tree trunk but haven't worked that one out yet.

I chose black mottled fabric for the background which I cut 8 1/2 by 11 1/2 inches but you could make yours 12 inches square if you prefer.

I dug in my stash to find appropriate fabrics. You should see my sewing room now.......can you say explosion!!
Anyway, I love the roof fabric of a plaid type. I used a dark green to define the ground line, just to add some interest.
I also used DMC floss for the window panes.

Remember, when using my designs, you can enlarge or reduce them to suit your needs.

Just copy and paste.

I hope you will join me in this little four to five week adventure.

 

If you've gotten this far you are in for a treat give-away!!

 

These 5 five inch square fabrics are great ones to use in any project, especially the

House Haunters BOW.

Mention the number 5 in your comment to be counted in the give away.

I will announce a winner this Friday, September 6th.

 

From My Garden-BOW

It's Tuesday and as promised here's the second block and pattern.

It's a pear.

I apologize for not posting the particulars about last week's block.

All of the blocks will start off measuring 7 inches and can be trimmed down to 6 1/2 inches which is my intent.  I like my blocks to have little space when sewn together or when I add strips between them.

Remember this is my way of doing things. You may wish to enlarge or shrink what you are work on to get the desired effect you wish. That's what I like to do. You are not restricted to a certain size when working with my designs. Happiness all around!!