Getting ready for Houston

Today I helped my friend Patti to get things ready for her booth at Festival, Batiks by Design.(http://www.batiksbydesign.com ) We work on kits today, but just seemed to run into roadblocks. Not enough patterns, imperfect fabric and items needing to be copied. One thing that did work was the mesh bags we picked out worked well for the small size patterns.

This will be our first time to attend Festival in Houston. We don't know how much to take with us, nor what to expect. We will also be going to Market, so at least we will have an idea about the layout of the Convention Center and hopefully make some great contacts prior to things being open up to the public.

I am working on some of my designs to have them ready for sale. One is a new apron with lots of pockets. I remember as a child that my step grandmother always wore an apron. She made all of them herself. She had nicer ones for Sunday, but always had practical cotton aprons of many colors for week days. These were always fresh and nicely pressed in the morning, but she loved to cook and bake. By noon you could see the flour from the bread baking and maybe a spot or two from her wonderful home made soup she was making for dinner.

I also have a fat quarter friendly quilt. It does contain one of my favorite blocks the Churn Dash. I think the reason I like this block so much is because it looks so different on point then it does straight. I have also in other quilts played with the coloring of the Churn Dash to create other designs elements. It is just a fun block.

Maybe I will show you some pictures tomorrow.

One of my Creations!

The "Flowers of Friendship" started out as a computer drawing sent to me by an artist friend of mine. I was so touched by the thought and effort he put into the drawing I just had to turn it into a wall hanging. I did all the applique by hand. The quilting is also by hand, but I ran out of time to really finish the lower part. I wanted to give it to him when I was visiting another mutual friend in Ohio.

I have another one started, but I work on it only when I have to wait at a Doctor's office or while traveling. So progress on that one is slow.

So much happening!!!!

I finally found my ID and password to be able to post again. So much time has passed since I posted, but would you believe that I still don't have my table runner quilted. I did send a picture to the designer, so all is good.

Lots of DR appointments this week for our family. One will be a long wait for me in the waiting room, so I need to get the table runner marked and sandwiched so I can work on it Tuesday afternoon while DH is getting 6 teeth pulled. OUCH!

Next week I will be in Nashville working at the AQS show. It will be exciting seeing friends that I have not seen in years, but it will also be a long week away from loved ones.

I do hope the weather cools down before going to the show. It will be difficult to move the merchandise into the show for my friends booth.

Hope to post again before I leave.

Table Runner

Today I plan to sew a table runner to use on the serving cart near the front door. I have the pattern all figured out and pulled the fabric. It is paper pieced, not a favorite of mine, but this pattern uses a method of paper piecing I have never used. The paper is folded back prior to sewing the seams, so no paper gets caught that will need to be removed later.

I need to learn how to post pictures, but not today.

No Progress

Seems like I just can't get motivated to clean out the to be sewing room. It has been humid and hot here since we arrived home. Several boxes in the sewing room will need to be removed and carried to the storage room on the third floor. Maybe I will feel like doing this tomorrow.

I have done a little sewing, (hemming, made a sling and added to the dog's collar) but no quilting since we have been home. I have been so tired and today somewhat sore. I am not going to let that stop me. I try to keep going and accomplish something everyday.

Today after baking 2 pies and getting dinner going I picked out fabric to start a table runner. It will be used in the living room on the chest by the door. We seem to drop things down on it as we come in the door and I want to protect the wood surface. I will be testing a pattern as I make this project. I have decided on 3 greyish blues. I hope I have enough of the background. The fabrics I am using are from my stash and part of the background has been used in another project. When I have more time I will learn how to post pictures and add a sample of the fabrics I am using. I need to go read the pattern to see if I can use this background.

Time to get started

Today we arrived home from WI where I taught classes in smocking, color and applique. DH and I decided over the weekend that one of the first things I (we) need to do this summer is to remove everything from what will be my new sewing room. Most of the stuff in the room is sewing related, but there are also many items just set in there from our remodeling of three other rooms. We plan to remove the carpeting and paint the walls. Giving the room a fresh new feeling....and organizing the area will help me to be more productive with my sewing, quilting and designing.