Spring out!

Wow...I just realized its been a really long time between posts.  I have a new computer so maybe this will help.

Here is the last 1 1/2 years in a bucket!  I still love Oregon.  Still love the rain, and yes we got a bit of it this year!  Have joined a local quilt group and made some really nice new friends!  Shout out to Busy Bees, Whoop!  

Love our house our yard.  So much so that I'm starting to garden.  My daffys did not poke through yet but the tulips are amazing, they really want to come up!  More pics to come.

Changed positions at my company KETIV Technologies and am enjoying the new challenges.  I am now the Customer Experience Manager and manage a great team of technical specialists.  Less travel and lots of what I love which is problem solving.

What about Quilting?

I will share some of the projects I've made over the last year and half over the next new posts.  I'll try to post weekly, so hold me to it ;]

The funny thing is that I have a tech background and I have yet to find a good way to get my photos from my phone and nice new cannon camera to my computer to make them readily available to post on my blog.  Lame excuse, but what is everyone using these days?  

I just did an applique workshop for my Busy Bees group last week.  I made up this little sample.  It was fun and several of the people gave it a whirl.  Can't wait to see their finish projects.  Here's my sample.

Why does this bunny remind me of my puppy Dudley?

Speaking of which, this is my love Dudley.  He is such a good pal and follows me everywhere.  Except when Pete is home, then he follows Pete. lol.

Its a hard knock life for us...

No really? Life is good!

My mom is coming for a visit from Lake Shastina this weekend.  She is going to do a workshop on thread painting at my Busy Bees meeting in Clackamas, OR.  I'll share pics when I have them.

I hope you get a chance to sew this week.

Love Aunti Nicole

A Voyage of Friendship

Some of you may be wondering where I have been.  Well....its a long story.  Here is the short edited version.  Pete and I transferred our jobs up to Oregon.  We both managed to keep our jobs of 15+ years and work the same companies in different states.  We love Oregon, love the rain and the green.

We rented a house for about 6 mos and then started house hunting.  Last month we bought a house in a quiet little pocket of Happy Valley.  1970's house fully updated with a beautiful water feature in the backyard. 

We have never had a yard so this should be fun.  Pete bought a lawn mower and I am already loving going outside after work, weeding, trimming and playing in the dirt.  I hear that its only 4 mos out of the year, so that might give me some time to sew.

So while I was moving from November 2013 until last month, I decided to store all my quilting stuff and finish a hand quilt that I started in 2004.  Yes that would make it 10 years, but I am finished!  I love the way it turned out.  The outer blocks were done by my EZ Quilter friendship group.  But influenced by every quilter who saw the work in progress.  I love it and its finally home on my bed.

But before it made it there, I sent it to my Mom for her Shasta Lily Guild - Quilt Show last weekend.  My quilt took first place in the Large quilt division.  There were some amazing quilts in this group and I am honored.  Thank you Shasta Lily Quilters!

Viewer's choice in the show went to Bev Roper with this original piece.  This was exquisite work and I love the celtic work in the sashing.  Bev is an amazing artist and quilter.

I have more to share from the show and a recap on the Quilt Sew Knit show here in Portland.  I am a little behind on posts so I have lots to post.  Stay Tuned!

I hope you find some time to sew today!

Love Aunti Nicole

Block Wisperer

I am working on an applique project from a pattern by Pearl Pereira called Wildflowers.  A few years ago, my neighbor Betty and her two daughters invited me to attend a four day retreat in Temecula with Pearl.  Pearl was so much fun and I learned a lot.  If you are not familiar with her work, she does applique using freezer paper and starch.  I love using this technique for smaller pieces.  Everything comes out so clean after prep that the applique part is a no brainer.  If you get a chance to take a class with her, I highly recommend it.  She also has some beautiful patterns to choose from.  http://www.p3designs.com/

I started this project at the retreat and complete a block or two every now and again.  There are 25 blocks and a beautiful border in the pattern.  I haven't decided if I'm doing all of them or if I will just finish as it.  I guess the blocks will tell me when they are ready......"nope not yet" they say.

Yeah, ok.. I know I'm talking to fabric.. but... we spend enough time together that we are old friends and I trust the fabric to give it to me straight.  Well most of the time anyways.  I'm sure you understand.

Hope you are all enjoying your weekend and you get a chance to quilt.

Love,

Aunti

Nicole

Design Challenge

A few months ago, I was looking around the house for something to applique.  I have plenty of projects started but nothing I was in the mood for.  So I decided I was going to put to good use some of the beautiful hand dyed and batik fabrics that my friend Julie www.jaybirdquilts.com sent to me.  

I am using Marbleous Jacquard in Black by Robert Kaufman.   I can find a good picture of the black but her it is in Cactus...

... but the black....I just eat it up.

This piece is about 40" square at this point.  I took a whole piece of the black fabric and using a paper circle template, traced a circle with a chalk marker.  Then I did freehand drawing with the chalk to make each shape.  I basted a piece of fabric to the back a bit larger than the circle and then used reverse appliqué to create each design.  So... yep its all hand appliquéd and very fun.

Now I am trying to figure out how to set it.

My friend Sharla www.softexpressions.com  suggested that maybe it doesn't need a border which could be why I and struggling a bit with it.  Hmmmm...this suggestion may win out...

I used my Snagit Program to cut and paste some different options.

I tried just making black strips and continuing into a wider border with strips of the applique.

cutting it into piece.....oh my stars... this is scary.

 A suggestion from my friend Eileen http://eileenwintemute.blogspot.com, some simple but offset borders.  I added the shadow in my program but will most likely not add the shadow.

I probably won't get a chance to work on it for about a month, so if you have any suggestions, no matter how wild or simple,  or if you like one of the ones you see, I would love to hear it. Right now the first one and the last one are looking the best to me.

Hope you get to sew this weekend.

Love Aunti Nicole

Celtic Knot

A couple of weeks ago the gang at Orange Quilt Bee in Orange, CA invited me to do another class this summer.  I chose the Celtic Knot.  About 8 years ago my sister taught this class in Mt Shasta at Sew Unique.  My sister is one of my favorite quilters and is an excellent teacher, mother, nurse.

And here is a wedding gift that she did for me.   Little 12" square, but its one of the only quilts that hangs on a wall in my house.  Its hand quilted to boot!















 I have resurrected the class with her permission and added some new things I have learned along the way.   I did this  last Sunday after noon, after my workshop and after a nap.  took me about 3 hrs.

As you will see in the blowup, it is not yet sewn down, but that part is a piece-o-cake.











I had so much fun making this piece I may make a border for it ;]  I can't wait for the class.

The class is scheduled for May 28th and will be on their calendar soon.  So you if you want to signup just email them and they'll take care of you or just let me know.

Hope you get to sew today!
Aunti
Nicole

Something Old, Something New

While I don't have any finished projects to share,  we did a lot of applique prep work last week while Mom was visiting.  I prepped a wool block for a new project.  Also these 3 blocks are from a retreat/class I took with Pearl Pereira P3 Designs about 4 years ago (yea I know, talk about a UFO).  Pattern is Wildflowers.  Add these to the 9 I have finished and thats 12 of 25 blocks. Whoof! Not to mentioned the borders.  We'll see if I get them all done.  The retreat was really fun and Pearl is a hoot.  If you ever get a chance to take a class from her, do it!  

Oh and I tangled another smaller piece.  This is like free hand quilting, while making up your own fabrics.  This one is smaller than the last one, about 4.5"x5.5"  I think I like it because I can finish one in a sitting.  

 

Would you believe oodles of teeny bunny faces in a carrot patch.  Hehehe... 

Ok, I need a nap now.  ZZZZ

Love to you all.  

Aunti Nic

Reverse Appliqué Class - Done

 Hi All,  Hope you had a wonderful Holiday weekend!  I got to see my cousin Matt and his daughter Brigid who lives up north in Washington.  We had a great time and great food and brought my guitar over to hear what Matt has been creating.  (A budding coffee house guitar star).   Gramma made my husband Pete a pie care package to go.  One whole pie pan with pieces of apple, chocolate cream, and pumpkin.  He was in heaven.

Thanks Uncle Joe and Aunt Debbie for having all of us over (about 18 in Southern California).   I love my family, we are truly blessed.


So Saturday, I taught a reverse appliqué class at Orange Quilt Bee in Orange California.














I had three lovely people in my class and we had great fun.  Ok, maybe not so much fun as they worked really hard.  Everyone did great and I think they all got the hang of the technique.

My neighbor Betty even joined us, I put her in the corner, see.  But not because she is bad.

I brought samples and tools and suggestions, my quilt bag of requirement was packed full, you can't see but I have a pile on the floor as well. ;]



I did not get a picture of the finished results, but we are meeting later in Dec to show and tell and I can't wait to see what they have completed.





So right next to where we are working my sample quilt for the Tic-Tac...Oh!  pattern is display in the store front window.  Very excited about that.





Off to Vegas for my annual Autodesk University jaunt.  I am only teaching one class there this year and am looking forward to it.



Have a great week and hope you get time to sew.

Love Aunti Nicole

Playing Catch-up on Birthday Blocks

My EZ Quilter's Friendship Group is doing a block exchange this year.  On everyone's birthday month, you receive a special block of any kind from each of the 18 members.  It can be something different for each block you create.  The only consistencies are the size 8 1/2" and include a white on white.  I have an applique snowball block with the first letter of their name for each month.

 So here are Lisa, Helen, Liz and Debbie's blocks. This should get me caught up Sept, October and  November.  It has been a fun challenge and its great to see all the different blocks that people come up with. 

Happy Birthday to you!

Love Aunti Nicole

Reverse Appliqué Class

November is coming up soon!  I am so pleased to announced that I will be teaching two classes in November at Orange Quilt Bee in Orange, California.  The people there are so warm and wonderful and shop is just gorgeous.

The first class will be on Reverse Applique and I am looking forward to it.  If you are in the So Cal. area, I would love to have you in the class.


I created this pattern with the class in mind.  I hand quilted because I felt the need to have more to do, lol.  The pattern will be included with the class and is small enough to finish in time for Christmas or at least get you into the spirit of the holidays.  If you have a pattern that you want to use for the class bring it with you, you'll be able to follow along with your pattern as well.

Class Date:  November 14th, 2010
Sign up at http://www.orangequiltbee.com/

Christmas Ornies

Hope to see you there!

Aunti Nicole

Dresden Delight

My EZ Quilter's friendship group has made this beautiful Dresden plate quilt for our Flying Geese Guild Auction on October 23rd 2010.  http://www.flyinggeese.net/auction10.html 

Each EZQ member made 2 blocks and passed it around for hand quilting.  Those who don't like to hand quilt did sashing, borders and binding and....

The pillowcase was embroidered with Dresden Delight.

I love the way the quilt turned out absolutely stunning and I am so proud to be a member in the group of incredibly talented and creative quilters.  Great Job Ladies.

Betty's Baskets

My neighbor Betty Preston just finished this beautiful quilt and brought it over for me too see.  She and her two daughters have a special retreat every year.  The daughters fly in and they rent a beach house and work on a similar project.   Last year, prior to the retreat, they picked a similar theme.  They did a block exchange throughout the year and put the quilts together at the retreat.  Each had different arrangements that they did with the similar theme and blocks.  So here is Betty's.

This quilt was hand appliqued, hand embroidered and hand quilted.  It is just gorgeous, so I had to share it with you all.

This is one of Betty's blocks that she designed and the border arrangement to match.  Sew creative!

I looooove the way she finished the outer border.  I am so proud to have a friend like her.

Thanks Betty for sharing!

Love

Aunti

A bit Sheepish

A few months ago I joined a new friendship group.  The group is called "Wool Gatherer's" and I would say rightly named on all accounts. 

wool·gath·er·ing  –noun

1. indulgence in idle fancies and in daydreaming; absentmindedness.
2. gathering of the tufts of wool shed by sheep and caught on bushes.

The group is a great group of women from the Orange County area. All are extremely experienced quilters. Our common goal is to have a support group while we emmerse ourselves into the art of woolgathering. Each week I hear of new tools and materials to use in quilting with wool. I am so engrossed in our meetings that I forget to take pictures to post for you or write down the tips that I hear, but I promise I'll try harder ;P and share what I learn here.

So this is my first piece 28"x20", pattern by Lake View Primitives called "Love in the Spring."  My nieces helped me pick out the bead for the sheeps and birds eyes.  It really didn't take too long once I shut and started sewing.  I mounted it to a thick piece of fusible that I had wrapped in Kona black.  

 My 2nd project is almost done and I'll post it as soon as its done. 

Have a great weekend.

Aunti

Nicole

Happy Birthday Mardel

July block for EZ Quilter's Birthday block exchange is for Mardel Price's.

Happy Birthday Mardel!  Hope your birthday is as bright and sunny as this quilt will be.

Next up Bee block!