Little Class, Big Success

Hi All,

Yesterday was my Celtic Knot class at the Orange Quilt Bee in Orange, California.  I had two people join me for this class.  I personally love a smaller class, especially when I'm instructing a technique.  The point of the class was to learn a few techniques on making bias tape and some special tips on laying it out to look nice and smooth.  We used Roxanne's glue baste to fix it to the background.  There is some under/over weaving silliness but its really fun.  Once this prep is done, then its easy-peasy to just sew the pieces down.

After discussing and demonstrating a few different ways to do bias tape we settled for my favorite method which if the Bias Tape Maker.  I have this tool in several sizes and will probably never use bias bars again.  The bias comes out nice and flat and is really easy to flex around curves.  It took everyone less than an hour to make all the strips for their design.  For a knot like the one I'm working on, 6"-18" strips work best because you are having to weave a bit, under over, etc.











But wait.... I just saw this machine on line that supposedly does up to 35' in one shot.  Don't think I would want that for this class but for long bias strips on a border it would be great!  

Barbara did a great job on this one.  Her colors were selected to match a bed quilt she is making.  I like how the subtle colors of the inserts give this a life of its own.  Also she was more partial to the symmetry in 3's giving it a more geometric look.  Another 15 min and she would have been done!  Great job Barbara!

I made Marilyn stay long and finish the last strip, I can't believe she was going to leave and not put the last little piece on there. Truth be told, I think I just wanted an excuse to yell "Whoo Hoo!" at the end..  Her color inserts focused on symmetry of 6's and gives it more of a flowery appeals.  She used a charm pack for colors, two from each.  Terrific work Marilyn!

Thank you both for a lovely Saturday afternoon and can't wait to see your completed projects.  And thank you to the ladies at Orange Quilt Bee for allowing me to teach at your shop and for being so helpful.

Have wonderful Memorial Day Weekend, I hope you find time to sew.

Aunti, Nicole

Inspiration is Everywhere

Hi All,

Summer is nuts with work and sewing...and vacations!  There is stuff going on everywhere I look.  

May 18th,  my husband and I celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary.  We went to Downtown Disney and ate at the Jazz Kitchen...ahh yum!  It was a wonderful date night.  Thank you honey for nine peaceful years.  Love You Baabee!

Woolies - Tomorrow my wool friendship group is meeting at my house.  Since our last little project we did as a group, I have been in the think tank on the wool projects.  I really enjoyed that embellishing and 3D type work with wool and want to pursue that more.  Here are some photos from this months Sunset Magazine, that have inspired me to make up something of my own.  So here is where I start!

My first guitar lesson in a couple of year is Weds night.  My husband's anniversary gift.  I know some of you may be thinking.  Wow another thing?  Well yeah, but I need something that is not work or sewing.  I have been singing and playing music for fun since high school, but have gotten away from it for a while.  So co-workers have recommended a great teacher and I'm looking forward to it.  Time to cut the nails and build up the callouses.  Sounds lovely when you put it that way.

Am I sewing? oh heck yeah!  I am working on a new pattern and can't wait to show you all the variations I did before picking a cover sample.  Here is one that I just love, but it is not the final design so I can share.  But it is going to be someone's high school graduation gift.  

Saturday May 28th - Celtic Knot wall hanging - If anyone wants to attend there are a couple more seats available.  Class is at 10:30-4pm at the Orange Quilt Bee in Orange, California.  Here is a link to their site.  http://www.orangequiltbee.com/module/class.htm?classId=7681

Hope you all have a wonderful week.
Love
Aunti,
Nicole

Soft Expressions: Explore Zentangle May 24th and 30th in Anaheim

This month, my friend Jamie Namanny and I have signed up to take a Zentangle class in Anaheim from Sharla Hicks.  Sharla is a textile artist and long time friend of Jamie and my mum.  I am so looking forward to this class, if you are in the area sign up!

Here is a link for the details
http://www.softexpressions.com/1/Class.php

Zentangle® Classesby Sharla R. Hicks CZT Certified Zentangle Teacher

Even if you can't attend, check out her samples at the bottom of the link, they are amazing.

Hope you all get to quilt this weekend!

Love Aunti Nicole

Happy Mother's Day!

Encouraging, loving, thoughtful, silly, brilliant, witty, emotional, talented, humble, willing, generous, creative, supportive, beautiful, vivacious, practical, caring, strong, courageous, brave, carefree, sweet, outgoing.

Mom and my sister Dana in 1964 I think.  

I was born shortly after.  I think there was a fabric shortage back then or something.  (Good thing thats over huh?)

Mom, you have always been there for me. 

Thanks for being such a great friend.  

Sorry I couldn't be there with you today but you are in my thoughts.  

Have a great day and Happy Mother's Day!

Love You!  Nic

EZ Quilters - May

Last Monday's meeting at my dear friend Donna Huffman's house.  Our group has grown so and there were about 15 present with still several people people missing.  Its always lots of fun and very loud.  I'm sure Donna's husband Lee would agree.

I think Lisa gets a prize for getting the most done.  This leaf quilt was a group project the first year I joined the group.  I want to say 2005 maybe.  I had too much going so I just watched.  Anyway, each member made 2 blocks and some 4 patches for each member.  It took them several months to get all the blocks.  But we have seen these quilts pop up as done over the course of the last 6 years or so.   All of the quilts from this exchange were just gorgeous and so very different from each other.  (Mom your turquoise blocks pop so nicely!)  Good Job Lisa on getting it together.

Here is another Lisa achievement this month.  Got to see this in the works at our retreat last year.   I had to show a blow up so you can see her wonderful machine quilting.  Aren't the colors just wonderful together?  Can you believe she made this for her dog?  Lucky Dog!

Micki Berg is like a quilting gymnast.  Check this out!  She blew up the pattern from 12" to 18" but wow it is stunning. Good Job Micki!~

Mardell does the most lovely handwork.  Here is a  hawaiin applique piece that she completed for the auction at our Flying Geese Quilt Show in October, 2011.

Debbie Shapiro finished this one.  Her color selection is fantastic.  She changed the pattern up a little to fit the fabric better and it came out great.  Her husband called dibs for this quilt as I guess he has a right. 

So Donna and Pat are our Guild's philanthropy chair people this year.  I am so proud of them for taking this so seriously and really getting out there to find where we as a guild can make a difference.  They have been working very diligently on sewing, kit making and collecting placements, pillow cases and quilts for many different organizations for here and over seas.  One of their friends and long arm quilter just donated 3 gorgeous quilts to philanthropy.

My show and tell you've all seen, since I post it over the previous month.  I'm sure I missed a couple but these are all the pictures I got, since I think I pulled my camera out late.

Every month I get so much inspiration and encouragement from this group.  It keeps the creativity flowing.

Hope you get to quilt this weekend!
Love,
Aunti Nicole

Bee Splendid in April

April's Bee Splendid challenge was a strip quilt.  We were each given a large piece of Kona Red and Kona Snow and 48x6 finished size requirements.  It is very difficult for me to make something abstract without actually making it at least resemble something.  I call this piece Bee Trail.

Friendship groups are great for pushing you into the deep end of the pool.  Splash! Ok now kick!  I'm kicking I'm kicking!

I can't wait to see what this looks like, when she puts all out pieces together.

Hope you get to sew this week.
Aunti Nicole

Happy Blogaversary to Me!

Thank you all for joining me in celebrating my one year anniversary as a blogger.  I have met so many great people and have learned a lot from you all.  I am inspired by a great many bloggers and visitors daily.

I would like give a special shout to all the bloggers out there, who put their quilts, tips and and life lessons out there to inspire us.

Thank you all for sharing your favorite blogs.  Congratulations to the top three favorite blogs!  I can say that I personally have learned a lot from reading these three...

• Stray Stitches http://straystitches1.blogspot.com/
• Stash Manicure http://stashmanicure.blogspot.com/
• Jaybird Quilts http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/'

I have also added several new blogs that I was not previously following, so I can't wait to read up on those.

Lucky Winners!

Today's lucky Winners are

Winner #1 

Congratulation Quiet Quilter, you have won the 6 Fat Quarter of Dot Essentials by Moda, plus a sneak peek of Sam I am.

Winner #2 

 Congratulations Deb, you have won my Tic-Tac Oh! pattern along with Basic Grey pre-cuts.

 Please email me with your mailing address and I'll get these off to you.

Congratulations to the winners and thank you all for participating.

Have a wonderful week!

Love

Aunti Nicole