dysfunctional easter picture

dysfunctional easter picture, a photo by greeneyedsilversmith on Flickr.

so.... how come the dog is the only one looking the right way in this picture? oh well! happy easter season everyone!

i had some "good" news today and it's eased my mind 1000% from how it's been the last week or so. it'll still be a process for the next 2 years since we basically reset the clock, but it's so much better than it could have been.

busy busy busy

since i started sewing again once the shoulder loosen up enough, i've been spending a lot of time with my thread, needles and fabric. not nearly as much time as i had prior to the surgery, but i'm back!! i finished binding little {k}'s baby quilt this week. it's all washed and ready to be shipped!

i also completed my "project park" charm pack challenge piece two nights ago and it's washed up as well. it's a perfect size for my large table - just in the center with plenty of space at the ends so people's plates are not touching, but close to it.

our challenge was to take one charm pack, plus 1/2 yard of any fabric and create something. we were allowed extra fabric for backing and binding, but my 1/2 yard also included the binding. i only used extra for the backing, which is a solid light blue from my stash.

i straight-line quilted it with matching blue thread on back and two colors on the front. i stitched in the ditch in an apple green thread and then did a diagonal stitching in eggplant purple that followed the star points. i've only used my walking foot on 2 projects and i'm not sure i really like it. there was great tension doing the green stitching and then the tension was "off" on the eggplant stitching that i couldn't seem to change. but i like it. i'll probably iron it so it holds shape a little better - this was just out of the dryer.

in just a little bit, i'm driving the QOV top and backing that the ladies of HMQG helped me with to the longarmmer. she's practically a neighbor and i don't need to mail this one off.

tomorrow is our next HQMG meeting as well. we're all presenting our challenge pieces at this meeting, so you've got a sneak peek here! i think i'll take my medallion from gwen's workshop with me for show and tell. over the week, more parts have been made, but not too much sewing to the medallion. the decision to work in rounds or in chunks has to be made still...i'm leaning towards chunks, but we'll see. i'm having fun with it!

but of course...one of these days, i've got to finish up some drawings and devote some time to graphite and paper instead of fabric and thread. i do miss my illustrations.

have a great weekend!! i'm going to try as well!

a gwen marston weekend

happy sunday evening!! i had a wonderful weekend... did all of you? i was cleared on wednesday by my doctor to stop wearing the sling - 3 months to the day! i also got confirmation that i was indeed taking a road trip to the north side of dallas to enjoy a workshop with gwen marston that i had signed up for in early-mid march.

i got to meet tia in person after 2 years of emailing and ordering her wonderful campfollower bags and flickr stuff. she was the one who told me about the workshop and asked if i was going. thank you so much for letting me know!!!

my sewing space is on the left and that's tia on the right as we were setting up for the morning. my table partner and tia both have featherweights. so did a couple other ladies there. i think iron maiden needs a little brother or sister that is a wee bit more portable since my shoulder is still healing...and they pack so small and pretty.

we then moved on to show and tell. not only gwen's amazing quilts, but some made by other attendees. they were all inspiring and so very different using gwen's "parts department" and collaborative quilting ideas.

we had a few demos as people requested help or ideas. the one above is using the "strata" or fabric you made yourself. you can cut it a variety of ways, such as at a 45 deg angle and then cut strips for borders or fillers. or you can then cut that 45 deg cut into blocks and voila! instant string blocks without the paper piecing. i haven't cut into my strata yet, but i definitely will. it was one of the few things i had finished before the workshop.

linda, gwen, tia and myself

at the end of the day, we just had to get a picture together. the laughter rarely stopped...the sewing and ideas overflowing....and a great group of women all together in one room. it was well worth the 5 1/2 hour drive on a bad shoulder - that was also the first drive in 3 months that wasn't 5 miles from home!! i cannot wait to get back to working on my parts quilt.