Category: Sisters

http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post · Sisters · WIP Wednesday

WIP Wednesday

renegadequilter2 Comments
whew, what a week it has been. thanks for all of the kind words regarding this post. its nice to know that i have support from all of you. some progress has been made in the sewing department of my life. i was able to finish up my bee block that i needed to get done for April.

this block was a 1st for me. very modern & not a traditional size at all. it was fun to make.


i did get to spend sometime working on my Opening Day quilt.
flying geese all done & blocks matched up.

3 down and 33 more to go.

this past week i also got 1 set of fabric for one of my Hands 2 Help quilts. i love the color range of these batiks & i am looking forward to making a quilt out of them. sad to admit that i have never made a quilt only using batiks – so this is a 1st for me. i also have sent out my fabric to my 2 partners. Barb who is local already has it & Larissa who is in Australia will be getting her’s soon.

i have gotten a little further on my hand stitching project as well. i am on the last line & then i have some boarder work to do & this block is finished.

*********

now for (what i think is) some fabulous news.

i got my confirmation packet for my class with Tula Pink at The Quilter’s Affair which is held the week before The Sister’s Outdoor Quilt show. the class i am taking is going to be on her Cartwheels pattern. my friend Shelly is taking it with me & we both are looking forward to it. this will be my 6th trip to Sister’s & probably will be the best one yet.

“to change the world start with one step”

bags · charity · http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post · Sisters

A Good Cause & A Bag

renegadequilter3 Comments
awhile back i did a post about using our sewing talents for a good cause.

with that said i would like to let you know about a fabulous cause that is right up our alley. my friend Sarah who blogs over at Confessions of a Fabric Addict has put together a challenge for all of us. its called Hands 2 Help Charity Quilt Challenge.

PLEASE. PLEASE. PLEASE.

go visit her blog & learn about this amazing cause & how you can participate.

life if getting back to normal for me – again. i have lots of stuff to share with everyone, even stuff from quilt camp which was at the beginning of March. i am beginning with my favorite thing that i started at that camp but only recently finished.

the zipper bag as i call it.

i bought this pattern last summer on my annual trip to Sister’s. the shop had one made up & it was love at first sight for me. needless to say i came home put the pattern away & sort of forgot about it. off & on i would come across it looking through my patterns. i would begin to read the instructions & put it away again. then i was digging through my fabric & the light bulb in my head went on.

this fabric + this pattern = wonderful

the pattern is No. 106 The Bijou Traveler by Serendipity Studio

the fabric is Montana Modern from Benartex

once i had this figured out it was time to study the pattern. i normally read through a bag pattern once or twice before i make it. i have made a lot of bags & a lot of the time the basic construction is similar. not the case with this one. this one had a big zipper, a grommet & didn’t go together the way i normally make bags. the reading continued. i probably read the pattern about 10 times before i cut the fabric as i did not have room for error. the pattern is well written i just didn’t want to screw up the bag.

i went to camp with all of the pieces and parts cut & ready to go. at this point i can’t remember how long it took me to make it. it was the last thing i grabbed going out the door when i got the call that my SIL was in labor. i took it because so many other campers were eyeing it. when i left camp i had the short ends bound on the inside & just needed to finish binding the long curved top on the inside. i finished that last weekend & took the bag with me on my trip last week to New Mexico.

on one of the sides there is a pocket that is divided in the middle. the flap has a grommet in it so your headphones can come through it & your music player is safe inside. the flap/pocket closes with Velcro. the other side of the bag has one big pocket. it too closes with Velcro & is a great spot to stash your boarding pass & other essentials. zipper pulls on each end of the bag. the zipper wasn’t as bad to put in as i thought it was going to be. i just read, re-read & read some more to get it clear in my mind.

the inside has pockets along both sides which you can make as large or as small as you want to. yes, that is a tennis ball that you see & no i do not play tennis. it works great for a back or neck massage just about anywhere.

it is a very large & spacious bag. great for traveling.

i will be making this bag again. i am sure it will go a little quicker then this one since i have one already under my belt.
Dave · family · friends · http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post · me · quilt camp · renegades · Sisters

A year of travels

renegadequilter2 Comments
it has been a year of travel for me.
January 2010 took me to Washington DC
there i got to see Colin Powell speak.
do a little sight seeing.

& see Natalie Cole perform.

then the end of January was a trip to McCall for sewing & a mini trip to Boise to see my niece.

in March i went to a quilt camp at Palouse Divide Lodge – no pic of that.
in April i went back to Boise for more time with my niece.
also in April I went to St. Louis for work – no pic of that either.
in May it was the trip of a lifetime – all expenses paid – to the island of St. John in the US Virgin Islands.

on that trip we also sailed to Jost Van Dyke which is a British Virgin Island.
June was a month filled with doctors apts & several trips to Spokane.

in July a group of us headed to Sisters, OR for the Outdoor Quilt show.
i also went to Houston in July for work – no pics.
i was home the whole month of August except for the last few days when i made a quick trip to Boise to see DMB with my brother & SIL.
September kicked off with spending Labor Day weekend at the Gorge seeing DMB with Steph.

mid September i took a quick trip to Chicago to see DMB at Wrigley.

the end of September brought another quilt camp at Palouse Divide Lodge.

in October i went back to McCall with the Renegade’s for another quilt camp.

in November it was back to Palouse Divide Lodge for yet another quilt camp.
December was a trip to Seattle to see Dave & Tim as well as a quick weekend trip to Boise to see my family there – no pics of that trip.
********
looking back over 2010 i realize just how much i got to see & do & i am so grateful for the opportunities that my life brought me this past year.
i don’t expect to be traveling as much in 2011 however right out of the gate in January i am headed to Dallas for work. March will bring a trip to Boise to welcome my new niece. July we will head to Sister’s again. August to California for work. & i am hoping for some quilt camps scattered in there somewhere through out the year.
********
up next
‘A year of projects’

fabric purchases · http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post · renegades · Sisters

Sister’s Part 2 (the purchases) & Some Gifts

renegadequilter2 Comments

this past week was my birthday & i got a few quilt related gifts for that. the French General kit & the new Buggy Barn book i thought were gifts to myself but i later found out that someone else took care of that bill for me – that was a very nice surprise – many thanks!!!!!

the fat quarters on the left were from my BFF & the green shirt on the right was from a couple of my Renegade buddies. we all go to a quilt camp that one night at dinner everyone is to wear red – well i don’t follow the rules very well so they all got red shirts & got me a green one – i LOVE it!!!!

the little purse picture frame & green fat quarter is from a Renegade as well. very fitting i thought since i am a purse fanatic as well as a green freak.

the following pics are of my Sister’s trip purchases – you don’t realize how much you bought until you unpack it all & start taking pics of it – wow! needless to say i have a bit of sewing to get done.

i only bought 3 patterns but i LOVE each of them. the quilt pattern can be made using fat quarters, jelly rolls, layer cakes or charm packs.

several green fat quarters & fat eighths for my asterisk quilt.

yardage of some good basic browns – we all know i don’t like setting blocks in light fabric.

some more owl or as my niece calls it “who who” fabric – perhaps a bag – & yes Sharon i did buy this on the trip it was just folded in with some other fabric.

no plans for this fabric – i just LOVED it & had to have it.

same as above – but these colors are so not my norm but i was drawn to them & they were on sale so i got some yardage – maybe a stack & whack.

i fell in LOVE with this line last year & didn’t buy it. it was on sale this year so i got some. again, no plans.

maybe some cropped pj pants out of this & a skirt for my niece.

i know, again with the “who who” fabric – no idea but i am starting to build a collection of owl fabric.

refer to comment above

pj pants for myself out of the green snowflake fabric & a pair for my SIL out of the other.

so there you have it. my Sister’s trip purchases & potential projects for the upcoming year. i personally have another rule about Sister’s & it is just for myself. i (ideally) like to finish/use everything i have purchased from the prior year before i make the trek next year. we will see how i do…….

i took my Bernnina in to have it serviced yesterday & left it there & when i say there i am referring to Spokane which is 2 hours away from me. i didn’t know how to behave without a sewing machine in my house so i went to my parents & got my old Viking to use until i get my baby back. crazy i know but what can i say.

i head to Houston on Sunday for work then after that trip i am home for most of August – so the month of August will be devoted to sewing. i can’t believe that August is going to be here so soon – crazy scary.

i hope everyone has a great next week or so & i will be back at the machine before i know it – darn job anyways!!!!!

http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post · Sisters

Sister’s Part 1

renegadequilter1 Comment

Sister’s 2010 is in the books now & so i thought i would share a few of my favorite pics of the trip. 1st is a pic of our group that went on this journey with me.

myself, Bonnie, Debbie, Stephanie, Sharon, Lynette & Kitty

next is a view from the back of the house we stayed at. its high dessert in central Oregon. the closer you get to Sister’s & Bend you are in more trees but out where we stayed it was like this.

the next few pics are of some quilts at the show that really caught my eye that i wanted to share. there was over 1,300 quilts but these really stood out to me.

i LOVE the quilting on this one. you can see that it has dragon flies quilted on the black background fabric.
i LOVE the bright colors of this one.


this one was the raffle quilt done by Jean Wells who started the Outdoor Quilt Show 35 years ago. SIMPLY AMAZING!!!!
last but not least my FAVORITE from the whole show. something that maybe someday i will be able to do. a true artist with thread & fabric.

i will work on getting pictures of my purchases & finds together this week for another post. i have a quick trip out of town to the doc on Wed then I fly to Houston for 5 days on Sunday. during this time my machine will go in for a LOF (lube, oil & filter) so it will be ready to go once i get back.

i hope you all have a great week!

bags · Sisters

Yet, another bag…..

renegadequilter1 Comment

ok, so i got home last night & i wasn’t in the best of moods. not good considering i am suppose to finish packing & getting ready for my trip to Sister’s. needless to say i needed to change my mood so i went down to my sewing cave & got to work. i decided that my big Sister’s bag needed a little Sister’s bag to go along with it. i took out my scraps of Brady Bunch fabric & got to work.

what do you think? i am pretty pleased. i just punted & this is what i came up with. its sort of a smaller version of Lazy Girl’s Miranda Bag which i LOVE.
it fits nicely into my big Sister’s bag & it will be great for the future.
just goes to show that if you focus your energy into something good you might end up with something great. not that i am saying the little Sister’s bag is great but its pretty stinking cute & you get might point.

i will be leaving shortly for the journey & i am going to try & post part of our trip so make sure & check back here.

enjoy your day!

bags · http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post · quilt alongs · Sisters · weekend wrap up

Sister’s Bag #2 & Some Other Stuff……

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so here is Sister’s bag #2 the one i will be taking with me to Sister’s. its the same pattern as bag #1 but smaller & no appliqued initial. i am very pleased with how it turned out. i used clear thread and quilted around all of the flowers & leaves. i had issues but never the less it is done.

the pattern is The Big Shopper from Whistlepig Creek Productions

the fabric is Brady Bunch from Michael Miller which i found at Fat Quarter Shop

of course i did the inside different with a divided pocket closer to the top for the cell & camera – Hello its Sister’s – 1,300 quilts i will be taking lots & lots of pics that i will be sharing of course

i also added a spot for a water bottle you can see it at the bottom of the pic

this weekend i also made my 1st 2 blocks for Sarah in my Bee Splendid bee. i LOVE how they turned out & Karrie liked them so much that she is doing a quilt along with the same pattern using charm packs – go check out her blog & join her on the quilt along i am

i also made the next 2 blocks for the Simple Sampler Quilt Along that Amy is doing

last but not least i made a block for a local group that i belong to. we each have a box with our fabric in it & each month we rotate the boxes & we each make a block (the same block each month) so at the end of the year we have 12 different blocks. not a super exciting block but when you have a deadline sometimes easier is nice.

(this is my bff’s fabric we’ll see if she notices)
my lime quilt was from last years group

this is a short week for me with leaving for Sister’s early Thursday morning & a possible trip to Spokane for yet another doc apt. so little to no sewing will be done but i will come home Sunday totally motivated to spend sometime with my machine.

3 days before we leave & i think i have things in pretty good shape.
we will hit 4 quilt shops on the 6 1/2 hr trip there.
we stay about 25 minutes outside of Sister’s in Crocked River Ranch at my BFF’s sister’s vacation home. which is totally awesome because its FREE. my BFF won’t be makin the trip this year & i will miss her tons. she could either do Sister’s or Quilt Camp in September & she picked camp. once we get settled & have dinner we head into Sister’s & go to the Stitchen Post they are open until 10 that night & last year we closed the place down. Friday it will be quilt shops galore in Redmond, Terrebone, Bend & Prineville back to the house for dinner & a good nights rest before the big show on Saturday.

Saturday we get into Sister’s around 7ish – 1 to get a parking spot by the park where we have a picnic lunch & 2 to go to the Sister’s Coffee Company for coffee & a pastry for breakfast. we are usually in town until around 3 or so then we re-visit any of quilt shops & head back to the house for a re-cap of the show & our purchases before a good nights sleep & the drive home on Sunday.

i will be taking my laptop in hopes of being able to post some of our trip along the way……. so as always stay tuned for the mis-adventures of me & my peeps as we take on Sister’s 2010.

bags · Sisters

Sister’s Bag #1

renegadequilter2 Comments
we have 1 rule for our annual trip to the Sister’s Outdoor Quilt Show
each person going has to make a bag to take with them & each year it has to be a new or different bag that they made
this year for me i knew which bag i wanted to make i just didn’t know what size so i started with the largest size because you can never have to many big bags – right???? plus for the largest size you could use a charm pack & i had a Freebird charm pack
no brainer on that one
Sister’s 2010 Bag #1
its big – really big & i don’t want to be carrying that large of a bag
the bigger the bag the heavier it gets
the pattern is from Whistlepig Creek Productions and its called The Big Shopper
the pattern is great and it has cutting instructions for 6 different sizes of bags
i am a bag makin fool so of course i did the inside different then the pattern called for but thats me – i had 2 charms left so i made a little cell phone pocket out of them & also added a sewin in magnet for help with keeping the top of the bag closed


i will be making a smaller size for my trip but i LOVE how this one turned out
i think i will use it for work – i always carry a bag to work with my lunch, junk & other stuff so this will be fun for the summer
*******
the next one will be made out of Brady Bunch fabric
so come back & check that one out when i get it done
considering its 6 days away i had better get started

bags · BOM · quilt alongs · Sisters

Blocks and More

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this past weekend i spent getting caught up on quilt along blocks
and
i had several of them to get caught up on
*******
1st out of the gate is this block that i made for the Jelly Roll Quilt Along from
2nd, 3rd & 4th were for the Star Sampler Quilt Along that I am doing from
pickles & bacon

the last 2 blocks are for a new quilt along i found through a member of my quilting bee group
its called Simple Sampler Quilt Along and its from
i have decided to make this out of Hope Valley which i LOVE and
rather then sash it in a light solid fabric i will be sashing is in an orange print from this line

now for the more part
i started work on my bag for the Sister’s trip & i decided to make the largest size 1st out of a charm pack to see if i wanted to pack around that big of a bag. i am so glad i made this 1st becuz its huge (not finished yet) and i will be making a smaller size out of the Brady Bunch fabric i got for the trip. once i get both finished I will share pics.

i also worked on the setting kit for last year’s Fat Quarter Shop’s Mystery Designer BOM. i got the center of the quilt done and now i am working on the 36 sashing pieces.
this week i will be working on my Sister’s bags as well as taking a trip to see my doc again. however, this time he should be giving me a diagnosis as well as a plan for treatment – FINALLY!
i will also be getting things ready for out Sister’s trip. there are 7 of us going together all meeting in the Tri Cities at our 1st quilt shop. i think that we will be hitting about 10 or 11 shops over the 4 days not to mention the amazing outdoor quilt show on Saturday. this is my 5th year going & each year its better & better. we have a few newbies on this trip & that is always fun!
i hope you all have a wonderful week.