1. I really like Steven Tyler as an American Idol judge. 2. Although it is highly doubtful that I will read it, the title of his new book is genius.
3. I can guarantee that the noise in Steven's head has nothing whatsoever to do with quilting. 4. I can also guarantee that the noise in my head is all about quilting, i.e., fabric, design, quilts I'm working on, quilts I want to be working on, why do I not have enough TIME??, etc.
Current Works in Progress: 1. Single Girl quiltalong: actual progress made this week. Did anyone sew these arcs together without a gazillion pins? It.takes.so.long.to.pin.
2. Flea Market Fancy Popbeads: waiting to be basted so hand quilting can get started.
3. 3x6 Mini Block Exchange: pattern chosen; fabrics not chosen yet--but it's a start, right? 4. Birdie Stitches. No progress this week. 5. Hexagon Charm quiltalong. Sporadic progress being made. 6. Bottled Rainbows quiltalong. All base blocks completed. This has led to a corresponding idea for my next donation quilt that I'm really excited about--details to follow. 7. Supernova--fabric chosen. 8. Outside Oslo sewing marathon. I can hardly wait to show you what I'm working on!
Works Screaming to be Completed: 1. Amy's Creative Side quiltalong (um, making two separate quilts because the fabrics in the first were screaming at each other). 2. Hexagon quiltalong by Jaybird Quilts. 3. The "white quilt", started over ten years ago. (Shhh. Don't remind Aaron and Christa. They think I've forgotten about this one--sixteen 18" blocks, each different, all hand quilted--just need to be assembled together.)
4. Baby Geniuses quilt--needs to be quilted and then sent to a friend in Massachusetts I've never actually met but who I know will love the quilt because she is a scientist.
5. Cherry Baby. Lots of HSTs. Back waiting to be completed so I can move on...
Works in My Head (being extremely noisy): 1. Tokyo Subway Map quilt (although my plan is to change it to the Portland MAX lightrail map). 2. The Proverbial Quilt (making all the words out of fabric that has words printed on it).
3. Block-a-Palooza quiltalong using Sunkissed by Sweetwater. Not started. 4. That Girl, That Quilt quiltalong using Sherbet Pips--Not started. 5. Carla's awesome quilt pattern. Fabric chosen. 6. Spool Play quiltalong development. 7. Pattern development for Moda Bake Shop. 8. Other ideas, too numerous to mention, all clammering for some attention.
So tell me. Do you have a lot of noise in your head too?
Don't forget to head over to freshly pieced to see what everyone else is up to today.
And you still have a few hours to read about the Name Game, say hi to Julia of little girl quilts, and enter the giveaway.
I'm so excited to start the new series here at Live at Colorful Life called The Name Game, where the story behind interesting blog names will be revealed.
Julia, of little girl quilts, redesigned my blog a while back and did such a wonderful job. You need to know that Julia lives in Berlin. I know! Berlin! And we did the whole thing back and forth through email. It just seemed so cosmopolitan and sophisticated to me to have the graphics designer living in another country. You may be wondering how we got connected in the first place. It was because she did an amazing redesign for Lynne of Lily's Quilts, so I emailed Lynne, who lives in the UK.
So let's get to know Julia a little better.
How did you choose the name for your blog, little girl quilts?
When I set up my blog, I was at a loss for a clever, sassy, or at least not ridiculous, title. I wanted it to be recognizable and easy to remember--and this for both a German-and English-speaking audience. I thought hard, but nope--what came to my mind was already taken.
Patchwork and quilting has fascinated me since my early teens (although I was too intimidated to try it myself until about three years ago)--I loved watching American movies where you could spy snuggly quilts. So "little girl quilts" it was. Quilts for my inner little girl...or for future little girls (who knows? I'm going to be an aunt soon for the first time!).
Were there other names you considered?
Yes, there were many other names which all had some sewing-related pun--but they were already taken.
Now that your identity is little girl quilts, are you happy with it or do you wish you could change it?
Am I happy with my chosen name? Not really. I know that there were other bloggers who thought I'd refer to myself as a little girl (who quilts) --um, nope, I'm a grown woman (or at least I pretend to be heehee). Would I change it? Yes! Definitely. If only I had a clever idea for a sassy name :)
Julia, thank you so much for being the first in what I hope will be a long-running series.
I hope all of you will check out Julia's blog. Besides being a talented graphics artist, she is an amazing quilter.
So for the first episode of The Name Game, I think there should be some reward, don't you? First, go check out little girl quilts and be sure to say hi to Julia, and then come back here and leave a comment to win this Name Game pincushion. The winner will be chosen on Wednesday, 5/18/11, at 6 pm PDT.
Is there a fascinating blog name that has you wondering "Hmmm. Why did he or she choose that name?" Let me know and I'll get in contact with the blogger to see if they will play along.
Up next will be Amanda Jean of crazy mom quilts. Is she really crazy? You'll find out next week!
Here is my altered paper doll for CIRCUS week. With some magic, a few vintage images little Ms Circus Charlotte is made. Nancy, The Trinket Collector and I continue the fun creating for CIRCUS week. You better stop by Nancys because she is having a giveaway!
I'm over here as a guest, talking a little bit about thread, needles and pins. I wasn't planning on doing another giveaway so soon after Sherbet Pips, but this one was actually in the works for quite awhile, and Pips was definitely a spur-of-the-moment giveaway.
Do you remember when I wrote about buying fabric strictly for one word on the selvage? Well, now you know the secret word: "chasing"!!I wanted to make Rebecca a customized pincushion plus another one for this great series she is conducting.
This is her pincushion. I know she loves lavender, paisley, and mentioned being a "girly girl".
But wait! That's not all (said in my best "as seen on TV voice"....). If you call before midnight tonight leave a comment by Monday noon, you'll have a chance to win this pincushion:
I hope you check out Rebecca's great series, Quilting 101. And don't forget to leave your comment. Happy sewing!
I grew up listening to classical music. I think the best composer ever was Sergei Rachmaninoff and the best thing ever composed is Variations on a Theme by Paganini. Paganini wrote something called Caprice No. 24 in A minor, probably his most well-known composition. Rachmaninoff then wrote twenty-four variations on this theme, probably the most well known of which is Variation 18. Why I am telling you all this?
Well, because there has been a lot of talk recently about the "dumbing down" of quilting. I'm not going to link to any of the original posts, but last week both Jennifer of That Girl, That Quilt and Rachel of Stitched in Color had very interesting posts, and it led to a lot of introspection on my part.
Questions like why do I quilt? Why do I blog about it? And why am I letting anyone I haven't even met make the decisions on what is appropriate or inappropriate for my personal quilting journey?
Case in point. I frequently go through my fabric stash. I came across this piece of fabric and my first thought was "I should probably put this in the donation pile because a 'modern' quilter would never put this in a quilt." I stopped myself right there and thought, "But I still like this fabric. And why do I even care whether or not someone else would put it in a quilt?"
Quilting has gotten me through the loss of a my first grandchild six years ago and the loss of one of my best friends last year.
(a "family tree" quilt with signature of parents, grandparents and great-grandparents made for our first grandchild)
It has sustained me through times when I needed to be alone, and it has cheered me up when I have been surrounded by my quilting friends.
When I think of the debate between modern and traditional, between acceptable levels of creativity and "dumbing down," it just makes me sad. And two phrases keep going through my mind: If you can't say something nice, then don't say anything at all, and can't we all just get along?
Everything comes and goes in cycles. It's like that in every aspect of art. There are new ways of interpretation, new methods, new supplies at our fingertips. But when you think about it honestly, there are very few things that are actually original. Nearly everything is just a "variation on a theme."
One of my first quilts was this kaleidoscope quilt. I "borrowed" it from a little 3-inch picture in a quilting magazine.
This is my newest variation on a kaleidoscope theme. It will have narrow sashing between each block (not sure what color yet--I was just had this blue strip handy) and the Kona snow should form a secondary pattern.
It's a combination of a quilt I saw in a quilting magazine from 2004
(from QNM, 9/2004, "Sashed Batik Kaleidoscope" by Addy Harkavy and Sandi McCann)
I'm not the person who designed the kaleidoscope block, nor was the designer of the 2004 quilt or even Kathy Doughty. But good for all of us to come up with our own unique variations.
So my point (and I do have one) is that we should never have to apologize to ourselves or anyone else for what we create. And we should be kind and considerate when viewing what someone else has created. Because most of it is just another variation on a theme.
Things I'm not apologizing for:
*Not being able to complete a quilt in a week...or a month. I'm doing everything at my own pace and I'll be okay with that.
*Not participating in any more quilt block swaps after my current quarter of 3x6 swap is completed. I will have 12 orange, grey and white blocks by then. I already have six that I'm really happy with,
but I have a lot of ideas in my head and I don't want to be distracted by time obligations.
*Still really liking Sherbet Pips,even though due to the blogging frenzy before it was available, I preordered, forgot how much I preordered, and over-purchased (see below).
*Still loving the first pattern I designed and published, Charm Parade. At times, it seems that nearly everyone (but me...) makes a certain quilt once, and then never wants to make it again. So far I have made this quilt at least seven times, each one a little different from the others.
I still have more variations I want to try. For example, what would it look like done in all solids? I won't know until I try it. Who knows? Maybe I'll be like Rachmaninoff and make 24 variations of this theme.
*For loving Flea Market Fancy and paying some outrageous prices to add it to my stash.
*For being glad I'm in the Single Girl Quiltalong because I've learned a lot, from making way too many templates to increasing my skill at curved piecing.
*Keeping my stash of batiks (gasp) because they are bright. And I like them.
*Keeping that weird piece of green fabric. I may never use it. But then again, it might be the perfect fabric in some yet-to-be-designed quilt.
*For finding inspiration from the many quilters who are generous with their ideas, designs, where they find their inspiration, and are willing to share it with others. *Writing my blog the way I want to write it and not comparing myself with anyone else (which isn't always easy). Many times I have said I write, but I'm not a writer. Whatever. Turns out I enjoy documenting my quilting journey, along with a few other things along the way. And I hope you'll be along for the ride because you want to be, not just because you want to win a giveaway (see below).
What? You're still here?
Well, then... I love Charm Parade. I have three charm packs of Sherbet Pips, and I only need one for the quilt I'm planning. Yeah, I know. Pre-ordering frenzy. For a copy of Charm Parade and two charm packs of Sherbet Pips, leave a comment before Thursday at 6 p.m. PDT about whatever you feel like commenting on--the weather, something that inspires you, a favorite color, a flower that poked through the snow. And if you are so done with Sherbet Pips, no apologies needed, we can substitute something else. I have lots of charm packs hanging around. And I'm not really feeling the need to apologize for the size of my stash...
Let's just start out this post with a lot of color, shall we? By now you won't be surprised to find out that all those dots in all those happy colors make my heart start beating a lot faster!
Did you see that number? 105 Kona cotton solids at Marmalade Fabrics. 105!!!
I am so pleased to introduce Tammy Vasser of Marmalade Fabrics. I'm proud to have her as the first sponsor here at Live a Colorful Life. Have you been to Marmalade Fabrics yet? Tammy has an outstanding selection of fabrics. She has steadily been increasing her selection of the new fabric love of my life--solids. I'm still trying to slow my heart rate from the thought of 105 colors!
You can choose from some of these yummy stacks that Tammy has put together, or put your own selection together.
I love Tammy's shop. I have never failed to receive superb, personalized customer service from her. From fat quarters to yardage, free shipping on orders over $50, super speedy service.
I'm a huge fan of Saffron Craig's fabrics from Australia, but sometimes it takes a while to find it here in the States. Tammy was one of the first to carry Saffron's new line, Magical Lands. She notified me practically the minute she had it listed in the store, and it arrived in my mailbox a couple of days later.
She also carries another favorite of mine, the new line by Ty Pennington:
And if you are a Joel Dewberry fan, Marmalade is the place to shop:
Did I mention that she carries nine colors of Essex linen/cotton? And that it comes in orange?? I have mentioned how much I love orange, right? Um, probably once or twice...
Speaking of orange, can it be a fluke that my first sponsor's logo is orange? I think not!
I hope you will take the time to head over to Marmalade Fabrics today or this weekend and do a little shopping.
And you will NOT want to miss this: at a content life, Tammy's blog, she is giving away a full dozen (eek! 12!) Kona solid fat quarters of the winner's choice!
What are you waiting for? Go over there right now!
I had this weird idea the other day. Mark's eyes kind of glazed over when I told him about it. A few minutes ago I finished reading the Blue Elephant Stitches blog post, "writing while pinning," where she says: "I often find myself thinking in the form of writing, and I can write some quite interesting, informative, well-thought out and even witty stuff in my head... but you'll just have to take my word for it, cause it rarely gets any farther than that."
I do the same thing. Usually in the shower. Or if I wake up in the middle of the night. Usually those middle-of-the-night ideas sometimes seem weird in the light of day. This may be one of those very ideas. But I'm going to go with it anyway.
I don't even know why I was thinking about birth order character traits. Mark and I have one son. Clearly not an issue for us. But it's still interesting to read about different traits children may possess based on their "place" in the family. At the same time, I was kind of obsessing over fabric by Denyse Schmidt, probably because I just finished Pop Beads, my quilt top using Flea Market Fancy, and I've got two quilt tops in the works using Hope Valley. I came super late to the whole FMF party. And as I mentioned, I have paid more than I care to admit to build my collection. Why? Because I really REALLY like it. I like a lot of fabric lines, but this one probably tops the list.
Pretty much missed out on Katie Jump Rope too, so I've been collecting that as well. And I like it. Not as much as FMF, but KJR is pretty social and plays pretty well with FMF.
When Hope Valley came out, at first I was kind of "ehh, whatever" about it but she has really grown on me.
When Denyse's latest line came out, well, I'll be honest, I have not purchased a single fat quarter of it. I've seen some cool quilts made with it, but I think was more intrigued with the quilt design than the fabric. (My apologies to all of you who consider it one of your favorites.)
I don't know why the birth order traits correlation (from here) popped into my mind, but here goes:
Flea Market Fancy (the first-born child): natural leader, high achiever, organized, bossy (not sure about that but someone was telling me to buy, buy, buy!), adult-pleaser. "First-born children desire control and they will typically become a compliant nurturer or a more aggressive mover and shaker." Seems pretty accurate. I don't believe I have seen any other fabric lines that caused a a write-in campaign to Freespirit Fabrics begging them to reprint. But they decided to move on...
Katie Jump Rope and Hope Valley (the middle children): flexible, easy-going, social, peacemakers (or substitute piecemakers!). "The middle child(ren) will demonstrate the greatest variety of character traits, but they will usually be opposite of their older sibling."
Greenfield Hill (the last child--although I'm sure this only temporary until the next "child" comes along): risk-taker, creative, self-centered, competitive, bored easily. "They are also often driven to catch up with their older siblings and follow in their footsteps." We'll see.
If you are still here, then I think you deserve a little compensation for your attention. So how about the scraps from my Pop Beads quilt?
What makes our hearts race a little faster when we see certain fabric is so subjective. That's why we sometimes have to perform CPR on our credit cards (to quote a commenter from yesterday).
Here is the question to answer: Where do you fall in the birth order in your family? Any characteristics you feel like sharing with the rest of us? You can also comment on whether or not this was too weird a topic that I should have kept to myself, but it won't give you an extra chance at winning. (hehe)
I'll pick a winner on Saturday at 6 p.m. PDT.
ETA: I mean no disrespect whatsoever to fabric designers or fabric lines. I'm glad they are out there designing fabulous fabric for us to work with, something I myself could never do. I also realize the pressure to do something different and wonderful each and every time must be phenomenal. I have just been spending a lot of time with these specific lines lately, and my mind kind of went off on a little tangent.
Yes. I DID. I know it says in my bio over there on the right side that I buy fabric just for the selvages. Really that has only happened once or twice. And fortunately the selvages have come attached to fabric that I really liked. Case in point.
When I made the pincushion for Amanda Jean of Crazy Mom Quilts, it was a little tricky to find the word "crazy" on a selvage. To illustrate how compulsively I read selvages and am familiar with fabric lines, I knew that Robert Kaufman had a line called "Crazy for Dots and Stripes." I didn't own any of the fabric, but I went to my LQS and there it was.
And I happen to be crazy for dots and stripes, so it was a win-win.
But yesterday, I bought a whole yard of fabric that I don't like much probably won't ever use, just for one word. And I can't even tell you what the word is. Yet. Because it's a surprise for someone. I'm so excited I was able to find that one word. Even if I probably won't ever use the fabric.
However, I realize everyone's taste in fabric is different, and I know that some of you out there might never use some of the fabric that is my favorite. So if you think you might use this fabric, let me know and it could be in the mail to you. After I receive it. And cut the selvages off.
Disclaimer No. 1: This post will be fairly picture-heavy, but unbelievably, no pictures having to do with actual judging. What was I thinking?? Disclaimer No. 2: I have blatantly taken all these pictures from Sharon's, Jill's, Katie's and Toni's blogs without their permission. But I know they love me. So I'm assuming they won't sue me.
We were in Shafter, California, this weekend so Mark could be one of five judges for the local competition of Distinguished Young Women. This was formerly called America's Junior Miss. I used to think it was like the practice competition leading up to Miss America or something. Definitely not the case. It is based on many factors: scholastic achievement, physical fitness, talent, poise, and self expression, and it was called Junior Miss because the girls were in their junior year in high school.
When Mark and I started having college kids over for Monday Night Football in 1996, eventually we found out we had not one, but two, former winners of the the Shafter Junior Miss competition coming to our house every Monday night.
(Jill, Shafter's Junior Miss 2001, and Jason)
(Toni, Shafter's Junior Miss 2002, and Peter)
Over the years, Mark has tried to convince Jill that he would make an excellent judge. She always laughed that off. (If you know Mark, I'm sure you are saying to yourself, "Duh, go figure...") Turns out there was an opening for a judge this year. Turns out Mark's wish came true.
He was one of five judges, and spent Friday afternoon and evening in an individual interview process with each contestant and then the program last night, where they judged everything else. He was well prepared, having carefully studied each girl's application, and then watching some DVDs from previous years, getting judging pointers from Jill.
This is an excellent program, and each girl is a winner. Maybe not being one of the girls who actually wins the title, but winning greater confidence and poise. Mark enjoyed being one of the judges, and if asked again next year he would definitely say yes.
While he was being all "judgmental," I got to go on a house tour of sorts. We stayed with Jill's parents. They have been doing a lot of updating (Sharon has posted a lot of cool pictures--check out her "home tour" posts), and this was the room we stayed in.
It felt like an upscale hotel. Thanks, Bob and Sharon!
Next up, Jill's brother and sister-in-law, John and Katie's house. They have done a lot of updating as well. When I read Katie's blog, I get a lot of crafty ideas,
decorating ideas,
and yummy recipes.
Finally, this morning, Mark and I stopped at Toni and Peter's house. I read Toni's blog all the time, too, and they have transformed their home as well. Seems to be a lot of that going on in Shafter lately. Toni has achieved the "look" I would love to have in my own home.
Toni also loves to cook so, like Katie and Sharon, she posts recipes that are definitely worth checking out (and she takes such beautiful pictures of them).
It was a very fun weekend. Fun to attend the competition and to connect with out-of-town friends we don't see nearly often enough.
Remember how I have posted some pictures that Mark takes while he is actually driving? I witnessed my first "drive-by (photography) shooting" on the way to Shafter, but I'll have to post it later (after I can find the cable to his camera...)
Finally, if you haven't had a chance to stop by and say hi to Carla and help her celebrate her first blogiversary, please do. And you still have time to come back and comment here for a chance to win a pincushion.
Tomorrow (hopefully), a sneak peak at what I'm working on...
