The Calm Before the Storm and Pet Project Show #15

Some days I have to remind myself that this

is a quilting blog. I know, I know, but while

quilting is the theme, Life, and all its exquisite

details burst through and change me. In turn,

my art and craft are forever changed.

Do the seasons change how we feel about our 

work, too? When the new blooms and shoots

break through winter, our hearts soften--our 

mood lifts. We pause to feel the sun on our 

faces. We think about things to come,

and we make new plans.

 I dream of days in the Swedish countryside 

where flower are blooming. Fika in the afternoon, 

and linens lovingly stitched with traditional details. 

I was ready to practice my FMQ yesterday, and my 

book Swedish Stitch Craft was lying nearby. This

fulfilled my need to express my longing.

Scandinavian Stitch Craft 

by Karin Holmberg

The next morning I was quilting pea pods, and

variations. Notice how the wonky branch is 

another growing thing.

The Pea Pods pattern is from the 

second of Christina Cameli's books,

but I would recommend both to you

as wonderful resources.

First Steps to Free-motion Quilting

Step by Step Free-Motion Quilting

by Christina Cameli

I have been looking for direction lately. I'm 

trying to find my path, and determine my next

heading. I thought I had stumbled onto a 

wonderful possibility this week, but I discovered 

it too late, and all the seats were

filled. I resigned myself to being happy for

everyone else who could go, but threw it out

there to universe. If it was meant to be,

it would be. I got a phone call late yesterday

that they had a last minute cancellation.

Would I be interested?

There was mad scrambling to make sure I 

could swing the logistics, but, 

Yes, I'm on my way today!

Three glorious days to commune with like

souls, and my favorite fabric designer.
I'm SO Hapi!

Pinch me!

I'm sure I'll have some exciting news to

report to you by Monday, if not before. 

Please send me good thoughts this

weekend.

Be sure to stop back for the Pink Doxies

Pet Project Show tomorrow. I can't

wait to see what you've been working on!

Come on, Doxie Girls.

Let's go pack!

Linking up today with~
Crazy Mom Quilts
TGIFF
Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Quilt Shop Gal
WIDTW

Thank you for the link up opportunity!

++++++

It's Saturday, and time for the weekly 

Pink Doxies 

Pet Project Show. 

Add your link here every Saturday. 

Rules

Do we have to have rules? 

No worries! It's EASY.

1. Use the blue 'Add Your Link' button (below left) 
to upload a picture of something you've created 
in the past week. Any kind of handiwork--
share it now! It can be a work in progress, 
finally finished, or even your fab new fabric. 
Whatever it is that inspired you to create this 
week, we'd like to see it here. 

2. Please link to a specific post, and not just your 
blog address. It makes it easy for anyone following 

your link to find the project.

3. Provide a backlink to Pink Doxies with a link in 
your post, or pick up our Pet Project Show 
button in the sidebar. Copy the code, then 
create a Pet Show widget with 'Add by HTML' 
on your Layout page.

-OR-

1. You can link up to your Instagram. 
Click on the Instagram icon at the bottom 
of the link up screen. The URL of your Instagram 
feed will be your link. 
Please hashtag #pinkdoxiespetproject

Either way you link up, remember it's a party 
here, so schmooze with the crowd! Visit others 
who've linked up. Leave a comment so they 
know what you like about their work. 

Don't miss a post! 

Follow me on Bloglovin' or by email. 

The Linky Party starts now, and runs until 
Monday, April 13th at midnight. 

Spread the word, and tell all your stitchy friends.

*The first Saturday party of each month will 
feature several of the Doxies and my 
favorite link ups.
By linking up, you are giving permission for me 
to post your picture with a link back to your 
blog or Instagram account. 

An InLinkz Link-up

Giveaway--Variable Star Within a Star Pillow

I needed something to practice quilting on,

and have been spending lots of time looking
at block tutorials. Caroline at Sew Can She 
has a treasure trove of projects, but I 
especially love the block tutorials and tips. 
This block is the Variable Star, part of her 
Classic Quilt Block series, and I sewed 
it as she did with a block within a 
block, within a block. I'm so thankful for
her wonderful resources she shares.

I experimented with my own color palette,
and, of course, it has some pink. *Should I
repeat this again, I would be more aware
that the second star would stand out better 
with more contrast in the fabric patterns. The 
colors are very similar. Perhaps that subtley does
work as the middle star, but it appears 
a little muddied to me when the others
are so much better defined.

I rarely do this, but that color issue was 
bugging me. I went down all ready to tear out 
the middle colors, but hadn't remembered 
I'd already sewn it together. 
I must have been in the zone!

I made the decision to keep it as it was, and
just see if there would be a way to help
define the floral star points from the chevron
background by highlighting it with a
FMQ pattern somehow. I pushed on.

I outlined the daisies to keep it simple,
and added directional lines to the 
chevron fabric to pull your eye in.
It's more defined than it was before 
quilting--not entirely 'fixed', but I 
do like it! I pebbled the dark grey 
with my Aurifil bright pink, and it 
added texture AND color!

Another thing I tried was adding piping
in the same Riley Blake floral. It helps
the eye focus on the repeated daisy centers.
The back is a simple gingham.
and a long, covered zipper to remove
the insert for laundering.

If you're curious, the prominent 
fabrics are here in the selvages 
I saved, and it will have a tag 
this afternoon, I promise.

This is the Giveaway prize for the 
month, and also a finish for Adrianne's 
Q2 On the Windy Side.
The details are all in the post HERE. I
will mail the pillow without the insert
to the winner anywhere in the world.

Follow the directions in the link 
above, and let me know
the details in an email~
juliebehappy1@gmail.com with any
questions.

You have through April 30th at midnight,
and the winner will be announced on
Saturday, May 2, 2015 with the Pink Doxie
Pet Project Show.

*Please, please be sure to list your email
address if you are a No Reply Sender.
If you are unsure, just list your email
in your message. I try very hard to respond 
to all my comments, but there are times
I cannot as you may have no listed email
on your profile. An email from me is not 
crucial, but I wouldn't want you to 
miss out if you're the winner, though!

Linking up today with~
On the Windy Side
Blossom Heart Quilts
Late Night Quilter Tips and Tutorials
 Freemotion by the River
Show and Tell Tuesday
Quilt Story Fabric Tuesday
Sew Fresh Quilts
Quilting Jet Girl
My Quilt Infatuation
Thank you all for hosting your
link parties!


Time to work.
Come on, Doxie Girls.
Let's go sew.