October #BraveQuilter Wrap Up Linky Is OPEN!

Someone will have a merry Christmas quilt!

The season is shifting quickly here in Ohio, and it is easy to think we will soon be in winter. The quilt above is one of two destined to be under a Christmas tree. That is a telling sign. 

Twin Quilts from the Darling 'Clementine' Collection

A Darling Fabric Collection

When the Clementine collection from Heather Bailey came out, I knew I had to have it. It was girly, graphic, folksy, and ageless. In other words, it had great potential as to what I could use it for, and who would like it. Family friends approached me about making matching quilts for 4 year old twins, and I knew right away it was a perfect match. I had met these sweet girls last summer on a walk, and they loved everything about the outdoors, and they loved PINK!

Pieced Pumpkin Patch: Eerie Nights Blog Hop Giveaway

Welcome to Pink Doxies--
and one stop on your Eerie Nights
Blog Hop today!

 

When Marian at Seams to Be Sew asked me if I wanted to join in a Halloween hop, I was all in. The hop is sponsored by the Fat Quarter Shop, Aurifil, Timeless Treasures, and Quilter's Dream. Enter the Rafflecopter drawing at the end of this post, and each of the other 4 blogs listed for your chance to win your own fabulous treats! Because of scheduling conflicts, Amy at Sew Incredibly Crazy is hosting in lieu of Marian. Thank you both. 

Happy Mail & Eerie Nights

Grocery Bag from Busy Hands Quilts

I love a good link party, and a newer one that I sincerely appreciate is over at Busy Hands Quilts. I am not someone who places the greatest value on a finish, and many link parties have focused on this one criteria. I would much rather surround myself with people who value the process over the end product, and that group is growing. When I saw Myra had a link party called, Finished or Not Friday, I let her know how much I personally appreciated it.

How to Talk to Your Longarmer & Eerie Nights Hop

"Quilt it however you decide."

Those are five words that stop me in my tracks as a longarm quilter. It's like telling your beautician or barber to cut off as much of your hair as they choose. How much is too much?

I will tell you it is often just as hard for a longarm quilter to make a decision about the quilting as it is yourself. Being able to share some ideas--even if they are what you don't want, will go a long way toward a good plan. It is likely you have some kind of idea about what you think your quilt needs or what you value most in fine quilting. Do not be afraid to tell your longarm quilter your thoughts.

Finished Mini Round Robin

2016 Mini Round Robin

Quilted and bound, but label-less. 
Finished, but technically not done.

Regardless of the fine points, this project is off the WIP list. 

Halloween Quilt & Eerie Nights Blog Hop

No, you're not lost! 
I'm working out of my comfort zone, 
and trying a more traditional design.

I have to chuckle to myself because I have succumbed to quilter's peer pressure. At last weekend's retreat, I watched as my friends picked up fabric in the stores. Not just what they bought, but what they needed to touch. It was not necessarily what I would have chosen, or in my color palette or style. I normally choose brighter hues, and silky smooth fabrics like Art Gallery and Michael Miller solids are glorious to me. But I saw fingers touching wovens, flannels, and fabric printed to resemble burlap. (Burlap=chills!, and I am allergic to all jute products.) Texture is a big deal for me, and I started wondering if I avoided more traditional fabrics because I associated them with certain textures.

Hosting QBIR: A Quilter Bloggers' Retreat

Quilter Bloggers' International Retreat

This past weekend I was honored to host the first QBIR in my studio. We all snickered to say it was international, but we had indeed included Canada. From my perspective, it was a smooth, successful weekend. Visit the blogs of the attendees (links at the end) to get their own take, but I thought I would give you my insight as to what it took to orchestrate the event. My hope is by sharing this that more people will consider it an option for themselves.

#BraveQuilter Winner for September & October Link Up OPEN

Welcome back to the #BraveQuilter link party!

Although anyone is welcome to link up, four quilters completed the challenge for September, linking up at both the beginning and end of the month. 

Using a random number generator, Angie at A Quilting Reader's Garden was chosen. She will receive a custom dyed bundle of fabric made here in my studio, and the "Be Brave" cup up above. Congratulations, Angie, and cheers to everyone who joined the challenge!

And now it's time to open 
the October link party!

September #BraveQuilter Wrap Up Linky is OPEN!

 Happy October! 

We can finally feel a little chill in the air, and morning comes later. Around here farmers are quick to harvest corn and beans during dry spells since fall rains have moved in. One nasty storm days ago knocked out our internet/cable so I have had to improvise this week wherever I could find a connection. We are in line to be restored when they get to us, but no promises. (And now you know the rest of the story. A part of me is actually enjoying the time of being unconnected for a few days, but my apologies for the #BraveQuilter party.)

Secret Sewing Becomes Secret Quilting

Can You See the Loose Threads?

Obviously, I could not before I took the picture or I would have removed them. They were from the first round of stitching that I did in the morning, and ripped out in the afternoon. I've had a lot of indecisiveness while designing this project.

Can I say up front that I don't do well with this Secret Sewing concept? I'd love to show you more, but the Hop isn't until January. If you're going to the Fall Market, this piece will be there. I've let a few dear friends see what I was involved with, but other than that I've been mum. This is the first quilt I've made entirely out of batiks so let me pass on a few things I've encountered.

2 A.M. Stitching Tips & Secret Sewing

Tickling the Ivories 

or 

Quilting the Piano Key Border

Have you ever taken in so much in just one day you felt like a different person when you fell into bed? I had one Aha Moment after the next yesterday, and was so geared up I could barely eat supper. Seriously, me not eat? You can read about my first experience batiking with a tjap over on "One More Thing Before I Dye." Not eating meant I woke up starving at 2 A.M., and I quilted the next 2 hours until the family started getting up for work.

Announcing "One More Thing Before I Dye"

Divide and Conquer
the Fog

Pink Doxies has been a mysterious blog lately. I've been asking myself, "Am I a quilter blogger or an art blogger?" The answer was confusing. It's seems I'm both. This blog will remain Pink Doxies, and be devoted to the original concept of creating colorful, original quilts and sewing, and the new sister blog to my growing artistic passion. I think I can explain it best by redirecting you to One More Thing Before I Dye.

I would love to have you pop in for a moment, and say hello!

Linking up with~
Midweek Makers
WOW at Ester's Blog
Sew Fresh Quilts

Fall Quilts, Wool, and Wool Dyeing In the Microwave

Transitions

Summer has unofficially become fall here, though the calendar says it's still over a week away. It's 54 F this morning, and I'll have a cool studio today. I confess that sweltering heat does not bring out my creativity, and also that I've taken a little hiatus while coming to terms with my art and craft. Both points have made it more difficult to return to the studio daily, though I'm in and out. It's not an excuse, and there's no reason for me to apologize. It just is. You know, I'm finding that makes more sense to me recently. 

Vintage Slow Stitching

The Luxury of a Slow Stitching Project

An upcoming long weekend away had me nervous for lack of a project to take along. I improvisationally pieced some simple log cabin blocks the night before. Though the project was started at the 11th hour, the idea had been brewing the whole week long. Something simple. Something graphic. Something old.

Round Robin Final Border and a Round Robin Link Up

Cindy's Block from Stitchin At Home

It's the final round for our Round Robin, and I think it's spectacular to see all 4 finishes. 

Cindy did the original center, and it arrived to Sandra at MMM! Quilts. Sandra added the surrounding border, and mailed it to Tish at Tish's Adentures in Wonderland. Tish mailed it to me, and I thought, "How in the world will I do this?" I wasn't alone. I think we all had a superb exercise in design!

#BraveQuilter for September Is OPEN!

Slow Stitch Project

This week has been a push every day. I've been sticking to a list of things that need to be done, and it's been working. Staying on track can be hard when there are so many distractions, especially when you're surrounded by tempting fabrics. But we have a weekend break coming, and I had nothing portable to take and stitch. I kept thinking of these beautiful blue cottons I'd recently dyed, and my growing stash of feed sacks. Throw in some vintage buttons, and it just seemed to feel good together.

What I Did Last Summer

Pinned and ready for many glorious 
evenings of hand quilting!

Summer's Accomplishments

I feel like I've spent my summer as a true holiday. Not R&R, but catching up. There are still many things on the long list, but we've powered through some Herculean tasks. Tree removal from the Emerald Ash Bore--6 mature trees, house and property restoration, and so on. Nothing that was neat and tidy, and it all spilled over onto the rest of lives. Piles of things in the house were designated by project, and that was disruptive in itself. I'm happy to report the chaos is about 80% contained now.

Deconstructed Screen Print on Fabric Finish

'Macrophytes'

14" x 16.5"

This piece was created using a deconstructed silk screen process with Procion MX dyes, and Kona cotton. It is color fast. It was stitched by hand with a variety of Prescencia cotton thread, which has a subtle sheen. The backing and binding are also made with hand dyed Kona cotton here in my studio. It is available for sale for $140. A hanging sleeve will be added at the purchaser's request, and in their preference of orientation.

Shipping in the Continental U.S. is included. Contact information is below.

Hunting Down and Caring for Vintage Textiles

"Button, button. Who's got the button?"

Did you play this game as a child? I did. I also passed many hours sifting through my mother's, grandmother's, and even great-grandmother's button tins. Mind you, most were not new. They had previously lives on garments worn years, and maybe the century before my hands touched them. Many were nicked and scarred, but still had usefulness left in them, so they were removed in the hope they could be reused.