Pet Project Show #8

I'm ready for some serious stitching today!

Happy Saturday!

A special greeting for all of you who are

#NotAtQuiltCon:(

Can we make this a hashtag?

Seriously?

Effy's super disappointed we couldn't go.

Just joking! 
I've loved the Tweets and

the Instagram shots, and I'm living 

vicariously while the snow piles up here.

Keep them coming, please!

Add me to your feeds~

Julie Stocker on Twitter.

PINKDOXIES on Instagram.

Keep me in the loop!

Falling Star Pillow Finish

Do you remember this Falling Star block I was 

working with a few weeks ago?

I thought it would make a quick practice piece for FMQ,

 and decided I should turn it into a mod pillow.

I inserted a covered zipper in the back to make it washable.

The black and white hatched fabric

is from JoAnn's, and teams nicely with everything.

I'm So Jealous! Would You Look at Her Curves!

That was me. 

I was green with envy when I saw

quilters turning out blocks with curved piecing.

I loved it, but I already knew I couldn't do it.

I've sewn my share of little puffed sleeves on baby 

dresses, and fitted skirts round table toppers. 

Neither were on my list of, 

"Let's do that again soon!"

So, when I knew I had to learn to sew curves 

for piecing, I honestly dreaded it. 

I was pretty darn sure it was never going to be 

My Thing.

How to Put a Sleeve on a Wall Hanging-a Better Way!

Have you ever seen a wall hanging that was 

absolutely stunning, except for how the dowel created 

a curvey bump in the top?

I have, and it just made me cringe.

Your eye goes toward any change in the plane.

The Devil's in the details, folks! 

Don't slap the last bit together

just to say, "I'm Done!"

We're ALL guilty at some point.

Giveaway Winner and Sunday Stash

Color Theory from Moda

I have to admit that this collection got a 

cursory glance while shopping online 

this week. I liked the palette, 

but sometimes cyber shopping doesn't 

quite measure up to your LQS experience. 

Such was the case when I saw it in person.

The colors were gorgeous, and it felt luscious!

But was it worth the splurge?

I put a little 'Still Shopping' tag on it, and 

kept looking.(Okay, there was some pink in it, 

but it was soo much better in person.) 

I finally came back to claim it for my own. 

Be Mine Valentine! Pet Project Show #6

Happy Valentine's Day!

Remember all the Valentine parties 

when we were kids?

Lots of sweets and paper,

and decorated boxes.

My grandmother was a saver,

and saved these wonderful 

Valentine's of my father.

Most are from the late 1930's

into the early 1940's,

but I suspect a few are mixed in 

from around 1910 which

were Grandma's own.

Friday Floriography Finish

I am most definitely grateful for Friday!

I pushed all week to get this top done.

This is my last of three baby quilts 

I had lined up, and now it's

ready to quilt.

Winter Sunshine HST Top Finish and Pre-Cut Wrap Up

This reminds me of color prisms 

in the sunshine!

Would you believe I had one extra

unused HST, and no more?

That was lucky!

Upsides and Downfalls of Pre-Cuts

Isn't this just the cutest thing?
It's not my work, but that of Norma at 
Petit Design Co. 
The scrap rat in me loves the color punch it gives.

I'd been inspired by a 

Value Quilt Tutorial 

by 'Sew Katie Did', 

and tons of Pinterest links. 

Stripping the Charm from Pre-Cuts

My HST quilt made with dark and lights is 
coming together. I'm working in my kitchen for 
extra light and table space, and I should have the top 
done early today. I've learned oodles about 
matching points and diagonals, and overall 
it's been a real education in construction 
'Do's and Don'ts.' I'll wait to give you 
all my notes in the finish post.

Pet Project Show #5--Name Dropping

The Doxie Girls and I have been busy sewing these past few days, but one is a project for the Tree Bird Blog Hop coming up in March. For now, it's top secret.

The 2015 Grow Your Blog is still in process. The list is full of blogs covering every interest. I've only made it half way through. One of the most beautiful, original blogs I've come across is Sarah Lizzies. If you want to be inspired, especially just before Valentine's Day, visit this fabulous site.

I have so much fun blog hopping through the week, and joining in all the linky parties. Why? As part of your agreement in linking up, you visit others who've linked up, and build community. It's fabulous! Quilt Along.Net is my go-to site for keeping track of them, and for all the quilt alongs, both current and past. The site grows every week. 

I'm there every day! 

"I See Your True Colors Shining Through": Lighting Problems

Lighting

This is the one most difficult thing I deal with when trying to show what I'm doing. The top photo was done in late afternoon with the light coming from the north. It was not retouched or edited besides cropping. The color is brilliant!

My Valentine's Gift for You

Copyright Pink Doxies-Artistry by Donna Young

Paper Pieced Heart Pattern

How do you give a Valentine to all your Dear Friends-- 

when you've never met most of them, 

and many live on the other side of the world?

Hmmm?

Happy Baby Snapshots

No baby pictures here--just a new quilt in progress using "Snapshots" by Riley Blake. 

I picked up a fat quarter bundle a few months back, but had no ideas for it then. When I found out two of the three babies expected this spring were girls, I knew right away.

Babies aren't little very long. Those of us who've raised a few realize they grow up in a Snap, so I wanted a girly quilt that would grow with her. I introduced some funky solids, and I think it did the trick here.

Show and Tell and Pet Project Show

There have been many occasions lately where someone has asked me if I had a card.

In the age of smart phones, do people still carry business cards?

According to my daughter at university, students there are encouraged 

by professors to carry business cards.

Several other friends said they always cards on their person.

Where have I been?

Jelly Beans and Chocolate

                                               We had a snowy weekend here, 

and I don't know what quilter doesn't translate that as,

"So sorry! We can't make it because of the weather," and

"Hip hip hurrah! I get to stay home and SEW!"

Just don't share that with friends and family.

They won't get it,
and they won't think it's funny!

GROW YOUR BLOG

This is me--Julie, and Minnie, one of the Doxie Girls.

Today is a very special blog post. 

I've joined with Grow Your Blog 2015 along with hundreds of other bloggers. 

Our host is Vicki at 2 Bags Full, and may I say thank you, first of all. 

There are some rules to abide by, so allow me to follow them to a "T",

and then we'll get on to our Linky Party and a Giveaway!

I'm Julie--a Modern Quilter.

I love modern fabric, intense pattern, and improvisational piecing.

I'm all about machine quilting, but occasionally quilt one by hand. 

I would pick a scrap quilt as my favorite 8 days of the week.

 I Dream in Color.

Building a Log Cabin with Fabric

I feel like I've been playing catch-up all week. Whew! 

Today I marked my calendar off just for me, and just to sew. 

I needed a fabric fix in the worst way!

Remember my Log Cabin blocks? Last night I sewed up the pale greens.

 This morning I plunged into the corals...

Buying Fabric

Tokyo Train Ride by Sarah Watts for Cotton + Steel

I placed an order with Fat Quarter Shop last week. It was waiting for me when I made it home Sunday. Oh, Wow!  My taste ran all over, and I tried to rein it in, but the choices were SO TEMPTING!  

Linky Party -Pet Project Show

Christmas palms, and, yes, the berries are really that red! 
I'm off on a get-a-way for a couple days,
and out with my camera to snap some color.

Finish Up Friday

I rarely ever want to make the same quilt twice, but this is an exception.

I'm emotionally drawn to the Depression Era reproduction fabrics, and I blended 

what I had with some solids and recent prints. A few additional prints were 

given to me by the soon-to-be-grandma of the expected baby. 

They blended perfectly,and I used them to make the quilt even more personal.  

Quilt Stats

• 5" tumbler template from Missouri Quilt Co. 
• Sew pieces together side by side, then rows horizontally.
• From fabric selection to a finished top--about 3 hours.
• Used a standard baby quilt size of "Warm and Natural" cotton batting
• Straight quilted with a walking foot on Janome 8200QC. Stitch length 2.8mm following about 1/2" from either side of seams
• Left 'wavy' edges to add to the charm
• Bound with 2 1/4" straight cut binding

Playing with Blocks

I had some time to sew this weekend, and I wanted to jump right in cutting into 
the huge stack of fabric I'd pulled a few weeks ago. 
I'm suddenly intrigued by all the possibilities the Log Cabin block holds. 

100th Post and 1st Linky Party

I had hoped to have this done today, but life takes precedence. I made this wall hanging for my sewing room wall to remind myself that it's not the destination--it's the journey. I have been blessed by all the wonderful people I've met through Pink Doxies and quilting. One hundred posts, and dozens of new friends. Thank you.

I'm Planning a Party! Wanna Come?

I'm proud to say the tote is done. 
The handles are on, and it's ready for service. 
No more travelling in blue Ikea bags for me.
Woohoo!

Selvages and Pieced Oversized Tote WIP

 

Okay folks. I'm smitten. I'm, totally, head-over-heels Gaga over selvages. 

They are like gingerbread on a house to add the final zing.

Orphan Blocks and Selvages

 My sewing room is now 'cleaner', meaning there are still some piles of fabric waiting for another project or two, and, Woohoo! I found my lost ruler! Floors are swept, free of pins, and all table tops are wiped down. Cutting fabric causes a lot of lint and dust, but all surfaces are sparkly now. I was putting away some scraps, and uncovered a stack of orphan blocks. They were made with Kate Spain fabric, and left over from the "Daydream" improv quilt top I did a few months ago. They were begging to be put in a project.

Flash In the Bag

The promised camera bag.

Have you noticed the little changes in Pink Doxies lately? One big one is the Bloglovin' button over there on the top right. See it? You can join Bloglovin' with just an email or your Facebook account. Then you can look for blogs you want to follow--like Pink Doxies, or other great blogs you've never even heard of yet. Bloglovin is searchable, and it's easy to find whatever you're interested in no matter who the blog's host is. They're there. Then each morning an email comes to your Inbox with a daily feed from Bloglovin. All the blogs you've chosen to follow that have posted that day are in it. It's a wonderful way to keep up, and eliminates the need for bookmarking or missing blogs you like.

Salvaged Selvage Bag

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Allow me to prepare you for a wee bit of rambling today, but there are pictures.

New Year's Day was quiet here inside, and very cold and windy out. There was a fire in the hearth, hockey on the t.v., and fast food for supper. I had almost the whole day to sew, and since the year was new, I wanted to try something I'd never done before. Selvages. Wouldn't they look cute on a little zipper bag?

Progress of My Zipper Bag Project

It's early this New Year's Eve morning. I've already been sewing, and put together this little bag. (Ummm. I like it.)This is probably the only end of the day I'll be awake to enjoy. It's never been a big draw for me to stay up until midnight to welcome in the new year. I'm definitely a morning person. But, for those of you who are prepared with your hats and party horns, make a lot of noise, and kiss someone for me. 

Unisex Baby Quilt

I finished this little quilt top this afternoon. I'm SO happy how it turned out. I think it says, "Baby!", and neither girl nor boy. Mission accomplished. That's what I was aiming for. We've got company coming this week to visit, so it might not be a finished quilt by week's end, but I'm shooting for it. It's given me so many more ideas on how to use the Depression fabrics.

Birthdays

We celebrated Christmas quietly yesterday, and today we're on to a daughter's birthday. December is a busy month here. We're part of a rather large extended family, and getting to the point in life where children are marrying, and our siblings and friends are becoming grandparents. It's rather exciting, isn't it? Babies are such a joy to be around, especially when you aren't directly responsible for them, and they go home with someone else!

Fa-La-La-La-La, and I'm Not Done. Are You?

I showed you this little quilt top a few weeks ago made with a Merry Go Round charm pack. The fabric designer is Nel Whatmore for Freespirit Fabrics. It's become a favorite after using it, and one I'll replace for my stash. Very girly and romantic, but modern, too.

One Charley Harper and a Zombie Dog Bed Done

My daughter requested a dog bed for a friend. Could it be something edgy for one very feisty dog? I love the Zombie fabric, and luckily had some leftover in both my stash and scrap bins. They agreed, so I used the same piecing method as the Love quilt. Free-cut strips, and improv piecing. I didn't pay much attention to the layout, but evened up the strips when they were long enough. I was aiming for a 24"x24" top.

No Rest for the Weary

Remember a few days ago when I was looking forward to my week alone with my husband? I was planning to sew my days away with little responsibility, take walks with the dogs, etc. Well, let me tell you, it didn't happen quite like that. 

All week long I've run like a crazy woman. I've refereed more llama disputes than I could imagine, been spit on because I got in the middle, and have had mulitple flashbacks to the early days of mothering 5 kids. The other family dogs came yesterday afternoon for a total of six. Three over 50 pounds, and 3 bad dachshunds. It was a sleepless night while the new dogs got used to regular house noises. We were all up by 4:30. While trying to get medications out for one big dog, the other two played chase in the living room, and took out a lamp. One doxie didn't want to eat, but I coaxed her into it. She then threw up for the next several hours. Oh, dear, I hope it's not contagious. 

(Did I happen to say today's my 27th wedding anniversary?)

So, while I babied the sick dog, the rest have had a couch day. They slept, I finally got the new lights for the tree on, and you can see the little church and Santa finished the decorations. Now it feels like Christmas time.

I did squeeze in a little time to sew.

This is the other pillow top done for dear son's new house. I'll get it all together before he's home from vacation.

This, next, is a Christmas present for the in-laws. It's a dog bed top for their Scout. My mother-in-law has always had a thing for birds, and loves Charlie Harper prints. Harper did a fabric line with winter birds, and it was a perfect match. Some of the fabric was in a panel of sorts, and I had to be creative to work those into a bed top. Two rows go up, and two go down. No matter how the bed is turned, half the blocks are in the correct direction. I think it adds interest to the top. The sashing is a grey with hatch marks.

I quilted the blocks at about an inch apart, and the sashing in between closer to 1/2".

I think his prints give so much character to the animals. 

All six are sleeping hard, and I think I'm going to sneak downstairs alone.

Remember the saying, "Let sleeping dogs lie."

I'm off to sew alone.

My Christmas Mantle and Musings

My "Need to Make or Buy" Christmas list is very small in spite of our family's size, but it still has some big holes in it. I may not get it all done before the big day, but that's still okay. I know there are people who believe the holiday is ruined if the presents aren't just perfect--or complete, but I live in the real world. I don't have little children anymore, and we're all very busy people. Realistically, there isn't always enough of me to go around. Any of this sound familiar? 

Low Volume Projects--Who? Me?

Even I have to snicker to myself when I say that I really enjoy the look of low volume quilts. Super-color-saturated-me! Perhaps it's the yin and yang I crave. I had my first introduction to it with A Month of Sundays by Cheryl Arkison. Also inspiring was Sunday Morning Quilts by Amanda Jean Nyberg and Cheryl Arkison. I think this one book gets pulled off my shelf weekly. I started digging deeper into the low volume theory, and I believe that Malka Dubrawsky was the first person credited with the term, but there are others, too, who were involved in it becoming the trend it is today. Looking at Dubrawsky's work, she's also a strong user of saturated color. So, maybe finding balance is in our nature.

"Tradition!" (said while humming Fiddler on the Roof)

Whatever your beliefs, the Season is upon us, like it or not, and it's here with its many traditions.

I was brought up in a little Mennonite church, in a small town in Ohio. My family had lived there for generations. Therefore, my life was wrought with tradition, most of which I challenged, and much to my grandparent's and parent's chagrin. Some traditions made no sense and didn't 'catch', but others slipped in, binding with my brain and heart, and demanding to be observed this time of year. Combine them with my husband's, those our family adopted, and a Moravian community saturated in them, and we have one really patch-worked holiday here! If marriage isn't a compromise, the holidays are!

Sewing Machine Covers and Ironing Board Redo

What isn't there to love about Saturdays?

It was a whole day to putz in the sewing room. I tidied, dusted, made sure to vacuum off my sewing machines, and put my cover on. It's a good practice to follow as dust is a real enemy to your machine. I made this one years ago, but my new machine needs one now. Something jazzy.

Waterproof Mug Rugs

I suppose I shouldn't start a post by complaining, but I have a pet peeve with ordinary Mug Rugs. If you use them as a coaster on wood and you have a spill, you may wind up with a water ring or even ruined furniture. I need things to be functional--not just 'decorative'. This family really lives in our home, we eat and drink in the front room, and we don't always pay attention. I say this from experience.

Tiny Houses Tiny Trees-Big Reveal

Tiny Houses Tiny Trees

Here's the Big Reveal!