Happy Birthday & True Colors Explanation

Creativite Expression used to be an academic subject in this house. It's now used for other purposes, but my kids continue to make me smile every day. Don't you love this? I do!

Today is my birthday, and the last of the 40's. 

Collaborative Design 3,400 Miles Apart

Today was wonderful! I had a nice chat with a friend before my breakfast, but she must have already had her lunch by then. It was just getting light here. Such is my life of late, and the beauty of new friendships. There is such community among quilting bloggers, and few considerations for what time zone you live in let alone which continent. I'm so lucky to have found Ann at Anniemac Originals, a Canadian living and blogging in Italy. 

The One Year Journey of a Quilting Blogger

Me, Julie, the Pink Doxie Mama

This post has been turning in my mind for a month. I joined the 2015 New Quilt Bloggers in June as a way to hone my blogging skills and meet others. We've covered the gamut of topics in our Facebook group, and I've enjoyed being introduced to both the new blogs, and the real voices behind them.  

As Exciting As Watching Flannel Dry & The Pet Project Show #28

I'm so tempted to try out these new colors!

It's fun when your friends call asking, "What gorgeous thing did you get to sew or quilt today?" And you say, "I drove an hour on the Interstate to shop for thread, and I did an experiment on drying flannel." I lead a pretty fabulous life, don't I?

2015 MQG Flimsy Finish for Riley Blake Designs

Just a One Shot Wonder today. My design for the 2015 Modern Quilt Guild Challenge for Riley Blake Designs is together this morning at last. I hunkered down yesterday, and finished the main body. The final borders were attached this morning after debating those geometric corners. I got by with a little help from my friends giving their opinions. I think they made a good call, don't you?

"Quilt-opedia" Book Review

Quilt-opedia by Laura Jane Taylor

All of us have seen books that promised how wonderful they were. We've paged through them, and they looked like they would be good, but later turned out to be proper shelf decorations. I hate wasting my money like that! Don't you? Then let me introduce you to a great one today.

One of My Original Mission Statements

One of my intentions in starting Pink Doxies was to inspire people to sew. Why? Sewing time has been shared for centuries all over the world creating common ground for conversation and relationships. We stitch and we chat. Sometimes deep, meaningful conversations, and sometimes just about the weather and mosquitos.

I spend a fair amount of time reading and thinking about social behavior, and the reality is it's become harder for us all to form acquaintances and friendships. I won't get into all the reasons because they are different for each of us, but In-Real-Life personal relationships are important to our well-being. They validate us, and make our lives more meaningful. Online friends are very valuable--like so many of you are to me, but there is nothing like a spontaneous hug from a friend. A hug with intent makes the poppycock in our lives slip away, if only for that one moment. It's amazing therapy!

My Search for an All Around Reference

I encourage and help many brand new sewists. The greatest gift I can give is a good experience their first time out. I'm their personal cheerleader. After they've learned basic skills like how to run their own sewing machine, etc., most want to start a project right away. Can you blame them? It's pure magic when you sew your first seams! Most of the questions from that point on can be answered easily, or better explained, by a book with excellent pictures and tutorials. Up until just recently, I was unable to recommend one.

I am so tickled by this book, and will tell you it's true to its promise. It says on the cover, "The only quilting reference you'll ever need." Yes, it is that good. If you're going to buy one book to get yourself or someone else going, and want to cover 99.9% of your questions, this is it. 

I made a rough list of everything I could think I would cover with a newer sewist. Not one thing was left out, and oodles more were covered. The photography within the book is bright and colorful, and the fabrics are modern. Newer techniques like machine binding are covered right along with hand binding. Spiral, lay-flat binding is icing on the cake in my version of Quilt-opedia, but a paperback version is available here, too.

This was a book I purchased on my own, and my honest impression and review. I received no compensation to review it. The links I've given are to Amazon, and if you choose to buy through clicking them, I will receive a small compensation. With that in mind, it's an amazing book, and I do hope you support this quilting author. She's given us a great reference book, and the first one I will tell my newbies to go buy.

Linking up with~

Needle and Thread Thursday

Quarter 3 Sign Up for On the Windy Side

#1 Moda Modern Building Blocks

Posting all my UFOs or WIPs for the Quarter 3 Finishes with On the Windy Side makes me feel like I'm pinning my skivvies to the clothesline in my front yard. I'm just the tiniest bit embarassed, but it is definitely motivating. I want these to disappear. Wouldn't it be neat if I had none of these left by October 1st? 

They are all quilts or wall hangings so no explanation is necessary. I'm just going to give each one a number today.

#2 Blue blocks

#3 Red Strip quilt



#4 Modern Traditions quiltalong

#5 Improv piecing from Amy Butler Retreat

#6 Tula Pink X's and O's

#7 Love block quilt

#8 Circus quilt

#9 Mrs. Bannister's Stars

#10--2015 MQG Challenge

#11 Allison Glass 9 patch

Gosh. There were 11, and honestly I hid a few so I wouldn't be tempted to throw them in. I'm motivated! Keep me honest, and working through them, okay? And I'll be sure to give you little reminders, too, to keep you on track.

And now I'm off to sew a bit before the Canal Quilter's Guild meeting tonight. I hope to chat with you on Instagram.

Come on, Doxie girls.
I have to get sewing!

Linking up with
Patchwork Times
Q3 Finishes On the Windy Side