Friday, December 22, 2017

GEMMA.MY.GEM

I am so blessed to have this cutie pie in my life.  
She is my great-niece and she loves her Aunt Kathy!
 and Aunt Kathy's sewing room!

Just before school started (first grader here)
we worked together to make a fabric bracelet.

She picked the fabric from the scrap bin and the thread

She kept the rows pretty straight
while learning to keep her fingers away from the needle area!
Also gave her a bamboo skewer to use as a stylus...
making sure those fingers were safe!
I added the Velcro for the fastener.

During Thanksgiving break she came to stay the day



and I had a project ready!






Gemma's Momma and Daddy were married on Halloween.



They love everything skulls, skeletons...



I found this Chillingsworth Christmas fabrics.



Just perfect for pillowcases!























Gemma is very good about doing exactly what I tell her.




It took all day, cause 6 year old girls need breaks.
She did most of the sewing for 3 pillow cases.
Well, yes, Gemma needed one too!





She promises not to tell her Mom and Dad...



but that face...may not be able to keep a secret!











Sunday, December 17, 2017

WHEN FRIENDS SHOW UP!

Quilt shows are great...
Having my first solo quilt shows was amazing...
BUT the thing that made it perfect....was not my quilts...
it was...
"when friends show up" 

"Meet the Artist Reception"
Inniswood Metro Gardens
November 12, 2017



Kathy and Jim Guenther
from Cincinnati made the trip to see the show.
Phil and I met them on a cruise 6 years ago
and a friendship was formed. 
Kathy and I have become such great friends!
Quilty companions, fabric fanatics
and travel buddies
(aka Thelma and Louise)


One of my long time friends Linda Craig and her
daughter, Shannon Coil still keep me in their lives...
Since the 1980s

Barb Kelly, a friend from the Columbus Modern quilters
 is there in the background.


Linda and Ron Mash, friends since the late 70s
 have been putting up with me with during skiing, 
football parties and lots of cocktails!


Ron must have told a joke cause Cindy Raines is laughing
 and Tom Raines has that look on his face.
Cindy and I met thru work related technology
but found out partying was much more fun!

Just behind them I spy Cristin Wilson and her son Eli!
Cristin was one of the first modern quilters
 I met here in Columbus. Sew happy I did! 


Oh here is a much better pic of Cristin and Eli!  


If I could pick a daughter...it would be this girl...
Jaclyn Davis 
Another Columbus Modern Quilter who is slowly
inheriting my collection of antique tree toppers.
So happy she came by to offer support
a smile and a big hug!


Faith Haynesworth and Connie Bell have been 
quilty peeps for many years.
We go waaaaay back to Common Threads Quilt Guild.
We have lots of fun at quilt retreats and some local sewing
get togethers!


I was floored when a Regina Edwards walked in.
We worked together at Nationwide Insurance 
25 years ago!  Our friendship remains intact thanks to FB
and thrift store shopping!


Speaking of Nationwide peeps, here is my co-worker 
and very good friend for over 20 years...
we were technology gurus...but friends first and foremost.
Kim Kidwell Gordon
(aka the Gordon Girls)



More friends from skiing, football and cocktail parties
Jim and Ginny Proctor!
When they married a few years ago...of course 
they got a quilt from me!


What fun when Carol Paull and Janis Pryor came in...
more Common Threads peeps...but I also worked
 with Janis at Nationwide...



Vicky Leonhardt is a good friend, who never ceases to
amaze me with her busy schedule and beautiful family. 
She lives nearby and I get to attend their 4th of July shindig!


and here is the other half of that team, Bob Leonhardt
He loves his IPA beers!



Another gardener peep who is always there to support!
Cherie Kaye...is intrigued by the red birds.
We have recently found another love...
Outlander...men in kilts!


Leigh Morgan is always a fun modern quilter, 
who always has a story, a smile, and sometimes IS the story! 
Let's just say she is alot of fun at quilt retreats!


And last but not least, my sweet niece and nephew
 came by to give me some love.  
I don't have a lot of family in town
so having their support is wonderful!
Mellisa and Rob Durrett and Mary (Mom and MIL)




It was a two hour reception and the people flowed
in and out like smooth ocean waves.
Never stopping!

My face hurt from smiling so much.
My heart swelled to almost bursting.

Over 50 people signed a journal and left
comments about my show...I will cherish
all those words...forever!

I can never express how grateful I am
to all those who loved me enough to
take time to see my quilts!
















Sunday, December 10, 2017

GENDER SECRET

A friend commissioned me to make a baby quilt.  
Well that's always fun.
This time the parents DO NOT
want to know the gender of their baby, before birth.

That being said...the challenge was on!
My friend came by to pick out the gender neutral fabrics
from my stash.

Kate and Birdie Bluberry Park


close up of the animals and park scenes



She selected the Perfect 10 pattern...by Swirly Girl Designs
This is one of my all time favorite patterns
and it works up so sweet with a novelty fabric like this!
Check it out 👶


Had some fabric left for a pop of color on the back.




She also wanted the quilting to be a FMQ meander! 
I love this quilting design on a baby quilt,
Cause when it's washed...the crinkles happen!




All done except for the label...
We will all find out the gender next March!




40 years ago, when I was pregnant, 
we never had the option of "knowing the gender"
I am glad, because I think it makes the
whole experience and anticipation...
very exciting!

What about you...do ya want to know the gender?












Sunday, December 3, 2017

KWILTY SHOW

My first solo quilt show has come and gone!
I am reviewing my journal to see what
the visitors had to say about their experience.

Today I will share some photos of the 16 pieces
I had in the show at
Inniswood Metro Gardens
Westerville, OH
November, 2017

Two of my favorite quilt EVER!
COMMA.JUST.COMMA and
CHURNING BY THE SEA


MY ARTIST BIO
it's tough to write something about yourself
so I had a friend fine tune it.


Some of my older wall hangings.
I have been quilting for almost 30 years.

Red Beauty Bird is a simple 9 patch
and an appliqued red bird on a branch




Three wall hangings on the right include 
two flowers that were
Paint Chip Challenges, and an
Autumn Harvest Sampler


Here is a view of the entire wall.
I sold the pink coneflower wall hanging.



This wall shows
Woodland Fairies...SOLD
A Mystery Quilts pattern called Cat's Meow, 
but I named the quilt, Dreaming of Hawaii
(I call this my transitional piece between Traditional to Modern)
Modern quilting had not raised its pretty head yet.

and  a Nested Churn Dash called
"That's My Business"


And this wall featured some of my most current pieces.
Florence the Flamingo
Hattie the Hedgehog
A Charley Harper wall hanging
Charley Harper Chickadees - Swoon Block "hack"
My Ghastlies quilt that was featured 
in the Alexander Henry booth at Spring, Quilt Market, 2017



The emotion I felt once all quilts were hung and I
could see them in one place, was overwhelming.

They spoke to me to say
You are a quilter, you do have talent
and you should continue this journey as long as possible. 
(and your Mom would be so very proud of you)


Thanks for joining me today!
But more important than that...
Thank you for all the support and friendship 
that you have given me in person,
here on my blog and on Instagram!