RAINBOWS END NEVER ENDS!

Each time I am in Florida I try to visit...

My Kwilty Partner in Crime, Kathy Guenther

and I made a "Thelma and Louise" trip to  Dunnedin
to shop at the largest LQS in Florida!

Kathy's first visit...and I have been here many times.
Check out this previous post.

I was pleasantly surprised to see 
a good selection of modern designer fabrics.

Zen Chic  - Sphere

...drooling

Cotton & Steel

more Cotton & Steel 

and Liberty of London

FQs were $3.00 each

so I grabbed some C & S that spoke to me

  
More C & S 
and Prisma Elements by AFG



This Geofabulous bundle Maude Asbury's  
was just irresistible!

What to make?  Don't know yet...but

it is colorful party just waiting to happen.

A great assortment of "low volume" fabrics

from many great designers

A "rainbow" of  FQs on display

Pretty modern designed kwilts on display

Yes they still have a sale room with spectacular bargains.

I managed to filter out these fun $2.00 FQs

 I returned home and began refolding my FQs and found

 odd little stickers placed inside each.

Maybe they are anti-theft stickers and shoot dye 

all over the fabric if someone tries to steal them?

The next best stop in Dunnedin is the harbor/marina

Check out this fun guy who greets you!

 Thelma and Louise had a great road trip, 

We were able to have a great time, avoided arrest and 

didn't have to pull our weapons on anyone! 

Yes, there were a few Brad Pitt types spotted along the route

but what happens on the road...stays on the road!

SWAPPY SWEETNESS

It was like Christmas when I returned home from vacation.

I had received these fabulous swap packages!

Schnitzel and Boo Swap

Instagram Swap

Thank you @kathythecraftychemist

You stalked me very well...making my mini to represent 

Scarlet and Gary for my Ohio State Buckeyes

Check out the fabulous kwilting - the Block O

 And that's not all...

She also stalked out  my love of gardening 

with a sweet Flowers sign,

Card making supplies - YES! 

A valentine heart mug rug

  Lots of Stationary Supplies with the letter

 "K" for Kwilty or Kathy - just perfect!

WARNING! Foul Mouthed Maker Ahead!

If you don't like the "F" bomb...move on!

Another really fun and fiesty Instagram Swap was

BithchesGetTheStitches

My bitchy patner was @stitchculture

This quote is from a fav Chick Flick

"Pretty Woman"

And lots of added goodies...fun fabrics

a little notebook and CRAP sticky notes

for all the CRAP I have to do!

I love this package.

A good sense of humor...goes a long way!

And I wanted to add that I now have two GHASTLIES

zippy pouches from various swap partners.

The pink one from @sewbrewtiful as part of a Ghastlies Swap 

year and the Gray Sebastian Dumpling Pouch 

is from @kathythecraftychemist as part of my Schnitzel and Boo Swap.

I will have to mention this in future swaps...

cause it looks like a Zippy Ghastlies collection has begun.

I'm still waiting tote to arrive for the IGToteSwap

Mailing date was Jan 26th.

My swap mama (overseer of delinquent participants)

checked last week and it was being finished "late"

(no kidding?)

So the "down side" of swaps is...

 you are never guaranteed your partner will be timely 

or that you will ever get a swap item.  

While I know there are times that "Life Happens"

Most probable explanation  9 out of 10 times is

"Procrastination Happens"

What are you feelings on swaps? like em? hate em?

Good experiences?  Bad ones (I hope not) !

AIRING OF THE QUILTS...

While I was on vacation in Florida recently, 

I never dreamed I would attend an outdoor quilt show!

Nothing could be more beautiful for me than kwilts, in a park, 

by the gulf coast sea!  

"just - pinch me"

The following photos are taken by me.

I don't know the individual quilters names. 

 I would like to honor their work by giving 

a blanket credit to the Sarasota Modern Quilt Guild.

If you want to know more about SMQG..

here is a link to their site. 

And with these warm memories

 I returned home to cold and snow in OHIO!

SCREAMIN' ORANGE IN A NEST!

You know I luv me some Nested Churn Dash (NCD) blocks.  

A NCD block finsihes at 24" square

Even with a pattern...it takes me some time to

design it with fabrics, the way I want it to look

This was my first...and I luv the

TYPE fabrics that to me waaaaayyyyy back to 

high school typing class!

 I made a couple Ghastlies 

varying the size of the center blocks.

Gifts for swaps and friends.

Another for an IG swap...8 inch square center 

showcases  lotsa  Lotta (Jansdotter) fabric

  

Now I'm seeing ORANGE Ghastlies

all over my design wall.  

My process to make this top has been slow...

I cut all the piece for each NCD

add it to the design wall. 

I stare at them for days on end, add new fabric, 

move fabric around, move centers around

Building the top...til I get this!

Looks a bit wonky but once I start sewing...

the magic happens!

sssshhh...can you hear it scream???

 ORANGE Ghastlies all nested up!

JOURNALS

Do you like to journal?

Handwriting has taken a back seat 
in today's fast paced Internet and social media world.
Makes me kinda sad!

Sew I journal about kwilting
in my COMMA covered journal!

Added a pocket to the front flap.

(not in the tutorial)

I decided to perk up the inside of my journal

to create sections using some of my card making papers

I have a section for my Ghastlies' projects. 

Like the Make Modern Building Blocks

I keep a copy of each block design and note info about them.

Easy, difficult, how many pieces, cuss words 
that relate to  the designs!!!

Special Section for Swaps

Info about the swap on its own page.

Swap name, swap mama, partner info, mailing date, etc.

The Notes Section is a catch all...

Sewing ideas, kwilting designs, technique notes, blog ideas 

shop hop dates, sew in dates 

fabric purchases, patterns...you get the idea!

My fabric covered journal tutorial is here  

A "quilt as you go" technique...

You can use any size pieces you want. 

BE CREATIVE!

 For instance...here I used one large piece of the bra fabric,

inserted a print from Amy Butler and kwilted some lines
to add a bit of texture.

What Ohio State "football" fan wouldn't like this!

Give em a try...They make quick and easy gifts.

I am using my stash for the journals...sew lets add this to

Speaking of stash...I just got this from an IG destash!

 Lotta Jansdotter with a gray solid

an awesome journal cover! and a bag to carry it in!

Do you journal and if so...what do you write about?