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!

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!

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?

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!