Good Morning New York!

So ... along with being a shout-out to Sonny Boy and the Mrs. who have a *New York Sunrise* in their life every single day, I just wanted to show you that procrastination didn't exactly pay, but it did eventually pay off. Remember how I put myself under the gun and full of stress when I made a last minute decision to make this New York Beauty quilt to teach? Well, I finished it in time and I must say I'm tickled pink about it.

The pattern is my own but was inspired (as was the quilting) by several quilts I saw in Radiant New York Beauties by Valorie Wells. I'll be teaching *New York Sunrise* in August at Bernina Connection. It's on a Saturday, so I know you all can be there.

You heard me. Be there.

A Pile of Pink Procrastination

So ... I have finally sewn something to blog about (I have actually been sewing my brains out, but I'm not ready to blog about that stuff quite yet) but it comes with a cautionary tale attached. Yesterday morning, while on the treadmill, I started thinking about what I would present that evening at the Teacher's Meeting at Bernina Connection. Most of the classes I teach are "Basics" and I repeat them each time ... hence no need to do anything but paperwork before the aforementioned meeting. However, it's nice to have something new and normally I would have been planning it for at least a couple of months ... or at worst a couple of weeks.

While thinking about it yesterday morning, I realized I had approximately 6.78 hours to plan, prepare and 'patch', that is if I chose not to eat, shower or use the facilities during that block of time. Despite those unpleasant odds, I still decided to go ahead and "whip up" as much as I could, knowing I do have a couple more weeks to actually turn the sample in.

It took me a couple of hours to pick and draft the pattern that I wanted and another couple to make this one measly block. I have a vague idea what it is I will do when other blocks of a similar nature are added to it, a point I was able to bluff my way around while showing off my pseudo-sample at the meeting.

I will say that my pinks and greens drew some oohs and aahs. I was also chided by a few close friends who held completed samples. I vowed (in my head ... not in public) to finish this one with flare and then go on to learn my lesson.

But you've got to admit that the pinks and greens and ... dots ... do make up for a multitude of personal shortcomings.

Right??

Designing /Woman

So ... several millennia ago, I made this Christmas quilt to teach at Bernina Connection, (on Monday, November 3rd from 10 -2 ... if anyone asks) put together this pattern and nearly exhausted/killed myself in the process.

Someday I hope to be in the category of so many quilt designer/pattern publisher/super women/bloggers that I know who enlist the help of professionals to photograph/print their patterns, but for now it's just me and the guy at Kinko's who helps out the do-it-yourselfers ... and is frankly just a little weird.

But ... inspite of all those disclaimers, I am still proud/pleased as punch/tickled pink. I'm taking them in tomorrow to be sold.

At least that is my hope/wish/dream.

A Week in the Life ...

So ... what started out as a few sketches as I sat in waiting rooms in Seattle ....

... plus (almost) an entire week of my life since we returned ... ended up as this!

Finished* with less than 2 hours to spare before I head off to the Teacher's Meeting. It's kind of interesting, don't you think, that I plan to teach others how to make this quilt in 4 or 5 hours? So let me ask you this serious question (as opposed to the non-serious ones that I usually ask, but still want answers to):

When you sign up to take a class ... would you rather commit to a longer class time to be assured of getting more completed ... or does a shorter time grab your attention more, knowing you'll complete it at home anyway?

I seriously want to know.

*This is just the finished quilt top, mind you. Another lifetime will be spent in quilting, binding and attaching the knock-out doorknob.

Embellished Excitement!

So ... the little yellow slips of paper have gone into the proverbial hat (okay, a bowl) and MarySue's name came out as the winner of the GiveAway. Congratulations. I am happy to have my quilt go to a loving home. When you email me with your address, let me know if anyone at your house is allergic to peanuts, because that third package may or may not include something chocolately and nutty.

Once again the ever anticipated "Teacher's Meeting" has caught me unawares, and I am furiously working to get a sample ready to show next Monday (which will be taught this fall at this store.) Boy am I having fun!! Part of that fun has included some experimentation with the many ... many ... decorative stitches on my machine.

The greenery above the door (of my no-cal gingerbread house) is a double dose (reg and mirror image) of stitch #140 on my Bernina 200. The snowflake "buttons" are #642. I used King Tut variegated green. I love, love King Tut thread (40 wt.) for a nice "nubby" look.

So tell me ... do you actually use those decorative stitches on your machine?

Fess Up.

And thanks to everyone for their sweet comments and ... poetry!

Reality Programming

So ... on Wednesday, I came to Stark Realization #1 that I was meaning to make new samples (i.e. small quilts) for two classes I regularly teach at The Bernina Connection. Paper-Piecing and Machine Applique. Ideally those samples would be done by next Monday.

I marched straight upstairs to begin ... only to be faced with Stark Realization #2 that my sewing room had been hit by a tornado and needed major work including some furniture rearranging. (I actually took before and after pictures and was starting to post them until I came to Stark Realization #3 that most people would rather read the phone book than look at them.)

Stark Realization #4? There is no way on earth that I will actually complete one quilt, let alone two, before Monday. However I did complete two charming little blocks and I will persevere as time permits.

If this post sent you straight to the Yellow Pages ... just keep it to yourself. But, you have to admit ... at least I've got somethin'.

"Bountiful" Blessings

So ... you remember this little number?
It now has it's own collection.

I taught the class on Tuesday ... sick as can be ... with no discernable voice ...

And the results were fabulous ... thanks to...

Sandee, who is an experienced sewer and teacher and friend, and served as my "voice" at many points during the class.

Beth, who is also an experienced sewer and first-time-mom-to-be in January. Her belly gave us all good vibes.

And Sue, who is just a newbie among newbies at this and yet look! she kept up with the best of them and did a terrific job.

It was a thrill to see my pattern in different fabrics. (Fyi, Sue and Beth did not pick out their fabrics together. Apparently great minds do think alike.) Also, Sue is planning on putting the borders on the ends instead of the top and bottom and make it into a table runner. I am seriously beginning to question the validity of her "newbie-ness".

Thanks to all. My voice has almost returned. Apologies to those who are a little let down by that last statement.

The Long and Winding Thread

Sooner or later this was going to bring us to the topic of Quilting. It is a path that has been long and circuitous for me.

Warning: This story is long and circuitous too.

It all started some time back in the early 80's when I had 4 children under the age of 6 or 7, and felt it was the duty of all young mothers . . . who were good mothers . . . to be creative, crafty little homemakers. (This involved stencilling fabric and putting it in embroidery hoops with lace hot-glued around the edge and hanging it on the wall in groupings with bunches of dried flowers.) But, I digress.

I did have sewing experience under my belt. Those experiences involved a home-ec teacher named Mrs. Smiley, (who did not) and an all too patient mother who would finish what I didn't after a certain period of time. As the mother of 3 little girls and 1 baby boy, however, I was proud to say that the children had sported a certain number of matching outfits at my hand, until a certain someone (hereafter known as "Mr. Ess" or "PDaddy.") put the ix-nay on the boy matching the girls thing.

But, I digress some more.

My first quilt was pieced on my machine and quilted by hand, all done by reading a magazine article. I still have it. (Actually, this daughter does.) I went back to sewing clothes for the girls and didn't quilt again for a few more years. At that point, I had the unusually bright idea to actually take a class in quilting. My first project for that was a pillow . . . which I do not still have . . . and that is really for the best. I made quilts (from patterns) off and on over the next several years.

In 2001 a good friend of mine -- who taught lots of classes -- asked me to be a part of a "Block Exchange" where everyone makes 12 of the same block (all with a "theme") and then exchanges them so each individual has 12 different blocks to make into a quilt. Then I did a really odd thing. I actually made them into a quilt, which apparently is not the norm. My friend complemented me on that and . . . a monster was born.

Not wanting to appear inexperienced, I designed all of my own blocks for the exchange quilts. At that point, drooling became commonplace for me, the room where I did sewing became a "Sewing Room" and I reaggrivated a herniated disc from sitting in one place so long. In 2003 I went to work at a fabric store and ended up teaching classes there.

If this turned out to be the most boring story in the history of mankind then I suggest that you go watch some paint dry to put things in perspective. As for me, I'm going upstairs to sew.

And I'm wearing a bib . . . 'cause it still makes me drool.