Not as quiet as I have been..but still being quiet

While I am "being quiet" I have managed to buy some fabric at a little shop or two. Here are the images of the fabrics. I tried to step outside my comfort zone in choices...but I had to have the bright colors in at least TWO of them. The orange is waaay outside my comfort zone, but I can see it working beautifully when the right project comes along. So without further ado I present the fabrics!


The orange is a border fabric that is a large design that runs along each edge. You cant see all the design in this picture though.



I have to say that I didn't realize until I got in from shopping that only ONE of the fabrics is NOT floral. I have a nice flower theme going here.

Disappearing Act

Hi Folks, I am about to do some great "magic" and disappear for a few days from posting. It is a big secret but I will be telling you all about it later. Meanwhile, I will leave you with a few of my paintings to look at.
First, an old car that I painted for a nephew:





A hint:


And finally the painting that hangs in front of my desk at work. I have several of my original artworks hanging throughout our office space.

Quilt Festival -my favorite quilt

Amy at Park City Girl is holding a online quilt festival. So of course I am entering. Did I mention that there are prizes? Yeah, so you should go enter too.

My favorite quilt, is the first one I ever made. I gave it to my niece to take with her to college. Actually, I made it just for her. I used a few different block patterns, most of them easy since I was so new at it. I think it came out great. At the time, I thought I could free motion quilt a big quilt like that on the little machine I had at the time. After ripping out a few attempts- and approaching a deadline - I tied this quilt. Yes, I know that some people like to play "quilt police" and will say that it isn't a quilt. BUT IT IS.



I still think it is lovely.

Edited to add: Yes my niece loves it. It stays on display in her dorm room and has been to a picnic on the beach. (I made it to use so I am glad to see that she is using it.)

Lucky, lucky boy! And more......

I am the lucky lucky boy It seems I was one of the lucky ones to win a prize at Soggy Bottom Flats blog. When I first saw her post it only said "Huge Moda Giveaway" Well sir, (and ladies) that certainly got my attention. I entered. (and I do apologize, cause I forgot to tell all you lovelies about it) (hey were did I pick up that British accent? more on that later, if I remember.)

Later she posted that the prizes were going to be 1. A Moda Jelly cake, 2. Bananafana and Pink Fig patterns 3. Some "to dye for" batik half yard cuts. Wheee...now I am more excited.

So when she posted the winners..and I saw MY NAME, I did a happy dance. The lovely prize arrived today.



Yes, a Tranquility jelly cake by Moda. Mmmmmmm..good enough to eat..but no..better to sew with.

Now about that "British accent:" Last night a friend posted a link to Susan Boyle on Britain's Got Talent. The link will take you to the YouTube video. If you don't have tears in your eyes when it is over, you are tougher than I am.
I was as shocked when she started singing as Simon was. (I am ashamed of that, I try to not pre-judge anyone, but sometimes that human nature takes over.) Anyway, I have watched it LOTS of times by now. And when I hear a British accent and turn of phrase, it seems to switch on something in my brain. My one trip to England, many years ago, was a true joy. I wish Miss Boyle lots of success. She deserves it. And I thank her for the music.

Triangle Half String Squares

After playing with String Blocks and making several, I started thinking about making a different design with them. Then in a old book that was given to me, I saw a variation on the string square. It is made from a triangle of solid fabric and then so strips over the rest of the square. The one in the book had them just kind of random. It didn't appeal to me at all. BUT it turned on my thinking cap. So I sat and 'played' on the computer. This is the design I came up with.
I like the motion and illusion it creates. The color possibilities are endless.....and imagine using a pattern -say a BIG pattern - for the solid areas. What do you think? If you try this design, let me know. I would love to see it.



Size is up to you...but I see 10 or 12 inch blocks. and adjust the number of squares to suit yourself.

Mail Call -

I got a nice package of fabric that I ordered from the wonderful Barb at her artfire shop.
The first picture is of two fabrics that are cotton Samoan prints. I think they go well together, but I am not sure that I will use them together. The navy blues and the whites have a great contrast going in each piece. That will make them easy to use. Ahh the joy of making decisions how to use the fabric.
They are lovely stash additions anyway.



Next up are some blends of fiber. I suspect that they are similar to a broadcloth poly/cotton blend. I probably won't use them for quilting per se, but they will be good for crafting and maybe purse making or for journal covers.
I ordered the big piece (blue with aqua and white print.) I was pleasantly surprised at the two small "bonus" pieces in the package. The one in the lower left corner goes so well with the larger piece. The one in the upper left makes a nice contrast. Hmmm....ideas are churning even as I type this.


Barb, if you are reading and I made any mistakes please feel free to speak up and help me get it right.

Everyone else, go look at Barb's shop. She has added lots of great stuff. I am fighting the temptation to order more! Her prices are really great. I saw a horse panel 36" by 34" for only a dollar.
Thanks Barb.

Wow - A terrific Giveaway

What would you do if you were given 30 Fat Quarters? What are your favorite fabrics?

Oh what easy questions! I can answer those.

Now if you can answer those too, and blog about it with a link back, you can enter and maybe win the 30 FQs. (but wait, I want to win! ) Okay if I don't win, (did I mention that I would LOVE to win) I would be happy if you won.

So what are you waiting for?

Oh. my my. Okay it is at Pigtales and Quilts and she is doing it in honor of her daughter turning 30. Now GO, and tell her Gene sent you.

A lovely prize and what I did with it

Several days ago, I got a package in the mail from Jane's Fabrics. This package was a prize that I was fortunate enough to win. The contest was hosted by Terri at Sew-Fantastic. There were a three prizes given and each one entering was asked to pick the one he/she desired. The third one shown immediately called to me. "OH YES!" I said to myself, "I want that one!"

So enter, I did. I was shocked and thrilled a few days later to find that I had won!

Before the fabric arrived, I had gone back and looked at it several times. I realized exactly why it called to me. Several years ago, I painted a painting that hangs in my bedroom. On an abstract background I joyously painted huge tulips. The tulips are yellow and reddish orange. The background is purple, green and blue. There is a red section that runs thru the painting also.

So, this lovely fabric has a blue background and has flowers on it in red, blue and yellow. There are tulips also. The border print has a nice red section also. No wonder I wanted it, it matches my painting. (okay, it sort of matches.)

I made a pair of pillowcases from the bulk of this fabric, but I have some left for piecework. Joy, Happy!
Here is a picture of the painting (named Transcend, by the way) and one pillowcase.

Surprise Giveaway

My friend Chris at www.welovequilting.com is having a giveaway. It runs the entire month of April. Be sure to go and enter, and tell her "Gene sent me!"

Bound and Determined

No April Foolin' No siree!

I was "bound and determined" to get this quilt finished tonite. (yes pun intended!)

So I sat at the sewing machine and sewed the final part of the binding. I have finished my first "Quilt As You Go" quilt. I am so happy!

This bright beauty goes on my bed! The front and the back are both bright loud colors. This is really a fun quilt. Even the binding is "scrappy" I used extra jelly roll strips that I had in my stash. They all have dots on them so there is a bit of a theme to the binding..but more importantly they are all bright and colorful to go with the quilt.