Momma would be Proud!

Yesterday I went to visit my friends at the local quilt shop/hangout!  I haven't been there is quite awhile so I had alot of catching up to do.  Got caught up on all the gossip and new going ons around town and what everyone has been up to.

While I was there, Terri told me that Melanie was in the back sewing and was "IN LOVE" with my mom's old Bernina that is now at home there.  I haven't met her before so I was excited.  I went in the back and saw her working away thread painting using  my mom's old machine. "BART" as she calls it, because my mom had engraved her last name on, Barton, after someone had broke into their house.

She is an artist who has just recently discovered fabric and thread painting.  Melanie comes down
just about everyday to sew on "Bart" since she doesn't have her own machine.  She now loves working with fabric.  She is making a "face" quilt for the Downtown Art Crawl next month. She will be the featured artist at the quilt shop.

It is hard to see here, but these are molds of faces.  I can't wait to see the finish project.

I was hesitant to let go of my mom's machine.  She had given it to me a year before she past away.

Momma wanted to make sure I got it since I was really the only one of the sister doing much sewing.

I didn't have the space at home and I knew it would just sit around collecting dust.

So Terri offered to buy it from me to use at her quilt shop.  Then I ever felt the need to go visit it I could!

Well I am over joyed to know that I am not the only one who loves that machine!

I know Momma would be proud for someone who loves fabric to be using her machine!

Can't wait to see these as finished projects!



This and That

Howdy Y'all!

It is has been WAY to long since I last posted anything.  So this post is going to be a "catch up " post.'So here we go...

I met my sister in Atlanta for the Quilting and Sewing Expo, March 9-11.  WE HAD A BLAST!  This was a first for both of us. We spent all Thursday walking around looking at everything and of course we SHOPPED!  Friday, we had three different classes.  Here is a picture of the floor area from upstairs in a classroom.

There was so much to look at. We bought some fabric, patterns, tools and knic-knacks!

Here is my favorite finds!

Now I just need to wash my truck so I can put it on.

Here is some more stuff I bought on Thursday.

I bought the sunflower fabric to make me a new purse. So I did, a couple of days ago.

I am in the middle of making a wallet to match it.

These are some of the patterns I bought.

I love this turtle one!

I am hoping to practice my free motion using this pattern

(this is a pic of the sample one hanging up)

I want to practice my applique skills on the flower pot one.

The jacket pattern, that is just for fun!

The expo had several make and take things to do.

The one that I had the most fun with was the paint sticks.

I have never used these before but now I am hooked!

I just need some more lessons! If anyone knows of some tutorials online

please share them.  I need to learn when to use these paint sticks.

I love being creative, but I don't have that "artist" bone in my body!

Give me a pattern or something to look at and I'm good to go.

Saturday after the expo, I drove down to south Atlanta to see my kids.

My son and his girlfriend took me to one of their favorite places to do some

shopping for antiques and uniques.  A place named Kudzu.

We walked in the door and saw something I just had to have!

A Pink Zebra! 

Well when I saw the $1150 price tag, I decided I didn't like it that much!

This place had everything and more.  They also had several old quilts for sale.

They had one quilt with a signature and a date on the back.

Edna A Smith  1916 

This was in really good condition to be that old.

Price tag was $189

While in Atlanta it was a bit cold, rainey and windy, but that didn't stop the fun.

One day recently at home, it had rained one night and then the temperature drop to the low thirties. The next morning when I went out to my truck, the back deck cover had frost all over it. Nothing new but this time it was very unusual!

How cool is this? The rain/frost made the back of my truck

one big snowflake!

Well that's about it for now.  I have been playing in my new sewing playground and

still love it!  The more I'm in there, the more I love it!



Sewing & Quilting Expo Atlanta GA

This Wednesday I leave NC and head to N Atlanta to my first major quilting event!  I am SOOooo Excited.  My sister Becky, is driving from NW FL to meet me.   I gave her the quilting bug a short while back.  She now has it BAD!  We are both really what I would call "Rookies" in the quilt community.
We have signed up to take a beginner free motion class and cutting and piecing for rookies.  I have made several quilts in the past three years but never have taken any quilting classes.  I am sure there are many things I will learn.  If you have been to big events like this and may have any tips that will make this experience even better, please share!

We will meet in Atlanta this Wednesday, spend Thursday exploration the expo and looking at all the exhibitors showing their latest and greatest  products and fabric.  It will be hard to decide what to buy! But rest asured, we will find something!  I wonder if I can win some lottery money before going!  I sure could use extra spending money, especially since the gas prices are going sky high! 

Friday will be our class day.  We have one in the morning and another late afternoon.  We do have a free class ticket but can't sign up until we arrive and see what is still open. There is a class on making bags I have my eye on!  We'll see.

Got to share a picture of "Daisy", we are puppy sitting her for a week.  My husband has wanted one of these Westies since that Little Ceasar commercial came out.  I'm not a little dog fan but you can't help to love this face!

Gotta Share This Link

Amazing Mystery Quilts was sponsored by American Quilter Magazine.  They had 69 entries and the are AMAZING!  I have never tried a mystery block quilt so I am not sure how they work for sure, but I want to thank all of those who did entry!  All of your hard work in so beautiful, creative and each one is different.

That is the reason I am posting this on here.  I struggle sometimes, more often than not, with choosing the right color combination for a quilt. Color does play such an important role in how it effects the appearance of your quilt and the mood it can present.

Each of the 69 quilts are the same pattern but how each person chose and put their colors together, make each one such a unique piece of art.  All 69 quilts are now posted for your enjoyment at http://www.americanquilter.com/publications/readers_contests.php?id=1&year=2011, where you can read about the quiltmakers and their  inspiration.   When you have some time to spare, take the time to go through and look at all the quilts.  It is truly amazing!

This one I absolutely love how the pattern just runs into the border. This was made

Marlene Oddie of College Place, Washington, which she titled Bordered Beyond the Block:.

Marlene has graciously offered to share her instructions to make the extra extended border for this mystery quilt pattern. Contact Marlene via her blog at http://kissedquilts.blogspot.com/

(information is from American Quilter Magazine Blogspot)