Best of 2016

Cheryl over at Meadow Mist Designs is hosting a fun Linky Party, and I decided to join in.  I want to share some of my favorite quilts that I finished this year.

1. This is Rain Down, a quilt which I made in the RJR What Shade are You? challenge.  Earlier in the year, I had taken a class and learned to make pineapple blocks.  They are rather addictive to make, and I decided to set them together in an unusual layout.

2. This is Carnival, and I love her because she is a cover-girl, and because she is made with Kim Diehl fabrics!

3. Gypsy, another favorite!  And I love her because she is hanging in the Ontario Museum of Art and History for an exhibit...very excited to have a traveling quilt!

4. Molly's Sampler...so much fun to play with on the design wall!  I have another one started!

5.  It's All About the Boots!  This was so much fun to piece!  I gave it to my grand-daughter for her 12th birthday...she is all about horses, so I thought she might like it.

It is fun visiting all the links to the other bloggers and seeing their Best of 2016....you might want to join in!  Hope to see you there!

Linking to:  Best of 2016

2017 Planning Party

What??? I haven't even finished all the quilts on my list for 2016!!!

Yvonne at Quilting Jetgirl is having a fun planning party, and I decided to join.  Sounds like a good idea to get started now.

First off, I love planners!  Now the crazy thing is that when I was working, I never had one...really!
Now that I am retired, I HAVE to have one!  Most of the time, my planners are part art journal and part planner....so fun to play in and get creative.  This year, this Quilters Planner looks intriguing, hope I win one!  If not, I know where I can get one!

This has been my most favorite planner so far...look at that fat puppy!  Can you believe it started out as a little Moleskin planner?  And it held up well to all the abuse I gave it!

So, 2016 has been an incredible year!  I'm not sure I can set goals that would surpass all the amazing things that have happened in 2016.  One of my goals had been to be published in a quilting magazine, and that has happened!  I also wanted to start my own pattern company, and I am slowly working on it.  My goal for 2017 is to get more of my patterns out there!  It feels like it is a slow process.  Some days, I feel like maybe I am too old to start something like this?  And other days, I tell myself that I am never too old to pursue a dream....it just might take a little longer!  Also...if not now...when???? Also, should I think of this as a business or a hobby-business?  Any thoughts on that one?

I want to travel more...my health prevented us from traveling as much in 2016, but I am bound and determined to not let it stop us.  We are going on a big adventure after the first of the year...taking our little RV to the Rio Grande Valley in Texas and spending  2 months enjoying the warm climate of south Texas.  I look forward to exploring!  In August, 2017, we are going to cross another trip off of our bucket list...an Alaskan Land and Sea cruise!  

Part of me is telling me that I need to cut back on other things in order to accomplish my pattern business.  Such as....I am the coordinator for our church Project Linus Group, coordinator for our quilt guild's QOV group, an ambassador for Rachel House, and a CASA. (Court Appointed Special Advocate).  So cutting back will probably have to be one of my goals!

My flower beds....I love to garden!  Another goal is to spend more time taking care of them....they became a bit unruly due to my health and the obscene heat this summer.  No more of that!  Time to take it back!

One more goal...actually two more!  Exercise more!  

And most important of all, spend more time in Bible study.  Set aside my quiet time everyday and do it!  When I was working, I found it easier to do, because I usually did it when I first go up, or at lunch break.  Now I find myself jumping into the day and not spending time in the Word.  

Oh boy!  Now I will have to be accountable...it's all out in the open!  Looking forward to 2017!

grace and peace....Sharon

Craft University part 2

Here I am...back with more about Craft University and the online class I am currently taking.  If you missed part one, here it is.  

Lesson 2: On-Point Quilts, On-Point Medallion Quilts, and Layout Library.  This was quite extensive and chock full of information. In this lesson I designed an on-point quilt and a medallion quilt, learned about auto borders, applique blocks, motifs, stencils, fussy cutting fabric...and more!  

This is the medallion quilt I designed:

On to lesson 3....Custom Sets and Layers.  The custom set is just what I needed for blocks that are a variety of sizes.  Perfect for a quilt that I had started by making several blocks and putting them up on the design wall.  I "finished" it by creating it as a custom set.  I hope to finish actually sewing it in the future,  Maybe it will become a block of the month...who knows.  I can continue to tweak it for now, and when I am happy with it, I will finish it.

I plan to change the cat block to make her look like Bella...but that is in a future lesson!
As you can see, this needs lots of tweaking, but that is the beauty of EQ7, you can design and change things until it works for you.  There is a lot more covered in lesson 3, such as using arcs and superimposing blocks and more.

Now for lesson 4...Drawing Pieced Blocks.  There is so much more than just drawing a block.  I discovered the Serendipity tool in this lesson.  Wow!  

Here are a few examples of what happens in Serendipity....

Take a simple block like this....

And frame it....there are many choices to choose from.

How much fun is this?  a new block to try out!  HMMMM....what layout should I use????

Here is the Kaleidoscope tool in Serendipity...once again just using a simple block. Can you tell which block I used?  I want to try paper piecing this one.

And another fun one is Fancy Star....

Oh dear....I could spend hours playing with this!  If I paper-pieced this, I know I could piece it.  That is the beauty of this program, you can print rotary cutting measurements, paper piecing, templates, and more.  

As you can see, this is a powerful program.  I love EQ7! and this class from Craft University is helping me see all the possibilities.  And I can go back and watch as many times as I need to!

Check back later in the week and I hope to have posted the end of my review.

grace and peace....Sharon

Linking up to: Main Crush Monday   Freemotion by the River

Craft University

Imagine my surprise when Craft University sent me a request to try one of the many classes offered on their site.  I am a huge fan of online classes, and have taken many "artsy" classes.  So of course I said yes!  and the hardest part was choosing which class to take....there were so many that tempted me.  I made a list of the ones I thought I would learn the most from, then narrowed it down and decided to take Design Quilts with EQ7 and Nancy Mahoney.  It was the perfect fit for me, even though I have used EQ since it first came out.  Recently, I had purchased the EQ7 and I knew there were so many things I wanted to learn to continue using it.

First off...Lesson 1, pretty much the basics.  But I took it anyway and was tickled with all the things I learned!  So if you take this course, do not skip ahead!  In this lesson, a simple horizontal quilt was made, as well as learning to add fabric to the fabric library.  This was very useful to me, as I design quilts for magazines, Island Batik, and I am a Moda Bake Shop Chef.  This enables me to place the fabrics I plan to use in my quilt and decide which I like best, then send the mock up to the magazine or to the fabric company.  The rest of the lesson dealt with sashing, recoloring, using the symmetry tool...one of my favorite tools!

Here is the horizontal quilt I designed in EQ7, lesson one.

A simple block such as Mosaic #5 colored in with Olive's Flower Market from Moda.  The fun is in the coloring, and all the possibilities of such a simple block design.  I was able to add the fabric to my library of fabrics and see how the quilt would look.  I can spend a lot time just playing with the coloring....my very own adult coloring book!

Love playing with a simple block and the Symmetry tool.  Very fun!  Using this block I was able to create many quilt sets.  Here are a few...and all use the same block.

So how much fun is this?  And this is only lesson one!  Each lesson runs 45 minutes up to an hour.  Nancy is very easy to listen to and explains every step very well.  The great thing, is I can stop the video, go design in EQ7 with the material she has covered, and come back and continue or rewind if I need to.

I don't want to overwhelm you today, so come back tomorrow to read about Lesson 2.

grace and peace....Sharon

Today is the day!

I am excited to share some good news with all of you, and the only thing that could make this day better is if I could be in Ontario, California at the Museum of Art and History!  Why?  My quilt, Gypsy...Eclectic Bohemian is part of a juried quilt exhibit at the museum.  This is the press release announcing the new exhibit: Modern Quilts:Redesigning Traditions.  

The modern quilt movement is nearly a decade old. It started in the early 2000s as an online community of like-minded quilters. These artists were inspired by modern design, bold colors, the use of negative space, and alternative fabrics. Today, modern quilters continue to embrace a style usually not seen in traditional quilts. This Summer the Museum and Guest Curator Georganna Hawley worked to promote an open call for entries for the new exhibit, Modern Quilts: Redesigning Traditions.  As a result, over 90 quilts were submitted by talented artists across the United States.  Join us as we explore a juried selection of 40-plus modern quilters from the United States and abroad as they consider traditional patterns in new and exciting ways.
            This exhibition was organized with support from Road to California: Quilters’ Conference and Showcase.  For more information on Road to California visit: www.road2ca.com.
 Reception, Curator Talk and Walkthrough: Modern Quilts: Redesigning TraditionsSaturday, December 3, 2016 (2 PM to 5 PM)

And here is my quilt....

I am hoping to receive pictures from the reception!  

What kind of fun things are happening to you today?  
Bella and I spent the morning by the fire, reading and relaxing before getting into the holiday business that tends to take over.  Now to the sewing room!

grace and peace....Sharon

Linking to: Fabric Frenzy Friday   Can I get a Whoop! Whoop!

A good life

So content....sometimes it is hard to find contentment, but a cat sure knows how, right?  When I am feeling stressed or discontented, I just start snuggling with Bella.  Listening to her purr soothes my soul and calms me down.  

I have been so busy with deadlines and secret sewing projects, that I cannot show you anything I have completed lately.  So this is all I've got!  

A Good life is when you smile often,

Dream big,

Laugh a lot, 

and realize how blessed you are

 for what you have.  

Wishing you a beautiful weekend!  

grace and peace....Sharon

Rain Down Pattern Release

First I want to thank Lindsey at Fort Worth Fabric for featuring my quilt on her blog!  Thanks so much!  It's always a pleasure to visit the Fabric Friday Frenzy linky party.

And today I am releasing a pattern for this very quilt.  It is a paper-pieced quilt and you can find the PDF download right here on Craftsy today! The download includes:
6" and 7" foundation
A full color layout of the quilt and the blocks
Download does not include paper piecing instructions.

Sometimes paper piecing seems like a lot of work, but I do like the accuracy.  Once I get into the rhythm, it seems to flow and become a type of meditation for me....soul-work!
If you have a Pineapple ruler, you may want to make this quilt with it.  I do love my Pineapple Tool by Gyleen Fitzgerald.  Just use the diagram and the block diagrams and make the blocks any size you wish. 

Hope you are enjoying some beautiful fall weather today...it is raining on and off, but when the sun peeks out the colors are glorious!  My favorite time of year!

grace and peace....Sharon

Linking to: Midweek Makers     Let's Bee Social   Free-Motion by the River

Rain Down

Today my quilt, Rain Down is featured on the RJR blog as part of the What Shade Are You? challenge.  This was great fun, as it pushed me out of my comfort zone.  It has been fun experimenting with solid colors.

So this is what I came up with.....

"Rain Down" is one of my favorite hymns.  My thought process for the layout of the blocks was to make it have a motion of moving ....raining, washing, soothing.  These are 8" pineapple blocks in a 6x6 setting.  

Rain down Rain down Rain down your love on your people

Rain down Rain down Rain down your love, God of life.

Thanks for stopping by!

grace and peace....Sharon

Linking up to: FabricFrenzy Friday

Winter Migration

McCall's Quilting has featured one of my quilts in the November/December issue.  I am excited about it and in love with the beautiful fabric from MODA.  This is Barbara Brackman's newest collection, Baltimore Blues.

Winter Migration

I had to laugh at my husband...he never used to look at my quilt magazines.  But now that I have had a few published, he looks through them when they come in the mail.  I came home the other day, and he had the McCall's Quilting magazine open on his desk..."Look! You are on page 10!"  He is my biggest supporter!  

Last Thursday, was my turn to be a guest blogger on McCall's blog, so if you want to check that out just follow this link.  This is a method that I really like to use...especially with Deb Tuckers Square Trimmer ruler! 

Hope you are having a great week!  and thank you for stopping by!

grace and peace....Sharon

Linking up to: Fabric Tuesday   Free Motion by the River

Love Halloween!

 It's that time of year to dig out all the fall and Halloween decorations...my favorite time of year!  Every year we have a Trunk or Treat at our church.  My husband dresses up like the Headless Horseman, and kids and adults alike are fascinated by this guy.  He never says a word. I love watching the kids cautiously walk up to him to get some candy...would you?

Some of my favorite decorations...

Last year I made this little quilt...but did not have it quilted and bound in time for Halloween.  It's now a finish, and I love him!

Needle and Foot is having a Halloween Linky Party starting today....go check out all the talented bloggers who have linked up.  

It's a beautiful fall day...hope you enjoy your day wherever you are!  

grace and peace....Sharon

Quilting Mod Challenge

Earlier in the summer,  Afton at QuiltingMod threw out a call for a challenge she was hosting.  We each received a package of Art Gallery Fabrics Round Elements. The rules were quite simple: Those accepting the challenge must include Art Gallery Round Elements in a finished project of their choice. Additional fabrics from any manufacturer or collection are allowed. This is the first time working with fabric from AGF and it is a great fabric to sew with!

I actually started three different projects before I decided on the one that I wanted to use.  I will finish the others, but this is the one I have ready for today.  Some of you have heard of the #100Day100Block challenge that is going on.  I had started this, and loved working on the 6" blocks from Tula Pinks book....100 Modern Blocks.  So I veered off from the path I was on and made nine of the blocks, then set them in the shadow block setting.  I really like the way this has turned out!  The idea for the setting came from a previous sew along with Jen @A Dream and a Stitch and Janice @Color, Creating and Quilting and I just adjusted the measurements to my 6" blocks.  The pattern we used can be found here, just changed the measurements to fit my block.  The finished quilt is 31" x 31".  You will find all the block patterns in Tula Pink's book. My quilting was inspired by the photos in her book.

Here is the finished project!  Hope you like it!
Thank you, Afton for such a fun challenge!

Afton is having a linky part to all the challenges.  Run on over and check out the entries!

Linking up to: Monday Making  Oh Scrap

Fall Edition of the Bloggers Quilt Festival this week!

This week is the Fall Edition of the Bloggers Quilt Festival, and I hope you are enjoying all the creativity out there!  Clementine is my second entry into the festival, it is an original design and easy to make.  You can find the pattern here, on sale this week only during the festival! 

It makes up into a nice size lap quilt using two blocks.  If you decide to make one, I would love to see it, you can tag me on IG @punkydoodle53.  

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you are getting some sewing time in today and will visit some if not all the entries into the Quilt Festival.  A big thank you to Amy at Amy's Creative Side.  

grace and peace....Sharon

Bloggers Quilt Festival begins this week!

I'm excited that Amy is having a Bloggers Quilt Festival beginning today!  If you have not heard about it, go check out Amy's Creative Side for all the information. There are prizes to be won and lots of quilts to check out.

Today, I am entering a quilt in the Original Design category.  This was inspired by a vintage quilt applique quilt block, but with a different setting.  One of the names for this block is Sunflower. Perhaps I will name this quilt Off Kilter.

I encourage you to visit all the wonderful bloggers that are sharing their quilts this week!

Linking up to: 2016 Bloggers Quilt Festival

Cloud 9 2016 New Block

Welcome to the 2016 Cloud9 New Block Blog Hop!

Cloud9 is generously sponsoring a New Block Blog Hop featuring their Organic Cirrus Solids.Our blog hop hosts, Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl, Cheryl @Meadow Mist Designs, and Stephanie @Late Night Quilter, have curated the “Berry Harvest” bundle, and Cloud9 is supplying each participant with a fat quarter bundle. Blocks made for the hop will be collected and made into quilts for donation. It is beautiful fabric and I love the colors and I really enjoyed sewing with this fabric!  A huge thanks to Cloud9 for sponsoring this blog hop!  I hope you will find lots of inspiration from all the new blocks.  At the end of this post, I will direct you towards the wonderful bloggers who are participating in our blog hop...please go check out the beautiful new blocks and tutorials. 

Cutting instructions

Fabric A (shadow)   (1) 4 1/2" square
                                 (2) 3" squares
Fabric B (sky)          (4) 3" squares
                                 (4) 2 1/2" squares
Fabric C (lilac)        (1) 1 1/2" x 20" rectangle
Fabric D (iris)          (1)  1 1/2" x 20" rectangle
                                      (10) 3" squares
Fabric E (amazon)  (1) 5 1/2" square  (4) 2 1/2" squares

Fenced In

Sewing it up!  This will make one 12 1/2" block (includes seam allowances)

Unit one

1. Draw a line on the diagonal of the (4) 2 1/2" B squares.  This is your sewing line. I sew just a tad to the right of the drawn line and this will allow you to sew and flip accurately.

2. Sew the B squares to the four corners of the A square as shown.  Trim 1/4" away from the sewn line and press out. 

 3. This square-in-a-square will measure 4 1/2".  Trim if you need to.

Unit 2

1. Sew the 1 1/2" strips of Fabric C and D together. 

    Press and cut into (8) 2 1/2" segments.

                              
2.Sew these together to make 4 units that look like this.  Final measurement will be 4 1/2" x 2 1/2".

Unit 3

 Sew a 2 1/2" square of fabric E to each end of two of the unit 2 segments.  

Unit 4

 Sew a unit 2 to the top and bottom of unit 1.  Then sew unit 3 to each of the sides.  This is Unit 4 and should now measure 8 1/2" square.

Unit 5  Flying Geese

The no-waste method of making flying geese is my favorite way to make geese...and I love using my Deb Tucker Wing Clipper ruler!

You will use the 5 1/2" square (fabric E) and the (4) 3" squares (fabric B)

Mark a diagonal line on each of the 3" squares.

Lay two of the 3" squares on the 5 1/2" square.

Stitch 1/4" from the drawn line.  Trim between the lines of stitching on the center of the diagonal.  

Press seams toward the smaller triangles. 

Lay one 3" squared in th corner of this unit. Sew 1/4" on each side of the diagonal line.  Trim between the lines.  Press seams toward the smaller triangles.
You now have flying geese which will need to be trimmed to 2 1/2" x 4 1/2".

  

Half square triangles
Draw a line on the diagonal of the lighter squares.  You will sew 1/4" from the diagonal line. Then trim on the line and press.

Unit 6  HS triangles

Sew the 8 Fabric E squares to the Fabric D Squares.  Cut on the diagonal to make 8 HS triangles.
Sew one to each end of  the flying geese units as shown, 

Sew the fabric A 3" squares to the Fabric B 3" squares.  Sew 1/4" from the diagonal line, cut apart and trim to 2 1/2".  This will make 4 HS triangles.  Sew these to each end of two of the unit 6 to make unit 7.

Unit 7

Time to complete the block!

Sew unit 6 to the top and bottom of unit 4, carefully matching seams.  Press toward the center.

Now sew unit 7 to each side of the block. Once again carefully matching seams.

You are done!















Here is an easy layout idea:

If you would like a PDF of the instructions for this block you can go here.

Now go enjoy the rest of the blog hop! Here are the participants:

Monday, September 12th

Host: Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl

Abigail @Cut & Alter
Janice @Color, Creating, and Quilting!
Lorinda @Laurel, Poppy, and Pine
Melva @Melva Loves Scraps
Renee @Quilts of a Feather
Kathryn @Upitis Quilts
Kim @Leland Ave Studios
Amanda @this mom quilts
Holly @Lighthouse Lane Designs
Irene @Patchwork and Pastry
Jennifer @Dizzy Quilter
Karen @Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats
Anne @Said With Love
Suzy @Adventurous Applique and Quilting
Sharla @Thistle Thicket Studio
Kathleen @Smiles From Kate
Amanda @Gypsy Moon Quilt Co.
Sarah @Sarah Goer Quilts
Chelsea @Patch the Giraffe
Jinger @Trials of a Newbie Quilter
Anja @Anja Quilts
Daisy @Ants to Sugar

Tuesday, September 13th

Host: Cheryl @Meadow Mist Designs

Miranda @I Have Purple Hair
Jennifer @The Inquiring Quilter
Sarah @123 Quilt
Leanne @Devoted Quilter
Jen @Patterns By Jen
Jennifer @RV Quilting
Amanda @Quiltologie
Sharon @Yellow Cat Quilt Designs
Jen @A Dream and A Stitch
Jen @Faith and Fabric
Carole @Carole Lyles Shaw
Stephanie @Quilt’n Party
Susan @Sevenoaks Street Quilts
Katrin @Now What Puppilalla
Amista @Hilltop Custom Designs
Nicole @Handwrought Quilts
Marla @Penny Lane Quilts
Silvia @A Stranger View
Sarah @Smiles Too Loudly
Carrie @the zen quilter
Mary @Quilting is in My Blood

Velda @GRANNYcanQUILT

Wednesday, September 14th

Host: Stephanie @Late Night Quilter

Kathy @Kathys Kwilts and More
Paige @Quilted Blooms
Mary @Strip Quilts Pass it On
Allison @Woodberry Way
Seven @The Concerned Craft
Olusola @Alice Samuel’s Quilt Co.
Ann @Brown Paws Quilting
Jodie @Persimmon + Pear
Vicki @Orchid Owl Quilts
Kitty @Night Quilter
Francine @Mochawildchild
Shelley @The Carpenter’s Daughter who Quilts
Jayne @Twiggy and Opal
Geraldine @Living Water Quilter
Shannon @Shannon Fraser Designs
Lisa @Sunlight In Winter Quilts
Jessica @Quilty Habit
Cassandra @The (not so) Dramatic Life
Deanna @Stitches Quilting
Denise @Craft Traditions