Red & White Magic -- End of Story

So, I finished the red and white quilt and I can tell the end of the story.  I worked at The Coca-Cola Company for 31 years.  After my retirement party in May of 2011, I walked to my car with a co-worker, Theresa Senter.  Theresa asked me if I would make her a red and white quilt.  

In early January, I got an invitation to Theresa's retirement celebration.  Theresa was celebrating 37 years at The Coca-Cola Company.  I figured my chances of getting together with Theresa after the party were probably few and far between as people tend to go their separate ways when major life events occur.  I thought I had to get busy if I was going to pull this one off... and I did... but I couldn't resist putting the red and white quilt on my bed before it left to its new home.  

It looks pretty at home there, doesn't it?  But Red & White Magic went to its new home last night.  (I might just have to make another.) 

Red & White Magic Continues

I went shopping last week for red and white fabric to complement the border of the quilt squares I posted a week ago Monday.  Of course, I look for the small red and white prints because that is what appeals to me.  My friend, Jackie, at Stitch 'n Quilts in Mableton, GA pulled out a red and white retro print that I never would have picked.  

I was thinking nine patch.  Then I started playing with EQ and played with this on point border.  I really like how it turned out.  

I mentioned that this is a gift, if I get it finished in time.  Until the gift is gifted, I'm holding off on the total reveal.  It goes on the frame in the morning, after I get through picking red strings off the back of it.  

Design Wall Monday -- January 6

This is what's on the design wall for today...

I just love red and white quilts.  This is going to be a gift... if I get it finished in time.  

Wouldn't it be nice to have something on the design wall every Monday...

Merry Christmas

A couple months ago, I got a text from by husband's daughter with a picture of a quilt attached and a comment... "Mackenzie (granddaughter) wondered if Geema could make her a quilt like this."  As my husband says, granddaughter's want... granddaughter's get.  

Of course, it was a Christmas Eve finish.  (Don't we all work better under pressure?)

A black and white chevron.  The construction is 6" finished half square triangle.  I used five or six different blacks and scrappied them up.  

I love a big, ole' fat binding...  

One thing I love about the long arm quilter is that the quilt basting on the top and sides makes for a full, fat binding.  I love the way the binding rolls to the back and puffs up.  And, yes, the backing is a red print... hoping for a Georgia Bulldawg when dear granddaughter heads to college.  

The quilting was puffy clouds in a black and white variegated thread.  Black thread is weaker than white thread due to the amount of dyeing required to get it black.  I had more than my share of thread breaks and challenges with this thread, but it is lovely on the quilt.  

I love the quilt.  I may make another one for me!

My Studio (aka The Woman Cave)

Someone asked if I had pictures of My Studio, so I went to my blog to link to them.  Duh!  I never posted them... all I could find was a posting that said pictures to come.  So, here they are...

This is the outside.  I have since added a barn quilt to the left side of the front door.  I've also added a dogwood tree, some azaleas, and some hostas to the landscaping.   We love the yard. 

The pictures below are to the right of the front door and look toward the cutting table.  Notice the wine cooler.  (big smile)  The sink is a large sink without a divider.  I use it for giving my pug a bath.  I also had it put in should I decide to dye fabrics.  (Do you think it's still so pristine?  Nope, stuff all over the counter.  This reminds me I need to clean up.)  Notice the doors on the left.  More explanation to come. 

 The door on the right leads to my bathroom.

Next picture -- My HandiQuilter Avante with the Prostitcher.  I have since purchased a UPS which sits under the frame.  The backdrop on the right (with the quilt squares) is a disappearing design wall.  It's like a big flannel window shade that rolls up into something that looks like a box shelf.

See the three doors.  They nest and roll on a track so I can move them back and forth.  My stash is hidden behind them.  The third picture (above) shows the other set.  The entire back wall of the studio is storage.  The doors give me access but keep the fabric from being exposed to light so it doesn't fade. 

My sewing machines sit to the left of the door when you enter the Studio.  I have since purchased a Horn cabinet which sits where the black table is.  It holds my Babylock Ellisimo and my Babylock Imagine serger.  The table under the window has been replaced by a Featherweight table and the Featherweight which is the same age as I.  The black table now sits by the window to the right and holds my Janome MC10000. 

To the right of the front door is a desk where I can use my "travelling" machines, a Babylock Grace or my second Featherweight, if I need more machines set up to piece.

There are some other things not in the pictures (other than the UFOs).  In front of the cutting table and the long arm frame, I've added GelPro floor mats.  They are worth their weight in gold.  On the wall in the corner above and by the desk, I have slat board (similar to peg board) for hanging embroidery hoops and quilting stencils.  I purchased two nice sewing chairs from a local sewing machine dealer.  I also purchased two bar stools which sit in front of the cutting table.  They are nice to have when hubby comes to visit.  And, last but not least, I added an ironing board.

Thank you for walking through the tour of My Studio. 

Sew Sisters Retreat

From time to time, I disappear from home for a few days to go on a quilt retreat.  The men folks in my life don't understand why a bunch of women would want to spend three days sewing until they are dead tired.  The idea is to create something new.  Sometimes, we learn a new skill or technique.  Other times, we may make a mystery quilt which means we have no idea what it's going to look like, but we're there for the ride. 

So, I thought I'd give you a sneak peak...

See the blur in red... that's me.  We are all busy in various creative tasks, but there is a lot of chatter going on.  This particular retreat has been held in Winston-Salem, NC (my home) by two wonderful women.  Lisa and Karen run a business called Sew Sisters.  After this retreat, we are ALL Sew Sisters.  I've been to many retreats, but I've never been with a group of women who have become friends as quickly as this group.  We have learned a lot, but we have become buddies. 

Bonnie Hunter (queen of scrappy) and Mickey Depre (queen of hexies) have been our teachers.  They are dynamic women.  I wish I had a smidgen of their knowledge. 

Here are some of my accomplishments.  This is the pieced block that Bonnie taught us to make.  This block contains 41 different pieces of fabric.  Whew!  There will be 9 of them in the finished quilt.  (I have all 9 made at the end of the day.  Yippee!)

 This is my hexie bock that Mickey taught us to make.  These hexies are unique because they are pieced.  Before Mickey, most hexies were made from a solid piece of fabric.  Mickey has kicked it up a notch by piecing fabric to make unique hexie blossoms. 

The hexie blossoms are a lot of hand stitching.  I have only one of these completed at the end of the day, but I have the pieces stitched to make the rest.  It will be good handwork in front of the TV at night. 

So the retreat ends tomorrow and we all go back home to our own lives.  But those lives will be richer for our new friends with whom we will stay connected through Facebook, e-mail, blogs, Quiltville, and the Sew Sisters reunion. 

Baby Quilts

I love making baby quilts.  I love the celebration of a new life and the expectation that a little one will cuddle in my quilt for years to come.  My friends, Shane and Natalie, are expecting their first baby.  My quilt guild had a workshop in April to make a heart log cabin quilt.  When I saw it, I knew it was just the ticket for this new little one...

I picked colorful solids to contrast with a whimsical print.  It was so much fun to make. 

In addition to the quilt, I made some burp cloths.  These are one of my favorite baby shower gifts because they can be so individual to the baby.  You won't see these on a register at BabysRUs or Target. 

The middle one matches the print on the quilt.  "Powell Power" was coined by the first Powell child on our street, Stella.  It reigns.  The green one matches the baby's room.  Natalie is a UGA alumni, so the trio had to include the Dawgs.  When the baby arrives, we will add a customized one to the collection.