Stitch 'n Swap Blog Party

Welcome to week two
of the Stitch 'n Swap Blog Party!
One of the most remarkable things I have found over the many years I have been quilting is just how generous quilters are. They are generous with their time, their knowledge and if there is someone in need there is always a banding together to jump in and help in what ever way they can.

It is no wonder that this generosity of spirit also manifests itself in what we make and give amongst ourselves & swap with our favorite peeps.

So, it was great pleasure and excitement that I was asked to share one of my favorite swap 'pies in Generation Q Magazine's fun-filled new book --

There are 112 pages of colorful, perfect for giving, projects.
25 in all, and each from some amazing designers.
my own swap-portunity project -
Woolly Pin Saver & Scissor Case can be found on page 23!
It is one that I have many times made for my stitching friends
for it useful and really easy to personalize.

Are you ready to get a Swap going?
Would you like to win a copy of this great book to get you started?
Well, we're offering a give-away!

How does this giveaway work?

I'm so glad you asked.
Comment on the original Generation Q Stitch 'N Swap post letting us know if you've ever participated in a swap and the coolest thing you've ever gotten in a swap.

That's it!
All winners will be chosen from the Generation Q Magazine post Wednesday May 7th and posted Thursday May 8th.

While you're out there clicking and enjoying you may want to click over to each of this weeks' Blog Party locations. Each of these fun stitchers has shared a favorite project for the book, too!

Carrie Bloomston, Victoria Findlay Wolfe, Heather Jones, Tracy Mooney, Elaine Wong Haselhuhn

After-Quilt Week Fun

It was a wildly fun week here in Paducah, last week, but once most of the quilters and vendors went home on Saturday there were a few of us crazies that showed up for an all day metal-bookmaking workshop.

Happily, I managed to pick my head up off the pillow and grab my stuff to get to class.
Once there I happily got to play in paint, and metal and fibers -- could not get much better than this.

The workshop was held at Ephemera, and the teacher was Leighanna Light. 

Below are pictures I took along the way to create my little book.

there was the page and book binding creating with gesso and inks
stitching in the pages
and working with the metals and fibers to pull it all together

Great end to a Great Week!

Check back here tomorrow for I'll be taking part in a fun
Blog Tour for a wonderful new book...

Stitch n' Swap

Getting Ready for Quilt Week

Just like springtime finally moving in --
Quilt Week rolls in to town.
Are you planning on being here to share in the fun?

It is a time when all the fabricy people around town have been prepping for, for some time...but it is fun to see all the last minute primping. Almost everywhere you go things are being put into place to share with all the quilters that visit us this week.

I feel lucky to have moved here and feel a part of the primping and prepping.

You'll find my own quilts on display at the Mayor's Office -- yes, you can go see where the business of running the city takes place and see quilts, too!

There's a special selection of my springtime quilts at Ephemera of Paducah --- and you may also want to add my 1 or more of my mini workshops to your schedule while you're here.

But, there are quilt and fiber art works going up everywhere...
one of my favorite places -- and a must for anyone looking for amazing hand-dyed fabric is the Jefferson St. Studio of Bob & Helene Davis -- The ladder here with Bob hanging quilts will have been put away by now, but oh, what a treat of color, fabric and BEADS awaits.

I also will be doing book signings at the Antique Mart on the corner of 4th & Jefferson on Friday & Saturday from 11-1. Stop by -- for behind this door you'll not only find wonderful antique quilts but amazing silk Kimonos --- wonderful, yummy fabric!

Daily to Your Door

It has been a pretty fun-filled whirlwind 5 days out here in SoCA. Thursday of last week I headed off to share my quilts in a trunkshow lecture with Beach Cities Quilt Guild. This was followed up with two full day workshops with this wonderful group of quilters.

Not a moment was lost, for as soon as I left the guild on Sat afternoon, I was checking off the places & people I wanted to see again. Then yesterday was a fun filled day close to home with my kids. Close to home though meant breakfast out at a local 'foodie' hangout, followed up with a walk through 6 square blocks of antique cars. (this included a couple of restored versions of my first car - 69/Malibu - and way too many cars that were new the year I was born).

With too many photo opps awaiting I choice to focus in on a grilles-- 
though after talking about growing up in West LA over dinner the night before a friend mentioned the Helms Bakery trucks and how she remembered the donuts that miraculously showed up each day in the back of that truck ---
There in the middle of all those cars was a restored Helm's Bakery truck!

No donuts, though.

The day did not stop there and we had a blast...
but, here are the grilles & the truck, too of course.
Hope you enjoy them!

Bead Spree

Happy Sunday everyone,

It sure has been fun running around in SoCA this week, and I think it's time for a bit more sharing. During the week Dawn, Angelique and I did a run to downtown LA to refill my coffers with beads.

I had to hit my favorite Bohemian Beads and wander through picking up this bunch here, a bag there, and strands and strands of colorful stuff. I try to pick and choose according to those that I feel work well on a flat quilt -- but, I thoroughly admit to loving the shine of the crystal like or metallic beads.

Then yesterday Dawn and I sat around a big table mixing all the found beauties into color families and packaging them all up. There is nothing like feeling the beads running through your fingers and the ohhs & ahhs at the mixes. We had a blast.

Later on this month, during Quilt Week in Paducah,
I'll be running a special -- so be on the look out!