The Hunt Began

This Memorial Day finds me feeling much better, but still trying to kick the butt off this bronchitis...The 2nd round of antibiotics along with allergy medicine is finally letting me breathe.

While trying to be good and rest up I turned to my sketchbook and had fun working through some ideas that had been popping up several times while I was doing the daily word challenge.

To celebrate feeling better I decided to start pulling fabrics --- and I found my mind turning to this one particular blue silk.
The hunt was on - with the pulling out a blue bin of silk...
Sort of overwhelming.
It has been a while since I went for silk -- so much of my quilt making for my books is cotton.

First, I was a bit surprised by the sheer amount of silk that burst forth when I flipped off the lid. Then I was happily engaged with all the colors and textures of all the fabric --- mind you, I never really found the piece I was looking for, but I was having fun.

The opening of the blue bin, lead to the opening of the green -- then it was on to the purple and lastly the red/orange bin.

 

With the opening and digging through all the fabric poured memories. Fabric from this place or that place. Fabric that had been used in this quilt or that.
Does this happen to you, too?
The hunt for once piece of fabric let me reconnect not only to the fabric itself, but the history that brought it all to me.

It also was quite apparent to me that 1. I did not need anymore silk -- so during my upcoming trip to SoCalifornia I can stay clear of the Garment District, and 2. It is time for some silky projects!

All in all, a good day.

Bronchitis -- Putting a Halt on it All

Well, the springtime list of all sorts of fun things has been on hold....

why -- not travel, not work, not lacking anything...

simply put -- bronchitis

Luckily, I have a couple of cuddle kitties &

 

and the arrival of a box of books recently ordered.

Hope your weekend is moving full steam ahead...

I have promised friends and family that I truly will try to chill.

Would love to hear what you are up to...

give me something to dream about!

~Rose

Getting Back to It

Ok, I admit to having a bit of time refocusing on some fun projects that are lingering on my list. The beginning of May means birthdays and Mothers Day celebrations -- time for planting up some fun pretties in the garden ...
and, this year a whole week seems to have been given over to it all!

Last, Monday David & I headed out for a few days of outdoor celebrating at Mammoth Caves National Park. We opted for staying at the park hotel, and quickly found out that with no wi-fi we truly were to become one with the park. Our time there was spent exploring and picnicing... both are heartily encouraged. The caves themselves, while fascinating -- were underground...

If this made you think twice about me -- well, you are smart.

I found out that I am definitely an open skies girl!
Sky, trees, birds--yup...underground, not so much.

While at Mammoth Caves, .we were soooo close to Bowling Green, that we had to swing by and check that lovely city out first hand, too. In all we had a great trip --
Can't wait to explore even more this summer.

Spring is certainly bringing some new adventures, and summer holds promise of even more. Wishing you the same, and I hope you share a bit of yours with me and check back for more on mine soon.

Getting Back to Stitching,
Yes, today!!!
~Rose

5-Minute Word Warm-up Continues

Great News!
The 21 Day Creativity Challenge has taken hold in a bunch of us.
It was really fun to start each day with a bit (5-minutes) of drawing with only one word as the jumping off place.

It was even more fun to see what everyone else posted.
So much so that the group is taking over and the challenge continues.

If you'd like to join in -- now may be the perfect time!
It is all on our FaceBook Members Page.

Making "Words" Sew with Fast-Piece Applique

When something grabs hold of me I have just learned to roll with it. This year I have just been fascinated with adding words to my quilt works. Words are really nothing new -- a good friend of mine Joanell Connolly always used a word in her quilts, but she printed hers with help from screens made from a thermofax machine. 

Some of my favorites of Joanell's include... I did not pick one or two -- have fun just going through and finding your own favorites.

Then another friend of mine came out with her new book -- Quilt Talk -- Yes, this is the wonderful book of Sam Hunter and her projects are inspiring; but alas, paper-pieced.

So as the year began with the selection of my first year inspiring word -
SPIRIT appeared in my sketch book -- all color and fun -- but even before the drawing was completed; I was creating it in fabric (with Fast-Piece Applique of course).

Who would have ever expected what came next?  Not me!
And, who knows where it will take me....

It feels especially good to be able to share the fun with you along the way. Like with the #loveletterheart patterns that were part of my book tour are still on-line to pull down and use.

AND NOW,
I have developed a lower-case alphabet and packaged it in a way that you can use the letters yourself to design your own words.

Creative Design Alphabet

Do you have a word or name you want to add to your own quilt?
With my downloadable pattern you can "make it sew"!

BUT, if you would rather just have fun with the quilts I have designed, I've included (2)full-sized pattern downloads so you can have a guided creative flight with a couple of words I have played with.

The word-quilts included are:

 each are 30" wide x 36" long

The Creative Design Alphabet can be purchased from my website. Scroll down on the patterns page to order.

Talk with you all soon,
and who knows where the 'words' will go next.

~Rose

Quilt Week is Now Done!!!!!

It has been a wildly fun week here in Paducah. So many great quilt works and friends to hook up with -- it is hard to choose just what you want to do on any given day.

I was lucky too, for I had places where people found me!

There were many a day that I would just post pictures of the local map with my own location circled. This helped my keep track of just were I was supposed to be, when.

Then there were times meeting and greeting all the people that came to see Helene Davis' and my own work an display as part of the Two Voice exhibit at Jefferson Street Studios.

And, the ton of fun demo'ing Fast-Piece Applique and my latest Creative Design Alphabet quilts & pattern at Ephemera.

Now it is time to go through all those fun purchases, put things away in the studio and catch up with emails and things left for 'the end'.

To all the new people I met....and all the old friends that I was able to share a bit of time with --- I MISS YOU ALL ALREADY!!!

Same time next year.

Word Teasing Continues

Ok, I admit it....
I have been having too much fun!

Work on my Creative-Design-Alphabet(CDA) has been calling my name over the last few weeks. It's coming together nicely, and I'm excited to report that it is ready for it's debut during Quilt Week here in Paducah.

The CDA is just what is says -- a whole set of letters along with directions on how that you can creatively use the set to add YOUR words and design your own 'wordy' stitching projects.

When constructing my own own 'wordy' projects, I like to use the letters along with Fast-Piece Applique (of course), but if you love needle-turn applique or fusible machine applique the letters are perfect, too!

I have two quilts up on the wall ready for couching and quilting, but by the time I begin demo'ing the CDA how to's at Ephemera I hope to have another two done.

What word or words would you like
to add to your next stitching project?