The Past becomes Present - Natalie Barnes

Meanwhile, trying to catch up I wanted to share a project mentioned in January. It was one of those projects that could not be shared because of the secret nature of 'business'.

But, all was revealed during Quilt Market in May...
and I am finally getting to share it with you.

My good friend Natalie Barnes had her first line of fabric introduced!
She is a great person and I was truly honored that she asked me to make up a quilt using her new fabric line.

I had a blast pulling this together, especially when I was able to utilize one of my 5-minute sketches from last summer for the design.

The piece is called 'Flowers for Natalie' and was part of a group of quilts used as part of the backdrop for her booth.

Love the colors and the designs -- they were very easy to work with... hope you look for them in your favorite quilt store in the fall.

BTW- Nat is offering a chance to win a Quilty Box over on her blog ... click over to check it out.

Fast-Piece Applique: Blog Tour Day 5 Mandy Leins -- LEAP

A Little Spark...
This is what I would call Mandy Leins.

I have not known Mandy long, but I love watching her GO!

She has big dreams, and big ideas and stand back, for she'll find a way to pull them all off. It did not surprise me at all when she chose LEAP as her #loveletterhearts piece.

As the new year turns once again she stands poised to wade through the quagmire of her thoughts--(as she shared her own New Years vision board on her blog)--and makes plans for 2015.

I met Mandy a couple of years ago by way of the random email contact.
One of those that seem to come out of nowhere, from someone you've never met.

You have no idea as you type out a reply to 'any' request that comes in to your mailbox what will happen, but I can attest that grand things do happen.

Mandy is one of those grand things,
and she has some pretty grand things in the works.
One of them is a new book she has coming in the fall, and though it is still hush, hush we can get a small peak at one of the backs of the quilts....

I know, this back is pretty exciting, and if you are planning to go to Quilt Con next month you'll get to see the front!

Writing a book can be hard on the soul since there is so much time spent waiting, and waiting to share is the hardest. I am looking forward to a peek of what's in the book -- but, I'm waiting with you all.

'til then I hope you find your way over to Mandy's blog today, and get to know her a little better.

Just remember, there's no telling where that 'little' email connection you make today may lead.

LEAP and your wings will appear!

Stitching On!

We'll be taking Sat & Sun off from touring...
give you all a chance to catch up as we begin moving into week two next Monday!

Wish you all a happy weekend.

~Rose

Flower Power - Tutorial & Give-Away

Happy Sunday!
Today I am passing along my Flower Power tutorial, 
then tomorrow I'll post how you can win
a fun packet of Hoffman Crackers to make lots of flowers.
Time to get our quilts a'bloomin just like our gardens:

Stuff needed:

2- 12 1/2” pieces for background and backing
1- 12 1/2" piece of lightweight batting

6- 6” squares for larger flower parts

6- 4” squares for smaller flower parts

3- 3” squares for button covered centers

Light weight fusible for leaves – (HeatnBond Lite)

Heavy weight fusible for flowers– (HeatnBond Ultra)
Dritz button maker

• Enlarge the patterns for the flower parts and leaf.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

For Leaves:

• Take the fabric for the leaves and press the light weight fusible to the wrong side.
• Pin the leaf pattern in place and cut 4 leaves.
• Align these on your background fabric; remove backing papers and press in place.

Once in place I layered my quilt sandwich; stitched around each of the leaves and embellished the background.

For Flowers:

• Take 3 of the larger flower part fabrics and press the heavy weight fusible to the wrong side of each.
• Let cool. Remove papers and press the remaining larger flower part fabrics right side up to each.
• Pin the large leaf pattern in place and cut 3 petals; cutting along the line towards the center.

Repeat this process for the smaller petals.

Stitch & embellish the petals while they are flat.
Once complete pull in each of the rounded edges so the slightly overlap and tack each in place with a couple of stitches.

Flower Centers:

• I used fabric and a button maker to create the centers for my flowers.
• Each started by marking the center with a chalk circle that I filled with French Knots.
  Then I used the button maker, making sure that the knotted area remained centered.

Lastly, I layered each of the flowers and stitched them in place on the quilt and added the binding.

Don't forget to check back tomorrow
Get in on a chance to win an amazing packet of
40- 10" x 10" Hoffman California batik fabrics!

Fall Fun

Happy Friday!
On waking this morning, we find the temp has dropped to 32, but the sun is trying to make it's way through the foggy conditions to welcome the day.

Fall is fast waning -- Nikki, my sweetie girl tuxedo cat, has rediscovered the floor vents. She has her favorites as she keeps nice & toasty warm.

I am pretty glad that David & I made time for a picnic in the park this week -- the leaves will soon be gone, and the cold will not be as welcoming as the clear, crisp air with the sun shining through the fast disappearing colored leaves.

We enjoyed our lunches while watching the local park workers putting up the Christmas light displays throughout the park. These will soon make their annual appearance all lit up and wonderful, but for now they are individual light displays being installed and made ready for the holidays.

I took a few pictures and hope you enjoy our little bit of fall --
but, don't miss out,
I encourage you to take a bit of time
in your own community to enjoy the season.

There's still a couple of days left to get a free Leafy Fun pattern.
Click over and see how to get yours!

Celebrating Gratitude

November --
the month we here in the states celebrate Thanksgiving
is turning into the Month of Gratitude.

Being grateful, and saying thank you is a powerful action. It makes the giver and receiver feel like the special person that they are, so I'm totally on board.

I've chosen to take my fun-colored-post it notes and each morning write down one or two things I am grateful for and stick them on the frig. I'm hoping that my sweet David will join in... we'll see..
There are tons of ways to proclaim and share
your own gratitude this month.
From Abundant & Accomplished thru Zest & Zeal you can find a whole List of gratitude words by clicking here:

Use them to kick-start your 5 minute drawings and by the end of the month you can have a filled your sketchbook to bursting … a wonderful thing to be grateful for.
(if you've not joined in the sketchbook fun before --
check out my posting from June.

You can find a whole month of ideas by clicking on this site:

I'm starting here by saying how grateful I am to all of you who stop by -- read a bit -- try out some of my crazy ideas along with me -- and share your own ideas and selves with me.

I feel very special -- lucky, lucky indeed!

BIG THANKS!
and don't forget
the pattern give-away
will continue through next Sunday-November 10th!

OMG .... Halloween in Paducah

It was 4 o'clock, on Halloween nite
--- hardly the witching hour, but I donned my cat ears and makeup and headed to my friends home over on Jefferson St.

I had heard tales of the numbers of trick or treaters that would soon be waiting for  their turn to hold out their bag for treats,
BUT OMG..... what FUN!!!!!

The weather report was not good, storms threatened to be right on top of us during prime time... but the residents of Jefferson held their breath and prepared their stockpiles of candy in hopeful anticipation.

This is not a city sponsored -- or any sponsor event, and the residents call for anyone within shouting range to donate candy for the normally 2000-4000 kids that show up on their doorsteps each year.

I took my post at the top of the steps with another new resident to Paducah, and we had to be pulled away.... it was just too much fun to hear the trick or treats, happy Halloween's and the Thank Yous from more costumed kids than I had ever seen.

On the front porch the lines never really let up...even during a short downpour, until the huge candy trough was ...empty.

It was truly wonderful -- the weather held out almost exactly to 9pm, when the tornado warning sirens sounded, the storms had held back just enough to give away all the candy. Over 1700 costumed kids were given candy on that porch last night -- and yes, there is always someone manning the clicker.

Big thanks to my friends who invited David & I to be part of the fun, and all the other insanely generous folks living in and around Jefferson St ...another grand reason to be happy living here in Paducah.

The fall leaves got blown around quite a bit last night, but my pattern give-away will continue on through Sunday -- grab one while you can!

Fall Fun & Sharing

Fall has come back around again.

This means that I am celebrating a year
here in my new home of Paducah, KY.

As I drove the final miles home after Quilt Market this week I could not help but enjoy the colors of the season and try to think of a fun way to share this with you.

So, I am offering a free downloaded
version of my Leafy-Fun quilt pattern.
It is one of my newer 3-panel designs,
so whether you make one panel- two or all three,
with the repeatable pattern you’ll get a chance
to enjoy the season of the falling leaves along with me.

To get your free pattern--

Click ‘like’ on my FaceBook page
(help me hit 2000)

or become a Follower here on my blog

AND remember, I need an email address to send the pattern
so follow it up by leaving that info either as a message on FB or a comment on the blog –

It would be amazing to give a 1,000 of these away so feel free to spread the word!

...and, check back for more Quilt Market sharing as the week continues.