HOW DO YOU DO BABY IN BLUE?

Have you been waiting with bated breath? OK, probably not, but here it is just the same. The completed top for the new baby boy that is joining our family! It measures 50 inches square, plenty big for a boy to grow into. I have it all packed up to go see a very nice quilter.

This was a fun quilt to construct. I fussed with the dimensions to get the stars and nine patch blocks a good size for cutting and construction. I try to avoid measurements that include "3/16ths" or "1/8th". I would much rather cut an eighth inch larger and trim to perfection.

This is the end of my Prairie Paisley, except for small pieces which I will now feel free to cut into with wild abandon.

Hope your day is filled with smiles!

GATHERED OVER TIME

Remember this darling quilt that was in McCall's Quilting, June 2009 issue? I love it, in all its simplicity! Julie Hendrickson is the designer, and she also has a new line of fabric out of those darling little shirtings and small prints called Gathered Over Time, from Windham Fabrics. They are right down my alley. I ordered some the other day to add to my large stash of shirtings, also gathered over time!

And I bought a red stripe that was just the perfect thing for the baby quilt I am working on for my new grandson that is coming in December. I sewed all the blocks together yesterday. Those shirtings and stripes go perfect with the Prairie Paisley blues!

For those who enjoy looking at vintage quilts, check out this Youtube video of Julie Hendrickson showing some of her collection. Yummy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIu3TDdlIzo

CAT AND GRANDMA MOUSIE

My computer has been giving me fits and I feel like I have been ousted from the game of blogging! Oh, I know, we all have our woes when it comes to our computer. So this may be boring for you, but just picture me trying to post on my blog from a black screen. OK, it is not quite that bad at the moment, but because that is what it has been doing of late, I hurried and edited and posted my photos just in case it tries to outwit me at my own game. The thing is, my screen does not want to cooperate, so editing is my own personal joke. Does it, or does it not look better? I have to publish, and then look at my blog on my husband's computer to see for sure. He doesn't like me using his laptop for fear that I will wreck it. Who me? So I must innocently wait until he takes a little nap and then snag it. So who am I playing cat and mouse with, my computer, or my husband? Both, actually!

So let's get to the good stuff! I no longer have to contain myself, the secret is out! My son and his wife are expecting a baby boy! This news has had me spending hours at the computer, when it allows me, working on quilt designs in EQ6 for my new grandson, who is due to make his appearance in December. I have come up with many ideas, and then settled on one that I really like. I felt the need to design a quilt just for this welcome little child! And I still have some Prairie Paisley fabric that I managed to reserve in my stash, waiting for just the right project. Yay! This is it!

Here are a couple pictures to make you curious. I think it will be cute! More a little boy quilt than a baby quilt, actually. I may have to get Goldilock's approval on this quilt for Little Boy Blue. I like the way she thinks!
My dad was here to visit this past week. He lives in Arizona, but he came here from Minnesota. He spent a month there with each of my two brothers and their families, and had fun visiting friends, etc. This time he decided that he needed a cell phone, so my brother helped him get one. He hasn't quite figured out how to work it. A lady friend of his asked him to attend a wedding with her at this big basilica in Minneapolis. In the middle of the ceremony -- you guessed it! His cell phone went off. Well, he didn't know how to turn it off, so he just opened it and closed it and put it back in his pocket. Then it rang again! I know he was totally embarrassed. Some lady sitting behind him was able to turn it off for him. He is 86 years old, so we cut him some slack.

We enjoyed having him spend some time here. We walked down to the beach a couple times, and ate fish at several different restaurants. But mostly he sat on the deck and read books. He knows we always have tons to choose from and I think he finished the last three Harlan Coben books, our favorite author. He is now back in Arizona. We encouraged him to stay longer, but he said, "I don't want to miss Arizona in August"! What a crack up! His outlook and attitude is something we all need to aspire to!

Wherever you are, I hope you are enjoying August as well!

VARIETY SHOW

Look what I just got back from my quilters! I made this little quilt quite a while ago when I first came out with the Wintergreen pattern. I made a couple extra blocks for teaching the class, and then finished it up for shop display ('cause sometimes they prefer a smaller sample) or for my own use ('cause sometimes my big quilts are on loan and I miss them).
You may remember last summer when I made the above quilt from the Wintergreen pattern, only used Minnick and Simpson's Prairie Paisley line by Moda. I am convinced that anything would look spectacular in that fabric, and this quilt sure does. It is a favorite of mine!  

SHOP TALK

A word of warning: If you always read blog comments in your e-mail box you may not be seeing them all. My last post had two comments that I only saw because I looked in the comment section. None of us like to miss what people have to say!

Some of you asked to see more of Sue's quilt made with the Coverlet Collection II from Windham Fabrics. Here is her completed top. It is really great looking! It is on display at the shop (What's Your Stitch 'N Stuff) along with kits! I also noticed when I was there today that they have Pioneer Trail on display along with kits! They have lots of other kits as well, but I am only promoting my own stuff here!(My patterns are available at the shop or my website, if you are interested!)

The second picture shows the Stars and Garters quilt on the bottom and Indian Paintbrush on the top, hanging from rungs of a ladder. Isn't that a cute display? The shop looks great! They have a ton of cute Christmas things out already, and darling wool projects with kits.

I am thinking you have noticed that jacket, so here is a close-up. Prairie Paisley! Can you believe it! For those of you who love that fabric, here is another use for it!

Karen Dianne over at LeeHaven has been working hard to complete her version of Indian Paintbrush. She renamed it Dancing Ladies. It is turning our really nice! Go take a look!

That's all for now!

TIME WARP

I finally got to work on a quilt today, but really don't have anything to show. I made a bunch of 4-patches and they are not too exciting yet. I can report that I finished my granddaughter's apron! Yea! It is so cute, and I hope that she loves it, but will reserve showing it here until she receives it so I won't spoil the impact of her seeing it for the first time.

So, I thought I would share a couple other things that might be of interest to someone out there, hopefully! Most of you probably have a quilt hanger in your home, of some type. This one is mine. She began life as a perfume model, standing on a counter in a department store. She carried a slinky scarf and a come hither look, urging people to the perfume counter to buy her product. It was sad, really, a beautiful young woman shamefully displaying her body in an effort to sell a product, when, what she really wanted was to be recognized for the person she was on the inside. When she first came to me I recognized her potential immediately! I offered her a vintage quilt, something I dearly love, and she was so thrilled that she tossed her arms in the air for joy! She has remained that way to this day. I have thought of making her a frock to wear, and still think it would be nice. Either way, she is unique and I am pleased to have her share my enthusiasm for vintage and other quilts. Every so often I hear her softly singing, "some day my prince will come". She may have placed an order at the Fat Quarter Shop, I don't know.


Speaking of vintage, I happened upon this darling dress in the back of the closet today. It was my mother's dress, probably worn in the 1940's, and made by my grandmother. It is a tiny coral checked fabric, trimmed with tiny blue rick rack and blue buttons. It actually is similar in style to the aprons that I have been making. I would love to have my granddaughter try this on. I bet it would fit her. We are so taken with everything retro today, but this is the real deal.

Please take note of the Prairie Paisley link on the side of my blog. I added a couple more links of late, and they are super-cute quilts. Let me know if you are making a quilt from the Prairie Paisley fabric or if you know someone who is. I love seeing them all!

Pushing toward the weekend again. Where does the time go? Anyone? Anyone?

SMILES to everyone! Remember, that is the longest word in the dictionary. There is a mile between the first and last letter. Now I am going to run and hide for a few more days to avoid getting pelted with rotten fruit!

~Marcie

HOORAY FOR THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE

I love red, white and blue quilts! Over the years I have made a few. Recently I arranged three of them together on the deck railing for a photo shoot. How fun is that?!

I just added another member to the Prairie Paisley Club. Libby made an awesome quilt for her daughter who has just returned home from nine years in the Air Force. I am really surprised that I haven't heard from more of you out there making quilts from that beautiful line of fabric. Let me know If I can add you to the list, or if you come across another quilt blogger that has made something from Prairie Paisley, by Minick and Simpson, of Moda Fabrics. I know there are lots of gorgeous fabrics out there, but this one just struck a chord with me. I hope you have looked at the blogs that are listed. They are great!

My grandkids are still hamming it up, as you can see. The oldest one here loves to take pictures, so finally I will have a great selection to share. Here she is with with her little clone that I call Plumpkin.

On occasion we are treated to a rare performance of original dance, by Plumpkin, complete with costume. Let me tell you, this girl can dance and twirl to any music. But I must say that she prefers Barbie Musical CDs.

We are once again suffering from air conditioning woes in the zone that contains my sewing room, office and TV room. We had a mattress on the floor for two of the kids in the TV room, but it is so blasted hot that I took pity on them and moved the mattress to the foot of the bed in the master bedroom. I had to warn my husband not to step on anybody when he returned home last night from being out of town on business.

All in all, we are having a good time. They go down to the beach every day, and hopefully they will make memories for years to come. When I was a kid we went to Crystal Beach on Lake Erie (the Canadian side) every summer. It was such a treat!

I hope you are making some wonderful summer memories also, and tucking them away to bring out on a cold winter's day.

--Marcie

Addendum: Hooked commented about the RWB quilt quilts. All three are from Patchalot Patterns. (Stars & Garters, Christmas Kisses, Wintergreen-some color changes!) You can go there for ordering instructions if you wish. Thanks for asking!

THERE AIN'T NO CURE...

If you were a kid in the fifties or sixties you will remember "There Ain't No Cure for the Summertime Blues". You can read the lyrics to that song by clicking the link. For the rest of you babes, you may have heard it through the years. It's a really fun and catchy song! Well, here is my completed Prairie Paisley quilt that I named Summertime Blues. I just love it! Minick and Simpson did a great job with this line of fabric for Moda, and it seems that many of you have fallen in love with it along with me. I decided that it would be fun to link to other photos of quilts made from Prairie Paisley fabric. I have seen quilts at Kim's blog, and also Darlene's. So if you, or anyone you know, made a quilt with this fabric, please leave me a comment and I will link to you. I will put it on my side bar for a month or so. Can't wait to see what you have done! (Mar? Are you out there?)
By the way, my quilt has some stash fabric mixed in with the Priairie Paisley. The 4-patches and the reds are from my stash. They all play nice, don't you think?

You know how when you are on line and you see little promotional items? Well this one caught my eye and I had to go check it out. French Fry Spam Casserole Now doesn't that just sound too good to be true? I hope my granddaughter in college reads this. She is always looking for good recipes to make for guys. Reel him in with this one Honey!



P.S. On my sidebar I am linking to the blog pages that feature a Prairie Paisley Quilt. To view more of any blog listed click on "Search Blog" at the top of the blog and it will take you to the front page of each blog.

OPERATION CHAOS

This is what my sewing table looks like when I have too many projects going and can't make a decision about which one to work on. The good news is that I actually cleared it off today and sewed quilt backs together for three quilts. I still have to finish the third one because I was using up big and small pieces from my stash and it was taking forever! I leave tomorrow for Arizona and I am taking three projects to my quilter there. Hopefully I will be able to bring one or two back quilted! QUILTED! Isn't that the best feeling?! My Prairie Paisley project is all packed (there I go again)! I have all the stars completed and all the sashing units and hopefully I can assemble it while at my son's house.




I did complete this little cutie this week. It is a design by Cheri Saffiote-Payne and I saw it on Dawn's blog last year and fell in love with it. Last week Melanie from Covered Porches and Wooden Screen Doors showed her version, which is also very cute! Then my friend Karen at Sew Primitive got in the act. I really had to race to finish it before Karen because she dove in so fast. Luckily she didn't know I was racing with her! Ha! Yea, I won!
Well, you will notice that each of us changed a little something from the original design. It is fun to see what each person has done to make it their own.

When this project was almost completed I went to the Country Loft website and ordered two more of Cheri's patterns! I am really loving these primitive-folk art quilting projects!

Well, that's it for now. Next time you hear from me I will be posting from Arizona! Hasta la vista Baby!

PATCHALOT OF PRAIRIE PAISLEY

Can you tell that I enjoy alliteration? I couldn't resist this Pairie Paisley line of fabric by Minick and Simpson. I bought a few fat quarters to play with. I looked at various patterns and decided that I like mine the best! Isn't that a glowing recommendation? The pattern I am using is called Wintergreen, and I designed it for Christmas 2007. Some of you will remember it, I hope! I think I will call this quilt Summer Blues. Get it? The link above for Minick and Simpson will take you to a really nice blog about them at The Fat Quarter Shop, which also carries the fabric line.

OK then. So like a good little blogger, I layed (laid? Is there an English teacher amongst us?) the pattern pieces out so everyone could get a glimpse of the pieces. Make lots of 4-patches! I actully drew the perfect fabric from my stash to complement the beautiful Prairie Paisley. (I just want to say that name over and over again). So the 4-patches and the stars came from my wonderful stash. I love my stash, and I am so glad that it combines so well with Prairie Paisley. You could actually make the whole pattern in Prairie Paisley, but I feel righteous if I can add stash to any quilts I make. (It kind of supports the whole idea of having a stash).

So here is a taste of how the pattern will look in my Patchalot Pattern with Prairie Paisley. Yum! Take a look at that beautiful border fabric. Can you read the selvage? It says Prairie Paisley, of course! (I should get a promotional check from Moda for this post)!

I made a trial of three blocks, added sashing and called it good! Then I began cutting and stacking. Five blocks from each of five red fabrics. Maybe more, as I think I will make this quilt bigger than the original.

Well, after I decided for sure what I was making I had to hurry back to the LQS and buy more Prairie Paisley for the background and sashing. My original plan was that I was going to get all the cutting done and then take it with me to work on when I go to Arizona next week. I may have to find something else though. This is going together so quickly that I will have the top finished by then! Oh well. Do you know I have a stash in Arizona at my son's house? Just a small stash, but enough to play scrappy.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I am off to my sewing room to work on my ......... You fill in the blank! (If you said Prairie Paisley, you are right)!