Carolyn Laukkonen is a generous and talented quilter and EQ5 user, who offers a free image of the month's calendar, designed in EQ5. Februrary's Calendar Page is an elegant clamshell design. I save the image as my computer's desktop background so I can enjoy it all month long. Join Carolyn's yahoo list for a monthly update when the new calendar is ready.

Had computer difficulties yesterday so wasn't able to post on Day 2 of my trip to the beach. Connecting from a hotel room on a phone line is a nightmare. Will finish it up tomorrow, when I'm home again...(Super Bowl Day!!)

The morning sunrise at 7 AM.

Here's a section of the 86" braided strip I accomplished during class, plus I sewed about 800" inches of 6" wide strips for the panels on the back. The 'braid' is foundation pieced on the batting, which is cut 6.5" wide, then it is backed with a section of the 6" wide strip.

Sashing is added by a 'flip and sew' method, adding batting also. I'm making a full size quilt, which should finish about 77" x 99". My Featherweight sewing machine is chunking along through the 6 to 8 layers of fabric (using a walking foot).

Here's a view of the instructor's (Carol Britt's) quilt's back, showing the 6" strips and sashing. This pattern does make a reversible quilt, and when you sew it, you quilt it.

We went to a local quilt shop at lunch, where they were having a 25% off everything sale. I only indulged in a cat pattern and a fat quarter.

More shopping tonight at the 'swap and shop' (think yard sale for quilters) where I picked up some early 90's (1990's) vintage fabric for under $5. Can't resist a bargain!

I arrived about 5 PM and here's the view out my hotel room (sixth floor, on the beach). Despite the tropical view, I must report that the temperature is a brisk 45 degrees F. Went out to dinner with my friends and then rushed back for the first event of the weekend, Teacher Show and Tell.

Here's the sample from Carol Britt of the class I am taking tomorrow, Braided Quick Step.

I ran across these pretty kitties posing on quilts... on Reva's website. Her kitties are very artistic, in their own expressive way. Check out Reva's quilt page too, lots of interesting projects.

Ran across this book on Amazon, Cats On Quilts by Sandi Fox. (don't you love the peek inside the covers that Amazon has added to many entries?). Sandi Fox, now an independent curator, used to be the quilt curator at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Today there was slippery ice on the roads; I stayed home by the fireplace.

woo-hoo! Day off tomorrow due to freezing drizzle/freezing rain that started today and will continue through tomorrow. I was only working Monday and Tuesday anyways as my vacation trip to Myrtle Beach starts on Wednesday. I'll check email from home tomorrow no doubt, but an official 'plant is closed' position relieves me of the guilt of not spending 8 hours on the computer. Closure of the plant is rare, only 2 or 3 times in the 18 years I've worked here, usually when we get snow or major ice. It didn't seem that bad today, but the new landlords of the property seem much more disposed to bad weather closures than my company was when they were the landlords too (now they just rent back the space they used to own).

I did get all my fabric ironing and cutting done today to prepare for the two classes I am taking at MBQP (Myrtle Beach Quilting Party). I'm taking Braided Quick Step Quilt and Bandana (only mine is made of fat quarters, not bandanas) Quilt classes.

Got the 'agenda' from Gail today with the lunch, dinner and shopping plans for the five days--a core of us have gone so often, we have a regular routine of which places we hit for dinner and lunch, and which quilt shops we do at lunch. I'm ready to start right NOW!

Thought I'd share a diversion with you, online jigsaw puzzles from JigZone. I subscribe, so every day get a link via e-mail to a new picture that is a jigsaw puzzle. You can set the difficulty by selecting how many pieces and the shapes of the pieces. So much easier than the real puzzles--I always lose a piece or two and then end up with holes in the puzzle.

wip #4. This was another project started in Houston last fall. I wasn't too thrilled to find out this class had us cutting out our pieces with templates and scissors, and sewing portions of the block (the infamous Y seam) by HAND!! I don't ordinarily do either of those techniques. I'm a die-hard rotary cutter user, and everything by machine!

I do like the scrappy background, but it was a lot of sewing for a subtle effect. The block is 24" square. The country colors aren't my usual, but I do like their richness.

I think I'll add a border on this puppy and it'll be declared a top. Not a bed size quilt in the plans for this one.

I need to get cutting for my classes next week at the Myrtle Beach Quilt Party, in Myrtle Beach, SC. I've probably gone for 8 or so years--3 days of classes, a little shopping and eating out with my quilty friends, in a word--FUN! The classes are sorta secondary at this point in my quilting experience, but I go every year anyway.

I'm taking a class from Carol Britt, one of my favorite teachers and shop owners. Carol owns Sew What Fabrics in Wytheville, VA and the online business of Batiks Etc. that she bought from another friend of mine, Jan Smiley several years ago.

I may 'play hookey' on Saturday and not go to the class I was assigned (not my first or second choice) and then maybe I'll make more progress on the projects from Thursday and Friday. But I'm still betting I'll have more WIPs to add to the list afterwards.

Now this page at Bluebird Gardens Quilts and Collectibles I got a hoot out of. My kitties are not nearly as mobile (or is it upwardly mobile) as Otis and Margaret, but maybe there is hope with such detailed instructions to follow? Could there be a "Furrari" or the "USS Tuna" in their future? We'll have to see.

wip #3. Another result of my classes in Houston at the International Quilt Festival last October is six blocks of Carla Gulati's Radiant Suns quilt design. It was the vibrant colors of the quilt that attracted me to the class. I found the curves easier to sew than I expected. The supply list was a bit overwhelming--over 200 13" squares if I recall correctly. I enjoyed Carla as a teacher--a bit refreshing to have one at a national level that was genuinely concerned that her students enjoy the class!

I sewed six blocks in class, and as usual, that is where production stopped. For effect, I've grouped four at a time in the photos, so the two blocks on the left side in each photo are repeated.

Yesterday I spent 2 and 1/2 hours cleaning out the old storage unit, moving things to the new storage unit, throwing out things (including my entire collection of LPs--anybody remember those?), and filling up my car with the charitable donations, including the 10 ft Christmas tree (artificial of course.) Finished taking all the Christmas decorations done on Friday, too, so I feel justified in being lazy today and not doing anything but watching football on TV (go Panthers!)

For some quilting content, check out Diane Gaudynski's page on her cats and quilts. Diane is a master machine quilter--her quilts are outstanding, so check those out, too.

The December Electric Quilt "Round Quilt" challenge has been posted here. If you aren't familiar with this, Electric Quilt is an amazing quilt design software program, with super technical support. Electric Quilt is a company who cares about their users and supports them in many ways.

The Club EQ Challenges are monthly design challenges, usually conceived by Barb Vlack, resident EQ expert on the Info-EQ list. Once the rules are posted, any user of EQ4 or EQ5 can design a entry, and submit it. Monthly all the entries are posted, and the participants (and ONLY the participants) can download the designs. There is no voting--this is not a contest, but a learning experience for the participants. However, even if you don't participate yourself, the results are usually a feast for the eyes, so do check the designs out.

I submitted two entries for this month, Celtic Christmas Medallion and Cat Rug. Click on either image for a larger view.

wip #2. I went to Houston International Quilt Festival last October and took classes, including Charlotte Angotti's "Let Me Surprise You" class. This is essentially a kitted mystery class. Everyone in the class gets the same fabrics and makes the same blocks. First time I'd been in a class of 50 students! But with the teacher using a microphone, it worked OK. Charlotte calls the quilt 'Queen for A Day' but I'm not fond of the name. My version no doubt will be different setting with a different name. The fabrics are mostly by Makower UK, their Elizabethan line. After searching unsuccessfully online for more, I did find more of some of the theme fabrics at the local fabric mecca, Mary Jo's Cloth Store.

In class I finished one block. For not getting any choice in the fabrics or the design, I'm pleased with both. I like autumn colors, and I like scrappy-look designs. I have enough fabric to make 32 blocks, since I bought an extra set--the original kit was for 16 blocks. The block itself is a traditional design known as Corn and Beans. Lots of little triangles.

Charlotte's completed quilt is above on the left. My single block is at the right.

you know, I really should make a list of all my WIPs (works in progress)...but I think it might be overwhelming. I am NOT one who prescribes to the philosophy of 'you can't start a new project if you have ones unfinished.' Rather, my approach seems to be 'let's see what is the maximum number of projects in process at any one time for one individual.' But I think a list would be helpful to move some to the category of 'never going to finish,' and maybe even rejuvenate some projects to really being 'in-process.' So I'm going to start a list, in no particular order. Now, this could apply to either quilting, knitting, jewelry-making, or any other assorted crafts I've taken up over the years, but since I'm into quilting currently, that's where I'll start.

(this could take days just to compile a list, you know...)

Ground rule #1: A top is finished enough to no longer be called a WIP. Therefore, the New Year's Day Mystery is no longer eligible for the list.

wip #1. Blooming Nine Patch. One of my online fabric sources, The Cotton Club has to take the blame as a fabric-addition-enabler on this one. The Blooming Nine-Patch, is from the book, Tradition With a Twist, by Blanche Young and Dalene Young Stone. Blooming Nine Patch is a variation of a Trip Around the World on point or Boston Commons traditional pattern, using blended fabrics so the patches are not distinct.

I ordered a kit from The Cotton Club, made from these hot orange-fushcia-purple fabrics. I started on it around December 28th, and got side-tracked by the New Year's Day Mystery, otherwise I would have made more progress while I was off work. I have about 40% of the nine-patches sewn presently. The photo shows what's been sewn/cut and can be laid out, from the center outwards. Right now it looks VERY orange. Hopefully it will get toned down a bit when more purple is added in the later rounds. It should be full-bed-size when completed.

I spent some time yesterday creating a new web page for kitty photos. As a sample, here are the 'quilt inspectors' at work--Cleo on the left, Emma on the right.

Here are the photos of the completed top from the Planet Patchwork New Year's Day Mystery Quilt. As with many mysteries, if I'd known the placement of the fabrics in advance, I would have done it differently. I'd have switched the beige background (Fabric A, the "Light") and the floral print (Fabric B, the "Medium") so the pinwheel shapes would have blades of the floral, instead of the beige. Oh well, that is what you get with mysteries.

(click on either image for a larger view in a pop-up window)

I spent a couple of hours today in the chilling cold (32 degrees is downright cold for North Carolina!) moving boxes from one storage unit to another. It's going slowly since I'm trying to organize and throw out or donate away stuff I can bare to part with. Being an confirmed pack rat, it is always tough to decide I'll never (ever) need something again. Today, I manage to part with some Christmas decorations and lights that haven't been used in 15 years.

This afternoon I set to work finishing the New Year's Day Mystery Quilt. I did complete the top, Yay! Got the strips sewn together and the border added. Will take some pic's tomorrow during daylight hours so the colors will be true. I think this one will be donated to my guild's charities, but not sure I will donate it as just a top, or try to finish it myself. If I decide to finish it myself, it might be awhile before it gets done.

It's that time of year to plan the quilt vacations for the year. I usually go to one or two major quilt shows each year, to take workshops, shops the vendors and soak in the quilty inspiration from the quilts themselves. Although, it does usually generate more UFOs for the "to-finish-someday" pile.

I've done some major web searching and have compiled a fairly comprehensive list of major shows with workshops, camps, symposiums, cruises, travel tours. I've posted them on a separate page here. If you know of some I've missed, let me know and I'll add them.

I'm awaiting input from my usual travel cohort, my mom, so haven't pinned down where I'm going yet. Will keep you posted.

Ok, so I haven't put a stitch to my NYDM (New Year's Day Mystery) quilt that is 'resting' mid-way through Clue 5 of 6 since New Year's Day ended. However, with some directions from Barb Vlack on the Info-EQ list, it didn't take long at all to create the design in EQ5 (click on the quilt image for a larger view).

At least I finish the virtual quilts!

You know, sometimes quilters can go a bit overboard. Check out the quiltmobile. But I bet it got attention for their quilt show.

Welcome to the project that occupied my quilting life for 2003, the Charlotte Quilters Guild raffle quilt. Somehow when I agreed, over two years ago, to coordinate the 2004 raffle quilt, it seemed so fun and easy. Reality was I felt pressure from the responsibility of selecting the right design and right fabrics so it would be a "marketable" quilt and raise a lot of money for my guild. Then the help I expected never materialized, so I ended up doing 99% of the work, from cutting to piecing to machine applique. Thank goodness our guild hires a machine quilter (but, of course, I had to select her and hire her too!). She did do a wonderful job.

I am very pleased with the end result, and am proud as a procrastinator-extraordinaire, that I finished sewing the label on it one hour before I had to turn it in. Ticket sales are going well, so I think the public likes it, and I've gotten a lot of favorable feedback from guild members. The quilt will be raffled off in April.

One of the Christmas gifts I received was a software CD called Quilt Blueprints. Not just one screensaver, it really is a collection of eight screensavers that include blocks flying around the screen (Cubeworks), your screen image exploding section by section to reveal a quilt (Formations), a bouncing quilt block clock (Timeclock) and even a Space Invaders-like game with a scissor-armed quilter shooting up quilt blocks (Quiltshoot). Images are mostly of vintage traditional quilts. A feast for the eyes!

Available from the authors' website, www.crookedcreekvalley.com or from Connecting Threads.

I think I'm ready to blog again...I haven't posted anything in ages, but I'm feeling an urge to do so again. New year and all, it seems a time of renewed dedications, so I'll give it a try.

I'm more focused on quilting these days than knitting, so you'll see my comments will be more "quilty" than they were previously. I do tend to float between the two crafts, with one gaining predominance over the other, from time to time. For now, it is quilting.

So, what's new? I did participate in the Planet Patchwork New Year's Day One-Day Mystery. Being a 'good girl', I shopped in my extensive stash for the required five fabrics. Of course, the fact that I decided to participate about 24 hours before it started reduced the likelihood of shopping opportunities outside my stash (aka Quilt shops). Finding two pieces 1.5 yards long that would work as light and medium was a challenge, but I did put together five fabrics, including some OLD ones.

There were technical difficulties with the online chat room during the mystery time, so it was not used except to direct folks to the clues online. That was disappointing--I thought it would be a good way to keep the enthusiasm up and share the experience with others doing it at the same time. There were folks from Canada, New Zealand and Australia planning to participate.

The design itself had a twist to it and I think came out pretty well. As with most mysteries, if I'd known the design, I'd have put the fabrics in different positions (switched the beige and floral). My only complaint was that it was based on nine-patches, which since I had spent the previous four days sewing a gazillion nine-patches for my Blooming Nine Patch project, I was about sick of the nine-patch.

I have perserved, made halfway through Clue 5 by the end of the day. In my usual fashion (ms. procrastination here), haven't touched it or the B9P (Blooming Nine-Patch) since the end of the day on New Year's Day.