Monday, June 24, 2013

Another Birmingham Quilt

Here's another one of my favorite quilts from the show. This is another one from Tammie Black called Patch Play. Click on the picture to see it better. And be sure to read the info below- click on this, too, to read it!



I spent a bit of time on my mystery quilt this morning - 36 four patches.  I also laid out some hexie for yet another hexie quilt!!!


I have to share my new bug friend with you. I noticed him on the patio today sitting on this rattan-like stool. Look how big he is! I've seen stick insects before, but this guy is more like a branch insect!


Oh, big news! I found out today I have a quilt juried into the AQS Go! Have Fun Quilt Challenge! Yippee!

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Birmingham Quilt Show!


I spent Friday and Saturday in Birmingham for the Birmingham Quilters Guild quilt show! I think it was the best BQG show ever - fabulous quilts, wonderful vendors, and lots of fun. Peggy and I were featured quilters and had our own corner in the vendor area. Peggy did a demo on Saturday of the Quick and Easy Hexie technique and we taught SO MANY people how to make hexies faster and easier. One woman told me she started drooling when she learned how! We sold LOTS of books to those eager to go home and start a hexie project.


One of my favorite quilts is the show was Peggy's Hexie Mania, featured in our book. How I love this quilt!

Her workmanship is amazing and this quilt absolutely shouts color! I need to make one of these...


Here's another beauty, made by my friend, Tammie Black.


I stayed with my in-laws Friday night - it was nice to catch up with them. I'll share more quilts tomorrow.

Now for your Cooper pleasure:
My Birmingham friends all wanted to know what the doxies think of the new pup. Prince has made it clear that he is the Alpha Dog and does his best to ignore Cooper. Mickey is having fun playing with Cooper as seen below. I love the snarls on their faces.



Thursday, June 20, 2013

I Sewed!


It's been so long since I sat at my sewing machine - way too long! Tonight is quilt guild and I realized that I'm so behind on the mystery quilt. So I got to work and finished this stack of nine blocks. Now I'm only one month behind. Got to get back on track!

I'm heading to Birmingham in the morning for the Birmingham Quilters Guild quilt show! Yay! Always a great show. It's happening Friday and Saturday - stop by if you're in the area.

Big news! Cooper slept all night in his crate last night! Go Cooper!

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Super Duper Cole Slaw



Here in the South, we love our cole slaw. It goes with everything, from burgers and hot dogs, to barbeque pork, grilled chicken, steak, whatever! My dear friend and coauthor, Peggy, recently shared this recipe with me and I finally made it last week. OMG, is it ever good! Yes, it's the best cole slaw I've ever eaten, and trust me, I've eaten a lot of slaw in my day! Peggy made mountains of this recently when she and her husband hosted a big birthday bash for her MIL's 90th birthday. I can't remember what Peggy calls this, but I'm calling it Super Duper Cole Slaw.

Super Duper Cole Slaw

3 bags Angel Hair Cole Slaw cabbage
1 bottle Brianna Poppyseed Dressing
10-12 ounces Craisins
2 cups pecan pieces or glazed pecans

Dump it all in a bowl and stir it up!


So I know you're waiting for an update on Cooper, who is also Super Duper! Who knew there'd be so  many words that rhyme with Cooper? Including Pooper Scooper! Ha!



Earlier this week in a quest to entertain him for a bit, I gifted him with a quilt magazine - thought he might want to look at the pictures or even read an article or two. Lest you worry, I'd already read the magazine and torn out the stuff I wanted to save.


This is mighty interesting!


Yes, he loved every bit of it! See the paper hanging out of his mouth?

He is doing great on crate training. He knows his name is either "Cooper" or "NO!" He will often sit or shake hands on command. And he know the word, "Tee-tee," which I tell him when he goes outside. I've been working hard on leash training - 3 times today- which is good for us both. I get exercise and gets tired out!

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Distracted...



This little guy has had me extremely distracted this week. Ahhh, sleepless nights, accidents, chewing...the joys of puppy-hood! He's worth it though. Cooper has stolen our hearts so quickly! One of his favorite things is rolling or laying in the grass. The people who had him had only dirt and rocks in their yard. He adores grass! 

We also had good friends spend the night with us last night on their way to the beaches in Florida. So good to see them! We spent most of our time on the back patio talking and watching the dogs play. Good times...

Now back to quilting news...
I finally drew a winner for the Hexie BLog Hop giveaway.... Happy Cottage Quilter! Email me with your address, please!

The blog hop was a HUGE success and we've gotten so much support from hexie lovers EVERYWHERE! Thanks you to the wonderful blog hop hostesses and to all of you for following along. Now, let's go HEXIE!

Winner of Giveaway to be Announced Soon....

Pardon the delay - we had out-of-town company last nigh. I'll be announcing the winner this afternoon!

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

The New Man in my Life


I got an early birthday present! Meet Sheldon Cooper - we call him Cooper. He's an 11 week lab puppy and came with a nice supply of fleas, ticks, and yes, worms. We've taken care of the fleas and ticks. The vet will take care of the worms. Hope the doxies don't get those nasty things.

So I feel like a new mom: no sleep, no makeup, no breakfast....and no quilting for the last 24 hours.

Hopefully I can pick up the needle and thread this evening.

Ruff, ruff!

Sunday, June 9, 2013

LAST DAY OF THE BLOG HOP!!!!

MY TURN!!

When I started planning this Blog Hop a couple of months ago, I decided to shoot for the stars. What did I have to lose? So I e-mailed some big time quilting stars to see if they would participate. I was thrilled when every single person I asked agreed to take part. Thanks so much to them all, and thanks to all of you who have hopped along with us! The outpouring of comments on all the blogs has been fabulous! And some of my star blog hoppers are now addicted to making hexies the QUICK AND EASY WAY!!!!

Peggy and I had so much fun writing this book together! We really LOVE this method of making hexies from circles of fabric and I don't think I'll EVER stop designing hexie quilts.

You might have noticed by now that I have TWO blogs. Why?

I've had this greenQuilts blog for several years. I love to share the projects I'm working on and other tidbits of my life. When I jumped on the hexie train, I decided to start The Hexie Blog, making it a place for us all to share hexie projects. If you've made any hexie projects, please let me know (I don't care what technique you use!) so I can put it out there on the blog.




So are you ready for the FINAL GIVEAWAY???? I'm giving away an autographed copy of Quick and Easy Hexie Quilts PLUS an Accuquilt Go! Baby along with a circle die that cuts three different sizes of circles! I KNOW! Amazing, huh?

How to enter:
Leave a comment on this blog and/or The Hexie Blog. For extra chances, become a Follower of both blogs. So you can get a maximum of FOUR chances if you leave a comment on both blogs and become a follower of both blogs.

Since this is a mighty big prize, I'm leaving it open until 8 am Central Time Friday, June14th.
Good luck!!!


Pat Sloan is at Bat Today!!!



PAT SLOAN!!! We took the picture at Quilt Market - how funny that Pat happened to pose just under her name in the booth!

Pat is up for the Blog Hop today - check it out HERE! In addition to giving away a copy of Quick and Easy Hexie Quilts, she's including some yummy thread, and a needle keeper! You have to check it out!!!

The response to the book has been ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL - hope you want to jump on the HEXIE bandwagon!

STay tuned - I'm up tomorrow at BOTH of my blogs!

Saturday, June 8, 2013

BLog HoPping With IHAN!!!


The HOP continues today with yet another chance to win a copy of Quick and Easy Hexie Quilts!  Kelly Jackson from IHAN (I HAVE A NOTION) is hosting everyone here!


IHAN is Kelly's FABULOUS on-line shop - be sure to check it out. She carries the best of everything you might want for your quilting.


Friday, June 7, 2013

First Crop


Okay, so don't laugh! Remember we've only lived in this house for 11 months and the yard is still very new. We planted two blueberry plants only a week ago or so. We'll only get a few more this year, but next year I'm hoping for lots more!

My tomato plants are thriving and have lots of green tomatoes on them. Can't wait for some to ripen. I've been CRAVING vine ripening tomatoes! YUM!

I did get quite a bit of hand quilting done today, but I won't bore you with another picture of my stitches. They look just the same as they did the last time I shared. I'm going to hit it hard on this quilt over the weekend - ready to finish it!

Happy Weekend! And stay tuned for the blog hop - only a couple of more days!!!


Another Day of the BLog HoP!

We're fortunate enough to have SewCalGal hosting today's Blog Hop!!! Go here to check it out!

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Fun Afternoon of Quilt Judging


I spent this afternoon in Tallassee, AL, judging a quilt show. That's me in the middle - not sure what's going on with my hair - eeks! Jeanne, on the left, and Dianne Bentley, Alabama's First Lady on the right judged along with me.

Judging others' quilts is not easy AT ALL!!! I'd rather make a quilt any day than to judge someone else's. We each filled out a form on each quilt and someone will tally all our scores together. So I left not knowing which quilts won. Can't wait to hear the results!

I had big plans to hand quilt tonight, but that's not happening. A bit tired. I'm almost done reading an exciting book (Never Look Away by Linwood Barclay) so I'm going to bed early to finish it.

Victoria: Our BLog HoP Stop for Today!!



Victoria Findlay Wolfe's Bumblebeans blog is our stop today!!! Thanks, Victoria! And it was so good to see you at Quilt Market!

Be sure to go to HERE to enter to win the Quick and Easy Hexie Quilts book from Victoria!!!!

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Star Crossed!


Are you sick of seeing these crosses? I'm half way done making them... whew....
Then I'll do the plain straight line hand quilting in the rows between. And this baby will be DONE - stick a fork in it!


We've got a thief around here - a Cheez It thief. Much to Mickey's disappointment, the box was empty. He still had fun playing with it.

Another big day for the Quick and Easy Hexie Blog HoP tomorrow!!!!!!! Stay tuned!


Check it Out! Day 3 of the Hexie Blog HoP


Day 3 of the Quick and Easy Hexie Quilt BLog HoP:

Go here to see Melinda's post and a chance to win the book!

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Busy, Busy, Busy!!!

I never seem to slow down!!! So much to do! I'm working much longer hours than I ever did as a full time engineer - good thing I love what I do! 

I have three or four quilts in progress, and a few more designs waiting to be started. I'm working on class descriptions and supply lists. Entering quilts in contests. Sorting receipts from Quilt Market. Working on book proposal. Yadah. Yadah. And yadah.... 

Oh, and I'm judging a quilt show on Thursday along with the First Lady of Alabama. Yup, she's a quilter!



So what did I decide about this quilt: plain quilting stitches or crosses? Both! You might need to click the picture to see better. Ever other row will be crosses as seen here. In between I'll add plain stitches. Loving this quilt!


Hubby and I snuck off to the lake again over the weekend - here's our ParalleloDox on in the boat - oh they love a boat ride!

Meanwhile, the blog hop is going so WELL! Lots of quilters are learning about Quick and Easy Hexie Quilts! That makes me happy happy happy!



Day 2 of BLog Hop!

Go to Susan Cleveland's blog here for a chance to win a copy of the book!


Thanks for all the wonderful support we're getting on the blog hop - so many comments from so many wonderful people!!!

I'll be back later with some fun stuff to share!

Monday, June 3, 2013

First Stop on the Hexie Blog Hop!

We're up and running today! Check out the Selvage Blog for Karen Griska's review and giveaway!

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Are You Ready for a Blog Hop?!!!



ARE YOU READY!? I am! I've planned a fun blog hop to help introduce Quick and Easy Hexie Quilts. I'm so excited!! Can you tell? :-) I want everyone to see how easy and fast hexies can be when made out of circles of fabric - no paper, no plastic pieces, no basting! Yay!

Each of the blog hop participants has a copy of the book to give away on their blog - lots of chances to win! I'll be the final stop on the hop, posting at BOTH of my blogs. And the prize I'll be giving away at the end of the blog hop is extra special.  Not only will you have a chance to win a copy of the book, but you might also win one of these:


Wouldn't you love to have an Accuquilt Go! Baby? But wait, that's not all!


I'll also include this circle die (and cutting mat) so you can start cutting circles to make hexies! FUN, FUN!!!

The blog hop starts MONDAY, JUNE 3! Don't miss it! Here's the line up:

Quick and Easy Hexie Quilts
Bloghop Schedule

June 3  Karen Griska at The Selvage Blog
              
June 4  Susan Cleveland at BlackberryCreek
              
June 5  Melinda Fulkerson at Melinda’s Blog
               
June 6  Victoria Findlay Wolfe at Bumblebeans Inc
               
June 7   Sew Cal Gal
                
June 8   Kelly Jackson at I Have A Notion
                
June 9   Pat Sloan
                 
June 10  Julia Wood
                 http://greenquilts.blogspot.com   
                 http://thehexieblog.blogspot.com