I'm not a garment sewer but I sewed two garments! LOL Grammatically that sounded terrible!

I've never worn my garments outside of Houston quilt show (except my apron which hangs in my kitchen) because I'm just not that happy with them. 

But, I wore this to church yesterday! 

But will probably only wear this in Houston. 

Nothing wrong with a challenge, right??

Have a wonderful day!

Fabric on Friday!

I knew I had better get busy on my garment for Houston. 

I need to learn to choose patterns that can use quilting cotton, but I had it so I started in. My plan was to have the larger print on top like the pattern, but I used the wrong pattern piece! So I wasn't sure what to do next so I sent a photo off to Sunny (Gone to the Beach blog) and my daughter for help. 

Sunny gave me the courage to cut off the sleeve and use this berry fabric instead of the stripe. 

The next 2 photos were ones I sent to her. She was very patient! LOL I'm a huge visual learner so interpreting words only was difficult.

LOL!!! 

So this print is now the flounce and not the kimono.

The next day I wrote to the Humble Quilts group for help. And they came through for me!

Thank you so much friends!!I should be ready to model my garments next week for you.

Here's my Instagram feed for the week.

I'm really enjoying seeing all the Sajou starts!! So many fun center pieces- A lovely monogram, George Washington and beautiful floral prints. 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Garments and Hiking

Here is one of the fabrics I chose to make my education dept garment. I'm making a shift dress, more like a tunic. Do I pre-wash garment fabric? I'm assuming I would since my whole dress will shrink if I don't! Thoughts?

Another adventurous weekend for me. 

 We did our first backpacking trip. It was supposed to be a somewhat "easy" loop that would give us a chance to check our equipment and test out packs/sleeping bags/ bodies.

 Our packs were about 30-35 pounds- we hiked about 6.7 miles the first day, set up camp.

And hiked about 7.6 yesterday including hiking through this barren hot burn area from a fire last year. 

It was amazing, but the trail wasn't an "easy" loop by any means!

No sewing was done this weekend as I didn't bring anything that wasn't completely necessary. 

Stay cool and have a great week!

Houston- Clear for Take Off!

As part of the education team for Quilt Festival Houston I am prepping already!

First up, choosing a pattern and fabric for a garment. Always difficult for me, since I'm not a garment maker. Using quilters cotton is another factor that doesn't help me make pattern decisions easily. But that part is done.
I'm making a dress this year! It'll probably end up being more like a tunic on me.

Including the eagles, for sure. You'll have to wait and see about the rest.

 This is called Road Trip by Andover.

And we had swatches for the second choice, metropolis by Moda.  

That was actually really nice to see the actual fabric. 

Did you know you could be prepping too? They have the class schedule online right now for planning purposes. The class book is huge and takes many nights to get a good look at all the classes and lectures.

You can see it HERE.

Even though I'll be working, we can take up to 1 1/2 days of classes. I'm considering a half day class with Maria Shell. If you've taken a class or lecture with her can you give me your opinion?

I'm going out on a limb here and saying that I like to learn new things and what she does isn't what I do, but what I don't like is when modern quilters think what they are doing is so much better than "traditional" quilters. I don't want to take a class from a teacher with a huge ego.

363. COLOR—IT'S RELATIVE

E,PC Maria Shell

Color is one of the most important components to quiltmaking. This short and intense workshop is based on a series of mini-lectures and exercises designed to take your color usage to the next level.

Supplies—scissors (fabric cutting); paper, pen, & pencil; note/sketch paper; sm trash bag; rotary cutter; rotary cutting mat; rotary cutting ruler (any straight ruler). Fabric: twelve to twenty-four or more FQs or similarly sized pcs representing the color wheel.

I'm also considering a bus tour to Texas Quilt Museum in LaGrange or Galveston.

TEXAS QUILT MUSEUM, SIGHTSEEING, & QUILT SHOPS TOUR  

 HISTORIC GALVESTON & QUILT SHOPS TOUR  

I did finally get to see some of Texas when I went to Victoria via Austin, but that is the only time I've been outside of downtown Houston. I'd love your thoughts.

Have a wonderful day!

Garment Making

I just put the final touches on my latest garment that I am making to wear at Houston Quilt Show. Working/volunteering in the education office we will all wear a particular fabric line on a certain day. 

This first garment is the menagerie line, pattern my Indygo Junction.

The basic a couple days ago.

Not super flattering but fun to make!

My apron with the Ghastlies line.

Last years vest (It is finished now but apparently no photo!) using cherrywood fabric, 

pattern by Indygo Junction

And the apron from last year using Eternal Sunshine fabric line.

Dressing and packing will be even easier this year!

Anybody going to Houston to see the quilt show or take classes?

Friday Fun!

Happy Friday Friends!!

 I received my first package of dresses for Colombia today! Thank you Delleen! They are very sweet!!

 My little apron from Ghastlies is not very flattering, but I think it's cute. I think if I use and it wash it a few times before Houston it will soften up and not accentuate my hips quite so much! LOL

 I thought the buttons looked like weird eyes so I opted to remove them. I think it would be cuter without any pockets but I do think having pockets while working Houston will be very helpful!

 I'm happy to know Elsa likes Rene's fiance! She was ready to go back to Portland with them. 

I loved this book, although it felt like it took forever for me to read. I have been exhausted and some nights could only read a paragraph!

My Instagram feed for the week. 

I got a little start on my Eclipse quilt (its going to be a little quilt) and hope to show you something on Monday. We are going camping this weekend so no sewing on my agenda.

Have a wonderful weekend! It's the last weekend in August! How is that possible??

Garment Making Again!

If you were a blog reader last year you know I had to make 2 garments for Houston. The education staff wears the same line on a particular day.  (not always the same fabric and 

certainly not the same clothing pattern)

After seeing the beautiful garments last year I thought I better step up my game this year!

This is the piece of fabric I chose. It's Menagerie, by Rifle paper,  from Cotton + Steel. 

I put it in the wash so it would be ready when the tunic pattern arrives.

 Aargh! Apparently it had a sticker on it that I didn't see.  I scraped as much off as possible then hand washed the area with Joy dish soap.

 Ta-Da! Ready to go!

 I was less happy with our second choice. It is Ghastlies by Alexander Henry. First off, I'm not a fan of Halloween and secondly I think this could make a darling bag or decor, but a garment?  Well, I was stressing about what kind of garment to make, then I realized that life is too short to stress!

So, I chose the less ghastly and unless someone can give me a great idea of a garment, I'll make a cute little half apron and call it good!

Here's my instagram for this past week. 

I'm off again until next week. I'm one of 12 people running a 216 mile relay! It's going to be a scorcher!!

Simple Monday Post

This is what I've been working on- not quilting at this point!

I am using cherrywood in a variety of blues.. What it needs now is buttons. 

It feels very large even though it is a medium. It is supposed to be a bit of a boy fit, so that must be why it feels large. I need to have it completed before I head off to Houston on the 30th. 

Any suggestions about buttons?

I'm super thrilled to have gotten passed this vest  mess! LOL

We had an amazing weekend out camping and although I still want to add some hand quilting stitches I added my binding and label. I can hardly work on it now because it smells like camp fire. Whew!

I'm seeing some wonderful part 1 and part 2 of Quilters Madder on Facebook! Keep up the good work! Friday is Part 3.