Colorful Canvas Market Bags

Like so many, we are up to our necks in a constant stream of plastic bags. I used to use canvas shopping bags, but over the years they have gotten old, dirty and misplaced. I've been well aware that it was high time to replace and replenish my supply and get back into a healthy, green shopping habit.

While looking at my lovely Ikea fabrics, (see last post) and wondering what to make from these canvas weight delights, the light bulb went on and I realized they would be perfect for some bright, stylish market bags! Happily I also bought a few yards of sturdy weight solids, perfect for the lining. And joyfully, I have enough fabrics to keep us in a delightful supply of these bright cheery bags!

Groundhog's Day

The day started like this, a misty morning and a deer enjoying breakfast outside my studio window.

A little later I spied these two groundhogs behind the house.

They are summer guests this year, lodging in the old chicken coop.

At day's end we watched the sunset.

Crazy Quilt Update and A Fabulous Surprise For Me

I can finally show you my completed crazy quilt block made for our 2008-2009 guild president.

She received her quilt last night.

I was so pleased she chose this theme for her quilt. I really enjoy hand embroidery.

It was so much fun to see all of our unique styles blended together in a quilt.

This quilt is such a treasure!!

Guess What? Can You Tell I'm Excited?? Yesterday I woke up to the news that I had won such a beautiful gift from Embellisher at Million Little Stitches. For her 125th post she gave away this amazing heart sampler. I have been following her blog for a long time and always enjoy seeing her creative ideas and little pieces of her life far across the oceans.

Thank you so much! I will cherish your gift.

My new bolts of fabrics have arrived and are ready to be dyed. Keep an eye on my blog. I plan to pass my good fortune on with a Dye Candy Fabric giveaway in a week or two (once my dye lots are finished and photographed).

Have a wonderful rest of your week!

Chris

Wash Day

New Ikea fabrics,


all washed and hanging out to dry.

Bellaonline

BellaOnline provides an encouraging, supportive publishing community for women. The following description appears on their website "We provide free training, support and promotion so writers may reach their personal and business goals. Overall, BellaOnline aims to provide high-quality, helpful, trustworthy content, at no cost, in a low advertisement environment for our millions of visitors. We are the 2nd largest women's website on the internet, behind iVillage (owned by NBC). We do this all without paying for marketing, without having a big office or big budget."

Bellaonline has a quilting section edited by Judie Bellingham. Recently Judie did an interview with Kathy Adams of KoolKat Quilting - see below
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art5503.asp

Tuskineko and Ikea

I've been asked by a few readers as to what paints I used for the dolls in my previous post. I used Japanese Tsukineko All-Purpose Inks. They come in a wide assortment of colors inside very small bottles. Applicators, such as the ones shown, are used to apply the pigment. (You can also use a paint brush.) Depending on how you use them you can get different results... very bright saturated color right out of the bottle, water color effect when used on wet fabric, to an almost coloring book effect when used in light amounts on dry fabric. Hope that helps!

In other news... My very sweet Hubby spent his Father's Day taking me to Ikea, where I went hog wild buying up their sale fabrics, priced .99 cents to $2.99 a yard. The last thing I really need is more fabric, but at those prices how could I resist? By the time we got home the light was getting too poor to photograph them, but after some web searching I did find images of some of the prints:

Most are mid-weight bold prints in a semi 1970's color pallet... They are going to give me a fun mental challenge!


These flowers are enormous... a yard wide each!


Flowers sprinkled over large, wonky stripes


Giant waves of color.


The super large, colorful circles on this print remind me of the game "Twister!"

Also got some wonderful light-weight bird and leaf prints, which I will show another day. I'm looking forward to playing around with all this new yardage and will show you the results soon, I hope!

And we have a winner - the year was 1973

What a fun, fun contest. And I do so agree with Laurie that Bruce is a great sport. All of the comments were such fun to read.

But wait - the winner first .......

And the winner is ....... Leah S (who guessed the year right after commenting - "this isn't fair - I wasn't even born until 82!) Email us Leah at info@janpatekquilts.com and give us your address. Also let us know whether you want a Layer Cake or Jelly Roll.

We had quite a few right answers of 1973 so I wrote each name on a piece of paper, folded it and put it in a bowl. Pep held the bowl up high and Zoie closed her eyes. Maybe not Random.org but pretty good Zoie.org.

Well, it's Father's Day so I'd better get off of the computer and spend some time with the Father of my Children. Have a good one ladies.

And thank you Bruce and Sandy for a really fun contest.

Greetings From Duluth - Quilt Show Day

Greetings from Duluth Minnesota. I have always wanted to attend the Minnesota Quilters statewide show and when I saw it was scheduled in Duluth this year I could not pass up the chance. I'm so glad I made the trip. What a great quilt show! There were so many beautiful quilts to see. Before I left for the show I met two quilters in the lobby of the hotel. They invited me to share the show with them.

Marj and Miki, I treasure the time we spent together. Meeting you both was such a gift. We explored each quilt from design, to the exquisite workmanship and use of colors. I always enjoy sharing a quilt show through the eyes of other quilters. I learn so much. I hope, dear ladies, our paths cross again.

At lunchtime a quick trip across this footbridge took me from the DECC convention center to the Canal Park area. The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory is the first shop across the bridge. I bet the quilters kept them busy!!

Canal Park is so much fun to visit. The city's effort at urban renewal has gone a long way, making this area a must see destination. Old warehouses and shipping docks now house restaurants, shops, hotels and movie theaters.

This photo shows a shot of the convention center on the left about a block away. The Waters of Superior is a wonderful art gallery. I mentioned this shop in a previous post. They just started carrying my quilt block jewelry.

I couldn't resist taking a picture of my wares in with so many other beautiful pieces. I am humbled to have my products accepted here.

In the distance you can see two water cisterns on top of what was once an old hardware supply warehouse. This building has been converted in the Hawthorne Suites Hotel. Inside you can see evidence of the building's history, from the wood grain embedded in the concrete ceilings and supports to the massive safe in the entryway. This building once housed one of the largest hardware distributors in the US.

I love the detail in old brick buildings. It is rare to see this type of construction used today. (Can you tell my day job involves commercial construction projects?)

Another look up the road toward the aerial lift bridge that spans the shipping canal in the Duluth Harbor.

P.S. On my way north I made a stop off in Eau Claire. Click here to see a bit about Tangled Up In Hue.

Friends

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive...


and it is only by this meeting...


that a new world is born." - Anais Nin

I made these two little dolls out of plain muslin, of which I am growing increasingly fond of for it's simplicity. The details were drawn with Pigma pens and then painted with Japanese fabric paints. These are part of my own personal collection, but I am thinking about doing more for the shop. They make me smile each time I pass by.

Sunny Days - Girl Gang 09/10 and A Contest - Finally a Contest

I didn't like the size of the Girl Gang Quilt in the last post. Drawings don't show up as well as pictures. And I couldn't figure out how to change the size in the last post (I'm still pretty well blog challenged) so I decided to post it again because I really like this quilt. You ought to see it in color - hopefully you will this fall at your local quilt shop.

And...

and...

and..

I finally thought of a contest.

Sandy Gervais has a picture of husband Bruce in her first post on her blog, comments on his shirt and says "Guess when we were married". Go to her blog http://piecesfrommyheart-sgervais.blogspot.com/

and guess in my comments section. (No fair emailing Sandy and asking her like I did.) We'll take guesses in the comments until next Sunday afternoon June 21st. I don't know how to work random org but if we have more than one correct answer, we'll write the names on pieces of paper and have Zoie.org draw one to win a Harmony Jelly Roll or Layer Cake.

Be Kool with Sue's Kats

My friend Sue Schindler is just as big a fan of felines as I am and she has produced a set of eight wonderful original cat drawings. These are available as post-cards. Click here to see the full range. You can buy a set of five assorted cards including postage in Australia for just $20.00. Click here to buy from KoolKat's on-line store!

I might have "runner's toe"

Which means I'm on a one-way street to having no right big toenail. It's now hanging by a thread. This was the grossest thing I'd ever experienced until reading the following on a podiatry site:

"The avulsion technique was performed by simple hemostat blunt dissection under the nail using a ‘coke-bottle’ technique. "

Apparently this is what I have to look forward to if I have to have my toenail removed. Words simply cannot express the level of nasty that the phrase "coke-bottle technique" calls to mind.

Oh, and so you can have nightmares forever, here is an internet toe that bears striking resemblance to mine:

Byron and the Jungle Gym

This is my father-in-law, Byron Henry Patek, who rose to the rank of Lt. Commander in the Navy. He was career Navy until he retired and served during WWII and after. After he retired he eventually moved back to Chillicothe, Mo. to join his brother at the family brick plant. I'm working right now with Edie McGinnis who is editing my book Flags of the American Revolution that will be coming out this summer or early fall. Both Byron and my father, Major Glover Wilson Laird (career Army - medical corps - he was a veterinarian) were responsible for both Pep and my strong love of country, flags and Americana.
Besides working on the book, what has brought Byron strongly to mind recently is the jungle gym. When our kids were little they used to climb all over me and I would say "I'm not a jungle gym" - hence the idea of really getting one. We have the space. Well, we looked at the jungle gyms available and Byron didn't like any of them. He didn't think they were durable enough for our kids. So he went back to the Brick Plant and got out his catalogs and designed a jungle gym out of pipe and pipe fittings. One weekend he drove down our gravel road and up the driveway with the jungle gym in the back of the pickup. It didn't fit inside, of course but sat on top and over the sides of the bed. He barely cleared the sides of the road in some places and under some trees - but he made it. It made my eyes leak this afternoon as I watched 4 of his great grandchildren climb it like the little monkeys they are. Aidan Patek is in the teal t-shirt, Byron Quinn Patek in the wonderpets outfit, Cullen Patek in the spiderman outfit (they're Max's - Byron Henry Maxwell Patek) and Zoie Findley (Kelly's daughter).
Behind the jungle gym is the entrance to the office where Tara works and the stairs to the loft where I work.

And speaking of working, people have been asking about this year's Girl Gang. Since some shops do their own versions of it, I decided to show it in tan they way I do the Mystery Quilt on the website. This is a really folksy Girl Gang - a Sampler, BOM type quilt that I so enjoy doing covering a lot of my favorite things. It's called "Sunny Days" but I almost called it "Back to Basics". The recession we're all struggling with has brought to mind what is really important in our lives and I tried to capture that in this quilt. I wanted to remind all of us that these days are sunny too if we focus on what we have - home, family & friends, gardening and pets and quilting .
And speaking of friends and quilting - you need to go check out Sandy Gervais new blog. You can hook up with her at http://piecesfrommyheart-sgervais.blogspot.com. Sandy and I and Bruce and Pep have done many a Market together. Besides being a really good designer, she's a great lady.

Well, you may not hear from me for awhile - I have to get the 1st Section of Girl Gang done, proof the book, and write instructions for patterns.

Oh and I have to start getting ready for Knoxville in July. Hope to see you there.

I'm sure I'll blog before then.

Late Bloomers, Light and Shadow

I have been watching clouds,
not looking for the shapes that fascinated me in my childhood,
but enjoying the light and shadow created by the sun,
the luminosity and vibrance created above as well as below.
It has been a glorious Spring. My favorite oak tree, the last of the late bloomers is finally leafing out. Soon our catalpa trees will be in flower, buzzing with bees and smelling of exotic spices.Our house is now completely hidden behind the trees just to the left of the out buildings. Willows line the Sugar Creek in the bottom lands. Brilliant greens, blue skies and the clouds, oh the clouds, fill my heart with joy. I am home.

Newphew's Graduation Quilt

My nephew Spencer is graduating for High School on Sunday. I made him a water waves quilt as he is a swimmer -- oh and a musician and a runner; and an all round nice young man. He won a local 5 mile race on Friday!, which has competed in since he was in grade school.

I used the free "Warm Wishes" pattern, from the Better Homes and Garden site. I changed the center strip of the pattern to a wider piece as I had more of the black fabric and less of the other colors. I used a blue-green batik that has fish swimming in all directions. I chose a tie-dyed looking blue fabric for the back of the quilt. Using a variegated blue thread I proceeded to quilt waves through the entire quilt! I love the effect it created -- kind of a soothing feeling of comfort; hope that that is exactly how he will feel! I used Hobbs 80/20 Batting, a cotton and poly blend to keep you warm and cool at the same time.

More pictures of this quilt can be found on my website in the Media Gallery, under Examples - Waves.

So much new - so little time

Some day before Market, some kind soul dumped a very pregnant cat at our doorstep. She soon had kittens and when they were around 2 weeks old, she disappeared. Here is Zoie feeding one of the kittens with a syringe full of kitten milk replacer. (We found that easier than using a kitten bottle. The kittens couldn't suck on it, it was too hard.) Zoie just slowly filled the little tummies - you could see them expand - and then the kittens fell asleep. We found homes for 2 and 3 now terrorize us. You haven't lived until a kitten jumps for your leg and your slacks or pjs are thin. Pep was adopted by Deuces, Kelly was adopted by Dave and Jake was adopted by Waffle.
And spring is always the time for new growth - new baby chickens
and raised beds full of peppers, tomatoes, flowers ........new life.

I may actually get to quilt again sometime. I did get the 4th of July Mini Quilt done and I found time somehow to read my favorite blogs.

I laughed and laughed at Laurie Simpson's floor blog - even more so because I can really see it happening to me soon - we're getting ready to do Max's old room. Thanks Laurie.

One trick pony.

Ooh neat, I'm in the local paper:

Check out my interview. If you watch the slideshow and listen to the audio you can hear me talk about hitting people. I also talk about hitting people, and I go into hitting people a little bit. I finish up with a piece about hitting people, and I stress several times that I really like hitting people.

I'm so one-dimensional sometimes it hurts. Sheesh.

Headband Heaven

I am in the midst of growing out my short hair and am currently in that awful stage where what had been bangs are now annoying slips of hair that will not yet reach behind my ears. Tired of hair clips and disdaining hairspray, (I am a low maintenance type of gal and don't even like the blow dryer) the simple solution is to wear headbands. Trouble is I have been headband cursed my whole life. They slip, they slid, they are too loose or too tight and they always ride up in the back, causing a funny little bulge in the back of my head. Drives me crazy!


But when I saw the headbands made by the very talented and amazingly sweet Colleen in her BCharmer shop, I decided to chance it and give my headband lust one more fling. I am so happy that I did! Her headbands are not only pretty as can be but fit like a dream, are incrediably comfortable and they stay put. And best of all they are REVERSIBLE!! I want one in every color!


Now I am a happy camper!
Thanks Colleen for making such a great headband!

Patch Play

"I played with an idea, and grew wilful; tossed it into the air; transformed it; let it escaped and recaptured it; made it iridescent with fancy, and winged it with paradox."
— Oscar Wilde


These days my primary focus and concentration is on Mo. I don't have the mental space to fully develope the bits of ideas and inspirations that have been be-boppin' around my brain. However I am having fun playing with those bits of ideas by making these Remnant Patches.



Their small size allows me to get those bits of ideas and inspirations into tangible form, before they slip out the back door. They also offer me the perfect place to explore that which I keep returning to....

color...



shape...


and stitch...

Patches are for sale in my Silly BooDilly shop.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Big thanks to all the sweet anniversary wishes! We weren't sure if we were going to be able to go out to celebrate, as Mo was having nose bleeds for much of the day, but by night time the bleeds had calmed down, and we decided that she was in good hands with our two capable daughters. We escape to the movies and saw Pixar's UP. It was as sweet a love story as could be. Parts of it reminding us of ourselves and it was the perfect movie to celebrate a long and happy marriage with!