bring it on . . .

So I did get busy on the patriotic table square yesterday . . .

I thought I was going with this design (thank you to all who lent their opinions for me, HERE); block for with the colored pinwheels, the white borders, and the yellow binding.

But I got it cut and pieced and looked at it . . .

And decided the dark (indigo) blue binding looked much better.

So I backed it with the yellow instead. Now, when red, white, and blue is no longer feeling "seasonal," I'll flip it over and put my sunflower arrangement on it! LOL!

In the meantime, bring on the 4th of July!

My table and I are READY for it!

:)

My reality......

If you've been to my studio before you know that I'm far from perfect. I try to keep it clean and under control but with a 3yr old running around and playing all day every day while I stand at my quilting machine some day's it's far far far from perfect. 

Also, if you were come to my studio on a day that I wasn't expecting you, you'd probably see me like this.

No shoes or socks, I despise shoes and socks. Flip flops all year long, no matter how much snow. 

Showing off my nasty black toe that is still black from the half marathon.

I may be wearing my favorite comfy pants that have lots of worn out spots that my husband despises. :)

You may also find my hair in one of those, just got out of the shower and threw my hair in a pony tail things.

In my studio you may also see way more of these babies than I'd like to admit, especially lately.... I've been working on something exciting, and have needed a little caffeine to stay awake all night, more details to come later. :)

Even though things aren't always perfect and some days I put in way too many hours I will never complain. I really love what I do. I love that I have to opportunity to work, I love that I have the opportunity to spend time with my daughter, I love that I am able to spend a lot of time with my parents and husband, well when I can get him to stay at the studio for more than 5 minutes. 

That's the reality of me in a nutshell. 

I'd love to hear about yours. :)

Thanks for visiting our quilting blog!
Have you checked out our patterns recently?
For more fun updates sign up for Piece N Quilts newsletter.
Leave a comment, we'd love to hear from you.
~Natalia

{Connect with us}

Bragging Rights! Wanting to share good news!

It's been a busy summer so far for me with art shows (this one for sunflower art in Yolo County Davis Art Center where this quilt "Indian Summer" won first place and SOLD! I am stoked to say the least. It was in competition with all sorts of art mediums (oil, acrylic, watercolor paintings, sculptures, mixed media, and fiber art just to name a few).
I also was lucky at the Dixon May Fair where it won a third place in all of their quilt competition (traditional and contemporary); and while I am all puffed up here I'll also tell you that a water color of mine "Class of 2010" won two seconds, one at the fair and one in the juried art show in our local gallery.

Hoping to find time to enter the challenges here in the coming months!

Thursday Thoughts - Where Do You Fit?

This week, Sharon from Vrooman's Quilts wrote on her blog:

 "Are you a square peg in a round hole, or a round peg in a square hole? Instead of trying to 'fit' within the square and round of the quilting design world, find what fits you - makes you happy and shout "I MADE THAT"!! (shhh - I think I'm a spiral)" 

So I left a comment: "I think if you are a spiral, then I am a Swirl! Sometimes I think I am just swirling around in all directions, but that isn't bad, as life is never boring that way! You always make me think!  Thanks!"

So for Thursday's Thoughts I decided to write about ...Where do I fit?  Because I live, think, and breathe quilting and sewing 24/7, where do I fit?  

For example, in my daily life and interactions with people...

When I am talking with my husband, a family member, and/or a friend, somehow the conversation switches from talking about an actor in a movie to that was a cool quilt on the bed in that movie. Or did you see the cool pattern on the building when they were in Italy? 

I seem to swirl around in the conversations.

Next we are talking about something with colors and how we perceive them differently. Did you see how the colors just flowed through that room?  It was so eye pleasing. Or how the clothes they wear wearing, would make a great color combination for a quilt.

Then the conversation is about how something makes someone feel better. I think or say, it's the same way a quilt comforts a person.  The person who creates the quilt feels good, as they make it and when they give the quilt, they know it will bring comfort to the receiver. 

I may suggest that we decorate something with a cool quilt pattern or add fabric to something to soften the look or give it color. Like adding fabric and color to my garden.

Yes I am very passionate about quilting and I do think about it all the time.  If I am not sewing or quilting, I am reading blogs, magazines, or I see quilts everywhere...  Am I swirling?  Or am I just passionate about quilting? 

So...Where do I fit? 

Here  -  right here!  I can express myself and how I feel.  No one thinks I'm weird, because all of you think the same way I do!  

Where do you fit?

Marcia

Taco Soup {a free recipe}

Taco Soup is another "go-to" food in our home. My husband is even a pro at making it.

Ingredients;

1 Jar Salsa

8 oz Creamed Corn

8 oz Chili

Grated Cheddar Cheese

Fritos

Sour Cream

Simply warm on stove Salsa, Chili and Creamed Corn.

Serve over Fritos and top with Sour Cream and Cheese.

Enjoy!

Click here for my other super simple recipes.

Thanks for visiting our quilting blog!
Have you checked out our patterns recently?
 For more fun updates sign up for Piece N Quilts newsletter.
Leave a comment, we'd love to hear from you.
~Natalia

{Connect with us}

Going Inward

Since my last post I have found myself in a very introverted mood. I know why, and won't bore you with the details, but suffice to say that the pojagi work, light and airy in nature, and something that requires me to take lots of back and forth trips from sewing machine to iron to cutting table, just wasn't lining up to how quiet, still and inward I have been feeling.


And so I put the pojagi aside and began to work on some very small pieces that allowed me to just naturally go inward.


Something about just being able to sit at the machine, and 'paint' with little bits of fabric feels more in sync with my current state of being.


So for now, this is where I am. Not sure how long this will last, and am well aware at how swiftly my work can change direction depending upon my moods. Having this blog and sharing what I do makes me at times a bit self conscious about my how fickle I can seem about my work. My hat is off to people who can keep their focus on one area for long periods of time. Despite my best intentions, I obviously am not one of them!

so fast . . .

Can you believe that this young buck, who graced us with his presence just this morning:

Pictured above with his latest dining companion (who is pictured solo, below) . . .

Was this little guy, less than a year ago? I took this picture August 18, 2010.

They grow up so fast! The group of does that he's traveled with over the past year has finally kicked him out. He had too much antler for them. Hence his new dining companion.

I've got my fabrics laid out and ironed . . .

All ready to sew! The question I still have is which pattern?!? Can you believe I'm still undecided? Ugh.

One thing I did decide was that I actually liked my red better when it was wrong side up.

I like the more muted flower pattern, especially for this project. I'm headed back to the bunk room. I'm not coming out until I'm finished! (Or I have to use the restroom, whichever comes first.)

:)

Simple shapes, by Diana and Laura

California artists Diana McClun and Laura Nownes have been working together since the 1980's, when their first book Quilts! Quilts!! Quilts!!! was born.  With over one million copies sold to date, this book is often referred to as "the bible" of quiltmaking.  Many of Diana and Laura's patterns are suitable for strip piecing, jelly rolls and other confections.... here are just a few of our favorites.

Sparkling Spools,  by Diana McClun and Laura Nownes, Laura Nownes.com

We love simple patterns that look spectacular. "Sparkling spools" is just one of Diana and Laura's Simply Strip Pieced Patterns.

Bow Tie, 64 x 80", by Diana McClun and Laura Nownes, Laura Nownes.com

This easy to piece classic pattern focuses more on the placement of light and dark fabrics rather than the bow tie design, and it looks posititvely modern in this design. Imagine the fabric possibilities !

Origami Pinwheels, by Diana McClun and Laura Nownes, Laura Nownes.com

These pinwheels are so elegant and clever..the look of a traditional Japanese design is achieved without fabric folding!

You can find Diana and Laura's entire line of patterns at Laura Nownes.com.   Here are a few more of our favorites: The Big Tumble (which we featured in our 2010 series on Tumbling Block Quilts); Sensu (fan); Strippy Stripes; Bamboo and Pinwheels; and Pinwheels in my Garden.

Image credits:  Images are shown with the generous permission of Laura Nownes. You also can find Laura at the See How We Sew blog.

Carpenters Star Quilt {custom machine quilting}

Susan recently pieced two Carpenters Star Quilts.

I did custom machine quilting on both quilts, they turned out really pretty but the batiks kinda hide the quilting in the photos.

Carpenters Star Pattern available here.

Hope you have a fantastic Wednesday. I can't believe how fast this week, wait this month have gone by. 

Thanks for visiting our quilting blog!
Have you checked out our patterns recently?
 For more fun updates sign up for Piece N Quilts newsletter.
Leave a comment, we'd love to hear from you.
~Natalia

{Connect with us}

Wordless Wednesday - Quilts in My Garden