Rain Rain go away!!

Well maybe not.... We do need rain and what's better than a rainy Saturday to just sew!!

I'll be traveling a bit over the next few weeks, so I am planning on getting caught up on posting my Row by Row progress and a few other things!

I'm also hoping to gather a row or two on my journey!!  

Maybe even getting a few hexies done!!

This is the last one I've completed.  I'm a little behind but with any luck I'll be able to get caught up!

I have my mobile sewing room with me!!  My husband gets such a kick out of telling people I don't leave home without my sewing machine... Even if I have to put it on my motorcycle ....  Hey if it fits.... You can always buy the other stuff !!

Yucky day out there.....

Days like these are awesome to stay in and sew!!  You know the saying.... Make hay while the sun shines.   Well my saying is "Make quilts while the rain comes down!"   

Hope everyone is having a great day!!

Happy sewing!!

Jill

Next Stop Row 4.....

How lucky is this girl.....I had to travel for work....and it lead me right past a quilt shop participating in the Row!!  Bonus!




Quilters' Haven is located in Lakewood, NY.  Nice drive from Erie.  www.quilterhavennewyork.com

 Janice greeted me as I entered and I explained that I only had a few minutes to get my row.  She was ready to help me get on my way. 


I'm sure you all know how much I appreciate friendly people....Janice fit the bill!!  Within two minutes...I felt like I was talking to an old friend.

Here's Janice with her row.  She choose to do summer and feature bicycle riding and the Miller Bell Tower in Chautauqua Institution.  How clever/cute is that!!




I so wish I had had more time to look around!!  I guess you know what that means....I'm going to have to go back!

Yarn...

Notions

I took a few shots of her shop so you could see the nice setup/selection she has at her shop.  She has a selection of yarn, fabrics, patterns, and notions!  I say it's a must see shop if you can get to the area!!


AND.....I found a Wren's and Friends honeycomb!!! 

Of course I had to buy that!!  And I have an idea of a new quilt percolating in my head using this honeycomb.  Ok...my 5 minutes was up and I was out the door and heading back to work.  I am amazed at times how much you can accomplish in 5 minutes.....me...I found a new shop, a new friend, and a new pre-cut to play with!




If you stop by....tell Janice I said Hi and I hope to see her soon!!




Happy Sewing!




Jill

Row 3.....

So far I'm  batting 1000!!  The shops I've visited had great selections, great rows, and awesome customer service....3rd stop....no exception!!   




Stop 3.... Fox's in Meadville.  I've blogged about them before, and I continue to be impressed by their shop!  Have you ever thought that going to another city is a "trip" and shy away from the drive.  I know I can be that way sometimes.  But Meadville is not that "trip".  I got out of work a little early on Thursday and thought...I'm going to see when Fox's is open til.  Well on Thursdays they are open to 6....plenty of time!!  You know driving there is like driving across town with traffic....meaning it took me a little over 30 minutes....heck I used to drive 30 minutes across town to work.  It's a nice drive down 79 and located in the Downtown Mall in Meadville.




I brought my hubby with me....so he ventured off to another store and I was off to explore but semi time limited.  Of course he's been married to me over 20 years....so if he hasn't figured out my average time in a quilt shop by now....


Side note....one time I needed some notion from Joann's....he pulls up front and I say... "I'll be right out, I know what I'm getting and it will only take a couple minutes".  45 minutes later I come out with a couple full bags....he just shook his head and smiled.... He's a keeper!!!


Cathy was working...she has such a bubbly personality!!  It's infectious...we get to talking and giggle almost immediately. 






Check out their row!

It is so cute!!  Had to get the kit!  They even have a finishing kit if you don't want to do the whole row by row quilt idea.


Then Cathy showed me their idea or the license plate......

Nice idea!!  Great tote pattern!  I didn't get it....YET.






I did get the kit for the row and love the bright colors! 

Every piece is nicely labeled!!






Picked up the license plate too.  I'm still pondering the idea's in my head as to what to do with the license plates. 

I like all the license plate ideas I've seen so far and Melody came up with an idea to incorporate it into the quilt.  I haven't settled on anything yet.


Sometimes, I just have to let the ideas percolate in my brain for a while....which means....who knows what will be the final result....but that's the fun of being in my brain....watch out world....lol




Happy Sewing!




Jill

Row Two.....

I made a wonderful, wonderful discovery on Wednesday.....








I came home from work around 4pm...greeted my hubby and sat down at my computer.  As we started talking about the upcoming weekend, I got into the Row by Row Experience website:  www.rowbyrowexperience.com.
 I told him...maybe on Saturday, we could take a ride on our motorcycles and visit a couple places to get a row or two.






Well when I was looking at the PA map...I noticed there was another shop in Erie, so I clicked on it.  It said Kelly's Sewing Corner on West 26th Street....dang...that's less than 5 miles from my house!

 I stopped all conversation, grabbed my phone and called to see how late they were open....5pm!!



You all know I jumped in my car and off I went....hubby said something about pizza for dinner...I'll worry about that when I get home!






I found it no problem, it's located in this quaint little plaza.  I think I need to explore this plaza sometime....but not now...I'm on a mission!!






I open the door to the shop and off to the left is a white table....on the table...this is what greeted me:

This is Scraps.  I fell in love!!  For those of you who don't know me well...I had a Shih Tzu for 16 years....Hulk.  He was the best dog EVER!  shhhh don't tell my current pups....How cute is the toy in her mouth!!  I knew I found a place that I would return to!!  Kelly was on the phone with a customer when I got there...but i didn't mind....I entertained myself with Scraps!





What a great shop she has...nice selection of fabrics, precuts, notions, panels,...etc  I actually found a precut I hadn't heard of nor had I seen.  It's called Slice.  It appears to be a layer cake cut on the Di Angle (diagonal).  It came with a cute sailboat pattern.  I didn't buy it...but it's stuck in my head...so if it doesn't leave....I'm going back to get it!!!

Ok...back to the task at hand:

Here's there row.  I love the colors...winter grays:  grays, blacks,  cream. 






What else did I snag while I was there:

Of course the license plate!






I couldn't pass up this little cutie:

I'm a sucker for mini charms....maybe I'll make another mini tumbler table runner.....or maybe a tiny twister table runner....I've been wanting make another twister....hmmmm  I think I've got a plan for this one!






Last thing I bought:

We have several bird houses in our yard and most of these birds have visited them.  I couldn't pass it up...I think I'll put the sashing between them and make it look like a window.

My husband came up with an idea of the sashing....I think I'll try it.....stay tuned.  I think it's really special to have a hubby not only join in with my show and tell....but actually give me ideas!!!  This time I liked his idea....not aways....but sometimes....

As I checked out....I snapped a picture of Kelly.....  I've said this before and I mean it....it's so nice to go into a shop and be greeted, but also feel so comfortable and welcomed!!  Kelly has that shop!  I really enjoyed not only her shop....but getting to know her better!  AND I can't forget Scraps!  I came home with a bag of goodies and a big ole smile on my face!!!!





If you stop into Kelly's..... Give Scraps a pat on the head for me !!





Happy Sewing!!


Jill

Row One....

I couldn't wait....It was July 1st and the Row by Row experience started!!




I ran up to Millcreek Sewing and Fabric on my lunch hour.  Who needs to eat??  I figured I could get up there, get my row and get back in no time!  Actually I surprised myself...I actually did the whole trip AND stopped for Brooklyn Pizza too!!  Bonus!!




When I got there, I was greeted by Judy (the owner) and other staff working!  It's so nice to walk into a store and not only be greeted with a hello, but you truly feel like everyone is glad to see you!! 


I was told them I was there to get my first "Row" and as luck would have it....Judy was explaining the construction of their block.  Well....I just horned right in on that!!  Their kit for their block uses QuiltSmart interfacing.  How slick is that!!  I can't wait to complete my row!!

Here's me and and Judy holding her sample of the row.  (Check out all the yummy fabric in the background!).  All those points came out with no problem with the QuiltSmart.  

Melody and I bought the QuiltSmart Lone Star pattern (not telling when but I will say...it's not more than a year old.....YET).  I'm hoping when I sew mine together, it will spark me to go to the lone star!  However, rumor has it Lisa, Noreen, Melody, and I are going to plan a day and tackle our lone stars!  I can't wait...those ladies are a hoot!

Here's my first "license plate" .  Judy is creating a wall hanging/quilt using license plates....it will have vehicle(s) to put your license plate on, road, sky...etc.  I will try to get a picture of it when it's completed and post at a later time.




I'm not sure what I'm going to do with my license plates....considering I only own 1 at the moment...I have time to plan!




I hope to hear from some of you about your adventure in the Row by Row Experience!




Happy Sewing!


And Happy 4th!!  Hope everyone has a great day!!  God Bless those who serve/who have served and those who gave all for our freedom!!




Jill 

What Are Best Friends For?!?!

I just love Missouri Star Quilt Company....for many reasons.  Between the Daily Deals and the tutorials....this girl can not keep up!!




I've ordered several Daily Deals lately.....my funniest one is from last week.  It was a layer cake from Michael Miller, Pastel Pop- Citron Gray.  I wasn't going to buy it....but Melody texted me and said she was so tempted...but I was suppose to keep her away from temptation....So I tried...reminding her there wasn't any yardage she liked (we always try to buy at least a yard of fabric when ordering a pre-cut).  But she was fighting back....I was trying but losing the battle....the battle I lost...my own self control!! 




So I thought....hhhmmmm if Missouri doesn't have it...someone else must....GOOGLE.  I not only found our favorite prints in yardage available....I found it cheaper than Missouri.....BONUS!  So I text Melody and one phone call later.......



Order completed....several yards but not all of that line....hey...when ya see a deal....and free shipping...how can ya pass it up!!




Oh wait....now we had to go back to Missouri Star Quilt Co and order the daily deal.....I would still be laughing today if it would have sold out before we got back to it!  :)  But thankfully it didn't.


Where did I find it.......your asking.....  www.fabric.com.

So only thing left to do now is wait for Mr. Mailman.... Well in my case it's Mrs Mailman.... 

Tuesday when I got home from work.. ... This is what I saw:

And this is what was inside:

How yummy are these!!

I love elephants!!

So Wednesday when I got home I saw this:

Inside........

My layer cake !!   I'm all set!   Oh wait.... I have no idea what I'm going to make with it......but I'm ready none the less!!!

Happy sewing!

Jill

Secret Pal.....

Our quilt guild has a Secret Pal program.  Each July at our picnic, we pick our secret pal for the next year.  Each month at the guild meeting we put our gift on stage .....hoping no one sees you putting your bag there and then at the end of the meeting they hand out your gift from your secret pal.  It's a lot of fun!!!


I will blog more about this after our next meeting but I wanted to share my gift I am making for my secret pal.  I can share it now, because we will reveal ourselves to each other.... And I don't mean there's a bunch of quilters in the park revealing themselves....that would be what we call inappropriate...  I hope someone else laughed, because I cracked myself up (I love when that happens!).  I wish I was a cartoonist....because I'd have one for that statement. 

I love doing that tear drop echo....it really adds texture to the quilt!!  It really pops depending on the lighting.

Anyone notice it's the Wren's and Friends fabric.....I just love that fabric so I decided I could spare a 2 1/2" square of each fabric to make this tumbler table runner.  Of course it's from Missouri Star Quilt Co tutorial....hello.  :)


If anyone looking for a good on line class....Angela Walter's Quilting Negative Spaces from Craftsy (www.craftsy.com) is awesome!  Angela does a nice job of explaining how to do different designs and it doesn't have to be on a long arm.

Her new class is Small Changes Big Variety.  She does all her teaching on a domestic machine.  I was hoping that she would teach at Birds of a Feather next year, but she couldn't.....not sure when our paths will cross again....but I am looking forward to it!  Shes a really nice person and I've gained so much knowledge from her!!


Here's a quilt I did for my Aunt Martha:

I really had fun with this one!  She gave me artistic license to do what I wanted.....and I did. 












I did sit on the porch tonight and got my one hexie done for the day:

I have several hexie's flowers done, I'm not quite caught up to the goal of 52 flowers by December 31st....I'm starting to contemplate what design I want to do....this is about the competition stage that I start thinking.....do I really want to make a big quilt? And I make a table runner. 

I have to keep telling myself, a hexie a day....a hexie a day... each week I'd have a flower....52 flowers in a year....then I thought next year....I'd add a round to the flowers and hook them together.  I guess I just have to keep reminding myself...Rome wasn't built in a day....and neither will this hexie quilt!


Don't forget....Row by Row (www.rowbyrowexperience.com) starts today!!! 




Happy Sewing!!


Jill