Montpelier, VT at Christmastime

 We had a wonderful Christmas week, then it was time for another road trip to Vermont to bring my sister, niece and nephew home to Montpelier, VT. What a charming small city. The people are as nice as can be. My sister is about to have back surgery and people are shoveling her driveway, bringing food, getting her mail, and bringing her to doctor appointments (an hour away). Here are some pics of this friendly (and snowy) place.

Inspiration from Chairs

There's nothing like a day at the Metropolitan Museum of Art to fill the creativity tank! I was really taken with these beautiful chairs. The last one isn't really beautiful, but it is certainly interesting. More photos later.

Visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art

As you read this I'll be visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City with my DH, DS, and his sweet girlfriend Lauren. Can't wait! I'm sure I'll have wonderful things to show you that will inspire our quilting. Stay tuned!

Happy Birthday to my little sister Eileen!

Orphan Blocks

The January 2013 Block of the Month for Empire Quilters will be Orphan Blocks. Any size, any color. I arranged some blocks to show how such a random collection might go together. The mortar could be scraps also, adding to the busy look. This will "clear the decks" for the new year. (Well, it might take about 10 such quilts to actually clear the decks. Haha.)

Inspiration Before Sleeping

"Flaming June" by Frederick Lord Leighton, 1895

Who did this painting of me while I was dreaming about quilts?

I get quilt ideas in the shower too. Where do you get your best quilt ideas? 

Merry Christmas!

Nativity scene by Rembrandt. 

Merry Christmas!

Carolyn's Selvage Ornaments

These pretty selvage ornaments were made by Carolyn Wenzel of Wisconsin. Nice job, Carolyn!

 Merry Christmas!

Road Trip

Yes, I'm on the way to Vermont to pick up my sister, niece and nephew, and bring them to Connecticut for Christmas. My sister has a ruptured disk so she's not driving at the moment. I'll get to pamper her a little. 

If you know Vermont in December, you know that this photo is the opposite of what my trip looks like. No bare arms, that's for sure. Haha. But the spirit is just right. 

I hope you are having a very merry Christmas!

Selvage Quilt Wins a Ribbon

Awesome selvage quilt by Donita Baritz! Her friends donated over 1,000 selvages for this quilt. I found this on the String Quilting Primer on Quiltville. I don't know what quilt show this was, or where Donita lives, but I sure like this quilt! Nice job!

Kay's Pinsies

Kay had a pinsie party on Pinterest. Here are the pincushions she made. Take a look at Kay's blog. 

Third Quilt Raffle

The drawing for "Fair and Square" by the San Francisco Quilters Guild will be held on March 10, 2013.

This is a beauty!

Another Quilt Raffle

This remarkable quilt will be raffled on April 4, 2013 by the Santa Rosa Quilt Guild in Northern California. The quilt is called "Santa Rosa Beauty." I'll say.

Exquisite Raffle Quilt

Can you believe this will be raffled at the Valley Quilt Guild show in Yuba City, California on March 17, 2012! I love this quilting.

Pillowcases for Kids in Sandy Hook, CT

Jackie from CV Quiltworks passed this info along:

Help the families in Newtown... Here is how... Becky at Quliter's Corner in New Milford, CT is collecting pillowcases for the children at Sandy Hook School. She is trying to collect around 600.

 Please pass this message to any sewing friends. 

Pillowcases can be mailed to her at

Quilters Corner 

312 Danbury Rd. 

New Milford, CT. 06776 

Christmastime in New York City

Yesterday I saw the "Christmas Spectacular" at Radio City Music Hall in Rockefeller Center with my Mom and her cousin Joan from Arizona. It truly was spectacular. We were also in the studio audience for the taping of the Dr. Oz show. The topic was 5 Diet Disasters. It will air sometime this month. 

The city was all decorated and the place was really hopping. That was fun.

Christmas Tree Skirt from Neckties

This Christmas tree skirt is from Chicago Lost and Found. It was made from up-cycled neckties. They are for sale for $1,200 and some of the proceeds go to educational outreach. You can read more on the website. That striped binding looks beautiful, but I bet it's pretty tricky to sew!

Thank you to nurse Jessi at Rusty Nail Farm for the heads up about this item! 

Teapot Handbag by Uniquely Nancy

This charming little purse (or it could be a teabag keeper) is the creation of my neighbor Nancy. She lives one town away. If she was next-door, we'd never get any quilting done. When we visit for lunch, it takes hours because we have so much quilt stuff to talk about. Her shop is Uniquely Nancy. 

Here's another of her handbags, below. Isn't it beautiful?

Selvage Bowl!

Here's another fabulous item from accomplished selvage artist/quilter Sheri of Bungalow Quilts in Cincinnati, Ohio. A leaf-shaped fabric bowl made with selvages! I love it. She uses a stiff stabilizer between the selvages and the backing. Yayy, Sheri!

Book Giveaway Winner! - Leona

(Drumroll, please!) The winner of the 15 Minutes of Play is:

Leona A.

Pinsies From Israel

Susan in Jerusalem, Israel is making pinsies for herself and her friends using my tutorial. 

Aren't they festive? She says they're really easy to make. Nice job, Susan!

***

I love making these little pretties. Many different styles on sale here.

Listen to This!

Yesterday we attended a wonderful performance of the Yale Wiffenpoofs. Listen to this.

(The YouTube song is from 2011, the photo above is the 2012 group.)

If you ever get the chance to hear them, don't miss it!

And I love this one too.

Needle Ring!

This just caught my eye! A ring made out of a little silver needle! 

It's from Esmeralda in Stockholm, Sweden. Her Etsy shop is Silverblueberry. 

In a pinch you could take this off and use it to sew a sweater. I'm just sayin'. 

Something about this familiar tool made into jewelry really appeals to me.

Nice work, Esmeralda!

P.S. She has a PhD in Biochemistry. This is her artistic outlet. 

New Selvage Book!

Have you seen the new book "Save the Selvages" by Sally Thompson? I can't wait to get my hands on this!

Has anyone seen it? I've asked Santa for a copy.  :)

One-of-a-Kind Pincushion!

I found this hilarious "Cherubs & Carriage" figurine at an antiques market in New Milford, Connecticut, and I knew I needed to make it into a pincushion! Wouldn't this make the funniest gift for your quilting buddy? Watch out though, she might "re-gift" it to you next year! Good laughs each time. 

The silk cushion has an appropriately upholstered look, don't you think? I bet my sisters read this post and thank their lucky stars that they're not getting this for Christmas. Heehee. Watch out, I may have something else up my sleeve!

This pincushion measures 8" long, 5" high, and 4" side-to-side. More info here. 

Quilter's Eye Candy

I saw this quilt on Generation Q Magazine today and I thought you'd like to see it too. It's part of the collection of the International Quilt Study Center (IQSC) in Lincoln, NE. There are so many things I like about this quilt, but at the top of the list is the blue and black triangle border. And the fact that it's subdued and bold! How can that be? Like a hot fudge sundae, both cold and warm.

Remember to enter the giveaway for Victoria's new book.

Winner announced on Dec. 12.

Kitchen Chandelier

I came across this on Etsy and I couldn't believe my eyes! Pinsies in the air! Sort of. Take a look at this Beaded Strainer Light offered by Kris at Boho Groove Designs in Delaware. If I had a little cottage by a lake, this is what I'd put in the kitchen. Pretty cool, Kris!

Come back tomorrow to see the ugliest pincushion ever! Haha!

Trampoline Sidewalk?

This is a fast-track trampoline sidewalk in Nikola-Lenivets, Russia. It looks like 2 speedy travelers in the photo on the right. I could get my exercise done fast with more time left for quilting! Just don't let your foot slip into the "gutter!" 

Things like this fuel our creative spirit, don't you think?

Giveaway winner announced on Dec. 11. Be sure to enter. 

Christmas Selvage Tote Bag!

Take a look at this amazing tote bag done with red and green Christmas selvages! This was made by Sheri of Bungalow Quilts in Cincinnati, Ohio. Beautiful job, Sheri!

 Her shop is loaded with Christmas stockings right now too. It looks like Santa's workshop. 

Surprise Field Trip!

Quilters, please cancel all your plans for the day. We're taking a trip to the beach. No exceptions.
Come as you are, no need to pack a thing. We have hammocks, towels, bathing suits, delicious lunch. Are you ready?

Christmas Baby Quilt

 

Isn't this the cutest quilt? It's for a newborn arriving on or around Christmas. Girl or boy. I just listed it on Etsy. It measures 33" x 33." I love the black and white striped binding. 

It would look good on a table or over a chair too. It's not juvenile, just lighthearted.

I'm still working on finishing those quilt tops. 

Be sure to leave a comment on yesterday's post to win a copy of Victoria's new book: 15 Minutes of Play.

Sewing Shoes? Haha!

Some quilters want to look really good when they sew! Read yesterday's post (and Victoria's comment) to understand this photo. And leave a comment to enter the book GIVEAWAY!

GIVEAWAY: 15 Minutes Play! Join the Blog Hop

"Makin' Me Crazy" (above) by Victoria Findlay Wolfe.

Do you love improvisational quilts? Liberated quilts? Maverick quilts? String quilts?

Whatever you call them, aren't they the best? They're my favorites!

 Now there's a book full of inspiration for improvisational quilt lovers!

The very best book on improv quilts is: 15 Minutes of Play by my friend Victoria Findlay Wolfe.  

 If you want to be inspired, you owe it to yourself to get a copy of her book. 

Scraps never looked so good! This is improvisational piecing reinvented - learn how to create your own creatively-collaged swatches of fabric in just 15 minutes a day. As you play, you'll sharpen your design skills and learn more about combining colors and prints in new ways. Discover just how distinctive classic blocks like Sawtooth Star or Flying Geese can be, when they're constructed with more spunk and spontaneity! 

You can win one right here by leaving a comment on this post. (US winners receive a hard copy of the book. International winners receive a Electronic copy of the book, direct from C&T.)

Winner announced on Dec. 12!

QUESTIONS: Does Victoria sew with her shoes on? Does she listen to music or does she prefer quiet? I've posed these questions to Victoria and her answers will appear among the comments today.

Tell us your answers too. (Winner will be picked at random.)

For more chances to win, visit the blog hop locations every day and enter there too!

 I made this red and white version (below) a few years ago and I love it. There are 4 of my quilts in Victoria's book (this red and white quilt is not in the book). I'm so thrilled to be part of this project.

This book is going to be a classic.

Happy blog hopping! Here's a "map" for you:

Dec 2nd: Angela Walters

Dec 3rd: Generation Q

Dec 4th: Tonya Ricucci

Dec 5th: Michele Foster

Dec 6th: Scott Hansen

Dec 7th: Amy Ellis

Dec 8th: Rachael daisy

Dec 9th: Jackie Kunkel

Dec. 10th: C & T Publishing