2 Pink polka dot bags finished & Water Lily Progress - preparing pattern

I pulled an "all-nighter" reminiscent of the college days when I stayed up to make another bag for my daughter to take to Japan as a gift to her host family. The "purse" bag "Nouveau Hobo Bag " by Indygo Junction is used as THE favorite carry all/carry on by my daughter... sports bag with style [basketball shoes etc.], sleep-over bag, car trips, etc. ) So we made a new bag of the same pattern to match the luggage AND...it turned out great and so she just had to have another one to match it, to give to the 14-year-old girl in Japan at the home where she will stay as guest. It is a black bag with pink polka-dots and a pink daisy flowered lining and a pocket. Very cute! Unfortunately no photo of the twin bags before she left on the trip. Maybe as photo-happy as she is she will take photos there. She should be arriving in about 3 more hours after a 13+ hour flight. Hope she has the time of her life :)

Below is the Water Lily pattern in progress that I mentioned in last posting. It is from Ruth McDowell's book (see link on previous post).




What a challenge in paper piecing. Can't wait to begin pulling out the fabric!
Size is approx. 2'x3' as I am working on adding borders as extensions of the design.

New Project Direction - Art Quilt

I really enjoyed the links to quilters that other quilt bloggers have on their sites! I must add this to my site too. Through visiting several links this way I found my way to Ruth McDowell's site and have since ordered every book that the libraries have in 2 counties! I have not been able to put them down! Ruth is an artist and has a technique and style for pieced art quilts. I was especially captivated by the flowers and the people! She offers weeklong workshops in Mass. Oh my.... do I want to GO! But wait, they are not until NEXT year 2009 (July/Aug & Oct) and I could NOT wait that long (assuming I could afford to go anyway :)

After reading her books instructions and diagrams in Piecing and Design Workshops particularly and studying her technique and samples on the web, I was ready to try to make one of her sample quilts to see how I like (and if I can be successful with) the technique. Although it is not my prefernce to make a quilt the same as someone else's, I am allowing myself to do this as a study of the technique...and I can see this will take some patient study!

The pattern is the "Water Lily" which was inspired by my friend's backyard Koi pond with water lilies growing in it! In that pond there were white ones (like in the design) and a purple one...humm I might try that. Well here is the beginning step....creating (in this case tracing) the pattern and adding markings. Next (the BEST Part) will be making fabric selections. I already know I want to use more of a bright Carribean ocean blue color fabrics (and have some variety from scraps of a Jan Mullen "Butterfliez" quilt made a few years ago). Here is the photo of that quilt.

Here's the photo of the pattern....Then I won't be able to post any more photos since my daughter is taking the camera to Japan with her!

Quilting related projects

So, my daughter is going on a "Sister City" trip to Japan and we have been working on crafts. You can see a completed red, white & blue bag. Pattern is "Biz Bag" from Seams N Dreams) Also, I have been working on the "in progress" batik quilted backpack. We are making pillow cases for each family member of the home she will be staying in. We found out that Japanese pillow case sizes are different than US 20"x14" I will post the completed projects soon! (She leaves for Japan in less than a week!)

Sweet Pea - Simply Delicious

Just thought I would post this so I could admire it today...while awaiting upload of photos from more recent work. Pattern is from Piece O'Cake deisgns, and it is hand applique. It looks like someone else did it, not me. HA! I love it! These are my my "Baltimore" blocks.
Happy Day Everyone :)

New Elements Added

Just for fun I have added 2 new elements to the site:
A visitor counter and the Quilt Blogger link/logo.
It will be fun to see if anyone comes to visit :)
I tried to add a world location map for visitors but it did not work out well as only 1/2 of the world showed up. Any suggestions?
Have a nice day!

Summer Quilting

Wow, my last post was April 8th...where has the time gone!
Since then a little quilting has been accomplished and a LOT of other things...

(Pot holder I mafe from scraps for last fall's Quilt Quild Pot Holder exchange)
Son graduated from high school
Planted a small garden (1st in years!)
Graduation vacation to California
2 week Language Camp in Minnesota
Family vacation in Estes Park, CO
Hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park
White water rafting on Cache la Poudre river,
Daughter selected for "Sister Cities" program in Japan (leaving soon!)
Husband starting a new business
Hosting 2 international students (Brazil & Taiwan) March to May
Hosting a USA summer student intern at a local manufacturing co.
Son currently in Quito, Ecuador (basketball camp w/ church)
...and more!

But, no majors progress on home improvement/repairs (except wash machine and back door repairs by student summer mechanical engineering intern...Thanks Josh!!). Otherwise, the holes are still in the ceilings!

For today... I am back! My "bored-on-summer vacation" daughter will photograph some projects that I have been working on so I can post photos soon.