Weeks fly

With the holidays upon us, weeks seem to slip by . When I feel overwhelmed by projects, I try to look back at what the week allowed me to accomplish – with the help of friends, of course.

I spent Monday at a curves workshop with Dianne Hire.  My Singer 301 crept along early in the day, trying to get a true 1/8″ seam.  Then I let go as I realized that the curve just falls into to place it you just coax it gently and I picked up momentum.  Before the workshop ended I had more than the 24 prescribed, Letter A blocks.    My pile of scraps, a bit scrapier, but all for good.  I loved my muddy color scheme – of japanese bits. As I square up the blocks, it will become a miniature, which is perfect for my right now, big project load.

I’m so glad to have a new camera.  I would forget so much without it.   This week, Nancy and Patty came for all-day girl sewing and we manage to make a baby quilt, a doll quilt and a doll pillow.  They’re  now in the line up for quilting.

 

Patty

Nancy on the 301

Carolyn finished her first blouse.  I love how her young hands meet the old machine.  I should mention, how she rose to the challenge of controlling the speed for the sake of craftsmanship.

Inspired by the Sea

I’ve been home for two days now, but still go to bed early and wake up earlier than I did before I went on Israeli time.  I have bunches to catch up on at
The Quilters Alley and lots to report from the other side of the world, as well.  It’s good to be getting up early.

I went all over the city of Tel Aviv, mostly on foot, and saw many interesting things.  The colors are especially intriguing to me and so for this round of colorful vintage objects, I’ve chosen turquoise, with a smattering  of green, because orange is still the most popular color in recycled objects.

First, my inspiration:

and it was beach weather, for sure!

I look forward to sharing more of my beautiful trip in upcoming posts!  Enjoy!

Farewell to summer

Too much rain, but I think the garden loved it.  Here are a few photos as it fades into autumn….

Busy Bee: last licks

will we get to Elephant's Trunk before it closes?

Camp Weekend

and other topics I’ve missed telling about… Lots of pictures

It’s been busy around the shop.. I take the pictures, celebrate the finishes, but have little time  to crop, resize and post.  Lately, it seems, there are so many last minute gifts, graduation, wedding, even weddings in my family that require pause for designing and executing that special quilt to make the bride and groom know how much I love them.  So here in not any specific order I have loaded some interesting images from the past few weeks that need recording.

I gave this amazing embroidery artist a lesson on how to bind this work of extreme motherly love.  Libby executed this hand-embroidered masterpiece over the last year to honor little steps in her daughter’s life, bits of clothing embellished with perfect embroidery to represent a lifetime of memories.

A yearlong ( at least) project. Holly reprised a family heirloom for contemporary appreciation, ie. her couch.  She mended and quilted  the old suit strips so it will  last another 100 years. What’s next Holly?

Cathryn put so much thought and planning into her sampler.  And then it was on our Gammill frame – now officially a quilt.

I quilted this patchwork with a retro geometric pattern.  I have another quilt top from Janine  to finish this week and, to think, she’s a knitter.

Quilt camp was a huge success.  Not just the food, but the number of projects finished and started in three short days.

Big piles of cut  fabric turned into quilts.

What MP finished and what she will be starting after camp…

Kiwi, Camp Mascot

Next episode: New fabrics have arrived

Eze yom sameyach (This is a happy day)

Ally & Shara

Shara reporting in real time…

David joined them at (Kikar) Rabin Square

Don’t they look so…. happy!

And finally some more tmunot (pictures)

some beautiful place near Jerusalem

at the Wall

ah!……

Pittsburgh

As we made our initial entry into the Steel City, I admitted knowingly that I had been to Pittsburgh before.  Actually, since I was in Pittsburgh last, 40 or so years have come and gone. And I don’t think we ever really drove right through, but bypassed it on the highway as we headed for Youngstown, Ohio.  My mom was born in Youngstown, and while she lived there at times in her life, she left for more permanent roots in Queens, NY.  She also left behind some great aunts, uncles and cousins,  that we visited often throughout my childhood and even once in 2007 – like it was old times. But Pittsburgh was just an exit on the highway, I guess, because I didn’t remember all the yellow bridges that criss-cross the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers that make a giant “Y” at the Ohio.  Or the tunnels through mountains that make the city accessible.  It’s a very cool place.

Here I am with cousin, Lisa, (left).  I also  have cousins in McKees Rocks, right outside of Pittburgh – recently acquired fact.

Spring Market was the purpose of our trip to Pittsburgh this time and for real.  It was about eight hours driving, which is about my limit for handwork in one sitting.  I had packed numerous projects and am happy to say I finished the last stitches on my lollypop trees appliques and and binding on Irene’s NYC/TimesSquare quilt.  We missed a day at the store, but work continued well into the drive, with a short stop at the Julian, PA  P.O. to send Irene’s quilt east again.

We did some shopping and socializing – about even this  time, because we didn’t need that much, so we could really  relax and just scout for new ideas. (My head is full at the moment.)

Our first stop:  Art Gallery Fabrics.  You may recognize Pokey Bolton from Quilting Arts (left).  The designer of Art Gallery is on the right.  The girl (Patricia Bravo) and her designs are on fire!

Notice Walter’s grin.  It isn’t because of our ‘huge’ order, but Stu joking around (out of frame).  There’s my favorite acid green and brown print on the table.The fabrics, if you’re wondering, will be arriving in the months to follow.  We also ordered lots of Kokka, which will also be available at the shop and online.

This was a phenomenal sight and sound.  A waterfall of the two rivers merging.

Westminster is always an important stop on our visits to Market.  Jennifer was chatting with another designer when I shot this, and Nancy took a moment to give us one of her (many) good sides.

Love the new, softer color schemes.  I know I’ll be working with them shortly.

This week

Planning and packing for the Northern Star Quilt Show at JFK HS in Somers, NY

Here are some of the things you can see there:

 

gabbag: make a statement

Now on sale,  my one-of-a-kind Painted and Pieced totes with a message. Limited quantity, so get yours now.

 

We’re bringing bolts!  The half yards of Kokka were so popular at the NYC show that we’ve decided to cut yards or more at the NSQG show this weekend. We’ll also have some Daiwabo Taupe bolts.  They make beautiful garment, so yardage is a must.

 

We will have kits available which include all the fabrics and the pattern to make Tipping Point.   Jennifer blogged us this week, so visit the SusBoom site and read the comments that the quilt is receiving.

We have made up more Molly Story Quilt Kits.  These were also popular in NYC and we’re bringing the newly published book, as well. Personalize the backpack with your favorite child’s name. I have other project ideas for the illustrations, so stay  tuned.

It’s here

Two years in the making and we’re so glad we didn’t give up. The book – My Friend Molly Comes to Preschool is finally published.
 Terrie’s new site (www.apreschoolstory.com) is under construction. Books are for sale and we’re taking orders at the Quilter’s Alley. $20. goes to the Molly Ann Tango Foundation. We will ship to you, if you like.

The story quilt is also done and kits are available at the Quilter’s Alley.  Key illustrations have been redesigned as quilt blocks and the backpack block is ready for personalization.   This particular quilt will be auctioned at the Foundation Luncheon in May.

There’s a sign

 

posted inside the glass of the front door of our shop.  It says: “No cameras or recording devices…”  We adopted this manner of managing uncontrolled photographing of quilts to protect the rights of the designer-in-absentia, by giving everyone who enters our store fair warning to our belief that creative work has value.  While ideas cannot be copyrighted, in-the-flesh samples, with kits and patterns made readily available for sale are!  Therefore, photographing on digital camera or cell phone is like stealing the unseen time and thought that went into a design and with it, the potential profit to the creator. Haven’t these hard times of late, given pause to the folks who still think it’s okay to take the food from someone else’s mouth, possibly literally?

 

We spent the  weekend vending at the Empire Quilt Guild’s, bi-annual quilt show.  It’s a terrific opportunity for us to make the public aware of the creative possibilities we offer to the crafts of quilting and sewing.   We love meeting new folks and hearing that what we’ve put  together is beautiful or just what their project has been waiting for.  We’re on our feet for three days,  packing, loading the car, unloading while dodging NY City taxis and making everything look pretty, so that it can be picked over and hopefully purchased before the show ends.

Snowing on the First Day of Spring

 

10 by 20 and counting

Voila!

 

 

We see friends  from our local Ridgefield area, who make us feel like we’re really home.  Thanks Dorma, Annie, Laura, Susan, Janice , Tasha etc.  Thanks also to our guild friends who really make us feel NOT like out-of-towners.  We’ve developed a lot of  good  relationships in the time we’ve had our store and the Empire Guild is one such.

Folks are allowed to photograph, but NOT touch the quilts in the show.  We watch and wonder, what-all they will do with all the memorabilia they collect.  The cameras are out and snapping the whole time.  Occasionally, someone visiting our booth will ask to shoot one of our display quilts and they may if they purchase the pattern and just want a better shot to help them while making it.  Another type of person takes the picture without asking, and I fault my lack of vigilance.  But  it’s the person, who when you tell them that the quilt design is copyrighted and “I would appreciate if you don’t take a photo.  The pattern is available for sale, if you’re interested,” and she proceeds to blatantly shoot away,  that I wonder if  trace of conscience exists.

 

We got permission/Miss Fanny Apron happily modeled

 

 

 

I really do believe that most people are good, and even more are good when they know someone is watching.  So I decided to try to capture the culprit on film myself, and hope that if she realizes we actually are watching and just trying to pay the rent and feed ourselves, she might recognize how inconsiderate she has been.  We’re not just objects of entertainment, but real.

 

Still At-Large

 

Making their Get-Away

We love Manhattan and we’ll be back undaunted!

 

George Washington Bridge in Sunshine

I shall return…

The week we spent in Israel was too quick, of course, but most fabulous! Views, tastes, people, sounds and some of the most torrential rains of Israeli Winter. And don’t forget inspiration. Often, what we gain most from travel is a change of viewpoint, or at least an easing of it.   The days ahead will reveal that of course, but a brief look at the recent gorgeous past.

Rosh Pinah balcony: Looking toward the Sea of Galilee

A quilt, maybe?

New fabric from Westminster, Free Spirit arrived on Monday.  Stay tuned!