ATCs: Bears

"Sleep Aids—Teddy Bear and Blankie"
by Bonnie Stevens

Dancing, polar, Teddy, panda—and just about every other classification of bear was represented in the January 2014 Artist Trading Card (ATC) swap.

After last week's bone-chilling cold temperatures and hazardous blizzard-like weather conditions here in the southeast, the cute fuzzy faces on these ATCs were a welcome sight. You just have to smile!

Although you don't see the backs of these cards, many of the ATC artists include additional information on the back—either about the materials or techniques they used, or information and interesting tidbits relating to the swap's theme. So, along with the delightful and creative "eye candy," ATCs offer an educational experience as well.

"The Panda Bear"
by Sharon Griffith

Did you know that pandas consume 20 to 40 pounds of bamboo a day within a 16 hour period? They also have and extra digit on each hand to help them tear the bamboo.

"Teddy" by Carlene Jacobsen.

"Polar Bear" by Karen Downer.

The technique used on this polar bear is reverse appliqué with marbled and textured papers.

"The Sleepytime Bear"
by Veronica Hofman-Ortega

The Celestial Seasonings tea manufacturer is environmentally conscious. The pillow-style tea bag doesn't have a sting, tag, staple of individual wrapping. The bags are chlorine-free, biodegradable and compostable. I enjoy a hot cup in a favorite mug.

Can you figure out this rebus word puzzle?

"Love Bears All Things" 1 Corinthians 13:7
by Linda Smith

Zzzzz… bears do have the right idea for winter!

"Bears" by Marilyn League

I also received two pretty cards this month from swap participants.

And, to my surprise, one included a lovely and thoughtful gift. (oooh, love those "squishy" packages!)

Card: "When we believe in ourselves we can make anything happen."

 A beautiful, quilted mug rug from Linda! Oh, is it too pretty to use? But it's perfect for my cup of tea!

Quilted friendship mug rug.

Thank you so much!!! You are so kind.

Stitch with love

"The heart has its reasons that reason does not know." —Blaise Pascal

Valentine's Day is right around the corner. Are you stitching something special for someone you love—your sweetie, your mom, a child, a friend, or perhaps a little something for yourself?

From Sonnet 116:
"Love is not love which alters
when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove.
O no! It is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests
and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wand'ring bark,
Whose worth's unknown,
although his height be taken."
             —William Shakespeare


I hope you find time to stitch something with love for someone you love.

Hanging out with the Huntsville quilters

Last weekend I had the pleasure of hanging out for 2 and a half days with the Huntsville quilters at Huntsville Sew and Vac. This is Donna, my gracious host for the weekend, and owner of this fabulous shop.

Me with Donna Cagle (right), owner of Huntsville Sew and Vac.

The huge classroom was dressed to the nines (or more aptly, the 44/45s) with sample quilts made with Blank's fabrics hanging on the walls and patterns from both indie designers and Blank's in-house designers on display.

Samples and color cards of Blank's new fabric collections.

The quilters that attended the "Madeline's Picnic" Mystery class and my Intro to Free-Motion Quilting class were also treated to a sneak peak of Blank Quilting's new 2014 fabric collections (lots of oohs and aaahhs over these!).

My Huntsville free-motion quilting students.
More quilt samples are hanging in the back of the classroom.

This is Sherri (below left) with Alexis, Donna's granddaughter. Sherri is one of the creative masterminds behind many of the special events at Huntsville Sew and Vac. Her enthusiasm and energy are infectious and she is a master on the long arm. Huntsville Sew and Vac carries HandiQuilter and Tin Lizzie long arms as well as a full line of Janome and Brother sewing machines. 

Sherri (left) and Alexis at Huntsville Sew and Vac. 

Sherri assembled a Mystery Quilt kit for each attendee. Madeline, the focus fabric, was accompanied by 8 coordinates and a background fabric from Blank's fabric lines. 

"Madeline's Picnic" mystery quilt kit.

Sherri also knows all the cool local places to get a great bite to eat, like Sam and Greg's Pizzeria Gelateria downtown Huntsville. (Guy Fieri should touch base with her!)

Sam and Greg's outside (left) and inside.

Sam and Greg's is a sandwich and pizza, order-at-the-counter, pub-type place. In addition to the extensive list of "eclectic" pizzas, they have in-house-made gelato (twist my arm, why don't ya). You practically walk right into the gelato display case when you enter the restaurant, so it's difficult to get away without ordering a cup to finish off your meal. The Spicy Hot Chocolate gelato is made with cayenne pepper and has a zingy aftertaste. I had a cup of the hazelnut which was delicious, and my lunch companions, Sherri and Linda, each had the Birthday Cake flavor. I also tried a Key West personal size pizza with ham, chicken, artichokes and mango—just as tasty.

Eight flavors of homemade gelato in the display case at Sam and Greg's.

Alabama, like most of the south, had cold, single-digit temperatures that weekend. The shop's staff kindly offered to cater lunch for the full-day Free-motion Quilting class so class participants did not have brave the cold and wind. It was another delicious "good eat" from a local place called Granville's Gormet Ribs and BBQ. I had their special "Hot Baked Potato Salad" with pork (Sherri's overwhelming recommendation). It's a take-off on a stuffed baked potato, but the "potato" part is a cross between hot German potato salad and an au gratin. You gotta try it to believe how good it is!

Huntsville quilters at the Mystery Quilt class.

So, my thanks again, to Donna, Sherri, the staff at Huntsville Sew and Vac, and a great group of quilters for letting me hang out with y'all for a few days. I hope to be back soon!

"Picture This" vest provides a blank canvas for creative patchwork

"Picture This" vest features fabrics from
Mystique collection.

After making several quilts that either go on the couch or bed, hang on the wall, or decorate some area of the house, do you ever feel like a little garment sewing?

I like "wearing" my quilts, too. Here's an example…

The "Picture This" vest pattern [one of my all-time favorites!] by folk artist, Rachel Clark, offers a blank canvas for patchwork, innovative piecing, or just showing off a beautiful or interesting piece or collection of fabrics.

A recent creation of mine uses the Picture This vest pattern and a new fabric collection from Blank Quilting called Mystique. This collection has a few gray and white coordinates (see the vest front) and a couple prints that introduce black and a warm cocoa brown to the mix (see vest back).

I particularly like the juxtaposition of the geometric print on the lapels with the leaf and paisley print of the bodice. The patch pocket (my own addition) is trimmed with a small black print (6807 from Blank Quilting's Lola collection) that is also featured on the vest back.

Patch pocket on front of vest.

Although there are only two layers—a muslin inner layer and the pieced top layer—the vest is "quilted." I free-motion stitched vertical lines through the two layers of the vest front and top-stitched along the curved seamlines on the back and on the pocket. The extended shoulders of this pattern provide a figure-flattering inverted triangle shape and the lower hemline is slightly cupped and hugs the hipline. We all like to look as if our waist is smaller than our hips and bustline! Can you say, "hourglass figure?"

"Picture This" vest, front and back views.

The lining fabric (also from the Lola collection) echoes the gray/brown/black color scheme of Mystique.

Lining fabric.

I wore my new vest last weekend while teaching classes at Huntsville Sew and Vac in Huntsville, AL and to the Choo Choo Quilters guild meeting this week. The "Picture This" vest pattern will be available for purchase at Huntsville Sew and Vac (Huntsville, AL) and locally at Ready Set Sew in Chattanooga, TN.

"Picture This" vest made by Veronica.

And, here is my friend and fellow guild member, Cristy, with a surface embellished top made from a patchwork of kimono pieces. Another idea for "wearing your patchwork!"

Cristy in her patchwork blouse made with
various kimono fabric swatches.