A New Year – New Project – The Ones That Got Away…

Posted in Hummingbirds, Quilt Blocks, Quilting, Quilts by

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

About a year ago I came across a blog – “A Thousand Quilted Cranes“. A designer was commemorating all of those that touched his life (either positively or negatively) by making cranes dedicated to them. I was inspired to do the same, although I could never quite figure out the best way to do it. I didn’t want to shamelessly copy him and do Margaret Rolfe’s crane… that is his. Although it is tempting, as this crane is beautifull. I also struggled with what I would write about each person (and am still struggling with that), how many I would make, how I would pick them, etc…

I was working on binding for a quilt this morning for someone who’s baby is already 6 months old and it hit me. I will dedicate each block to someone I would have made a quilt for. Odd, I know. You might be thinking, “Well why didn’t you just make a quilt for them?”. I only have one answer for you… LIFE. It gets in the way.

I have a full time job, responsibilities and a serious addition to cable TV. I don’t have a prioritized list of who is more important when it comes to making quilts and there is no way I can make one for everyone. In the end, it usually comes down to what is going on in my life at the time. For example, if you are having a baby and I don’t have time to start a quilt for you, you will most likely get something nice from a store. But know that I desperately wanted to make you something. If you are lucky, I started a quilt and told you about it. That ususally means you will eventually get it (even if it’s 2 years from now).

I start this project this week, today in fact. I will pick a design, create a separate page on my site for those that are interested to track my progress and start making blocks January 1. The ultimate goal – 365 blocks – a years worth of would be quilts.

I don’t have anything to show right now so I leave you with more UFO’s from Quilt Festival this year.

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It’s hot out there!

Posted in Quilting, Quilts by

I’m not sure why but I always find myself binding a quilt in the summer when it’s 100 degrees outside. Typically… It’s my fault: poor planning… But this year we had an unexpected arrival. I am now a proud aunt of a beautiful baby boy. His shower was today and it was adorable. All baseball themed. Thanks to Karen for getting it quilted so fast and Mamie for the baseball fabric. It turned out great!

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2014 – Flying By…

Posted in Quilting, Quilts by

My last blog post was in October. I was super excited about Quilt Festival coming up and I could not wait to meet up with my good friend Kay to shop ’till we drop and take our classes together. And we did just that! It’s almost fitting that today would be the day that I start blogging again after a very busy first half of the year. Because, this morning Kay and I registered for fall festival classes! I have been excited all day, not to mention tired; given how early we got up to make sure we we got the first picks! I can’t wait to see her and catch up.

Even though I haven’t been blogging this year, I have been quilting!

Here are a few projects I have been working on:

I took Gyleen Fitzgerald’s Trash to Treasure pineapple class last year and created this wall-hanging. I am hand quilting (eek) it as I have time.

Scrappy Pineapple

This is called “The Trippy Quilt”. It is pattern I found on Pinterest and was determined to make it. It still needs to be quilted, but, of course, thats on the “to do” list.

Trippy

The latest quilt is for my friend Kristi’s new baby, Riley. I have had it back from the quilter for awhile, it only needs to be bound. So it is next up 🙂

'Lil Birdie

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…

Posted in Quilting by

Hello friends, my favorite time of the year is here! International Quilt Festival season!!! Let the classes, late night sewing, manic shopping and general craziness begin! It all started for me this week, I got the quilt festival bug as I starting digging through all my supplies, double checking when my classes are, planning lunches, and thinking about it 24/7.

While doing this I found all of the projects I bought in the previous years and I wanted to pull them out and start working on all of them, all at once. But… I found the will power not to and settled for re-organizing them and getting back to my 30 Week Wonder. I got a little behind while making the quilts for my beautiful cousins but I was able to make three blocks in the last week. So I am getting back into the swing of things. Including blogging!

Allie's Quilt

Allie’s Quilt

String Pieced, Quilt as You Go

String Pieced, Quilt as You Go

Back of the Quilt

Back of the Quilt

But Back to Quilt Festival…

My good buddy Kay and I are taking two classes together this year. We met several years ago in a very horrible Quilt Festival class (the teacher to remain nameless) and we have been taking classes together ever since. Quilters really are great people, I can’t wait to see what new, fun people I meet this year. Kay and I are taking Gyleen Fitzgerald’s Trash to Treasure pineapple quilt class and a 3D illusion class and both look really good.

Just before Quilt Festival I will be taking Jacqueline de Jonge’s Be Colorful class for the 3rd time. I am determined to finish the quilt I started last time I took her in this class.

What will you be doing this quilty season?

Get Quilty Ya’ll

-P

Who starts a blog and then doesn’t actually blog?

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Me, thats who!

“Beautiful Girls” Quilts

I have been very busy over the last month working on two quilts for by precious cousins who were both hurt in an accident. The quilt below was made for Reagan. She and her sister Allie were in the accident and while Reagan is healing quickly, Allie’s has a longer road ahead of her. The girls are very close in age and I am making both of them quilts in hopes that it will provide some comfort. This is the absolute happiest fabric in my collection, I have had it for years. Allie’s quilt is about half way there.

It is a string quilt done as a “quilt as you go”. The joining of the blocks was interesting. Didn’t go exactly as I had wanted. Hoping I can apply some lessons learned to Allie’s.

Reagan's Quilt

Reagan’s Quilt

30 Week Wonder & More Pineapples

Before I got started on the girls quilt I did get block 8 done of the 30 week wonder. However, I am now 3 blocks behind! I have at 19 weeks to get back on track, so all is well. I had also tried a new pineapple block ruler/technique and this is my favorite, by far! I will write a big blog about pineapple blocks after I take a class at festival this year.

Block 8

Block 8

Pineapple Block using Creative Grids pineapple trim tool.

Pineapple Block using Creative Grids Pineapple Trim Tool

Until Next Time!

– Paula Sue

Quilt Show, Gettin’ Stuff Done and Plugging Along On the 30 Week Journey.

Posted in Quilting, Quilts by

For those of you who know me personally, you know this has been a rough week for me. Typically, when my head is in this kind of space I can’t sew. There is no joy in it. However, for some reason, I found some peace in it this weekend.

Yesterday I attended the Quilt Guild of Greater Houston’s quilt show and it was really good. Pineapple quilts everywhere, I loved it. I typically don’t buy much at these smaller shows, but I stocked up on thread and even bought fabric for a new project (yes, another project).

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I also finished the binding on my red and white log cabin quilt, Fire and Ice. Karen Shively quilted this for me and I absolutely love it. I am so proud of this quilt that it is going to be the first quilt I hang on the wall. I practically tore my sewing room apart to get a good picture of it tonight.

Fire and Ice

Fire and Ice

And finally, I finished Week 7 of the 30 week wonder quilt today. It is my lease favorite. But I figure, I can always redo it with different fabric when I start to put them together. Hey, I have 20 weeks to change my mind…

Week 8

Week 7

Have a great week!

Paula Sue

Voices From the Past

Posted in Quilt Blocks, Quilting by

My dad’s aunt Elizabeth was a quilter. I didn’t even know we shared this passion until a few years ago, and I was very excited to know there were other quilters in my family. She passed away earlier this year and my dad brought me two big totes of her fabric. Buried in these totes were the blocks below. They could not have been Elizabeth’s, the fabric was old and frail and it wasn’t her “style”. I don’t know how old they are, but I love the mystery behind it. I would love to know who quilted these and why. These are especially dear to me as I am a “Sue”. I have always been intrigued by the Sun Bonnet Sue block, I’m not sure why I never made one. Especially since I love to hand appliqué. I guess that will have to go on the list. For now, these cuties will go in frames and hang together in my sewing room. I will look at these blocks and think of Elizabeth and the mystery quilters from the past.

Sun Bonnet Sue

Sun Bonnet Sue

Overall Sam

Overall Sam

It’s a new day… and a new site!

Posted in Quilt Blocks, Quilting by
Week 6 : Blackbird Designs

Week 6 : Blackbird Designs

Welcome to my new blog site. You may have been with me when I was on Shutterfly, but that style of site was very restrictive and aggravation led to a lack of updates (procrastination and sheer laziness contributed as well). While it may seem like I haven’t been very active, I have actually been pretty quilty over the last 6 months or so and over the next couple weeks I will be loading all my new stuff into this site. If I can find a decent way to do so, I will add all the oldies but goodies as well. Until then, I leave you with a picture from my 30 week wonder nightmare. Week 6.

30 Week Wonder