Deb Karasik was in the house!

Deb Karasik doing a trunk show for the Desert Quilters

 Have you ever seen something amazing that someone else has created and thought..... "There is NO WAY I could ever do that!" ?? Well, that is how I felt as I sat amongst the 300+ quilters at the Desert Quilters Guild meeting. This was my first time there and I mostly went because Deb Karasik was going to be doing a trunk show and I wanted to see her quilts. I took many on my phone then they kept coming....so I pulled out my point and shoot (sorry for the lower quality photos) because I didn't think of taking my DSLR...big DUH!

As her husband was showing off all these quilts I began to really feel inadequate in my quilting skills. I mean REALLY inadequate. I kept looking around at all the OLD ladies there and thinking.....I just don't fit in here. But I was blown away by every single new quilt that came out. I learned that she paper pieces everyone of her quilts....I can do that! And she designs them on EQ7....I can do that! (I have that program after all) I started to get inspired and the inadequate feelings began to leave me a little bit at a time. 

You see, I love my Las Vegas Modern Quilt Guild.....I feel like I fit there. At the Desert Quilters, not so much. But I was so glad I decided to go. I have a few photos of some of her quilts to show you....hope you enjoy them. And, I think it's time to start paper piecing......what do you think?

 

 

Aren't they stunning? This one is the back of the previous photo and I had to take it because I love how you can see her quilting. She said she uses anything that looks pretty! I like that.....I understand some people are a one thread type person, but I have several different kinds and I like using what works best. 

Deb also said she never washes any of her quilts (probably because of showing) and she only uses a specific black color. But, I am inspired.....I want to learn paper piecing.....now!

If I had a little girl.......

 If I had a little girl....I would make these! My niece bought this cute skirt for her daughter and then just sewed some cute ribbon on each layer.  How cute is that?!! I may just have to make some anyway...and give them away......

Isn't she ADORABLE?? She loves posing for pictures, check out her cute side glance! :)

What kind of easy projects do you love doing?

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Round Robins and such.....

I must tell you that I am super excited for the two Round Robin groups I'm doing this year! You can join too HERE! Anyone is welcome and we will have several ongoing.....come join us.

Anyway, I wanted to give you a sneak peek of what I'm considering for the two I have in my hands at the moment.....tell me what you think of the fabric choices...

To start off this is the starter block for the first one....isn't it smashing?

 

Here is some of the fabric I pulled from my stash to add to this starter block. I know the colors are gray and yellow, but we can add what we think would compliment it.....

  

Here is an up close and personal shot of the fabrics..... don't they just say "YES" to you?

Now the next one is from my "free-form" group. These handbags are just CUTE!!! And Jenny said that they would be hanging on the wall in her girls room.....oh the possibilities!

 

So, I pulled some girlie fabrics out and this is what I was thinking....since it's kind of scrappy and all. I may add or take away, I'm just sayin....it's kind of a secret too! 

I love the big bold fabrics....what do you think?

I am making progress, I just pulled these out tonight and will get started this weekend......

I Love to Knit

I have discovered a very fun website! Have you heard of Raverly? Well, I discovered it completely by accident! I found this knitting pattern which I am currently working on as we speak. I have a skein of black yarn that I thought would be pretty cool in this pattern. I love it because it's one of those infinity type scarves that is all one circular piece that you wrap twice. I will keep you posted on my progress and hopefully soon will have a picture to post on my blog. 

Here is a picture of the scarf...

 

Isn't it cute? 

If you haven't already, I suggest checking out Ravelry......you'll be pleasantly surprised!

My Top 10 List for 2012

Every year at the beginning I always hear everybody talking about their "New Years Resolutions" and I always wonder how long it will take them until they stop. Call me cynical but I never make New Years Resolutions. I think making goals throughout the year is more important. This year, instead of Resolutions I have a Goal List or a Bucket List that I want to accomplish. I have thought about this for the past week and had to take into account my schedule and every crazy thing I have going on around here and I have decided to make it official and share it with all of you.....maybe it will help me accomplish more on my list if I send it out there instead of keeping it to myself.

SO....here goes....

1. To quilt 100 quilts this year for Customers.
2. To read 10 books of my choice.
3. To knit more.
4. To sell more items on my ETSY shop.
5. Focus on my well being.
6. To run a 5K
7. To run a half Marathon
8. To cook more meals in my crockpot (so I can do more on my list)
9. To save money
10. To continue my Dottie Angel Challenge....I'm hooked!

I'm sure I could come up with more, but I tend to do too much sometimes. With family, school and church I am spread pretty thin as it is, but I am changing this year....I am doing more for myself. I remember several years ago I did Yoga every day and I felt wonderful. I plan on doing more Yoga and starting the running and these two things alone will help me center and relieve my stress.
2012 is going to be a great year....I can feel it!

So, here's to everyone's success!

What do you want to accomplish this year?

DQS11 Done...and a giveaway!

Last year I made this string quilt with some "help from my friends" we swapped bags of scraps to make string quilts. It was so much fun that I have been wanting to make another one. This lovely quilt had 80 - 6" squares and took me some time to make, but when the Doll Quilt Swap 11 came around and I got in I was inspired. My partner loves bright colors so I thought this would be perfect!

So, I came up with an idea....a mini version of my quilt. Here is a peak of it before it was quilted... 

Well, I finished quilting it and for the most part love it. I really wished I would have gone a different route in the quilting, but it looks okay. I free-motioned flowers and swirls. I hope my partner loves it.

Here it is on the design wall.

I just LOVE stripes for binding....so fun!

Now it is all ready to mail out...I'm just finishing up the label. I will be posting this mini in the mail tomorrow....it has a ways to travel. *wink*

Now...for my last giveaway of the summer! I have discovered that I just love Camille Roskelley! Her blog is one that I frequent often and just love. I was pretty excited when I found out she lives in my town! So, for those of you out there that have seen her stuff and love her fabrics...I just had to buy an extra book and give it away! I love this book and wanted someone else to have it too! There are so many cute patterns and ideas in this book and it is a great addition to any quilters shelf!

For this giveaway I will make it easy....not too complicated. There are 3 ways to enter:

1. Leave a comment and let me know what you think of Camille Roskelley and her fabric lines.

2. Follow me on my blog.

3. Follow me on Facebook.

Leave a comment for each one and on Saturday morning (Aug 13th) I will use the random.org generator to pick a winner.

I LOVE San Francisco!

Last week my wonderful husband and I went to San Francisco to celebrate our 15th Anniversary! We had a sort of second honeymoon if you will, without the children, just the two of us for 4 days! It was so much fun! We almost didn't want to come home! I have to share with you some of my favorite things we saw and did while in this beautiful city! First, I have to tell you that I just LOVE the architecture! You see nothing like this in Las Vegas......anywhere!

We, of course, did the touristy stuff...but really, you can't go to San Francisco and NOT see all the sites! We went to Fisherman's Wharf (our hotel was 2 blocks from there).

China town was so fun! It reminded us of Hong Kong....BIG TIME! Hong Kong would be so fabulous to go back to, but the flight to San Fran is MUCH MUCH shorter! :) The deals weren't quite as good, but it was fun!

White cherries the size of walnuts! Don't they look yummy?

Of course we walked Lombard Street! 29% grade....no problem. Until the next day when we felt it! :)

Aren't we a cute couple? 15 years later and still having fun everyday! Now, don't laugh, but it was cold enough to wear my hat I knitted....in August! (quite a change from LV)

Okay, Haight/Ashbury is a must see in my book! My uncle used to hang out here in the 60's and I have to confess, I was so excited to shop in the Goodwill on this street! I'm a dork, but I found a dress and a sweater from H&M both for a $1.99 each. I love a good deal!

We went to the Golden Gate Park and saw the Picasso exhibit that is visiting from Paris. The museum it belongs to the Musee National Picasso is being remodeled and is being housed in the museum in SF while it is in progress. This exhibit is the largest collection and it was Picasso's personal collection. I've never seen most of these pieces and it was so fabulous! I'm a geek for a great Art Museum!

Of course, the painted ladies were just as beautiful in person as on television. I used to watch Full House so I had to take this picture. We found out the green one on the end (left side) just sold for 4.5Million.

We wandered around the Palace of Fine Arts from the World Fair in 1915. There were originally eight of these buildings, but all were torn down except this one. It was like walking around in Italy, didn't seem like we were in the States for sure.

The last day we were there, the fog lifted enough to see the top of the Golden Gate Bridge. It was surreal seeing this bridge. Walking it was fun and VERY windy and cold!

The fog was coming back....but isnt this a great shot?

Trolley cars!

I just love the style here...I could live in this city!

I didn't see any quilt shops in the city, but then again, I didn't really look that hard.

What did you do this week?

My next projects....

I have some really awesome friends that give me their boys clothes when they out grow them! I'm all about re-using if you can! This lovely stack here doesn't appeal to my boys, HOWEVER....it totally appeals to me. Don't you think these wonderful plaids would look fabulous with some solid white Kona fabric in a scrappy quilt? I think this is going to be fun! So, from this stack of shorts and shirts, I think a wonderful upcycled quilt is going to emerge......

Next, I have this cute throw that my bee sisters helped me make. I won this fabric a while back from Dena and I had this vision of owls in the center from the beginning. It's all pinned and ready to quilt. Isn't it cute?

Here's a close up of this cutie!

I just love brown and green....and the splash of orange and yellows really make it fun! What do you think?

Cute blog...check it out!

I have to tell you all about a fun little blog called Turbo Bubblegum (the blog)that has just popped up! My friend Melissa and a couple of her friends have started this blog and it is full of all kinds of fabulous things! There is crafting, scrapbooking, sewing, creating and giveaways! Go and check it out! It's a new daily stalk for me. :)

enjoy!

are you inspired?

a couple years ago i saw this and couldn't stop listening. i even bought his first cd......sometimes i listen to this to inspire me. we are all special and have wonderful talents and sometimes we hide them. it's time to share your talents!

what inspires you?