Since I came back from our trip to the East Coast I have been so aware of the stark contrast in landscape between Utah and Maryland/Delaware... As I started thinking about which landscape quilt I would make next, I brought out of the closet this quilt I made a few years ago. The flowers were cut out, glued on with fabric glue, and sewn (broderie perse). I looked outside at the mountains and kept cutting shapes... Up to now, when I make landscape quilts I start from a picture on my mind. … [Read more...] about Landscape quilts
Cutting table and ruler organizer
Oh... I am so happy! I finally replaced my old cutting table, after weeks of looking high and low for an affordable solution. I needed something that was 36" high, about 36" wide, and 60" long. My friend Diana had seen at someone's house two bookshelves with a door as a top. Finding the bookshelves would not be difficult, and the door I could get at Home Depot or Lowes (plain door). However, they would not saw it down to size for me. After many trips to IKEA to check out the various … [Read more...] about Cutting table and ruler organizer
4-petal flower tutorial
Here is a quick way to add dimension to wall hangings, table runners, bags, and other quilting projects: make a flower using two contrasting 5" squares. I whipped this one up yesterday in about 15 minutes. Not bad for when you are pressed for time and need a final touch on a gift! Here is what you will need: 2 - 5" squares of contrasting fabrics button needle and thread sewing machine With right sides together, sew around the squares leaving a 1.5" opening so you can turn fabrics inside … [Read more...] about 4-petal flower tutorial
The ONE thing I cannot live without
My friend Diana made this carrying case from Atkinson's Designs (I found it here). After all these years quilting I have decided this is THE ONE thing I cannot live without. When you are packing to go on vacation, to a retreat, or for a day of sewing at your girlfriend's house, you can fit into this carrier everything you need. Fabric, thread, needles and pins, pens, small templates... I had everything I needed to use during my two-week vacation, stowed away into one package! It … [Read more...] about The ONE thing I cannot live without
Turning your passion into business – Part Two
You read about Woolin Rouge - an online store selling hand dyed wool and quilt patterns - and their creators, Traci and Sylvia, on my previous post. Now you have a chance to read my interview with Sylvia Gauthier and to find out, from her perspective, what it is like to start a business based on something you really enjoy doing. Sylvia brings her own strengths to their new business venture: a passion for sewing and quilting, and her ability to turn Traci's drawings into very cool wool … [Read more...] about Turning your passion into business – Part Two
Turning your passion into business – Part One
Sample hand dyed wool pack from Woolin Rouge Many years ago I was a freelance translator, working with marketing materials and ad copy from English into Brazilian Portuguese. Since I loved what I was doing, was very good at it, was reliable and fast, clients were abundant. After a few years I decided to open my own translation agency. Within two years the agency was profitable, and by the time I sold it to a competitor - some 10 years later - we were translating into over 150 languages, … [Read more...] about Turning your passion into business – Part One