Getting reaquainted..

Change is a good thing.  I've been finding that out this weekend.  OK, so let's start from the beginning.  I needed more room for my fabric.  I had no place to put any new fabric or to be honest, no place for some of the fabric that has been sitting around in baskets and what have you waiting for a permanent place to live until it becomes a quilt.  So I decided to splurge and order the Elfa shelving units/sliding bins from The Container Store.  Granted I had some nice bins from Ikea, but they just couldn't take the weight of all the fabric I had in them and to be honest they weren't the right size for the closet they were in, so it wasn't a good use of the space.  So now I have some great sliding bins that are holding all the fabric plus a little more then what was in the original bins and they looks gorgeous.

 
So in having to switch all the fabric into their new homes/bins, I've been able to get reacquainted with some of my fabrics.  You know this really is a good thing, you get to remember what you bought some of it for, you can tell yourself that this piece would go great in this or that project and you get to say OK, it's time for some of you to find another home, yeah I know it's cruel, but you know sometimes it has to be done and it's new home will be so happy to have it.

Since I was able to put a little more into the new bins I am now in the process of rearranging my other fabric cabinet.

Lower section

Upper section

As you can see I have part of it back together in the lower section, the first 2 shelves,  I still have the upper section to work on and the rest of the lower section, but it's so nice to see open space in this thing instead of having it so packed full of fabric that you couldn't find anything.

Well I guess I really should get back to folding and making nice neat piles of fabric.

Have a great weekend!

Time Flies... and Happy 4th of July

Where had the time gone?  I can't believe that half of the year is already gone.  I know it's been busy.  And I've been a bad girl not keeping up my blog, but I'm going to try and do better, but I'm not making any promises.  

So what's been going on you ask?  Well lots!!!  The biggest  things is that my best friend and now partner  and I have started a new business as quilt show vendors.  We are "A Couple of Old Broads."  Lauretta Crites is a new pattern designer, with a line of patterns for quilts, purses and totes.  She is hoping to soon have kits to add to her inventory.  I am selling everything Judy Niemeyer Quilting, patterns, kits and supplies for your adventure into the fun world of paper piecing.  We have just finished up our show for the winter/spring season.  We were vendors at San Jacinto/Hemet show and South Bay Quilters in Torrance in February, Glendale Quilt Show in March and Camarillo Quilt Show in April.  We are having a blast meeting people and learning the ropes of being quilt show vendors.  The other vendors are the nicest people and are so willing to share their knowledge with us rookies.  We have also just launched our new web-site.  You can find us at www.coupleofoldbroads.com.  Please be mindful that it is still under construction and we will be adding to it as we can.  But we are going to at least have the shows and dates of where we are going to be.

Our booth at the Glendale Quilt Show

I have also busy making sample for teaching and my trunk show/lecture.  Currently I just started working on Vintage Compass.  I'm working it up in Civil War prints and it's going to look great.  It's a great beginner pattern and is going to work up quickly.  I'll keep you posted om my progress.  I also want to show you some of the other that I have at least finished the top, but have yet had the time to get quilted.

Feathered Star

 Feathered Star is an intermediate/advanced pattern.  I did it in the Modern Quilt style in solid colors with the white background.  I love the way it came out, now I just have to figure out how I'm going to quilt it, especially all that white.

Farmers Star

 Farmers Star is a beginner pattern that has 2 companion patterns the one below, Arizona Cactus, which is a wall hanging/table topper and Cactus Flower which is a table runner pattern.  I'm going to have to get a picture of my Cactus Flower table runner. I finally got Farmers Star quilted but it still needs the binding.

Arizona Cactus

I was so happy with the way this quilt came out, but unfortunately it had to go to another good home.  I traded it for a beautiful necklace made by a wonderful bead artist named Sherry Serrafini.

Split Log Cabin

I did my Split Log Cabin in batiks and Asian fabrics.  This is a beginner pattern and lots of fun to make up.  I have kits for sale made up for this quilt in the way I made mine with the Asian and batik fabrics.  I've done all the collecting for you since it takes 40 batiks fat eighths and 40 Asians fat eighths. 

Now that things have quieted down a little I'll be able to get some sewing and quilting done so that I have some new samples for my lectures and our booth for the fall shows.  We have a great line up of shows, starting off  Sept. 4-6, 2014 with the San Diego Quilt show at the San Diego Convention Center.  On Oct. 2-4, 2014 we will be vendors at Quiltfest Palm Springs and on Nov. 14-16, 2014 we will be ending the season at River City Quilt Show in Sacramento.  I will also be doing some lectures and workshops in between some of the shows.

That's about all for now. Have a safe and Happy 4th of July.