Happy Mother's Day

 ...to all the mom's, g-mom's, step mom's and those acting like mom's.

We fill THE most-important role in the lives of those entrusted into our care. 

And, to the two ladies who "Mothered" me.... My Mom, Dona and my Quilting Auntie, Nyla.

I miss them both every day.

This Laura Heine collage hangs in my home and reminds me every day of my two moms.

Fun Quilting Dodads

This is the final post for the Road to California Quilt Show.
Between beautiful quilts and lots and lots of vendor booths,
there was so much to see.  Here are a few memorable items.

Rulers and Such

Part of learning to quilt my own quilts is getting nice designs.
I've seen several videos on YouTube using rulers and quilting templates for quilting at home on your domestic machine.



Quilter's Rule

There were rulers of all kinds every where you looked including rulers for quilting.  The process does seem a bit intimidating to me, but in time....

Here is a link to an interesting how-to video.
And, here.


If you live in Southern California, or are willing to travel,
Cozy Creative Center in El Cajon offers free FMQ* classes.

There were a number of vendors selling a product you paint onto your ruler

to keep it from slip-sliding away. 

This one is Ruler Magic.

Here is a YouTube video. 

Nancy of the Needlers** introduced us to another method for keeping rulers from slipping using shelf liner.  Watch a video here. It's cheap and looks like an easy solution to a slippery problem.

 
Tools
 

My favorite unsewing tool (seam ripper) is from Clover.
I buy them by the three-pack on Amazon because not only do I have many, many dates with Jack (the ripper), but I seem lose them.  I don't know where they disappear to, they must be off with my missing socks.








The Hot Hemmer and Hot Ruler were two more Clover accessories I think I could use.




   Here is a video.





Quilter's Paradise Slit 'N Sew Templates and software.  I have used Quilter's Paradise on-line calculators for years.  Fast and user friendly even from your phone when you are at the fabric store wondering how much of that perfect backing fabric you need.  Well now it appears they have developed software you can use for designing your own quilts.  Admittedly I have not looked at this very closely as I use Electric Quilt but It might be worth a look-see.  And it looks like it is free. Free is a very good price!
  
Patterns  Of Course there were loads and loads of patterns.  Here are just a few of my favorites.

Witches Quilt Amy Bradley Designs

Halloween is not my favorite holiday but I do like Halloween colors and fabrics.  

The kitty on this pattern attracted my attention.  I thought she was so cute.

Fiesta by Modern 180

The star design was intriguing.

I really liked this star. I wonder if I could recreate this in Electric Quilt?

The Pink Pump by Laura Heine is stunning in black.

The Pink Pump

There are a lot of video links in this post, more than usual, but I hope you find them helpful.
That's it for the Road to California for this year.


*FMQ:  Free Motion Quilting
**Needlers:  Our Tuesday night group

National Quilt Museum

As I do a couple times a year, over Labor Day I traveled to Paducah, Kentucky to visit my family.
Paducah is known for the BIG quilt show every April (and now they've added a show in the Fall), Hancock's of Paducah, and the National Quilt Museum.   My baby sister and I made a visit to the Museum. (I meant to post this pictures then....) 

On exhibit were some amazing collage quilts by Danny Amazonas.

My Favorite

I have completed two collage quilts to date:  Laura Heine's Cat and the Piggie Quilt in memory of my mom and my quilting Auntie, Nyla. They are not as easy as you might think.  Choice of fabrics and getting the colors and shades just right is the trick.  Danny Amazonas is a very talented artist, to be sure!  Google his name.

Laura Heine is probably the most recognized name for collage quilts.  She is a featured speaker at a lot of guild meetings across the country and she makes a presence at quilt shows. (I was introduced to her patterns at the Road to California show.) But here is another option, The Collage Quilter. I LOVE her Adoration quilt.  I also found a a collage quilt tutorial.  While not exactly the way I would do it, it was pretty good.  This has kind of given me 'the bug', again.

Spinning Out by Helen Remick of Seattle, WA - My sister's favorite display.

P.S. While we are talking about the Quilt Museum, they also sponsor a BOM* every year.  Last year's blocks were part of the exhibit. The blocks were very imaginative and very good, but not out-of-this-world.  Don't be intimidated!  At the bottom of the BOM page, click through the blocks. They do an excellent job of giving you all the tools for creating the blocks. Check it out!  YOU can do it!

*BOM:  Block of the Month

Wrapping Up Summer

A Few Signs that Summer is pretty much OVER! 

Dog Days of Summer - hot, Hot, HOT outside!

Oldest G-son's Birthday.
My first grand-love.

Football practice before the Season starts.
Youngest Babe all suited up.
He still looks a bit like bobble head.

There are a few times during the year that I like to re-group.  

End of summer - just before school starts is one of those times.

Yesterday I finished another UFO (#5 on the UFO list).

Laura Heine's Puurfect Cat Collage

This is for the up-coming charity auction for Cat Adoption Team, Whisker Wonderland.

 AND

I cleaned and organized my sewing space ....

I'm ready for Fall and new sewing adventures!