Bindings are ON!

For my "Lovely Year of Finishes" this month, I challenged myself to finish quilts by adding the bindings onto these quilts.  Good news:  I have bound many quilts is month including two baby quilts for my new great nieces Ava Rose Nichols and Riley Kate Ragland.

The quilts are to be personalized by their parents as each little one reaches various "first" baby landmarks. The two quilts are identical, so I've shown the front of one and the back of the other.  (click here to see my linky in the finishes party of linkies!)

I also finished binding and labeling "Fields of Blue", a quilt made especially for my son Isaac. 

Isaac is helping with today's quilt photoshoot. Rainy weather made it a bit of a challenge. 

 Then the last quilt that I stitched on the binding this month is my Summer Red Baskets - I'm still pondering what its name will be....

Isn't the quilting divine?  Pam_Quiltaholic is the master quilter behind this wonderful stitching. A full image of the quilt is coming soon, when I feature it in its very own blog post.

Gone Quiltin...

On a recent roadtrip around Texas, I popped into this sweet quilt shop in the heart of Bandera, Texas.

Can you see the Singer sewing machine in the window?  I believe it is the very model that I learned to sew on many years ago!  

Although, on second thought, this might be a tad different from what my memory recalls....It might be time to visit my Dad again (the keeper of my Mom's ol' Singer....). 

Candyland

Candyland is my newest quilt -- finished it just moments ago and just in time to post in in the Modern Quilt Guild Michael Miller 2014 Challenge.  It measures 33" x 50"

I used three of the six fabrics to create this sunny little quilt.  I think I may add more quilting to it too, but first I must post it as tonight is the deadline for entering this challenge!

Additional info:  I started and completed this quilt in three days!  That must be a record for me, but then it does not account for the many weeks of pondering ideas once I received my fabrics for the challenge.  Since I began this quilt in the month of July, I am counting Candyland as my NewFO for the month of July.  The really fun fact is not only did I begin the quilt, but I also finished it in July -- although I am still considering adding more quilting and it still needs a label on the back (the official sign of completion, right?

For those who might be wondering, I did not place in the competition.  The winning quilts are superb and can be found by clicking here:  http://themodernquiltguild.wordpress.com/2014/08/01/michael-miller-fabric-challenge-the-winners-are/

My star for NASA

I have made a star for the "Astronomical Quilts! Block Challenge" and here it is!

This challenge began when NASA Astronaut Karen Nyberg made her own star-themed quilt block while she was on board the International Space Station.  This special quilt block will be combined with other quilt blocks made (and submitted) by others attending the International Quilt Festival. The quilt made from all these blocks will be on display this fall as we celebrate the 40th anniversary International Quilt Festival!

You are invited to participate too!

The rules are simple:
1). Make/create a star-themed 9.5" square unfinished block (that will finish to 9" in the quilt)
2). Any and all variations on a star are welcome (traditional, modern or artsy).
3). Any color scheme and techniques are acceptable BUT do not add any embellishments!
4). Sign your unfinished block on the front with a permanent marker.  Include your name and your location.

LIMIT:  One Block per person!

Once you've created your unique star block, mail it by August 1, 2014 to

Star Block Challenge

Attn: Rhianna Griffin

7660 Woodway, Ste. #550

Houston, TX. 77063

The deadline is nearly here, so whip together a star block and mail it in now!

I can't wait to see the quilt made with all these stars.  I especially look forward to finding my block in this new quilt.  It promises to be a spectacular exhibit!

Oops, I still need to sign my block!

Modern Scrappy Twist

In preparing for my quilt workshop for my Houston Modern Quilt Guild friends, I struggled with ideas of how to make the very traditional "Scrappy Trip Around the World" quilt into one with a modern twist.

This is my first 'modern twist'.  Tell me what you think.

I confess, I wasn't taken with it at first, but so many have liked it that it is beginning to grow on me.  I have also spied the capital letter (upper case) "R". This is cute as I'm pondering whether to finish this little quilt as a gift for one of my two new great-nieces born this summer, but how do I choose between the sweet Riley Kate or the darling Ava Rose?  Please advise!

not Mi Tierra

Traveling around Texas recently landed me at a friend's doorstep, not at Mi Tierra, but rather at their home fondly named Tierra Fina. 
  

 I get  kick out of the funky decorative use of their upcycled cowboy boots!

Isn't this dainty patriotic angel, welcoming all who visit, simply charming?

This baby quilt, made for Dennis so many many years ago, is displayed simply and proudly in their front room.  I love this crazy quilt, especially the interesting assortment of fabrics.  Everything went into the making of this little quilt from silks and cottons to feed-sacks and other fabrics.  I wonder if the quilt was made by salvaging pieces of fabric from well-worn clothing, or from the left-over scraps from cutting and stitching garments brand new, or both?

One highlight of visiting Chela and Dennis was seeing gifts I had made and given to them years ago currently being used in their cozy home.  This little pillow was stitched up when we were all living in the Texas valley, where we met.  Chela and I taught mathematics in the local high school in Los Fresnos.  My, that seems like a million years ago now -- time has a way of flying by!

This quilt was started in one of the first classes I ever took at the International Quilt Festival after moving to Houston nearly twenty years ago.  It now resides on the back of the loveseat in their living room.  When we held it up for this photo, I was so surprised -- I am positive that my quilt was much bigger when I made it.  Can time also shrink reality?

Thank you Chela and Dennis for a lovely time in Bandera!  Kathleen, I hope you don't mind if I visit again before you return to Texas.

Roosters

Just some rooster fun - sighted while driving around the streets of San Antonio, Texas.

Is this a subtle reminder (to me) that I want to stitch up a chicken and rooster quilt one day?  Or am I fostering a new affection for roosters?