Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Lee Ann's Treasure

A customer, Susan, brought in a partially pieced quilt top with swatches of silk screened Lilly Pulitzer fabrics she had collected for her daughter Lee Ann as a child. She had pieced them together in a grid and wished for it be made queen size and finished for Lee Ann's birthday earlier this month. This was a long time UFO for Susan and, a dream quilt for both Susan and Lee Ann.
Another customer had most helpfully grabbed some likely fabric candidates for adding on to the pieced Pulitzer patches ( how is that for alliteration!).  The batik was as soft pastel that had all different colors blending in and out in it much like the patches and looked great together.  Many thanks to our helper!
Details of the "freestyle" quilting 
Susan and I discussed the project and I was let loose to finish it!  
I had never heard of Lilly Pulitzer but I really liked the patches and looked at some of her work online so I could match my quilting to her style as best as I could.
Details of the freestyle from the back
The center patchwork strip just has a meander over it so as not to detract from the artist's work and on the other strips on each side of the patchwork I did a random freestyle quilt collage incorporating feathers, swirls, flowers, roses, daisies, leaves, waves, wiggles, hearts and echoes. It was so much fun to have so much creative space to play on as a quilter! I used 22 bobbins of King Tut's Mummy Dearest thread on the bottom of the quilt, just to give you an idea of how much quilting there was on it. It measured 86"x 93" and is one of the largest I have ever done on my Bernina.
Susan picked up the quilt and was delighted.  I can't tell you how great it feels to see someone so pleased with the job I have done for them. She further rewarded me by sending me pictures of Lee Ann receiving the quilt and gave her permission to have the pictures on my blog. Thank you so much to Susan and Lee Ann it really was a pleasure to work on this project.
 Here is Lee Ann with her quilt!

15 years ago today...

I got married to a guy who I am still very much in love with and who somehow loves me too. He is a wonderful father to our children, a friend and supporter to me, a provider and protector for our family and on top of all that he is an excellent cook!

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Big and Little class sample

Here are the completed projects for the Big and Little Class I am teaching at Quilters Crossing on June 9th and June 11th.
We'll be making a snap on fabric bracelet, an embellished tank top and a tie on headband seen on me below. 
All are patterns from Sew Darn Cute by Jenny Ryan. A book available in the shop now. They are all quick and easy patterns which will go quickly enough the keep the attention of a younger but enthusiastic girl interested in sewing.
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I am also teaching a Kwik Little Klutch class 
on April 6th and May 29th. 
You can sign up at Quilters Crossing for either class. I also wanted to note that both of these classes are fat quarter friendly and you'll only need 2 fat quarters of fabric for each-- along with patterns, embellishments and notions.  Pretty economical and very fast!

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Who is Bobbidink?

Maybe now is a good time to explain the whole "Bobbidink" thing? My paternal grandmother was born Barbara Dinkel Wiley. She shared her first name with her aunt so they called her by a nick name "Bobbi-dink". 
The funny part is she hated her middle name and so when she graduated from college she told them her middle name was McMillan (another family name) knowing they would announce her full name at the ceremony.  Her father was very surprised and unhappy having heard his daughters "new" name only as they announced it at her commencement ceremony. She said she could feel his eyes staring at her all the way across the stage, knowing what she had done. 
When I was a teenager my grandfather, her husband of over 40 years at that point discovered this name change over dinner one summer evening with the whole family present. He was simply shocked and affectionately called her Dinky for the rest of the meal.
Why I chose Bobbidink: My grandmother was a lifelong learner, always active, curious and positive all qualities I strive for in my own life. She was always encouraging us in anything that interested us. She loved to dabble in art in all forms, writing, painting, quilting, dance and her own personal favorite -pottery. 
These are some pieces she made with her own hands that I am lucky enough to have. 
 She passed away a couple of years ago. I have her buttons and I keep them in the boxes she gave them in and I try not to open them very often because they still smell like her house and I know one day they won't.
So that is where the name Bobbidink came from!
My little company Bobbidink Designs can officially begin now... because a key piece of equipment (my longarm) has arrived!
Hubby and son unstrapping it from the trailer. 
More pictures to follow! When I get her up and running! 

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Quilted Bracelets

I whipped out a few quilted bracelets last night from the pattern in Sew Darn Cute! by Jenny Ryan
Sew Darn Cute: 30 Sweet & Simple Projects to Sew & Embellish

Quilted Braceletts

I whipped out a few quilted braceletts last night from the pattern in Sew Darn Cute! by Jenny Ryan
Sew Darn Cute: 30 Sweet & Simple Projects to Sew & Embellish
They are quick and easy and using the snaps she reccommended was easy too. There is a little tool you must purchase specific to one size snap which I will admit I was at first irritated by but it wasn't overly pricey and worked every time so it sort of won me over to be honest! 
I have never had much luck with snaps so when every single one came out perfect I was surprised and pleased with my little tool!
 I quilted hearts on this one which has Michael Miller's love birds on it. (above)
My shamrock bracelett which I will be wearing to many of my Irish dancing daughter's performances over the next few weeks! (below)
 I am teaching a class with my daughter in June at the shop called "Big & Little", a class where adults and children sew together. We'll be making these and two other items from Jenny Ryan's book, I haven't decided absolutely on which other two.  Maybe, the headbands and the embellished Tank top?  We'll see how my experiments come out....so far everything I have made from this book has been cute and easy.
I will post my other experiments as they are completed!