Sew On The Go by Michelle Renee Hiatt

Have any of you  heard of the organization Donors Choose?  I had until this week.  My company gave each employee a gift card to http://www.donorschoose.org/ , which allowed each employee to pick a charity of their choosing from the listings on DonorsChoose.org.  DonorsChoose in an online charity that makes it easy for anyone to help students in need.  Here's how it works: public school teachers from every corner of America post classroom project requests on DonorsChoose.org. Requests range from pencils for a poetry writing unit, to violins for a school recital, to microscope slides for a biology class.  It also include adult education for the needy.  The website lets you drill down by state, county, poverty level, the subject area, etc.  All the listing are vetted and if you elect to donate more than $50, the students will keep you posted on their progress.  We choose to support music and sewing, our two passions....

No, not the days until Christmas, but those projects!  When I was thinking about this question last night, I was concerned that it would make me depressed.  At the 10K foot level, I felt I didn't finish much this year.  It has been so busy, between the new house and job, etc.  However, as I traveled today, I was mentally counting and I didn't do as bad as I expected.  As I looked through my photos (I try and take pictures of everything I finish) and thinking through our sew sessions (mentally remembering what I worked on)... I started feeling better and better. When it comes to our quilting, I some times think we get in the habit of putting ourselves down, or comparing ourselves to others.  However, I think it is important to take a self assessment.  Not a single one of us has the same circumstances as another one of us, another guild member, another blogger, etc.  So, it is only fair that you look at what you had t...

It has been a while since I've spotlighted a blog, but I've found a good one. Amanda Murphy designs were apparently all the rage at Quilt Market.   The patterns are really fun, they offer may sizes, and are really colorful.  She has just finished her third line, Veranda, for Robert Kaufman.  Her blog talks about her trial and tribulations... and everything in between. Here is the link: http://amandamurphydesign.blogspot.com/  plus I've placed it on the side bar. Check it out, it is really refreshing.

 I love Pam & Nicky Lincott.  They make the best Jelly Roll books, but this one is awesome! The descritption given on the book is; "This book combines two of the quilting world's favorite things.   Sampler quilts and using pre-cut 2-1/2" strips. Sampler quilts use different blocks to showcase the developing skills of the quilter. These patterns are so enticing that quilters of all levels will be clambering to get started. Each of the projects in this book uses only one set of pre-cut strips to create an alluring finished quilt. As a bonus, each project is shown in two colorways." It really is a neat concept, they have 50 blocks in the issue and show how to use them in 10 different quilts.  I already have my copy! I'm such a Quilt Book junkie! But look at these quilts, you have to love them... plus I can put those Jelly Rolls to use! ese So that is this week's book review.

Friday night I finished Swoon blocks #3 &  #4. I worked on them a little bit all week.   A little here and there. It is tough working! I LOVE them! It seems there may be a SWOON bug going around amongst my Friday Night Sew Club.  You just need 18 fat quarters and 4.25 yards background. Go check out your stash!

Last Saturday, I finally started my Swoon Quilt, you know the one that was made famous by all the blogs. I finished my first block on Saturday and my second block yesterday. There are nine total. The blocks are pretty large but beautiful. I will keep plugging away.

Wow, I'm not sure how many of you have noticed, given all the "Hayloft" deals, but fabric prices have really soared in recent months.  I'm talking $11.00+ a yard is becoming the norm.  No lie. Most of the brick and mortar storefront and online shops, that have the "new" fabric, are pricing it at $10-12 a yards.   I surfed the web, to check out the "recently received" (tried not to pick on any one shop), and found that Fabric.com, in my mini-research,is the only store that has "new" fabric under $10.00 a yard.  For "new", I used fabric that I know arrived in the last two weeks.   What are your thoughts?  To be fair, I think the quilt manufacturers kept quilting fabric at the $4.50-$4.90 range for quite a few years. Which at the 100% mark-up (standard for most quilt shops) put the retail prices at $9.00-$9.80 a yard.  Some shops add their shipping costs (from Manufacturer to their store) in addition to...

Ok, so we've all heard of a "Bucket List", the 2012 Quilting Project Box List is similar, but to strive to complete in 2012 instead of before your die. I read a study that states those that set a goal for a passion or career, meet that goal 78% of the time. I thought that was pretty good and got to thinking that maybe I need to gather a quilt goal list, that maybe it would force me to be more productive.  Plus, I love lists. Anyway, what do you think? Would you be interested in putting a 2012 Quilting Project Box List together and tracking your progress? No min, no max, just how are you doing. I'm going to do it.  While at Camp (which I LOVED), I thought of a few of those 2012 goals: Complete a hand applique wall hanging or small quilt. Complete Christmas quilt for my bed (which we all know is KING). Complete a Judy Niemeyer Quilt (not sure it will be Amazon) Complete my YoYo Quilt So that is 4, I think they are a good combination.  A wide var...

I've been meaning to post these pics all week.  The Quilt Gods helped hold off the rain in Burlington, NJ last Saturday for the "Quilts on High" event.  However, it gave enough of a scare that Olde City Quilt Shop had local merchants host some of the quilts indoor.  They were afraid if the sky opened up that they couldn't get them all down in time.  It is a shame, because the quilts outdoor really, really looked stunning...    This was  the first year, that I'm aware of, for this event. I thought I'd share a few pictures.  I couldn't pick just a few, so I hope you don't mind all the photos: You can see those outside really are stunning.  The NY Beauty below was my FAV. I love a good Rooster and Snowman Quilt This Barn quilt was really something, but unfortunately, it was one of the ones indoors and the picture doesn't really do it justice. Then, the 3D Spider Quilt...

On top of my Corporate America job, I do some freelance work for a local quilt shop.  However, this year, given the new full time Corporate American job, I never thought I would finish my Holiday Samples on time for a local quilt shop's Open House.  On top of dealing with everything else, I've been sick with a virus the last few days.  However, for once I didn't procrastinate too much.  I was waiting on Green and Pink rick rack forever, for the baby quilt sample, which left that to be the last thing to be put together and then quilted and bound.  I made it though... And I was pretty happy with the quality.  Here is the Baby's Quilt: I quilted it myself.  I will admit, I've only been renting a local long arm for about a year now and I was freaking out a bit....  But I got through it, not sure how.  I couldn't very well use a pantograph which meant I need to free motion quilt it and not hit the rick rack, applique,...

So, tell.  Do you purchase a Quilt Calendar? Who know there we so many.  At first I was going to list the 4-5 quilt calendar producers, I figured there were maybe 4 or 5 quilt calendars produced each year.  Try 45 and that is what I found with a simple google search.  If I really tried,  I bet I could find 60.     If you do purchase one, do you always buy the same one? I have purchase (or been given one as a gift) for the last 6 years (yes, I know where they are..)  For the last 4 years I've purchased the American Patchwork & Quilting Calendar (2007-2011).  Prior to that, I have 2 years (2005 -2006) from Quilts (Avalance Publishing).Both come with the patterns for each of the quilts.    I like the AP&Q because the instructions are in color too.  Plus, the quilts are doable.... not that I have.  So, ladies; what about you... do you purchase them?  Have you ever made a quilt t...

I'm not sure if anyone else has seen them, but there seems to be a surge of Online PDF patterns for sale.   I have mixed feelings about them and was wondering what you thought. I think those who can design and sell patterns are great.  I often think I'd like to give it a try, love the math and all... but do I have the talent for design.. hmmm.   Anyway back to my original question.  For the most part Pattern designing is low risk: Most patterns sell between $8-12.  Why some are $12, I'm not sure, but they better be giving you a lot.  LOL.  Anyway, you figure you design it once, you have the initial fabric cost, time, re-dos, etc.  (aka front research/start-up cost).  You need to write it up and package it.  Which by the way, I think there are designers that really do a great job there and then others, not so much.  Both in photos and directons. Then you determine how much you want inve...