Update - New Look - Sneak Peak

I've been off the grid and out of the blogging scheme of things for awhile staying busy traveling, working and of course some quilting thrown in there.

First up a sneak peak of the quilt/wall hanging I just finished:
This is a string quilt using only "Poppy Love" by the Swirly Girls for Michael Miller Fabrics.

 

 I really enjoyed doing the quilting on this creation!! It's full of feathers, swirls, paisleys and pebbles.

 A view of the quilting from the back. LOVE the feather swirls! 

Last week just hours before flying off to Missouri I decided it was time to cut off all the long hair, even though my husband dearly loves my long hair. I was just tired of dealing with it. So, without telling him what I was doing I was off to the Salon for that much needed new do!!

After some discussion with my new stylist here's what we ended up with. Much shorter! Much lighter! And much healthier!! 

 

Thankfully my sweet hubby LOVES the new do as much as I do!

My hubby and I spent last week in Missouri doing some work on our house there. We preparing to put it on the market again, hoping and praying desperately that it will sell this time and that we won't loose too much in the sale. 

After having two different renters in the house the cabinets were in need of some deep cleaning. My mom came down to help us and she went to working scrubbing off all the years of built up gunk and then rubbed down each cabinet with Old English Oil. When she was finished they looked like brand new cabinets! Beautiful!! 

While my hubby worked on a variety of odd jobs and helping me whenever I needed, I busied myself laying down new vinyl tiles in the kitchen and the bathroom. Wish I had some before pictures, but trust me both floors look 100 times better now. The kitchen had been carpeted.....we discovered that it was put down in 1997 (way past time for something new)!

Laying tile is a lot like quilting, but like I told Darren, "I would much rather be quilting than crawling around on the floor working with sticky tiles!!"

Created a paper template to be able to cut the tiles to fit perfectly around the curve of the stool.

We'll go back in a few weeks for another work session and to meet with the realtor. 
We're looking forward to a busy and tiring summer, but praying it all goes well!

I'm off to sandwich a quilt and sit down with my sweet Sapphire to create some beautiful stitches! 

I've got Tula Pink's collection of Aurifil thread ready and waiting for this gorgeous quilt.

Many Blessings and Happy Quilting!
Marcia 

"For God & Country" {WIP}

Patriotic Blocks

This week I'm working on a very special quilt. It's called "For God & Country" and is done in patriotic red, white and blue. Most of the fabric I'm using is from Windham Fabrics "Honor & Glory" by Whistler Studios, the rest is a variety of fabrics from my personal stash.

WIP & Sneak Peak

This week I'm working on a couple of Cathedral Window Pincushions. This one is ready to be filled with the crushed walnut shells. There are a couple of little things I don't like about this one and being a bit particular about the details, I'll be making another one of these to see if I can change the things I don't like.

Cathedral Window Pincushion in Aqua

Then it'll be on to cutting up this "Honor & Glory fabric by Whistler Studios for Windham Fabrics." I'm hoping to finish this quilt before the 4th of July, but with a mission trip to Joplin, MO on the schedule I'm not sure that it's a realistic goal at all. Maybe I should just start by setting the end of July as my goal to be finished by.

Honor & Glory Fabric

I'm really excited about this quilt and once again, can hardly wait to see how it turns out!

Blessings & Happy Stitching,

And the Winner is...

"Black Tie Event"

Last week I put out a request looking for suggestions on what to name this black & white quilt. There were so many creative suggestions that poured in from all directions, it was difficult to narrow down all the possibilities. Taking into consideration the purpose of this quilt (I know.... you all weren't privy to that part) I thought, "Black Tie Event" best described both the quilt and the occasion for it.  I'll be able to show a full set of pictures once it's been delivered. Until then here's a sneak peak.....

A Sneak Peak

Feathers

Next up on the project list is a commissioned piece, I'm using Caroline's Chain Pattern, Designed by Cyndi Hershey and found in the January/February 2012 edition of Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting. This pattern uses the Irish Chain Block and utilizes strip piecing to make quick work of the piecing process.

Ready to do some strip piecing.

The fabric for this quilt is from the Simple Pleasures Collection by Debbie Beaves of Violet Patch Quilts. These fabrics play better together in person than in the photo. For this project I even have the joy of working with one of my favorite colors, purple. So much fun!! I'm looking forward to some very productive hours at the machine over the next few days. Hope your weekend is filled with joy, fun and some productive time as well!!

Blessings &
{{{HUGS}}}

Work In Progress {Sneak Peak}

 A sneak peak of this work in progress. I'm hoping to finish it this week. I have high hopes, maybe too high....we'll see.

Black & White Collection

Partial pic of quilt top. 

I've found that I'm not the most creative when it comes to names for my quilts. The pattern name for this quilt is "Gumballs," but it was done in shades of green batiks. In black and white it doesn't seem very gumdrop-ish to me.  Any suggestions?



Today I've linked up to "W.I.P. Wednesday" over at "Freshly Pieced", check out all the inspirational projects going on in the quilting world.


{{Hugs}}

New Look & Two New Projects

I felt that the look of my blog was a bit tired and uninspiring, so I've spent the morning playing with different possibilities.  I think I ended up with something clean and crisp and fitting for a little pink rose. As a reader of this blog, what do you think? Do you like the changes or would a softer pink be better?

Now for a sneak peak of a couple of new quilts I'm starting this week.

First up is a completely black and white quilt.

Black & White selection

A splash of color for the back

For now all I can show of the second quilt I'm working on, is this test block. 

Test Block

If you need me I'll be in the studio.
Many Blessings,
Marcia
Little Pink Rose

Creative Quilting

More and more I'm coming to truly enjoy Free Motion Quilting.  When I first tried my hand at it with the typical stippling stitch I was filled with dread and a twinge of fear.  What if I messed it up? What if I couldn't make it look okay? What if....? What if...? 

The simple answer,  stop worrying about all the what if's and in the words of Nike, just do it! 

Since that first try, I've been practicing. You know what they say......practice makes perfect.  I'll be the first to say that there's still room for improvement, I'm far from perfect. But, I do love how the quilting on the latest quilt is turning out. 

Hope you've enjoyed the sneak peak of this latest quilt.

Blessings,
The Little Pink Rose
Marcia