Doesn't everyone own these?

I'm leaving for Australia today and am packing a couple items that most people might not own.

A high-vis vest:

At the expo center in Australia, you can not be in the building during set up or tear down without a high-vis vest.  I have borrowed one every other time I've been there, but this year?  I'm prepared!

A dual-voltage hair dryer:

When I travel internationally, I have two choices of hair styling:

1.  Use whatever dryer might be in the hotel.
2.  Use my own hair dryer.

Option 1 doesn't work because I have never had a decent hairdryer in another country.  The dryer in Dubai was less useful than someone blowing out a birthday candle near me.  Option 2 doesn't work because I  have lost several hair dryers from the high voltage, including my Hello Kitty hair dryer!

Some might think that there is another option:

3.  Let my hair dry naturally.

No.  Just No!

I finally bought a dual-voltage hair dryer and hope to have pretty hair during this trip.

The blog will be quiet some days this week since I am overseas.  If you are bored or miss me, you could comfort yourself by watching my Craftsy class.  You might be able to finish one of the class projects by the time I get back home:

Play nicely while I'm away, OK?

Returning the Favor

My friend Christa of ChristaQuilts blogged about me yesterday.  Read her blog post here.

Today, I'm going to blog about her!

I met Christa at Road to California in 2014:

She was my star pupil.

She is an author, a pattern designer, a teacher, and an award-winning quilter.

She's also a Craftsy blogger and she reviewed my Craftsy class.  She liked it!

Friday Favorites -- BINDING!

I love to quilt quilts.  I like to piece quilts.  I don't like to bind quilts.  Despite my distaste for binding, each and every quilt that I make wants me to bind it.  The nerve!

I have a folder of hand-sewing needles that is a mis-matched jumble and I have no idea what is in it.  One of the needles is my absolute favorite needle for hand binding my quilts.  I am obsessed with this needle and worried constantly that I would either lose or break it.  Thus began my quest.

I found this pack of Needle ID Cards to help identify my needles:

and determined that my favorite binding needle is an Embroidery needle, size 7.

My next step was to find more needles of the same type and size:

I don't like the Dritz ones at all.  Not one little bit.  I am testing a Bohin needle now and I really like it!  Next I will try a John James needle.  I've ordered a pack of Tulip needles, but it hasn't yet arrived.

I have so many Cutie quilts to bind:

Now I know that that my needle supply is assured.  It won't make the binding any faster, but I still have a little peace of mind.

If you like the ribbon candy quilting in the photo and would like to learn to quilt that pattern, I teach this technique in my Craftsy class.  Check it out!

  

Whirlwind

This week has been a whirlwind!  My new class at Craftsy launched on Monday:

I have been busy with behind-the-scenes work for that class ever since the launch.  As I'm muddling through it, I keep getting the nicest notes from friends and students (who are really just friends, too).  Quilters are so lovely and I'm so honored that folks are taking the time to write nice things to me.  I can't express just how much that means to me.

While I'm not busy reading nice notes or handling details dealing with the class launch, I'm busy packing to teach at AQC in Australia next week.  I get to hang out with more quilters!  Wheee!

If I don't get to see you at AQC next week, maybe I'll see you at one of these events in 2015/2016!

Streamlining

I'm streamlining my YouTube channel and these videos will be going away soon.

Going:

Going:



Going:



Going:



GONE!

My Craftsy class, however, is forever.

You can purchase it HERE.

Globetrotting, Block 6: St. Louis

I'm chugging along on my 2014 Pat Sloan block of the month.  Yes, 2014.  Don't judge me.

Here's the block:

And here's the plan:

I'm still not sure about the light green triangles or the dark green triangles, but that is a problem for another week.

This week, I'm quilting the curls in the cream triangles:



When I quilt, I think of whatever I need to think of to make sure the quilting turns out the way I need it to.  This week, handlebar mustaches did the trick.

If you want more machine quilting instruction, check out my new Craftsy class:

You can watch a preview HERE.

Be sure to sign up for my mailing list on the sidebar of this blog. I have more good news on the way and you'll read it there first!

Live in 3... 2...1...

... ACTION!

My Craftsy class is now live!

Watch the trailer HERE.

So, if you want to learn how to do this:

Or this:

Then go HERE and take the class.

If you are a bargain shopper, however, you might want to sign up for my newsletter (the box is in my blog sidebar).  I'll be sending out a discount code for my class to my subscribers because I love them lots!

Pinterest: A Love/Hate Relationship

One of my children has a birthday that, most years, is near Easter.  I am kind of good at quilting.  I am kind of good at cooking.  I have no patience for baking and even less patience for cake decorating.  Despite these limitations, I do try.

A few years ago, my son's birthday landed directly on Easter and I actually did a great job on his birthday cake:

Score one for Mom!

This year, I found a different way to decorate the Easter birthday cake:

Hint:  that's supposed to be a sunflower.  I bought every yellow peep I could find, but that didn't look like enough.

I decided to mix some bunnies in with the chicks:

and now it looks like a mess.

At least the cake has layers?

Do you know what is better than my cake?  My Craftsy class!

The class isn't online yet, but it will be soon!

To celebrate, I'm giving away a class before you can buy it.  Sound good?  Click here for a chance to win!

Commitment Issues

I am madly working on new Cutie quilt pattern samples and am in between good books.  What's a gal to do when the good books run out?  Netflix to the rescue!

One of the odder shows I've quilted to on Netflix was Dollhouse.  Despite some very weird turns in the story line, this show was mostly fun to watch.  It only ran for two seasons, but that felt like enough.  I didn't find myself wanting more when it ended.

Do you want to see a sneak peek of a few soon-to-be-published Cutie quilt patterns?

They are folded so you can't tell if they are bound or not.  Guesses as to the status of their binding?

When I'm not quilting this weekend, I will likely be spending some time shopping online for more fabric at the Quilt Basket.  They are having a great fabric clearance and free shipping.  How can I resist?  While you are there (and you know you are going to go there), check out all of the Cutie patterns.  They are all wonderful, but Squared Away, Going My Way?, Stepping Stones, and Jack's Star are more wonderful than the rest (but only because I designed them).  Did I mention free shipping?

One last thing to be excited about this weekend:

I JUST FILMED A CRAFTSY CLASS!!!

The class isn't online yet, but it will be soon!

To celebrate, I'm giving away a class before you can buy it.  Sound good?  Click here for a chance to win!

Best. Bag. Ever!

When I was at Quiltweek in Lancaster, PA a few weeks ago, a whole busload of quilters were carrying this tote bag:



I jumped for joy every time I saw a quilter walk by with that bag on her shoulder.  I love that quilt. I quilted that quilt.  SQUEAL!!!  The quilting even shows on the bag!  I am so excited!

I bought my own when I got home:

This quilt photo is from the fabulous Victoria Findlay Wolfe's newest book:



"MY" quilt is on page 64:

I was so honored when she asked me to quilt for her.  I was really nervous, too, as I talked about last year.  I am so thrilled to have quilted this quilt and even more thrilled that they chose "my" (OK, Victoria might have had something to do with that quilt, too ) quilt for the tote bag. 

These quilts are currently showing at the International Quilt Study Center and Museum.  If you are able to get there, take lots of pictures for me, OK?

This is an exciting week for me.  Did you hear my other exciting news?

I JUST FILMED A CRAFTSY CLASS!!!

The class isn't online yet, but it will be soon!

I had so much fun filming this class.  To celebrate, I'm giving away a class before you can buy it.  Sound good?  Click here for a chance to win!

Between Quilt Shows

I am between quilt shows this week and working at home.  That means that I am  furiously working to catch up on my mail, email, and housekeeping.  I am also covered in threads because I am rewarding myself for all that hard work by indulging in some fun sewing projects.  Because I am generously rewarding myself, my cutting table is a frightening mess:

When I am not catching up on old business or making a mess of my cutting table, I am busily preparing to teach at in Australia  at the Australasian Quilt Convention.  Will I see you there?

I just gave my website a new look  Do you like it?  I also updated my teaching calendar with events such as Handi Quilter Sweet Sixteen classes at Quiltweek in Phoenix in 2016.  I hope to see you at an event soon!

Did you hear my exciting news?

I JUST FILMED A CRAFTSY CLASS!!!

The class isn't online yet, but it will be soon!

I had so much fun filming this class:

To celebrate, I'm giving away a class before you can buy it.  Sound good?  Click here for a chance to win!

Did You Know...?

Earlier this week, I hinted that I was about to share some news and I asked for guesses.  Some of the guesses were hilarious:

"You are pregnant..."
"with Elvis' baby..."
"and you are having triplets..."
"while running for President of the United States"

Amusing, yes, but not even close.

Some guess were realistically hopeful:

"You are writing a book"
"You are filming DVDs"
"You are designing quilt patterns"

Well, the answer to all of those is yes, but that wasn't my news.  You see, I already have written two books:

Beyond the Lines

and

Borders and Beyond:

I also have four DVDs about sit-down longarm quilting:

Getting Started
Quilting Blocks and Borders
Using Rulers and Templates
Thread Work

Additionally, I have several piecing patterns available

Squared Away

Going My Way?

Stepping Stones

and Jack's Star

So, now that I showed what I've already done, let me show you what is new:

A CRAFTSY CLASS!!!

The class isn't online yet, but it will be soon!

I had so much fun filming this class:

To celebrate, I'm giving away a class before you can buy it.  Sound good?  Click here for a chance to win!

I have more good things coming, so stay tuned!

Globetrotting, Block 6: St. Louis

I am continuing to machine quilt my St. Louis block from Pat Sloan's 2014 Globetrotting block of the month.

Here is the block:

I made some quilting plans:

Let's consider the plan "fluid" at this point.  I'm not sold on the quilting in the light green triangles.

Last week I showed straight-line quilting.  This week I'm going to show free-motion ribbon candy quilting:



I'll post another quilting video next week.  Stay tuned!
______________________________________________

ANNOUNCEMENT:

I recently finished filming a Craftsy class!!!

You can't buy the class yet, but you can enter for a free chance to win it!  Click HERE to enter.  Good luck!

Mischief Managed! -- The Big Reveal

Back in February, when it was snowing every day and airports across the northeast United States were closing every few days, I flew to Denver for a secret mission.  I am happy to finally reveal that...

I filmed a Craftsy class!

I filmed on a Babylock Destiny:

but these techniques can be used on a home machine, a sit-down longarm machine, or a longarm machine.

If you would like to be entered in a drawing for a free class, click HERE!

(edit:  This class is not yet available.  You can't buy it yet, but you can still enter a drawing to win it when it is released.)

Big Announcement?

I am nearly ready to reveal the top-secret project I've been working on in recent months.  If you've been guessing unsuccessfully, I want to give you a clue.

Hello Kitty and I had an adventure recently:

Please submit wild guesses in the comments.

(If you are one of the few who knows, please refrain for 24 more hours)

Withdrawal

I am at OSQE in Cleveland this week.  My students are fantastic and I'm having a great time.  I have one small problem though:

My hotel internet service was non-existent.  it is my firm belief that if I spend four days in a hotel without internet service, that hotel should be on a beautiful beach on a remote island.  Alas, I am in Cleveland within spitting distance of the airport.

I called the hotel's computer people every day and each day convinced them that "It's not me, it's YOU."  Each day they agreed (eventually) and said that they were working on it.

While I was in internet withdrawal, I couldn't indulge in my beloved Netflix.  I found Raiders of the Lost Ark in my laptop's disc player and watched it 3-4 times this week.  I watched that movie when it was in the theater and probably once or twice right after the DVD was released.  This intense re-watching was like watching it for the first, second, third and fourth times.  I love watching older movies and noticing new things.

Did you know that:

Indiana Jones' guide at the beginning of the movie was Alfred Molina?   I looked it up (on my phone!) and saw that I was correct.  It was his first movie role.

As I am praying to find some stray wifi to upload this post, I am realizing that I am addicted to the internet.  I'm also addicted to oxygen and water, so I'm not saying it like it's a bad thing.  I am addicted none the less.

While I'm waiting for them to fix the internet (they said they'd get to it on Monday -- are you kidding me?), I'm consoling myself with the beautiful weather:

Yes, more snow.

Take me away, Harrison Ford!

Friday Favorites -- gifties

I don't know how I got so lucky.  I love my job and work with amazing people.  I met up with a bunch of them at Quilt Week in Lancaster, PA last week.  These lovely ladies sent me home with suitcase that was heavier than when I arrived.

The fantastic Miss Julie thought I'd like to try out this machine quilting hoop:

Thanks, Julie!

A friend Vicki knows that I like Hello Kitty and mustaches.  She actually found them together:

Candy!

My friend Susan thought I needed this sweet Hello Kitty clip:

She was right.

And a dear friend's family owns an olive grove. This is chocolate olive oil soap made from her very own olives:

I feel loved!

On The Road Again

Hello Kitty and I are on the road again:

We drove to OSQE in Cleveland, OH.  I will spend the rest of my week here:

Will I see you there?  Will the snow at my house finally be melted by the time I get back to New York?  Or, please no, will more snow fall while I'm away?

Check my calendar for a full list of my events.  I hope to meet up with you soon!  Preferably somewhere warm.