Crazy for a Jellybean-a-thon!

A short time after Fall Market in Houston, I got an email from the incredibly talented Thomas Knauer asking if I would like to design something using only his jelly bean prints from Andover Fabrics. Well, of course I was incredibly flattered, but honestly... I can't design something! Yikes, I am AWFUL at it! Plus, I just am so busy with home life, my writing job and of course working on Gen Q! I just can't possibly...

And then I saw the list of people he had invited! Ugh! They are all, like pattern designers and book authors! No, I can't possibly! It would be awful! These are people that I follow on Instagram and stuff. People I don't know would be comparing my work to people who have won ribbons and stuff. Yikes!

And then I woke up the next day. One of my first thoughts was "Boy, I sure am protesting a lot!" Hmmm...

So, before I could lose my nerve, I emailed Thomas and said yes. I explained that I really am not a designer and my mind is saying no and that is exactly why I should do it.

Luckily, he didn't think that was at all crazy. He completely agreed with me. The fabric arrived just around Christmas and it took a while for me to have the time to even look at the fabric. I laid it on my sewing table and would pet it occasionally as I walked by.

Then about a month ago, I had an idea. What if I crazy pieced rectangles and made a quilt called "Crazy for Jellybeans"?

It was enough to get me started. So each morning, before I sat down at the computer, I would spend 15 minutes and play. I was really liking what was happening and I was having fun. I figured it would be lap sized, I would use white as a background and I would practice my machine quilting on it. It would be great!

And then I realized, I did not like white. And I did not like gray. I liked NOTHING that was in my stash (my husband says what else is new?!)So, I packed up my junior editor and headed to my local quilt shop. We honestly had bolts of fabric laying all over the floor with blocks lying on them. It was comical. We narrowed it down to a violet and an olive green, when I spotted magenta. It was perfect.

Then I got home and thought "the scale is all wrong! This needs to be a bed quilt!" It was really funny, this whole experience. I worked completely outside of my box. This is not my color scheme - it's was unlike anything I have ever done before. It was fun!

Without further ado, here is "Crazy for Jellybeans"...

The blocks will lay across the foot of the bed. It sort of reminds me of Doppelganger, which just won an award at QuiltCon and was on the cover of the winter issue of Gen Q.

I have been wanting to take photos for DAYS, but the weather has not been cooperating. I finally had to give in and take photos in the blizzard we were having today. Kudos to my eldest son for braving the storm and helping a mom out! (I kind of liked the snow covered brush in front of the quilt...)

It is just a top at this point because I decided that it needs EPIC quilting. And EPIC QUILTING can only be done by the amazing Lisa Sipes. So as soon as she can fit this baby in, I will upload photos... that's as long as I am still blogging at that point - she has quite a LONG wait. But it will be SO worth it!

Here is the rest of the tour! Tomorrow, the Jellybean-a-thon continues it's tour of Chicago by visiting the talented Sara at Sew Sweetness! Don't miss popping by and taking a look - she is great!

Feb 25: Thomas Knauer

Feb 26: Allegory Lanham

Feb 27: Me!

Feb 28: Sara Lawson

March 1: Rachael Gander 

March 2: Rashida Coleman-Hale

March 3: Heide Mueller-Hatton

March 4: Audrie Bidwell

March 5: Kim Niedzwiecki

Thank you so much Thomas for having the faith in me to play with your fabrics, especially when we had only just met! You are incredibly talented and add an amazing voice to the world of Modern Quilting.

Thanks everyone for stopping by! Have fun on the rest of the tour!

Tracy

Thursday Thoughts...

So much for blogging regularly... (that doesn't count as my promise not to ever apologize. I didn't say "sorry"). My poor little helper in the sewing room has had back to back illnesses this winter. We are on cold number three since the beginning or December. Poor thing! The doctor prescribed rest, lots of fluids and plenty of vitamin C. It is so hard when the little ones are sick. I know that you Mom's completely understand.

In the meantime, I have been doing a little bit of stitching on my project for the Jellybeanpalooza with Thomas! Want a sneak peek of what I have been doing?

My photography skills make me sad... 

These are just a few block that I was playing with. I am not sure if I will continue with this pattern, add in another block or change the size of this one. I think it is a bit small. Though it might make a super cute bag... hmmm....

Still thinking and playing!

I also have had two new video ideas and I want your feedback. I was thinking of doing a video about how I taught my daughter to use the sewing machine and some fun ideas that I use with her just for a little "sewing time". I have some interesting techniques that I think will inspire.

My second idea is about Sizzix and Accuquilt. I did a ton of research when I bought my machine and I wonder if it might be useful for quilters to hear? I have been using diecuts a lot lately and it is safe to say that I will be using them more and more. Cutting has always been my least favorite quilting activity and this is life changing! Special thanks to Ebony Love for helping me through my initial bumps! It really has been "quilting life-changing". I actually use both Accuquilt and Sizzix dies in one machine.

What do you think? Don't make me sad and not let me know what you are thinking. :(

And just for fun...

You know that you are spending too much time at home when you not only recognize the squirrels, but notice when they come back after a year.

This is Peanut. Peanut used to come for breakfast every morning and take nuts right out of our hand. We got worried when he stopped showing up. But he stopped by to visit this morning. Silly, I know. 

And this was the sky this morning. "Red skies in the morning, sailors warning", no? This was just before 7am. 

So, not much sewing time, but a lot of snuggles with the little one and squirrel visits. Not a bad week, I think. :D


Tracy

It's a ME day!

It was a ME day and this morning was FABULOUS!!!! This truly is something I never do. As a matter of fact, my hubby was all "What are you talking about - "A me day"? What's that???" But I assured him it was a required mental health day. I even GOT DRESSED... I know! Crazy, right?

I have been a bit grumpy this week and I realized last night that I was quite stressed with the amount of work I have for freelance work. I am not complaining, I just realized it was weighing heavily on my mind. So I made the decision to work late last night and finish up today's assignment so that I could relax this morning.

I made a little video blog of my progress. Please watch. :D

Here are the photos I promised of the fabulous Jellybean fabric from Thomas Knauer.

Isn't that going to be fun and colorful? I am planning a quilt with those babies. I will show you a tease in a few days. In the meantime, why don't you schedule some me time? It could be a morning or it could be five minutes alone. However long it is, just take some time to do something FUN. It really is therapeutic.  

Sewing Resolutions for 2013

Happy New Year! So much has happened since my last post and I have been so busy - it is a good thing! Since I have really not had any more time to devote to writing, I thought perhaps I would try a video blog. I would like to do a new video post once a week. I will still post pictures here and write about what is going on, but I hope to start doing some videos book reviews and tutorials here this year. I have so much to share with you!

So here is my first vlogging entry for 2013. Enjoy! Leave me a comment below telling me your thoughts about sewing perfectionism and resolutions for 2013.

(Why, oh why does the video still shot have to be when I am making a stupid face???)

Houston Quilt Market, pt 2

Quilt Market... Talk about overwhelming goodies. I did not see the whole show - not even close. The convention center is HUGE. At Spring Market I was able to go up and down the aisles and get a glimpse of the whole thing. In Houston, I had people to see and the Gen Q crew was constantly asking me to stop at this booth or that to check something out - so much fun, but this girl was not able to stay focused and see every booth.

As I walked the center aisle, I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw Willow by Jane Sassaman... in person!

This quilt was named one of the top 100 quilts of the 20th Century. Up close it is just perfect. Jane's stitching is spectacular. The only thing that could possibly top seeing the quilt in person was this...

I got to talk to Jane about how excited I was to see "Willow" in person and to tell Tula Pink not to miss Jane's quilt! How cool is that? 

<I swear I was a total geek standing in Tula's booth but had the clarity to realize a photo opp when I saw it!>

Tula's mom lost her cell phone with the custom Nightshade case Tula made for her for a Mother's Day gift. So if you see an iPhone with a Nightshade witch on it... tweet @TulaPink  'kay?

Tula has some fantastic patterns coming out featuring Saltwater. I especially am excited for her "Hex on the Beach" quilt kit with precut hexagons and papers - ready to start stitching right out of the box!

Next I went to see the Butlers. Iwas completely flattered that they remembered me from Spring market. I spoke briefly with Amy but didn't have the sense to take a photo of her in the booth. 

David pretty much always looked like this... 

Constant stream of interviews....fabulous booth though.  Finally...

 Melody Miller was right around the corner from the Gen Q booth. Her booth was colorful and retro... just fabulous.

I was able to sneak a shot of Valerie Wells between interviews also...

In short, for a person who has been quilting for 20 years it was like heaven on earth with lots of quilty rock stars. My head exploded on more than one occasion... just ask Megan. She knows! We were swooning over the new products and samples from Lecien at schoolhouse and then it just kept going wherever we went. 

I think I may have enough photos for one more Market recap... stay tuned!

Modern Designs for Classic Quilts Book Review and Giveaway!

At Spring Quilt Market I had the pleasure of meeting the lovely Kelly Biscopink of Stitchy Quilt Stuff. We chatted for quite a while as I begged patiently waited for the Tula Pink book signing.Well she didn't let on that she was about to become very famous.

Just before leaving for Houston Quilt Market this arrived in the mail...

You can read the remainder of my review over at Generation Q Magazine and don't forget to leave a comment on the GenQ post to be entered to win a copy of the book! I wanted to make sure that you didn't miss it. I love that the book has been touring Chicago for the past 24 hours - yesterday was Faith from Fresh Lemons who just happens to be in my branch of the MQG! Pretty cool! 

While in Houston, I finally got to meet Andrea Johnson of Andie Johnson Sews. Let me tell you... these two ladies are the real deal. They are uber-talented and sweet and pee-your-pants funny! 

They are my new besties I tell you - though I don't want to make anyone else feel jealous because I came home from market with about 12 new besties! I felt truly blessed while I was there. It is always nice to be surrounded by people who get you. 

Don't miss there blogs with more Quilt Market goodness. Kelly is actually working her way through a modern Dear Jane  - the crazy woman! Andie has some great tutorials! Go check them out.

More pix this weekend and the continuation of my Quilt Market wrap up! While you are awaiting for that, go check out my buddy Megan and her stories of our shenanigans while in Houston!

Cheers!

Fall Quilt Market 2012, Pt. 1

Note to self: When traveling to Quilt Market pack an extra bag! 

This was me waiting at the airport on the way back home...

I had three giant bags heading through security at Hobby in Houston. I had to rearrange and cram my purse into one of the totes - which was quite obviously spilling over the top. I struggled through the terminal with way too much stuff. People were staring and I was getting "the look." You know the look where people are all like "Seriously??" 

I caught the flight attendant give me a dirty look as I picked a seat and began to put my stuff away. I looked her square in the eye and said "Don't worry. Everything will be fine..." in my best Obi-Wan Kenobe "These aren't the droids you are looking for" sort of way. And it was. It all fit neatly under the seat and in the space of one suitcase up top. 

If I had an extra bag, I would not have been stressing the entire weekend as someone from some quilty goodness company handed me yet another goodie sample. I also wouldn't have failed miserably as I tried to tip the baggage checker as he weighed my luggage that was five pounds over.

I am not complaining. I merely was unprepared for going to Quilt Market and people actually know who you are or at the very least, the magazine you write for - AMAZING! Really... it was fantastic. 

But I will start at the very beginning... I got to market in time to shop at Ikea for supplies for the booth. We got chairs, picture frames, accessories. And then we saw this...

 We got a bit distracted... but at $5 - $8 per yard, who can blame us???

We finally got to the convention center and set up the booth... in record time I might add!

There was only problem. This was our neighbor...

ZOINKS!

How is a girl supposed to concentrate??? Especially since, they don't give out charm packs or samples and the fabric that they had for sale was full retail price! OY! 

I tried BEGGING...

But that didn't work. 

(Actually, this was my buddy Simon who belonged to Jenna and Tom, the creators of "Stitched the film" documentary who were kind enough to let several of us crash at their house.If you haven't seen the film, you should!)

That is all I have time to share today. Tomorrow, I will share more about the fun people I got to talk with like Tula, Bari J, Thomas Knauer, David and Amy Butler... I promise, it will be good. 

(Even with my crappy photography skills...)

Cheers! 

Tracy