bluetwin designs: Winter is coming in my quilt studio

bluetwin designs: Winter is coming in my quilt studio: Detail up close detail up close Quilt finished. So for many of you reading this you probably think I am crazy for showing a ...

Winter is coming in my quilt studio

Detail up close

detail up close

Quilt finished.

So for many of you reading this you probably think I am crazy for showing a winter quilt. Well it is finished. It is an original design and one that will be featured for sale in my artisan fair on December 2 and 3rd. This quilt is heavily quilted and could be easily hung as well as a great quilt to cuddle under. The pile is growing of finished projects, there will be many quilts for sale, table runners, wall hangings as well as so many other things from many other local artists. All of this rain we had this week was perfect weather for quilting, It was also a reminder to me as we are on the last day of September that all of this rain could of been snow. Think about that . UGH....I have been posting a lot of my quilts on Craftsy.com. For those of you who have not been there, feel free to jump in, It is a wonderful site, filled with crafters from all over the country doing all kinds of work. This week I had a chance to visit the new art gallery which opened in the Grafton Mill. It is worth the trip. It is filled with wonderful work from very many artist, very talented artist. The new show coming up will be about food, go check that out as well. Until then, happy raking.

bluetwin designs: Rainy Days but beauty every where

bluetwin designs: Rainy Days but beauty every where: A bird flies, drops a seed and out of a rock bed grows a sunflower that will feed more birds. HUH? The morning glories are still bloo...

Rainy Days but beauty every where

A bird flies, drops a seed and out of a rock bed grows a sunflower that will feed more birds.
HUH?

The morning glories are still blooming despite the sun has gone away.
HUH? 

The Dahlia, one of my favorite plants will continue to bloom well into November
when the root will have to be dug up and stored inside until I plant it in spring again.

Our roses we planted are doing great, we have learned to dead head them
down to the last group of five leaves and they continue to thrive.

Three colors of Roses, remind me to stop and smell the roses which I do every time I walk out my back door.
Even though it has been a crappy weekend, I wanted to share these with you, I still tend to my gardens, while I am taking a break from my quilting. Tomorrow you will see all the quilting I have accomplished this weekend thanks to the rain and the abundant new found space in my quilt studio.

bluetwin designs: Road Trips and Quilting

bluetwin designs: Road Trips and Quilting: birthday sign I took a road trip yesterday with my good friend Jane and my brother. The fall colors were just starting to change. We t...

Road Trips and Quilting

birthday sign

I took a road trip yesterday with my good friend Jane and my brother. The fall colors were just starting to change. We took the back roads, saw deer, road kill and lots of great places for photo shoots that would be great quilts. Our first stop was at my Sister's house. Her 60th birthday is this week and I just could not let that one go. This fun event has been planned for over two years and I was so excited to do this I was up and ready to go. The bras (all 30) of them were strung onto the white light strand of lights the day before, all done with twist ties. Another brother met us there with an extension chord. We had a ladder, a role of tape for the garage sign and clips to hang up the strand of lights. Oh yes, we also had our camera. We waved to the neighbor who stood watching us the whole time. We pulled our cars down before the pictures were taken so there would be no evidence of who did this. We all laughed so hard like we had as teenagers. Our biggest hope was that it brought laughter to her for a while after a year in a half of sadness with the passing of my Dad. I hope she saves these bras and when the right opportunity poses itself she will use this idea again and have as much fun as we did. Happy Birthday Theresa. make it a great one with your 60 cup salute! After our jaunt we took a detour and found a quaint quilt shop called sawdust and stitches. My brother did not rush me, he did however point out all of the uneven borders on all of the quilts that were on display as well as the points not meeting. Funny Guy. We had a wonderful lunch, Thanks Jane. Back into the car. We raided the last of the vegetables from my brothers garden and still laughed all of the way home. What a great day. I did manage to spend about an hour in my quilt studio working on a project for the fair.

How do you top that day. My day ended with choir, where it was hard to hit those high notes because I was laughing so hard all day, but what a great day it was.

bluetwin designs: Mistakes and Go-to's

bluetwin designs: Mistakes and Go-to's: See the mistake I made last night when trimming the binding, I cut right through it. I keep extra bindings always ready in this jar a...

Mistakes and Go-to's

See the mistake I made last night when trimming the binding, I cut right through it.

I keep extra bindings always ready in this jar and shelve for these moments

A must have for every quilter it is my Havel seam ripper.

Dove Chocolates help ease the pain, They are my go to when I have made such a big mistake.












Here is my Havel seam ripper in action. The stitches are so small and this quilt is flannel. This is the only seam ripper I use in my studio. It is really sharp and my rippers name is Jack.

Here I have cut out the bad piece of binding.

New section sewed in place, looks good as new. I left out the part about having to do it three times because of stupid mistakes.

Completed flannel quilt.

bluetwin designs: This years Artisan fair is quickly approaching and...

bluetwin designs: This years Artisan fair is quickly approaching and...: This years Artisan fair is quickly approaching and I to show you a few offerings from last year. I believe this 30's quilt was purchased fo...

This years Artisan fair is quickly approaching and I to show you a few offerings from last year.

 I believe this 30's quilt was purchased for Sue by her husband.

This batik quilt has a mate and will be in this years sale.

Modern quilts again.

Lots of table runners in all shapes and sizes

This quilt was purchased by Jane last year.

Vienna Stars was purchased by  a friend who inspires me to sing.

Wedding ring, perfect for a newly married couple.

Warm and wooly quilts

happy table runners.

quilts perfect for teens.

The process has been started and the studio is full of projects waiting there turn to be quilted. Because we are moving to a bigger venue there will be lots more to see, touch and purchase, new vendors as well. There will be a silent auction and all of the money from that will go towards next year Cancer walk sponsored by our church. The dates are the same, It will be the same weekend as Christmas in the Country. More to come later, I just wanted to give you a sneak preview.

bluetwin designs: This years Artisan fair is quickly approaching and...

bluetwin designs: This years Artisan fair is quickly approaching and...: This years Artisan fair is quickly approaching and I to show you a few offerings from last year. I believe this 30's quilt was purchased fo...

Birthday blessings and Cancer free!!!

Barb, Pam and I many, many years ago

Today was a great day. It was the annual, Oh my gosh I have to go see the Oncologist day. Last week was the Annual Mammogram. Not only is it my Birthday today along with my twin sister Barbara, I got a great check up from my oncologist. Birthdays mean more to me know as a survivor. Just think about that word for a minute. Survivor. Not always healthy but still a survivor and no recheck for another year.

Barb, Me and Pam 3 years ago at Cancer walk.

These sisters I have along with the other few not seen in this picture are the reason I fight, The reason I ask you all to donate for my cancer walk every year, yes I know I gave you all a break this year but don"t worry, I will be asking you for more money next year. It has been 7 years since my first diagnosis. I don't have to go back for another year!!!!

My favorite twin picture

Me and my three sons, Matt, Alex and Justin

My boys as well as their families have played an important role in all of this, as any son would. I am so proud to be their Mom even if they don't always know that. We have been through a lot together and I pray that this disease never touches anyone in their lives again.

Alyssa ( my Grand daughter) and Justin's wife Stacy.

Zoey, Dawson, Justen, and Hailey  ( grandchildren)

Princess Zoey and Matt's wife Angie.

These Grand kids are the reason that this birthday is made even more special. They all know what Cancer is, They have walked with me. They have seen me at my worst with no hair and so weak I could not move. They have also seen me at my best, presenting them with new quilts, baking cookies, playing, cherishing every moment I get to see them. We are a family. A family that might not always get along, a family that might not always get together but these kids and their presence are what makes this birthday special after the great news received today. So there was no quilting today. But I am certain I will make up for it tomorrow when I am not going to the doctor or celebrating my birthday.

bluetwin designs: Fall is here, I can feel the buzz in my studio

bluetwin designs: Fall is here, I can feel the buzz in my studio: The spiderweb quilt takes it's place on the antique rocker in my front hall. Glenda the witch sits here every fall season as well. I think f...

bluetwin designs: Fall is here, I can feel the buzz in my studio

bluetwin designs: Fall is here, I can feel the buzz in my studio: The spiderweb quilt takes it's place on the antique rocker in my front hall. Glenda the witch sits here every fall season as well. I think f...

Fall is here, I can feel the buzz in my studio

The spiderweb quilt takes it's place on the antique rocker in my front hall. Glenda the witch sits here every fall season as well. I think fall is my favorite time of the year, I spend so much more time in my studio and love to pull out the flannels and home spun fabrics to piece.

Stack of quilts all waiting to receive binding.

Yes this is why I love fall. I can finally get to hand sewing the bindings on my stack of quilts. Yes there are 8 here waiting in case you were counting. I find it hard to have a quilt on your lap trying to bind when it is warm outside. This is what I like to do during the packer games or on T.V. nights.

It was time to put up a different table square, one that speaks fall, and what would fall be with out my pumpkin heads, the leaves are falling so why not. 

More pumpkin heads take their place in my kitchen.

The wool pillow that my sister Pam came out today and takes it's place right where it does every year. What I like best about this pillow and the leaves, I don't have to rake up these leaves.

Fall is the time to give thanks, to be thankful.

Count your blessings and give thanks every day.

Mr Pumpkin head takes his regular spot in the front hall way, every time I come down the stair I smile at him. I keep this quilt hanging here until after Thanksgiving when I hang  my quilt called " If Mary had been a quilter".  There is such a cool breeze today, a lot of green leaves are falling and blowing. It is a real treat after yesterdays 80 degree weather.

Sept 11th, 10 years later

This picture made the front cover of the Milwaukee Journal Cue section Oct, 11, 2001. It is a picture of my Grand daughter with her mother holding a picture of my son, Justin ( Hailey's Dad) wrapped in a quilt I made for her. The label read " waiting for daddy"

Justin's job was to transport ammo to the front line. It was a terrifying time for all of us and I now am grateful that Hailey was too young to realize what happened on Sept 11th that caused her daddy to be away for almost a year.

I sewed star quilts for Parent's whose Children were away at war.

I had a request to make a flag quilt out of ties to honor the men and women who were lost to war. Company's stood together strongly as one.

Here is the label on the back of her quilt.

This was the quilt I made Hailey on Sept 11th, 2001. Here it is 10 years later.

Notice the twin tower image in the corner of this quilt.
This quilt was made the same year in 2001. It was a joint project I made with a friend during a very trying time for both of us. This quilt hangs proudly in my home until my friend is ready to hang it in her home. She lost someone very dear to her and can not hang this in her home yet, It makes her too sad. We all remembered that horrible day today, here it is 10 years later, we prayed, we watched , still remembering. Some of us forever changed.
God Bless the U.S.A.