A New Bag

 

I took a break from quilting today to make this bag for my cousin. She was here the other day and mentioned that she needed a new bag. She also oohed and ahhed over some batiks that I had laying out on my cutting table. So, I decided to make her a new bag. She uses the bags that I make her to carry her bottled water and snacks to work.  Hope she likes this one!

Rocky the Hungry Raccoon!

 

As we were fishing on the TN River today, we had our boat pretty close to the bank. This raccoon comes down the rocky hill and as close as he can get to us.

 

At first we were concerned that he was rabid, as he was aggressively trying to get to our boat.

 

We were eating sandwiches at the time, so my husband throws a piece of sandwich his way. He was starving!  He evidently knew to go toward fisherman and they would feel sorry for him. :)

 

He ended up eating several bites of sandwich and even some chicken livers we were using for bait before he left.  The funny thing was about 15 minutes later another smaller raccoon came down the rocks with the same antics. I really think they have a racket going on to see how many fishermen they can sucker into giving them food.

 

This one is on the frame!

  

This is a round robin quilt done by my Gardenweb Quilters group last year. I did the barn center, then a group of 6 or so quilters passed it around. They each added their own interpretation to it. I think it turned out great! I loaded it onto the frame today and will take my time and custom quilt it. It is a child's size quilt. Another one for me to put up for a grandchild?  Or maybe even for when I need a quick gift...  Hey I might even put it on my couch!  I really like this quilt. 

Eagle in Flight

My husband is an avid Eagle fan. I found this pattern several years ago and eventually completed it for him. It is raw edged applique. All the fabrics are Batiks. It is micro-quilted all over except the Eagle and limb. The eagle is quilted to simulate actual feathers. The limb and Eagle are also done in trapunto. It belongs to my husband, but hangs in my quilting/sewing room. :)

The New Toy

 

Last month I bit the bullet and bought my first longarm. It is a Baby Lock Crown Jewel. I am still learning how to use it but I have quilted 3 small quilts on it already. I have been practicing using pantographs until I feel confident to do free-motion on it.  The photo is a bit blurry, I apologize. 

Chinese Dragon

This is not a very good photo but this is my Chinese Dragon wall quilt. A couple years ago, this was my challenge entry in the Pigeon Forge, TN Quiltfest Challenge. Each year at the show, they sell packets of fat quarters with the proceeds going to charity. A quilter must use the fabrics in a quilt utilizing them as 30 percent of the top. These fabrics just spoke Chinese Dragon to me. There are around a thousand pieces in just the dragon's body. Each little scale is a different piece of fabric. You cannot tell from the photo but it is quilted in a miniscule filler and metallic threads are used throughout. Crystals are also strategically placed in the quilt. This quilt won 2nd place at the Heritage Quilt Show in Athens, TN. It placed in the special category "All that glitters."

Blues from the Past

A couple years ago, I made quilts as Christmas gifts for most of my close family. This "Shakespeare in the Park" (Pattern by Judy Martin) was a gift for my first cousin Patti. Before giving it to her, I put it in a local show and it won a ribbon! Patti uses this quilt on her bed as it should be used. She didn't want to, but as I told her, I can make another one if that one wears out.

Granny's Bow Ties

Several years ago, as my grandmother was going into a nursing home, I found these blocks in her house and put them away. Recently I decided to put them together into a baby-sized quilt. I will keep the quilt for my first grandchild. The blocks were made by his/her great great grandmother. It is the first quilt that I quilted on my new Baby Lock Crown Jewel.

A Huge Wedding Quilt!

This is one of my latest quilts. It was a wedding gift for my nephew and his wife. It is an over-sized king since my nephew is a very tall boy!  It took over six months to just piece and applique this quilt. My friend Pat Phillips from Dayton, TN did the quilting for me.

Another view that shows Pat's wonderful feathers!