Show me the Quilt!

Sunday afternoon was going to be the day that I finally took steps toward finishing two quilts that have been sitting unfinished for....I hate to say it......YEARS. I need to join top, batting and back together with safety pins and then stitch them together. I even bought this book that I am very excited about.

As I was contemplating where I should do this pin basting, a voice from  the distance made me look up. It was my husband holding the newspaper and saying, "You didn't go to the Quilt Show yesterday." And I said, "What?! The quilt show is this weekend? How did I miss that? I can still go today, it's not over for five hours."
And just like that, I grabbed my purse and went to look at other peoples finished quilts instead of finishing my own. (But it was so fun.)

I've thought about joining the Pajaro Valley Quilt Association, but haven't yet. I'm sure I would finish more quilts if I did. I love the annual shows. This one was their 34th.

These two small quilts by Jeanne Holmes were a couple of my favorites:

I also liked this one called "Bunny Windows" by Cara Lamb. She added a note that in Japan, instead of a man in the moon, they say it is a rabbit.

Another reason I LOVE the quilt show is browsing the vender "shops". I took a few pictures at one of my favorites. Claudia Bibber's collection of antique and vintage sewing items. I can never get enough of vintage sewing.

 

 

Well, I didn't make any progress on my own projects, but I was definitely inspired.

Pastures of Heaven

Yesterday I went to the Salinas Valley to revisit a home that I have done some sewing for through a very talented designer, Cindy Hattersley. You can see more of her work on her blog, Villa Cantina.



I was near Castle Rock which is mentioned in John Steinbeck’s book Pastures of Heaven.( I need to read that book.)
I got some pictures of some of my work: pillows, window seat and window shade.



Another window seat with pillows and shade.

 

A slipcovered chair with pleats. Oh how I love pleats on a slipcover.

A pleated chair cushion:

And although I made the large pillows in this last picture, I am including it mostly because I love the bird nest paintings above the bed.

 I came home with two pages of notes and measurements for some new projects. Yea!

Sharing the Love.

In honor of Valentines Day, and my love of crafting, and a need to freshen up my Etsy shop, I am offering a 40% off coupon for anything in the shop for the rest of February. The link is over there to the right------->
Just enter the coupon code:  love2shop  when you make a purchase.

Thanks for visiting my blog.

Like a moth to a flame.

Today I finished up with one appointment to talk about a slipcover with a half hour gap before my next similar appointment. I thought about looking for a cup of coffee somewhere, but without even thinking I drove to the local fabric store that is in the same neighborhood, Harts Fabrics, in Santa Cruz, CA. They have so many great fabrics and tons of inspiration. It was way more refreshing than the coffee would have been.





Can you believe all these great buttons?









They should set up some comfy chairs in front of this button wall, so easily entertained people like me could just sit and stare at them. They could serve coffee. Ahhh that would be the best spot ever!

The weekend of my dreams.

It's been a while since we've made the five hour drive to our oldest daughter's house for a visit, so we hit the road on Friday and spent the weekend. It was sooo good to see them all. I was supposed to have her new slipcovers finished, but since they were cut out and not sewn, I took them down for a pin-fitting. The grandkids really wanted to help. The pinning was a really good idea too because they needed a little adjusting.

 

Besides all the sweet hugs, kisses and conversations, we did some paper crafts.

And topped it all off with a trip to the once a month Ventura Antique Flea Market on Sunday morning. We saw so much fun stuff. I was drawn to a stack of vintage student fashion drawings which I didn't buy, a pile of vintage Nativity figurines, which I didn't buy (the baby Jesus was missing) and lots of other amazing stuff including these spools of thread (which I didn't buy).

Here are most of the things I did buy.

I always enjoy talking to the venders at flea markets. Some very interesting people.

 The drive home was enjoyable too. I love the landscape between our house and theirs. A very nice weekend.

Rearranging.

Wow! So many days, weeks and months since my last post. I’m not sure what happened to me. I am still making slipcovers and pillows and cushions and bed coverings. Still enjoying my family. Still trying to fit in more time for artwork. (Haven’t added anything to my etsy shop in a while.)

I recently did a major house cleaning and moved some furniture around. My sewing machine drawer collection ended up in the living room as part of the computer / office corner. If you look close you can see my paint color splotch. I am mixing two gallons of different colors of paint that I got free at the recycle shed at the local land fill. I think it will look good. I just have to get it done.




I moved my desk into the garage in my new art corner. I wasn’t thinking about how cold it is in the garage in the winter. It’s only California cold, but that’s still cold enough to be discouraging. This time of year it gets near freezing lots of nights. I like my corner in the garage because it is so quiet, but I think until it warms up a little I might have to try to be creative in the cozier chaos. 

Makin’ Buttons!

A couple of years after I started my slipcover business, I was so happy to have the opportunity to buy a used Handy Junior Button Press. My kids used to love pulling the handle down and Presto! a covered button. They are all grown up now, so it is mostly just me having fun with the button maker.

I have lots of vintage embroidered linens around that I use for my Etsy crafts, so I made some buttons from some of the smaller embroideries. These went over to my friend who makes amazing and fun button jewelry and other accessories. You can see some of her great stuff at Button Willow Jewelry. I hope to put some covered buttons in my Esty shop too soon.