Short Threads...

This morning I found myself falling back into an old habit and decided to whip my thoughts back into shape quickly! I found myself trying to start a new piece of Applique with a 5" thread. I would have to thread that needle again because 5" wasn't enough to finish the stitching on the pieces I have left to Applique.

How many of you sew to the last inch of thread and then struggle to tie that necessary knot?! It's a hard habit to break! But after a year of doing my best to move onto another piece of thread it's coming naturally now! What is it about threading a needle that makes us try to use every last bit of our thread? Or, is it the fear that we may run out of this particular thread? I rarely run out of a thread that I can't replace if it does run out. How about you? It is kind of fun to be able to buy a new spool after so long isn't it?! Haha!

I challenge you to make stitching a bit more pleasant and go ahead and waste those last few inches of thread! It's so much less stressful to work with a piece that's long enough: easy to hang onto a longer thread, easier to tie the knot. Go for it Ladies!

I have four more pieces left on this new design and then on to the quilting! The fabrics are a mix of several lovely collections from Moda. They blend so well together to give a perfectly scrappy look!

Two weeks until Quilt Market so the focus is on finishing prep THIS week so I am not so stressed. Wish me luck!!

Thanks for stopping in today and take care,

Missie

 

#showmethemoda

 

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Springtime Adventures

I have more adventures to share... My last post stopped at the quilt show in Ballwin, MO. I didn't mention that we stopped at my parent's home on the way from Dallas to Ballwin for a quick visit. So great to see both doing so well after some health issues recently! The weather was great and we even spent a little time on the porch. Much different weather than Iowa was experiencing had we been home.

We've spent some time with our daughter and my hubs' family in KC and had a good time at Top Golf (fun!) and shopping at the Plaza. Brought back lots of memories from when we lived in the area way back when.

Doesn't this beautiful tile make you think of William Moris fabric? So pretty!

We were home a few days and then made our way to Augusta, GA for a visit with our kids there. They managed snagging some Masters tickets so we had the pleasure of visiting this lovely event.

 

 

We also took a kayak ride down the Savannah River canal and that was lots of fun. I was surprised I enjoyed both events so much. Two things I'd never done before!

Our daughter and husband were great hosts for us! Here they are just before he had a Volunteer Firefighter meeting. Aren't they a cute couple?! We had a wonderful time visiting them.

All through the traveling I've been stitching on new designs whenever possible. Quilt Market is around the corner and will be here in a matter of days! Lots of stitching was done in the car while driving across the country. This little project is made from Old Cambridge Pike fabrics. The colors are so pretty...just my style with a bit of old mixed in with the traditional. The background is one from the line called Concrete. I don't think it's meant to be a Primitive fabric but I love it for a Primitive look!

And this started out very plain, but when I added some stitchery look how much it improved! Sometimes we have to go with the flow. I thought this little quilt was all done, but turned out it wasn't until I added the stitchery. This would be just as pretty and much quicker if the branch and leaves were wool. Hmmm, I think I need to do that on the next one!

The FB group I mentioned a few months ago for Gardens Of A King is rolling along and I promised I'd show you my blocks I make alon the way. Here are the blocks I've stitched so far. I'm not keeping up with the group but I'm doing my best to prepare and make at least one before each post. It's going much quicker than the first time around for sure. Just as much fun to stitch together the second time around! The picture below shows my progress so far. I've chosen bolder colors for the second quilt. It will have more of a latter 1800's look vs the early 1800's look of the first quilt.

And of course I left the blocks on the floor, so look who promptly found the blocks to lay on! She does this every time...

Here's a tease for another new design I'm working on. It is all Applique except for sewing the background blocks together. Very quick Applique on this quilt. It's been fun to do needleturn again...it's been so long Since I've done Needleturn Applique! These look like men's ties laid out like this but that's not what they are! These are all Moda fabrics and blend together so well. Fabrics from several collections all mixed up together!

And now I'm stitching up the borders for the last step. At least I think it's the last step. Like I mentioned earlier I never know until I'm finished when the end of the quilt is. Sometimes I keep adding parts as I design.

I made a short road trip to teach at a wonderful shop in Pella, IA called The Quilted Windmill. We worked on this little wool Applique pattern called Tulip Time and the group seemed to enjoy it. This is a beginner project with the option of very simple or a bit less simple, but still simple style to stitch.

If you ever pass through central Iowa be sure to stop by this shop. They have a bit of everything and have so many cute samples hanging in the shop! Here's a bit of eye candy for you!

This cute quilt is at their check out counter! The town is Dutch and they have windmill themed attractions all over town. The spring Tulip Festival is in a few days. I hope to find time to run back over for the festival. Full of Dutch clothed folks and tulips galore!

Recently a relative and her friends from NE came through town on a bus trip from the Chicago Show. They stopped at a local shop and I met them up there for a quick visit. Her frien Lynette pulled out a little notebook with some fabric to match up with while shopping. I thought this was a great idea! Small enough to have in her purse. Very organized! Thanks for the tip Lynette!

I'll be speaking and teaching in Keller, TX this week with the Bear Creek Guild. The class will be all about English Paper Piecing and of course the main focus will be the unique method of basting English Paper Piecing with Starch. Is so rewarding to teach my method to ladies who struggle with English Paper Piecing because it makes it so very quick and easy! Thanks for stopping by my blog today. Leave a comment below and visit my online shop if you'd like-

Traditional Primitives

Take care,

Missie

#showmethemoda

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Busy Days! And a book review!

Hello Hello! Time has been filled to the max since the new year has begun. In January I had a speaking and workshop engagement in Nebraska City, NE and met some awsome quilters. Very nice ladies and we had a great time at the workshop!

We made a quick trip to Florida to visit some family and let the Boys in my life golf a bit. The ladies had a good time shopping and my aunt planned a day with a friend in the area so we could tour her Studio. She sells jewelry on Etsy and her Studio is to Die for! Here's a few pictures of her super cute, super organized room. Every nook is organized and neat and tidy. Wish some of that would have rubbed off on me!

You can see her unique jewelry in her Etsy shop. Charming! Thanks to Aunt Jane for planning this fun day for us! And thanks to Dee for having us over for the day.

The first show was the Dallas Quilters Guild Show. Let me tell you this is a fun show! If you ever need a road trip I think it's a safe bet that this would be a great show to attend. Beautiful quilts of all styles to see and lots of unique vendors selling their goodies. Here's a quick pic of the booth. We were worn out by the time this picture was taken, but you can get a good idea of what the booth looks like! Thanks to my husband and oldest daughter for their help!

We sold out of several key products and had back to back shows so desperately needed to replenish. Guess where we went to find more "stuff" to sell!

Good thing The Moda Warehouse is in the Dallas area. It was great fun to pop in (1st time!) and pick up some supplies. (Yes, that's our tacky little trailer in the door reflection... Hey, it works!) Now back to the shopping experience! The entry is stunning with antique quilts hanging all around.

 

This is only part of the facility...filled with fabrics and so many other goodies! As you can see I did find some goodies and what fun it was to see how a fabric company warehouse looks. Fun fun!

I felt just like those ladies in the drawing above as I left with the goods! Good thing we had that trailer shown in the door above! Haha!

The two days after the show I taught the basics for The Gardens Of A King at Happiness Is Quilting in McKinney, TX. A wonderful shop! And Wonderful class attendees who were excited to learn a new technique and have a good time. Here we are below discussing some fabric options for the quilt. (If you are new to the blog and don't know, I have a web store where you can purchase the pattern and other supplies if interested - Traditional Primitives.com) The ladies attending the workshop wished it was a week long class and we decided to start a FB page dedicated to it for those who own the pattern or have taken a workshop from me and want to have some company while stitching on it. I'll be available to answer questions and you can feel free to post photos of your blocks and meet others working on the quilt. The group is called Stitch Along with Missie - Gardens Of A King. As interest arises I will be adding other groups for other quilts for ladies to stitch along together via FB. If you are making one of my quilts and want me to start a group dedicated to that specific quilt, let me know and I'll set it up. We'll do our best to grow the groups and make it fun! I realize not everyone does FB but you should know by now I'm always eager to help if you contact me by email. Each of my patterns has my email address on the back cover so feel free to join the FB group listed above or email me with questions!

After the workshop at Happiness Is Quilting, we headed for a very quick visit with my folks on our way to the next show in Ballwin, MO near St. Louis. Another great show from the Bit's and Pieces Quilt Guild. This is a biannual show and there were some stunning quilts on display! Here's a few highlights...

It was great fun to be at this small but spectacular show. One nice lady was told by her friend who took my workshop in TX that she needed to come see me at this show. She drove a few hours from Illinois to come visit! As she walked in the door to the show, she happened to win a door prize. Guess who's booth it was from?! Mine! It was so great to meet Linda who had a very lucky day!

I've recently read a pretty good book about machine quilting called

The Ultimate Guide to Machine Quilting: Long-arm and Sit-down - Learn When, Where, Why, and How to Finish Your Quilts Paperback – written by Angela Walters and Christa Watson.

This book has so much great basic information. If you would like to try quilting by machine and think maybe someday you'd like to know more about a Longarm, this is the book for you! Great examples and info! Check out more details here! These ladies have covered all the details we need to know when quilting!

I'll fill you in on more adventures in the near future! Have a wonderful quilty day!

Take care,

Missie

 

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Lots To Share!

Well, life's been keeping me very busy these days! I can't believe I have not posted since the new year! Where has the time gone?

Ginger has had her paws busy too, helping me guard new quilts until I finish them. Here she is keeping one of my new quilts, Gems & Jewels safe and sound!

And here is the finished quilt! I'm very happy with how it turned out. It's made of my favorite colors! These 1/2" Hexies are samples I made during shows last year to demonstrate my Starch Basting Technique for English Paper Piecing. I had a 5"x 9" x 3" box full of Hexies and decided to mix them with some wool and this is what they became. A fun little quilt!

The Gardens Of A King Stitch Along has begun on FB and this is my first block. I'm still deciding on backgrounds... I'll keep showing my blocks as I make them. This time around the colors will be bold and strong, so I need a strong background also! There are about 150 members and they are beginning to start sewing the blocks together and it's so exciting to see them done in other fabrics. So many different color themes and styles!

The latest issue of Quilmania arrived on my birthday so that was nice. It became a nicer b'day when I opened the magazine and found Pennies In My Garden featured in the Quilt Festival section! The quilt hung in the Special Exhibit at the show in Houston and it was such an honor. A perfect Birthday!

Moda has sent me some lovely new fabrics to work with. A happy surprise to be able to see and enjoy new fabrics before they are in shops. This is a Laundry Basket Quilts line called Southern Exposure. I'll be making two baby quilts from two Layer Cakes plus a little extra for the borders. So far so good and it's been a fun challenge!

This is the Baby Boy Quilt. The pattern is called Royal Babies and will feature both the boy version and the girl version in the pattern. The Baby Girl Quilt is almost finished so I'll show it soon! The name Royal Babies was chosen because the block shape in the quilt is one from the original King George III quilt and King George was married to Charlotte. Now the latest Prince and Princess' names are George and Charlotte so I thought the name fit well.

I sold my quilting machine and decided to get a bigger model. The A1 is what I chose and I'm so happy with it! The feathers on Gems & Jewels turned out so nice! It was so fun to quilt with the new machine!

I've prepared a new project for wool workshops and finished it in two evenings, so quick and fun! It's called Tulip Time. The 13" size was so easy to handle while stitching!

My husband is now my full time Marketing Manager and we are having fun working together. He was caught in corporate cuts recently and we'll give this a try for a while to see if he is challenged enough. I need help desperately so I am thrilled. Since we are empty nesters he will also travel with me to shows, which will be really nice.

We are headed to Dallas for the Dallas Quilt Show next week and my daughter will join us to help. It's a great show! If you haven't been before it's well worth it to go! Lots of beautiful quilts and unique vendors! March 11-13 at the Dallas Market Hall Convention Center. Hope to see some of you there!!

The 14th and 15th I'll be teaching a two day workshop on the basics for The Gardens Of A King at Happiness Is Quilting in McKinney, TX. The class has outgrown their shop space and we are letting more ladies in if you care to join us! Contact them through their website at Happiness Is Quilting to signup! It will be great fun to get you started!

The new patterns are on the site if you are interested. CLICK HERE to see details! Thanks for stopping by the blog today! Follow along on FB by liking my business page- Traditional Primitives; and Intagram- traditional.primitives.
Take care,
Missie
#showmethemoda

 

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Happy New Year!

May your 2016 be the Best Year Ever! Thanks for following along on my adventures!

Take care,

Missie

 

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