An Army of Frogs

 I learned something new today.  I didn't know that a group of frogs was called an army.  I guess I have made an army of frogs this week.

The "pillow pet" or stuffed owl that I made for my 12 year old daughter to give to her friend a couple months ago:

http://moosequilts.blogspot.com/2011/03/pillow-pet.html

turned out to be a big hit.  Two friends asked for frogs and one asked for a horse.  Since they aren't very difficult to make, and it isn't as often that what I do is "cool" so I obliged.  Here's the two frogs I made for her friends.

The backs are purple.  The mouth of the one is too low, and the eyes looked cuter before they were stuffed, but the girls really liked them.  So did my daughters teacher.  She asked if I sold them!  Ha!  My daughter and I have both really liked her teacher this year.  So making one for her was a no brainer.  I took the leftover from the backs of the other too.  Maybe frogs were meant to be purple.  I turned one leg so you can see the fun back.

Always fun to make something for someone you appreciate that you know they will appreciate.  Tomorrow is the last day of school, so perfect timing for a teacher gift!  Who knew a large (I used a fat quarter for the front and another for the back) stuffed frog would be the perfect teacher gift!

One Last Market Post

I wanted to introduce you to Edie, my moose!

I was at Ikea getting some of those random things for my booth, and Edie and 6 of her little friends just jumped into my shopping cart!

There was nothing I could do.  They had to come home with me.  I named her Edie -- pronounced E.D. not Eddy -- because I wanted to name my last three girls that, but when they got here, they wanted other names.  Now that I have named something Edie, my life is complete!  Okay, not quite, but I am pleased.

My friend Machelle made the cute pillow that Edie is sitting on.  She had two extra blocks from the Zip a Dee Do Dah quilt she made for my book that you can see hanging behind Edie.  Being the resourceful person that she is, she made them into pillows.

I thought that was a fun idea, so I did the same thing with three other quilts.  So in my booth were 4 pillows made from blocks of some of the quilts in my new book, Simply Charming Modern.  I was going to post pictures, but I don't have any except as part of my booth.  I will take some pictures so you can see them!

Market Report #2

Welcome to my Spring Market Booth!

I need to take a couple close ups I think.  I brought some fun friends with me that you can't see too well.

Here is my quilt from Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks hanging in Quiltmaker's Booth!

Here is my quilt hanging in Northcott's Booth!

This is partially my quilt.  I designed the border.  This is one of two quilts that are being given away to those who get their paper stamped by a group of Utah designers at Market.  I am so glad I did the border instead of one of the blocks.  The blocks are to die for cute!

This is the other quilt being given away that I had nothing to do with.  If you look, the sashing is exactly the same, but the quilt looks very different with a blue border instead of a pink border.

As I was leaving today I took a couple pictures down the aisles.  This is taken turing right.

This was taken turning to the left.

Gives you a little idea of how many booths are there.  Sensory overload!!!

Market Report #1

I tried posting these late last night, but Blogger wasn't working, so I guess I am a day behind.

Yesterday was Schoolhouse.  I LOVE schoolhouse!  I took my little camera which doesn't take good picture in this setting.  Here is one that was okay.  This is Lizzie House presenting her new fabric 1001 Peeps.  She told us the story of how the 1001 Arabian Nights came to be which was the inspiration of her new line.  She was so fun!

I taught one Schoolhouse Session on ways that shop owners can appeal to modern quilters.  It was great!  When Schoolhouse ended, I went to pick up my box and it was gone!  I was afraid the cleaning crew threw it away!

My friend and I frantically checked three different lost and found areas throughout the building while the cleaning crew was being located.  45 minutes later we found out that a kind gentleman with Andover Fabric had taken it to my booth.  Whew!

Then waiting in line for a while before going to Sample Spree.  Sample Spree is an opportunity to buy fat quarter bundles and patterns etc.  Here is a picture of the swarm at the Moda tables.

Here is a picture of Elenor Burns in a NASA uniform of some sort.  I didn't catch why.  She has an incredible amount of energy and enthusiasm!

Today Quilt Market actually started.  I will post pictures of booths tomorrow.

Modern Quilt Blogs and Websites

I got my booth set up at Quilt Market today -- except for the 4 or 5 things I forgot -- like chairs!  Thanks to my friend Machelle, the booth came together pretty well. 

Tomorrow though, I am giving a presentation on ways that quilt shops can appeal to the new modern quilter.  I am making a list here of modern quilt blogs and websites (in no particular order) as a resource for these shop owners, and anyone else who is interested.  I am sure I have forgotten someone.  It isn't intentional.  I just forget things sometimes.  So if you have a modern quilt blog or website that you would like to add in the comments, please do!

http://themodernquiltguild.com/
http://www.ohfransson.com/
http://www.filminthefridge.com/
http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/
http://tallgrassprairiestudio.blogspot.com/
http://www.handmadebyalissa.com/
http://sewkatiedid.wordpress.com/
http://www.psiquilt.com/
http://www.thequiltengineer.com/
http://fatquarterly.com/blog
http://www.quiltdad.com/
http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/
http://stitchindye.blogspot.com/
http://www.cluckclucksew.com/
http://www.redpepperquilts.com/
http://www.fromthebluechair.com/
http://moderndayquilts.tumblr.com/
http://www.freshlemonsquilts.com/
http://www.freckledwhimsy.com/
http://happymodernquilts.blogspot.com/
http://www.spunsugarquilt.com/
http://www.vanessachristenson.com/
http://www.genxquilters.com/
http://pinkchalkstudio.com/blog/

The list really could go on and on.  In fact, start with those and go blog hopping -- see what they link to and see what they link to and see what they link to . . . . Yes, blog hopping can be a black hole.  If you are really worried about it taking 6 weeks to see it all, set a timer on yourself and see what you can see in an hour or two.  Because 6 weeks isn't enough either!

Going Coastal Quilt

Thought I would show you what I came up with for Going Coastal.  I started cutting late Friday night and got 7 blocks made.  Saturday was a little crazy, but I got all 56 blocks done.  Today I finished it!  I even washed and dried it!  Of course, it has been raining ALL day here (we aren't use to that in Utah), so I didn't get a great picture.  You can see that it's fun though!

I paired the fabric with Kona Tangerine.  The pattern is one of mine called Scattered Sunshine.  Since I am sometimes a little lame, my website is messed up and I don't have my patterns on it.  However, I found it here if you are interested:

http://www.pinkchalkfabrics.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=5204

Fun to see how a quilt looks in different fabric, huh!?!

The crabs started looking a little too realistic as I was sewing it together, but they were my kids' favorite part.  Even the baby loved the crabs! I loved the bottlecaps.  I would have loved the use that as a backing.

Want to win a fat quarter bundle?  Emily is giving one away on her blog!  Here's the link:

http://crazyoldladiesquilts.blogspot.com/2011/05/i-know-you-want-some.html

A fat quarter bundle just happens to be exactly what you need to make this quilt of mine!  And 1 2/3 yards of a solid -- that includes the binding.  I had 2 fat quarters left over. 

One more day of sewing left before Market!  I need to make a pillow or two.  I hope that is all.  I usually forget something.  I just hope it isn't something important!

NEW Quiltmaker 100 Blocks Winner!

That's right!  We have a new winner!  It turns out that Nancy has won 4 times!  She is a lucky one this go around.  She is also generous and asked me to pick a new winner.

So our new winner is:  just4bees

who said...

can"t wait to get a copy, nice job
May 6, 2011 7:42 PM

I don't have your email address, so send your mailing address to kluckau@moosequilts.com and I will have that sent right out to you.

Thanks!