Bric-a-brac Quilter

Picnic Quilt

2011-11-01T22:24:00.001-07:00

Here is Princess Buttercup, my quilt mentor. She gave me the best birthday
gift a quilter can give another quilter- she helped me measure, square up and generally kick my butt to sew-up the quilt I have not been able to finish for my brother and new sister in law. uhhum, they have been married for 2 years now and
it is finally getting sent off to the quilter! Thank you PB. you know you are the best!

Here is the finished quilt top. It is 64" by 64". My SIL loves orange and blue.
She loves these colors- and I happened to find blue plumeria (her favorite flower- her wedding ring is a silver plumeria) pattern that has orange middles. I worked it
into the quilt and voila- here you go!

I am hoping to send it off to Angela @ Quilting Is My Therapy. She can write with her long arm quilting machine and that is part of what I want done to this.
In the orange rectangles I am going to(hopefully)have her write all kinds of special memories from their courtship as the quilting. I think it will be totally unique and a keepsake they will treasure.

Birthday Fun

2011-11-01T21:52:00.000-07:00

OK, so I admit it, I turned 44 on Sunday. I vowed to age gracefully. To me,
that means taking all winkles life hands me without fighting them by botox injections. It means no plastic surgery. It means being able to admit my age.
It used to mean not dying my gray hair, but hey, everyone has their vanity limit.
I now appreciate 85 year olds who have so much energy you suspect they are on
drugs. @ 44 I know my energy level is slipping. I know I will not be an 85 year
old who skis, does yoga or watch the great grandkids all day at the zoo. I'm
still taking a nap everyday.

My Dad took me out for our annual birthday lunch date- and he surprised me
by taking me up to Highhand in Loomis, CA. What a fantastic place. They have
revitalized the old fruit packing sheds into art/ pottery galleries and it is
surrounded by a fantastic nursery with a restaurant named The Conservatory where
we had a great lunch.

The Tin Thimble shop

My stash addition purchases.

Sawtooth additions.

70's stash additions.

Dad & I in the nursery.

"Spring Cleaning"

2011-11-01T21:39:00.000-07:00

Hello there quilting friends! How are you doing with stash organization?
I have not done too well keeping the stash organized in the past year.
I've kind of been into the "shove it in wherever it fits" mode. It's not
working for me. So I decided to spring clean- I spent all Saturday night
and all Sunday afternoon and into the evening going through binders, patterns
and fabric. I filled up my dining room table! I got rid of enough to make me
feel truly organized! I documented 10 quilts I had made and had pics of. I
found old projects that got the quilting energy flowing again. It feels so
good!

Free Projects to Inspire Me

2011-07-23T12:15:00.000-07:00

I needed some quilt therapy today- and found it at Windham Fabrics site
by clicking on Free Projects. There are 24 pages with 12 free quilt patterns
on each page- plenty to be inspired by!

Happy quilting!
Moorea

Got it back

2011-01-16T12:26:00.001-08:00

I was finally able to pick up the Aloha Shirt quilt from the
quilter's- two months late. Oh well, Lauren says he does not
mind, but I am not sure how we will feel about the thread color
being changed without permission. My quilter said she did not
feel the blue tread was going to look good, so she did a tan
color instead. It does look great, but ultimately, I feel it
is up to the customer and she should have checked with me first,
since I am doing this for someone else and they are paying for it.
What do you guys think? Should she have called me, or taken the
liberty as an "artist?"

The pantograph pattern she chose fits the floral theme perfectly.

Every corner was perfect. What a dream!

Aloha Shirt Quilt

2010-09-13T22:43:00.000-07:00

The loot!

Playing with combinations.

I have been mighty busy these past few months- Sorry I have not
updated the blog. I did not get to sew at all this Summer. It was
a great disappointment, but it could not be helped. After Josiah
graduated from high school, I put my focus on Daniel and his
Boy Scout activities, as well as working on discipline problems
with my little boys. It all paid off- they are all doing well.

I was able to start sewing again and here is the fruit of my labor!
My first professional quilt! I made this for a gentleman who owns a
shop in downtown Sacramento- I traded him for a huge box of fabric he
had (top) in exchange making the quilt top. I feel I got the better
of the deal, and he thinks he did, so I guess it was a good deal!
I am hoping to make more of these quilts soon- he thinks lap sized
would sell well in the store.

So now, I have to make the backing with 8 yards of this lovely
gray blue fabric and send it off to the quilter next week.
Yahoo!

Mom's Quilt

2010-05-15T12:23:00.000-07:00

I have been putting this quilt on hold because I was stuck
as how to get the balance right- some of the blocks
were sewn in the wrong order and it just looked like
there was a "hole" where an everglade block should be.
I finally took the whole thing apart across the middle,
flipped it, and voila! it worked. It's not perfect, but
I knew my Mom would love it anyhow. She just wanted it done!
It ended up being 60 X 80- which is a lovely size to
snuggle up in on the couch!

Here is the pieced backing. I wanted it to be an ode to
the Gee's Bend quilts my Mom loves so much.
I did not have time to make it any more intricate,
or I would never have gotten it done! I was able to get
it ready to take with me to a church women's retreat I
went to a few weeks ago and finish the binding there.
Whew! If you click on the pic, you can see the
variegated thread and how I quilted it to look like
streamers. (Same thread as the wall hanging below.
I am very happy with how it turned out, and Mom LOVES it!

Evergaldes Wall Hanging

2010-04-17T22:08:00.000-07:00

I finished the little "vote on the border" wall hanging.
She really liked the brown border.

I used variegated thread to quilt it. I love the way
it turned out, it looks like streamers!

I know she is going to love this. It matches her
furniture so well. Sorry about the washed out look-
silly flash! The back is as fun as the front.

Vintage Patterns

2010-04-15T20:36:00.000-07:00

While looking through many boxes of photos for a huge
project(Josiah's high school graduation presentation
board) due next month, I cam across a box full of old
family photos my aunt had given me a few years ago
after she cleaned out my Grandmas' house. I Little did
I know the box was a time capsule! In the bottom were
THESE! I still have some investigating to do, but I
think that my Gram got these on a visit back to see all
the family in Arkansas in the 1990's? sometime. My Gram
did not quilt, but she brought back a few family quilts,
and the pattern at the end, Grandma's Fan, had the same
hand quilting done on it. ENJOY!

I really want to try Palm Leaf.

V Block is very cool-
I cannot wait to try it with vintage fabrics.

Click on this to enlarge and you can see a dotted
quilt pattern, a very sweet spider web.

I call this Sand Dollar

Here is the pattern. It is not from 1922-
it is pattern # 1922. It is complete.

A Gift

2010-04-05T08:50:00.000-07:00

This giant tub was given to me at church a few weeks
ago by our pastor and his wife. His Mom had passed
away and they wanted to pass her quilting goodies
onto a quilter- so I was the lucky recipient!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank You!

I called Princess Buttercup to hot foot it over
so I could open it up with her and share its riches!

Besides many desirable pieces of fabric and notions
was this twin sized pieced eight point crumb star flimsy.
It was probably made in the 50's (some of the pieces
give it away) and the edges were turned and hand
stitched to be what PB thinks was a useful bed covering.
I can understand not wanting/ having the time to had quilt!

A closer look.

This beauty is a string quilt that is badly worn in some
areas due to the really just inappropriate use of stretch
fabric as quilting material. PB says she can show me how
to repair and reuse this fabulous quilt! I was not so sure
I wanted to take that on, but I am willing to try and I know
I will learn a lot in the process!

Happy Great Day!!!

2010-04-04T15:24:00.000-07:00

He isn't here! He is risen from the dead,
just as he said would happen. Come,
see where his body was lying.

~ Matthew 28:6, NLT

Vote for the Border

2010-03-14T22:22:00.001-07:00

I finished the little 3" scraps mini- which
finished at 22 X 17- and I can't decide
which color to use as the border. I am going
make a wall hanging for a dear friend at
church. I am leaning towards black. What do you
think? Please vote in the poll on the side bar.

Black- this one would really highlight the colors,
but will it detract from the brightness? I'd frame
it in a 1" border.

Brown- this looks good at first, but the more I
looked at it, the more it seemed blah. But in a
1" band, it could be just right.

Green- If it was not for the green block on the
left that disappears into the green, this may
work in a funky fashionable army sort of way.
Not sure.

Yellow- this seems too bright, but for someone who
LOVES color- it could be just the ticket!

this and that

2010-03-13T15:02:00.000-08:00

I finally made a decision to try to find more of this
Shamash Brothers fabric online. Unfortunately for me,
they have stopped making collections for fabric
retailers and have sold off old stock. They mainly do
upholstery/ design fabrics now. This print was from
2006- so I was very lucky to find 2 yards on ebay!
I had 2 fat quarters, but could not get a good fussy
cut of the designs for the Arizona Cross quilt.
Having more of this means I can fussy cut the strip
designs and incorporate them into the quilt somehow.

I finally had a break through on my Mom's Everglades
quilt. I had shelved it because it was just so
unbalanced and I could not figure out how to fix it
without opening the middle of it and adding one of
the everglades blocks. I had DoriAnn over last week
and asked her opinion of it and she agreed that
there seemed to be a "hole" where an everglade
block should be. We both had an epiphany at the same
time "Rip it down the middle and flip the bottom up
to the middle section." I sat and ripped seams,
flipped it and it worked! So I was able to get the
borders on today! Wahoo!

I cut the leftover border strips and solid color blocks
into 3" squares and played with them for a while until
I came-up with a pretty good design. This will be fun
to make into a doll sized quilt.

Little Project

2010-03-07T23:19:00.000-08:00

I whipped up this little 24 X 30 flimsy today using a
handful of nine patches left over from my quilt groups
swap. I decided to make a little wall hanging for the
Ladies Room at church. Maybe I'll get to quilting it
this week.

Rocking Chairs Project Complete

2010-03-02T17:06:00.000-08:00

I finally finished recovering the three rocking chairs
for the church Nursery. I did not know what in the world
I was doing, but with a little info and encouragement
from my Mom and Princess Buttercup- I did it! Thanks
ladies. It is a big load off of my mind to have it done
and out of my sewing area and garage!!! I'm Soo happy!

Accidents Happen

2010-02-26T16:19:00.000-08:00

My blog has a whole new look! I was trying to download a
new background this afternoon and accidentally reverted to
a classic template. Oh well. It will take me a while to
replace all the fun stuff that was on the side bar.

update: I found a template that restored all my items, but
it is not one I am going to stick with- I need to figure
this out!

Until next time,
Moorea

Arizona Cross Block

2010-02-26T01:01:00.000-08:00

Well, it's a little after one am here, and I just finished a
mock-up of a block I designed that will go into my southwestern
quilt. It may be a very common design and have a name, but I
am going to call it Arizona Cross, as it will go on point
and look somewhat like a Catholic cross from that area. I cannot
believe the points came out so beautifully. This machine has
made my confidence soar! I always thought it was me that could
not get the points to match- but this is the fist time I have
pieced with this new machine and look how it turned out! I did
not have to undo one point to redo it! WOW!

I flanked it with the beautiful fabric Aunty Ruthie sent.
It is so soft and of such quality! I cannot wait to set
it next to the beautiful blocks.

You can see the color looks better with the fabrics.
It is slight, but it sure does make a difference!

The turquoise fabric on the left is the one I will be
using- it is just a tich darker and matches better with
the turquoise found throughout all the other fabrics.
You can see how bright is in the mock-up block. It's
just too bright for my liking. Playing with the half
blocks was so much fun. I had about 5 designs, but
none of them was southwestern enough. This one is perfect!

Surprise!

2010-02-24T23:29:00.000-08:00

I received a box in the mail Monday from a dear friend of my
Mom's in Honolulu- Aunty Connie! She generously sent me the
scraps of old sewing projects she and her daughter worked on
in sewing classes. I just lOvE scraps- they make my world go
'round! I part and parceled them out into various projects,
OK- a fEw dOZeN projects, if truth be told. Don't look at me
like tHaT!!! Oh sorry- I now it see it is a look of agreement-
you have a few dozen quilt projects stashed away too!

Oh La La -This one was one of my faves, and there was about
a yard of it- I'll put it into the "purple quilt" stash of
course! There were some tone on tones and some cute yardages
that could become pieced backings. I am going to cut up the
small scraps for my Bonnie's Scrap User System (BSUS):0)

It does my heart good to have new fabric in the stash- there
was a turquoise piece that inspired me to work on my South West Quilt design and I'll post the block I
designed a little later this week.

Decorative Sampler & Heirloom Stitching

2010-02-12T09:57:00.001-08:00

It was recommended at my last sewing class that I make a sampler
of all the decorative stitches my machine can do. I had so
much fun making this- and it will definitely come in handy
because some of the stitches do not look like their picture
at all!

We also did something so interesting- heirloom stitching.
All you need is a wing needle and linen or 100% cotton fabric.
I cannot wait to do some little project using this technique.
Here are some links so you can see fabulous examples:
Janice Henning's Heirloom Stitches
Gina Butler

You can see how the needle flares out- that is what makes
the holes so big. order one on ebay here.

Fini

2010-01-31T22:59:00.001-08:00

I was able to bust a move and finish this cute
baby quilt for a family @ church. Click to see
the little embroidery stitches that my new
machine has- 90 to choose from- It was so fun
to use them. I used an entire spool of thread
to quilt this the stitches were so intricate.

I LOVE this backing. I wish I had used tan thread,
but alas, I was just in auto pilot and made a bobbin
with blue thread...it turned out cute.

UFO complete

2010-01-31T22:45:00.000-08:00

Princess Buttercup was finally able to get some time
to finish her MIL's Dresden Plates quilt she bagan...
how long ago PB?

click to see her first attempt at free motion quilting-
she did a fantastic job!

Class One

2010-01-12T21:46:00.000-08:00

I took the first of three classes tonight for my new machine.
My Mom and I made a date out of the evening- she came over to
see the kids first, then we set out in rain & heavy traffic but
got there on time. She wandered about the store while I took my
class then we went to In & Out and got caught-up on life
happenings over burgers, fries & lemonade. It was great!
I made button holes for the first time and learned what all
the strange little attachments were for. I am now ready
to free motion quilt! Woohoo! I felt sorry for the gal next to me,
her new machine went haywire so she could not finish the class,
and her machine was sent to the "spa" as the teacher called it.
I am so thrilled with my machine, I decided to name her Wilhelmina.
That was a pet name for one of my favorite VW Vans my Mom & Dad
had when I was a kid. I think Wilhelmina & I will be great friends.

Love & stitches,
Moorea

Fooling Around

2010-01-09T14:13:00.000-08:00

I finally got a chance to sit down at my new machine and
open packages, unravel cords & read instructions.

Sweet! Look at this little accessory box in the extension table.
It's huge! I was able to get all the feet & bobbins that came
with it in there.

Look at the extra-extra-extension table!

I was able to get as far as the embroidery stitches section.
My older boys were picking out stitches on the stitch guide
they wanted me to try out- how fun is that? This is going
to be so much fun. I get three classes with this machine,
so in the next week, I want to get as far as I can in the
instructions so I am able to ask questions in class.

Love & stitches, Moorea

Sewing Machine Cover

2010-01-07T23:18:00.000-08:00

I made a cover for my new machine out of 2" strips I have
been saving from my Grandma's Kansas Twister quilt.

The plastic cover it came with was so cheap and sterile,
I was instantly inspired to make something. I should have
lined it, but I was so excited that my pattern was working
out, I decided to finish it up. It turned out pretty good.

Love & stitches,
Moorea

Lunch with Dad

2010-01-07T23:09:00.000-08:00

I got together with my Dad today, we went to lunch
at the Tower Cafe. Yum! We then stepped next door to
see "Up In The Air" with George Clooney. It was good,
except for plenty of F bombs & some nudity.

The decor is quite colorful.

Fresh flowers are everywhere- They must spend hundreds
of dollars a week on fresh flowers. It is quite beautiful.

They have two fountains I could see in in the outdoor
seating area. It was just too cold to sit outside.

Getting together was sorely overdue. It sure brings back memories
of the old days when he took me on "dates" to a fancy restaurant
and to buy a new toy. Thanks & love you Dad!

Love & stitches, Moorea

Baby Quilt

2010-01-07T08:30:00.000-08:00

I finished a baby quilt top I have been working on. I have
wanted to use this cowboy fabric for years, but was not
inspired until a friend at church had a baby last week.
Oops, I forgot a pic of the backing, which has more cowboys!
I'll post that when I finish quilting it.

Love, Moorea

Rearranging My Sewing Area

2010-01-06T16:47:00.000-08:00

I purchased a new desk for $35.00 at the thrift store this past week,
it is perfect for this room and it's a bit taller than my other desk
which I wanted to sew at. This one is easier on my back for cutting fabric.

I have rearranged my little sewing area with the two desks so
I can properly use the new sewing machine my parents bought me
for Christmas! Woohoo! It is a Singer Confidence Quilter.
I can quilt my own quilts now! I put my spool holder and
ruler rack up. I wanted to paint the wall behind the desks,
but then the rest of room which needs to be painted desperately
would bug me too much, so I will wait.
It feels awesome to have this little dream come true.

Love, Moorea

Strip Piecers

2010-01-05T15:20:00.000-08:00

Look at all we got accomplished at our New Year Sewing Day!
Woohoo! Princess Buttercup sewed the blocks she had done
onto this Bachelor Puzzle quilt for her brother, who is
quite tall. It may require more blocks along the length.

She did get the border completed on the Disappearing
Nine Patch, a gift for a friend.

Here she is, working diligently at her table.

Tea Rose brought her Tea Pot quilt- which has been in
the works for a while. She completed the border and it
is ready to send out to the quilter! Congratulations Tea Rose!!

I worked on a bill pocket for a friend - I will get
pics and a tutorial up in a few days. It is one of my
favorite wedding gifts to give. I also started on a
big project to make new cushions for the church nursery
rocking chairs. I have no idea what I am doing, but I'm
going for it!

Love, Moorea

Cutter Quilt Table Runner

2010-01-05T15:14:00.001-08:00

I did get DoriAnn's table runner done in time for Christmas! Hooray!
It turned out pretty cute, except for a binding bump that could not
be avoided. She likes it and that is all that counts! I wish I had
more time to make things out of the rest of the quilt, but I need
to let projects go that are not really what I need to be working on.

Love, Moorea

2009-11-30T22:02:00.000-08:00

I LOVE this newly discovered tee shirt co. called Wild Olive Tees.
Their designs are so beautiful, put one on your Christmas list!

Teaching Good Things

2009-11-18T21:24:00.000-08:00

Most of you know that I homeschool- and one of my favorite homeschooling blog sites is TEACHING GOOD THINGS. I saw this post on "What Quilting can Teach You." It is so sweet to see moms and daughters working together on quilting, and they produced a DVD about how to quilt that looks very popular!

{{hugs}}Moorea

p.s. I just found out she has a quilting blog, too! For the Love of Quilting

cutter quilt

2009-11-15T08:18:00.000-08:00

I have been working on a cutter quilt of DoriAnn's so I can make her a table runner for Christmas. It is a watercolor quilt with an Irish chain in it
All but two of the medallions are pretty trashed, but it's the ends I need!
I measure extra for mistakes.
When cutting, I left "tails" so I can pick the binding loose and use it to make a smooth transition to the new binding.

The batting is so thin, I was able to just sew the right sides together and iron it down well so I could top stitch it. The sashing it not even, but I am going to applique some flowers on it so it will not show.

Someday

2009-11-13T07:48:00.000-08:00

Someday- I will have the quilt studio of my dreams, with is fabulous table in it. Love, Moorea

Fall

2009-11-12T17:44:00.000-08:00

I was out swinging Jacob on the tree swing this chilly afternoon.
The sky was so blue and tree is the most lovely shades of oranges
and reds that I was compelled to take a picture. As I was snapping
different aspects of the tree/sky combo I was reminded of this this:

One of the most beautiful pieces of fabric I have ever seen. The selvage cut off who made it, leaving only "CS COLLECTION 2004" on it. I wish I had purchased more if it, instead I only own a fat quarter. I would make a dress out if it, if I did not run the chance of looking like Ms. Frizzle. I'd make it long and sweeping, with the "puffed sleeves" Anne with an 'e' dreampt of.
Moorea

Long Lost Friend

2009-11-02T15:58:00.000-08:00

Meet my long lost friend Pippilotta Delicatessa Comestibles Windowshade Curlymint Mackrelmint Ephraim's Daughter Longstocking. Whew, what a mouthful! I have been searching
for her pattern for years! I have been to just about every cloth
doll site on the internet. I am not kidding when I say I have spent
countless hours looking through google searches. Problem is, I never
knew that it was a Pippi pattern. Since my Mom made it over 30
years ago, she had forgotten! I finally gave-up last year. But I
knew in my heart that we would not be separated forever...

My Mom made this doll for me in the mid 1970's- Her name was
Cathy. She was well loved.

This was Cathy's companion. (Can't remember her name.)

Last week I snuck into Eco Thrift after a long day... I was searching
through the toys and there she was looking-up at me! Imagine MY
surprise when I recognized the shape, clothes, sweet embroidered
face and braided hair. "Why someone was creative enough to make
her into Pippi Longstocking!" Almost immediately the light bulb
went on "Oh- She was originally a Pippi pattern!" WOW! I bought
her for $2- and rushed home to search the net...

The second search hit was for this pattern @ Your Pattern Shop of
vintage patterns. Oh JOY! My Mom was so happy and bought the
pattern for me for my birthday! The pattern came in the mail
today! We cannot wait to get together and make her.

Pippi is very high sprited. She has played football with the
Little Boys and has been keeping me company in the craft room-
she loves country music,too!

You can visit Pippi here at Astrid Lindgren's World in Sweden.

Love, Moorea

Journal Cover Tutorial

2009-11-01T10:58:00.001-08:00

You have to see this post of a Journal Cover tutorial over
at Exuberant Color Blog. It is a treat to look through all
18 posts of the journals she has made- she is not kidding about
loving color! Check for Journals under the LABELS on her sidebar.

I think I am going to make a Bible cover with it-
It may or may not turn out. Bible covers are pretty flimsy.

I am home from church with a sick 4 year old. I think he
will be good as new tomorrow, but I'm missing the monthly
church B-B-Q and the much needed fellowship that comes with it.
It is well with my soul.

Love, Moorea

The winner is... NOVA

2009-10-31T09:28:00.000-07:00

Please forgive me, I have not figured out how to use the random
counter on my blog yet...

So I cut all paper exactly the same size...

I write your names...

I fold it precisely, put them in a bowl and them mix around...

The winner is: NOVA! Please email me: mcrich@sbcglobal.net with
your snail mail address and I will get the fabric right out to
you Monday!

Sorry about the delay- my 4 year old stared throwing up around
10am and I forgot to do the drawing.

Love, Moorea

One Day Left

2009-10-29T21:19:00.000-07:00

OK- One day left to enter the Scrap Bag giveaway!
Look at the posts a few down to enter! ENDS SATURDAY 10/31
I will draw the winner @ 12pm Pacific time

Love,
Moorea

Name labels

2009-10-28T09:28:00.000-07:00

I was finally able to find my favorite label maker online-
It is Namemaker.com - there are so many great labels to choose
from! They even have one that says "Quilted By," so sweet!
I really like being able to put these on little doll quilts that
are given away for charity projects, or on flannel rag quilts.

Love, Moorea

Good Morning!

2009-10-22T07:25:00.001-07:00

Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things he does for me.

~ Psalm 103:2, NLT

Scrapbag Give Away-

2009-10-18T16:01:00.000-07:00

I have had so much fun going through my stash to tidy it up-
and pull out fabrics I know I am not going to be using with
any of the MANY quilting projects I have going.
So- I am passing them on! I hope you like the scrappyness of
the whole kit and caboodle- it is a real collection of just
about everything! Most pieces are fat quaters, but there are
a few larger, and some are smallish scraps. Winter is the
perfect time to cut and replenish crumbs/strips for scrap
quilts. If you have not seen Bonnie from Quiltville's Scrap
User System, see it HERE.

To enter- just leave a comment telling us the system you use
to keep track of fabrics that are smaller than fat quarters-
I guess crumbs/ strips.

Contest Ends in two weeks, October 31st! NOVA Won! email me
at mcrich@sbcglobal.net!

Love, Moorea

Escape!

2009-10-15T22:57:00.001-07:00

Some days are better than others, and while it was a pretty good
day from all accounts, I just felt upside-down inside. I REALLY
needed to get out- so I escaped the madhouse this evening and
flew to the copy shop to make a bazillion copies of my Quilt
Record so I could sit and organize my record book. I have been
shoving photos of quilts in the binder and have not gotten
around to writing anything about them- and we all know that after
a few years and a few more quilts made & given goes by- we forget
all those little details that should be documented! I was able to
sit next door at Wendy's without interruption to record & stuff
page protectors to my heart's content! It was just what I needed
and I sure do feel better!

Please, please, please, print out a copy of the Quilt Record,
make copies and start recording your quilts! This Minnesota Quilters site is helpful.

You'll need:

Pretty Binder
Page protectors
Copies of Quilt Record
Photos of your quilts
Favorite pen
Double stick tape

Read-up on documenting HERE

Love, Moorea

Fabric Give Away

2009-10-01T22:29:00.001-07:00

I finally found a pic of the quilt I made for my brother Matt using this
fabric. It is called "Camoflauge Courthouse Steps."

Hello, I have been cleaning off my project shelf and came across this
bunch of fabric that I was going to use for ANOTHER quilt for my
brother Matt! But, he just got married and I decided that the LAST
thing I want to do is make another strange quilt his poor wife
will need to live with- so... I am giving all this fabric away!
Besides, I promised them a picnic quilt with fabric she has picked,
so I need to get to making it!

Please leave a comment as to what you think you'd use it for.
If you have no idea, just NEED to have it- well then, put that down!
ENDS in 2 weeks, OCT 14th.

OK! The Winner is...Nance! I was reorganizing my fabric and
found even more of this funky fabric to add to it, so you are
now getting 1.7 lb. Nance email me your snail mail address!

Thank you all for entering! Come back soon as I am going to
have another fabric giveaway next week! It will be scrap bag
fabric; brights and novelties.

Love, Moorea

Broken Bulb

2009-09-23T18:17:00.000-07:00

A Compact Flouresent Bulb broke over Daniel's bed today-
and on THIS quilt. Heartbreaking, but since the glass fell directly
onto the quilt, it must be thrown out!!! See THIS SITE

"If clothing or bedding materials come in direct contact with broken glass or mercury-containing powder from inside the bulb that may stick to the fabric, the clothing or bedding should be thrown away. Do not wash such clothing or bedding because mercury fragments in the clothing may contaminate the machine and/or pollute sewage."

Sadly,
Moorea

Never Forget

2009-09-11T08:03:00.001-07:00

Psalm 91 (NKJV)

Safety of Abiding in the Presence of God
1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”

3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler[a]
And from the perilous pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
8 Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
10 No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
11 For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
12 In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

The Star Spangled Banner Lyrics
By Francis Scott Key 1814

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Hearts

2009-09-08T22:57:00.001-07:00

I made this heart banner for DoriAnn years ago- and always meant to
take a picture of it to share with you. Well I finally did. She has
it up on a high wall overhang in her living room. It was a pattern in
a quilt mag that I enlarged. Cant' remember which mag.

Each heart represents one of her four boys.
I wish with all my heart I had taken this to a professional quilter,
unfortunately, I had to do it myself, on my 18 year old Costco Singer,
with no-drop feed dogs. Ugg. I have really had to give-up on the
perfectionist side of myself, otherwise I would not quilt!
Well...she loves it and that is all that counts right?

Love, Moorea

No Time To Quilt

2009-08-11T23:03:00.000-07:00

I was hoping to have some time to quilt this summer,
but having two little boys who constantly fight and
get dirtier than dirt has kept me form attempting
anything remotely related to quilting! I did longingly
caress my fabric stash once a week as I dreampt of
the fabulous creations I could make with this piece
or that piece! Oh well, it is not to be- I will have
to settle with fondling my stash for a while longer
and reading about all the quilting you get done in
your corner of the world...

Love, Moorea

Another Baby Quilt

2009-07-19T22:15:00.001-07:00

I went to my friend Suzie's Baby shower. Here is the beautiful lady,
holding the quilt I made her. She is in a wheel chair because she
survived her mother's attempt to abort her. She has cerebral palsy
because of it, but here she is having her fourth baby! Hurrah! Baby
Isaac will be born some time this week. I cannot wait to meet him.

Love, Moorea

Color Wheel

2009-06-10T09:06:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking about painting my front door
a fabulously bright color- but I thought I'd do
some research on the net before going to Home Depot.
I found THIS site about color theory, and I hope it
helps me to make a good decision. Crimson is the
color I was thinking of- so I want to be sure!

Love, Moorea

Mother's Day Fabric

2009-05-19T09:01:00.000-07:00

Look at the fabric my mom and dad gave me for Mother's Day!
They went to Nevada City for the weekend and happened upon the
Pine Tree Quilt Guild's 25th Annual Quilt Show. Some of the
quilters were selling remnants and my mom and dad picked all
these out for me! Can't wait to add these to my stash.

They also found a 14" platter that matches my Johnson Brothers set!
I have never even seen this large of a platter! They got it for $8.50
and it is probably about a $50- platter at the china replacement co.
I am so tickled, as none of us have been able to find any for a while.

Love, Moorea

Sutter's Fort Quilts

2009-05-09T16:44:00.000-07:00

Here is one of the Sutter's Fort quilts. Princess Buttercup will have
to give the details in a comment. I know she did draft this pattern
off of one she saw on the cover of a quilt magazine. Beautiful!
Here is pattern info: The pattern for the star quilt was on the cover
& inside the Australian Quilting and Patchwork Magazine, Vol 13, No 5.

Here is quilt #2. I cannot decide which one I like the best!
They will be raffled off with-in the group that participated in the
program.

She had enough to make table runners for the gals who run the program.

Look at my Amaryllis! Some one gave me a large "just about dead"
bulb last year. I planted it in faith- and it revived, but only
grew leaves. I stuck it out on the front steps in April-low and
behold it has bloomed! I do not think I had ever seen and amaryllis.
They sure are beautiful!

Have a great weekend. Hubbs is taking me to Panda Express- Orange
Chiken here I come! and to see the new "Star Trek."

Love, Moorea

Quilt Stash Song

2009-04-26T08:14:00.000-07:00

Quilt Stash Song
Listen HERE

Thanks Wendy!

Love, Moorea

Focus

2009-04-25T09:45:00.000-07:00

I am ignoring this mess to work on...

the binding and label for Ronica's baby quilt. I love
quilting. It helps me focus on the really important thing
in my life... sewing!

My mom worked very hard this week to get the quilting done-
good job mom!

Love, Moorea

Old Fashioned Quilting Bee

2009-04-21T16:40:00.000-07:00

This is SUTTER"S FORT in Sacramento, CA. It is reenactment day,
but not just any reenactment day, it was the Sacramento Area
Homeschoolers reenactment day! This group does it up so well,
you might think you are really back in time, except for the
fact that bus loads of kids on school field trips are smashing
in around you to see the stations.

Here is Princess Buttercup, hand quilting one of the quilts
she researched and designed for the kids in the program to
work on. She chose period fabric, cut and sent kits of four
patches to be hand sewn by each child and then placed them
in the quilt, with the brown and white triangle setting blocks.
It is gorgeous. There is another with stars, I will get a pic
of that as they will be and quilting these for a while.

Here are all three ladies in the quilt group doing the
hand quilting.

It was close to 100' F at the fort. Yikes! To see more photos-
look at my homeschool blog post HERE.

Love, Moorea

More Baby Quilts

2009-04-17T21:58:00.000-07:00

I finished the flimsy for Suzie's baby quilt. It turned out so sweet-
I will bind it with the same blue as the blue in the blocks. I'm
not sure what it is about this pattern, I really love floating the
nine patches- I just get a kick out of it!

I have DoriAnn to thank for this quilt. She took my little boys for
the entire day! Josiah was at Church cleaning and doing school
work the entire day! Daniel was in LA with his grandmaw and Curtis
was asleep after a long night of driving! It was glorious.
GLORIOUS I tell you! much needed. I cut & sewed fabric, ate when
I wanted, and listened to my favorite country music station,
up loud!

Here is some fabric for a cowboy themed baby quilt.

This Winnie the Pooh fabric will be perfect for a baby quilt too!

I needed to go to Joann's this week to get basting spray and I picked
up a few purple fat quarters to tuck away in my purple stash. I am
going to have so much purple, I may have to make a few quilts!

I hope you all have a very happy weekend! The weather here is
gorgeous, so I know I will!

Love, Moorea

Baby Quilt

2009-04-11T10:55:00.000-07:00

I have been working on a baby quilt for my first cousin once
removed!(That means my first cousin's cousin's baby) She and
her husband are in the Army. I thought it'd be fun to make
them a baby quilt with Army colors. I found this adorable
fabric at Joann's. I wanted to keep it very soft looking,so
I used a small green gingham with the bear fabric to make the
5" nine patches. I mitered the brown inner border. I have
never mitered before and it went pretty well. I had to look at
three resources to get all my questions answered and I only had
to adjust two corners. I am going to get it basted today and
my mom will quilt it and then I will put brown binding on it.
I think it will very sweet.

Here is Josiah's baby quilt that was made by a lady who used to go to
our church years ago. I did not quilt then and was so blessed to
receive something so precious. It is beginning to fall apart. I
I had it in his memory box so he would be able to have it later,
but I ended up using it with the little boys.

Here is the next set of fabric I collected to make another baby
quilt for a very special long time friend. I hope to start that
soon.

Love, Moorea

Baby Quilt

2009-02-28T21:56:00.000-08:00

After frantic searching,I found my cutting board hiding waaaaaaay
up high on a book shelf. I started cutting these strip about 6pm
Friday night. I was up until 2:20 am sewing, but I finished the
quilt enough to give it at the baby shower today. It only needs
the binding on one side to be tacked down, but that is it!
Anjeleeca loved it. She is expecting baby number two, and I
know how nice it is to have new things for subsequent babies!

It turned out so sweet. I had the number fabric left over from the
quilt my mom and I did for my Cousin Susan's baby shower. It was
$9- a yard! But my mom wanted something particular, and when you
want it just the way you want it, you pay for it. She let me keep
the scraps (thanks mom!), and I had just enough to do this. It is
so soft. I really like doing a pieced binding, especially with all
the colors of the quilt. I used up the left over strips from the
nine patches.This is the first quilt that I have done that was
square, I think I trimmed and eighth of an inch off of one side.
I feel like a full fledged quilter now. I really took my time with
this quilt, making sure all the fabric was cut perfectly and when I
sewed. I went slowly, ripping seams or adjusting sections where
the points did not meet. I was patient. Quilting is teaching me
to slow down. That is such a gift. because I have been so impatient
with my sewing and I have never had a quilt square up like that.
(Except when my mom and I are sewing together. She is an amazing
seamstress.)Dimensions: 30" by 40"
p.s. I sat in the back at church on Sunday and tacked the rest of
the binding down so she could take it home!

I have not sewn for months because of the Geography class I am
teaching, and I can't believe how much I wanted to sew this
weekend,(even though I did not really have the time,
but my friend is worth it!) and I wanted to make something
and complete it. I had to stay up to get it done. Giving a
box of diapers is nice, but giving a quilt is MUCH more fun.

Have a nice weekend!

Happy quilting,
Moorea

2009-02-25T21:19:00.000-08:00

Jacob is sick with the flu. He's lucky to have a quilt made
by Aunty 'nette to snuggle up in! Look- my Baby is out of the crib!
We got him a handmade toddler bed off of Craig's List for $25-

Love, Moorea

Artful Bras

2009-02-24T10:21:00.000-08:00

You have to see these Artful Bras! Sew creative.

Love, Moorea

Give away

2009-02-24T08:36:00.000-08:00

Check out my giveaway on my homeschool blog, here. Ends Sunday 2/28/09 12am

Love, Moorea

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-11T17:00:00.000-08:00

Here is a collection of pillows my mom has made me over the years.
I really like the ribbon pillows. There were more, but most of them
were white linen with crocheted edges and unfortunately
they wore out from being on my bed. I love these- they remind
me of our family Valentine's dinners when I was a kid.

My mom would hang red and white streamers and she would decorate
the table in red and white, plates, linens, candy, etc. Little
handmade cards would be on each china plate and the candy would
be in little glass animal tidbit holders all over the table.
Only one of the smallest, most thoughtful gifts could be given
to each person. Usually we gave my parents a favorite candy bar
or boxed cards...something like that (or a tube of acrylic
paint in my dad's case!) After a nice dinner, we would go 'round
the table and each person would open a card and read the sentiment,
until all had been read, and the tiny gifts opened and delighted
over. Then we would have a delicious desert!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Love, Moorea

A "Just Because" Quilt

2009-01-08T16:17:00.000-08:00

I was able to have lunch with the recipient of the quilt I
was able to get quilted on New Years Day. Here she is opening
her present.

Yeah! She loves it, and the colors are so her! She really liked the
pieced backing. Even her hubby said "Those are her colors!"

This quilt is "Just because." I love you Barbara!

Love, Moorea

New Link

2009-01-05T15:24:00.000-08:00

A few years ago, before I had this blog, I used to read
Taniwa's blog, but I lost the bookmark and couldn't find her!
Princess Buttercup mentioned Taniwa's blog and was kind
enough to email the link, so here it is: Taniwa Enjoy the Japanese flavor!

Love, Moorea

Backing

2009-01-05T08:54:00.000-08:00

I got these nice pieces of fabric from Doriann's MIL. She had a quilter
friend who was cleaning out her stash and she went out of her way to
get the 3 giant bags and pass them on to me! What a lucky girl I am!
There were some 3 yd lengths that I kept to use a backings- and here
are the four I pulled out to get washed, iron & trimmed up so that
when I have a lap quilt to sandwich, these will be ready to go.

I finished the binding on a lap quilt I quilted at a quilting day
Princess Buttercup had New Years Day! We were able to go to
my church and quilt in the foyer area for 5 uninterrupted hours!
HEAVEN! She got an entire full size quilt quilted in the basket
weave pattern she used on her mom's wall quilt. It was a great
time of fellowship and she brought Oliebollin to share, yum!

Love, Moorea

Click on the screen to feed Pom-Pom

2009-01-01T21:34:00.001-08:00

I found this gadgetry on another quilters site, although she had a
pond with swimming fish. I really liked the hamster.

Fat Quarter Deal

2008-12-28T08:50:00.000-08:00

Princess Buttercup & I "braved" the cold 40' weather to get a
great deal that Quilter's Corner was offering on selected fat
quarters. 2/$1 can you believe it?

Here are the ones I picked. Each and every one is great.
I tried to stick with 30's prints or Civil War type fabric.

Love, Moorea

Christmas Quilt

2008-12-26T08:18:00.001-08:00

I was only able to get the flimsy of my mom's quilt done.
She LOVED it, said it reminded her of the Chihuly colors of all
things! (see 4 posts down) Yahoo! So, I will be basting and
quilting it in the coming weeks.

Love, Mooorea

Quilt Record Document

2008-12-24T09:36:00.000-08:00

Quilt Record

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Hobby quilt record

Print on card stock ~ Enjoy! Merry Christmas!!!
Email me if it prints out backwards. Some have had this problem,
so I could email you the PDF file in Word if needed.

Love & stitches, Moorea

Wall Hanging

2008-12-06T19:32:00.000-08:00

Princess Buttercup made a beautiful Batik wall hanging for her
mother's newly remodeled home. It will be given as a Christmas
gift. These are the colors of tile, wall paint & curtains.
It measures 44 x 44.

Look at the quilting- it is called "Basket Weave." I just love it.
Excellent work Princess Buttercup! I quilt vicariously through you!

Love, Moorea

Comfort Rice Wrap Tutorial

2008-12-06T16:12:00.000-08:00

Instructions by Ruth Halley
Copyright: Moorea Richardson Bric-a-bracquilter.blogspot.com
Please ask to post these instructions on you blog,
or easier yet, post a link to this page!

You'll need:
~Sturdy/quality fabric
~100 %Cotton ONLY strapping (the kind for belts)
(polyester will melt in the microwave.)
~Thread to match fabric
~2 Lb. Medium grain rice for each wrap

Instructions: (Click on pictures to enlarge)

1) Cut Fabric to get a 11" x 28" rectangle.
Cut length across grain if possible, but not necessary.
Do not use flimsy fabric. Quality fabric will help it last longer.

2)Fold rectangle in half along long edge- so it will be 5 and 1/2" x 28"
3) Pin so it won't shift and sew a 1/2" seam.
4) Iron oopen the seam, this will give a more finished look.

5) Turn right side out and Iron the seam edge down to one side
so it does not show.
6) Roll the ends in 1" on both sides and iron down.

7) Insert straps 1 and 1/2" into opening, against outer edges
of one side. (straps cut at 13 and 1/2") Pin in place.
8) Top Stitch first row across width & straps at 1/4" from edge,
then second row 1/2" out from that, making sure you catch the
strapping in both top stitches.

9) Divide empty bag in thirds, mark half point with a pin, and the
two other folds with pins.
10) Make a 1 and 1/2" zig-zag stitch across the width at those
three points, going back and forth a few times to get the stitch
very strong. It can be a wide or thin zig-zag. This is to keep
rice somewhat separated, but adjustable.

11) Measure out 2Lb. Rice.

12) I made a homemade funnel out of construction paper to get the
rice in the bag quickly; a traditional funnel's spout is too tiny.

13) Shake the rice down around the zig-zag stitches so you do not
hit any rice grains while top stitching the second strap in.

14) Insert strap 1 and 1/2" against outer edge of each side of
opening, pin straps in place.
8) Top Stitch first row at 1/4" from edge, then second row 1/2" out
from that, making sure you catch the strapping in both top stitches.

Färdiga, Finito! Færdig, Fini! Terminat, Finished!

Instructions to include with your gift:

Comfort Wrap Neck Warmer
Do not wash or get wet.
~Heat on a clean, dry plate in microwave only!
~Do not heat more than 2 minutes
~Place thin towel between warmer & skin.
~Ingredients: 2 lb. white rice
~Enjoy!

Tumbler Update

2008-12-06T15:29:00.001-08:00

Here is a mock-up of the tumbler pattern I created, that
unfortunately was a paper template. That does not really work
when you try to cut fabric with it over and over. I ended up
cutting the tumblers out wrong and each point was so obviously
off. You do not want the points to be off with the tumbler. It
is like a big red arrow pointing at the off points shouting
"ALL the points are off!" I'm no perfectionist, but that does
not work for me.

Here is the tumbler pattern I got off of e-bay. It is a great acrylic
template,it was just proportioned differently than what I was
expecting. The pattern I made used a 5" tall tumbler, and this is a
4 1/2" tall tumbler,which is fine, but the bottom on the new one is
WIDER than the one I made, by 1 " and that really spreads it out.
I thought was not not going to like it, but I cut fabric to make
another mock-up and it looks pretty good. It's grown on me!
Somehow it is more elegant, and not so country. It even came with
a 1/2 block template to finish the edges without having to cut
and waste fabric to square it up.

Love, Moorea

All Laid Out And Ready To Sew

2008-11-27T22:30:00.000-08:00

I was able to cut out all the fabric for my mom's quilt today!
I have enough to do two quilts. I will stash the other fabric
away to make at a later time. So here it is, all laid out on my
bed. Aren't the jewel tones luscious? I am going to chain sew
them in blocks of four and then sew those blocks together. It
will go together lickety-split. It is the quilting that will take
a while. I am going to use orange thread and quilt it in a pattern
that mimics the everglade leaves. I think I can handle one row a
week, we'll see if I can do more. I hope so - as I have to get the
binding on by Christmas.

My Aunt Carolyn, my mom's sister, told me the colors reminded her
her of the Chihuly Exhibit they both went to see in
San Francisco at the de Young few months ago. Click on the arrows
on the bottom of the site to see the exhibit. His glass work is
visionary. It is hard to believe glass can be blown into such
large forms. My mom raved about the exhibit, so I am sure she
will like the colors and style of this quilt. It looks washed out
in the photo- thanks to my overactive flash.

Love, Moorea

2008-11-26T08:39:00.000-08:00

This is a personality analyzer test of my blog from Typelizer.
The strange thing is: it's all true!

ESTP- The Entertainers
The entertaining and friendly type. They are especially attuned to pleasure and beauty and like to fill their surroundings with soft fabrics, bright colors and sweet smells. They live in the present moment and don´t like to plan ahead - they are always in risk of exhausting themselves.

The enjoy work that makes them able to help other people in a concrete and visible way. They tend to avoid conflicts and rarely initiate confrontation - qualities that can make it hard for them in management positions.

~Moorea

I Got To Sew Today!

2008-11-23T22:27:00.000-08:00

It was so beautiful and sunny today, that after we got home from
church, and I put the Littles down for their naps, I went directly
to the School Room, pushed all the paperwork & projects aside to
SEW! Yes-SEW! I have not been able to sew since Sept 9th, the day
we started school. I forgot that sewing felt so heavenly.

This is an 8 yd. section of fabric I pulled out of my stash so I could
make Comfort Wraps for my neighbors for Christmas. This will make
way more than I need, but now I am thinking of friends at church
I'd like give one to at Christmas. That will pretty much use it up,
as I cut four out of one yard.

Here they are. I have 11 to make and I finished six today.
I will post directions and a tutorial this week. Not only
are they are so very easy to make, they last for years!
They are filled with 2lb. of rice. It gets microwaved and
put it around the neck- there is nothing like it when you
have the flu!

Love, Moorea

An Invitation

2008-11-23T22:20:00.000-08:00

I'm honored to have been invited to post my blog a new quilters
website: Quilt Qua. Check it out!
~Moorea

p.s. I ordered a Tumbler Template off of e-bay. Ooooooh,
I cannot wait to get it!
Update: I got it and I do NOT like it.

New Project

2008-11-22T21:38:00.000-08:00

I was reading the latest Better Homes & Gardens Quilts and More,
when I saw this quilt pattern that promises to be the easiest
quilt I will ever make...

I thought about this fantastic "Everglades" fabric I have,
So I jumped in the van and went to Joann's armed with my 40% off
coupon to pick-up a few pieces to round out this collection...

So I can make this very bright lap quilt for my mom for Christmas.
If you knew my mom, you'd know how perfect the colors are for her.
(She does not read this blog unless I remind her, so I am safe! ;0)
I have 28 days, and I am taking Thanksgiving week OFF! We'll see!

Love, Moorea

Thrift Store Find

2008-10-10T07:56:00.000-07:00

I found this great utility quilt at Eco Thrift for $6.99! Wow!

It is not the most beautiful quilt. I believe it was made for a
grandma in a rest home, as a name is written in the margins,
and floral scraps were mixed with checkers to make it not
so tempting to those who might want to steal it.

The backing is a sweet tan floral print. The size is a generous twin.
What I really liked about it is the batting is a blanket. It is very heavy,
so it makes for the perfect weekend mountain retreat blanket.
Josiah will be using it for just that purpose this weekend.
I saw on the weather last night that is is going to be very
blustery all weekend, so I am glad he can take it!

Love, Moorea

Yo yo Give Away

2008-09-30T11:06:00.001-07:00

These are the remainders of 120 white 2" & 10 pattern 2"
(they need to be ironed) vintage yoyo's courtesy of Dori Ann,
who by the way is almost finished tacking her yoyo's down
to her mom's quilt! Yahoo! It will be done for her mom's
birthday in November (see below.)

If you'd like them, please leave a comment and
I will contact you.

~Moorea

Odds 'n Ends

2008-09-27T12:03:00.000-07:00

I found this beautiful baby quilt at the thrift store for $1.99!
It has a denim sashing and batik four patches. The quilting
is a teeny tiny stippling all over, very sweet.

Here is a ribbon board I made for my brother's moving-out
condo warming. I found this Hawaiian style fabric when I
was cleaning out the stash and I thought it would be perfect
for this- Matt likes it and will use it to keep his bills on in the hall.

~Moorea

Pretty Posey

2008-09-16T22:05:00.000-07:00

DoriAnn came over tonight to lay out the yo-yo posies and get
them Wonder-Undered on. We did it, despite two Little Yelpers.
(Of the people kind, not k-9 kind ;0)
All she needs to do now is to hand stitch them down and
put a label on! You GO girl! Isn't it beautiful?
When it is done I will get a good picture of it in natural light.

Love, Moorea

Machine Quilting Class

2008-09-06T20:42:00.000-07:00

	I took the Voyager 17 class at Bear Paws today. Now that I know how hard it is to use the machine, I will never criticize my machine quilter again! I'm pretty sure I can do it by myself, If I get back to practice on it within a few weeks, otherwise I may forget! I REALLY want to quilt a quilt on this! They warn you it will not be pretty, but it will be DONE! I can live with that. ~Moorea

End of Giveaway

2008-09-01T23:21:00.000-07:00

Well...no surprise that you won Princess Buttercup!
Congratulations all the same. I will deliver your prize
to you sometime this week.

Love, Moorea

Happy Labor Day

2008-09-01T11:10:00.000-07:00

I took a few hours this Labor Day morning and sewed the strips
together. Since some of the blocks are so off point, I think
I will use this as a practice flimsie when I take the class on how
to use the quilting machine at Bear Paws and Holly Hocks.
I do not have the class scheduled yet, but I'd really like to do
it sometime soon. It is the perfect lap quilt size 53X68.

Love, Moorea

How to Quilt With Your Brain Disengaged

2008-08-31T23:04:00.000-07:00

Wow! I was finally able to grab some time to quilt tonight!
It has been a while since I have had the energy to sit and
think about what needs to happen with old quilts I have forgotten
about, such as this menagerie of five inch charm squares.
"Fric and Frac," the tumbling, fist fighting duo have worn me to
oblivion lately. They have used all available brain cells to
monitor their every need and squabble. So imagine my surprise
when I was able to sort through old projects on the
'quilt project shelf' while they played reasonably well in the back yard.
I secretly sat down at my sewing machine(which overlooks the
sandbox.) to sew a few of these EASY blocks together.
Now here comes the brain disengaged part.
I wanted to sew, sooo badly. I was tired. I decided that if this
flimsy is EVER to get done, I need to just throw these blocks
together randomly and see what happens. I do not have the time
OR the room to lay them out. So... after the Littles were bathed
and put to bed, I disengaged my brain and sewed my heart out!
You can tell, but once it is quilted, it will not be so bad.
I feel like a million bucks. I actually got something of substance
sewed-up and close to being finished. Wahoo!!!

Love, Moorea

Giveaway!

2008-08-28T07:46:00.000-07:00

I am very happy to be offering this beautiful panel as my first
quilt blog giveaway! It makes a medallion wall hanging.
click picture to enlarge.

Please tell me how you began and how long you have been quilting.
Contest will end Monday, Sept 1st. I will draw names out of a hat.

I began quilting because Princess Buttercup, who has quilted since
high school, kept saying "You should quilt." over and Over and OVER.
I kept saying "no, No, NO! I cannot possibly understand quilting."
But, i REALLY wanted to make a picnic quilt when I saw this ant
fabric, and she told me how to do it over the phone. I was hooked.
Now all my scrap booking is collecting dust and getting more and
more disorganized everyday! But I love Princess Buttercup for
being patient and teaching me all kinds of quilting stuff over the years.
Quilting is one of the most satisfying hobbies I think I could ever have.

Love, Moorea

p.s. I am also doing a giveaway on my homeschool blog,
check it out here.

Scrap User System

2008-08-20T15:30:00.000-07:00

I finally broke down and got plastic bins for
Bonnie's Scrap User's System.
I am sure you have heard of Bonnie Hunter, I would not believe
it if you told me you had not! If you have, but not checked out
her SUS, you must!!! It is quiltingly enlightening.
And look directly below- that turquoise fabric I picked up
for my Southwest Quilt with my 40% off coupon.
Gorgeous color!
/

I picked up some drawers at a Joann's on a 50% discount!
The reason I need them now? This pile:

I went through my stash and took out all the lengths & fat quarters
& bits that I absolutely can live without, but do not hate (those, I
donated to the thrift store.) I just had to get rid of fabric that have
been sitting there and will in all reality not be used in any projects
because there is too little of it and they do not match. But with
Bonnie's SUS- they don't have to match! So... I am going to cut
these fabrics up and put them in various quilting projects.

Wish me luck! Moorea

Loved This

2008-08-17T08:01:00.000-07:00

2008-08-16T19:03:00.000-07:00

I was finally able to get a better picture of the rag quilt.
The natural sunlight is so much better to take a picture
in than those fluorescent bulbs! The color is such a soft pink,
it is very lovely with the floral print. It turned out to be a
perfect lap size, 58 x 48.

I had some little labels made with my name on them.
I just love to use them! This project was perfect for it.
I'll be off to the post on Monday!

I am getting better at making these. I am taking my time
when sewing the blocks together; making sure all the seams
are going in the right direction. I was also very careful when
I made the cuts for the ragging. I only cut through the stitching
two times!

Happy Quilting, Moorea

UFO Day

2008-08-13T22:42:00.000-07:00

I spent a very fun day with my quilt club "The Strip Piecers."
We met in the morning, had a delicious lunch and quilted the
afternoon away on our UnFinished Objects!

Here is Princess Buttercup and her daughter 'Miss. O'
who sat and crocheted granny square and cleaned
all the nursery toys for me! Thank you so much!

Here is a blurry, but very happy Princess Buttercup because
her UFO "Lover's Knot" is completely quilted!

Here is Tea Rose, quilting away on her beloved Featherweight.
Notice the lovely quilting gloves, luckily it was an air conditioned
room!

Here is her Nickel Quilt in all its glory. It is stunning, and big!

I offer this simple fare, my Rag Quilt. I was able to get all
the blocks quilted and sewn together. I stared 'ragging' it tonight.
It will be off to its happy new owner next week after a
good wash!

I had a great time gals, I know you did too! TTFN.

Love, Moorea

Dolly Quilt

2008-08-12T14:58:00.000-07:00

I am getting my projects together for a
serious quilt session with the Strip Piecers!

Isn't this adorable? It was in a bag of upholstery samples given to
Princess Buttercup. I could not resist making a doll quilt out of it
for the church nursery. I found time this week to prepare it for
quilting today. I was also able to get the binding on. I could have
gone navy blue, but I could not resist the maroon- it brings out
the little flowers.

OK- I've got Yvette's pink rag quilt blocks ready with batting,
this doll quilt to finish the binding on and assorted fabrics to
iron for a scrap quilt for my brother.
So much to do, so little time!

Love, Moorea

South Western

2008-08-09T22:26:00.000-07:00

Relaxing tonight after a long day of working at a Boy Scouts fund
raiser, I was looking at the options I had in fabric to try my hand at
this pattern in the Fall Fons & Porter Easy Quilts magazine. I have
been looking for a pattern to use these beautiful South Western
fabrics in. I received them as a gift from my Auntie Ruthie who
lives in Arizona. She worked at a JoAnn's there, at the time. Anyhow,
I think I found what I am looking for, but I do not have enough fabric,
so I will have to go shopping to add to it Who knows when I am
going to make this thing, but hey, I'm a quilter right? I can stockpile
fabric and books with patterns and fabric with patterns and half cut
fabric with patterns and half done quilt tops and everyone already
thinks I'm nuts because I am stashing & quilting...

Love, Moorea

Picnick Quilt

2008-08-05T07:54:00.000-07:00

You have got to listen to my new Playlist!
Turn it up so you can listen to it while doing housework!
Have fun!

I thought this picnic quilt with rock pockets was sew cute.
Even though Summer is almost over, it would be a great
gift for a house warming...

Love, Moorea

Work Day

2008-08-04T19:16:00.000-07:00

I am scheduled to get together with the Strip Piecers next Wed.
for a day of quilt time! We will meet in the nursery at church
where there is a/c and doors to shut, to keep wanderers and
other possible interested parties from interrupting us. I am
looking forward to visiting, laughing and spreading out!

I hope I can get all the pink rag quilt blocks quilted. It will be nice
to finish a project before school starts for us in September.

Love, Moorea

Quilt Confession

2008-08-01T08:58:00.000-07:00

I have a confession to make. Hubby & I went out on a date night
to Coldstone Creamery (not the confession ;o) and to Borders,
where we could each get one book, not counting books for the kids!
I was looking through the quilt books. I had picked out
Mastering the Art of McTavishing,
but as I was perusing I had been hearing the sound track to
Mamma Mia, the Abba musical, which I saw last week. Here is the
confession: I put my quilt book BACK! I walked over to New Relases,
I watched helplessly as my hand reached out and clasped the CD, I
held it to my breast! I had to have it. I bought it. I love it.
My kids hate it. Mainly because I play it at the maximum sound
allowed by out vans speaker systems AND I torso dance as I am
driving. My shoulders have not seen this much action since my
club-hopping days.

Love, Moorea

Flannel Quilt

2008-07-24T07:04:00.000-07:00

This is a flannel quilt WISP I have had for about a year and a half.
It is for a friend who now recovering from breast cancer. I started
it when I heard about her diagnosis, she is now completely done with
her chemo, and reconstruction surgery. I heard they are moving to
the coast, so this will come in handy for those chilly summer evenings
near the ocean. Better late than never!
Directions on how to make one here. Examples here.
This is my friends' blog. I decided to use the basting spray instead
of needles to hold the blocks together. I will let you how this works.
This will be so fun. I can steal 15 minutes a day to do a few blocks at
a time and in no time it will be done!

Love, Moorea

Baby Shower

2008-07-21T17:03:00.000-07:00

My cousin, Susan, loved the quilt. Here she is displaying it.
She got many clothes for the baby, and a beautiful whole cloth
quilt embroidered with 8 teddy bears from My aunt Gloria who is
phenomenal needlewoman. In the mayhem, I forgot to take a pic.

Here is a baby quilt my mom made approximately 30 years ago for
one of my other cousins, Robyn (same side.) Her daughter, Lilli is
using it now. My mom does not remember making it. She made
so many, how could she? When my aunt put it on the floor,
my mom just stared at it and she was thinking,
"Wow, that looks like something I'd make!" Funny.

I love this fabric. My mom made ALOT of quilts through the
years out of this kind of fabric. It was much heavier than everyday
cotton, but not upholstery grade. She always made two tops,
(no batting as we did not need it in Hawaii.) put right sides
together, sewed around the outside, leaving an opening to
turn it right side out top stitching the opening down
( after a thorough ironing.)
Here is another example of her work. I love her quilting style.

Love, Moorea

Label Fini

2008-07-17T16:04:00.000-07:00

I finally got the label on the baby quilt. It is so adorable.
My mom will wash it, and wrap it. (She was a professional
gift wrapper for Macy's, so she always gets to wrap it!)

Love, Moorea

Batting Scrim

2008-07-14T07:37:00.000-07:00

I used bamboo batting in the baby quilt, and I thought I would
share some information I was curious about and researched out.
On the package it said it had a thin scrim.
What is scrim? The answer is below. I also found a website,
Fairfield Quilting Supplies, that defines the kinds of batting.

"Scrim is a very open piece of netting-type fabric that is added
to batting during the manufacturing process to help support the
fibers. Battings that contain scrim are generally more stable and
have less stretch than those without scrim.

Feel the batting to determine if the scrim is near the center of the
layering, or closer to one side than the other. If you cannot tell,
then it will make no difference which side of the batting is
placed next to the quilt top.

If the scrim is closer to one side than the other, we
recommend that this side be placed closest to the backing."

By: Patricia Margaret & Donna Slusser

Baby Quilt

2008-07-12T14:56:00.000-07:00

Here it is! I tacked the binding down at family camp this past week,
during the annual Tuesday Ladies Tea/pedicure time that
Mrs. Huffman hosts for a few of us.

Isn't this just beautiful! I am so happy with it.
My mom & I make a good team. She sure worked hard on it.
I love the quilting she did, every other square.

Love, Moorea

Quilt Basting Spray Tutorial

2008-07-05T22:49:00.000-07:00

This is a tutorial on how to use quilt basting spray.
I would never have even tried it, it seemed so intimidating.
Princess Buttercup got some help from the owner of
Bear Paws and Hollyhocks to baste a full sized quilt.
It turned out so well for her, that I decided to give it
a whirl when I could not find any fusible batting for the
baby quilt we are making.

It is a spray and it is tacky, so put down paper or an old sheet
on the floor or table. I put a sheet I could wash
and use again on the floor.

Here is the batting smoothed out on the sheet. I laid the squared-up
backing on the on the batting and smoothed it out as well. Then I
peeled back one side and sprayed the batting. I immediately lifted
and put it over the tacky side, arranged and smoothed it. I repeated
with the other side, making sure I did not overstretch the fabric
because it will buckle the batting underneath it.
Note: Princess Buttercup says she learned to baste it the opposite
way, backing on bottom, spray that, and lay the batting on it. I
tried it this way because my mom told me to. She felt I would
have more control over the fabric being smoothed onto the batting.

I trimmed all the way around the backing once I saw the fabric was
smooth and not stretching. It may seem like I was taking a huge
chance, but the backing was a good 2-3 inches larger all around
than the flimsie that was going on the other side.

Flip over the backing/batting and smooth the flimsie top, making
sure there are no buckles. If there are, re-iron the top and reposition
on to batting. Peel back one side and spray the adhesive on. Lift and
arrange. Repeat on the other side.

Once that is done, make sure you check to see there is no buckling
on either side, if there is, rearrange it, as the adhesive becomes
super tacky and dries the fabric in place.

Note: I used the new bamboo batting. It is super soft.

Love, Moorea