Slice of Summer

To vote for my block, visit: http://wshe.es/0cshMgXL

Happy Wednesday friends!

In the midst of all the irons I have in the fire, (of course) I made time to design a quilt block for AccuQuilt's 2018 Quilt Block Contest...and it is time to vote!! Here is a link to my entry titled Slice of Summer:
http://wshe.es/0cshMgXL

If you are a regular reader of my blog, then you know how much I enjoy designing quilt blocks and projects - I just love working with shapes, design, and color...and I have fun putting together an entry for this contest every year. The voting for the contest is now live...and I am hoping you will check out my entry for this year...and if you like my block, throw a vote my way. The criteria for the contest is to design an original block that can be created with available AccuQuilt dies (plus it really should look good enlarged to fit the 17' x 17' sign displayed at AccuQuilt Headquarters in Omaha, NE). My entry follows these guidelines and was inspired by the sunshine and joy quilting brings to my heart...

This year, you can vote for your favorite(s) once every 24-hours - now through August 15th. You can view my block entry by visiting:
http://wshe.es/0cshMgXL

...there are some GREAT prizes up for grabs, so I would really appreciate it!

"Dahlias In Deco" - A Quilted Wall Hanging

I am so happy to finally be sharing my "Dahlias In Deco" wall hanging with you - it's been a long time coming. I finished it up several days ago, but didn't have time to get this post completed until now. Believe it or not, this quilted wall hanging has actually been a couple years in the making. The design started out as a Timeless Treasures Block Challenge on the Electric Quilt Blog back in July 2015 - at the time, I was just playing around with the fabrics (Charleston by REVIVE for Timeless Treasures) in EQ7 (Electric Quilt design software) and had no immediate plans to make it into an actual wall hanging/quilt. During the block contest, I posted a photo on Instagram, showing my computer screen working on the contest block...and a month or two later, I was contacted by one of my good customers (who saw the image) to see if I would make it into a quilt. I worked up the wall hanging design in 2016 and she loved it, so I ordered the beautiful fabrics...and added it to my long list of projects for her (she keeps me busy and is very patient with my other orders and crazy schedule...and we prioritize what she wants completed first). I was super excited to finish it up last week and ship this beautiful wall hanging in Art Deco style fabrics to it's new home! It is a combination of intricate piecing and applique...with each finished block measuring 12". The entire wall hanging was cut with AccuQuilt dies, making it easy to precision piece. I will be writing a pattern for this design (to be titled Dahlias In Deco) in the coming weeks, once my project bag making schedule slows down (I have somewhere near 100 bags requested at the moment) - plus I have have two REALLY big piles of needlework finishing to accomplish...but my goal is to write the pattern as soon as I can fit it into my schedule. Here are some images of my process from design to completion:

I am really happy with how it turned out and I am excited to hear from my customer, once it is received. I am also looking forward to new projects, as this one was quite time consuming and was in the works for what seemed like FOREVER. 

The last week and a half, I have been suffering from a terrible flu bug (my husband has been doing TONS of traveling for his job and managed to pick up the virus along the way, which he lovingly brought home and shared with me), and even after a couple full days in bed and taking very good care of myself last week, I am still quite rundown. After taking him back to the airport today, I finished cutting fabrics for several orders and completed up a very small Etsy custom request...but after this post, I have plans to rest for the evening...life has been hectic, to say the least, and I really need to shake this bug. I'll be back to visit with you again soon - creative things are happening!!

Pretty Project Bags

It's another early morning post for me - I haven't been sleeping well for the last couple weeks, so I have been keeping busy stitching/sewing/quilting into the wee hours each morning. I finished up three more large orders for my zippered bags in the last week..and I have a wall hanging in the process of quilting for a customer right now. I completed the last project bag order a couple hours ago and it feels good to be temporarily caught up...I say temporarily, because more packages of fabric are on the way...the orders for my large and small project bags and tool bags have been pouring in, thanks to some great customers sharing my details with their friends! It is always enjoyable to work with the fabulous fabrics my customers supply for their custom bags...even when they send directional prints and prints with straight lines, it is still fun to play with all the different patterns and styles. Here are a few photos of my most recent custom project bags...

...and very soon, I'll have photos to share with you of the appliqué wall hanging I have in progress - it is an original design that combines patchwork blocks and floral appliqué. I am quilting it now and will hopefully be binding it tomorrow night. Here's a peek at the block design process in EQ7....

In my "spare time", I have started listing more vintage/hard to find needlework books and cross stitch stash in my Etsy shop...mostly out-of-print (OOP) books/charts/kits - currently, I am in the process of listing a TON of OOP Blackbird Designs patterns and kits (I am listing the Loose Feather Club patterns in order - some are just the pattern, some are kitted with the listed supplies, some I have multiples - I have listed #1 through #9 and have scanned #10 through #20 to list next - they will be added in groups as I have time). So, if you are looking for something special and hard to find, you may want to visit periodically and see what's new. I have also listed more Stitch Starter Ruler Pocket Sleeve Sets...plus I have more ruler sleeves and tool/project bags cut and ready to sew that will be listed as they are completed.

For now, I should head to bed - it is 2:30 AM...and I have a full day tomorrow! Thanks for visiting...

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Vol. 15 - Recipients

Congratulations to Barbara and Gloria - they were randomly drawn as the recipients for my Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Vol. 15 giveaway...they have both been contacted and the magazines have been shipped! Thank you to all who commented and shared their current creative projects/endeavors - I enjoyed reading each and every comment...

• barbara woods:just finished a t-shirt quilt and planning to spend a couple of days making casserole carriers
• Anonymous - Gloria McKenna:I do needlework and quilting = working on older WIPS at the moment. Your blog provides inspiration and 'words of wisdom' to help me through my 'slumps. Thanks!

Make sure to look for Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Vol. 15, on newsstands now (Release Date: May 1, 2017) - it's the issue with the red band across the top of the cover...and I hope you'll stop back for another visit soon!

A Grand Adventure

Sometimes a journey is more than you ever expected...it tests your strength, your heart, your stamina, your will, and your determination...and it reminds you just how incredible life can be - for me, hiking the Grand Canyon in one day was all of this and so much more. Our adventure started at the South Kaibab Trailhead at 6:27 AM...and down we went...all the way to the base of the canyon...a steep decline and rough trails...beautiful vegetation and blooms...incredible breathtaking views. We crossed the Black Bridge and the Silver Bridge and walked along the Colorado River at the base, following the River Trail. Our packed lunch was devoured at the Pipe Creek Beach...where I walked down to the river, putting both my hands and feet into the water. Shortly after 1:00 PM, we started up the Bright Angel Trail to the rim...the incline was steep and steady...and we finally reached the rim right around 8:00 PM. My Apple watch read 21.42 miles for the day (that might not seem like much to some, but when you figure the very sharp decline and incline of the trails, it was a true feat!...oh, and did I mention the brutal winds - yes, it was EXTREMELY windy). There is a reason they recommend you stay at the bottom of the canyon at least one, if not, two nights in-between the hike down and the hike up - doing it all in one day is challenging, to say the least...and we trained hard for over a year. It was the most physically challenging, yet the most rewarding thing I have ever done...and it changed me - mentally and spiritually. In fact, I really don't have the right words to describe my experience...but it definitely made me stronger and more confident. The following day, looking out over the canyon, it was hard to believe that we had hiked lower than the eye can see, along the river, and then back up to the top - and I truly felt accomplished. I can't thank Dan enough for asking me to join him on this magnificent journey (his 6th time to hike the canyon in one day)...I could not have asked for better company - to say I am blessed, is an understatement - we will be forever bonded by this experience...and the Grand Canyon will always have a little piece of my heart.

Here are just a few of the almost 600 photos I snapped throughout the day...as you can see the canyon is in full bloom and truly a sight to behold...

South Kaibab Trailhead

Dan heading down the trail...

Dan shot this photo of me in action -  making my way down
 the rough terrain...

This image captures what most of the trail heading down looked
like...steep and rough...

Dan on the trail...

Mules at Tonto East (bathroom stop)

The Colorado River coming into sight...

The Black Bridge

Short tunnel - Black Bridge Entrance

Colorado River along the River Trail

It's all about the squirrel...

The Silver Bridge

Dan and I at the base of the canyon, along the Colorado River...
River Trail

Pipe Creek Beach

Bright Angel Trail - 3 miles from the top...

Love this sign...Caution! DOWN is optional, UP is mandatory...
HAZARD: Hiking to the river and back in a day can be hazardous
to your health and is NOT recommended.

Sun starting to set on the canyon...

Short tunnel - ¾ of a mile from the rim....
Bright Angel Trail

That is the short version of our one day Grand Canyon hike...a spectacular, life changing journey. I hope you enjoyed seeing it through the lens of my camera. This adventure provided me with more design inspiration than I could have ever imagined!

The rest of the week was filled with special excursions, exploring Monument Valley and Sedona. I will be back in the next couple days to share more fun photos that capture the beauty of the area!