Labors Of Love

Here's another up close look at Dawn Gerber's Remembrance quilt. Lovely details.
I love the whimsical quality of this next little quilt by Joanell Connolly.


Gloria Hansen's quilt shown below had a luminous feeling to it because a lot of the dramatic effect of the colors was attributed to all of the thread colors that she used in machine quilting this piece.

I love the colors in this close up of Jean Evans' All That Glitters crazy quilt.

I loved this modern piece. Unfortunately, my photo of the entry label is lost but the designer and quiltmaker did a fabulous job.

Linda M. Roy's Icing On The Cake is beautiful. She won in the Best Use of Embellishment- Traditonal category.

This following quilt, Peace Makers, by Janet and Karen McTavish is so realistic. It won Honorable Mention - Innovative.

The large portraits are made up of small squares of other photographs for shading. Awesome!

Tea at Tenby by Sue Nickels and Pat Holly is gorgeous. The colors are so soft and pretty. Their beautiful workmanship won them Best Machine Workmanship - Traditional.

Another pretty and traditional quilt.

You'll have to appreciate the love that went into this lovely quilt, An Alphabet, by Barbara Korengold. She won Best Hand Workmanship - Traditional.

Wow. You know that color rocks my world. Look at this beauty. Kay Preston won Best Use of Color - Innovative for her quilt, Heavy Lifting.

Here's one that caught my eye but it wasn't the use of color that did it. I think the simplicity and modern design drew me to it. Cynthia L. Vogt won 3rd Place for her design, Ishi-Datami.

Teeny, tiny log cabin.

I just have to say that the quilts were awesome and it was great to see all sorts of techniques and styles.

xo, L

Wowsa!

Often times I only hear about projects that people have made from my designs. I am thrilled when people send me a photo. Enice Burke from the Dallas/Ft. Worth area sent me a photograph of her wonderful adaptation of my free pattern for Better Homes and Gardens, Hugs & Kisses. That swirly black and white fabric sends me over the top. Swoon! She made it for her niece, Amy. Lucky girl! Thanks for sharing, Enice! 

If you have a project that you've made from my patterns, send me photo any time! 

xo, L

Not To Be Outdone ...

When Big A found out about his little brother's artwork, he had to draw his very own clover for the "very lovely artists who read Mommy's blog". Little boys are so competitive, aren't they?

Back to the quilt show that I went to recently. The quilts were beautiful and seeing them made me want to do some more hand applique again. Here's a small sampling of what I saw. I tried to get all of the names but if I have failed for your quilt, please let me know.

This gorgeous yellow quilt, OCD meets SAD by Barbara E. Lies, won Best of Show. Look at the workmanship! I love that yellow color too.

Arabesque was made and designed by Karen Kay Buckley. She won 1st place - Traditional. I love the colors but look at the teeeeeeeny, tiny circles. OMG! It has been a long time since I've sewn circles that small and perfect.

Remembrance by Dawn Gerber was another gorgeous quilt that I fell in love with. Definitely a labor of love. 2nd place -Traditional.

More tiny circles.

You can bet that I loved this one for its bright and happy colors! Lollipops and Friends by Megan Johnson and Jeanne Bancroft.

Enjoy. I have a few more to post but I hope that you've been inspired by these beautiful pieces.

xo, L

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I'm still here everyone! I had a few days of technological problems and then Big A was sick for a week. I am back and running. Little A made that clover leaf for all of "Mommy's nice readers".

I am working hard at wrapping up the new web site. It will still be a work in progress but it's fresh and I'm excited to show you!

In the meantime, I'm off to the Crayola Factory with the kindergarten class this morning.  It should be fun and loud!  

Come back tonight. I will have some quilt photos from the New Jersey show last week. They were gorgeous and the workmanship was outstanding. Can't wait to show you!

Look here! I made this large tote for spring. Isn't it fun? I put a pink fabric inside for the lining [lining is from my Funky Flowers line].

Will be back soon!

xo, L

Oh No!

My blog is acting all wonky. My e-mail is and isn't getting to me. UGGHHHH! I am closing comments and postponing the contest. I will make it up to you guys with two cool patterns in the next little while. I promise.
xo, L

Busy Weekend Stuff, A Long Post And A Contest Too!

photo: Chateau Laurier, Ottawa, Canada

I went off by myself to visit with my friends at Angelfirestudios in Basking Ridge and the The Quilt Fest of NJ in Somerset today. It had been a busy week and now it is a busy weekend. I've been working on the web site and Big A has been ill so things have been a little crazy. I've been cleaning up my studio too and have dug up some lovely books and such. So, I'll have a little contest to thank you for being patient. A bit more on that later. I'll have some photos from the quilt show soon.

I know that this is primarily a quilt/business blog and I don't normally post these things but forgive me dear reader just this one time because it is something meaningful that I can do to help.

In 2007, I lost my father, my grandmother, my father-in-law and my husband's uncle within a 6-month period. All of the people involved at every stage of each incident from the firefighters to the hospital staff were AMAZING. Even though I used to work in the pharmaceutical industry before this design biz, I never had to experience being in the hospital with a relative under such stressful times. The staff at The Ottawa Heart Institute were terrific. The hospital is having a telethon tomorrow. For those of you who are able, please consider a donation or go to the Brookstreet Hotel in Ottawa to help out tomorrow. For those others who want to be inspired, watch this video on a heart transplant story. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Today, Saturday, was a lovely warm day. I long to have more long stretches of this glorious weather. Our winter has been rotten, if I may say so. I am waiting for nice, sunny, warm days.

I started out by dropping by to see new momma, Justine. It is her store's 5th anniversary! CONGRATS. Doesn't she look adorable? Plus she's mom to Scarlett and newborn Wes. The kiddos are gorgeous. Check out her blog to see them. Oh, don't forget to check out the goods too.

Her shop is unique because it is a combined knitting and pottery place. She gives lessons right there in the shop. How cool is that?

I love her felted wall hanging. Justine carries the loveliest roving in her shop. The colors are fabulous and it feels sooooo soft.

Justine's friend made this awesome bag for her. Look, there's a peacock. Peacocks are really hip these days.

Her hats and scarves are so fun and she shows off different techniques and different yarns.

I love this sweater on the mannequin. Justine made this in Blue Sky Alpacas yarn and the pattern is from Teva Durham's crochet book.  [Justine, if you are ever donating the jacket, you know where to find me.] Look at her little Juliet sweater on the wee mannequin.

More sweater fun and what a gorgeous color.

Window love ....

This is the Blue Sky Alpacas corner.

I love felted ball ornaments. How cute is her tree?

I am going to have a contest. I don't have photos but I will include some goodies of mine [books] and books from others. So, let's have an appreciation day contest. Tell me who you appreciate. Leave a post or e-mail by Tuesday, 7 p.m. Good luck!

How Do You Shop For Your Fabrics?

I found these photos this week as I was scanning through my old pics. This was a project that I was asked to do for American Patchwork and Quilting a while back. The project was published but they only showed the design by the author of the article. I thought that you'd like to see this and be inspired to make something for yourself. Sorry the photos aren't so terrific. You get the idea anyway. 

I was sent a spiral bound book with manila envelopes on the inside of the book instead of pages. We had to design a book for you to take with you when you go shopping for fabric. You could hold little swatches in each of these envelopes.

I added a fabric cover on the front and back, and tied ribbons to the spiral binding.  On the inside, I couldn't take the plain manila look so I decorated each envelope with a different piece of scrapbooking paper. This was no easy thing to do because I had to work around those circles. I think that I had to remove them and then glue them back on again all the while being careful not to puncture the envelope. In the end, it was a fun and easy project. 

How do you shop for your fabrics? Do you take along swatches of your existing fabric?

xo, L

Addicted To Zippers

This weekend I found myself addicted to zippers. I've found myself in need of little pouches to carry all of my little things. So, I pulled out my Kokka fabric and sewed a few of these little cases. They're easy peasy and so cute! 

We had a big storm this weekend. I think that we ended up with 4"-6" of snow.

Only the little ones wanted to stay outside. They wanted to eat every snowflake.

It was fun to bury ourselves in the snow.

xo, L

Playdates for Momme and Me

Three of Little A's friends came over to play. Then the school nurse called and had me pick Big A up from school because he had a tummy ache. It was fun and they played well together. I wanted to show you how little boys clean up. The two drawers are supposed to roll under the train table. 

Thought I'd show you Joanne's tote. We made the same tote but she put the ties on the ends. Much too much effort for me because I can be lazy about certain things. [Note her perfectly matched stripes. She makes me look bad!] Isn't her bag pretty? I love the color combinations that she choose.

While she was here, she worked on some applique. So pretty and again look at the workmanship. She takes care in basting the edges. It is amazing work considering she only started a few weeks ago. 

Look at that teeny, tiny stem!

I didn't get much work done because I was too busy trying to get these Flingers off of my ceiling. Thankfully, we quilters are resourceful and we have the right equipment! My 36" ruler came in handy in getting those suckers off of my ceiling.

The Flingers [rubbery sticky frogs that you fling like an elastic] were a big hit but they were really sticky. I'm sure that I will be finding them around the house all night or they might fall down from the ceiling onto my head.

I tried to get into a project while they were here so I worked on this snake scarf for the boys. Brainless and easy to put down.

See you later! xo, L

Hello Kitty

Both of my Berninas broke down this week. I couldn't believe it. They probably need a major servicing. I love them but I bought them used and have worked them hard the last few years. 

Thankfully, I bought this machine last fall for the kids to use. I hadn't even opened the box. Isn't it cute? The machine is very basic but it did the job in a pinch. Thanks for saving my day, Hello Kitty.

xo, L

Facebook Anyone?

As if I need another thing to do! I've finally posted something on my Facebook account after a year and a half! Be my friend! [Yes, I am still fooling around with Photoshop! Help me, it's addictive!]

xo, L

Your Favorite Tools?

The current issue of American Patchwork and Quilting is focused on tips by designers.  I am finishing a project and thinking about my most essential quilting tools. I've discovered that I don't use much fancy gear! 

1. I love my Gingher shears. I can't live without them. I have smaller Gingher scissors in various sizes but I use the shears a lot.

2. My Olfa Rotary Cutter is so fab. The blade is easy to remove in this model.

3. Fiskars. It really doesn't matter which brand that you buy, but you should have a pair of scissors for snipping fabric/thread ONLY, another for snipping fabric with fusible paper together and a separate pair of scissors with teflon blades for cutting the fusible web. 

4. Clover Seam Ripper. I absolutely love this seam ripper. I've had many others but this one is not bulky and is very sharp. Don't ask me how I know how sharp the end is.

5. Reducing Lens. I can't live without this teeny tiny viewer. It gives me great perspective whenever I'm designing.

What do use when quilting?

xo, L

Rooting For Slumdog Millionaire

I'm rooting for this movie. Have you seen it? I loved it. Check out the Slumdog Millionaire trailer if you haven't seen the movie.

xo, L