Staple Singers On My Pandora

I look at professional quilters work and squirm uncomfortably with jealousy. Jessica in Arizona is a pro I follow, her work is wonderful. Another is BeckyBeesQuilting, she lives local but I have never met her, I follow her on Flickr.com.
Looking at the pictures I think, "Is that the goal of how I want to quilt?" It's lovely controlled quilting, that's what drives me crazy with green. I know I have to just let go and do the best I can. I know I want that control, but am I really willing to work that hard on it?
I want my quilting to look modern, fresh, and not so traditional. Part of that look for me is that freehand style and more all over.
I am getting ready to quilt a quilt for my girlfriend Faith, a kind of free hand style memory quilt.
I have done some sketches for it and prepared some things on tissue paper I am going to quilt thru.
Here's a look I like, the centered bit, not the edge bit which needs more practice.

I am quilting a baby quilt with this to see how well it works and what it looks like after a trip thru the wash. Color accurate in first photo of post.

I also have been playing around with this piecing pattern:


I am going to make it smaller and with fewer pieces, you'll see later... so that pattern idea is on track... Im going to cut something out while I work on Faith's quilt. I'll show you later.
and I am in the final piecing on this one ..

I did most of it before I left for CA to move my Mom. I added little pieces to make it a straight.
I may add borders or something.... yawn, it is just taking too dang long. It has Y seams and is a nightmare. I would just like to get it sewn up and make it stop pressuring me to finish.
I used a layer cake and Jelly Roll from Moda in Cotton Blossoms... more later.

That's whats going on quilting wise at my house. I think I have caught you up.
My Moms Condo is closing soon so we are busy with those details. What better thing to do when the economy is in free fall then buy real estate? I ask you.
Quilters Rock!!

Sample Spree Con't. Free pens and candy from the Threaded Pear / Quilters Buzz.com

freee pens and candy from the, originally uploaded by 2ndAvenueStudio.
Around 7:30pm things picked up in line and vendors started coming out and handing out coupons and flyers.
Threaded Pear Studio came out and asked us to sing happy birthday to the burnette on the left. I was so happy to get that breath mint I really needed it. We were let in to shop and boy was it exciting. There are great pictures at the JollyJabber and of course, Quilters Buzz.com of what went on inside. I don't have any. I was shopping, my hands were full and it was a crush!

Here is a picture of our haul.

we were parked in the garage, which could not have been further away if we tried. Mercy.
SewDaisy hauled most of it herself, because of my back. But really I seemed fine the next day, so I guess I was just sore, not injured, from BSR class/handiquilting. She was great and I am so grateful for the help.
Here is a picture of my haul

It includes Anna Griffin's Alix Collection (which I got on the exhibit floor Saturday), Hoffman Balipops and Pappillon, Some Batik Textiles and another fav - Art Gallery Fabrics. From MODA we have : Mary Engelbreit's Recipe for Friendship, Fig and Plum, Cotton Blossom, Butterfly Fling and Nest . Some of this will get used as "give aways" so stay tuned.
Here's a picture of a favorite jewel. Sometimes, It was hard to keep a clear head.

Its Amelia from timeless treasure.... so summery and fresh. I bought this because the colors
were "good" and the price was right, stuck it in my bag and moved on. When I got home and have sat with it for a few days, I am in LOVE! Turns out my Local Quilt Shop is ordering the line, I am gonna make a class sample with it. So happy. Its really lovely.

The other discovery I made is local and kinda off topic. After Spree we were so hungry, thirsty.
We drove around to Burgerville - which is local and I don't eat there usually, I like Wendy's chicken and McDs fillet o fish , when I have to drive thru for food.
Burgerville Halibut Fillet Sandwich!!! it was a big, fat fillet of lovely halibut that tasted so good and it came with lettuce instead of cheese.... Delish! I am now like "Mc-y who??"
I just went and looked at the nutritional info and maybe I won't always choose that sandwich but they have other choices. Its sustainable, uses local ingredients and it was GOOD! There you go.