Color Predictions 2016 and AHIQ linkup.....

My contribution to Ad Hoc Improv Quilting link up #4

Some of my 2015 projects starting from the right....

More recent work on the left....

My colorful butterfly 2016 calendar, talk about inspiration!!

Pulling out some practice Square in a Square blocks I added sashing and corner stones. The Square in a Square blocks were not all the same size; should I make the smaller ones bigger or the bigger blocks smaller. Smaller won out and some points were sacrificed but I'm all about color and technical perfection ain't my style. And so I offer my contribution to AHIQ #4.

I looked at some of the projects I've completed this year, taking  note of the color journey. Quilts and projects are to me about the color story. Color reminds me of events and places I've been in my life. I always steer to the light and the contrast.

I found this amazingly colorful butterfly calendar and I knew it would be a priceless tool for ideas this coming year. So here's to hope and more color adventures, loving contrast and dispelling darkness! 

Happy New Year to you!!

Happy Holidays......

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family!

Citrus Rose Quilt #1 Squared Up for Binding and Iron Orchid Designs.....

Citrus Rose #1 squared up.

I've been cutting binding and getting it sewn together today. In the next couple of days I'll get it sewn onto Citrus Rose #1, then I'll hand sew the binding to the back and both #1 and #2 will be done. I enjoyed designing them both, some of the fabric I used in these quilts was by Iron Orchid Designs , beautiful fabric. Visit Iron Orchid Designs, they have a great sense of style.

Happy Friday, enjoy the season!

Hand Quilting and Christen Brown Great Crazy Quilt Resource....

Turquoise 3845 DMC

Tuesday, hand quilting Citrus Rose #1. DMC embroidery thread 3845, turquoise, is a lovely color.

Make sure and stop by Christen Brown's blog , she has a new series of classes coming January 7, 2016 in San Diego, Ca, called The Crazy Corner. She also has online classes available. She is an embroidery and crazy quilt artist, she does fabulous work. Her books on embroidery are invaluable.

Enjoy your Tuesday afternoon and stay warm!

Liberated Log Cabin binding color choice...

Interviewing turquoise for binding..

Turquoise or black for binding?

Black it is!

The small version of 'Citrus Rose' art quilt, made with 'liberated' log cabin blocks, was hand quilted and ready for binding. I couldn't decide on color for the binding. Turquoise, orange or black? I narrowed it down to turquoise or black, then black won out. I like the effect of using several borders, using a light-dark-light or a dark-light-dark.  The binding is sewn on and pinned on the back waiting to be hand sewn down. That was my Friday quilting adventure.

If you love color and you enjoy sewing for your special little someone, Jennifer Paganelli's book, Girl's World, is a beautiful book full of inspiration for color and projects, don't miss out!

Have a great Friday!

Bright, Cheerful, Piecing, Hand Quilting...

Hand quilting in progress...

Backing is turquoise.....

How fun is this?

I just had to show you this, so exciting!

This bright and cheerful quilt was designed and pieced by my daughter for my 'full of fun' five year old grand daughter! Miss 'full of fun' is a perfect match for this lovely quilt. 

Also visit Jennifer Paganelli's blog for more colorful inspiration.

May all your best dreams come true!

Hand Quilting and getting into the Spirit....

Hand quilting progresses, I've quilted the grey border since I photographed this.

Merry Christmas cross stitch pattern by Blackbird Designs.

Virgin and Child by G. B. Salvi, Christmas cards by Galison NY

Hand quilting, getting Christmas cards ready and maybe starting a new cross stitch project.

That's what I'm up to this Friday.

Stay tuned, soon I'll post my daughter's quilt in progress, her design and colors and she's hand quilting it, the best.

As Mary said to the angel, 'May it be to me as you have said.'

Getting in the Spirit.

Maintaining my Own Garden...art notebook...

Quote from Rachel Ashwell's book, Shabby Chic Interiors.

Doodles from my notebook.

More ideas from my notebook.

Page ripped from Elle Decor Magazine, stapled in my notebook.

My butterfly calendar, note the colors.

My copy of Rachel's book full of classic inspiration.

Why keep an art notebook? I keep a note book to catalog inspiration and my doodles. Ideas and inspiration have a tendency to fly out the window and get lost as fast as they came. I document ideas from other sources carefully giving credit where credit is due because it's never cool to plagiarize.

This morning I took 15 min.s for 'play time', as in Victoria Findlay Wolf's book, 15 Minutes of Play, Improvisational Quilts.

I got out my notebook and reviewed ideas and got out some scraps and worked out a few things. 

The stage must be set. 

Use what you have, where you are and some really amazing things can happen.