Book Pre-Orders!

You wanted to Pre-order, and now you can!

My editor sent me this note today:

Hi Bonnie.

We have your book up online at PickleDishStore.com to take preorders. Feel free to post on your site, directing your fans where to purchase! Here is the DIRECT LINK:

Boy, we have waited a LONG LONG time for this, haven't we?!

I am also going to be selling books on my website at the same retail price of $25.95+ shipping, and I will be signing the books that are ordered through me. But if you don't care if it is signed or not, and you want to be the first one in your guild or sewing bee to have this hot little book in your hands, feel free to order directly from Kansas City Star at the link above!

Puppy Love!!

Quilt video by sagehillretreat on Photobucket
This is just too cute! While I am digging myself out from computer woes, this gave me a much needed uplift!

Computer Woes..

After talking to the "Geek Squad" Guys at Best Buy yesterday afternoon, we decided that the best thing for me to do with this computer that has been on the verge of a big fritz and getting worse every day, was to make CDs of everything I wanted to save, and then do a complete reformat. UGHHHHHH!

I was up reformatting until 2am, and then couldn't get the internet to connect...so I gave up and went to bed. But what does a girl do when all this file re-installation and stuff is going on? She plays with her pieces and parts! (Oh, dear...that sounds REALLY BAD! But Quilters will understand ;c)

I love applique. I just hate to do it. Sound familiar? I think it's a time thing. I hate the prep work. It isn't relaxing to me. I also think I hate it because I cut weird shapes out of perfectly straight fabric and it leaves me with more throw away than my own obsessive-compulsiveness can handle.

I hate fusible web! I hate freezer paper! So there had to be a way to do this in a way that would work for me. I also hate drawing and tracing. What does this leave me with?

Let me tell you! A couple months ago I was sewing at my friend Mary's house, and she and her friend were working on these little quilts from fabric that they had starched STIFF AS A BOARD. It really was like sewing through cardboard,or timtex or something of the sort.

So last night while all this computer stuff was going on I took liquid starch (The regular kind) Mixed about 1/2 cup starch with 1/2 cup water and dipped some small pieces in it. I wrang it out, blotted it on a towel, and the proceeded to iron it into complete stiff submission! I might have gone even a bit more concentrated next go around, but for now this was fine to play with.

Once the fabric was stiff, I stiffened a background square. And then I folded the flower fabric and just freehand cut a flower-ish shape. It's not even "SQUARE" it's a squashed rectangular flower! Little bit of glue stick to the back side, plop it on the background square, hit it with the iron again to make sure it stays stuck, and then off to do some machine button hole around the shape.

My stitching isn't as great as it could be. I'm not experienced in machine applique, but I figured out that if the tension looks 'off' it's because the cone of verigated thread I was using had fallen over and thrown the tension off. Oh well...move on! Do I want to pick it out? No. We are going for PRIMITIVE, right? Well this qualifies!

I added some leaves, some buds, a middle, and a free cut star in the center! It took NO TIME AT ALL and the best part is...it's not stiff like fusible. (Oh, I hate fusible, did I tell you this already? As a longarm quilter, fusible is a nightmare!)

After the block was done, I rinsed it! And ironed it dry again, and guess what....NO STIFFNESS! It's as soft as hand applique, and the best part is, I could cut away the backing from each layer as I added it to minimize the thickness. This is important to me as a hand quilter too.

Computer still was reformatting....so I dug into more pieces and parts and found a bunch of leftover 4 patches, made a lopsided uneven border of those (yes, the center is what it is, not mathematically correct at all and I like it this way!) I added a black spacer border from 1.5" strips, and then dug into my basket of 5" (unfinished size) string blocks for the outer border. I love this! I don't figure things out by math...just piece the border longer than it needs to be, center a seam along the side of the quilt,and trim off the excess on both ends, so it looks like I *TRIED* to get the repeat right. There is some variation,but that just adds character,right?

This morning..still installing things..getting the internet to work, and I worked on THIS goodie in between parts! I'm going to slap some bonus triangles around there and do something else for a border, but I have got to stop playing and get busy on getting set for tonight's Lecture/Trunkshow in Salisbury....

This one I made the button hole stitch a bit deeper into the applique, and I used black thread. I had a "whoooops!" while trimming out the back behind the tulip and had to applique a butterfly there. But I think it's cute! I did his antennae with a satin stitch zig-zag.

I'm probably not the only one who has ever starched antyhing to death in order to machine applique it down...but I've never seen it done this way without a stabilizer before. I'm looking forward to playing with this idea more!

Pears Pears Pears!

Aren't these lovely?! Look at the green we have here in Wallburg NC. It was LUSH after the rain the other day and I just had to take some pics of my lumpy bumpy pears.

Yes I am still enjoying them immensely! I'll take a crisp juicy sweet pear over an apple any day. I use an apple slicer thing to slice them and remove the core all in one fell swoop (or would that be PUSH-DOWN?) and YUM!!

I am going to miss the green when the colors start to change,but I am looking forward to seeing what colors my trees produce before it all falls to the ground.

This morning I logged on to MSN to video chat with Lucy, only to find that the base on my webcam had broken off in my laptop case! OH NO!! What's a quilter to do? Certainly NOT go out and buy a new webcam. I'd rather spend the money on something quilty!

So....I looked over to my mantle to find this tall vintage spool, and a box of matches and quickly improvised. You too can cover up your overly techie desktop by placing YOUR broken webcam on a fun decorative spool on top of a box of matches! :cD

Hey,it worked....and I kind of like how it looks sitting there!

Quiltville's Home for Wayward Machines....

I have spent some time corralling my vintage machine collection, taking pics, finding information on serial numbers, model numbers, and dates. I have learned SO MUCH! The internet holds so much information. Every page that helped me is also included in the links section of Quiltville's Home for Vintage Sewing Machines page! (Or, Old Machines Never Die, They Just Go To Quiltville!:cD)


Enjoy your browsing!

SO, by now you can guess that I did NOT get the pieced border section of Old Tobacco Road finished last night, because I was playing with my machines! I hope you'll forgive me...I'll to to that this week, I promise!

Part 4 is up!

Part 4 of tobacco roads is UP and ready! I won't show you the whole thing here, there are some who might still be plodding along,and not wanting it solved for them, so Chloe is going to become the focus of the photos..*LOL*

I have had requests to revise the pages so there are some added "text only" pages without pictures. I'm already doing 3 versions of each step trying to please everyone. We have the regular .shtml extention that includes side bar so you can navigate back and forth. We have the printer friendly .html page for those who can't do .pdf and don't want the side bar so they can print it. Then we have the .pdf file for those who would rather have that.

Now....I've got requests to do a "text" only page so that you don't have to print pictures and not use so much ink. I bend over backwards, many times, but this time I'm going to put it at your feet. You have the ability to copy/paste the text into a word document yourself and just print what you want! That way you can customize it to your own liking and save all the ink you want to.

The cost of ink is small when you consider that this is a free mystery, a free 6 part mystery. What would you have paid for this in a shop? Or consider the price of at least one magazine at the store? Maybe the price of the ink is small potatoes in comparison.

But as for me, I'd rather spend time quilting, than altering the pages and making MORE versions.

Thanks for understanding!

Lil' Amish Crumbie :c)

I've been working in the evenings (when there is time) on doing hand quilting on little things. I've got some blank wall spaces that would benefit greatly from a splash of color, and that's my motivation for pushing through these!

This Lil' Amish Crumbie was made from the scraps of the amish string quilt I made a couple years ago. The thing that has slowed me down on it is that (*&@#$(*& feather border. I know feathers look great, but compared to fans, they are a pain to quilt because you can only load a couple stitches on the needle at a time as you turn the tight curves. Lots of futzing around trying to get the needle going in the right direction. Never the less...it's going to be cute when it is done!

Just the two long borders to go and then I can bind it and hang it!

It's VERY small: 20"X24" and each block is only 3". I just love the small pieces. I think that is a sickness too, but I just love every little bitty piece that I can sew into something and give it purpose. Hmmm...maybe there is a life lesson in that too?

I have GOT to clean up the studio this morning. And I need to get motivated on doing some machine quilting. But my stitch regulator is irregular and I'm in a quandry. Even when I put it on manual speed, and turn the knob between min and max, the speed doesn't vary, it just stays at semi slow...not increasing or decreasing. And no, it's not motor brushes, those are still new!

Welcoming Judy Home!

This is Judy! Judy is a funky green Singer 185J, and I would consider her a Baby Boomer just like many of us because she was born in 1954!

Why is her name Judy? Simple! She belonged to the lady who was working at the antique mall where I discovered her. Since her owner's name was Judy, I decided the machine's name is Judy too. She'd had the machine for a while, never used it, didn't know much of it's history, but she wanted a zig zag, and Judy just doesn't DO zig zag. I didn't WANT a zig-zag, so Judy came home with me.

I'm trying to decide if this vintage machine passion is getting a bit out of control or not! I love them...each and every one of them! I feel like they are orphans that deserve and need to be loved and cared for in a home that appreciates them. Okay, yes...this is a bit extreme, I know they can't love me back, but some how it doesn't matter. I like taking turns with them! Besides, I rationalize that I am preserving history for future generations and with any luck, they'll at least HOLD their value, unlike a new pair of expensive shoes.

Judy is going to be in very good company right next to Lloyd!

What? You mean I didn't tell you about Lloyd before? His full & proper name is Lloyd Bell! And he was also a Baby Boomer from the 50s. Much like Studebakers of the same era, Bell machines didn't last long. I wonder why? But the history on them is interesting,and you can read about it on Needlebar.Org! And here is a link on sewnuts with one just like Lloyd, but in a different case, as well as a bigger model. According to the ad, he retailed at about $79.95 in his day. Of course, Lloyd got his name from the gentleman I adopted him from. The REAL Lloyd laughed when I told him I was naming the machine after him :c)




Lloyd comes in a briefcase style carrying case. It comes apart to give him an extended work area, complete with accessory compartment. He even has his original needle packet that says "Bell portable needles" And just to compare, I put HIS bobbins next to Judy's bobbin. Lloyd has VERY SMALL BOBBINS! But don't tease him too badly about it, you know how size matters to guys when it comes to their "parts" :cD

Judy's bobbin is the big silver one. Which reminds me of a cross stitched phrase I almost brought home...it said

"I thought I worked my butt off, but it followed me home!"

*LOL* :cÞ I bet Judy, being a SHE, wishes her parts were as small as Lloyd's!

I'm spending this evening working on part 4 of Old Tobacco Road. I know there are some road weary quilters out there who would really like to move beyond 4 patches and half square triangles. Hang in there gals, it's worth it!

It's Ride-for-MS Time! Your Pledges Are Needed!

NCC 2008 Bike MS: Tour to Tanglewood Ride: Sept 6-7. 2008!

For years you have helped support my hubby Dave as he rides to help raise funds for the MS Society. This year he has joined Team Corning in the Tour to Tanglewood ride.

Each mile he will ride, each dollar we will raise will be used in the fight to prevent and cure Multiple Sclerosis and to improve the lives of all people affected by MS.


No matter how small or large, your generous gift will help improve the lives of millions who suffer from MS, in the hope that future generations can live in a world without this disease. Together, we can all make a difference!

For nearly 12 years I have provided quilt patterns for your use on the Quiltville.com website free of charge to you. If you find this site to be beneficial to you as a Quiltmaker, I ask that you please consider making a pledge to help fight Multiple Sclerosis as a way to say "Thanks!" for all you find here.

If you can spare even $10 to $20, please think of someone you know who is living with MS daily and all that they go through, and all that your donation can do to help. If you know someone with MS, PLEASE donate and forward this on to those who have family members with MS. Your continued support is necessary to help find a cure for this disease.



WHY WE RIDE:

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, often disabling disease of the central nervous system. Symptoms may be mild such as numbness in the limbs or severe--paralysis or loss of vision. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50 but the unpredictable effects can be life-long. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted. A person with MS does not know when it will strike, what symptoms they will have, when it will get worse or better, or if they will become permanently disabled. But there is one thing people with MS can count on . . . the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

The National MS Society is the largest private sponsor of MS research in the world and proudly provides local programs designed to improve the lives of individuals and families affected by MS. By choosing sponsor the MS Bike Tour, you are joining thousands of people across the country united in the mission: to end the devastating effects of MS.

Click here to Sponsor Dave!

Thank you so much for all your support over the years! It's great to have you on Team Quiltville! :c)

Three's a Charm!

Do you feel like you are making progress? Are you excited about the possibilities? So far the "guess ahead-ers" Aren't guessing out loud too much about what they think this is going to be! Maybe they are too busy still sewing their 388 half square triangles into 96 pinwheels *evil laugh* :cD

HERE is PART 3!

I love this picture up between the rows of tobacco! Again, look at the colors! the blue blue sky, the dark loamy earth, the yellow and green of the stalks reaching upward towards the sun. I am just so in love with color and how it plays everywhere around us. Earth doesn't tell us what colors are "in style" or "gone out" It shows us that all color goes together, and creation rejoices in the beauty of it!

And speaking of creation rejoicing, LOOK! I am enjoying the fruits of my non-labor. My PEARS! They are the bumpiest weirdest looking pears, but the meat is sweet and crisp and juicy, DELICIOUS! Is there anything better than a freshly sliced still crisp pear (don't like them mealy) sprinkled with cinnamon? I have a full tree of lumpy bumpy tough on the outside pears, and I'll do my best to eat each one!

I think there is a lesson in that. How many of us feel like lumpy-bumpy pears on the outside ourselves? However, look at the fruit on the INSIDE! GLORIOUS! Yes, Mrs Goodneedle, Life IS Good....yummy too. We all might be lumpy-bumpy pears on the outside, but what is important is the treasure within.

There are treasures in this quilt too. I want to share this one with you! See that pink/purple light square in the upper left of the 4 patch? That is a piece of the fabric from the dress I made for my 2nd date with DH. I bought it at a Ben Franklin in Meridian, Idaho in May,1981. We were engaged on July 4, 1981, and married on Aug 28, 1981. We celebrated our 27th anniversary this past Thursday.

I think all that is left of that fabric has been cut into 2" squares. Every once in a while I will unearth one as I am digging through that bin while grabbing things for leaders & enders. It's not a "pretty" fabric. It certainly wasn't top of the line, or quilt shop quality then, but it has a story. And 27 years later, here it is in my Old Tobacco Road quilt.

Maybe you have a piece of fabric that has a special memory for you. Maybe this is the time to dig it out, and piece even just ONE SQUARE into your quilt...to remind you of where you were when, and just how far you've come.

Old Tobacco Road, Part Deux!

So it's not a tobacco field, it's a Windmill! What does a windmill have to do with this you ask? Step 2 will give you a clue!

This is "one" of my bins of "bonus triangles"! I used these little numbers for making the units for Part Two. Do you have bunches of these you've saved? Now is the time to use them. Square them to 2" so they finish at 1.5" And while you are working away, keep the following song (Windmills of Your Mind) in your head:

I personally like this version done by Dusty Springfield in 1968 better than the re-make by Sting. I remember my parents playing this album over and over. What a voice she had!

Irena Sendlerowa

May 12 marked the death of a 98-year-old lady named Irena.

During WWII, Irena received permission from the Nazis to work in the Warsaw ghetto as a plumbing/sewer specialist.

She had an ulterior motive...

Being Polish, she knew the Nazis' plans for the Jews and smuggled infants out in the bottom of the large tool box she carried. Larger children were placed in a burlap sack in the back of her truck. Also in the back was a dog that she had trained to bark each time the Nazi guards allowed her out of the ghetto and back in.

The soldiers, of course, wanted nothing to do with the dog, and its barking covered any noise made by the infants and small children. Irena managed to smuggle out approximately 2,500 children before she was finally caught. When she was captured, the Nazis beat her severely, breaking both her arms and her legs.

Irena kept a record of the names of all the children she smuggled out of that Warsaw ghetto and kept them in a glass jar buried under a tree in her back yard ..

After the war, she tried to locate any parents who may have survived so she might reunite the child with its family. Most, of course, did not survive the Holocaust, and the vast majority of the surviving children were placed in foster homes or adopted.

Last year Irena was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, but she lost to Al Gore, who won the award for presenting a slide show on Global Warming.

Please know that this is absolutely true, and you can read about it on snopes.com

In the midst of the chaos of my day, this true story of a REAL LIFE remarkable woman, gave me pause to think beyond myself. Hmmmm....saving children and babies from the Holocaust, or.....Global Warming? Which do you think deserves the Nobel Peace Price more? And would you have had the courage to make a difference if the need arose during your life time? Doesn't something like this just make all the little petty things that irritate us SO LESS RELEVANT!?

God Bless You, Irena!