NEW DOLLS AND FABRICS IN AT THE ATTIC WINDOW

I’d like to introduce you to ….well, I’m not sure of her name.  She is one of the new dolls by Donna Barnes now at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.  She is all “dolled” up and dressed like a hippie.  The story goes that she is going “commando.”   What a hoot!   I’ll be showing more of these dolls over the next few days. (I think the others are fully dressed and they all have names) They are so cute!

Also new at the shop are these fabrics by Timeless Treasures.  This line of grey and yellow fabrics is called Eclipse.

This is a close up of my favorite! 

These Sport/Brown and Sport/Pink fabrics are also by Timeless Treasures. 

 

This is a close up of Sport/Pink.  What great fabric for your daughter/grand daughter who plays soccer!  Be sure and stop by the shop and check out the new dolls and fabrics.

On Another Note:  I love this paper pieced daisy by Christine Thresh.  Check it out here.
 

Until next time,
♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

YOU'LL LOVE THIS WHIMSICAL GARDEN BOM

Those participating in the Whimsical Garden BOM met Tuesday afternoon at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.  Above, three of the participants show off their first month’s block.  Some chose to leave the bird’s tail off until the sashing is on because the tail extends into the sashings.  Great job gals!

Above, Chris shows us the block that the participants will be working on this month.

Erma participated in the Cotton Club BOM last year and showed us this quilt top that she had just completed.  I admire anyone who can do such beautiful patchwork, especially with such small pieces!

Recently while blog hopping, I saw this beautiful quilt on Fabrics And Flowers and left a comment about how much I liked it.  I didn’t realize I was entering a giveaway.  What a surprise I got yesterday when I received the pattern for this lovely quilt.  I’m going to take advantage of our current snow storm, and try to get a good start on this quilt!  You can purchase this pattern at Fabrics and Flowers.  Thanks again Sharon!

On Another Note: You will want to read With Heart and Hands and see the many many variations of the disappearing 9 patch.  Wow!  Michele shares her cutting instructions and links and ways to turn a simple block into something that looks complicated!

Until next time,
♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

SHOW AND TELL WITH SOME LINKS

The Great Lakes Modern Quilt Guild met this past weekend in Plainwell.  Some of their show and tell was on their blog here.   However, I have some more pictures I’d like to share with you.  Above, Adrienne shows us a block she started when the West Michigan Quilt Guild brought Becky Goldsmith here.  Adrienne said that the background is “made” fabric from her green scraps.  She says she still has one blade to add, and then will start the appliqué.  Isn’t this going to be a beautiful block!

Cathy M. shows us a quilt she made last year while participating in Craftsy’s free BOM.  What a wonderful sampler quilt!  Craftsy has another free BOM this year.  You can check it out here.

This is a close up of one of the blocks.  I admire Cathy’s work.  I remember when I tried this block and had so much trouble with it that I finally just gave up.

Above, Pam shows us a couple of blocks that she made from an online BOM Sampler Series.  You can find the patterns and instructions at Fresh Lemons Quilts.   I love the clear color of the fabrics she is using in these blocks.  

On Another Note: 

• The Spring Fling Shop Hop will be held the week of April 12-20.  Seven shops are participating.  Daily drawings for $20 gift certificates from each shop.  Someone will be the winner of the grand prize: a Janome Sewing Machine!   Get your passport now for only $5. 
• Quilters Road Trip will be held during the months of April, May, and June.  Twelve area shops are participating.  You get a chance to win a $25 gift certificate each month at each shop.  Also available will be new projects, patterns and giveaways.  Passports can be purchased at the shop for only $5.

Until next time,
♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

STITCH-IN HELD AT THE ATTIC WINDOW

A Stitch-In was recently held at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.  I was unable to attend, but Judi A. sent some pictures to me.  First if want to show you Judi’s tea leaf quilt.  She’s almost finished and it looks fantastic.  I love how she has graded the colors so it gets lighter in the center.

It looks like the group got in some productive quilting time.

I think here Chris (owner) is demonstrating how to make the featured block.

And here they are with their blocks!

Of course, there was lots of food for this three-day event!

And who could get by without dessert?

It looks like they had a great time and I hope to be able to attend the next Stitch-In. 

Don’t Forget: 

1. To check the calendar on the sidebar for all the fun classes being held this week at the shop.  Lee Ann has a Cute Bag with lots of pockets and zippers and would be a great gift idea. 
2. That Saturday is the first Saturday and March which means it is Sampler time.  Do you have your blocks completed? 

1. On Another Note:  The Cute Life has a Something New Sampler.  This block looks interesting.
2. The Great Lakes Modern Quilt Guild met this past weekend.  You might want to take a look and she what they had to share. 

 Until next time,
♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

JUST ADD ICE!

Isn’t this orchid beautiful?  It makes me think of spring and beautiful days ahead.  My daughter brought this orchid to me almost a year ago saying that she didn’t have enough light in her home and was afraid it would die and would I take care of it for her.  I have a wonderful room with lots of light but figured it would never bloom.  Years ago I belonged (briefly) to the Grand Rapids Orchid Society.  I learned about orchids and that you not only need light, but you need moisture and fans, and special foods, etc.  During my short stint in the Society the only thing I managed to do was watch the blooming plants that Paul gave me, never bloom again.

Of course, back then I didn’t have a house with so much light.  So, I said, sure I'd take the orchid.  Fortunately directions were attached and after she left, I decided to read them.  What a surprise when I read that all you need to do is add 3 ice cubes once a week!  Place in plenty of light (not direct sunlight) and avoid drafts.  Can anything be easier that that?  And it worked!  I love it and am enjoying its beauty.  Hope you are having a beauty filled day too!

On Another Note:  Stitch by Stitch has a couple nice tutorials for you.

Until next time,
♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

WHAT METHOD OF APPLIQUE DO YOU USE?

It’s snowing…AGAIN!  Oh, well, that gives me an excuse to roll out of bed, go to my sewing room in my robe and slippers and have fun creating all day long.  I’m not sure how creative I’ve been, but I have been practicing my needleturn appliqué.  As a rule I prefer to do freezer paper appliqué; however, today I thought I’d attach these letters to my cow quilt by doing something different.  The letters started out like this. 

Above, you can see how some of the first letters look.  I’m not crazy about this and think I need lots and lots of practice. 

I like the crisp edges I got when I made this bird using the freezer paper method.  So far I haven’t been able to accomplish that with needleturn.  Barb David once told me that when she does needleturn applique she could get the crisp edges with no problem, so I’m going to keep trying Barb. Does anyone have any words of wisdom for me as how to improve on my needleturn?

On Another Note:  During Quiet Time has a tutorial for a half-hexagon bag.

Until next time,
♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

BARB DAVID FEATURED IN GR PRESS

Some of you may have already met Barb David as she is frequently featured on this blog due to her fantastic needlework and her books on Twilling.  Barb is a teacher at the Attic Window Quilt Shop and this past Sunday was featured in the Grand Rapids Press.  For those of you not in this area or who have not seen Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood’s article yet, you can see it here.  It is a wonderful article about Barb and her prolific creations as well as her battle with health problems.

We wish you the best Barb and look forward to seeing more of you and your beautiful work and attending your informative classes.  Get well soon!

On Another Note:  Tartankiwi has a nice tutorial for a sewing case.

Until next time,
♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

SPENCER GETS THE MODERN MONDAY QUILT

I'd like to introduce you to Spencer.  This past Sunday I drove to my son’s house for a birthday party for one of my grandsons.  I took this opportunity to give Spencer his quilt.  If you are new to this blog, the quilt is the one I made during the Modern Monday Quilt Along.  Spencer turned 17 last month, but I didn’t have the quilt finished then.  Isn’t he handsome!

 Here he is as he pulls the quilt out of the bag and opens it.  He looks happy.

 And here he is with it wrapped around him.  I hope it keeps him warm and that he thinks of his old Nana once in a while when he snuggles under it.

 Above, Spencer looks over all the various blocks.  He is such a good kid with a good heart.  Did you notice his hair?  It is in a pony tail.  For the past year he has been letting it grow with plans of donating it to Locks of Love.  He told me he hopes it is long enough for the cut by the time school is out.   Maybe I can get a picture when it happens! Sort of like the big reveal.  ;o)

On Another Note:  Did you know that Gen X Quilters has a Modern BOM?  You can see the tutorials for January and February here.  Looks interesting.

Until next time,
♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

STAMP OUT DISEASE AND REPLACE IT WITH LOVE AND BEAUTY

Isn’t this a stunning quilt?  Let me tell you about it.

In October of 2012 I posted about this block that I had made for the Modern Monday Quilt Along.  I said that I felt it too feminine for my quilt as I was making it for my 16 year old grandson and mentioned that I didn’t know what I would do with the block.  Michelle Bilyeu of With Heart and Hands left this comment on the blog:  I love this little posy! Can you put into a little quilt for AAQI and if you don't have time..mail it to me and I'll make a quilt and donate it with a heads up for your work!

Since I had no idea what to do with the block, I sent it and a few scraps to Michelle and she turned that plain block into this stunning little quilt.  Michele is a very special lady and I want to share her recent eMail to me as it tells about her and the Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative. Below is the letter she sent to me.

As a quilter, an online blogger, and as the founder of my own group of online quilters/bloggers the Liberated Quilting Challenge Group, I invited online quilters and bloggers to help me raise money for Alzheimer's research funding by supporting the  Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative. AAQI, as it is known, was begun by Ami Simms in January of 2006, when she realized that her own mother had Alzheimer's Disease and that she needed a way to make a difference in her mother's life, and her own life, by doing something to help put an end to this horrible and challenging disease.  What began as a small grassroots effort grew in just 8 years to become an award winning organization that has already raised more than $900,000 by the sale and auction of small format quilts. We are planning on reaching our ONE MILLION DOLLAR goal by the end of 2013, and so 2013 will be our final year of running and using AAQI a a funding organization.

I began my own little group,  Liberated Quilting Challenge Group to raise money for AAQI, in January 2010. January was also the month, that I went up to my childhood home on Douglas Island, near Juneau, Alaska to  help my father take care of my mother, who was already suffering from advanced Alzheimer's Disease. Little did I know, that I would slip and fall on the worse black ice in Juneau, Alaska's history within three days of my arrival there,  and break my arm in two places, dislocate 3 bones, and require immediate surgery. With a broken and healing arm, I continue to care for my mom, cook and clean their house, give insulin shots, Alzheimer's medications, and believe it or not..use a sewing machine with one hand to sew. And I continued to create my challenge group for AAQI, invite other quilters to join me, and to do all of the necessary data work with one arm and hand and one bit of an extra elbow!

I knew if I could do all of that, I could continue to run my challenge group, with a dial up connection computer from Alaska, that I could do just about anything!  My little  group of about 40 quilters have created and donated over 500 quilts to AAQI since 2010 and raised a lot of money for this cause in that process. I am deeply committed to quilting for this cause, as 15 members of my immediate family have suffered from this horrible disease......and now only my 87 year old mother is still alive, and still being cared for by all of us grown children, by ourselves, in her home.

To say, that this cause is important to me personally, is a understatement! So, I am delighted that you not only donated some fabric to my cause, but asked me to let you know when my small format art quilt was completed and up for sale on the AAQI website.

My completed small format art quilt. #12,976 Attic Window Posy  ...named in honor of all of you....was priced by AAQI founder and directer, Ami Simms, at $65.00. My quilts have gone for as high as $175.....all this small size ...so it is a fair price and of course...all profits go to fund Alzheimer's research!!

Thanks again, for helping this cause by the donation of the fabrics for this quilt. I just loved sewing with them and truly do love how it turned out. It became one of my absolute favorites of the over 50 quilts that I have personally donated to date!  If you check out the link to the quilt's own little web page at AAQI, you will notice that I dedicated it to you and all of the Attic Window Quilt Shop quilters!

I would just dearly love it if one of your quilters could purchase, and own it, as that would give it an especially dear home!

With Heart and Hands
Michele Bilyeu

Thank you Michele for making this beautiful quilt.  You are a very talented lady with a big heart.   Thank you too for mentioning me and the Attic Window in your dedication.  I wish you and AAQI the best of luck in selling this quilt and pray that you reach your ONE MILLION DOLLAR goal. " May we work together to stamp out Alzheimer’s disease and replace it with the love, generosity, and the creativity of the quilting arts."
Until next time,
♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

HAPPY SCRAPPERS AND A DEMO

The Happy Scrappers met at the Attic Window Quilt Shop this past Wednesday and Adrienne had this lovely quilt to show us. 

She also gave us a short demo on how she made it.  Above she holds up scraps of batting which we all have collected from various projects.

Adrienne explained that she cut those batting scraps into squares.

Then she did a stitch and flip on each of the batting squares.

Above she shows us how she stitched four of those squares together.

This is how her quilt looks from the back.  She said that she will now only need to add the backing and binding to the quilt as the batting is already there.  What a clever way to use up ALL your scraps. Thanks Adrienne for the demo and showing us another way to use our scraps.

Above Peggy shows us these stitch and flip blocks she is making.

Peggy is also working on her Tea Leaves (as most of us still are).  Hers is shaping up nicely.

Judi made this darling Triple Zipper Pouch.  I love the bright colors she used and how nicely her corners turned out.

This is a closer look so you can see how she used the link from my previous post to make the two toned zippers.  Aren’t they darling!

Judi also made this cute little click it purse.  I got so excited about it that I intended to stop at the dollar store and get a metal tape measure so I could make one too!  Then I forgot!  Ugh!  This getting old is for the birds!

On Another Note:  McCalls Quilting has a free pattern for this Celtic Twist Block.  Looks interesting!

Until next time,
♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

QUILTING FRIENDS ARE THE BEST!

Today I attended the Happy Scrappers Bee at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.  I’ll tell you all about that tomorrow.  Now, I want to tell you about the wonderful surprise I found when I got home. 

Dear friend Jeanne B. made this lovely mug rug and sent it to me in the mail.  Isn’t it fun getting a package in the mail!  I love mug rugs.  A few years ago I realized I was ruining my coffee table where I always placed my coffee mug.  Now I can get rid of that old one I made back then and use this lovely red heart.

And notice – she sent me this darling handmade Valentine card too! You can click on the picture to get a closer view.  She is so artistic!  And the message inside warms my heart. Thank you Jeanne!  You are my Valentine!

On Another Note:    Check out Moda Bake Shop for an improve Valentine wall quilt.
  
Happy Valentine's Day,
♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

BEST COOKIE RECIPE

 

Remember Brynn?  She is the nine-year-old quilter that went on the Heart of Winter Tour with us.  And she brought cookies!  For everyone!  As promised, Grandma Louisa sent me the recipe and I’m sharing it with you. You will definitely want to try these!

WORLD'S BEST CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

1 cup brown sugar
1 cup sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon milk
1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine
1 egg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 - 4 1/2 cups flour
1 bag (12 oz) chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Cream together brown sugar, sugar, oil, milk, butter, vanilla and egg.  Add dry ingredients using mixer.  Add Chocolate Chips to mixture.

Spray cookie sheet with Pam, bake for 12 minutes.  Take out of oven just as the edges are turning brown. Makes 4 dozen big cookies!

On Another Note: Vibrant Designs has a tutorial for a Crossbody Hipster.

Until next time,
♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll

DO SNOWMEN MELT YOUR HEART?

This is the February block for the Snowman BOM that began last year at the Attic Window Quilt Shop.  How adorable!

Karen is participating in this BOM and showed us her blocks so far. 

This is a close up of one of her blocks.  This promises to be a darling wall hanging. 

This is Interesting:  For those of you who live in this area, did you know that Alpine Township has a blog?  Alpine Township Supervisor Alex Arends visited the Attic Window on Saturday just as our bus was returning from the Heart of Winter Tour.  He stopped in, took some pictures, and did a post about us on his Blog.  You can see it here.  

On Another Note:  This might be something you would like for your next retreat.   Noodle Head has a tutorial for a travel tooth bush/paste case.

Until next time,
♥
Stay Calm! Stay Kind! Stay Positive!
Caroll