Art Quilt Part 4

I may need to rethink some of my fabrics or add in some additional "tones" to get more definition in my truck. But tonight I was able to outline the truck on the dew sew and do two sheets of the pattern pieces in two of the different fabrics.





I'm only going to pin the pieces on the dew sew until I get all the pieces cut out and see how I like it. I already want to change out one fabric for something else.





Considering I really have no idea what I'm doing - just following some instructions out of a book, I think it's kinda looking like a truck...

Art Quilt Part 3 and the Panda Swap

So for the last week or so I've been traveling. First I went to Seattle to see a dear friend get married! I had the best time and just love her and her family and her new family. It really was a beautiful wedding! Then I came home for 12 hours and left for San Jose for business. Needless to say, I haven't gotten much sewing done. I did however get the final items needed to move forward with my art quilt.

The Ruby Beholder - this is a value finder and window template.



It is to help sort fabrics by value. It helps you see the fabrics in shadings from light to dark.


I found the Do Sew on Clotide (along with some charm packs, I didn't need for the Art Quilt).


This is the traceable foundation for me to mount my pattern pieces to in the image construction of the art quilt.

And finally, I remembered to pick up some freezer paper from the grocery store for the applique pieces.



So now I should be ready to start cutting out the pattern pieces and the initial assembly.

Also, while I was gone, my Panda Swap box arrived and Kerry out did herself! It was such an amazing swap box! wow!


Wonderful stuff in there! - fat quarters, rick rack, buttons, an awesome pin cushion, measuring cups and spoons, a pattern for a fun animal (panda) blanket and some incredible panda ribbons! But wait for it - she also made me this super panda table runner! check this out! it's cheerful and fun.


Thank you so much Kerry! I just love it.

Art Quilt Part 2

Here is a little more progress on the truck art quilt.

I've selected the fabrics for the truck. I have not found the background fabrics yet.

I've made the pattern outlines for each piece of fabric/color. As you can see, I've made a fabric sheet and then 1 page for each fabric with all the various patterns on it.

Now I need to get some freezer paper and something I think they called DoSew, or DewSew or DuSo - not sure yet. It look like a simple non-fusible web, but I think I need to do more research. It is a web where they applied the cut pattern pieces to start fixing them in place.

Art Quilts

Yes, yes I know I am not yet a quilter. Yes, I do not yet know enough. So this is exactly why I've chosen to bite off more than I can chew. Typical Amy Style. One day maybe I will learn what "boundries" mean. On Friday, I stopped by JoAnns for a little decompression time after sitting in traffic. While there, I found this book called "Photo-Inspired Art Quilts" by Leni Levenson Wiener. I had the coupon from my iphone App for 50% but low and behold the book was on sales for $8.99! Gotta love a bargin. Well in the book is also a DVD which I watched this morning. I took notes. I looked at the picture that's been hanging over my sewing machine for close to 2 years now. I watched the video again, i looked at the photo. I looked at the big Epson R1800 printer that I have yet to install in almost 3 years. I looked and then I began.

Printer needs cartridges because they had DRIED up it's been so long since I used it. Luckily I had some spares and loads of paper. I followed the instructions for dividing the photo into quadrants and then enlarging, etc. Then I moved on to the tracing. That is how far I've gotten. Next will be making the pattern pieces and find the fabric. I still need to figure out what the Rules of Value are and find some sort of Ruby gel viewer...




I've had to tape my tracing paper together to get it to size I want. Right now the quilt is planned to be 24in x 18 in.

Bow Wowzer!

Ok I wanted to do a feature on something very special to me. As you know from yesterday's post, I got my Hot Mama Apron Swap apron from Regena.
You see, when Regena and Denise came down for the International Quilt Festival, Regena gave me the little girl dachshund towel.Well, inside that swap box was something extra special. A tea towel with an adorable little dachshund embroidered on it. So now I have a his and her set and I just totally love them! Even the hubs gave his seal of approval.

Cool Drinks for Hot Mama's Apron Swap

Did I ever get the most like crazy; like wow swap package yesterday. That queen Regena sent me this stupendous Apron!

It's just so radioactive!

There's this like Apron right out of Mad Men!

Then the place mats are just to divine.



Can you say far out to these dachshund swizzle sticks?


They're just great for my slurg!


Check out these rad tuckins! A gardening journal, some seeds, my favorite magazine and great herb drink recipes! That Regena is a cool cat!



terminology from Slang of the 50's

Life Challenges

Each day you wake up and each day you go on about your life. Some days everything falls into place just the way it should. Then on other days, you can't seem to win for trying. How you face these days sets your character as a person. Do you choose to wallow in the misfortunes that came your way? Do you opt to not find that silver lining? For me, I tend to mix it all up. Some days nothing can get me down. Some days I face each challenge head on and move smoothly to the next. Now on those off days when I allow myself to bath in the ugliness, I tend to wake up the next day regretful that I wasted that day to all the negativeness.

What is your favorite way to offset the curve balls that life likes to send your way?

What I've been working on this week

I signed up for my first Doll Quilt Swap on QuiltingBoard.com this week. I've never done one of these before - only the apron swaps and the home decor ones.

Here is the main piece for the Doll Quilt. I plan to add some boarders and hand quilt it. All the fabric is from my scrap bin too!


Next I've started on a baby quilt for my husband's nephew's new daughter (ok so she's almost a year old). I've had the fabric since she was born and am only now piecing it. I am so bad yes very very bad. Terrible even.

I'm using a tutorial from Bee Square Bee for the zig zag quilt. It really came together faster than I expected and I'm fairly happy with the results. One day I hope to be a real quilter when I grow up.


I'm little scared about the chalk lines not coming out..but I'm assured it will wash out.

I really like the green flannel backing.

Sauteed Parsnips

Thought I'd give you another cooking tutorial and this time on something we are really enjoying at home these days - Sauteed Parsnips.



Here are the ingredients.

12 parsnips
S&P
Butter and/or Olive Oil

Peal the parsnips.



slice them into rounds



Put the butter or oil in the skillet on medium heat.


Add in the parsnips and

cook until golden brown. Season with Salt & pepper to taste and enjoy!.

***Note they should be very golden brown and darker than in the picture - I somehow didn't get the final picture ;(***