Austin Quilt Con

This past weekend I went to the Modern Quilt Convention in Austin. I had been looking forward to it for a year now as many of the bloggers I follow had mentioned it on their blog.
The Quilt Haus in New Braunfels also was there so I just had to go.

I took a bajillion pictures of some of the quilts I really liked so here's a bunch.

I'm a Parks and Rec fan so the Ron Swanson quilt caught my eye

Anyone who has ever tried to quilt has said this word, a lot. It made me smile.

This one had the most intricate quilting.

Close up of the quilting

Love this

This was the best in show for quilting, I really like how they
turned the double wedding ring quilt on it's head

My gorgeous sister and my darling daughter.

So cool

I really liked all that I saw, and I got two free charm packs from a Andover, a fabric vendor.

I LOVE THE PEARL BRACELETS

In other news I took a long arm quilting class from the Quilt Haus a week and a half ago. I get to use the machine on my own to practice this next wednesday. I'll try to get more practice time on Project Linus Quilts before I finally try to quilt the Big Brother Quilt. 

By the way, project linus quilts is a great organization that pairs critically ill children with hand made quilts that they get to use and keep while in the hospital. Judy at the quilt house told us to practice on donated project linus quilts first, since they always need those quilted and it's good practice, and it goes to a needy child. She also said that they get a bunch of quilt tops, but mostly need donations of batting since they rarely get that donated. I'll plan to donate batting when I do the project linus quilt. Anyway, just a note.

I'll let you know how it goes....

Ruth

embroidery

Lately I haven't had a lot of time for projects, mine or others, I've been working on being a Mom to a lovely 2 month old daughter and a 3 year old son, as well as being a hopefully adequate Wife.
But in-between all that, I finished an embroidery for my niece, who will be born in about a month or so.

It's an E, for Evelyn.

graphic design project finished

It's been awhile since I've posted, well, I had a baby a month ago, so that's why.

Before I delivered, I finished a super cool project for a very good client in the area.

It's her logo, graphics and billboards.

I'm really pleased with the outcome.

She's an avid poker player (she's played in the World Series of Poker) and so the logo being an ACE was a stroke of genius.

It may be quite awhile till I finish another project.

So, hopefully this will have to do for awhile.

Thanks so much to Kendra for continuing to use me!!

, Ruth

not quite finished

So, I'm finished with the Tutu's for this years Nutcracker. But, haven't finished a bunch of other projects because as of 6 am tomorrow, I will be in the hospital having a baby. (I hope)

Here's the round up of some stuff I started, and some stuff I didn't finish.

The cutest dress ever

the outlines of the embroidery

I finished the baby dress, but am not finished with the embroidery. I was going to outline the heart and her name, and then fill it in with satin stitch, but it looked so bad each time I started on the satin stitch I pulled it out. Now all I have is the outline, and it looks messy.

So, I'm putting it aside for now.

This upcoming project of giving birth to my daughter takes precedence.

Ruth

sewing projects

I'm suffering from pregnancy related carpal tunnel syndrome. So off and on I use wristbraces to keep the numbness and pain away. It keeps me from doing a log of stuff I'd LIKE to do. So does my sciatic nerve pain....also pregnancy related.

So instead of sewing, and crafting, and dancing and walking. I'm doing a lot of sitting and lying down and wearing wristbraces instead of the usual things I would prefer to do.

I managed a few things in the past month in spite of my general laziness.

I finished a baby dress for my baby (still not born) and finished some pillows for her crib. Mostly for my rocking chair, since she wont need them for the first 6-12 months really.

Little Lucy's ric-rac dress. When I sewed them on the fabric, it looked
much straighter. Oh well.

Pillows, for, well me. 

There's a slew of stuff I feel that I want to do but at this point lack the energy/money to go and do them.
And that's ok. Honestly, I really really like that at this point, my son can play by himself, or watch TV and for 30 minutes I can rest on the couch in-between other stuff one must do. I know I'll have much less of that when my daughter is born.

Until then.

Ruth

finishing up projects--or not

The snow tutu's on some of the dancers

6 out of 8 finished-lets hope the last two get done before my little girl is born

finished arm bands

Finished the backing for the Big Brother Quilt, most likely will wait to quilt it till
after Lucy is born. (much after) My son getting ready to walk on it......
he's such a silly dude.

Halloween witches, me and my son were very very scary witches.
Especially me with my carpal tunnel wristband and my streaky (almost)
invisible green makeup.

tulle

I finished the top for the big brother quilt.

My pants-less assistant designer. aka, the big brother this quilt is for.

Then I started on the tutu's for The Dance of the SnowFlakes, in the Nutcracker.

This was a bigger job than the Waltz of the Flowers tutu's because we are starting from scratch.

Here was my original sketch.

Not quite finished but still looking good.

Now that the first is finished, next come seven more. I have volunteers for this part, so I will be only making three more. *Whew* load off my mind. I did put together a 9 page, how to with pictures and only 20 steps to just make the bodice. I'm still working on the same how-to for the tulle skirt. I had originally wanted to add sleeves, just little wisps to add some dimension, but depends on how much time we have. I have a big deadline (my delivery of this little girl) and of course it is 4 days before the Nutcracker premieres. It's like she KNOWS.

The tulle was a big of a pain to work with. I've worked with it  before, and still I forget how well, obnoxious it is.

Anyway, luckily, it doesn't show too many issues when you layer 7 layers upon one another. I still think it needs more layers of tulle, but because after 10 yards of tulle, 8 times over can get expensive. Even if it's only $1 a yard. (on sale) I used the tulle from last years tutu's and only got half what I would have liked at the store. Still I managed to get, hmnnn, about 40 yards of tulle. It took many trips to many Hobby Lobby's since it being around Halloween, tulle has been a hot seller.

Here are the headpieces that my Mother lovingly and kindly found and donated.

Until then,
Ruth