Modeling Chocolate

A new medium! After watching 2 seasons of "Cake Boss" on Netflix, I had to try this. Much to my delight, you don't have to buy something expensive and premixed. You mix your own (recipe) using chocolate and Karo Syrup! I had the perfect opportunity to use it on a birthday cake for a fellow quilter who was turning 50. Not bad for a first try, althouth I think I made it a bit stiffer than it needed to be.  I scored it into squares using a pointed wheel tool, "painted' the squares using two colors - I used "pearl dust". DO NOT use liquid food coloring - it reacts badly with the chocolate. I then cut out a "5" and "0", placed it on the quilt and placed the whole piece on the cake. I then modeled some buttons and placed those on the side of the cake.  I was pleased with the result. Admittedly amateur - but a whole lot of fun!  See the needle and thread? The needle was a toothpick with a thin covering of the chocolate and a slit in the chocolate to look like the eye of the needle. Writing gel was used for the "thread." 
   The next family birthday cake is going to be such fun!

Retreat Part II

On Saturday Sandy did an awesome "make and take" using the Sissix machine and Stampin' Up stamps.  We made a funny greeting card, a Christmas ornament and a metal candle holder - what a generous treat. Thank you Sandy!

Here's Deanna meticulously putting her project together.

(Right) Sandy is a good teacher and Deanna was her "Vanna" like assistant.

Below Camille proudly shows off her ornament and candle holder. This was yet another great way to channel our creative energy - of which this group has no bounds!

Cindy celebrated the big 50 with us on Friday night. What better than a quilt cake?! It was my first attempt with modeling chocolate (more on that next post!)

Thank you to all the wonderful ladies who attented this retreat - they are a joy to spend time with, I learn so much, and come home chomping at the bit to sew, sew, sew!

More Time to Sew Retreat! Part I

This past weekend 12 women joined me at a log cabin house on Lake Norman to sew, sew, sew! Aren't they just the serious bunch? Serious about their sewing that is. Miles and miles of thread were used and many pieces of fabric were cut up and put back together! I was totally amazed at not only how much they accomplished, but how wonderful their quilts, bags, tablerunners, etc. were! To be sure, though, there was much laughing to go along with all the work. I think sleep was the one thing that there was not a whole lot of. That's okay, we can sleep at home ladies, but on retreat we sew!



Michele appears to be singing a great sewing song!





Deanna is "manipulating" one of her creations.






This was Camille's 1st retreat - the girl sewed to 3 AM!




Liz had a hard time leaving that machine - the did sew a mighty bunch!




Cindy and Laurie are very serious about their ironing.





A LOT of cutting was done this weekend - I think we solved a few of the world's problems while we were at it!

Tomorrow I'll post Part II!



Crazy Quilt Class

Shabby Chic look - very soft and pretty.

 A couple of weeks ago I had the honor of teaching a Crazy Quilt workshop for my guild. Ten great ladies attended. I was a bit nervous going in even though I had spent quite a bit of time in prep. There really was no need to be nervous. This group was most gracious. That coupled being with quick learners and extremely talented - the day was a total treat for me! What joy in seeing not only squares come together, but to see the embellishments begin to adorn each square.
  My apologies ladies, my photography isn't great.
I just can't wait to see some of the embellished squares!




Wish you could see the fancy embellishing that went on this
one before the day was done.




Love the center motif - this was from a
piece of clothing!




Lavendar color palette - so pretty.
Clever embellishing will hide the puckers from
the satin.




See the dragon on the printed fabric? I wish the
pic had come out brighter to show just
how good the colors went together.




Love, Love, Love the bright fabrics!
Very unique - especially once the
beads and more go on.



Now, is this a happy quilter, or what? The prints in this
square are just subtle enough that embellishing
will only enhance them.



The colors and fabricsfor this square are
very rich and warm.  Can't wait to
see several put together.




Another happy face!  Probably glad
to have put her stash to such
good use!




I just love the way the printed fabric pulls
the surrounding fabrics in.  Just so very
pretty.



Ahhh Batiks

This past spring I visited Batiks, Etc. in Virginia.  While there I picked up this wall hanging kit in their sale room.  What a treat - it only took a weekend to make and I have it hung in my office at work to help brighten each day.  Doing the sunflowers was a lot of fun.  They were part of the fabric print - you then cut them and attach to look 3-D.  Of course, I just had to add beads because I love beads! A quick project like this can be so rewarding!

Happy Birthday!

Last week our "baby" turned 25 years old - how did that happen?! We went to the city and took the light rail to uptown. That was different and a lot of fun - so convenient to not bother with parking uptown! The birthday girl chose an Irish Pub for dinner. We really do have a good time socializing with our kids - they're great conversationalists, interesting and humerous.  And they still want to spend time with their parents!  We are so blessed.  Happy birthday daughter - we love you so very much!

Catching Up

I work at a computer all day and somehow, getting to a computer at home turns into a chore. There have not been many posts on this blog lately, but I really did want to share a few completed projects. Last year I bout some pieces of silk at a quilt show but didn't have a clue what I wanted to do with them. Well, one new took later and wanting to do a contemporary pillow for my son's living room and Ta Da! It was a simple design and the colors just pop. I used a new tool - the Easy Circle Cut - a fun tool to cut arcs and circles.

My next finished project is a tote bag for a young woman who is moving out of the area. She will be going back to school in a year or two - so what better gift that a tote bag! I really like to layer buttons for embellishments.

Quite some time ago I purchased a pattern from Grace of Red Barn Studios, in our quilt guild. The "Padfolio" was a little challenging at first, but now I now I will be able to breeze through the next ones I put together. And what a great gift this will make! I embellished the cover with Tyvek leaves and yarn. I have such a new respect for pattern designers - I believe putting the pattern and directions together for others to follow must have been quite a challenge, but I'm so glad she did!