Here it is...

Sooooo, Cake Topper is officially on the market!

 Well, it has been but I've been a bit behind on the official announcement, so here it is!!!

 I still love these pictures. I couldn't have asked for better weather.

 love Love LOVE

 Oh, and just like it's predecessor, this quilt also has an option for a pieced back...

Is it sad I'm already thinking up about 10 other ways to make this quilt? Right now the one at the top of the list is a flannel... I've been freezing since the temperatures started to drop here. Flannel sounds so good right about now...

Either that or more garlic Parmesan broccoli... Who said diet food can't be yummy? This girl is proving them wrong, big time...

I'll be back soon with more photos and updates. A new idea I'm going to try out as well as updates on the newest patterns! They are so stinkin' cute! I can't wait to get them all done to show you!!! Later!

So what fabrics would you make Cake Topper out of?

Success!!! And a New Pattern!!!

So, it took me a bit longer than expected, but I did get all 4 quilts done!

Tuesday I got the first 3 quilts done in no time it seemed. Part of it was Mom loaded the first quilt for me so all I had to do was go in and start up the machine and quilt!

 This was made out of Lovely by the wonderful Sandy Gervais, very Happy Giddy Bliss (Hi Gayle!)

 I quilted loops and flowers all over this one...

 Then, these next 2 quilts are doubles, both out of adorable bug fabric but I quilted them differently. This first one I squiggle stippled.

 The next one I quilted loops on.

 Here's how they looked on the machine side by side. Then I had to take a small break and go play with the pups. (Or as they see it interrupt their naps).

 After a short time out I was back at it determined to finish all 4 of these quilts.... The last one started off like this.

 And I had to stop and admire the afternoon sun highlighting the quilting...

 And like that I had to stop. That's as far as I got before my chest and back said otherwise... (Still having some small pains when I do too much - or try and quilt 4 quilts in the same afternoon :] I'll never learn) So, no biggie, I figured I would be back Wednesday after work...

Well, Wednesday as I went to leave work and finish this up, a storm was rolling in and just as I was about to leave it hit - really bad. I don't know about you but I don't like to do anything with expensive electronics in a storm... no computer, no sewing machine, nada. I know insurance will replace them, but I would rather avoid that situation if at all possible...

 So, today I was able to go out and finish it and I LOVE how the quilting turned out. Now, this is the back, same principle as the Charmed Living Topper, just using Layer Cakes - so without further ado I'm pleased to introduce you to Cake Topper!

 Here's the front completely finished quilted... oh, yeah, that binding part... I made this one using Kansas Troubles Cattails and Clover that is due out in stores very soon! I hear some shops already have the precuts, which means yardage isn't far behind! I used a Bella Solid for both the border and backing, it will be the binding too. Unfortunately I don't remember the name of the color, but it's a gorgeous chocolate brown, I think it worked out well...

So Cake Topper is the latest in the Ruby Blue Pattern line, what do you think?

Oh, and just for those inquiring minds - Finishes at 59" square (perfect for these colder fall nights!) I will hopefully do a photo shoot this weekend if the weather holds out and have patterns out shortly after that! I'll keep you posted.

So, I think that was - I take that back - I know that was the most quilting I've done on the long arm in that short amount of time and I'm feeling it now, but it was sooo much fun! I love seeing the quilting design and the thread work with the fabrics and the quilt itself. I've been working really hard at the quilting element and I've been trying new designs and that's always fun.

Right now I think the quilting has been the most enjoyable part of quilting (but that's also usually because I'm alone with the music cranked up, able to listen to what I want and dance if I want to because no one else is around and I basically have a party by myself...) Yeah, I'm kinda a dork that way :]

So, that's what I've been up to this week, I'm working on making my first batch of Apple Pear Butter right now - the house smells SO GOOD! I already ate dinner and I think I might have to have dessert... That and the dogs are staring and drooling... It must smell good to them too!

So what have you been up to? Let me know what you think of the newest addition. I'd LOVE to hear what you think! Until next time!

Machine Quilting

Mary Ann made this adorable Java version of Paganini by the ever so wonderful Miss Rosie...

 The pattern uses a Charm Pack and some background - AND - it has the most adorable scalloped borders. Mary Ann requested that I quilt swirls on it to mimic the coffee steam.

 If you click on the picture you can see the marks for the scallop. I can't wait to see it done completely. Mary Ann picked the blue and brown stripe to make a bias binding for this. I'll try to post pictures of it soon.

This is a sample for my Mom's Quilt Shop that she is taking with her to Quilting Around Chautauqua this weekend. I really enjoyed quilting it and will be quilting many more projects in the future, so I thought I'd start sharing the ones I can with you here. I'm actually heading out today to hopefully (crossing my fingers) quilt 4 quilts today. One more Miss Rosie pattern times 2 (one for the shop, one for a friend), A wonderful hexagon quilt, and a new one from me - a new version of the Charmed Living Topper adapted to use Layer Cakes... And made out of the new Kansas Troubles line??? Can it be true?!

I've got quite a schedule today so I'm hoping to get as much done as possible. I'll post pictures as I can. Wish me luck! Tucker and Abby are just wishing I'll quit quilting for a bit so I can give them a treat...

This is probably going to be the view from the quilting room again today! Talk to you later!

A Little Here...

The last week has been a complete whirlwind, but a good one. I've done a little this, a little that, some here, some there. Wanna see?

So, I've mentioned before about how I wanted to put in a garden this year. Well, mission accomplished and to top it off instead of just one, I have 3!

 Hubbin and I created 3 raised beds, one a bit larger made out of Architectural Splitface Block (from job #2) and two kits purchased at a local store.

The first bed has 12 different kinds of herbs including some off-the-wall types like purple basil, lemon thyme, golden oregano... And the front row is shallots and onions. 

 This one has 7 different types of tomatoes including Mr. Stripeys, Pinks and Tomatillos...

 Last one is mostly peppers including sweets and some spicy, green and yellow beans, and a small attempt at corn. (You should see it now, we planted the corn and green beans a week ago when we built these and the corn is already a few inches tall!)

There's also my lilies that seemed to grow over a foot in a few days and we have a window box with ever-blooming strawberries and carrots. I can't wait to start canning!

 And now onto my trip to Shipshewana. I was so busy once again buying fabric at Lolly's in the Davis Mercantile that all I remembered to get a picture of was the huge tree in the center of the building. It doesn't look like it here but this goes all the way from the basement to the roof above the third floor and is probably close to 3 feet wide at least if not closer to 4 feet wide. I promise to show you what I bought soon, I'm soooo excited about it.

 Here's where I was for a couple days, setting up, then working the show itself and tearing down. My spot was in the corner back there. We line all the latest and greatest quilts of upcoming fabrics up along the walls. It was really sunny all day so that's why some of the quilts look like they're glowing, there's huge windows all along the one wall.

 Lynne Hagmeier from Kansas Troubles Quilts was at the show with us (what a doll!) And Sandy Klop from American Jane was in the area for a nephew's wedding and decided to stop by! It was such a pleasant surprise!!!

Lynne and Lois (Lynne's Assistant) were so fun to hang out with and their quilts are gorgeous!!! If you love Fall, you have to check out her new line Cattails and Clover - it's wonderful!

 Here was my little corner of the booth... some Moda Bake Shop projects, the newest patterns and Stars All Around from American Patchwork & Quilting's June 2011 Issue (only on newsstand copies).

 Lynne's Booth was full of treasures just unpacked from Spring Market.

And I got to see a quilt (a whole quilt) out of Ruby by Bonnie and Camille! It's even better than I thought it'd be!!! Once again sorry for the bad picture, I should have snuck into the Conference Center after Dark, but I was busy watching the Voice - alright, who else loves the Voice?

So basically that was my week in a nutshell. Lots of fun, I got to meet several wonderful shop owners - some familiar and some new. As mentioned before, Lynne and Lois from Kansas Troubles were so much fun to hang out with. And my garden is in and thriving!!! Simple pleasures, but that's all it takes some days.

So tell me, what did you think? Also, I'm trying my best and it's only been a week but my garden is still going strong... That may change. Do you have any gardening tips for me? I'm planning on making tons of recipes and canning what I can this year for the winter months. Wish me luck.

Have a wonderful rest of the weekend and a good week this week. I'll show you what I got in Indiana this week and show off some other little tidbits later on! Until next time!