One Piece at a Time

OK, I solved my little PDF problem

So, many of you know that I have not really had the time to create the PDFs for the pieced blocks in the Jingle BOM. The problem is, I want to but it takes me forever with my current level of software and expertise. I would really rather use that time to do other things, like design and sew. Well, the other day we were talking at work about what our other hobbies are and I had to say mine were drawing and photography. You guys know about the photography thing and you probably guessed about the drawing thing if you have ever seen one of my patterns but the idea just popped into my head, why not make a "drawn" pdf that you guys could download? You see, when I spend time drawing I feel really good. When I spend more time than necessary in front of the computer, well I feel not so good.

So last night I gave it a little test spin and here is a picture of Jingle Block 4 almost done. I LOVED doing it this way. So, hopefully I will have it done and ready to download soon. And, pieced block 5 will be up on Friday or Saturday with it's own hand drawn pdf. Yeah!

Now for you lovers of drawing out there; these 2 website gave me the idea. They Draw and Cook is a website of all illustrated recipes. I have even bought their cookbook. I just found They Draw and Travel and it is super wonderful as well. Who knew, maybe I should start a website called They Draw and Quilt?

What do you think?

Design Wall Monday

Happy Monday Everyone! Here is a little shot of my design wall this fine Monday morning. I am super busy making samples for McCall's Quilting Quilt Along #3. Those are the big blocks. You can also see the Daisy Wreath block which is in the current issue of McCalls Quilting. The drawings are for another project that I will share more about this fall and that little pieced block is Jingle Pieced Block 5. It should be up and ready on Friday. Yikes, that was a busy week!!!!

By the way, I have found a really fun solution to the PDF problem that I will share with you later this week.

Head on over to Judy's Blog for some Monday morning inspiration!

Stuff I Found Walking Around

A few weeks ago a friend told me about this book on photography and I just had to run out and get it. This is not a technical book but more of a way of training your eye to see things. I have just started to read it and I am already learning tons about observing, but also about myself. Like how it is really hard for me to not “enhance” the pictures I take...even just a little bit...because I really LIKE to manipulate and control. Now that could just be because visual imagery is a big part of my profession OR it could be that maybe I am just a little bit manipulative and controlling (ACK!!!), the jury is still out on that.

So, here are some of the images I took on my normal dog walk. I must admit, I did edit them...just a tad...really.

One of the exercises in the book has you notice texture. At first I felt like I was “trying” really hard. Then one morning I looked into my coffee cup and noticed this.

And I found this out on my daily walk.

What I find most interesting is that I have looked into a cup of coffee pretty much every day of my adult life, and walked by that tree stump almost every day for years and just now I am noticing how very cool they are...I’m seeing them now.

Quilt Along Lesson 7

Enjoy !

Quilt Along 3

I am suoer busy getting samples made for this little project. I am so excited to have these lessons professionally done by the video crew at work. We film later this summer and they will be up later this year...once all my bloopers get edited out. The pattern will be FREE...swoon.

 

Ooops..I forgot the picture of the Block Builders Workshop Block

Join Me for Block Builders Workshop

One of the really great featyres we have at McCall's Quilting is our Block Builders Workshop. Each issue we have a fun block pattern and there is a companion video on our website that shows you the technique we used. My Daisy Wreath Block is in our September/October issue of McCall's Quilting and here is the video.

 

For more videos by the McCall's Staff visit:

www.youtube.com/user/McCallsQuilting

Design Wall Monday

Coming later this year...

Quilt Along 3 at McCall's Quilting will feature this little quilt...designed by me...swoon. I am working really hard getting everything done to start filming these videos. I think you are all going to LOVE this. The video production team is TOP NOTCH. Best part is...totally FREE!

Head on over to Judy's Blog for more Monday morning inspiration.

This is wonderful

 

I saw this yesterday on Facebook and I just had to share it with you. I have always loved him as an actor and even more so now. Very touching and just the right thing for me to hear yesterday.

Jingle Applique Block 5 might be a little late because after seeing this I went right on and watched Tootsie.

Be back Saturday with Applique Block 5.

My dog's new trick

 

I couldn't resist. I have been working on teaching my dog this trick for a while.