Stitching Hands Studio

Tooting My Horn

Someone's got to do it! I've got big news today. First of all, two of my quilts were chosen for the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative's May Online Auction. My #10,000 quilt, Shhh..., is the first one you see in this video. I also have #9500, Fine Feathered Friend, in the auction. Please spread the word about this fantastic fundraiser. The quilts in the auction this month are really wonderful. I see several I'd love to have in my own collection.

Now, for the really, really big news. I have been invited to be the Featured Quilter for the 2013 Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show! Wow, I'm so honored to have been chosen. This event draws thousands of people from all over the country and the world. I'm glad I have 14 months to prepare. The past week has been so busy, I haven't had time to sit down and really think about it, but I'm sure some new ideas will start sprouting soon.  So, save the date: July 13, 2013.  If you've been thinking about attending the show sometime, this might be just the incentive you need to make the trip!

The Big Day!

My show at QuiltWorks is in full swing for the month of March.  You can see a lovely slideshow at the QuiltWorks blog.  Last Friday night was quite an experience! I had such a good time.  It was great to see so many friends there and to hear from others who have seen the show during other times.  These first photos were taken before the show started.  Above is the first thing you see when you walk up the stairs.

Some more views of the gallery.

Above you can see Diane and Mary Ann, the lovely and talented ladies who hung the whole show and created and served the amazing food.

The food is always to die for and last Friday was no exception.  There was a St. Patrick's Day theme.

Come along and I'll show you some quilts that haven't made it to the blog before.

Above is a quilt made by my mother and I for the Hammond Family Reunion in 2000.  We designed and created this through a long distance collaboration.  There are signatures on the diagonal blocks.  It lives at my parent's house. 

This one was a collaboration with my sister and I and made in 2003 for my parent's 40th anniversary.  The photo panel buttons to the back of the quilt.  The blocks in the quilt are state blocks representing the states they had lived in up to that point.  There are state birds and flowers in the border.  Now they live in Oregon and next year is their 50th anniversary.  How will we top this!

This quilt is Maui Beach Houses, made during our year in Maui and finally finished 5 years later.  It's paper pieced.  I like it, but I'm not likely to do that again!

This is another quilt I made for Ryan when he was little.  I love the applique on this.  It's from a commercial pattern.

This is my quilt, Crossroads of Sedona, made in my workshop with Rosalie Dace.  I'm so glad it's finished so that it can be in the Sisters Quilt Show this summer.  It was very experimental for me and includes all sorts of techniques.  I combined hand and machine stitching and quilting in all the blocks.  

On the right are two mini quilts I finished just for the show- Studying with Gwen I and II.  These were made in a class with Gwen Marston.  I just needed to quilt them and decided to do it by machine so it went fast.  I like the top one best.

Zig Zag finally got done and this one was hand quilted.  This started in the Liberated Amish Challenge with Tonya Ricucci.  I love it so much! When I found that border print I knew it needed to be on this quilt.

Above right is a new one called "Little Red House".  This one started in a class with Tonye Phillips.  This one is also machine quilted.   

A Tribute to Gwen, was also started in a class with Gwen Marston.  I feel that she is my greatest inspiration and totally a "rock star" quilter.  I love this piece even though it doesn't lay flat.  Luckily, you can't tell that the way it's pinned on here.  

There was also a case holding three of my small slow cloth pieces.  

Here are some candid shots from the evening.  

Guild member Jill.

My parents enjoying the anniversary photo panel.

Ryan.

Michelle and Erin.

Teresa (and friend), Sarah, Jenn and Myria.

Karen, Sarah, Jenn, Erin and Susan.

Dad, Mark and Ryan.

Raffle Time!

Marilyn, co-owner of QuiltWorks, does the raffle.

Thank you to everyone who came and for QuiltWorks for putting this together!  It was a blast!

Sneak Peek

Sorry for neglecting the blog lately.  The preparation for my show has kept me busy.  I also had a real lack of energy last week, the aftermath of that nasty bug I had the week before.  Last weekend I was really able to catch up on sleep and finally get over the bug and today I felt like normal for the first time in two weeks!

This little sneak peek is the last thing I want to finish up before delivering my quilts on Wednesday.  More photos will come after the quilts are up and the reception is over.  If you happen to be in the area this Friday evening, the reception will be at QuiltWorks 5-7 pm.  I'd love to see you then, but the quilts will hang throughout the month of March, so stop on by anytime the shop is open.

A parade for my birthday!

I love parades, no doubt about it.  This year the Sisters Christmas parade was on my birthday, so off we went to this adorable little town for it's short and sweet parade. I wouldn't have it any other way.

This girl seems to be always plugged in these days!

There are lots and lots of animals in this one and nary a marching band.  I do love to see all the variety of beasts though.  Llamas, dogs,

Ryan and Scrabble,

miniature donkeys, 

beautiful horses,

greyhounds,

the occasional beautiful vintage truck.

newfies,

and the big man himself!  Santa came into town in style.

After the parade, this is my favorite place to step in for a coffee.  They really do it up for Christmas!

I had a marvelous time doing my part for Small Business Saturday.  I found some interesting rustic fabric at the Stitchin' Post that I can't wait to try and some beautiful vintage buttons at the antique shops.  Later, we had a delicious dinner, presents and gingerbread cake at my parents' house.  My mom also really knows how to decorate for the holidays, so those photos will show up here soon.  The owl portrait is a gift from my sister!

It was a very good day.   Thanks for all the nice birthday wishes.  Happy Sunday to you!

PS: Don't forget to comment on the previous post to enter the contest for one of my handmade ornaments.

PPS:  All the photos here were made with my iPhone!  I had no idea this little gem would be so much fun to take photos with.  I got a phone, computer and pocket camera all in one.  Thanks Mark!

Over the river and through the woods to Portland we will go

Friday was our first big storm of the winter and of course, the day I was heading over the pass to get Chloe for her Thanksgiving break.  The drive over the pass was super slow, but beautiful.  We spent the weekend in Portland before heading home.  It was so nice to spend some one on one time with this grown up girl.

Portland was in fine form, with some real sun and cold temperatures.  We did tons of shopping, walking and eating.

Portland is well known for it's food carts which pop in places all over the city.  We found one that was new to us and had some real gourmet waffles.

We saw this totally cool Kodachrome window in the Anthropologie store.  

Saturday night we went to an amazing production of Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol.  The writing, acting and set were so well done.  I would love to see more plays at the Artists Repertory Theater.  Now we have a whole week off to bake, make stuff and hang out.  Bliss!

Changes are afoot

My very astute sister has noticed that changes are afoot here.  I've been working on the blog all day and think I am getting where I want it to be.  I've been thinking a lot about what I want to do in the future and tweaking the focus of the blog is part of it.  I've added my name to the banner- a huge step for me!  It still feels a little funny to have it in big bold letters like that.  I've also re-written my about page, added photos to my gallery, put my Pinterest link in the header, changed the location of my shop back to Etsy (contingent upon the supposed name change option coming next week) and generally tweaked the look of things.  I've also added a link for following my blog at the bottom of the sidebar and linked all my posts to my Facebook page.  Actually getting items listed in the shop will take a while longer, but I do have some quilts to sell and hope to get them listed in time for holiday shoppers.  Stay tuned for that.  I hope to get back to good, old-fashioned stitching real soon.  

17!

My youngest is 17 today!  What an amazing thing.  When he was born I'm sure I couldn't have dreamed how things would be and where we'd be 17 years later.  It's been quite a ride, but so much fun.  Today we met with friends to have some more fun and to celebrate.  

Home

The Christmas Cactus was putting on a show and we came home just in time to see it.  There's still so much to do with unpacking and we don't have internet yet, so please bear with me as we transition to our new home.  I have a few thousand photos to go through from this summer too, so it will take a while to get organized.  Hope you are having a fabulous August!

Look who I got to meet!

Finally, Lazy Gal Tonya and I are in the same place!  It was so great to meet her- like old friends.  We had a nice dinner at Los Agaves Mexican Restaurant and then attended the Gee's Bend quilter presentation.  While waiting in line I did a mini show and tell and of course, we had to get a photo of this quilt, Love Always, our collaboration.  Tonya made the letters and sent them to me and I made the rest.  

I've got more to share, but it will have to wait.  Two more long days ahead.  See ya! 

On Holiday

I know it's been awfully quiet here and the silence will continue for a bit.  I just wanted to check in today and say the move is happening and the travel plans are in place.  I'll be way to busy to blog, but will definitely be taking photos and will come back with stories to share once we're settled in.  

Today is our 25th wedding anniversary!  Part of the celebration will be a nice dinner out, but we leave for Europe in about 3 weeks.  I'm very excited!  

PS- above is a photo taken on the California coast last week.  We really are going to be all over the map this summer!