New (old) things

I love old things that are new to me.  Our quilt guild has an annual garage sale that I have been in charge of for the past 3 years.  Being in charge means you get first pick, which is soooo dangerous!  On top of that, I spent a day this weekend thrifting and antiquing and I got some more cool stuff.

These piles and piles of lace are just what I wanted from the garage sale. 

I got these cutter quilts that have already been cut into, but might be large enough for lap pieces.  

The white and blue one is stunning, and the back is very much frayed, but might be salvageable with a new binding and minkee back?  I still can't believe it was cut into pieces. I bought one of the pieces as scrap some time ago, and made this.

Notions, wood spools, and a tin full of buttons?  Don't mind if I do!

Old pattern pieces, redwork patterns, and a kindergarten shape book from 1898.

A redwork top embroidered in around 1848, cut and made into two pillow shams.  (Cat not included. She loved rolling on all the "new" things)

More odds n ends.

A neat sampler that is PERFECT for my room and seems to have my initials already on it?  I can't wait to frame it.

Hankies from the antique shop for $1.29 ea.  A STEAL.

And these little creepy things for my studio walls.
What's your favorite?  Leave it in comments!

Looking back to look forward

The channel guide for when my episode was on locally!

I can't say that 2011 wasn't good to me.  It was a fabulous year.  Some of my highlights were:
     -taping a segment for Series 800 of Quilting Arts TV!
     -Having my EL Wire article published in In Stitches digital magazine
     -Teaching at Houston in the Make It University area
     -Acceptance into my first IQA show and also two other exhibitions
     -having several of my meme quilts go viral


It's been such a successful year that it makes you wonder how to keep the momentum going?  I have lots of ideas scrambling around in my head that I hope to make come to life.  It's going to be a great year again, and I hope you'll stay for the ride!  

This n That #34

Boy o Boy, it's been a while since my last This N That post, so, here goes!
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My shop page is back open!
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A Reminder that the episode of Quilting Arts TV with me in it airs Jan 5th in my hometown Chicago-land area!  Channel 20 (WYCC) PBS at 1:00pm CST!

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I hope you all had a wonderful Holiday season, and got everything you wanted!  My Krampus quilt was picked up for the holidays by Mr. X Stitch, so that was a very nice surprise!

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Craftzine.com picked my Nyan Cat Quilt as one of their best for 2011 in the Quilting category!  How awesome is that?  These other quilts are also very very cool, so you should check out that link for some nerdy quilt goodness.

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Two large quilts are underway in my studio.  I'm very excited about them, but they are for competition, so I can't even post process photos... which is a bummer.  I see other people do this and I wonder how they get away with it. But I don't want to chance it, so I will have to work away in secret. One is long and skinny and the other is a pretty decent 40 inches across.  For me, that's HUGE!

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During the New Year's break I will be working in my studio and ON my studio, to finish up the last of the "makeover" work I was doing this year.  I just need to find either an old timey dressform, or a reproduction  of one.  Suggestions?  Leave them in the comments!

Japanese New Year - Year of the Dragon!

Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu!

It's time for my annual Japanese New Year display to go up, and this year is the year of the dragon.
In Japan, for New Year's Day, they put new year greetings on postcards called nengajo. However, if you have had a death in the family in the year prior, you are not to send or be sent any nengajo cards. With the tragedies in Japan this year due to the tsunami, I am wondering how the card makers are coping.
I am looking forward to the Year of the Dragon, as I have lots of things I am planning! Happy New Year!

Chicago Area! My Episode of Quilting Arts is Airing!

If you are in the Chicago area, my episode of Quilting Arts is airing on January 5th at 1 pm on WYCC (channel 20). It's episode 811, called "Quilts Gone Wild".   On Comcast Cable near me it's even in HD on channel 240.  Please check it out!