Last week I received a huge box filled with 8 quilt tops. Making that event even more special is that they were made by a women, “Granny” 40 plus years ago. There is a wonderful story behind them and how they ended up being given to me. This woman and her story are so precious that I have decided to give Granny her own blog, “Martha Jane Quilts”. I will let Y’all know when it is published.

Granny was part of my life when I was a high school senior. She was the grandmother of my then boyfriend. I credit her for sparking a love of quilts. I remember the day I was visiting and she took a pile of quilt tops down from her closet shelf. Each was wrapped in tissue paper. When she passed away in 1994 the quilts were stored in a garage. Until last week. Hoping you will be as interested in reading about Martha Jane and her quilts. I am so excited to bring her story to life.

Here are a few teaser pics. 

I had a wonderful time. My mind and heart were on overload with inspiration, teachings, friends and wonderful people. It was an honor to have taken Jacquie Gering’s class “Building Bridges – Architecture Inspired”. It. Was. Amazing! I was so thrilled to finally meet her.
But…
I have to be honest. This post will not be what I had envisioned it to be. I wanted to fill it with QuiltCon eye candy and wonderful reports. Believe me there was plenty of both and they left me on a fibery, artistic high.

Then… that happy bubble burst. POP! My happy quiltdom has become tainted. Perhaps I’m naive. Perhaps it has been this way for awhile. I suppose I just became more aware. Aware of the division amongst Quilters. An “Us and Them” attitude. Traditional Quilters -vs- Modern Quilters -vs- Art Quilters. It goes deeper than which direction we press our seams or if we use all cotton threads. It’s mean. It’s angry. It’s ugly. It is one thing to not like a form, a style or an expression. It is another to spew insults and hateful words that attack and question one’s character.

If you don’t like something that’s fine. We are entitled to our likes and dislikes. You can even express those opinions. What I believe you cannot and should not do is verbally (or physically) assault the person that created the thing you are approving or disapproving of. Is this the horrid downfall of social networking and electronic words? Expression of hate is so easy today… all you have to do is click “send”! You can even hit and run and stay anonymous. What an easy and unaccountable way to be self-righteous, judgmental and asinine.

My disillusion began with the reactions I read in regards to the “F*ck Cancer” and “F*ck” Quilts on display at QuiltCon. Actually it happened before the written comments. I observed a couple at QC stomping out of the exhibition hall stating how offended they were. That’s fine but I wonder if they read the description and stories behind the construction of those quilts? Then the comments on Facebook and Quilting lists exploded. If you want to read my response to those ugly comments click here.

I then heard about things getting petty and accusatory with the web based Golden Quilter Awards. Mean. Pointless.

So what am I trying to say? I guess maybe I am asking where is respect for the person behind the cloth and thread? Are we not all sharing the same passion for self-expression and a love of fiber, color and the ability to turn them into a creation all our own? Creations that come from deep inside. Creations that wake us at night begging us to “design it now!” We really are not that different…yet, the ways we express are…and that is good. It is so right that we bring our differences together to display an abundance of beauty. How boring it would be if we all acted, believed, and created in the same way. Let’s not dictate or censor. Please?

QuiltCon is only TWO weeks away!! I can’t wait. I can’t wait to show off my present home of Austin Texas. If you are coming to Austin and want some tips or suggestions about food, beverages (the kind that make you happy), music, tattoos or cycling …search me out. I am thrilled to help.
I will finally get to meet IRL so many faces I have known through the years. Like Monica!! and… Penny!! Make sure you check out the mugs she is bringing. They are so cute!! I am hoping Pam is coming. I need to ask her. Hollie is another friend I can’t wait to meet. There are many more. Online Friendships can be a wonderful thing. A friendship with one of my dearest and closest friends began that way. Before Facebbok or Blogs. We knew each other 14-ish years before ever meeting face to face. Last year we did! Meet my friend Maddie… she is coming to QuiltCon too!

Okay the Modern Quilt Guild asked us to link up and tell 5 things about ourselves that others may not know. I won’t list the stuff that is in my “About” page. Here we go!!!!

Time for some Sewing Studio Honesty.
First, I have whined before how I used to have a whole 15×15 sq ft room as my studio. I now have a space carved out of what is supposed to be the dining area in our 1000 sq ft (that counts the garage) home. The dining table sits in our livingroom. Don’t get me wrong. I am thankful for my little cracker box house. I have a roof over my head. I have machines, fabric and love.
But…

I struggle to stay organized. See?…

Even “Buster” my hat modeling dummy doesn’t look happy.
I have 2 of 9 children left at home. One has saved his pennies and is looking for his own place and the other one wants his own place. Mr. Coffee’s ‘office’ is also part of this mix. Presently that is in the living-room. My conundrum could be solved by becoming an empty-nester or by finding a bigger house. Until either of those situations occur I must clean up this abode.

I do my cutting on the dining table that’s in the living-room… I store my ironing equipment in the garage…along with the long work table I used to use. My interfacings and batting fill part of a hall closet. Do not get me started on the closet sizes in the house. I have baskets filled, bookcases bulging, rolling carts blocking walking space… have I mentioned I bump into walls and solid objects? Ok. Maybe I did that in a larger house too.

I think this house makes my butt look big. Fine. It IS big.

If you have some super nifty tips on sewing and quilting in tiny spaces I would love to hear them. Just leave a comment.

Happy New Year!! {a day late for those of you in the Northern Hemisphere}
I hope all you holidays were filled with peace and you were present with those you love.

I had a baby. Ok a mechanical baby. I seem to have a love of vintage sewing machines. I found this one on Craigslist. Shall I name him “Merlin”?

Short post I know. I will be back with more soon. First I need to go sew or organize my fabric or maybe even fix some dinner. I’ve been messing all day fixing my broken blog. I changed my header too. I am debating whether or not to keep it.
Decisions, decisions… click images to make ‘em biggies. Not sure I will stick with any of them.
Here is the old:
Here is my first redo:
{{{ OBVIOUSLY I CHANGED MY MIND AGAIN }}} And this is what’s up there now:

My pillow for the PTS9 (Pillow Talk Swap) is finally finished and out the door today to its recipient. I title it “Edgar the Poe Pillow”. I have liked the sort of freaky works of Poe since I was a little girl. I enjoy the traditional dresden mixed up a bit. I especially love hand appliquéing them down. Hand sewing has a calming affect on me.
I have decided to enter it in the Blogger’s Quilt Festival. If you like my piece I hope you will nominate me (by November 4th) to be on the ballot that will then receive a second round of votes, November 5-8. My entry is # 185

Quilt Measurements-19″x19″
Special Techniques used – Hand Applique, Piping, Hidden zipper
Quilted by… Robyn of Coffee and Cotton
Best category – Hand Applique, Home Machine Quilted, Scrap Quilt

I loved making this Dresden quilt block into a pillow. I made a traditional Dresden block but enlarged the center circle to accommodate the size of the Raven. Before appliqueing the circle down I added some braided piping.

I then hand appliqued the Dresden onto some wonderful charcoal Essex linen. I love that fabric!


I added some borders to make it a finished size of about 19 inches square. The pillow front is free-motion quilted with Glide thread in the shade Prickly Pear.
I finished the back with a zipper that is hidden under a flap.

A great tutorial on how to make a hidden zipper flap for a pillow can be found here

I did it. Joined round 9 of The Pillow Talk {Swap}
I was creatively stumped for a bit.
…While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,…
I decided to do a Dresden Block but mix it up a bit. This is what I have so far.
…Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling…

Time to appliqué it down to the grey Essex linen. The fabric I am using for the center circle is “Edgar” from the Nevermore collection by Gillian Fullard.
…And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting…
The Raven needed some oomph so I responded to his caw for oomph and gave him some piping.

I plan on adding some print border. I sure hope my swap partner loves it as much as I do.
I’ll be back with more…uh Nevermore…when the pillow is completed. Perhaps…
…upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary…

I’ve been a bit stagnant as of late. I will give no excuses or apologies just stating I am aware there has been some moss growing around here.
The Coffee and Cotton blog has primarily been my outlet for the creative fiber-y side of me. I plan on keepin’ on with that. Sewing, Quilting dished up with some witty babble. Being one who is on the other side of life {no, not the Dark side but in my 50s quite a bit past my forties} I realize that I have a lot to offer in regards to homemaking, kids {got 9 of them}, schooling, tips and mistakes. I do. I really do. I am coming to grips with that fact. Wisdom if you like. Yes, I am still convincing myself that, damn, I’m good at what I do and I just might be able to offer up some advice. My readers may even want to grab pen and paper to write down my offerings… or cut and paste {cue up the dream music and chirping birds}. I won’t be overly proper. Heh. I don’t do proper. I won’t make everything look shiny bright and unattainable. My style is more Erma Bombeck mixed with Jack Black and a little Katherine Hepburn. I do have a deep spiritual side that may pop in from time to time. I plan on sharing more thoughts and opinions.
Ok. Time to get my stone a rollin’… rolling stones gather no moss… or is it Mick Jagger is mossy??
Anyhoo, Stick around. Please.

Anyone singing “Dooooooo the locomotion with me….ya gotta swing your-er hips now…come on!…”?? I seem to have a song pop in my head for just about any sentence someone says. Ask my kids. I drive them nuts. I’ve also passed on the gift. MuWaHaHa.
I’ve always done a lot of Stippling free-motion quilting {freemotion? free motion? free-motion???} and I have done traditional hand quilting but I want to practice the free-motion that goes beyond stippling or circles. I love feather quilt patterns. I also love to doodle… curvy doodles…so why not by machine. I have been in love with McTavishing for years but she uses a Longarm machine. Again, why not by a regular sewing machine? Free-motion also goes with my Horror Vacui {fear of empty space} style of doodling
Here’s my practice on a couple surprises for my Partner in the swap we did for fellow members of the HOPE group at do.Good Stitches.

I think I’m getting a bit better.
This week I also made an Itty Bitty Pear Pincushion. I think I’m in love with it. I stuffed it with some of my leftover wool roving from spinning…as in I meant to spin it but didn’t. Isn’t it sweet? Or am I just an overly proud Pincushion Parent?


Have a great weekend! PIECE out.