Sketchbook Maggie

Next Big Adventure

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie) — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 13:53:00 +0000

Next week Bean and I head west. I've been bragging about my years in the Colorado high country and now Bean will get a personal tour of the years we were apart. I'm excited to see many, many friends along the way. But I'm also excited to share this experience with Bean.

Additionally, I get to mark another state off my list. I've never been to Arizona, but after visiting the four corners area I won't be able to say that any longer. Wahoo!

I'm sure there will be plenty of photos to post in the coming weeks.

Blue Ribbon Quilt

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 13:37:00 +0000

This is one of the many blue ribbon quilts at the Iowa State Fair this year. After looking at the quilts submitted this year, I think I need to submit next year.

I was disappointed by how little information was listed with each quilt. I love knowing the story of each quilt's design and maker.

Bean has agreed to let me submit his birthday quilt to next year's fair. Now I just need to figure out how to submit.

Dispatch: Iowa State Fair

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:29:00 +0000

Bean and I had a great time at the Iowa State Fair! I wanted to see wee baby pigs, but these five week old piggies were the youngest they had on display.

I'm glad I can say that I ate nothing on a stick! We did stop by the Iowa Pork Producers for a delicious lunch and the Iowa Craft Beer tent was not to be missed.

Dispatch: Sun Studios

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie) — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 14:17:00 +0000

Dispatch: Graceland

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie) — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 02:03:00 +0000

Dispatch: Galveston

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 14:07:00 +0000

Woke up early to watch the sunrise over the Gulf of Mexico. Each breath along the coast is like drinking a glass of seawater, but this moment took my breath away.

Dispatch: Galveston

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 02:19:00 +0000

Sitting on a pier overlooking the Gulf of Mexico and getting dive bombed by gulls.

Happy Birthday

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:06:00 +0000

This quilt is my design using Foundation Factory and Mariner's Compass Stars. I started it several years ago, but finished it for Bean's birthday. It is easily one of the more ambitious quilts I've done and I'm very proud of it.

Bean was thrilled! First thing he did was put it on his bed and has started decorating around it.

My mom embroidered the label which I pieced into the backing before quilting. I started doing this a few years ago instead of writing on the quilt or attaching a flimsy label to the back.

Here is a close up of one of Mariner's Compass Stars. Each block takes about four hours to paper piece, but the outcome is worth it!

Dispatch: Rangers Park

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:08:00 +0000

Dispatch: Fort Worth

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:13:00 +0000

Billy Bob's Texas: The World's Largest Honky Tonk

Dispatch: Oklahoma City

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 01:55:00 +0000

Stopped in Oklahoma City to see the memorial. It was so quiet and breathtaking.

Bali Pop Jelly Roll Sale

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie) — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 18:09:00 +0000

More fabric for sale! Click on picture to find the link

Fabric Sale!!

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie) — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 17:07:00 +0000

Not exactly a fire... but I'm reducing my fabric stash via eBay. Click on a picture to go to the auction!

Light at the Window

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie) — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 03:06:00 +0000

I made this quilt for Habitat for Humanity of Omaha and their Brew Ha Ha event. They are doing a local artist sale in conjunction with the event. I'll be putting this on the longarm next weekend. I still haven't decided how to quilted it. Any suggestions?

I was inspired by this quilt. I changed up the colours and paper pieced all the trees and houses. The quilt is 60 inches square. I don't think it needs a border. I'm very pleased with how it turned out.

Wedded Bliss

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 12:01:00 +0000

This is a wedding gift for one of the five weddings I have to go to this summer. The teal fabric is hand-dyed and the ajoining squares are from multiple, multiple fabric lines. This quilt was easy and fun just to see what fabric combinations I could get away with. The total quilt is 84" x 84". I'm not sure how I will quilt it just yet, but I'm sure any large meander will do.

Charmed

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 11:00:00 +0000

I've started collecting 2 1/2 inch charm squares. This picture is from when I first started collecting. I think I'm up to about 800 squares now. I will probably start sewing them together this summer. My goal is a large quilt for myself or for a future mini me.

New Fabric Home

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 10:55:00 +0000

In the last two years, my fabric collection has been moved from Syracuse, NY to Lake City, CO and now to Omaha, NE. Here is just a snapshot of the tonage I've been moving. My goal is to reduce by making quilts for charity.

What are your favourite quilting charities?

Got Pyrex?

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie) — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 22:49:00 +0000

Happy Campers Baby Quilt

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 11:17:00 +0000

I gave this disappearing nine patch to my friend, Misty, as she is expecting her second child. I do love all the fabric from American Jane and this was no exception. I used two charm packs and some background fabric for the center of the quilt. For the quilting I opted for a simple figure eight.

Omaha

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 00:55:00 +0000

Here is the quilt I've been working on for the past two weeks. Each of the blocks is paper-pieced or includes paper piecing elements from Foundation Factory. This is probably the most intricate quilt I've made. I love it!

I slept under the quilt for the first time last night during my first night in Omaha. My first night was a bit restless and lonely.

Today I found a local quilt shop in the Omaha, chatted up the staff and got invited to a guild meeting on Monday night!

New Block

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:17:00 +0000

This may be my favourite block of the day. This is a housewarming/ homecoming gift for myself so the little house seems very appropriate.

I love this quilt!

Current Project

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 02:08:00 +0000

The big news around here is that I'm moving to Omaha in a little over a week. I've accepted a job at a small, private, Catholic college there. I fell in love with the school and the students; therefore, I'm very eager to start.

I've been wanting to start a quilt for myself, but waiting for inspiration to strike. The lightning finally struck a few days ago. I bookmarked this quilt a few weeks ago. I fell in love with the beauty and simplicity of the quilt.

Here is an EQ6 mock-up of the quilt I'm piecing in my signature colours of red, turquoise and pink. This will be my welcome to Omaha quilt and gift to myself. I've pieced almost half of the star blocks and I love the way they are turning out. This is one of those labor of love projects that keeps me up late at night and I just can't wait until I'm able to finish the last inches of binding.

Valentine's Day Printables.

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:50:00 +0000

From Handmade & Homebaked

Good Gravy's printable gift tags

From Tricia Rennea

Inside a Black Apple's sweetie pie valentines

Tribute

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:57:00 +0000

My mom belongs to the Civil War Tribute block of the month. She's had some problems piecing the blocks, so I've been trying to piece ahead of her to help her out.

While I do love the fabrics in the kits, I thought I'd use some of my own fat quarters. I saw a quilt at the Rocky Mountain Quilt museum that was predominately pinks and poison greens, and I fell in love with the colour combination. Looks like I'll be making my own Civil War Tribute quilt. Oh darn.

Geek

noreply@blogger.com (Maggie) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:47:00 +0000

I'm reaping the benefits of dating a gadget geek. What I'd like to know is why on earth would a purse maker use black lining. I can never find anything in my bag because everything is black.

The one thing missing from the photo is my black Canon Elph, but it was busy taking the photo.