Saturday, August 31, 2013

Makin' Waves ~ ~ ~ ~ (on Labor Day weekend)

On this last official weekend of summer, I'm working on this long over due beachy quilt and makin' waves ~ ~ ~ ~   machine quilted waves with a walking foot kind of waves........

.......in my usual haphazard and highly inaccurate sort of draw a line with a piece of chalk and sort of follow it  style of machine quilting ..... I guess in artsy circles this would be known as "organic quilting"  ???  (maybe ....)

Anyhow,  hope you all are enjoying this last official weekend of summer !  Have a fun and safe Labor Day Weekend !

Be back soon !
Toodles,
Mary Anne (aka Mare)

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Trying to get used to the Empty Nest ......

Trying to put a positive spin on my empty nest ..... came home from PSU this past Sunday after dropping our youngest off at University Park to the too empty, quiet house ........ the silence was deafening .   Now it's just me, "what's his name"  (the husband) , and 3 geriatric cats ....... oh, and a few thousand tons of fabric and quilting books.......
 
Hopefully, I'll pull out of this funk soon and get motivated .......
 
Be back soon!
Toodles,
Mary Anne (aka Mare)

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

College Bound ......

FINISHED !!!   

One wild , college bound quilt !

  Scheduled to leave this Saturday with my youngest son ......

... the dirtbike riding ( #595), dreadlock wearing, creative chef, artist, and kid with some major drumming skills.  (this is the back of the quilt where his friends and family signed good wishes at his high school graduation party ;   and how about those crazy chef dudes appliqued on there !  ....and some drum fabric to tie it all together).

.....there it is,  all folded up and waiting for departure time and the beginning of my empty nest ......(sob)

Be back soon!
Toodles,
Mary Anne (aka Mare)

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Sunday Speed Sewing .......

So it's T-minus 6 days until Son #2 leaves for college  ...... well, actually he has 2 years of college under his belt at a local branch campus of Penn State (he was close enough to come home every weekend ).  This year, however, he is moving out to the main campus of PSU  which is a 2 1/2 hour drive from home.   I am DETERMINED to have his high school graduation quilt (yes it's 2 years old already) finished  to send with him !!!    So........

I've been doing some speed sewing ....... almost finished with the binding .........but I better let the machine cool off for today !!!!

Be back soon!
Toodles,
Mary Anne (aka Mare)



Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Keep going ...... another UFO deadline !!!!

OK ..... so the last thing I need to do is buy more fabric BUT I JUST COULD NOT RESIST THIS STUFF !!!!  I really, really REALLY  LOVE these pretty colors and graphic prints ..... they are just my style !!!   AND best of all,  they were 40% off at JoAnn's !!!!    Anyhow,  this has nothing to do with .......

 .......the next  UFO that's on the ping pong table getting basted ( the recipient is my younger drummer, dirt bike riding, dredlock wearing chef son ...... those are his drums ....... the dirtbike is in the garage ...... neither  of these can he take out to PSU in a week and a half ...... so hopefully he will at least have a finished quilt!)

This quilt was started for him 2 years ago when he graduated from high school.  He has since finished 2 years of college at a local Penn State branch campus but now has to move out to University Park (PSU main campus) for his last 2 years .  That's his dirt bike number "595"  and that black and white circle (one of 6 on the quilt) is his art work  "Zentangle".   The colors were also picked by him  ...... so this quilt was designed for him and by him !  This quilt IS him !!!!

OK ...... tick tock !!!!  Penn State move - in day is coming up FAST !!!

Be back soon !!!
Toodles,
Mary Anne (aka Mare)

Saturday, August 10, 2013

2006 -> 2013 quilt ..... FINISHED !!!!!!!

So ...... SEVEN years in the making  (ridiculous , I KNOW !!)

.....but , here it is, FINALLY ....DONE !!!  This was started for my niece's high school graduation.  She's a fun Florida girl and loves bright colors and the beach  (that blue fabric peeking out is ocean waves).   The white squares are for friends signatures and for her to write her favorite quotes and thoughts ......

......and while waiting for this quilt to be finished, she has since graduated from college with her BSRN  .........so here's the back ..... i.e.) the college graduation side of this quilt (note fun nurses and cute nurse cap fabrics .....  combined with fun girl beach fabrics from the front of the quilt.

 ......AND , the fact that this quilt is actually finished seems to have made front page news !!!!!

Be back soon !
Toodles,
Mary Anne (aka Mare)

Sunday, August 4, 2013

The 2006 -> 2013 Quilt ........up next

 Up  next for quilting .....

......basted last night on the ping pong table 
.....my niece's HIGH SCHOOL graduation quilt (note date of signature block ......2006).    She has since graduated from college with her BSRN and is now working as an oncology nurse ..... it's about time I FINISH this quilt don't ya think !!!!  SHEESH !!!   

Be back soon !
Toodles,
Mary Anne (aka Mare)