TNT Thursday with A Video Attempt

EDIT - I think you should be able to view the video now, if not, please let me know and I will work on it some more.  Oh what a learning experience :)

So I tried it . . . . I attempted to make a free motion quilting video.  Now I will be the first to say, it isn't great.  But it was a definite learning experience.    Here is what I learned.

1 - I am not so good with words.  I kept tripping over them and even after 5 attempts I still said things that sound absolutely silly.  Hopefully with more practice I might be a little less nervous and actually be able to say what I am thinking.  

2 - There is a huge give and take of what you quilt on.  I love seeing an entire quilt worked on instead of a little square because I can get a better sense of how the quilter handles the bulk of their fabric, however, as this video demonstrates, it is a whole lot harder to see the quilting when it is done on a quilt instead of a little  solid dark square with high contrasting thread.  I am thinking about how to solve this.  Maybe a solid quilt made just for quilting videos???

3 - Trying to locate the best position for the tripod while still being able to reach your quilt to work on is not the easiest.  Maybe I need to get a partner in crime to do the filming??

4 - I wish I could figure out a way to do the sound after.  Is the sound of the sewing machine in the background to loud to understand??

5 - And this is an important one.  Never Ever, Ever, try to upload a video using blogger.  I had it uploading for 8 hours and nothing.  Seriously, has anyone ever used blogger to upload a video??  YouTube was only a mere 45 minutes.  (But I kept it private as I really don't feel like this work is worth publishing :)  

So it is back to the video camera for me.  Hopefully in the future I will be able to show some better quality free motion quilting videos.  But, you got to start somewhere, right :)  Please feel free to give any suggestions. I would love to hear what you would like to see in a free motion quilting video :)

So that was my Try :)  Let's see yours :)  

Guest Posting at Sew We Quilt for Tool Time :)

So today I am super excited to be guest posting at Sew We Quilt for their Tool Time edition.  No, not like Tim the Tool Man Taylor.  Tool Time as in your favorite, can't live without, quilting tools.  I am writing about one of my new favorite tools, my Rotating Cutting Mat.  So Pop on over to Sew We Quilt to see what a great tool a Rotating Cutting Mat can be :)

In Fact, I just used it yesterday afternoon to cut out this lovely stack of half hexagons.  I am working on a customer quilt and that rotating cutting mat saved me so much time cutting.  Love it!!

Ahh, Routine!!!

The older kids are back in school and I am home during nap time :)  You know what that means, Quilting Time!!!  I didn't waste a minute of it either.  And, double bonus, I also\ managed to work on one of my New Years Resolutions by working on some improv curves :)  What do you think??

This is the first bee block for our Beejeebers group.  It is for Jamie Lee and she is doing the cutest little quilt of wonky houses and trees :)  And yes, your eyes are not deceiving you, I even did some hand stitching, which we know by now is really not my favorite.  But I had those cute flower buttons and knew they would be the cutest finishing touch :)  Not bad, second day of the month and a Bee block done :)  Yippee Skippee for Quilting Time!!!

Year in Review and Looking Forward to 2012

So what did I do in 2011????  Well . . . .

Wow!!!  What a year.  I can not believe how much I have grown in quilting and how much Happy Quilting has grown.  Thank you to all of you amazing readers that have made this year so incredibly fun for me.  I just love making new friends through this amazing online community.

So now let's quickly review 2011.  On December 31, 2010 I listed some goals here of the things I wanted to accomplish with my quilting in 2011.  Now I get to see how I did :)

Goals for 2011

1 - Participate in a Bee  (which I have already signed up for but sometimes it is fun to write things that are easily checked off :)  Check - And I loved every minute of it.  So much so that I created  2 Bees for 2012
2 - Participate in a Swap  (I have never done this,  any suggestions on good ones would be appreciated :)  Check - I participated in the post-sewing Summit Swap and just signed up fot the Name Game Swap starting in 2012
3 - Learn how to Paper Piece  Semi Check - I did one Bee Block paper pieced and learned the basics, but I would like to learn a lot more.
4 - Learn how to Curve Piece  Semi Check - I took a class on improv piecing where I learned how to do gentle curves but i have yet to tackle some drunkard path type curves.
5 - Be a guest blogger on other sites.  (I have done this once at Stash Manicure and loved it) Major Check - I guest blogged quite a lot at several blogs and really had a lot of fun with it :)
6 - Make a pillow or 2  (I need to branch out a little and I sew love the Cathedral Window pattern) - Check - I made my first pillow cover for Fat Quarterly, but I still want to try and mke some more including the Cathedral Window :)
7 - Host a Quilt-A-Long  (a little scary, but I really think it would be fun, with a little stress mixed in, lol)
Check - I actually hosted 2 and I think both were very successful.   I need to start planning another one.
8 - Continue designing for the Moda Bake Shop  (I just love this so much, It is a definite keeper :)  (And since I already have a project lined up for January I can check this off the list, Yippee Skippee) - Major Check - Me and the Moda Bake Shop are great friends, and I just love seeing your versions of my designs.  
9 - Use up more of my ever growing Stash.  I can't believe how quickly it is growing :) - Negative Check - It has probably doubled or more in size :)
10 - Last but not least, and I waited for last to write it because it scares the pants off of me. . . . Get a design published in a magazine.  (I think I can, I think I can, I think I can :) - Semi Check - If you have read this far you now get in on a little secret.  I have a quilt pattern that will be published in a magazine in spring 2012.  Squeal!!!!  So it wasn't quite in 2011, but all the work was done then.  If I knew how long the process took I would have started earlier in the year :)

So all in all, I am feeling pretty great about the Quilting year of 2011. It has been such an amazing ride.  And so now let's look forward to 2012.  I am so excited for 2012 in Quilting.  I have a few things that I am just so excited about that are already in the works and a few secrets that I just can't wait to share.  So let's get to some goals for where I hope 2012 quilting will take me :)

1 - Create some form of a blog hop.  These are always so much fun and I think I can figure out how to run one :)
2 - Host 2 more Quilt-A-Longs, at least.  I so loved having so many amazing quilter's sewing right a-long with me.  I really want to make sure I leave time to do that again.
3 - Work on some of those Semi-checks from 2011 ie . . .curved piecing, paper piecing, and pillows
4 - Write some more patterns.  I have several planned but plans don't always equal product :)
5 - Make some videos on free motion quilting.  I just have to get over the fear of my voice on tape.
6 - Teach a class.  Doesn't matter where, or to how many to ,preferably fewer, as the idea sort of scares and excites me at the same time.
7 - Start teaching my daughter to quilt.  She is starting to show some interest and I want to make sure I set some time aside for her.
8 - Design and create for my family.  Is it crazy that I made so many quilts in a year and only 1 of my children have a quilt I made for them on their bed??  (Although I have 2 in progress :)  I want to focus on making these works of love for the people I love.
9 - Make Christmas Stockings for my family.  Now that we know our family is not going to grow anymore I have no excuse not to make us a matching set of stockings.
10 - Keep Balance!!!!  I want to really try to make sure I am on top of things enough to keep quilting time to nap time and bed time so that it doesn't interfere with family time.

So here it goes!!!  Bring on 2012!!!! I can't wait!!!!!

VIBee's comes to a close

I finished up my last 2 bee blocks for the VIBees this week. My oh my, I can't say how much I have enjoyed being in this Bee.  The gals in it are so amazing and talented.  I will be super sad to see it come to an end.  I am just so grateful that I got to work with such a great group :)  Thanks to each of you lovely ladies!!!

So the first block I made was for Rene.  She asked for anything with a white background and soft blues and greens.  You know how I have been on a major "twister" kick.  So I whipped up a little mini-me twister template and made a super mini twister block.  I can't get over how cute and tiny the pinwheels are.  I just love it!!!  You know I want to do another one of these right :)

The next block is for Lynne.  She asked us to do her LynneBobSquarePants block.  She sent us the background charcoal and then she asked us to use bright colors from our stash to fill in the design.  Well, you know how much I just love polka-dots.  

I guess all good things must come to an end.  Here is a little Picture Mosiac of my year with the  VIBee's