My Quip - Radar and Tampa Lightning

Good Day,

And we couldn’t find Radar… He loves to hide under any blanket, pillow, or quilt.

We found him in the pillows on the bed under the quilt-wich of our new Tampa Lightning. All we could do was laugh and smile.

The quilting of Tampa Lightning is almost complete.

Our Tampa Lightning has been accepted as entry to MQS 2012 (aka Machine Quilters Showcase 2012) this coming May at the Overland Park Convention Center in Kansas. Check back for our updates at Quilts SB.

Keep abreast of all our updates. I have added a “Follow By Email” capability at the bottom right of each posting under The Grid. You can also become a Follower of Quilts SB. Click on the “Join this site” in the right-hand column to follow Quilts SB.

I’ve added another means to follow the images of our quilt creations via Pinterest. Also check out our new Quilts SB Page on Facebook. Link over to Quilts SB and become a Fan, albeit “Like” us.

Check out my new experimental format of my Blog, Quilts SB Test. Certainly would appreciate your feedback.

To see previously posted quilts, there is a visual Grid presentation at the bottom of the Quilts SB page. Move your cursor over any mini-picture found there and click to see an enlargement. Move your cursor to the "Q#" link to see the quilt's details. If the quilt’s title is highlighted in yellow or in red, it has found a home in a collection and is no longer available.

If you have any questions and/or comments please feel free to get in touch with me via Email Quilts SB.

I'm not sure if I have missed any, but enjoy,

Jim and Andy

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My Quip - Evolution On Route to MQX East 2012

Good Day,

Evolution, in three boxes, is now on its way to its first stop on route to MQX East 2012 in Providence.

Evolution - 25 Quilts in three boxes. And they are gone on tour from the Tampa in the Southeast, to the East coast and Providence, Rhode Island, then to the West Coast and Portland, Oregon… and then return home to Florida. An approximate total of 8,805 miles.

We will be leaving The Pack, in capable hands, for a while and heading up to MQX East in Providence shortly. Certainly would like to see you there.

Here is the list of our Quilts and Wall Hangings that will make up our
Evolution. It is our visual and creative history of our short involvement into the fascinating world of quilting.

Woven Scraps; Nova Sun; Beige Bargello; Warhol’s Marilyn; Betty Davis Tribute; Primary Twister; Twisted Lightning; AD I; AD II; Rainbow Glass; Patience; V-Bricks; Provence; Café au Lait; Kanzashi; Noël Diptych; OP Ornament; Coral Steps; Mauk I; Born This Way; Twisted Basket; Civil War Re-Enactment I or CWR I; Tetrishead; MEM911; and Colored Windows II.

You can see images of all these quilts and wall hangings on The Grid at the bottom of any Quilts SB page. Just scroll down to get to The Grid.

And now we’ve got more quilts to make.

Enjoy,

Andy and Jim

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My Quip – ‘Ey Lucy, I’m Home

Good Day,

And how exactly do I work through my process of designing our Lucy Quilt?

Well, how my mind works to even come up with the initial idea is beyond me.

The first notion is that I check out a number of graphic and photographic images online and on various sites anywhere in Internetland. And I am always aware of my immediate location when I chance outside to walk the Pack, at any time of the day or night. I also have the pleasure of having my PC desk and set-up at an open window where I can gaze out at the great conservation area that is our back yard.

Check out the graphic possibilities created by the pool screen enclosure and overhead, the window frames, and the blinds’ cords. Also, the subtle curves of the printer, the pool and even the floating mat. And the juxtaposition of the greens and the shades of colors in our conservation area.

But I digress, sort of… I spend some time just about every day, surfing the Internet for graphics and photos that may take my fancy. I am looking for that key that may trigger something visually inside the mixed brain I sometimes call my mind.

And then I found Lucy, the 1944 portrait by Harry Warnecke as presented in The New York Times. Bingo, an immediate thought was triggered.

Of course I may set the portrait as a background screen image on my monitor. I study it for a while. The next step is to break the image down to colors and shades of color. Some time ago I found a Google gadget! that can separate the colors and shades thereof from a downloaded image. This is a great tool, that I use quite often.

Not including the black, 13 fabrics have been acquired, all which will be, all-things-being-equal a part of our Lucy Quilt. This definitely does not exclude the possibility that I may add or subtract fabrics as I progress into design stage.

Keep abreast of all our updates. I have added a “Follow By Email” capability at the bottom right of each posting under The Grid. You can also become a Follower of Quilts SB. Click on the “Join this site” in the right-hand column to follow Quilts SB.

I’ve added another means to follow the images of our quilt creations via Pinterest. Also check out our new Quilts SB Page on Facebook. Link over to Quilts SB and become a Fan, albeit “Like” us.

Check out my new experimental format of my Blog, Quilts SB Test. Certainly would appreciate your feedback.

To see previously posted quilts, there is a visual Grid presentation at the bottom of the Quilts SB page. Move your cursor over any mini-picture found there and click to see an enlargement. Move your cursor to the "Q#" link to see the quilt's details. If the quilt’s title is highlighted in yellow or in red, it has found a home in a collection and is no longer available.

If you are interested in purchasing and would like some more information of available quilts, regarding costs, shipping, and insurance, please check our Quilts SB Etsy shop.

And if you are interested in commissioning us to create you a special Quilt, please contact me via Email. Some of our Commissioned Quilts include NC the coast; Dogwood Steps; Continuation; and Deer Lake.

If you have any questions and/or comments please feel free to get in touch with me via Email Quilts SB.

Enjoy... Oh and by the way, the Sous Vide-ed Turkey Tenderloin was grrrreat… if I may say so myself.

Jim and Andy

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My Quip – Sous Vide Time Today – Evolution Is Set – Tampa Lightning Gets Quilting

Well today is definitely a catch up day.

And it is a day to Sous Vide supper… The menu – Applewood smoked Turkey tenderloin with Tomato-Onion Chutney, Grilled Asparagus, Baked Sweet Potatoes, and a Green Salad.

This is what happens when the pollen count is so bloody high that I have to be cooped up indoors.

Evolution, our special Quilt and Wall Hanging Exhibit for MQX East 2012 in Providence, Rhode Island is now in four organized piles on the dining room table. MQX East 2012 is April 11-14 at The Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence. The Public Quilt Show is Thursday, April 12 through and including Saturday, April 14.

Andy is finishing his final review of all our 25 quilts and wall hangings that will make up Evolution. All-things-being equal, I will be able to group and package them orderly together for their trip to Providence.

Blue Diamonds is now on its way to Rhode Island.

I have been playing around with ideas for quilting Tampa Lightning. All-things-being-equal we’re exploring this quilting process on both our Longarm and Domestic machines, and a combination thereof. The 21 batik fabrics are each separated with a fabric of a beige light sand hue. The backing and separating sashing of Tampa Lightning is the same fabric that we used on our original quilt design NC the coast.

Keep abreast of all our updates. I have added a “Follow By Email” capability at the bottom right of each posting under The Grid. You can also become a Follower of Quilts SB. Click on the “Join this site” in the right-hand column to follow Quilts SB.

I’ve added another means to follow the images of our quilt creations via Pinterest. Also check out our new Quilts SB Page on Facebook. Link over to Quilts SB and become a Fan, albeit “Like” us.

Check out my new experimental format of my Blog, Quilts SB Test. Certainly would appreciate your feedback.

To see previously posted quilts, there is a visual Grid presentation at the bottom of the Quilts SB page. Move your cursor over any mini-picture found there and click to see an enlargement. Move your cursor to the "Q#" link to see the quilt's details. If the quilt’s title is highlighted in yellow or in red, it has found a home in a collection and is no longer available.

If you have any questions and/or comments please feel free to get in touch with me via Email Quilts SB.

Enjoy... Will let you know how the Turkey Tenderloin turns out.

Jim and Andy

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My Quip - Where Is That Quilting Thread? - Update

Good Day,

Well the work continues on preparing our portfolio for Evolution for MQX East 2012 in April in Providence. All quilts and wall hangings have been chosen. We have to make sure that all quilts are included with a hanging sleeve and a Brunhammer Smith label. Next comes the packaging and shipping.

Blue Diamonds has been completed and is ready for shipping to Providence, Rhode Island for competition at MQX East 2012.

Tampa Lightning has been accepted as entry to MQS 2012 (aka Machine Quilters Showcase 2012) this coming May at the Overland Park Convention Center in Kansas. Check back for our updates at Quilts SB.

Our Mondrian I is still in the process of being quilted. We are considering entering this one to HMQS 2012 show in Salt Lake City.

We have just received new commissions to create a King-size quilt - Blue Memories, and a Queen-size quilt – S’s Memories. Interesting ideas and we will be beginning that work shortly. The draft designs for Blue Memories have been completed.

The Amulet is waiting on the back of a chair for the final modifications to the top.

All 15 planets have been constructed for Astro-Physics. Now next, the placement in the overall design.

The top for Joseph’s Coat has been completed. We are really pleased with design result.

176 blocks have been created for Joseph’s Ladder Pants and the design arrangement is currently on the pin-up wall.

And fabric has arrived for the make-up of a new quilt for Kumquat.

You would think that we were a wee bit busy? One would know that this obsession has got to them when you start dreaming of quilt design and fabric combination in the couple of hours that one sleeps at night.

Keep abreast of all our updates. I have added a “Follow By Email” capability at the bottom right of each posting under The Grid. You can also become a Follower of Quilts SB. Click on the “Join this site” in the right-hand column to follow Quilts SB.

I’ve added another means to follow the images of our quilt creations via Pinterest. Also check out our new Quilts SB Page on Facebook. Link over to Quilts SB and become a Fan, albeit “Like” us.

Check out my new experimental format of my Blog, Quilts SB Test. Certainly would appreciate your feedback.

To see previously posted quilts, there is a visual Grid presentation at the bottom of the Quilts SB page. Move your cursor over any mini-picture found there and click to see an enlargement. Move your cursor to the "Q#" link to see the quilt's details. If the quilt’s title is highlighted in yellow or in red, it has found a home in a collection and is no longer available.

If you have any questions and/or comments please feel free to get in touch with me via Email Quilts SB.

I'm not sure if I have missed any, but enjoy,

Jim and Andy

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My Quip – Guess What Just Came In The Mail? – Quilters Newsletter

Good Day,

We’re both grinning from ear-to-ear. You cannot imagine our delight!

Delivered, today, at our front door was a copy of the April/May 2012/No.427 issue of Quilter’s Newsletter. This national magazine, published today in Colorado, has been gracing magazine racks since 1969.

When we opened and turned the cover and flipped over a couple of pages into the magazine, guess what?

Guess what?

On Page 10 – eYeQ News, Neighbors, Notions and What’s New by Bill Gardner at the left-bottom corner is a picture of our Colored Windows, aka Colored Windows II. Check it out…

We’re ecstatic… It’s Chinese Take-out for supper!

Thank you Janet-Lee Santeusanio, and thank you Scott Murkin. Check out our Quilts SB Posting for the details of Colored Windows II.

We’re currently working on our Evolution Exhibit for MQX East and West 2012. Colored Windows II will be included in the show.

Enjoy,

Andy and Jim

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Q87 Update – The Happy Bug Quilt – Goes Home To New Jersey

Good Day,

And The Happy Bug Quilt has now flown home, to its new home in New Jersey…and accompanied with a companion pillow.

Previously I had written and posted, prematurely, that The Happy Bug, in its unfinished form was waiting just for the right person to take it in. See my previous Posting at The Happy Bug Quilt.

The name and date have been embroidered in celebration of the little one’s birthdate.

The dimensions of The Happy Bug Quilt are 42 ½” by 42 ½”, (108 cms by 108 cms). There are eight fabrics, including the backing of 100% cotton. The Happy Bug is our adaptation of Kimberly Einmo’s design Cross Bows.

Here are more images of The Happy Bug. Check out our freehand and free-form quilting of butterflies, in keeping with the theme of the Happy Bug fabric.

If you are interested in purchasing and would like some more information of available quilts, regarding costs, shipping, and insurance, please check our Quilts SB Etsy shop.

And if you are interested in commissioning us to create you a special Quilt, please contact me via Email. Some of our Commissioned Quilts include NC the coast; Dogwood Steps; Continuation; and Deer Lake.

Keep abreast of all our updates. I have added a “Follow By Email” capability at the bottom right of each posting under The Grid. You can also become a Follower of Quilts SB. Click on the “Join this site” in the right-hand column to follow Quilts SB.

I’ve added another means to follow the images of our quilt creations via Pinterest. Also check out our new Quilts SB Page on Facebook. Link over to Quilts SB and become a Fan, albeit “Like” us.

Check out my new experimental format of my Blog, Quilts SB Test. Certainly would appreciate your feedback.

To see previously posted quilts, there is a visual Grid presentation at the bottom of the Quilts SB page. Move your cursor over any mini-picture found there and click to see an enlargement. Move your cursor to the "Q#" link to see the quilt's details. If the quilt’s title is highlighted in yellow or in red, it has found a home in a collection and is no longer available.

If you have any questions and/or comments please feel free to get in touch with me via Email.

I'm not sure if I have missed any, but enjoy,

Jim and Andy

Click here to continue reading...

My Quip - Mondrian I Update - The Quilting Has Begun

Good Day,

We have begun the quilting of our original and inspired design, Mondrian I. Our Mondrian I Quilt, of our Rainbow Series, is now at the front of our queue.

We are trying to achieve a "beveled glass" effect. Thirty 14” squares, each comprised of 27 rectangles of batik fabric. Each constructed square is separated with a black patterned fabric. The border, around the perimeter creates a gorgeous stained-glass effect. Thanks to Piet Mondrian and our front door for the inspiration.

Our Mondrian I quilt-wich, including the border and without the binding, dimensions are – Width – 76” (193 cms) and Length – 90” (229 cms).

Check out the progress of Mondrian I at the following Quilts SB Postings: Mondrian I Progress; Mondrian I Progress Update; and Mondrian I Quilt -Update.

If you are interested in purchasing and would like some more information of available quilts, regarding costs, shipping, and insurance, please check our Quilts SB Etsy shop.

And if you are interested in commissioning us to create you a special Quilt, please contact me via Email. Some of our Commissioned Quilts include NC the coast; Dogwood Steps; Continuation; and Deer Lake.

Keep abreast of all our updates. I have added a “Follow By Email” capability at the bottom right of each posting under The Grid. You can also become a Follower of Quilts SB. Click on the “Join this site” in the right-hand column to follow Quilts SB.

I’ve added another means to follow the images of our quilt creations via Pinterest. Also check out our new Quilts SB Page on Facebook. Link over to Quilts SB and become a Fan, albeit “Like” us.

Check out my new experimental format of my Blog, Quilts SB Test. Certainly would appreciate your feedback.

To see previously posted quilts, there is a visual Grid presentation at the bottom of the Quilts SB page. Move your cursor over any mini-picture found there and click to see an enlargement. Move your cursor to the "Q#" link to see the quilt's details. If the quilt’s title is highlighted in yellow or in red, it has found a home in a collection and is no longer available.

If you have any questions and/or comments please feel free to get in touch with me via Email.

I'm not sure if I have missed any, but enjoy,

Jim and Andy

Click here to continue reading...