~ Sneak Peak X Two ~

So this is what I have been working on furiously that has consumed my fall and somewhat obliterated it.

Coastal Tree Ornaments.

Pattern to follow.

And THIS is what has just plain made me giddy while I worked.

My block was selected to be in Volume 8 of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks.

Please stop by all next week to participate in the blog tour.  Prizes are indeed involved.

My day will be next Wednesday, November 13th.

Prizes will include the chance to win the ...

Coastal Tree Ornaments Pattern.
yay

~ Sea Escape ~

This baby of mine has actually been completed for a short time now, but with all the surfboards/patterns, she hasn't had a proper photo shoot.

I have found that it's quite difficult to get the silvery shimmer on the water ... on film.

But trust me ... there's a lot of shimmer going on here.

Which extends down to the froth and the foam. 

And the sand.

 The stars simply lie on the sand.
This wall hanging is 25" wide x 36" long just like the others.

I can't decide whether or not to go with another seascape next, or one of the other things on that very long list in my head.
A great many lists have been made on paper, but the one in my head seems to always take precedence.

I love the Sea.
Can ya tell?

~ Temporarily Clean ~

So ... on Monday I cleaned my Studio.

It took all morning.
It made me happy.

And then ... for the next two days ... I couldn't bring myself to go in and mess it up.

Weird.

Finally, yesterday afternoon, I started sketching.

After the sketching comes the fabric picking process.
Which ... FYI ... is my favorite process of all.

Sky.

Sea.

Sand.

I have had my fill of clean.

Let's make a mess!

~ The Spice of Sea Life ~

 

 

 

 

 

Most quilters who have been at it for a number of years, tend to lean towards a certain style or palette of colors.

About 5 years ago, when I made my choice as to where I would lean ... I chose the subject matter.

Having chosen to sew all things coastal, I have opened up my heart, mind and ... stash ... to a myriad of possiblilites.  This has been ever so apparently (and delightfully fun!) to me these past few weeks as I have worked on this project.

I am making iPad covers to sell here  at The JOY Expo this Saturday, June 8th.
With every single one, I tried to envision some new individual's style and palette, while still able to keep to my subject matter.

It has been an absolute JOY.

~ Mer-ternal Twins: Finished at Last! ~

 

I have to explain why it took me SO long to finish these latest additions to my Etsy Shop.

Number One:  There were two of them.
Number Two: About two weeks were taken out due to travelling and illness.

I might add a Number Three which was the fact that the hair on each of my little mermaids, took as long to design, cut, arrange and quilt as the rest of the quilt combined.

But when all was said and done, I was thrilled.

Each wall hanging is made exclusively with batiks, with the exception of the backs of the scales which are a variety of dupioni silks.  Each sister faces in a different direction, has her scales arranged in her own way, and has a somewhat unique hair style.

I am selling them separately.  Here.  And Here.
However, I would love it if they weren't separated. 
Twins hate that.

What do you think I should name them?

~ My first Sea quilt ~

Almost a decade ago ... 9 years to be exact ... I made this quilt.
This was long before the idea of making Sea Quilts was even a glimmer in my eye.

I had received a book on paper-piecing for Christmas and I wanted to try my hand at some free-form design that encorporated some of my new paper-pieced blocks.

I chose the sea as my subject because I have always loved the sea.
Even though, at the time I lived smack dab in the middle of the desert.

As the quilt came together, I wanted to show how the light from the sun was so strong as to penetrate to the depths of the ocean.

I named her "Free Utilities".

I found her in the closet a couple of weeks ago, very grateful that she made the move with me since many, many of my quilts were sold or given away in that process.

After 3+ years of sewing nothing but the sea, this affirms to me that I was on the right track long before I knew that I was.

Because I do so love the Sea.

~ Neon Sand Buckets ~

This is the last of this series of quilts that I am putting up for sale.  This one was absolutely inspired by a trip to the beach where I took note of the fact that everyone there had purchased their sand pails from the same Target Dollar Bin.

It was an absolute delight to make this little number. These happy colors brightened every single day that I worked on it.

Dreaming of pinwheels at night ... also a bonus.

And now I want you to give her a loving home.

As before ... for this week only ... if you would like to purchase the pattern, it's on sale for a mere 4 bucks!
  

Go here for the quilt.

Go here for the pattern.

Go to Target to get your own sand pails and go to the beach!

~ Back to Business ~

 

In a somewhat different direction.

Stay Tuned. 

~ Christmas near the Beach ~

 

 

 

 

I am loving the beachy color scheme in my living room this Christmas.

Blue.  Green.  White.

What's not to love?