2009 September

Go Into The Garden with Camera!

September 12, 2009 By Anne 23 Comments

Don’t talk about the weather. Isn’t that some kind of rule? Not in a blog. It’s kind of like what you had for lunch, or when you ask someone “how’s the weather”? But you have to see this iphone photo I took on our walk this AM. It was 101 here yesterday and today look at it today!

Cool with a few rain drops off and on. Chelsea wasn’t impressed at all. Too busy sniffing the dirt. Bitsy stayed home to work on her birthday list. She turns 14 on October 7th.

Since I’m working in the studio all day, dreaming of being outside, I thought I’d share some of my backyard photos. I follow a photography site and the challenge for the day was “go outside and photograph your backyard”. So I did! Try it. Go into your own backyard with your camera in hand!

And below is a the garden bed from my old house. I want it back. Really. Not the house, just the bed.

And all day today I’m dreaming of lambs. Wish these were in my garden. Maybe soon LOL!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Hugs,

Anne

Filed Under: Photography

Yoyoville is under construction

September 8, 2009 By Anne 39 Comments

Yoyoville is happening here at Bunny Hill! We’re getting ready for our open house (quilt market)! Yoyoville will feature 3 model homes, all with different elevations and front yard landscaping. The material is “Simple Abundance” from Moda. The name just seems to fit!

We’ve got an architect, project engineer, several construction workers, AND we can’t forget, the all important finisher, assembling Yoyoville. It’s THE perfect town and can be constructed in any country.

Nancy Ritter is my project engineer. She left the studio a few days ago with a box full of fabric and returned with this!

Her instructions from me were to make four patches and yo-yos. Cut fabric squares for the yo-yos, fold to find center, finger press, glue baste yo-yos to center of square. Simple, right?

Look at Nancy’s creation! I’m calling it the “Ritter Maker”. It’s amazing. No more folding or finger pressing. Just lay your “Ritter Maker” (patent pending) on top of the square and plop in your yo-yo! You remove the Ritter Maker with the engineered scotch tape handle.

Watch this! Place Ritter Maker on top of fabric square.

Add a thin line of glue to yo-yo and place in center of Ritter Maker.

Press to adhere, and remove Ritter Maker with special handle. (That’s a scotch tape handle you’re looking at.)

The Ritter Maker can be adapted to any size square. It’s made from template plastic!

Now here’s the best part! I’ll be teaching Yoyoville at our local quilt shop, Thimblecreek on December 11th. If you live in our area, please join me for a day of construction fun! We’ll be using the large Clover yo-yo maker, along with the “Ritter Maker”. Nancy has promised one for every person in the class!

Thank you to my construction workers, Brigette Mason and Sandy Feigner. Your yoyo talents are beyond belief! And my finisher? Anne Bryson get ready! I need your precision skills!

Hugs from Yoyoville,

Anne

Filed Under: Quilt Design

School Days, School Days

September 5, 2009 By Anne 38 Comments

All the wonderful spools are back in stock! I’ve added this cute 6” wood spool. I actually had a few the first time but they are so cute I couldn’t part with them!

Aren’t you glad it’s Labor day weekend and the 5th of the month all at once! I for one, am excited. I have so much planned for this weekend. It involves sewing, and more sewing!

I’ll be watching the Law and Order re-runs, or shows I’ve taped during the week. Shows like Criminal Minds, Without a Trace, and The Mentalist! Criminal Minds ? Tell me some of you like that show. Do you think I’ll get my yo yo’s mixed up if I watch Criminal Minds while sewing?

When I’m writing patterns I need absolute quiet, but when I’m sewing, it’s a different story. I love to watch TV and catch up on shows. What about you? Do you sew with quiet, TV, or music?

Have you download block nine of “ A Tisket, A Tasket” yet? It’s ready on my web site.

Block nine is a very smart Scottie dog. He walks the children to school, and carries a basket filled with apples for the teacher!

If you’re working on this quilt please show me your blocks ! Post them on flickr and join our group! There are some CUTE, CUTE blocks and quilts coming together!

And now that we only have three months left I can show more of the quilt! Don’t you wonder what the last three blocks will be?

You’ll have to wait until next month for October. In case you didn’t know October is my favorite month of the whole year!

Are you doing the wool version of this quilt? Don’t miss what my friend Anne has done this month. Her quilt is looking pretty cute. Gotta love those prims ( I even gave her a prim color for her name)!

Have a great weekend everyone! Sew away if you get the time!

Hugs,

Anne

Filed Under: Applique, Embroidery

It’s hopping around here!

September 2, 2009 By Anne 17 Comments

It’s getting dark earlier now and the mornings are crisp, though the days can still be hot. Chelsea spends a bit more time snuggling under the covers (yes, I did just say that) and Bitsy snuggles under her blanket, even after we are up and sipping morning coffee. It’s September 1st! Fall is right around the corner and so is Fall quilt market!

I’m seeing a lot of tails around the studio that don’t belong to Chelsea or Bitsy! They are multiplying rapidly! If you’re missing a collar or two you can probably find one here. There are stacks piles of fabric all over the studio and little things like bitty appliqué collars easily get lost.

And yes, we have LOTS of yo, yo’s too!

One by one I am taking them out of those cute little candy jars and stitching then onto another new quilt. “Straight stitching” is involved but not directly on the yo yo’s. You’ll have to wait a few more weeks to see the end result. Then we can make yo yo’s together! Some for our pretty glass jars and some for our quilts!

And of course September 5th is just a few days away. Wonder what you’ll find in the basket this month?

And, for those of you who are missing Anne over at Cottons ‘n Wool she’ll be back on the 5th with a new wool block to show. For now leave her a comment telling her how much you miss her!

Everything is happening at once! We’re hopping at Bunny Hill! More to come soon…I can hardly wait!

Hugs,

Anne