Happy Zombie

The NYC Mod Quilters have teamed up with EZ Quilting/Simplicity, Juki and Interweave for the Double Wedding Ring Challenge using the Darlene Zimmerman EZ Quilting/Simplicity Double Wedding Ring rulers.

Remember the Dresden Challenge the SLMQD did with Darlene’s Dresden ruler?  This is the same type of challenge and it is open to everyone who wants to participate.  If a challenge isn’t fun enough, there’s a cavalcade of prizes and multiple categories to enter in.

You can read all about the challenge here.

The nice people at Simplicity have given me one set of Darlene’s ruler for a give-away for one lucky winner. More at the end of this post.

The rulers can be purchased from participating retailers or you can purchase them directly from Simplicity here (and the optional solid arc here) or from Darlene here (and the optional solid arc here.).  There’s a complete Dresden set plus the single arc ruler if you don’t want to make a pieced arc (like I did).

This is the first time I made a double wedding ring quilt (well, mutant coaster quilt), and I found this tutorial on the Simplicity website helpful.  I was putzing around trying to learn how to use these tools, and hopefully trigger an idea to make something unconventional and new with them.  While I was playing with the rulers, I discovered a 10″ Moda layer cake is perfect for two single arcs and two connector squares.  PERFECT!   I dove into my Moda’s Happy Go Lucky by Bonnie and Camille stash and set out to make a mutant drink coaster.  Four 10″ fabrics + background fabric = one ring.

I made some paper templates to insure I’d cut in just the right spot.

I used Robert Kaufman’s Kona Snow for my background. The tools are marked so I knew exactly what size pieces of Kona I needed to make before cutting out the shapes. Nif. Ty.

I got a little cocky and went pin-commando.  I wanted to use my seam ripper, anyway.

A steam iron, pins (learned that the hard way) and a good spritz of starch is helpful.

Lots and lots of pinning (the perfect job for a Duck Dynasty marathon) and patience and steam and more pinning.

DWR Challenge Kick-off Blog Hop:
July 8: NYC Mod Quilters & Interweave
July 9: Emily Bailey & Shelly Pagliai
July 10: Amy Ellis & Faith Jones
July 11: Amy Smart
July 12: Dan Rouse & Elisa Albury
July 13: Jenny Cameron
July 14: Jane Davidson
July 15: Joanna Wilczynska & Jackie Kunkel
July 16: Kathy Doughty & Juki
July 17: Lisa Mason & Flaun Cline
July 18: Pat Sloan & Jessica Alexandrakis
July 19: Jacquie Gering, Lee Heinrich & Monica Solorio-Snow

GIVE-AWAY!
For a chance to win a set a tools, leave a comment and I’ll have random.org draw a number on Tuesday, July 23rd around noon-ish PST.  If you want, you can comment what sounds more fun: a pieced arc or a single unit arc.

Edited in: The giveaway has now ended, and using random.org for comments 1-156, the winner is #94 by BrendaLou. Congrats, BrendaLou!!

Let me preface this post by saying that I am sorry for anyone reading this that does not have an iPhone or an iPad. (or isn’t on Instagram!)

I LOVE this new (to me) iPhone and iPad app by Rhonna Farrer of Rhonna Designs (also the app name).   I discovered it recently on Instagram, and one IG post was all I needed to see to steer me over to the app store. Sold. When I bought and opened it up I felt like I had gone to app and Instagram & ish photo editing heaven.  The Rhonna Designs App is a deal and a half at only $1.99 (really, it could be $19.99 and I’d still think it was a deal). I’m really, really sorry for the iPhone and iPad-less.

On my “sprouting yam” photo I was able to add a frame, some design elements, typed my own “treat yo self and sprout joy” wording, added some pre-made word/designs (”everyday”). I can chose from the pre-installed color palette or use the color sliders and pick my own (RGB fields would be amazing here, but slides are awesome!). Pretty much the app has 256 million colors to choose from.

Could Ragnar be any more amazing? Why yes he can. Who knew I could make a Sons of Anarchy By The Sea screen-cap into such a cute pic! In this pic I used design elements, per-written goodies, along with transparency, strokes and drop shadows. WOW, this app does SO MUCH!

Much like Photoshop and Ai, the app works in layers, scaling, rotations, transparencies and strokes. I was all super simple once I got the hang of it (and learned that tapping a layer brings it to the front). Not only can photos be edited, but stand-alone images can be made - which is nice for the occasion instagram post that has no photo for the message.

I’m not selling this app or have anything to do with it, just blogging about it as a PSA because eff yeah it’s amazing!

RESOURCES:
- Rhonna Designs App
- Rhonna Designs App FAQ
- Instagram
- History Channel’s Vikings

—-> Click here for comments.

Fact ish: if you draw happy faces on produce they will sprout hair.

—-> Click here for comments.

Making yo-yo’s the old school way (via allpeoplequilt.com) while marathon’ing through True Blood.  When two addictions collide.

I’m only in season 2 of True Blood… who knows how many yo-yo’s I’ll have by the end of season 6!

—-> Click here for comments.

Google Reader doomsday (Goopocalypse) is only a few days away, and the time to do something is now while you can still grab your subscriptions and import them into another reader. Like Bloglovin’.

At first I was despondent. What the fork - how could Google axe the beloved reader? And crap, I was finally over Bloglines and was feeling quite at home with my Google Reader boyfriend. And then I was mad. UGH, I was going to have to learn something new. I read all best articles on Gizmodo, Lifehacker, and weirdly even turning to Google for answers. UGH. Another ugh. What a pain in the ass.

I started playing around with different readers. Feeling a bit like Goldilocks, I sampled a handful of different readers. If anything, at least I got my subscriptions uploaded somewhere safe and snug. But ugh (again), not feeling the love for any of them. I hate you for breaking up with me, Google!

So today I set out with making one of these new readers my new boyfriend. No more speed-dating readers, it’s time to get serious.  The more I started playing with Bloglovin’, the more I fell in love with it. Wow, Bloglovin’, who knew you were so cute!

I discovered I like reading my feeds via the Manage page. I just like the neat and tidy way it looks. Once I got all my account squared away and my subscriptions re-categorized, I start to feel quite good about Bloglovin’. I’ve already been loving the daily email with blog post suggestions from my subscriptions, especially because I subscribe to so many blogs - it’s nice to get a sampling of posts from blogs I may not have visited in a while.

And then I discovered the Popular Posts tab. I don’t know what the criteria is for what makes something popular - but what I saw I liked. Kinda Pinterest-ishy cascade of blog posts from different categories - from blogs everywhere and not just the ones I follow. In DIY & Crafts category (oh hai, Heidi!)

Checking out the Home Decor category. Oh ooh. I fear my subscription list may grow from out-of-control to slow-down-cowgirl-or-you’ll-break-the-internet.

I love that I can see what’s blog-hot in other countries, too. Checkin’ out DIY & Crafts in Germany was especially fun because I spotted a blog post with a quilt made from Mo’s fabric!

Even though at first Bloglovin’s felt like a blind date, I have completely fallen head-over-heels in love. Bloglovin’ is my seriously cute new boyfriend.  Google Reader who?

Edited in:
I’ve gotten great feedback about The Old Reader (which is new to me) and Feedly (which I’ve already given a go and doesn’t float my kayak). Playing around with Old Reader today, I too find it be most like Google Reader. While the Old Reader is great if you need to wean off Google Reader or want to stick to what you love… I really love the Pinterest style of Bloglovin’, the fast speed of Bloglovin’, the crisp and happy look of Bloglovin’ and being introduced to new-to-me blogs and giving some freshie lovin’ to blogs I haven’t visited in a while.

Yeah, I was ticked when Google Reader broke up with me - but now I wish it had done it sooner!

RESOURCES:
– Bloglovin’
– my feed on Bloglovin’
– Bloglovin’ Help
– Gizmodo
– Lifehacker
– The Old Reader
– Feedly

Round 7 of the Traveling Quilts Bee was just at my house with Ashley’s beautiful QIP (quilt in progress). If anyone isn’t familiar with the Traveling Quilts Bee, be sure to check out our Traveling Quilts flickr group and be a-freaking-mazed.

When I received Ashley’s QIP, I decided I wanted to do a similar ish improve log cabin like I did on Alissa’s QIP. What make’s what I did for Ashley so different is that I used prints scraps that long ago came from Ashley. This may be close to 2 years ago - Ashely had passed some scraps on to Elizabeth, and then the scraps from the scraps were passed on to me by Elizabeth. And now they’re going back to Ashely inside her Traveling Quilt. The circle of life in a cotton and linen blend.

I think so far with every QIP I’ve done, my addition is in an L shape. On Ashley’s I added the left side and then around on to the top. I guess that’s more of a backwards 7. Or an E without an arm and foot. Or an F all smart-assy, “look at me, no hands”.

Ashley’s QIP has gotten so big I had to enlist both my husband and son to hold it up. The guy in the socks and crocs… sorry ladies, he’s taken.

RESOURCES:
- My TQ blog posts: tagged Bee Serious
- The Traveling Quilts flickr group
- Ashley: Film in the Fridge

PS,
I’m trying something new. One of my favorite things about blogging is the social aspect of it, and I’ve made many friends via commenting on blogs (both receiving and giving). Because I receive a crazy amount of S P A M, have an unruly inbox, and because I find Instagram to be a way more effective way to socialize - I’m turning off my blog comments and am encouraging anyone who wants to leave me a comment to do so on my Instagram. I love that Instagram is so social and encourages conversions with multiple people, and isn’t one sided and private like blog comments are. Click here for this post’s corresponding Instagram.

Everything looks so much better and happier when it’s smiling back at me. I found this new-to-me app for my iphone called Tiny Faces. And now the world looks even better when I know it’s got cute, kawaii, happy face potential.

Jet Puff Marshmallow harvest in Astoria, Oregon.

There we go, that’s better.

The Cloud near Hillsboro, Oregon.

The Cloud on happy.

I have no affiliation with this app - just trying to spread some happy.

So when I posted on my Instagram my cute new buttons for Market goodies, I had no idea I’d get such a wonderful response and feedback! I may just have to have some more made!

Packing up all the goodies is fun even if it’s really, really, REALLY last minute.

My newest business card. No fabric collection this Spring (or company to design for [sadface]), so I had to get a little creative on the back side of my card where I normally would show my collection.
So I may have lied a little.

The response to my buttons was so great, and I would like to share some with people aren’t going to Quilt Market. Please leave a comment and because I’m curious - please vote by telling me your one favorite button design by it’s name. I will draw six names (one for each button style) after Market is over and I’ve had a napped/recovered - which should be around noon PST on Tuesday, May 21st (Election Day!).

If you’re going to be at Market, hope you can come to the Martingale schoolhouse for Modern Quilts from the Blogging Universe at 3:10-3:40pm on Thursday May 16, 2013 in Room B110-111.  I’ll be the one who’s semi-topless and wearing a big feather headdress. Sadly I won’t be able to make it to the schoolhouse. Life just got really lifey today and I wasn’t able to get there in time.

EDITED IN 21 May 2013:
Holy smokes - thank you all for your kind words and excitement! Had I known I would have gotten this sweet response I would have made buttons years ago! I wish I had buttons for everyone! The giveaway has ended and the Random.org drawn winners are:

Original: #75 by Karen in Breezy Point
Sunday Market: #42 by Lisa W
Portland: #101 by Michelle
Team USA: #122 by lindsey s
Grizzly Berry: #17 by Dell
And because Circus came up multiple times - I added a few more winners of those:
Circus: #7 by Adrianne
Circus: #162 by vickie warburton
Circus: #65 by lorena
Circus: #62 by Debra

When it feels like the world is falling apart - at the ready are quilters who lovingly want to piece it all back together. It’s what we do. Piecing love and comfort into one scrap of fabric at a time.

The Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild and the Boston Modern Quilt Guild jumped into action and gave us all an opportunity to Do Something. I encourage anyone reading this to hop over and read their blog posts and get involved. Get involved fast, because the deadlines are soon approaching. If you’re a member of a Modern Quilt Guild, check with your guild’s blog if there’s going to be a collection at your May meeting.  To my fellow Portland Modern Quilt Guild members - there will be a collection at our May 16th meeting.

To Boston With Love RESOURCES:

Vancouver MQG: To Boston With Love
VMQG POC: Berene of Happy Sew Lucky
Portland MQG: Bring your flags to May 16th meeting
VMQG: To Boston With Love – tutorials and inspiration
VMQG: To Boston With Love – shipping info
To Boston With Love: Flickr Group

Quilts for Boston RESOURCES:

Boston MQG: Quilts for Boston
BMQG POC: bostonmqg@gmail.com
Quilts for Boston: Flickr Group

Here is my contribution for To Boston With Love:

I followed the beautiful color palette provided by the VMQG, and because my flag was love from Oregon to Boston - the fabrics I include were from my friends and fellow Oregonians Mo Bedell, Violet Craft, Valori Wells and a few of my own fabrics as well.

I chose the FurtuaBlack BT font because that’s the font used by the Boston Police.

I used my favorite easy appliqué method and the color crayon + embroidery method for my lettering.


Color 2

I made the long unit version (all the instructions and measurements are on the VMQG blog), stitched up the sides into a pocket, pressed, trimmed off the excess (I made mine longer so I could trim and square it up), and added the binding tie.

I’ve made a little recipe for it in case anyone else wants to make one like ish or like mine.

Make one long unit

Printable heart and BOS template (be sure to set your printer to scale at 100%)

Measurements and amounts

To Boston from PDX with love

Thank you Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild, Boston Modern Quilt Guild, Berene Campbell, Amy Friend and everyone involved in giving us the gift to be able to give!

I’m so giddy over Ayumi’s new Patchwork, Please! book that I eighty-six’d all of my responsibilities and dove right into her yummy book.

More about Ayumi’s book later on because I’m part of the blog tour starting in June, so I’ll save my sweet-nothings book-love until then.  For now, I hopped on the Zakka Along 2.0 Patchwork, Please! train (do it, too!) as fast as I could and made one of Ayumi’s “Prettified Pincushions”.

Seriously cute.  As is everything in the book.

I love all things Ayumi - I love her, I love her patterns, I love her style, I love her kindness, and I love her creativity.  And since I’ve made 9 (and counting) of Ayumi’s lunchbags… I see an s-ton more makings of the Prettified Pincushions in my future as well!

RESOURCES:
Ayumi Takahashi - Pink Penguin
Buy at:  Amazon
Buy at:  Interweave Store
Join in on the Zakka Along 2.0 Patchwork, Please! flickr group
Zakka Along 2.0 on Threadbias
Zakka Along 2.0 on Facebook