My Modern Quilt, Flying Kite Tails, will be taking a road trip

Flying Kite Tails is a semifinalist in the AQS Phoenix Quilt Show.

I received word last week from American Quilters Society that my quilt, Flying Kite Tails, has been accepted in the AQS quilt contest in Phoenix, Arizona.  The AQS Quilt Week and Contest is set for February 5-8, 2014 at the Phoenix Convention Center.  Needless to say, I am delighted and humbled by this honor. The quilt will compete in the Modern Quilt division.

Flying Kite Tails is an original work that began because I love sewing wonky flying geese, I love bright color,  and I love working in a Medallion Quilt pattern. The design for this quilt started in the center with the colorful rows of varied triangles. I never know exactly where the designs in my quilts are going when I work in this manner. I find this a great method because it allows me to just start sewing without having to do a lot of planning or design forethought.

This quilt was my project when I arrived at Gwen Marston's Beaver Island Quilt Retreat in October 2013. I have attended several of Gwen's retreats and love bouncing ideas off the other quilters in attendance. Special thanks to Kathy of Michigan who suggested the red dot in this quilt. And special thanks to Gwen for filling my head with the phrase, "Don't Commit Too Soon."

And there's more. Flying Kite Tails will be joining its sister quilt, Autumn in Boyle County,  that will be on exhibit at the Phoenix show. Autumn in Boyle County was a contestant in the AQS show in Des Moines, Iowa in October 2013. It was picked to travel with the AQS Modern Quilt Challenge exhibit that will attend all seven of the AQS shows in 2014. My quilts will have more travel miles than me in 2014.

Autumn in Boyle County is part of the AQS Modern Quilt Challenge exhibit.

Birthday Dresses for Little Nieces

Front view of the birthday dress.

Back view of the dress. It has two covered buttons.

Being the Mother of boys it's not very often I get to make girl clothes. But now I have little nieces that are helping fill that need. Recently I pulled out my clothing construction skills to make this cute little dress. It is one that my soon-to-be 2 year old niece can wear all year because the fabric has the number "2" all over the print. These prints by Jone Hallmark for Free Spirit caught my eye and I had to have one in each age. The line is called ABC's and 123.

In my stash I have fabric for ages 2,3,5,6,7 and 8. (The store was out of age 4.) So it is no surprise what fabric I will be using for each birthday to come. The dress pattern I used is Macy Giggles. I purchased the pattern at my local quilt shop and the pattern includes instructions for sizes 2 through 14. The pattern is an Izzy and Ivy Design. The instructions are easy to follow but I think the sizing runs a little big.

My stash of birthday prints.