New Projects and cleaning up UFO's

Hi everyone, summer is racing by and when its too hot to be outside I love to hideaway in my studio. I am working on some great new projects and cleaning up some of my unfinished ones too.

 I find that by setting small amounts of time aside to do some of the UFO's that I am getting through them! I have made myself a list of all the things. You might want to do this too, its empowering. Go around and make a list or gather all your UFO's and make a list. In a box next to the UFO give it a number from 1-10 on how much you love it. Now give it another number based on how quickly you would like to finish it. Based on your totals you can prioritize your UFO list and take out one, finish it and cross it off the list. Now your on your way to getting those projects out of your closet and into the hands of friends, family or selling them!  Oh, time for a watermelon break! I need some refreshments after all that work! PHEW!

My list was fairly extensive and I am tackling it!!! How long is your list?

I also am working on new things as my head is full of things I want to move on too also. Another list and some time and things are getting done. I have to set the time aside to sketch, paint, sew, work on fabric, if I don't I find that things get in the way and my time disappears. Here is a few pictures of what I am working on this week. What are you guys up too? I will be posting my background tutorial and some recipes too in the next few days, keep your eyes open! My Newsletter is on its way tomorrow too!

New fabric, hopefully

This is Chloe in Fabric, used fusible applique, inktense pencils, ink, paint and now to do the background and some thread for more details and she should be done!! 

Whiling away the Summer Days

This summer has been a mix of extremes, super hot days then cool days, then humid days. It recently decided hot was where it would stay. I have still been able to open up the house at night to cool things off and then close it up in the morning to try and keep the heat out so I don't have to run the air conditioning. The mornings are wonderful and the evenings are perfect for swimming, walking but the hot part of the day you will find me hiding inside. How have all of you guys been dealing with the summer so far? I made some Hibiscus sun tea yesterday and sat with my feet in the pool enjoying the breeze of late afternoon and talking to my husband who was in the pool brushing it down.  My peach tree was so loaded this year, and with us being away, I was unable to thin enough to save one of my limbs which is now being supported by two by fours until the fruit is picked and then it will have to come off.

It makes me so sad to loose another major limb, the tree is just so productive. The peaches are white flesh, free stone and I love them so much. There is just nothing like fresh peaches over ice cream, even now over vegan ice cream.

Its just not summer without that. Last year I canned jams, preserves, chutneys and relishes. This year I am going to make more fresh fruit things for a change. Some fresh relishes, fresh fruit pies, every morning my cereal is loaded with peaches, its been a bumper crop!

My vegan scone recipe, turned out a bit loose even though I dried the peaches before adding. They didn't look like a normal scone but they taste pretty yummy. 

They are great to grab and go for breakfast or to snack on, fat free too!

Since I don't want to heat up the kitchen, cooking and baking are kept to a minimum and then I have been setting some time aside to do some Spring cleaning. I have been avoiding this for too long and I make myself go through magazines, paperwork etc and organize for a few hours then I get to go and work on a sewing project or paint. I finished a block to submit to Quiltmakers 100 Blocks, if they except it I hope to see it in Volumes 9 or 10. I would like to submit another, we will see. I have some art quilts also that need to be finished up.

The Queen

I did this small wallhanging art quilt for a challenge in my art quilt group called Sub-Q. The challenge was holes. We were free to interpret anyway we liked and being an avid gardner had been dealing with damage to my hollyhocks from snails. I had declared all out war actually as they had practically skeletonized all the leaves on my poor bushes. It was perfect for the challenge and I painted it and then quilted it to some black felt. I then cut out the felt and leaves to produce holes. I have now decided it needs a bit more color on top and I am going to back it with another fabric. I am contemplating wether to cut through the fabric like I did in the front and make the holes go all the way through or back it with black and leave it. I am kind of leaning towards cutting it out. I think it will be interesting to see all the way through the quilt to the wall. I really love this little wall hanging more and more as it hangs in my studio. I still have my Hollyhocks too!

Hollyhocks, handpainted, machine quilted. Available 

I also have another fabric line due so I need to focus and get going on that, time is flying by and I just haven't been inspired. That is my goal this week, get it done!!

Oh and just a few other Summer things of note so far. My oldest grandson graduated from High School even though we all know I couldn't possibly be that old. But anyway, my daughter made him a money lei that she found on Pinterest. It was awesome!

Congrats Mikey!

And finally, it is Jennifer's birthday tomorrow. Its hard to believe she will be 37! Although she is in a wheelchair now I will always remember her free, independent spirit, and riding our horses through the hills together. She is an amazing person and although physically challenged she still continues to amaze and inspire me everyday. Happy Birthday Jenn!!

The basket is delivered!

I was lucky enough to be able to deliver the goodie basket to Martha in person. This weekend was the quilters run and they happened to be doing it and today they were in my neck of the woods! We met up at a wonderful Quilt shop called "The Quilters Cocoon" in Riverside. Martha and her daughter met me there and we had fun going through all the goodies. Congratulations Martha, I can't wait to see what wonderful things you make with all the wonderful things you got today!

The Quilters Cocoon is a wonderful, bright, roomy quilt shop in Riverside. Pagen, the owner, is warm and friendly and always makes you feel welcome. She carries a wonderful selection of fabrics, notions, books everything you need to create your favorite project. I hope if you are in the area you will take the time to stop in and visit her beautiful shop!! Check our their website for classes, new items etc! 

Wasted time-getting my mojo back

Since returning from market I have been busy with things but nothing constructive or creative. The paperwork part of business is always a creative killer for me! By nature I am a procrastinator so making list with deadlines is important for me to stay focused and get things done. So the combination of paperwork, housework, the let down after market makes it hard for me to get my momentum back. I find that I know I need to get started but just can't seem to talk myself into action these days. I find other things to waste my time and flit from one to the other without really accomplishing anything. Then if I happen to start a game on an electronic device, forget it, I can loose precious time without noticing. Then there are the excuses of why I can't get to things, always playing in my head, reassuring myself that the reasons are valid and some are but......

It's time to get busy and grab those moments and make each one count! I found that by making a weekly list and revising it each Monday morning was perfect for me. It listed all the things I wanted to do that week with deadlines dates for each. As I finished a project they came off my list and new ones were added. By keeping a list I was able to see my accomplishments and where I needed to work harder. It also made sure that things got finished on time but sadly made me have to let other things go so I could reach my goal. I used to think I could do it all but maybe I can't!? Anyway, by sharing this with you I hope that you can relate a bit and hold me accountable. Do any of you face these issues, the ups and downs of consistently being creative and productive? What things do you use to procrastinate and how do you avoid them? What helps you get your muse back? 

I took a walk which always inspires me, love theses wild thistles!

Lets have a Thumbtack Thursday where we pin up something we got down creatively that week! My creative business thing is adding product to my new website so it can finally launch! Then on a purely creative level I am making a block for a comfort quilt for someone who's sick and I designed a pattern for my new fabric line, what are you guys doing this week!? INSPIRE ME!

My new book!

I wanted to share my new book with you! It is a companion book to my new fabric line, Gumdrops and Lollipops but you can use any fabric to make the projects in the book! One of the best things is that I have included a pattern to make the Lil Miss Cutie Patootie Doll. Now you can make a doll to go along with all the new quilts and new fabric lines that will be coming out! The book is full color with a full sized template pull out page. She is sitting on the Tea Party Quilt or Tablecloth that is also in the book. Fun projects for your special Lil Cutie Patootie! You can find them on my website.

Fun Tea Party Quilt or Tablecloth!

It's time to draw the name of the lucky winner, is it you!!??

TODAY IS THE DAYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Since returning home I have been busy with orders, unpacking and babysitting for my daughter, I am exhausted. I have been gathering names and preparing to draw for the basket and my sketching class this Saturday. Life is so full sometimes, I am not complaining, I love the excitement, the anticipation and the fun of being able to offer some really amazing gifts to all of you from some very talented artists!

I wanted to take the time to thanks our sponsors Kelly Mueller from Wooden Bear, Lesley Riley and CT Publishing, Terry Degenkolb from Whimsicals, Jamie Fingal, Lyric Montgomery Kinard,Sue Bleiweiss, Hillcreek Design and myself. I have added even more goodies, some of my patterns, a sample Fabulous Folded Bag, scissor bob etc.

I also want to thank all of YOU!! All of you who took the time to visit my blog and FB page and posted comments. I can't tell you how much I appreciate all your comments as I read them. It not only inspires me but keeps me wanting to do more!! I loved doing this give away basket and I hope to do another in October so keep tuned and follow me so you will stay informed on when it happens. I hope you will also go to my website and click on the newsletter link so I can send you monthly newsletter which keeps you up to date on all of my new adventures!! You guys are awesome!! Good luck next time!

Watch the video and see my drawing and see who is our grand prize, Marvelous May Market Give-Away, Winner!!  Please email me with your shipping info once you have seen the video lucky winner!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!

I'm Back!!!

Market was great, we made lots of new friends and acquaintances! I did two schoolhouses and one was standing room only! I had so much fun and my Fabulous Folded Bags were the hit of the show again. My new pattern called Ladybugs and Kisses was also well received as were the newest scarecrow 12"x12" holiday quiltlets. 

 Sample Spree Madness!!!

 All the women love Randy the eye candy! 

 I stopped by Terri's booth to say hi, she just happened to have a little table so we visited!

Quilting Treasures display of my fabric line, I brought them a bunch of fun things! After all the hard work everyday we would have parties at night. One night we had Sample Spree, then one night we had a dinner party with Quilting Treasures and then Randy and I went to the Fons and Porter party! Fun, fun and then you break down in a few hours and its over. All those months of preparations and sleepless nights. Meetings and planning and designing. Phew! 

Then on to our vacation.....

 These first sketches were done in Crater Lake in Oregon, it was so beautiful the day we arrived and then quickly changed to a blizzard. Walking dogs in snow is challenging too! LOL Here is a sketch I did at the dinner table looking out over the hillside during the storm. The snow was blowing horizontally and I think it got down to 14. Side note: we are all from southern California, I even forgot my jacket! LOL

 The first day at Crater Lake was gorgeous, snow but clear and blue skies and cold

Lil Miss Cutie Patooti enjoyed it too!

This was a nice area with rocking chairs and blankets where we could sit and drink hot chocolate and look out at the lake. Notice the other people sitting in the rocking chairs. The next picture is the same rocking chairs less than 24 hours later! LOL

Then the storm hit! Still beautiful but freezing and horizontal snow. Glad we weren't driving in it! 

 Sitting at the dinner table, sketching the craziness outside. 

The next day we headed down the mountain, it was just softly snowing and the plows had cleared the 8" of snow we got the night before. The drive was wonderful, it looked like a winter wonderland! I will be painting more snow pictures now! As we reached the bottom of the mountain the forest changed dramatically and as we got warmer and the snow disappeared the forest floor was awash a greens and ferns and everywhere stood dogwoods. Blooming in the darkness of the forest, being a light in a dark place. Randy stopped to pick me one so I could sketch it as we drove. 

We did make it to Redwood Forest and we had a little house to ourselves. The house was handicap friendly but was not easy. The halls and rooms were so small we had to back Jenn up everywhere since there was nowhere to turn around. We were in the middle of the meadow surrounded by Redwood Forest. There was a resident Elk herd that made there way around the meadow and some had babies! We hiked through the Redwood Forest and thats where I turned my ankle. 

I would sit at the table in the kitchen and look out onto the meadow where everything was green! I hate painting greens, did I ever tell you that. Greens are beautiful to look at but a challenge to paint. When you have scenes that are all green its nice to add other colors even if they aren't really there. I added some blue but needed to add more yellows and reds which I was somehow missing. 

 From there we traveled south to Humboldt to visit our dear friends Pastor Dennis and Linda at Acadia Baptist Church. They are such amazing people and servants. They have found a wonderful home and new church family here in the redwoods and are so happy! They took us to Trinidad, a city along the sea coast for dinner, we had fish and chips!! I know right, meat and fried fish to boot, but it was yummy. Our stomachs are still recovering from our diet change while we were traveling. 

Cold but no snow! Windy! From there we traveled to my mom and brothers homes in Philo, close to Mendocino. Beautiful but no sketches since we just visited!

Then off to Yosemite! Our last leg of the trip and another dead spot for wifi and cell phones. It was incredibly beautiful and I loved it. I am always a bit melancholy when I leave my moms, this is such special time. I haven't been to Yosemite since I was a child and I won't share how long ago that was!  While in Yosemite we hiked, walked and just enjoyed the beauty of it all. The weather was perfect and I found that I just loved carrying a pencil and a sketchbook and sketching some of the elements along the trail. I added the hiking trails maps to this page later. 

Randy was our official photographer and as he stopped on the way out to grab some shots I would sketch, the snap a photo and finish later or in the car driving.

Yosemite was a nice mix of lots of different elements and textures. It was beautiful and thankfully not too crowded. We had arrived the day after Memorial and most everyone had gone home. We didn't fight for photos or wait in long lines, it was great. Well enough of my vacation. I am home and working on getting orders out, I am finishing up my final count on entries for the give away basket and doing laundry! Happy Trails! What have all of you been up too and have you been sketching or sewing???