Just Can't Wait to Get on the Road...

I am RETREAT BOUND at the end of this week!  It is going to be so much fun, and I am looking forward to getting a lot of projects either done, or in a state of "doneness" that will inspire me to finish when I get home!  One of the projects that I plan to finish is a concoction using some charm squares and Lynne Hagmeier's (of Kansas Troubles) book called Loose Change and rulers.  I took a class with Lynne awhile ago, and have been wanting to make this fun quilt using her raw edge technique.

Five inch squares and 2 1/2 inch squares raw edge appliqued on top of ten inch squares...FUN!

Before heading out, I had some things to get finished.  I mailed my block off to Seattle for the American Made Brand Blog Tour.  I helped mom pick fabrics, designed a row, and sewed a row for the upcoming Row by Row Experience national Shop Hop beginning on July 1 and going through September 2.  There are 20 shops here in Nebraska participating, so we don't even have to leave the state to get plenty of rows for a quilt!  Of course, it would be more fun if we picked up a row here and there around the country!

Finally, I made and quilted a table runner out of some new Christmas fabric for the upcoming "Christmas in July" at mom's shop at the end of July so that I can take it along to retreat to sew down the binding.

Now...get packing, and I am outa here!

What I am Working on Now...

Once in awhile, I like to take a break from my longarm business, and work on sewing projects of my own:)  I belong to two quilt guilds and we have various projects throughout the year.  One of my favorites is our yearly BOM (Block of the Month for you newbies out there) in the Lone Tree Quilters guild here at home.  We have done round robins, row robins, a common pattern, and surprise monthly blocks.  This year, I am in charge of the patterns for the surprise blocks.  I chose a 12" block so that people would have a nice little lap quilt once they add borders.  My plan is to create setting blocks in a chain pattern to put between my blocks in order to create a bigger quilt, and to break up the craziness of my blocks.  I chose a very vibrant Laurel Burch fabric for my blocks, and they will need separated out in order to be shown to their best advantage.  So, what am I working on now...BOM blocks!

renaissanceSandi: Blog Tour has Begun!!!

renaissanceSandi: Blog Tour has Begun!!!: The American Made Brand Solids nationwide Blog Tour started yesterday and continues for 25 days, two states per day.  Go to their webpage...

Blog Tour has Begun!!!

The American Made Brand Solids nationwide Blog Tour started yesterday and continues for 25 days, two states per day.  Go to their webpage here:  Blog Tour Links  Be sure to check out my block on June 12.  It is super cute, if I do say so myself!

The Creative Process

  This is NOT my official block for the americanmadebrand.com Blog Tour that begins on May 19th.  If you don't know about the tour, be sure to click on the link and check it out!  It should be a fun way to see and hear more about this great nation of ours, and the creative people that occupy it:)
  This block is a part of my creative process for my Nebraska block, which will be a part of the blog tour and will be officially posted on June 12th.  Elements of this practice block will be included in my block, and other portions of the block will be changed.  Creativity is a wonderful thing...it allows ideas to change and evolve without the judgment of  "should" but with only the hope of "could"--how exciting!
  The creative process is such an amazing thing.  My son, of Billgrip Media, (look for his work on youtube) inspires me to push the limits of my creative abilities.  He is always coming up with new videos and crazy ideas that just end up working in his field of video production.  We have interesting conversations about how his mind works and what inspires him to create new ideas.  His work is always evolving and improving with each project that he makes.  He, like me, is constantly looking for ways to branch out and come up with something "different" in order to challenge and inspire himself and his viewers.
  My participation in the Blog Tour is just such an opportunity for me.  I am looking for opportunities to do things I have never done before in order to grow as an artist and as a person.  Last summer, I was published for the first time in a national magazine with a humorous little piece that I wrote for American Quilter magazine (July 2013 issue).  Being published was on my bucket list, and I was thrilled when it happened.  This summer, I will be one of the 50 bloggers chosen to make a block for the blog tour.  Each of us will design a block to represent our state.  Those blocks will be assembled into a quilt that will travel all over the country, I am sure, to market the new American grown and manufactured solid fabrics from AMB.  It is a great opportunity to stretch my creative thinking.  I have seen some of the ideas floating around, and have been a part of email conversations about the process as we all think about our designs. It has been so much fun, and I hope you join us for this creative tour beginning on May 19th.

License Plate Blog Tour Begins May 19

Hey, everyone.  I am so excited to announce that my blog was chosen to participate in a nationwide blog tour for the American Made Brand solid fabrics.  One blogger from each state was chosen to design a license plate block (6 1/2" by 12 1/2") representing their state, and to post that block with its pattern on their blog during the tour.  Two blogs will be featured each day beginning May 19.  My design will be posted on June 12.  For more information,and a list of the blogs participating, click on the following link:
http://americanmadebrand.com/blogtour/ 
  Blogs will be posting pictures of their plates, patterns for their plates, and will be giving away American Made Brand solids as a part of this tour!  Don't miss it!