Rae Gun Ramblings: Giveaway: 3.5 inch Fabric Square Pack

Rae Gun Ramblings: Giveaway: 3.5 inch Fabric Square Pack If you like japanese fabrics, run on over and put your name in for this giveaway! The fabrics are oh so cute!

Back from Denver

I'm home now. We sent my beloved Abuela off into the next life with love and unity. My siblings and I joined my aunt, uncle, cousins, neiece, and friends for several days of remembrance, fun, and togetherness, culminating in an uplifting funeral service, reception, and next day family picnic. I've hung on to something the priest said--that no matter how far away we are, we should make my Abuela proud by being a united family. We certainly succeeded in that this weekend and I hope we will continue to make her proud by sticking together no matter what. Here we are right after the funeral service. All together. Abuela would be proud! And here's a picture of my beautiful Abuela. I imagine that's how she looks now, sweet and at peace with herself. Well, since I'm back at home I'm gonna snuggle my two kitties and my dog, and spend time with my human family, and friends. And, I've got work to do. I haven't put together either of my quiltalong tops so that will be the first order of business. Then, I want to get onto the vintage sheet quilts with my daughter and sister in law. I'm happy. We did good. And now, the quilting will be good. As my cuban Abuela would say--"Eez too bee-u-ti-ful!!!" and "I luv yew!" I love you, too, Abuela!

Abuela's Quilt

I haven't posted in a while because my Abuela (grandmother) was very ill and she passed away a few days ago. She lived in Denver and I made the trip on June 19th, stayed for a week, and am going back in a few days. I'm at home creating a video and eulogy that I'll deliver for her funeral. My Abuela was an amazing woman, who wanted to be a star since she was a little girl in Cuba. She became a dancer, and travelled all over South America in a dance troupe. In her honor, I thought it fitting that I post my favorite of the few quilts I've made since I made it for my beloved Abuela. It's a log cabin pattern inspired by a spanish dancer's shawl. Since my Abuela's dance repertoire included flamenco, the shawl was my inspiration. I love the way the fields and furrows layout gives the quilt movement, like an embroidered shawl wrapped around a swaying dancer. A flamenco dancer stamps the ground to represent the earth, and reaches her hands up, to represent the heavens, so I used black for the earth, and white for the heavens. The flowers are so typically spanish, representing the pretty embroidery on a shawl. I'm so happy I made this quilt for her. I'll always think of my Abuela, the beautiful spanish dancer, and the quilt I made her.

Quiltalong progress

I teach first grade and school will be out in two weeks! Hurray for summer but I'll miss my students. They've really worked hard this year, they're sweet, and they love my sewing projects. They think I'm a genius just because I can sew! Teaching is the best job. Where else do you just show up and people are so happy to see you and come up and hug you and share exciting things that happened to them. Teaching is awesome! Well, in between the end of year stuff I've been working on my quiltalongs.
Here are some of the sewn strips for the oldreadbarnquiltalong. They're folded so you can't see the whole thing. I'm not finished sewing the strips and haven't cut them, so I'm a bit behind but will catch up this week.
Now here's a picture of my blocks for amandajeansquiltalong. I've got over 60 blocks now! You can't see them all cuz I've stacked them (by color--goodness, don't tell anyone how fussy I am, okay!)
Also, thanks to Joan of PeaceLoveandHugs. I won her giveaway!!! She's sending me cute doggy leash with an iPod Dog Walking Pocket Case and matching leash done in a motorcycle print. So totally cute--my dog and I will love it. I'll post of picture of us out and about in our new attire.

Another quiltalong--Am I crazy!?!

Well, yes, as a matter of fact, I think I am. I must be since with all the projects I have going I decided to join the oldredbarncoquiltalong. It's a 6 week quiltalong with an easy pattern but what got me interested is that Dana is using Paula Prass' Flights of Fancy. It happens that when I went to the Glendale Quilt Show I bought 3 fabrics from her line just because they were so pretty and I really didn't know what to do with them. And, let me tell you, I'm not one to pay $9.00 a yard for my fabric. I'm a JoAnn's 40% off coupon kinda gal so buying those fabrics was a splurge. Well, now I've got a cool project to use them in AND every week Dana does a giveaway, culminating in the daddy of all giveaways for those that finish their quilts--a Janome 6600P sewing machine! She's already given away 9Olfa mat and rotary cutter sets, a Rowena iron, and is giving away some beautiful threads. So, I get to make a gorgeous and easy quilt, and try my luck at some prizes. What's not to like? And crazy, you say--crazy like a fox! Here are my fabrics. I've cut 9 of the 12. Pretty, huh!

And, btw, I've been working on amandajeans one-a-day-quiltalong and now have 62 blocks made! Woo-hoo! I'm either on a roll or I REALLY need to get a life!

I've been working on amandajeans 9-Patchquiltalong. I've got 42 blocks done so far! I know I have my own sewing room, but like I said, I'm enjoying sewing on my kitchen table. And even though I've got a big 'ol Singer sewing machine in the sewing room, I've been sewing on my new little Janome Sew Mini that I bought myself in March (bday gift to myself!) It's soooo awesome! I can lift it with one hand (6lbs) and I put it in my backpack and take it to school to work on projects with other teachers. It only has straight stitch and zigzag, but that's all you need to put a quilt top together, anyway! Hint, hint, Emily!!! I hope somebody (who we love and maybe got one of these through the mail for being such a sweetie) enjoys it as much as I do! It's also a great sewing machine to teach little one's with! Sewing in Oregon this summer!?! Oh, and I've been making juice pouch pencil cases for my students and I'll post a picture soon. In the meantime, here I am with my beloved Franklin. Don't I look like Lola!?!

9-Patches and Give Away Prize!

I joined amandajean's 9-Patch One-A-Day Quiltalong. The idea is to make a scrappy 9-Patch a day and by mid summer have enough blocks to make a good sized quilt. When I went to the Glendale Quilt Show last month I bought two $4.00 scrap bags and I'm using them for the quilt. Take a peek--I've made 15 blocks so I'm ahead--I'm having fun!

See the purse on top of the blocks? It's the giveaway prize I won on thepostitplace. It's from ohnoudidntdesigns etsy shop. The purse is sooo cute--cleverly and very nicely sewn reese's peanut butter cup wrappers that are sturdy, with a well designed layout and pockets to boot! I love it and appreciate the prize so much that I'm going to buy an uno card flap tote and a Habanero Doritos Eyeglass Case--Happy Mother's Day to me! AND, of course, Happy Mother's Day to you out there--specially Emily and Molly! (Stop by and see Molly's finished coin quilt--it's beautifully quilted and inspires me as to what mine can look like finished and Emily's crotched shoulder bag that's so cute and easy peasy!)