Asian Fabric

Doot- doot-doot!!!  That would be me tooting my own horn...  I'm very proud to announce my first official appearance in a magazine- Asian Fabric Magazine issue #21 to be exact!

I met the editor of this beautiful magazine at the Houston Quilt market.  She asked me if I would be interested in contributing a project for the very next issue, and of course I said yes!!

The project was made from Kona Bay fabrics and ribbon (the ribbons are to die for.)  Here is the project:

"First Snow Ornament"

The ornament is about 6" in diameter ad can be displayed all year round!

Thanks for lookin'!

Merry Christmas y Feliz Navidad

Happy Holidays to all!

These images from our snow baby scene we put up every year. Each year we add something new- more hand- painted babies, trees, and this year the giant toadstools. Tutorial for toadstools coming soon!


Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Snow Globe Birthday Cake for Olivia

This past week was my daugher Olivia's 12th birthday.  (That I can't believe she's already 12 is a whole 'nother post...)  Anyhow, we had a Winter Wonderland themed party for Miss Thang,  and here was her Snow Globe cake.  It was such a hit that all of her friends were taking pictures of the cake with their cellphones before we cut it!

If you would like to make (or I should say assemble ) your own,  you will need:

• One 10" round layer cake from your local grocery store bakery, frosted light blue and piped in white on the borders, white polka dots on the sides
• Several plastic snowflakes (these happened to be snowflake rings)
• Winter scene foam stickers (Michaels)
• (1) 8" round glass 'Blanda' bowl from Ikea ($4.99. Perfectly round and clear.)
• Large white round edible non-pareils (from cake section in Michaels) or white sprinkles...

1. Press plastic snowflakes onto side of cake.
2. Assemble snow scene with foam stickers.  To make scene look good from all angles, I stuck identical stickers together, back to back.
3. Accent snow scene with edible round white non-pareils.
4. Carefully invert bowl over snow scene.
5. Enjoy the compliments!

This would also make a great anytime cake for a snow globe collector.  Just change the scene inside! 

How about having one of the little characters holding a sign for the recipient?

Bernina Love

Tira, my lovely distributor at Brewer Quilting and Sewing Supplies,  casually handed me this brochure at the Houston Market:

See the Kabloom! pincushion next to the sewing machine above?!!  Aaaaaah!!!  I could hardly believe my eyes!!

This was an especially nice surprise since I've been a Bernina fan and user for 10 years now.  (Thanks to Ceci Koppmann in Buenos Aires who got me hooked!)

See the whole brochure to drool over the new 3 series machines:
http://content.berninausa.com/ExternalURL/berninaHoliday2010_1024.swf

Also note the AWESOME pearl head pins stuck into the pincushion.  They are called 'Dots of Fun Straight Pins.'  Ask for them at your local quilt store, who can order them from Brewer Sewing and Quilting Supplies.  The super cute tin is included!

Also come in adorable leaf shapes aptly called 'Lovely Leaflets':

In fact, I love these pins so much that I use them for everyday sewing.  They just make me smile when I use them and they are reaaaaally easy to grab!  

Not to mention that hey are also THE BOMB for making beaded Christmas ornaments...

Kaffe and Liza visit my booth

Yes, that handsome, smiling fellow is really Kaffe Fassett, and the flame haired beauty is Liza Prior Lucy.  Me?   I'm the one about to faint...

Liza had come by earlier and startled me with, "Hi Julie! How's it going?"  Love her.

She brought Kaffe back to my booth.

Still ready to faint here...  Then I got distracted by that great shirt he has on.  Would make a great patches for my new handbag...

So here is Kaffe picking out a 'Kafflower', which I was told by several that he wore the rest of the day at his booth!!  (I did sell the most Kafflower patterns that day... Thanks Kaffe!)

A-mazing.  Thanks Liza and Kaffe for your kind words and encouragement!!

Lee from Accuquilt

Lee from Accuquilt!
Go-baby!!! (not me, silly, - their new product!)



- Posted using BlogPress from qqmy iPhone

Kona Bay Peeps

With Douglas Eagleson (president) and Vicki Dar from Kona Bay Fabrics


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Pins and Needles

This is Rachel Low from New York- new quilt shop owner, opening in 3 weeks!! Go check out her stuff at pinsandneedlesnyc.com



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Houston quilt show

with Judy Hanson from the Deland Quilt Shop


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Booth at Houston Quilt Market

After months of planning, two days of driving, and 9 hours of set up- Ta Da!!!! Presenting the La Todera Sewing and Craft Patterns booth!! Off to bed now- will be dreaming of selling lots of patterns....


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Houston

Hi everyone!


I've been with my nose to the grindstone getting ready for............. Houston Quilt Market!!!!


My friend Margaret, (of the already famous Eazy Peazy pattern line,) and I are packing up and heading out next Wednesday!  We will be flying our respective flags at adjoining booths at the Market.
If you happened to be in Houston, I'll be in booth 2060!


We must be bonkers- this is our first show for both of us as pattern sellers, and we decided to start out at the biggest quilt show in the world.  Bananas.  But as George Michael used to say, "If you're gonna do it, do it right".  So we're going for it!


I'll be selling 8 of my patterns.  Actually, one is a kit!  If you can't make it to Houston, let me save you some moolah on the flight and point out that my patterns are also available in my Etsy store!


Here are the 5 newest patterns and kit:

Plushroom Pincushions Kit

Toadstool fans rejoice!  Kit includes all plush and wool blend felt for both pincushions!  Can also be made into tree ornaments and sachets!  Large pincushion measures about 5" across, and small guy about 1 1/3" across.

retail: US$ 12.

Asian Fan Purse Pattern

This is the bag you'll reach for time after time.  And not just for it's scrappy good looks.  At 20 inches wide, it's the perfect size, with a comfy shoulder strap and a cell phone pocket.  Easy to make in an afternoon!

Instructions for professional looking strap included!

retail: US$ 9.

 Cymbidium Orchid Brooch Pattern

Can you see a bunch of these made up into a beautiful everlasting wedding bouquet and accessories?  How about adorning an art quilt- or your jean jacket?

Simple pattern with instructions for 3 sizes of orchid blooms: 4 1/2", 3 7/8", and 2 3/4".

Bonus: Instructions for making buds!

retail: US$ 9.

 Slipper Orchid Brooch Pattern

Can you see a bunch of these made up into a beautiful everlasting wedding bouquet and accessories?  How about adorning an art quilt- or your jean jacket?

Simple pattern with instructions for 3 sizes of orchid blooms: 4 1/2", 3 7/8", and 2 3/4".

Bonus: Instructions for making buds!

retail: US$ 9.

Phalaenopsis Orchid Brooch Pattern

Can you see a bunch of these made up into a beautiful everlasting wedding bouquet and accessories?  How about adorning an art quilt- or your jean jacket?

Simple pattern with instructions for 3 sizes of orchid blooms: 4 1/2", 3 7/8", and 2 3/4".

Bonus: Instructions for making buds.

retail: US$ 9.

Thanks for looking!

Wedding Quilt

Congratulations Luisito and Josefina!
This quilt is a wedding gift for our (OK, Santiago's) cousins in Buenos Aires.  They are the cutest couple ever!

This quilt is inspired by one I saw on the Material Obsession website.  The pattern was published in the Australian Better Homes and Gardens, but try as I might, I couldn't locate the pattern.  So I improvised.  This is a queen sized quilt.  The quilt is on it's way with some other VERY nice cousins who offered to cart it to Argentina in their suitcase...

I hope they like it!

Memory Blanket for Olivia

Happy Saturday!

Just finished this twin sized quilt for my daughter Olivia. The white background is an heirloom linen crib sheet set that was passed down to Olivia.  All of the colored fabric swatches are from clothes from various family members.  The backing is Kaffe, and the binding is from a recycled man's shirt.

Sonic Sock Monkey

Sonic character sock monkey. Made for Liam's friend Eric for his birthday ... Made entirely of well,.....socks!

Orlando Orchid Ladies

Good morning,

Yesterday the Orlando Modern Quilt Guild held their monthly meeting at the Sewing Studio in Maitland.
I was the speaker-in-a-pinch,  and did a mini class on a pattern I'm developing (in my 'lab'  muhahahah!!)

The Phalaenopsis Orchid Brooch

Here we are showing off our work.  Thanks ladies!!

Kabloom! Pincushion Pattern Now Available

Just a little shout out to say that  the Kabloom!  pincushion pattern is now available!

KaBloom! Pincushion Pattern

Show off this juicy pincushion on your sewing table or give it as a gift!

Another great take along project.  Three embellishment options included in the pattern to take your pincushion from modern simple to over the top retro-style!

Available in my etsy shop (see sidebar at right)  in both the printed and pdf versions.

Have a great day!!

Another quilt from grandma's fabrics

Here's another quilt made from Red Grandma's dresses.  The four-patch rectangles are from gram's tropical print dresses:

The four-patch rectangles are from gram's tropical print dresses.  The secondary design that the blocks create is interesting, I think.  Always something to look out for when designing a quilt...:

  The colorful border inset is Kaffe:

Philippians 4:8

Put your seat belts on- I'm about to get deep!

Wanted to share one of my favorite passages from the Bible.  It speaks to me about keeping one's mind focused on positive stuff.



Philippians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

As an artist, the words "whatsoever things are lovely" confirms what we all suspected:  that making and admiring beautiful things is vital and good for our spirit!

Jewelry Mirror

My mom visited this past weekend, and here's the project we did- a 'jewelry mirror.'

We had so much fun picking through the jewelry we collected and trying out different layouts.

If you'd like to make your own,

• collect more jewelry that you think you'll ever need from every garage sale and thrift store in your area
• the more colored rhinestone pieces the better
• get lots of colored pearl strings for the base layer
• also, get several tubes of E6000 glue (Michaels and Joann carry it)
• I like beveled mirrors with gold and silver frames for a base

Here you can see we started covering the base mirror with colored pearl strings.

The inspiration was a mirror that my grandma (my mom's mom)  had hanging in her dining room.  It was the first thing I would run to see (after my grandparents, of course!)  when we arrived to their house in Madison, Wisconsin.  The mirror was made by my grandma's friend, Mrs. Fenski.  Over the years, the jewelry dropped off.  A few years ago, I inherited the mirror and restored it with jewelry from my Aunt Doris, and it proudly hangs in my entryway:

If you do one, please send me pictures!!

Red Gram Quilts Quilts de 'Abuela Roja'

Hi all!
Lately I've been working on a series of memory quilts made with the fabric from the dresses of my late grandmother, Geraldine Stark  (Red Gram).  Red Gram was always dressed to the nines- often in red, and always with red lipstick.  So when I was a kid, I nicknamed her 'Red Grandma' to set her apart from all of the other grandmas out there, and it just stuck!
It took me a whole year to cut up the dresses, but when I found this pattern by Elizabeth Hartman of 'oh fransson,' I knew I had to get started.  Not only is this a great pattern for feature fabrics, but it reminds me of lava lamps, which Red Gram always kept on her back porch.  What a hip grandma, right?

Hola!
Estos dias estoy haciendo un serie de quilts hecho con telas de los vestidos de mi abuela que fallecio, Geraldine Stark (Abuela Roja).  Mi abuela siempre era muy bien vestido, muchas veces en el color rojo, y siempre con rouge rojo.  Entonces, cuando era chiquita, la di el apodo "Abuela Roja'  para destinguirla de todas las otras abuelas en el mundo.  Se quedo asi!


Me costo un ano en cortar los vestidos para usar, pero cuando encontre este patron de Elizabeth Hartman de 'oh fransson,'  sabia que tenia que arrancar.  No solo es este patron genial para telas que quieres destacar, pero las formas parecen a 'lava lamps' ( ), cosa que mi abuela siempre tenia prendida en su porch.  Que abuela canchera, no?