White Christmas

The first day of winter came in with a bang. Here in Colorado we will be having a White Christmas.  The weather on Christmas day is supposed to be nice but there is no way all the snow we are getting today will melt by Sunday.  I have about 15 inches so far.  I will need to shovel my driveway in order to get my car out, I can't just drive over it. It is to high.  My cat spent most of the day sitting in front of the space heater.

                                    This ruler is 18 inches long

Our Newsletter with all our new classes, events, and block of the Month Programs are now available online at: http://www.fabricexpressions.com. 

 Our Open House is the weekend of  Jan 13-15. Here are a few of our classes and Block of the Month samples.

                         Daisy Chain

Heart and Flowers

                   "Cabana" Block of the Month

                    Secret Garden

                      Professional Tote

Meeting Santa

Sorry  I have not had a post in a while.  Thing have been crazy.  I was sick for a while, then Thanksgiving, then I went home for a memorial.  Sunday I was able to spend the day with my mom, sister, and my niece.  We went to The Huntington Library so Maria could talk with Santa.
We are starting to put together our schedule for next year.  We are going to have a few Block of the Months.

Cabana

Cabana Block of the Month - Designed by Swirly Girls for Michael Miller Clubhouse. Finished quilt measures 92" x 108". This 12-month program includes pattern and fabrics for a portion of the quilt each month, including blocks, sashing, borders and binding. Each installment also includes a pattern for a bonus project using the "Weekend" fabrics by Michael Miller.  This program begins in January, 2012 and will conclude in December 2012. The cost is $25 per month.

Amish with a Twist

Designed by Nancy Rink using Centennial Solids by Marcus Fabrics. Finished quilt measures 88-3/8" x 105-1/2".
This 5-installment program features 3 "lesson" units per installment and the lessons are grouped by related techniques and progress in level of difficulty. This project is perfect for the beginning quilter! Each installment also includes additional design ideas and a pattern for a bonus project. The fifth installment will include fabrics for setting the blocks, borders and binding.  This program begins in mid February, 2012 and ends June 2012. Cost is $ 48 per month. 

Quilt Festival

Today is the first full day of Quilt Festival in Houston.  From what I have seen on facebook and twitter people are having a great time. It is a great show a little overwhelming the first time you go.  So many quilts, so little time.

Here are some more quilts from the show.  These are from the “Innovative Applique” category.  If you would like to see all the winning quilts from this years Festival go to:

http://www.quilts.com/fqf11/enVivo/index.html

                            This quilt placed 3rd. All of those little pieces are appliqued

I have decided to host a Saturday Sampler next year.  We will start in January.  I can’t tell you much about it because it is a "Mystery".  Each month you will get a part of the quilt.  I will have the rules and sign ups soon in the shop.

Best of Show

Back home in Colorado we had our second snow storm this fall. My trees are taking a beating.  Mr Moda is not bothered by the snow. He follewed me around the yard checking on the trees.

Sue McCarty from Roy, Utah, was the Handi Quilter “Best of Show” winner at the International Quilt Festival, 

click here for more information http://goo.gl/QfGPj

Quilt Show

Here are some more quilts from the quilt show. These quilts were entered in the “Celebrate Spring” and “ Floral” categories.  It is nice to see some people have a sense a humor as seen in the first quilt.  Lions faces in the flowers.  The next quilt used beads for the centers to give it some texture. I took a close up shot of the center.

I have exciting news, while I was at Quilt Market I met with Traci Suzanne Marvel. Traci is Director of Marketing  (aka Dirctor of Fun and Enternainment)  for Bigfork Bay Cotton Company . We will be working together this coming summer. I am very excited about having Traci coming to Colorado.

I had a true six degrees of separation while in Houston.  I had been talking with Traci at Bigfork, Traci and Pat Sloan are working together, Pat Sloan is joining the Moda team this Spring and Bigfork is talking with Moda. Here is one of Pat Sloans projects with Bigfork.

Quilt Market

I have just returned from Quilt Market in Houston.  There was so much to see, between all the merchant booths and all the beautiful quilts.  I will be showing you a few of my favorite quilts over the next couple of day. Todays  quilts are animals quilts I  really liked.  They part of the "Art Pictorial" catogery. They are amazing,  they look like painting.

 I ordered a lot of fun fabrics, patterns, notions and some other surprises.  The fabric will not be here until next year, and I have decided on some new projects for next year. 

Before market I made a few quilts for my good Friend Lissa Alexander for Moda.  I made three quilts (two were the same quilt.) The quilts were part of the displays in the Moda Booth.They we quilted by Karen Niemi.  

Lissa shows one of the quilts I made using the new Fig Tree Jelly Roll "California Girl" seems appropriate since I am a California Girl. 

Lissa talks about a new line from 3 Sisters called "Papillon." The original antique quilt is on the left.  the quilt she is holding up is the one I made. Lissa made the quilt hanging up on the wall. 

Moda fabrics has been involved with Quilts of Valor program.  We at Fabric Expressions made star blocks, and quilts.  Moda recieved so many stars they have come up with another pattern and kits that use the stars.  We will be receiving some of these quilt kits to make and donate to your local soldiers. This quilt was quilted by our own Crystal Zagnoli.

 I

Great Project for Kids

While my niece was visiting this past weekend we had some quite time to color.  I brought here a fabric panel from Studio E called "Color Me"  I had cut out the different motifs and ironed them on freezer paper to make it easer for Maria to color.

These could make great gifts for family members, with the holiday approaching and family get togethers you can keep the kids busy for a while. Each Panel has eight different designs to color.

  After Maria went home I made her a pillow with the  first one she colored.

I am working on a Doll Quilt from the panel we colored together.

Family Visit

This weekend my sister Jen and her daugher Maria came for a visit from Los Angeles.  We had an great time visiting family and friends.  It was an action packed weekend. Jen and Maria stayed with Tanya a close friend Jen went to school with.

We thought about going to the zoo but our uncle Tim suggest we meet him and our cousin Joe at Riverside Cemetery.  Riverside Cemetery is the Denver's oldest operation cemetery and is designated a national historic district.  Tim and Joe volunteer there.

Our cousin Danny is in a band "Today's Paramount" and they performed Saturday Night so after we all had dinner we went to listen to him play.

Sunday we meet Tim and cousin Katie at Washington park.  Maria enjoyed the afternoon at the park and spending time on the petal boats with Katie.

After a fun afternoon at the park we had a casual dinner then had to say goodbye.  Jen and Maria have an early flight back to LA.

Quilt-A-Fair

Today we set up day for  Colorado Quilting Council's  Quilt-A-Fair.  The show Friday and Saturday at the Boulder County Fair Grounds. Vendors are from  all over Colorado and surrounding states.

Here is what part of my booth looked like at 3pm today.  We have patterns and kits for all kinds of projects. I went back to shop to pick up a few things that would not fit in my car.

Here is what my booth looked like 10am this morning.  Hope to see you at the show if you are in Colorado.
 

Class Schedule

Our new class schedule is now available on the website.  www.fabricexpressions.com
   We have worked really hard to offer a wide variety of classes.  JaNelle is starting her Baltimore's Cousin again.  JaNelle designed the quilt, each blocks finishes at 20 inches  and she has a history leason with each block.  You will also learn differant applque techniques.

   I designed this quilt  when our special batiks arrived before our shop hop.  It will be a fun class with a fast was to make the blocks. We have kits available.

  Patty will be teaching a new class from The Buggy Barn,  "If the Hat Fits. " She will also be teaching her invisible applique class.  We have a new instructor Terri Scott,  she will be teaching an EQ7 (electronic quilt) and a Big Block Quilt that can be made with charm squares or a layer cake.  We have added more UFO sew days.

The Winners Are:

We announced the winners for our pot holder challenge yesterday during our "Terrific Tuesdays" class.

Congratulations to Debbie, Shirley, and Jeannine.  They received gift baskets and a ribbon.  Now our challenge is a pin cushion. We had some great ones turned in yesterday. Winners will be announced at the next class next month.  Come vote.
The next challenge due Tuesday Sept 20th is a gift bag or wine bag.  You can use any pattern or design your own. Embellish it anyway you want. We will display it in the shop for a month.

Shop Hop Starts Today

It’s Shop Hop Time.  In just a few hours the doors will open 12th Annual Rocky Mountain Fever  will be in full swing. I hope you enjoy yourselves and find so great project and ideas.  We have some great unique projects and display’s at the shop.  We have designed three with our exclusive shop hop batiks that goes on sale today. We have kits for our Shop Hop block and our Shop Hop quilt that uses the blocks from all the shops.

Leave a comment about your favorite thing about the shop hop or if you can’t make it to the shop hop pick your favorite quilt.  To celebrate my Birthday on Monday I will pick a name by random and the winner will be get a present.

 I will have more photos on Monday from the hop.   I Don't want to ruin any surprises.