A lengthy superhero lesson awaits here, if you aren't sure who "The Flash" is . . .
Jack (running from the living room to the kitchen and back again, holding a "Flash" figurine): "Mommy, I'm Flash. I am soooo fast!"
Me: "Yes, I see that. Really, really fast."
Jack: "Yes, I am so fast. I'm as fast as a small bird!"
A small bird. Hmm. I love that Jack is trying out his prowess with similes. But Superman is faster than a speeding bullet. Poor Flash.
I can hardly believe it but it's true. Along with designs by the quilting superstars listed in this post's title, the pattern for one of my quilts is in the new issue of McCall's Quilting magazine! See--there's a little picture of me, top left, and there's a picture of a cute little girl reading a book as she snuggles under my quilt, "Fuzzy Flowers." She really gives the quilt an extra shot of sugar, I think.
In the April 2008 issue of McCall's Quilting.
Several months ago I took a close-up shot of the quilt to show the texture in the blocks. I used the photo as a banner image on this blog for a bit:
Close-up shot of "Fuzzy Flowers."
It's been months since I've seen this quilt in person. I had almost forgotten what she looks like. I can't wait for her to be shipped back home so I can do some springtime snuggling of my own.
(Oops. Is it too soon to start wishing for spring? Perhaps the paragraph above is just my thinly veiled, sad little way of begging someone to send me flowers. We have a forecast of snow every other day for the forseeable future. Phooey.)
I'm s-l-o-w-l-y transforming a room in our home into a playroom. The room started out as our bedroom. Then it became a family room. Then it morphed into a room that held all the furniture we didn't need anywhere else in the house. I think this room has finally found a lasting purpose, at least until little ones become big ones and don't need a playroom anymore. (But with my husband as a gauge, I wonder--do boys ever stop needing a playroom?)
Wood ABCs paired with the quilt "Silly Stripes and Doodle Dots,"
from The Little Box of Baby Quilts.
The above photo shows one of the quilts I designed for my "little box." Bright colors, raw edges, striped and dotted fabrics. Start with three sizes of squares; then sew, cut, and sew again. As I was making the quilt, I remember feeling like it came together too easily. "That's it?" I thought when I completed it. "Yep, that's it--and I really, really like it!" Whew. Sometimes in quiltmaking, you get a lucky break.
If I ever need to whip up a baby quilt in a hurry, this is the pattern I'll choose. Of course, after making 20 baby quilts for the "little box," I have a stash that could last me through many years of baby showers. But when you hear about a little boy or girl on the way, sometimes it just seems fitting to start from scratch, doesn't it?
That gets me thinking . . . what kind of fabric stash should I start building to make a one-of-a-kind quilt for Tie-Dye, our baby on the way? Hmm. No brainer, I guess. I see a baby-sized hippie quilt on the horizon.
It's not like me to refrain from posting for two weeks. Eating for two (okay, more like three) and watching back episodes of Project Runway have kept me horribly busy. I am now an authority in the business of doing next to nothing. Give me a few more weeks--I'm aspiring to expert status.
But yesterday, something fun came to our house. A house, actually. Made by my father, for Jack. A "Star Wars" house. (Brett has asked that we not call it a "doll" house. I will comply.) Looky here:
It's over four feet tall and has six rooms--one for Darth Vader, one for good Jedis and one for bad Jedis, with rooms for other figurines to be determined. The roof lifts up to reveal a secret compartment for weapons, prisoners, etc. It's fabulous.
Jack and I are going to decorate each room. We'll hit the thrift stores for tiny furniture and accents. Jack has decided on red walls for the Darth Vader dwelling, while I see miniature quilts on every wall and bed. Everyone needs a quilt to snuggle under. Even Darth Vader.
My dad has been a woodworker for many, many years, creating beautiful bowls, frames, puzzles--you name it, he's made it. I love that this house is a special creation from Grandpa, just for Jack. Daddy, wait until you see what you call your "labor of love" all dressed up! (But in a very manly way, of course.)
Grandpa and newborn Jack (with Grammie Ruth Ann in the background), 2004.
Love you Daddy, and thank you. We can't wait to get our imaginations going!
When I was at Quilt Market in October I met up with the kindest of quilters, Annie Smith of SimpleArts fame. She recorded an interview with me that you can listen to here. We talked about quilts and kids and my book (but actually, it's a box) for about half an hour. I can't believe how much she got me chatting. My apologies to all the guys with the name "Milo" out there. How ill-mannered of me.
Annie has over 100 podcasts featuring quilters of all kinds on her blog. Can't believe I'm one of them now. Thank you so much for the visit, Annie! I sure did enjoy it.
Me and Annie at Quilt Market.
In a sudden superhero frenzy, Jack begins brainstorming new characters at breakneck speed on our drive home from Bed Bath and Beyond. Perhaps I should license some of his ideas?
Jack: "Mom, do you know Waterman? Waterman has water powers."
Me: "Hmm. Sounds interesting."
"And Ratman has rat powers."
"Ah, yes."
"And Frostingman has frosting powers."
"I think he'd be my favorite superhero of all."
"And Signman has sign powers. And Windowman has window powers. And Snowman has snow powers!"
"I think I've heard of that last one."
"And Whiteman has white powers. And Blackman has black powers." (Need to have a talk about the alternate meanings of these two sometime soon...)
"Hmm."
Driving into the garage, Jack leaves me hanging...
"And Skiman has ski powers. And Wallman has wall powers. And I'll tell you about more superheroes when we get in the house."
"Can't wait."
