text her...

Text her. Text her? What?

Don't mind me. I'm just making a play on words...or verbal sounds, rather.

I suppose this truly doesn't make sense in all parts of the world. But for myself, when I say the words "text her" fast enough...over and over...it starts to sound like I'm saying the word texture. Does it work for you?

Texture texture texture.

I know. Simple minds....



When I received this quilt from my good friend and client -- Julee H -- I knew that I wanted to make a play or create movement on the channels (rows) of rectangles and squares.

Perhaps you cannot see the texture all that well in the photo above?

How about in the following photo below....



With my longarm, I freehand stitched simple swirls in the wider channels...and serpentine-style lines in the narrower channels. Julee loved it...as did the special person that she gifted the quilt to!

I feel that with a classy quilt like this -- consisting of geometric lines and gorgeous fabrics -- any style of quilting would have been perfect though.

If it were your quilt, what would you have chosen for the quilting treatment?



And...in getting back to my title...if given the choice in this wide world of mobile phones, would you rather phone someone or text them?

Me? Thanks to my best girlfriend and children...I'm a text(h)er!

riding the storm

"If you worried about falling off the bike, you'd never get on."





Because I'm in the midst of transferring files -- long story...I'll spare you the details -- from one computer to another...I thought I'd share a photo with you taken during the Christmas 2009 storm. Hard to believe that was a month ago!

Bike ride, anyone?

Oh...and that quote above? Lance Armstrong.

spectator sport

Just to show you that there's more to me than meets the eye.

Oh. Wow. That was a little much, wasn't it! Please don't choke on your morning coffee, tea or juice.

Actually...what I meant to say was...I do more than just machine quilt.

Here is a collage photo of the fronts and backs of some wool (with silk lining) needle felted Specs Cases that I finished recently:



Yes, thank you! Totally original designs...all my very own.

Suppose you could say that I've always been a one-on-one sort of a girl.

living in the now

The blocks in this quilt remind me of simplistically wrapped presents...kind of a less-is-more approach to decorating.

Modern. Chic. In vogue. Very...now.

What do you think? Do you see it?



My client who pieced this quilt -- Shirley G. -- gave it as a gift to her son and daughter-in-law as a housewarming present. What a perfect way to begin warming a new house: A gorgeous new contemporary quilt!

I myself have always been drawn to earthy tones. But this. This color scheme has got me really intrigued, I must say!



Shirley asked that the machine quilting be special. I couldn't think of anything more special that my Freehand Fancy Feathers. They create abundant movement in a quilt...without taking away from the design.

Well...that's my opinion, anyway. And Shirley was delighted with the outcome!



Happy client. Happy quilter.

Life is good.

oh baby...

...it's been cold outside here in North Dakota this new year!

But looking on the bright side: The mercury is above zero Fahrenheit this morning! Granted, only one degree above zero...but we have to remain positive!



My client and good friend -- Julee H -- is always busy creating baby quilts. This is her latest. In fact, I think she mentioned that she was actually a step ahead of the game. "BABY" hasn't even been born yet...which makes using the word "baby" quite genius.

Adorable, isn't it! I absolutely love the color scheme that Julee has coordinated. To me, it's traditional baby colors with a fun, contemporary twist.

I've freehand machine quilted my Star Echo...along with an outlining of the letters to give them added dimension.



So how about you? Do you tend to stay within the traditional boundaries when creating baby quilts? Or do you step out of your comfort zone?

happy new year!

2010.



When you were a child, did you ever think you'd see it?



Are you making any New Year resolutions?



Turning over a new leaf?



May you find an abundance of joy surrounding you...health abounding you...faith still astounding you.

As Cesar Millan often says..."Live in the now."

Happy New Year to you and yours!

in labor

Some countries have named the day after Christmas -- December 26th -- "Boxing Day."



Here on the Grager farm, we called it "The Day Of Shoveling." (Sorry...I didn't even check Google on this. I wonder....)



But like many labor pains...it's now all forgotten.

Sort of.

got it covered

One thing for sure...this Winter Storm of Christmas 2009 has placed a nice, heavy blanket of snow over much of North Dakota...if not all of North Dakota.

How about you...what was the weather like for you? Regardless, I hope that your holiday was merry.



I think it was about two weeks ago...I had mentioned to a friend that I kind of was (secretly) hoping for enough snow to cover my landscaping woes.

Check! Done.



I'm thinking that perhaps this garden, though, is displayed for all to see and enjoy.

My client -- Deb C. -- was full of excitement and enthusiasm upon receiving her machine quilted quilt back in her hands. So I'm hoping that the holidays have given her the opportunity to share with others her love for quilting.



That's what we quilters do, right? Share...and infect others with our bug for quilting.



What a great bug to have...winter, spring, summer, or fall!

have yourself a merry little christmas...

...may your heart be light.

Merry Christmas to all!

theory of relativity

No science.

Just fine workmanship...terrific fabric...and good color sense. Oh...and a fun pattern never hurts.



That all adds up to one great quilt!

Or two great quilts?



This bed sized quilt was completed by my husband's teen-aged niece...with the machine side assistance of her grandma (my mother-in-law).

A perfect quilt...fit for a teen!



But they didn't stop at one quilt. Having just enough leftovers, the quilt-making duo took the opportunity to go on with the process and construct a table runner for the said teen-ager's mom...who is the daughter of said grandmother...also, sister of my husband...which makes her my sister-in-law.



Are you following?

Not to worry. It's all relative. Which is why I was given the honors of machine quilting both quilts!