OMGoodness ... Talk about a neglected blog ... This poor blog has been sadly neglected ... Let's hope good ol' Denise does a better job in the future ...

That baby in the mirror three postings below is almost 6 years old and we have a new baby in the mirror. Her baby brother ...

It's Been Almost Three Years ....

,,, since I posted on my blog here. We have been sooooo busy. We moved to Oakdale, I've had both my knees replaced, Gary has had 4 eye surgeries and 2 kidney stones. All while taking care of my aging mother's care and watching our youngest grandchild 6 days a week while her mother worked and got her MBA. Phew, I'm tired just thinking about it ...

Through it all, I continue to design quilts. Probably one of the main reasons I'm still sane ...

This one is call By Cranky, cause I though it looked looked like a crank shaft ....

All I can say is that I am hanging on for dear life. We are in for a bumpy ride with this selling and buying of our family home. My emotions are running the gamut and my poor husband is living with an emotional rollercoaster.

I thought that I had already posted the pattern for the Piecemakers' Quilt Guild Opportunity guilt for this year, but I hadn't. So, here it is, Tuning Forks. Aside from the block looking like a tuning fork, the cascading colors give the impression of sound waves ...

Tuning Forks

Couple of New Patterns ...

It has been a great week. Got a couple of patterns written. Life is moving along. The grandkids are growing, especially the new baby. This week she had her 2 month check-up and discovered the mirror in the doctor's office. She really liked that baby in the mirror ...

The first pattern is Niner Not. Is it a 9-patch or isn't it. It's a great modern looking quilt that is quick and easy to piece together.

Niner Not

The second pattern is Condos. It's a great scrappy quilt the a lot of fun to make.

Condos

Runs with Scissors ...

It is a beautiful day in the San Francisco Bay Area today. I did find time this morning to come up with a new quilt pattern. Sometimes I get as much enjoyment from naming the patterns as I do in creating them.

Runs with Scissors is a fun quilt with a modern twist. Can you find the scissors in the quilt? Look for this one at your favorite quilt shop soon!

Runs with Scissors

Could Summer Be Almost Over ???

Grandtwins are all back from their summer camps and I can not believe that they go back to school in less than 2 weeks. The new grandbaby is almost a month old and her little personality is coming out more each day.

A couple of new quilt patterns this week, well actually four. My Way is a basic 4-patch. It is the inner play of light and dark fabrics with an even lighter sashing and border that give the visual image that makes this quilt unique.

My Way

Line 'Em Up is a great baby quilt for those stash scraps or 5" charm packs. Use the darker horizontal sashing and the light background/border fabric to showcase the scrappy charms. This is a great quilt to whip up for that next baby shower you are going to.

Line 'Em Up

Charm Bars is also a fun way to use up those stash scraps or 5" charm packs while giving them a modern twist. This quilt is easy to adjust the number of rows and columns to make any size you could want.

Charm Bars

I like the way Wicked gives a woven, wicker kind of look with just three basic fabrics. Make sure that one of the colors contrasts in lightness or darkness with the other two. 

Wicked

David is Back from Camp ...

My Grandson, David, is back from YMCA camp and finally got to meet his new cousin. He thinks she is really cute !

David and Thea (11 Days old)

One Handsome Fella

Another New Pattern

I couldn't resist playing around with the Equal Marriage symbol. I am thrilled that all marriages are recognized in California and hope that the rest of the world follows.

Living Love is an easy quilt pattern and while I have dominated my rendition with neutrals and a pop of color in the equal sign, it would be great in a variety of color combinations.

Living Love

One Week Old ...

Are all 1 week olds this animated? Thea Brielle is a true joy and she never ceases to amaze us. I am sure that all grandmas feel this way, don't we.

Three More Patterns ...

Got a good night's rest last night and was able to finish up three new patterns today. This new baby is so much fun and so cute and so much work! I had forgotten how much work they are. We find ourselves helping with the baby, cooking meals, doing laundry and running errands. I think mom and baby are settling down into a rhythm and schedule. Things seem to be settling down.

My 10 year old Granddaughter and my 3 day old Granddaughter. Both in heaven.

Here are my latest patterns. I find myself gravitating more and more toward modern looking quilts.

Around the Worldly

Twilight

Sweet Cherry Wine

Pinky Swear

All The Excitement ...

The new granddaughter has arrived and we are thrilled! Thea Brielle McGinnes was born on July 11, 2013. Everyone has been very busy and very tired and very happy.

I actually found some time to get back to designing and have a couple of quilts in the pattern 'hopper'. Let's Twist Again is an easy and fun quilt. The three different shades of background, border and sashing fabric create a great groundwork for the scrappy pops of color.

Let's Twist Again

It's Been a While

It haven't thrown any new patterns up on the ol' blog lately, so it's about time, don't you think?

This first one is Mix It Up, a fun quilt that looks good in a variety of 'themes'. It takes a small novelty print, two coordinating colors and a great neutral. Strip piecing whips up a great looking quilt in no time.

Mix It Up

Peek a BOO is shown here in Halloween fabrics, but don't let that limit you to choosing your own color scheme and personality for this quilt. It makes a great baby quilt with some of those wonderful baby fabrics on the market.

Peek A BOO BOO

This third quilt is a fun twist on that 'Modern' look. It's a great way to put a little dent in your stash while making a quilt that will be loved for years to come. Give it your own twist with any number of different background fabrics. Just make sure they offset the colored squares in the quilt.

Kinda Korny

I had a great time at NCQC today and I have a couple of new quilts for the ol' blog. This one is called Sack-o-Tomatoes. It could be made in any color combination and is a great use of scraps from our stashes.

Sack-o-Tomatoes

5" Floppies

This is a great modern take of the basic weave using 10" squares. It's a quick and easy way to use up those Layer Cake packs.  This quilt whips up in a jiffy and makes a marvelous gift!

Cake Walk

I'm a Pattern Makin' Machine

I have a couple of patterns to add to the site. Gum Wrappers reminds me of the gum wrapper chains we used to make as kids. Looky Lulu is named after my sister whose nickname is Lulu. They are snow ball blocks in a hexagon layout. Hippie Beads is a great use of color to achieve a 3-D look and Diamonds in the Rough is a great use of scrap fabrics.

Gum Wrappers

Looky Lulu

Hippie Beads

Diamonds In The Rough

More Patterns ..

I actually have a couple of new patterns that need to get put on the site, but I only have time to quickly throw one up there. Here it is, Our Guy Al. I love coming up with these pattern names ...

Our Guy Al

Maggie Mo

Got another pattern finished this week. This one is name after my cousin, Mary Margaret, known to the family as Maggie and as a child, Maggie Mo. I am blessed with having really cool cousins!

Maggie Mo

A couple of new patterns this week. Well, actually three. I love seeing each pattern evolve. Next month I will be presenting at NCQC. The month after, my hubby and I and the Grandtwins are going on a road trip, visiting quilt shops and seeing if anyone is interested in my patterns. Keep your fingers crossed ...

I'm Confused

I Donut Know

Cascade

Another New Pattern ...

Well, actually there are a couple of new patterns but only one that is written up. I named it Superlicious. What do you think?

Superlicious

Two New Patterns This Weekend

This has been a productive weekend.  The first of two new patterns I designed this weekend is Gum Balls.  Notice the hint of an off centered checker board in the background. This quilt has great possibilities. It can be soft and muted in mono-chromatic fabrics or loud and proud in great primary colors. Dress it up patriotic with great reds, whites and blues or give it a holiday flair to represent your favorite holiday. Whichever way you make it, you’ll be thrilled at how quickly it goes together.

Gum Balls

The second pattern is Sewing Under the Influence (SUI). Simple blocks on-point give the illusion of a gentle weave. You only need three different fabrics and a neutral border fabric to achieve the look of a woven quilt.

Sewing Under The Influence