Oh hello. Summer is in full swing around here and it's already been a busy one. No sewing for me last week. Well, I take that back, there was a little bit of sewing with some new recruits!
Last week I was in charge of our church camp for teenage girls. To say May was stressful would be an understatement. (Insert wide-eyed emoji here.) Prepping and traveling to Quilt Market + Graduation + prepping for Girls Camp made life a little crazy. And sleep deprived.
Once we got to camp though, I started feeling better. Our camp was held in this gorgeous little valley in northern Utah. It's becoming one of my favorite spots. Everything is SO green this time of year, plus lots of natural wild flowers this year. That carpet of gold was so beautiful. I was definitely wishing I had a quilt or two so I could use this as a backdrop. Oh well - it's still pretty spectacular even without a quilt in the picture. 😉
On our way to camp we stopped and toured the large Humanitarian Service center in Salt Lake City. That place is amazing. So much good being sent around the world as well as helping folks down the street. And since I was calling the shots, when they asked if we'd like to help tie humanitarian quilts, I, of course, said yes.
PS - The Humanitarian Center takes fabric and batting donations for these humanitarian quilts. I will track down the information for donating - send me an email if you'd like more information.
I also revived a long-lost skill-set from my past - woven friendship bracelets. I was feeling pretty good about myself when I found I could still put those dormant skills to use!
Last Friday night I came home and crashed HARD. Of course, the week I was away was the Utah Shop Hop for local quilt shops. I managed to squeeze a couple quick visits on Saturday afternoon. One is Pine Needles in Salt Lake City. (Free pattern for the pixelated rose quilt here.)
Pine Needles was featuring my quilts with their Gingham Girls fabric. (Looks like the red was popular!)
They also had this cute quilt using my Craftsman pattern featuring Juxtaposey fabric by Betz White for Riley Blake Designs.
I also got to run in The Quilter's Lodge where they were also featuring a couple of Gingham Girls quilts including Land That I Love and this darling stars quilt by Kairle Oaks.
Speaking of Gingham Girls: if you're having a hard time tracking it down, I have good news. Riley Blake is printing more and it will be available in July - including more precuts! So stay tuned.
In the meantime, following all of this crazy hoopla in May, I'm going to be doing less here on the website this month. I'm going to spending time having adventures with my family before my little graduate heads off to college at the end of the month. I'll check in periodically, but am looking forward to a little break. And I think I'll have some fun things to share later this summer. I hope you're enjoying some summer relaxation yourself!
Jocelyn
Enjoy your break and your family.
Susan
You had a busy May. I'm having a busy June. My son with his 2 children (3 and 11) to visit my daughter (his sister) and her family (husband and two sons (6 and 11). We were busy all the time, ball practice and game, hands-on-science museum, swimming, and Rail Runner round trip from Albuquerque to Santa Fe. We got back to Tulsa area Tuesday night and we had left late last Wednesday. The kids bonded well. Then we have vacation Bible school this month. For the summer we have his son and he has full permanent custody of his daughter. She turns 4 in early July, so we'll have to plan for that and hopefully Pre-K. Whew - I'm too old for this and I have fibromyalgia and side effects from cancer. Thank God I'm in remission.
Your fabric is going like crazy. I want to make a quilt for Jessica's toddler bed when we get her into her own room and I was looking at precuts. I don't think yours is the answer. I bought 7 yards of hot pink at $4/yd and I don't think the reds will do. I'm think of one of Jenny's tutorials and using either a square or rectangle and using a 1.5 strip around it followed by a 2.5 strip. I'm thinking maybe a white and gray to tone down the hot pink a tad and it will go beyond toddler, easier than if I get a young print to put with it.
Your rock to take on teenage girl. I've helped with 5/6 graders the last two years and I come home and crash. It's just 3 hours each of 4 days, too. They are loud and wild. They have so much energy. I was never that way so I don't understand. I was the shy one in the corner.
I love the print or pattern on the charity quilt. Good intro for the girls. Never to young to learn. I hope you take time to relax and enjoy before your graduate leaves. I left for college the day after graduation and have been going to school most of the time until about 6 years ago when I had to give up on my doctorate due to health. I wasn't going to be able to use it and my advisor was giving new materials on the market that I was gifting her to students that I were competitors. That student took another gift I gave the advisor. When you are fighting her, it's not worth it when you are so sick you can't drive yourself to class. She was unethical about me in class in front of all the students in the class, too. So, I cut my losses.
You are a sweetie and deserve the reward that your line is reaping. I'm sure it is a thrill as well as seeing your line in others' patterns, too.
God Bless You!
Amy Smart
Thank you Susan! xo It sounds like your summer is even more crazy busy than mine! Bless you in all the good you are doing. So glad to hear your cancer is in remission. Sending much love!!
Cindy Anne Julson Coppel
Your fabric was in all of the shops participating in the shop hop! It was so fun to see it in person. I can't tell you how much I love gingham! Do you know if the humanitarian center accepts quilts that have already been completed. We have five from a trek youth conference several years ago that need a home...
Amy Smart
Thank you Cindy!
I don't know the answer about the quilts - but I think they'll take them. Definitely give them a call - they're super helpful! 801-240-5954
Izzy
It give me great pleasure to see young ladies at the quilt frame...How wonderful someone will pass this tradition on..
Karen S
WHEW! Sit down with some iced tea and put your feet up! I loved reading about your work with such great teen girls--and they can be exhausting. How wonderful they could help with the quilts. I hope yoiur daughter is enjoying being a grad 🙂
Karen
I really like that craftsman quilt. I am SUPER NEW to quilting so would you say that this is a fairly easy pattern for a newbie? Also, you say that it is a throw but when I search for twin bed quilt dimensions, it gives roughly this same size. So, would it work as is for a twin bed? THANKS in advance for your help!
Amy Smart
Sorry for the late response - I'm finally catching up after being gone most of June. I think it should work on a twin bed - It's a little wide, so the drape on the sides might be long. I think it's a great pattern for newbies!
JoanH
Thank you for posting about your local shops. I will be heading that way soon and can't wait to stop by these 2 shops. They look like a lot of fun.