Bad Bo

I left the chair pulled out in front of my sewing machine while I was at work today.  When I got home Bo was under the coffee table, quite busy. 

It took me a little while to figure out what he was up to.  Turns out he likes a nice full spool of thread as much as I do.  Baaaaaadddd Bo!

Quality Time with the Bo

I hope all of y'all had as good a weekend as I did.  Mine involved lots of sewing--both on my own and with my sewing buddies.  And look at this--as soon as Bo hears my machine start up he insists on jumping in my lap.  He was snoozing until my hubby snapped this picture.  Maybe the sound is comforting?  Who knows?  Do any of y'all have a sewing companion like this?

Can you tell I'm getting into the Christmas spirit a little early?

 
We had our second session of our beginner class at Hennig House on Saturday.  I am having so much fun getting to know these creative sewists.  Here are the Nelson gal's  'homework' projects from the first class.  What do you think?  I give them a big A+ !   (I also wish I had a picture of Debra's quilt from the Bonnie & Camille line of fabrics.  It was darling!)  I'm so looking forward to seeing what everybody has to show for next week.

In Bloom

The roses in front of the shop burst into bloom this week, just in time to pose for a pic with a new line of fabric from Moda.

Whew!  I've had a full week at the shop.  We had our first 'beginning quilting' class last Saturday and I had a blast.   I can't wait for today's class.  We're doing 'triangles'.  Woo hoo!

I've also been busy working on quilts for the new patterns that will debut at the May Quilt Market.  Many, many, many thanks go out to Connie and Shirley for all their help this week getting me closer to being 'on schedule' with my market sewing. 

And take a look at this FABULOUS redwork quilt Clydene brought into the store this week.  Her embroidery was spectacular and we love her color choices.  She even tea dyed the top to antique it.  (I'm a long time friend to 'tea dying' and Clydene is a girl after my own heart.)

Back from the Big D

As usual, I had a great time at the Dallas Quilt Show this past weekend. The quilt guild up there puts on a great show that's always a pleasure to attend either as a viewer/shopper or a vendor. And I CAN'T BELIEVE I didn't take even one picture! I saw so many lovely quilts and booths. What was I thinking? I must have been more sleep deprived than I thought.

So instead of showing some inspiring quilt show pics, here's a couple of cute things that have come through Hennig House lately that might give you some ideas.

This is a sticker bur (I hope I have this right). It's made by covering cardboard diamonds with cloth and sewing them together much like in English Paper Piecing. Isn't it adorable! This one was made using genuine antique flour sacks. The quilter who made this (name coming soon) even put old buttons over the center points.

And here's a great bag that Maxine brought to Redwork/Embroidery Club yesterday. She said the design was a kind of 'group effort'. Great things happen when sewists put their heads together.

Speaking of Embroidery Club--while chatting in club and I found out that not everybody knows about Spoonflower, so here's a link to them. Spoonflower's a website where you can design your own fabric. You can upload artwork or pictures and use their software to create a pattern then order yardage of your design. Here is its: http://www.spoonflower.com/welcome

New Staff & Cute Dog Pic

We've got a new friend staying with us for a little while at Hennig House and he's a real sweetie. He had been a High School student's show pig, but didn't make it to the last show of the season. (He wants to tell you it was only because of a paperwork problem--he's a fine pig). Right now he's desperate for company. Pig-pig had plenty of stall mates at the school's ag barn and now all he has is our two calves and a couple of rude goats to socialize with.

Bo feels a little left out with all the pig-talk, so here's a funny dog pic of him. As you can see, Bo feels about his dog food bag like I do about the bottom of an empty peanut butter jar.

And one more thing--this time sewing related--I've got a new rack of Valdani floss at Hennig House. I can't wait to use some of this floss. I just have to decide -- wool applique . . . punch needle . . . embroidery . . . what project to do?

Turtles & Trucks

The best thing about running Hennig House is getting to meet the quilters and crafters who drop by the shop. I ESPECIALLY like it when they bring projects they're working on!

A couple of weeks ago Shelly brought this adorable quilt top. Shelly's like me--she likes to applique. Can you tell? (BTW, Connie is starting a fabulous applique club at Hennig House. We'll meet the first Thursday morning of each month beginning in March. See the website or come by the shop for more info.)


Then yesterday she brought in this turtle quilt. I was so flattered . . . because it's from my new book! Thanks, Shelly. You made my day.

Ready to Sew?

While I'm really looking forward to using this quilt, the process of actually piecing it is killing me! It was fun for the first couple of hours, but after a weekend full of strip piecing, it's a lot like work. Luckily it's pretty mindless work so I can listen to a book on tape (or ipod) and sew away deep into the night.

33 blocks down only 23 more to go! Could someone remind me WHY I wanted to make a queen size checker board quilt? . . . If only I could teach Bo to run the machine.