Linda Poole at Quilt Market-Houston 2010

Some of you may remember that I won Linda Poole's Iridescence Fabric Challenge several weeks ago.   Although I posted a photo of the prize....I had not received it yet.  Here is a photo taken on my kitchen table....oh yeah baby....all 10 yards of Linda's new fabric line Seahorses.  I love fish and water so this fabric is right up my alley :)   I had to have the panel and stripe that went along with the line so I wrote to Linda and she agreed to bring it to Houston. 

 

 

Here is Linda holding "my goods" and I could not wait to get my hands on that fabric.  You know how I can be when I'm excited....my wild spirit comes rolling on out!

Naturally I had to wear the fabric.  Once around my shoulders I could not stop....I just had to ....well....you can see for yourself :)

I never went to the Barbizon School of Modeling.....hence my poses look more like Carol Merrill from the Monty Hall show, The Price is Right...LOL

IHAN Diva......

and remember all those millionaires I told you about?  The ones who stalk me....trying their best to wooooo me?  Yes those!!!  Well.....there they were....just waiting to take a photo with me....

See what I mean......what can I say......I did not photograph them crying as I told them I was booked for the rest of the day.  I think the guy on the left got scared his wife would see this photo and the huge grin he had initially was gone....oops!!!  (a very large white lie....but you knew that right?)

I'm still recovering from all the "work"  .....wooooow is me :) 

Giggling and Smiles,

Kelly

Fall into Fall Quilt Bloggers Giveaway & Exploring Embellishments Winner

My sincerest thanks for all who visited.  It was a pleasure having you visit and I look forward to getting to

to know some new followers.

Lucky Linda from "Quilt Cookies"

won the Westminster Fabric  Roll!!! 

I still can't believe how many comments that were left for one Fabric Roll...532  I did my best to reply to every one's comments that were re-ply-able :)

Lucky Joyful Quilter won Exploring Embellishments!!!

The Three Beaded Wool Gems Kits go to:

Woolen Sails

Penny's Hands

and you are not going to believe this one....I didn't when I saw the number come up again....but it is the honest truth

Joyful Quilter.  I guess it pays to be Joyful today :)

Congratulations to all the winners....and let me remind you.....we are all winners.  To have the privilege of being able to communicate with one another over the Internet and be concerned about little gifts.....is in and of it self an wonderful gift and I hope we all continue to do gratitude checks.....especially now when here on this part of the earth the days are getting shorter and the darkness can bring some low moods.  Lets continue to remind one another of our blessings....I know I need that continued support.

I also want to say THANK YOU to everyone who went over to Linda Poole's Blog and voted.  She had over 1,000 people vote total.  I was fortunate to win the Quilt Challenge and I am grateful and thrilled....and I so appreciate every one's voting for my quilt.  The Iridescence Fabric Line is available now as well as Linda's new line (which I get a yard of each....oh my word I can't wait) Seahorses.

If you are a fish person too and love the sea/water....all of these fabrics are available for purchase from Linda...click here and scroll down :)

"Life Is Good" Smiles,

Kelly

Linda Pooles' Iridescence Small Quilt Contest-Please Vote

Linda Poole announced her Small Quilt Contest for her first line of fabric, Iridescence,  little over a month ago.  I really like Linda and loved the class I took with her earlier in the year.  So when I saw the contest I thought about entering.  I've never, ever, ever, ever done a challenge and this was my first.  I had noooooo idea what I had gotten myself into.....and I'm glad I did not know in advance because you know how hindsight can be....LOL.

 

The challenge required that the panel or strip (any part/piece) and three coordinating fabrics in the Iridescence line and three fabrics of my own choosing.

This is what I started with:

 

 

I had absolutely no idea where to go with this fabric.  It seemed to lend itself to squares and triangles because of the panel.  Keep in mind I've never done anything like this before.  I have always had a pattern to start with.  I scanned all my fabrics into my EQ7 software and began designing a quilt.  I was very proud of myself and I thought I had come up with something that looked pretty good.  Until.....one morning I woke up and decided to try some techniques that I've never done before.  I've seen some quilts where there were varying size blocks....so I just decided to start making things and see what would happen.

This is a block I made....and I really like it too.

Here is another block

And another

And yet another.....

 

Then a mishap......honestly I don't even know if I can call it a quilt block....it turned out more like a size B bra cup (turn it on it's side and yep....that is exactly what it looked like, without straps).

Ok, I liked these....but I could not find a direction to take them into.  Nothing was coming together for me.  I let everything sit for over a week....and still nothing.  Then I had what I thought was a great idea.  I have lots of books and so many techniques that I want to try.....so I grabbed a book in the stack and decided to just give it a whirl....what did I have to loose right?  It happened to be Ricky Tims' Convergence Quilt.

(a photo of the book)

Well....ok then....I guess I'll slice and dice this fabric up and see where it goes.  The first Convergence I tried did not converge at all.....and I was lost.  My girlfriend Rosemary came to the rescue and helped me create the actual convergence.  Then I added a border.....got it all on....nope...didn't like it at all.

Then of course there were a long series of self made dragonflies....several and lots of print and fuse going on...so many sheets used and wasted it is a crime.

NOPE!  A few more days pass and I decide all the vertical and horizontal lines are just too stark.  This piece needs some movement.  But what?  I Googled "Dragonfly" and every photo had dragonflies on or near green leaves....so green leaves it is!!!

But which green?  This went on and on and on....for days.  It was 11:50 PM on the 4th of October (the deadline for the challenge) when I finally sent Linda the photo below.  I decided this was going to be finished and I was done.  I felt like I had given birth again. 

 

 

I think an appropriate title for this piece is "flying by the seat of my dragonfly pants" don't you? 

Linda has posted all the entries on her blog.  Who wins?  The person with the most votes of course.  Now....I do want everyone who reads the IHAN blog to go over and vote.  However....I only want you to vote for the one you like the best.....be honest!!!  If it is another one you like the best....by all means vote for them. 

PLEASE CLICK HERE AND VOTE!!!

Smiles,

Kelly