Author Archives: ginabean

Free Falling

 Isn’t Barbara’s quilt beautiful! She made it for her Aunt. I say,” Lucky Aunt!”
Barbara has actually made two quilts with this pattern. She put faith in me to “custom” quilt the first one for her. Up to that point, I had not really “custom” quilted anything. (I forgot to get a picture of it, but I will)
 I didn’t do as much quilting on this one as I did on the last. I did an all over free motion swirl, flower type thingie (technical name) on it. 
It’s the first time I’ve done this on a quilt and I love how it turned out. Who am I kidding, this is pretty much the first time I’ve done anything on most quilts. I know I shouldn’t admit this, but I am literally and totally winging it here. I have been pretty content to stay in my little “meander everything” box until now. Suddenly the pressure is on to step out of that box and I am free falling. So far I have landed on my feet. I joke with my friends that I am learning to longarm quilt by watching videos about it on youtube. I’m soooo not kidding! A big thanks to all these people who post these videos. I don’t know why you do, but I’m soooo glad you did!  Have I done a good job of instilling faith in you to give me your quilt to finish? Ha ha. My confidence is building everyday and one day I might not look at my work so critically. I think the fact that I’m so critical of myself is helpful. Unlike most things I make, I can’t mess this up. (well I could, but I’d make somebody pretty mad) Other things you can just tear out and start over, or scrap it all together. People are giving me something that they have spent a lot of time and money on and I respect that process. I want to make sure they are happy with what I do to their work.  Man- I just went off on a random rant. I digress. I have been enjoying being creative, challenging myself and all of the positive feedback I have gotten. Everyone has been so encouraging and supportive.
I am really enjoying my new “profession”…. can you tell. -g

Quilting Away

For the last couple of weeks I have been busy in my glamorous basement quilting away. Today I got Paula’s quilt finished. I did an all over swirl on it. I have not perfected the art of taking good pictures that show off the quilting. I’ll have to work on that. The good news is that I will have plenty of opportunities to practice taking pictures. I have plenty of quilts to get done and I am so grateful for that.

Tula Pink is Coming!

Taking Care of Bizzz-nasss!

So yeah…. I guess as of about 3 days ago, I seem to be officially in the quilting bizz-nass. Surprised? Yeah- me too! It has been in the works. It’s kinda one of the other reasons I have been taking a break from blogging. (to practice, practice, practice)  My goal was to really start full force around the beginning of twenty-13, but things have snowballed rather quickly. So here I am…. ginabean quilts (queen of the meander)!  Fancy that, ya’ll! I have to say, it’s a little overwhelming, a little stressful, a little crazy and  I’m.lovin’.it! What is it that Life Is Good says? “Do what you love, love what you do.” (I think that’s how it goes.) So, if you need me… I’ll be here, in my little sewing “studio” (really a converted garage in the basement with concrete block walls and a concrete floor, but studio makes it sound totally glam). Livin’ the dream, baby…livin’ the dream!

The Regular Show

Okay- so – we have already established that I am not quite right. So that being a given….you won’t think that it is crazy that for some odd reason, I love watching “The Regular Show”. I’m sure unless you have  children and regularly watch Cartoon Network, you probably don’t even know what I’m taking about (and truth be told, I REALLY shouldn’t be letting Fletch watch it) but it.is.hilarious. It is about a bird named Mordecai and a Squirrel named Rigby and I’m not sure if I just have a bad case of 12 year old humor, but it totally.cracks.me.up. You should check it out!


Bloom

I am going to be participating in Bloom next weekend, April 28th. If you are out and about in Winston, please stop by and see me. I will have a booth there with a bunch of my handmade gift items like journal covers, camera straps, key fobs, etc….

Happy Easter!

Hope everyone has a Happy Easter!


Run Forest, Run

So, have you missed me?!? It’s been a little crazy around here. Lots going on. This past weekend, I traveled to Charleston, SC with my mom and some of her friends to do the Cooper River Bridge Run. We did it along with about 44,000 other people. It was pretty awesome. 6.2 miles. Need I say more.
Let’s see…. what else. I have put my sewing machine away. (I know… total shocker, right!)  With so much going on around here, I decided to focus on a couple of things at a time. I still have some hand applique to work on, so I’m not completely shutting down the sewing operation, but it has come to a major slow down. First focus… losing weight. I started after Thanksgiving on a diet/exercise plan and have lost 20 lbs., but I have stalled out for about the last month. I’ve regrouped and come up with a new plan with my trainer and it’s gonna get hardcore. (if I live past what he has planned, I might actually start to look like an after picture as opposed to the before) So… that is where most of my energy is going to be for awhile. Focus #2…. operation organization. I. have. got. to. clean. out. this. house. The amount of crap stuff in this house multiplies daily and it is driving me crazy. I don’t want to be on the show Hoarders, so it is going. Be it goodwill, yard sale or the dump, it is outta here!
I’ve missed blogging and sharing my crafty things, but life gets in the way sometimes. Once I get focus 1 and 2 under control, I have lots of ideas of things I want to make and do…..so stay tuned.
-g

Quilt Show This Week!!!

FORSYTH PIECERS & QUILTERS GUILD
presents our 2012
“The Art of Comfort Quilt Show”

March 16-18
Friday, 10am-7pm ~ Saturday, 10am-6:00pm ~ Sunday, 1:00-4:00pm
The Village Inn Golf & Conference Center in Clemmons, NC.
Admission: $5.00




The Forsyth Piecers and Quilters Guild is hosting there super fab quilt show this weekend. If you are in the area and don’t come then you are a loser  missing out! They have wonderful vendors and the most amazing quilts dispalyed. I’ll be there with Karen Gray Design and she has all knds of great kits made up from her wonderful fabrics. See you there!

Week 5, Block 5

Week five and I finished block five…right on schedule. Only 4 more blocks to go. Now it’s time to pull myself way from sewing and enjoy some football. I got the Lark Quilt quilted this weekend and the binding put on, so maybe I will sit and sew it down while I watch the game.