Put a Bird on it!

I'm happy to be part of Madame Samm's "It's for the Birds" blog hop today!  I happen to just love little birds on quilts - and one in particular that means a lot to me.  You can see that story HERE.  I love that the Momma Bird is encouraging the baby bird to spread her wings and fly...

I decided to combine a couple of my favorite design ideas for a fun pillow topper:  Bloomin' Blossoms  + Quilt in the Garden = A "Bloomin' Garden Blossom."

I love using a bias tape maker for vines... spray with starch or sizing, feed the fabric through the little unit, press it as it comes out of the tape maker.  And because it is bias, you can press it into curves - perfect!

I'm putting together a pattern for larger quilts soon, in fact, I'm making another version of this using some "hot off the press" fabric, just in time to head with it to Portland for Quilt Market with Riley Blake Designs!   Haha, I just remembered that this is my second "Put a Bird on it" post... Part I.  And if you have a hankering to put a virtual bird on your screen, try this:  Put a Bird On It.

Be sure to visit our other feathered friends on today's hop:

http://cariboucrossingchronicles.blogspot.ca

www.notionnanny.blogspot.com

http://crookedgulleyartquilts.blogspot.com

http://Karamino.blogspot.com

http://celticthistlestitches.blogspot.com

www.sewmolliesue.com

http://devotedquilter.blogspot.com

http://mystitchin-n-stuff.blogspot.com

www.quiltscapesqs.com  (You are HERE!)

http://kocanquilt.blogspot.com

http://createinthesticks.blogspot.com

http://terrysquiltingtime.blogspot.com

http://Sewwequilt.com

Technological Advancements...

A "Smart Quilt"

On becoming "Tech-savvy"... I have a new SMART phone - Yeah!  I'm pretty sure it's smarter than I am, but my kids are thrilled they can now send me a text and I can respond without taking half an hour to spell "Hi."

And now, when I'm making more 2D barcode Techno-TAG scannable quilts, I don't have to wait until my husband gets back from out of town or call the neighbor to come scan my quilt to see if it works. I even downloaded the free Tag app on my phone all by myself!  And, when my friend Debbie, her daughter and I teach this class at HMQS next week, rather than having to flag down some unsuspecting passer-by with a smart phone to step into our class, I'll be able to demonstrate the technique myself!  Nice.

Want to try it? If you have a smart device (phone, Ipad, etc.),
1) Download the FREE APP from Microsoft here:  http://gettag.mobi.
2) Hit the Scan button and scan the picture of the quilt. 
Did it work?  Or try scanning the little tag codes in this post.  Your phone will buzz, and the scan will send you to whatever URL I've assigned it to today (blog page, website, pinterest, craftsy store, facebook, free pattern, etc).  The black and white code below will take you to a secret picture...

Cool, right?  Even guys like it!  Want to get your own code to make a cool Tag quilt for yourself or the tech-savvy person in your life? 

Take our class at HMQS, or download a pattern for the color tag at my Craftsy Pattern Store HERE.  By the way, my new phone number is 435-503-7412.

Happy Scanning!

Quilt 'Stache

I've recently been adding to my quilt 'stache...

 

 Won a stack of new pretties: Jeni Baker's "Color Me Retro" Art Gallery fabrics from Colleen at The Busy Bean!!

See Colleen's tutorial to make a divided organizing bucket using these fabulous fat quarters HERE.

 

And... I just had to have some of these adorable 'staches from Riley Blake Designs Geekly Chic line.  A-dorable!   

Yep. Visions of new quilts are dancing through my head.  But I'm afraid these WHIMMS (works hidden in my mind) may have to wait a while.

 

In addition to the pile of new RBD basics I've been playing with for an upcoming video tutorial, I'll teach some Snippets at my local guild retreat this weekend, and in a couple of weeks I'll go hang out at the  Home Machine Quilting Show, teaching a few classes and serving on the board.  The choir I sing with will be recording an album in the evenings that same week, then I'll head to Portland with the Riley Blake Designs team to teach some fun Make & Take projects in their booth at Quilt Market. (Still doin' the happy dance!)  I anticipate happy exhaustion ahead... 

Have you added to your stash 'stache lately?  Do you dive in and cut it up immediately, or are you like me, leaving it in little piles to pet and admire and dream about?  Maybe the moustache print is a new blouse... then I could wear my new teensy moustache earrings... yeah, I'll keep dreaming.

 

Happy fabric dreams!