Determination

My "focus" word for 2012 is DETERMINATION

As an artist and creative person, I start out with great intentions to design and create. There comes many times where my focus goes by the wayside because I am off to something new and before I know it, my brain is scrambled with multitudes of more ideas than I can do in a day. I have my trusty notepad where I now scribble down ideas and sketch if I need to. 

I will focus this year on being determined to stay the course of one to two designs at a time.

I printed out my quote on fabric from my inject printer and used Derwent Inktense pencils to doodle around the words. These pencils are activated with water or anything wet. I **love** Sherry Rogers quilts and her inking techniques. She has developed a product that I not only use but love what it does to the colors of the pencils. It's called InkFusion. It has a bit of sparkle when applied over the pencil colors and leaves the fabric soft at hand. You can use other fabric mediums, but I highly recommend InkFusion.

For more info CLICK HERE.

I have now started beautiful shading on my applique quilts. 

My next blog post will show you more on this technique using many different products to use for shading!

Amazing I say!

Just when I thought I saw all the wonderful and creative cakes sculpted to look like quilts, I came across cupcakes adorned with fabulous sewing and quilt motifs. One day when my life slows down, which I think it will never do, I want to try my hand at making these. Here is the best part....there are tutorials to make these from the "frostedcakencookie blog"!!!!

For the tutorial on the sewing machine cupcake, CLICK HERE

And the tutorial for the spool of thread, CLICK HERE

IT GETS BETTER!!!!! There's a QUILT!

Tutorial for the quilt, CLICK HERE

This blog is one of the most Happy, Colorful and Creative Sight I have seen in a long time. Peruse it, bookmark it and then come back here to finish reading my blog.......the cupcake blog is addictive!

What do you do with all your 
empty spools of thread?

For some strange reason, I have been saving all my empty spools of thread to make something wonderful with them. I have all sizes, some plastic and some are wooden from yard sale finds. 

Maybe these ideas will spark something creative inside of you too!

 FROGS ON THREAD SPOOLS ON A BRIDGE?

Willimantic's Frog Bridge, officially known as the Thread City Crossing, connects Routes 66 and 32 across the Willimantic River and a rail line. Its distinctive architectural motifs -- four 11-foot frogs atop giant spools of thread -- remind passersby of the city's history, and create a can't-miss landmark.
 For the fascinating story behind this CLICK HERE

YOUR COLOR FIX FOR THE DAY

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If you are a guild or quilt venue and would like to hire me, 

you can click here to view my brochure in PDF. 

To go to my website, click here.

Thanks everyone for stopping by. I always love to read comments, so be sure to leave one please. Keep your face to the sun and go create wonderful things!!!

No resolutions for me this year, my teaching brochure,what I have been working on,Fun stuff and Your color fix for today

I just can't do it this year. Seems every year I sit with this blank sheet  staring at me as I firmly grip my pen waiting to write miraculous recoveries for my life.

Believe me when I tell you that I want to write amazing awesomeness, but I always regress to the good old standby's....lose weight, eat healthy, exercise blah blah blah. Resolutions work for alot of people, and I commend those that can sincerely write them down and follow through,or at least try.

Me? I have this inner self that fights things when I have to do something that I know it right, but now it's written down with a deadline. Not for me. Why? Because my life changes minute to minute. Deadlines loom, creativity muses knock on your door when they feel like it and if I have to walk a certain amount of steps in....say the morning and Ms. Creativity Muse has a different agenda for me, and well....I will agonize about not meeting a resolution goal and feel bad about it to distraction.

I do the best I can everyday. I am more of a list maker and some may say that I make daily resolutions. I say, it My To Do List and it's just the nature of the beast for being in business for myself.

Oh I do have goals for sure, but they aren't resolutions. I just don't "do" resolutions well and I am good with that. I now can breath easier knowing I will not be making them.

What I have been working on...

The last quarter of every year is devoted to designing, writing and making new quilts for the upcoming year's classes. I have loved  making each of these new quilts and here is why:

I have named this quilt "A Bunch of Happy" because that is exactly how it made me feel through every process of making this quilt.My objective in this class is offering the students a choice of making the pattern provided in their kit or teach them to create their own happy bouquet by rearranging the flowers. Layering flowers on top of other flowers provides for interesting new flowers and that's a bonus!

I was at a loss for a quilt title, so I asked on Facebook for suggestions. They were all awesome...seriously! I decided to go with "Hearts United" given by Cecelia Cushing. My technique is machine quilting with glue-stick and wash away sheets. Everything I do can be applied with freezer paper, but I really like wash away sheets (soon to be available through me on my website store being relaunched mid January). The objective in this class is to take the fear out of points, believe me, your points will be pointy and curves will be curvy! Pick your favorite word or name or monogram and I will teach you to have it inked on your fabric in no time!

"Hearts Desire" can be a table-runner or turn it vertically for a skinny quilt. I wanted to create something fun and whimsical with just enough going on without being overwhelming.I love teaching anything with bias tape and in your class kit comes all the pre-made fusible bias tape but I will teach you to make your own designer bias tape. (Who knows, maybe you want something with lots of color in it!)

The Hummingbird isn't exactly new, but I did a redo of the quilt and I think it is one of my loveliest class offerings. 

My Brochure 

I also have worked hard on creating my PDF brochure to post online to make it easier for quilt guild program chairs or show chairs to view. Here is the first page of the brochure.....well, you get the idea!
Can I ask you share it with your quilt guild? :-)

CLICK HERE FOR BROCHURE

Let me know if you have questions, just zip me an email to Linda@lindampoole.com

  Some Fun Now......

YES..I really own these!

I found these at the pharmacy while waiting for my prescription. (My pharmacist wears these too) I love these and I can't tell you how much it helps when I am sewing hand work or reading at night. 

So, my curiosity got the best of me and I went searching for what other lighted accessories were out there. Why can I see myself getting these for the fun of it?

 

 Nov. '11 I went on creative retreat with some good friends. I don't know how they hid this from me, but they threw me  a red neck wedding reception. (Yep...I tied the knot Sept '11) Yes...a dime store wedding gown for me and they all dressed in thrift store prom/ball gowns. I have been sworn to secrecy to never show these pictures...but here is one of the consumed bottles of wine with my private label...hence the play on words "Bridlewood".

 YOUR COLOR FIX FOR TODAY 

 

 I love these chairs...not just for their colors but I can imagine how comfy these feel! 

I do wish each and everyone of you the most joyous, beautiful,peaceful, loving, healthy and creative year EVER! Happy beautiful 2012.
~Linda
 Thank you for stopping by..I would love for you to leave a comment, join this blog and share my brochure with your program person...a girl can hope, wish and dream...and dreams do come true....right? (big smile)

I truly applaud those that can successfully multitask. I really do. For the first time ever, I can honestly admit that I am not good at it. I am not talking about emptying the dishwasher while talking on the phone or throwing the dog a Frisbee while raking the leaves, I am talking about how life is a "Hurry Up" world and "Get as much as you can done" in your day. It causes anxiety and can ultimately be a downer at the end of the day when you see you didn't get all you wanted to do finished. In a world where we are practically tethered to our smart phones, computers iPads, tablets and endless technology, you would think everything would be easier. For a while I thought making detailed To Do Lists would be my answer. The lists seemed to get longer and multi tasking would be my answer. How can a creative person with to many ideas in her head accomplish this?

For a person who loves to cook, I found that preparing healthy meals became a burden and I opted for the quick and easy. Not good. Fitting in exercise or an annual check up at the doctors went on the back burner. Even Zoie my pup, went to the wayside just a little bit. It was easier to open the door to let her do her business that putting the leash on and taking her for a proper walk. I found myself starting designs and having 4-5 quilts going at the same time. I can handle only 3 at one time to prevent boredom.

I am not a one man band able to juggle multiple instruments. I am going back to my tried and true trusty notebook brain. The place where I list my urgent things to do on the left side and my want to do's on the right side. Walking that tight rope is not what I want for my life. Even proper sleep is neglected so I can do "just one more thing". So, for me to wrap up this year and start fresh in 2012, I have decided to put that leash on Zoie and walk her. It will be good for my mind as well as for those extra pounds I carry. I will not stress my life being disappointed if I cannot get to something right there and then while trying to do another task. No more I say. I am living in the present moment from now on and making sure that whatever it is I am doing, I do it well and with passion...not half way. Anyone else want to join me?

HAPPY NEWS

Life is good and I feel extraordinarily elated. 

I am not so sure if I lead an ordinary life, but I married my best friend late September. Our ceremony was on The Delaware river, a place that is near and dear to our hearts.

Billie Jo, my best friend for life and maid of honor shares with me what we do best - belly laughs!

My dad and I

And of course, our flower girl was grand daughter Gabriella

 

It's that time again, where I work on new designs for new classes for the following year . It's not finished yet, but would this not look fabulous on your table as a runner or a skinny quilt on your wall? I named this "Blooming Hearts"...well the name came from the help of friends!

I have been working on adding applique to painting on fabric. I painted the trees on fabric and then added these little hearts on line with words that are important to me. It is something new I am developing for a class! How does "Hearts on the Line" sound to you for a name?

If you are a guild program person, email me for my online brochure for 2012 . My email addy is at the top right of this blog.

Are you on Facebook? If you are, come see what I am doing and join me on my Quilt/Art page: Linda M Poole's Facebook Page

YOUR COLOR FIX FOR TODAY  

 So, another blog done with joy and I didn't answer a phone or multitask or do anything else while writing this. Ok....I admit I let the pup out to do her business, but that doesn't count now does it?

......I recently taught for CQC (Colorado Quilt Council) in Colorado Springs, CO. My personal attendant, now friend, Lynda Bruce ( a die hard geo-cacher) showed me all the awesomeness of her state during my visit.

Yes, I learned about geo-caching from Lynda and we found the treasure!

Thanks everyone for stopping by. I really hope you leave a comment here on the blog!

Linda xxx