Blue Nickel Studios

admin September 8th, 2010

If you have been reading here lately, you know that I have thrown myself into just a few too many projects lately…and I really don’t have a lot of time to post anything this morning, but I do have quite a few pictures to post….just no time to post them right at the moment….hopefully this Thursday I will get a chance to get a REAL post up for you, complete with LOTS of pictures….we’ll see.  This morning, I just wanted to pop in here before I head out to my DayJob….

Here are the fabrics that I have set aside for the Fat Quarterly Quiltalong.     They are a ton of leftovers from the two Douglas Day Projects I did for Free Spirit awhile back.  I thought I would be completely crazy and make TWO of the FQ quiltalong quilts for the boys from these leftovers. 

I had these very Large Panels left and I liked the Big Blue Man one like this:

  But I had 3 of these guys and only two sons, and I also had one biker dude panel which I never really cared for all that much…not for the biker part, but I don’t like to encourage rebellion in my kids, you know?  And I love the bold graphic nature of them….so I cut one Blue Man and the Biker Dude into 2 1/2” squares for the centers.  I don’t really know HOW this is going to turn out, but so far I am pretty excited to see what evolves here.

I must confess, I started piecing the blocks together even though the FQ quiltalong doesn’t tell us how till next week….I figured it out, and I have two to make (along with everything else) and I need the head start.  It feels like working with solids with a bold 70’s twist.   We’ll see (and yes that means you too!)

Along other lines, Linda and I are both in the same magazine this month!!  Quilter’s Home October/November 2010!  I haven’t had time to take pictures of my quilt and the article in the mag, but I quickly scanned Linda’s bit for her and her blog, so I thought I would share it here too.

Here is her bit:

She has made about 50 of these great pins for sale on our Etsy site, and they really are neat in real life, I don’ t think pictures do them justice.  Her beading ability has always ALWAYS amazed me! 

Anyhoo, I have spent longer on this post than I intended….I just love sharing things with you all.  I have a ton more, including so many things, I can’t even think straight.   Sometime I just sign my emails to Linda as “the Vortex” as honestly that is how it feels sometimes.   But if we always find Beauty around us in the midst of the spinning…that’s a good thing, right??

Hoping that you find Beauty in the middle of your busy day today!!

Piece out!

Scott

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admin August 29th, 2010

yes, I signed up for ANOTHER project, but this one isn’t a swap so I won’t be in as much trouble if I don’t get it done on time.  I joined up with this grouping       over with my friends at the Fat Quarterly....You can sign up too for a fun project and “group” across the miles fabric therapy session. 

I don’t have time for this as I am wrapping up my Doll Quilt Swap 9 Project  (TODAY I hope!) and started the Hoop Upswap (but I have til November!) as well as a couple other projects you will be hearing about too…probably fairly soon I think.  I just finished up another LONG run of days in a row at my DayJob, so not much has happened in the studio…..which is why you will have to put up with these leftover pictures from our vacation where Linda did this....and actually none of are the beach….cause I just couldn’t subject our good camera to that environment…so they are mostly of the wildflowers I picked on our walk BEFORE Linda broke her leg…...

 Here is a shot with the wonderful Castle Peeps Bag that I just barely scored at Quilt Market this last spring.  I love this bag and the line….I have just played with it a little, but I am working on a few things where it is popping up more….

And then here are some more shots of the flowers on the front porch.  You can tell it has been a cool summer.  Normally at our friend’s beach house in July these wouldn’t have looked so lush.  I love the cottagey feel of them….

         
So that actually is all the good pics of our Summer vacation…didn’t get any really good ones of the kids..they are such sourpusses when it comes to pictures.  One of these days, I will get some better ones of them and let you see them again. I really do have 3 amazing kids, even though I have very little prood (other than an empty wallet and full calendar, that is)....

Off to the studio….I REALLY have to start cleaning up there before Linda gets back up there when she is out of her cast!!

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admin August 11th, 2010

For the winner of the  Jelly Roll from the Quilt-a-long post we have

Janet who wrote…..

I am really enjoying the quilt-along. I am using a Blush jelly roll and having fun with this line of fabrics. I love brights and enjoy all the wonderful blogs that are on line.

And on the Name Game…it was not an easy task for me or my panel of guest judges…In fact, the race was so close for this sweetie,

that I am giving her a middle name and a little scrap bag to the giver of that name as well.  Her first name will be Wren, and I had two entries for that name, but Mr. Random came to help and picked my friend John as the winner.  And Wren’s middle name will be Olive given by Nancy. 

and Girl #2

 will now be named Suki by a near unanimous final vote…This name comes courtesy of Kaye Prince....who by the way also won something from me not too long ago…In fact, I met both Kaye and John at Quilt Market, and feel rather guilty of some sort of rigging the contest because Judge Jennifer is a Fly Girl with Kaye, even though no one really knew who submitted what name, and I didn’t even remember that info.  

The stories that you sent in surrounding these two girls were WONDERFUL….I think I am going to give all your stories to my daughter and have her create a mashup of our favorite parts.  These Blue Nickel Assistants are some amazing individuals….

So winners please send me your snail mail addy’s (and yes, John and Kaye, you two…because I probably lost both of your addresses since the last time I sent you something…I am bad that way, I need but can’t afford a real intern!!)

...and just so you have a little new inspiration and a tiny bit of color…here are the flowers that were planted on the front porch of the beach house we stayed at two weeks ago…

I loved this little spot of color on the porch.  Flowers are always a nice touch anywhere….Beauty’s where you find it…

and now work mixed with beauty is waiting for me to found in my studio….and you in yours as well..

I just want to thank all of you who stop by and visit me here on the blog….I love hearing what you have to say and all the great stories you share!  Keep your chin up, and have a great week….

Later Gators,    Scott

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admin August 1st, 2010

you know I should have mentioned this a long time ago, but quite awhile back, Konda of MooseQuilts asked for peeps to sign up for her Jelly Roll Sampler Quilt-a-Long, and I made it aboard the Jelly Roll train.  But I was the last block on the journey, and well….all my other projects “helped” me forget about it…..But the last block is showing on Konda’s blog this coming week, because I got it done just in time…  Here are the three versions I did up for the Sampler Group.        

I had so much fun doing these actually, that I came up with 3 different layouts in 3 different color schemes within 2 days, and I have decided that they will be among my first PDF patterns to come up for sale in online shops this fall/winter….all three layouts in one pattern, pretty good deal, yes??

So part of the deal is that there are prizes involved with this Quilt-a-long, and Konda is offering prizes over at her site, and I am offering this prize of a Hello Betty Jelly Roll in the same colors as the middle picture. 

 Just drop a comment here and tell me what your favorite new fabrics or patterns (or whatever quilty thing you love) are this year.  I will do a drawing on the 10th of August from all the comments.

Thanks for stopping by, and don’t forget the Name the Prop Girl Contest here....Contest entries will be closed on the 5th of August Midnight Pacific Time.  Great prizes to be had on that entry as well!!

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admin July 14th, 2010

well, if you follow me on Twitter, you know that I have been thinking and plotting to get this unique garment from a Seattle-based company.....and because Linda saw them demonstrated at a conference awhile back and has repeatedly told me that she wanted to get me into one…..

so she won…..I think that most of these pictures are actually horrendous, and that 5o pounds that I really wanted to lose has now turned to 70…but neither figure is probably super realistic…..and it requires more conviction than I presently possess….which I say because I just polished off a couple 3-4 larger scoops of vanilla ice cream

Some of my Twitter pals had alternate views on me getting it, but most were for it, okay most who said anything directly regarding this purchase——there is no accounting for those who followed their mother’s advice about things “nice to say” and silence, etc…...and Monica told me I must show them SOON….so I am doing so right now….fresh back from the trip to Seattle.  So there  you have it….and don’t call it a skirt, okay, or something like this may happen to you…..I’m just warning you that’s all…

But just so you know we did a little more in Seattle than this (though not much I must admit)  We happened upon a couple treasures I’m going to share with you.

Found these wonderful books for sale in an antique “paper” store…really neat shop, side street…I did not write down the name….sorry kindly shopowner…

I got them mainly for their covers and the inside art…and just their overall look…even the lovely old book smell…

I love Joe’s outfit on this cover….I think would need to lose half of me to pull it off though…and about 25 years… 

I liked the title of this one, and it reminded me of what I am trying to do in the world of textiles and quilting….the swim part of course is  the actual goal…

I liked all the bindings, but this one in particular caught my eye….

And earlier at the toy store, along with bacon lip balm and bacon soap for the boy’s Christmas stockings, I got this little guy….

  and his box    

and here’s this sad little guy’s story…I looked at the display model, and saw it work all wound up and all….and didn’t take this guy out of his box til I got home….when I did, his arm promptly fell off, and though we got him back together his arms don’t move, and I am pretty sure they did on the model, and he doesn’t really walk too good either….so goes the phrase buyer beware….

That’s it for today’s 2nd post…..(haven’t done two posts in one day in awhile!)

Oh, and I might even read those books….......eventually….....maybe…....

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admin July 11th, 2010

    Happy 11th of July….exactly one week after the fourth…today is my sister’s birthday, but she barely goes online ever, so I won’t say Happy Birthday here…I called her, but she was out, likely celebrating or what not….

Anyway, I thought I would just share these few pictures of our bouquet for the day.  

       It was kind of a weird fourth of July for both of us. I had to work about 4-5 hours at my DayJob and Linda had to work her 2 hours at her NightJob so we saw each other in the middle of the day, and she got home in time to watch the neighbors blow up thousands of their dollars in the air….we burned up about $51 worth of fireworks.  It was windy and rainy at times…so I wasn’t too worried about fires and such…and glad to be able to celebrate all the freedoms we have in this country!!

 The week that followed the fourth was a lot of work for me at my DayJob, as my assistant was on vacation, and we had some of that high heat that the East Coast has been dealing with for sometime now.  In a word, I am exhausted from that week.  Today was my first full day off in the past 11 days, and I slept in really late as well as a long nap this afternoon…I think I may be coming back to life soon…

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Okay, totally off the subject….......

My friend Melissa has just done 30 days of Bikram Yoga and deserves your applause if you want to drop in and see her over here.  Yoga is something that I have been considering looking into for the health benefits….and that I could use the stillness and meditative time to just get closer to God.  I have been reading Melissa’s Tweets about yoga, and it has been in the forefront of my mind…I wonder if I could just do it on my own in the morning with a DVD or something….any recommendations?  I don’t really have the extra $$ for a class, but I think I could pickup a DVD to try it with….

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And here I veer topics again…  want to meet my new assistants in the studio?  Okay, they aren’t really assistants, but they did cost a bit of money, and they will be showing up here in the blog from time to time…..AND they will be the topic of an upcoming contest here at the Blue Nickel ….complete with a panel of guest judges….I am so excited for this contest because the following  fine ladies have agreed to be on the panel…Mary Abreu, Jennifer Davis, and Patty Young.....

okay, so do you want to meet these “assistants” ??

Here they are in their un-made up state fresh out of the box….please welcome the Blue Nickel Studio Prop Girls…. 

Stay tuned for their new looks when they get Linda’s wonderful doll-makeovers, the whole rest of their story, and the scoop on the contest…..

So besides feeling wiped out for a week, I am working on a wall quilt for a magazine with Laura Gunn’s   Poppies line and a doll quilt for the Doll Quilt Swap No. 9 ....and other stuff….like pretending to clean up the studio again…

Like that will happen, huh?

Anyway, I hope your summer is going great, and that you are staying creative….it’s at the core of every human being you know….Scientists may not be able to find it, but there is creativity in everyone….are you enjoying yours??

Peace out, my friends,

Scott

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admin July 1st, 2010

So I have been doing the Doll Quilt Swap for about 5 rounds now….this could be my last as the rules have strictly said if you are late on this one…You’re out on the next one….

and yes, I think they made that rule because of me…..I don’t think I was on time sending on any of them…I did great quilts, and my swap buddies TOLD me they loved them…but I was a bad swapper in regards to timeliness….I have til the first of September to get this baby done….I think I can do it…

The above picture are some fabric who have come to interview for the position in the quilt….the books are for inspiration….I get inspired by these two books a LOT….

Here is my sketch and some more fabrics….       The butterfly fabric is from Australia….and I do love it…my swap buddy loves purple and autumn and modern quilts….so I think somewhere in this we will find a good one, yes??
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I also just sent out a bunch of these  for the Siggy Swap set up by the fabulous Julie Herman!! 

Here are mine in the process.

Here they are waiting for their white middles….     I had to go specially buy it…I don’t just have plain white hanging around here..

and here with their mid-drifts…  

I did this swap just cause I thought it would be fun to have all these signatures from all these folks across the globe, in really modern fabrics, and just to have a simple quilt that is just for me to throw over when it gets chilly…..kinda like its been here in the NW this summer….seriously….my neighbor has a fire going tonight…on the first of July!!

so that’s it for today….
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then the upcoming news….

I have some quilts coming out in magazines again…about 4 this late summer and fall I think…as they get published I will let you know… I also have some more free patterns to post here, I just have to get my butt in gear and do it..I’ll let you know….

and this fall?? I hope to be getting some patterns available for sale at your local quilt shop or on some online shops….ok, it may be next spring…we’ll just see how that goes, okay?  One day at a time, right??

And if you ever want to have me come share my quilts and stories at your local guild, just let me know…I love to talk about this stuff ….just ask my wife and kids!!  I am a pretty cheap deal for the moment….until I hit it big-time...

And yes….. I did just put that last link in there….   I love the 80’s…...you’re welcome….  

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admin June 7th, 2010

Hey you all!  thanks for all the great comments here lately….it is good to know that I am not completely writing to the wind….  I think I actually do have some more Quilt Market posts to do…but I really needed to get things caught up around here….So I posting this post tonight and with it another set of  prizes.  And while I am typing this I am printing out all the comments from the last 3 or so posts that had prized attached and will be announcing them tomorrow or Wednesday in another post.  I don’t really have a lot of time tonite to post either, but I wanted to share with you some more highlights from Market…

First on the list are the Westminter Laminates….these are just incredible.  When I heard about them, I definitely thought of thick bulky oilcloth….These are NOT that material!!  They are very pliable and sewable it seems…       

 And to prove it…Look at this!!  Ruffles! out of Laminate!  Can you believe it?  I couldn’t ..even a rosette.  Everyone MUST try this now!!  Really….

Back over at the Seven Seas booth where all the fine Japanese Imports were….were these cool little kits….aren’t they the yummiest assortment??  

And little wind up felties…too cool! 

And Heather Ross’s newest Line with Kokka….Far Far Away II.... 

But the REAL highlight for me was meeting and chatting numerous times with Anna Maria Horner....  

This lady TOTALLY amazes me.  She designed all these fabric and these projects….and she has 6 KIDS!! From 18 to 1!  AND she is as sweet and genuine and thoughtful as she seems in her blog.   I would have to say that her blog is my very favorite for the way she mixes family and design and pain and laughter.  My heart is often stirred by her musings on parenthood.  It is such a wonderful and difficult and ultimately fulfilling and draining  life work…and Anna Maria captures it all …..surrounding it with beauty as she goes….including her now famous Quilt Market Spring ‘10 shoes!

Here she is smiling on the last day just as much as the first day!!     

Yeah, I really enjoyed meeting her here at Market.  My first quilt for Free Spirit was for her Good Folks line,  and then I did a Flannel Little Folks quilt  last year for Free Spirit too.  I have emailed her on numerous occasions, and generally made a pest of myself…and she was still nice to me here in Minneapolis!!

And then there were her equally charming and beautiful model/assistants…. Allie with her Incredible Red Locks and Charming Smile…

And Alexia with her Stunning Snow White features and Gentle Grace….

One more thing before I go to the prizes for this blog post.  Anna Maria lives in Nashville, and saw many of her neighbors lose much during the flooding they had there this Spring.  So she has this going on to help…I will talk more about it later, as I am psyched to help out on this project.  But I wanted to make sure you knew about it as well if you felt inclined to help with the effort.

And Anna and I put together these little gifties for 3 lucky winners….A free pattern from her newest book Handmade Beginnings and some of her flannels and prints….and two little notebooks…(the third prize gets a little extra flannel)...   

For this project why don’t you tell us all about your first memory of something that someone made for you as a child…not bought in a store, but made by hand or with their hands for you. And when we get somewhere between 30 and 50 entries, I will start drawing names randomly.  

And I promise I will get winners of all the previous prizes announced tomorrow evening my time (Pacific) so if you are on the East coast it may be later for you….

Are you still enjoying these market Photos??  I still have an SD card full of Floral pictures from around the Blue Nickel Studios here to share that I took before Market…so eventually you will get to see them too…

Thanks for dropping by the Blue Nickel…..see you soon!

Scott

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admin June 2nd, 2010

Yes, here are more Quilt Market moments via Blue Nickel….Here am I with Amy and David Butler….I barely met David, as I heard he was mountain biking the whole time and only came to take down the booth….yes, Amy is still smiling on Sunday at the end of this very busy 4 day event.  For new and upcoming peeps like me, its fun…for Amy, I am sure it is very hard (but fun) work…  

More Amy Butler beauty…..the pillows are a new pattern coming out…the walls and the paper flowers are her new line Soul Blossoms coming out later this summer…..I think August is when it will be available…  

and Amy’s cool shoes….yeah, I know  I’m a guy and as a rule we don’t care too much about fashion, and I must admit I don’t know much about fashion per se….but these were pretty cool shoes…even though I got them in transit….  

Most everyone has posted about the New Rowan Yarns coming out in ”Amy” colors.   I must also admit I  don’t now much about fashion….but I do know that my daughter squealed when she saw these legwarmers…call it the 80’s in me, but I thought they looked pretty cool too….

 Amy, deep in thought, probably about how long will it take to get all this stuff packed up…...    

My favorite picture I think ….I know I am going to love this line…..  

Here is Amy’s marvelous team  Mallory and Diane…...Diane pretty much runs the place so Amy can be…. well…Amy….(I can’t wait til I have someone take care of everything for me….and I don’t mean at the Nursing Home, okay??)   .......And Mallory, who was pretty quiet, is the new kid on the block I think….and as sweet as can be….

Since Soul Blossoms isn’t on fabric yet…they were showing it in paper on these great giganto flowers…....

I must say talking with Amy off and on during the  Market was just so wonderful…Truly she is remarkably unassuming and very “real”....  I could have been talking with her in the grocery store over the apple table in the vegetable department…not a discouraging thing about her….She was even giving me advice on some of the things I am striving to do…Not like a  Know-it-all, but like a sister sharing with her brother…..I feel like I could have gone to high school with her, and even though I really barely know her, Amy made me feel like an old friend.

And here is just another wonderful designer who just lives one state away down in Oregon….Valori Wells.   Valori has been designing for some time now, and was RAISED in the quilting business, so I love talking to her as she really KNOWS this world inside and out.

I just love the quilt behind her and these bags….      

Here is her new line Nest ….....    

And here is her gift to one of you!!   3 patterns and some Nest fabric…possibly before you and even get it locally….but I just read some of it is shipping out now….

So to win this Valori Wells prize pack….why don’t you tell me something you like about birds or a story or a poem or something else….and then when I get to 25 comments….I will start looking and reading and (here’s the tough part)....pick my favorite bird “moment”....so make me laugh or make me cry….the one that resonates with me most will win…..

Don’t forget that there are prizes to be won still on my last 3 blog posts as well…..and I haven’t drawn on them all yet….one might be over the 25 comments already, but you can still throw your name in the hat.  I don’t have the time to choose them all tonight or tomorrow….so I will see what the status is on Friday evening and see what needs to be drawn and who will win what….AND…don’t forget the next few posts will ALSO have prizes…so if you don’t want to miss them you can sign up  on the left under “Subscribe” and you can get email announcements when I post….I don’ t send out junk mail, and it isn’t linked to anyone else sending spam….so you only get stuff when I post…

I am really looking forward to hearing your bird stories….(oh, and did you notice, Amy had birds up in her booth as well)...so this was a good theme for the post, I think….

Cheers,

Scott

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admin May 31st, 2010

First I want to start out this post by announcing the winner of my first round of prizes from this post  AND THE WINNER IS …..

eileensideways who said….

one of the quilt patterns above look like mail slots and the border surrounding looks like ribbon weaving in and out. such talent, such creativity.   

Susan (eileensideways) already sent me her mailing address cause I let her know via Twitter that she won.   I have another prize to give away on that post but it needs to get up to 50 comments,  so if you already commented send someone else, or if you haven’t please do and you can win the second of these two prize packs:      

Susan will have coming her way next week, and I would love to send another one away.  And don’t forget there is still a different prize to give away at THIS post....LOTS of giveaways here peeps…share the news cause sometimes, there will be a certain number of comments required to give any of it away! 

Now on to more quilt market photos….again no particular order on these, and if you are really bored with these, you can scroll down to the end where the prize for this post is waiting.

Patricia Bravo at Art Gallery Fabrics....wonderful stuff!  With yummy new things coming up!

       
A cool runner I saw done up in Moda Odyssea ....wonderful…

Here is Bonnie and Camille’s newest stuff….love the red and aqua combo’s!!

and from Riley Blake Designs:

And then something completely different—— Terrie Mangat and her booth…just love the riot of color here!!  super nice lady! I missed the class she had been teaching that I had hoped to get in on, and she gave me the pattern and some hints and a few supplies..I will show you when I make it…it is somewhat of a soft sculpture project….She has another colorful line coming out this fall with Bees!!  I love me some bees…especially non-stinging fabricy type bees!

A nice little origami type shirt display of some new Japanese fabrics distributed by Clothworks...

Of course I was delighted to see my quilt so prominently displayed at the Robert Kaufman booth…and I HAD to take a picture, didn’t I?

Okay now for today’s prizes…..yes, I said prizes….I have multiple….

One of these:      with surprises inside….

A set of these:   

And for you vintage lovers a set of these gems:      

So you know the drill by now…comment here on THIS post about whatever you like best on this post….and when I get to 25 comments I will start drawing. for the above prizes…..I have a goal here people…and it really isn’t too big of one I don’t think….cause I just love giving stuff away…and these were all given to me to do just that so they are here for the taking…I mean I could keep them I suppose, but I want to share …..

Don’t forget to keep checking the past couple posts too and the next ones coming up…I have a great little package that Valori Wells gave me, and some Anna Maria gift packs, some other doodads,  and even a book giveaway coming up as well…so stay tuned…okay??  And if I am really boring you already PLEASE tell me….I will move on with things here….

I really had a great time at Quilt Market, can you tell….tomorrow I have to go back to the Day Job….sigh…don’t think it will be nearly as thrilling for me…just more of the same…but don’t get me wrong.  I am very happy to have a Day Job that can help pay for things for now…these quilting career goals of mine don’t just happen overnight. They take time….thanks for hanging out with me, while things unfold. I really appreciate your visits…..

Much quilting/fabricy love to you,

Scott

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