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 20th, 2010

and I only wish one of those things would be the suit I got married in 20+ years ago…but alas it is not…

But this is what I have gone and done….I joined another swap…and not just any swap… a NON quilting swap ....this swapto be exact.  Mostly because my friend John twisted my arm….no, not really….but it wasn’t because I needed something else to do…I think I signed up mostly for the variation of this art form…....

All I have to show for it so far is my inspiration piece….this vintage stitched house ….   But as I go I will share with you what I make and what my swap-mates send.  My theme is “Better Cottages and Gardens”.   The other themes are “Weird Science“, “Monsters“, “Owls with Attitude“, and “Modern Classics Fun!”   I get to design ideas for these themes….I am thinking colorful amoebas for the first, and some funky, assymetrical creatures for the 2nd. The other two will be a bit more challenging to me, as I think there are probably more “real” looking things to do there, but I am excited to try my hand at them all!!

Other than that I have a bunch of things I am working on…two more quilts for Free Spirit Fabrics, a Moda Bake Shop recipe, and some other things that are hush, hush at the moment…..

and oh, yeah, we need to get firewood for the winter, and I need to try to find a painter to paint the upper half of the house before winter, as I just don’ t have time to get up there, and it needs some caulking and painting pretty bad in some places…..as well as still helping Gimpy Linda get things done around here…

along with going to the DayJob to keep some steady income coming in…..blah, blah, blah…...

Peace out my friends…..

Scott

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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 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 June 23rd, 2010

Okay to start with….yes I am very “kinetic”.....that is my PC term for my sporatic flow of information, blather, and prizewinning packs (which is to say they are still waiting by my desk to be mailed  in the mail…)   And no, I haven’t drawn for the Anna Maria packs yet….but probably will later today which mean that post should be following…

But this post does relate to the Delightful Mrs. Horner in some way.  I just wanted to quickly share these blocks that I made for Anna’s Rainbow Around the Block project. (and any of you who keep a blog know that “quickly” share is a joke figure of speech…taking pictures, downloading pictures, readusting and cropping pictures never goes quickly enough, but posts without pix=boring in my book)

 I had a great time playing with fabric on these blocks with absolutely no concern for accuracy or anything….just fun…and going to a great cause too…

I dunno about you, but I just don’t give enough back to the world I think…..

And it is such a beautiful world to not give back too….

Someone had to do it….

maybe you can make some blocks too…  

Just follow the link for more info…

And have a great day playing for a great cause….

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admin June 17th, 2010

Alrighty then, sorry it has taken me so long to get back here…my DayJob has been keeping me pretty wiped by the time I get home, plus I have a bunch of studio stuff I am trying to work on…all at the same time…

Note:  If these project were dishes I was juggling….we’d be eating on paper plates…..

Anyway….I could NOT just pick one entry for the bird stories I requested here ......and even with 4 prizes-winners that I eventually picked….there were still other wonderful little anecdotes and tales…and I truly loved reading them all…aren’t memories and stories fun??

So without further ado…...

here are the winners:

For the Main Prize…..Kelly Oletzke who talked about her Father-in-law with such love, I have re-read it a couple times, and it just warms my heart so very much….thank you for the loving picture of a great man and his love for birds.

Three runner up prizes are going to the following ladies whose entries also caught my eye…...

Ginawho also made me very sad with her story of when she was little coming to terms with the inescapability of death when she watched a bird die from being hit by her dad’s car…..I can just picture the sobbing and I really felt bad for you Gina!!

Denise who made me totally laugh out loud when she told of a “two-liner” she had heard about a mom’s love/hate relationship with birds….complete with a Ba-dum-dum for effect….

And lastly one of John’s Fly Girls whom I met at Market…. Kaye Prince shared some a beautiful poem by Emily Dickinson about a little bird…well Kaye being a librarian (if I am remembering correctly) must have remembered I was an English major in college and got me hooked in with the poetry (and no, I don’t really know or care too much if  it was supposed to be whom or who back there in that earlier sentence….I am not a copy editor!)

SO Kelly, Gina, Denise, and Kaye, please email me your snail mail addresses (to bluenickel5 (@) earthlink (dot) net…....and I will eventually get your prizes out of here into the postal system on their way to you!!  (and no, the last batch of prizes haven’t left here yet, but they are almost ready…they are in envelopes with addresses…but I want to add a note to each and whatever other little extras I can…I tend to throw little odd things in to make them not run of the mill….)

AND just so you know, I do have two more entries coming up regarding Quilt Market,  then we will be back to a more of the visual variety-pack from the world that inspires my Blue Nickel Studio Mindset. And since I don’t really want to leave you with another non-pictorial post….here is a little bit of inspiration from the studio and grounds to remind you that there is more to me than just fabric…..Not much more, but there is some….....

ALSO don’t forget….we need some more comments here  to get me drawing for those great little Anna Maria prize packs….

Later, peeps,

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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admin May 1st, 2010

What follows is a brief montage of my oldest child’s 17th birthday back in February ( If I don’t get it posted soon, I’ll turn around and he’ll be 25 or something)  Noel wanted an “all-meat” pizza, and then he gave Linda a list of what meats that included:

Sausage,

Bacon,

Pepperoni,

Salami,

Meatballs,

Hamburger.

Chicken.

Linda was very concerned of a grease fire in the oven, but the cheese, besides seeming to glue this concoction all together, also seemed to keep the spraying grease confined to the pizza’s internal core.  It was a most interesting meal that is for sure.  I knew we should have fed him more than just hot dogs the year he was 3!!  

Here is my little boy’s first day on the planet….. 

And here is my little 6’5” boy now….it is so weird putting my head on HIS shoulder.  He is so wonderful though. Recently he did not get a summer internship at Microsoft that he had been hoping for.  He was pretty devastated at first, but you know what he said, after he calmed down a bit?  He told Linda, “you know Mom, there’s that verse in the Bible about all things working for good for those who love God…...I know there is a reason it didn’t work out”  When I was his age, I would have been upset for weeks I am sure….took him a few hours…

I guess we did something right in the last 17 years….(this of course, does NOT mean that he can’t be a butt-head at times, but Generally he seems to be doing okay)........looking forward to see what other wonders await us….Parenting, it’s not just a job, it’s an adventure!

Until next time, my friends,

Peace out!!

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admin April 28th, 2010

   It has been a busy couple of weeks here as I wrap up a bunch of projects for different fabric houses for Quilt Market.  And one quilt for a magazine article this Christmas.   I have been enjoying the time in the studio, but not necessarily the pressure to get things done…that pressure is at my Day Job too, and I feel behind almost everywhere I turn.   Sometimes I look around me (figuratively speaking here) and I feel like everything is spinning so fast, and I just want to rest a bit, but there is no time for that…..and there should be….

That’s part of what I like about this picture…..   

It is a picture of leaves in the bottom of an old hot water heater that has been rusting in our yard for years.  I kinda like it as a water feature of sorts and the rust gives it a wonderful lived in look.  But just looking at it kinda relaxes me a bit…maybe its the stillness, maybe its the getting lost in the layers of the image…maybe its just the constancy of it being in the same place in the yard for over 10 years now…...I dunno…..

Maybe it is just a rusty picture, but something about it reminds me to stop for awhile and notice details like this wherever I go….and that everything is okay, it will all work out.

That’s it for this post, peeps, I gotta go get some more sewing done….pictures will come eventually!!  

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admin April 19th, 2010

just quick pictures….before it is summer and it is really too late….a little bit of spring color, and that’s about it…

Hershey’s, Jelly Beans, Fabric, Linda’s newest little doll, a Puki, Glow in the Dark Zombies, plastic eggs…pretty typical Easter at the Hansen’s house….have a great day!

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