Vending at quilt show is always a learning experience.  Each guild (or group of quilters) varies in it's taste from each items sell better to which sample quilt gets all the attention… I know there are a lot of variables that play into that, especially placement or location.  This time it was a little different.  I forgot a number of my samples.  With a different combination of samples hanging, it's probably not  an accurate to compare to other shows.  Just the same,  the sample that got all the attention, was a still life scene done in a class with Esterita Austin.  The sample hung at the end of my stand, which was back in a corner, above the basket with patterns and Esterita's video.  At least, it's placement drew people into the booth.  I also hand a group of four women who really liked the asymmetrical long sleeve shirts.  They took a group of them to the restroom to try on.  Ladies in the restroom noticed the shirts, and came back to see me.  Thanks for the advertising!  It was a nice show and group of people!

It has been a busy spring and summer for me.  My studio has been neglected and has collected a lot of dust.  With a vending gig, and week long class fast approaching, it was time to get busy.  I needed to dust off the studio and focus.  Focusing has been a chore this summer.  I wanted to spend time outside and with my kids, and family.  Going down to the studio has seemed like a chore.

Last week, I started to approach my studio, a few hours at a time.  Putting things away, finishing things and getting started on the "to do" list.  First and foremost on the list, prepping for the vending gig.  I got out the fabric, some regular cotton, some radiance and threw in some new cotton sateen. Mixed up some dyes.  The largest holes in my inventory were the multi-colored pieces and the ombre's.  At least those are fun to do.  A friend was cleaning out her studio and gave my a bunch of dyes, supplies and fabric she didn't like.  I had fun over dyeing some of her fabrics.

I also finished my 2nd quilt on the long arm…whoop, whoop.  I ironed the backing fabric for the 3rd quilt…just need to remember how to load it now.  I made a bunch a motif blocks for my upcoming class with Nancy Crow.  I probably should make more.  I really like 2 of them and can see using a 3rd one.  Just wondering if making more is the best use of my time and limited motivation.  

I did spend a full day in the studio yesterday, ironing the dyed fabric and getting ready to start a new piece (for a possible exhibit).  It felt good.  I just need to remember that accomplishing things, and getting to check off something from the "to do" list, always makes me feel good!

What is a leader/ender? Have you ever sewn through a scrap before you sew on your actual pieces so that the fabric doesn't get pulled down into the feed dogs and get bunchy? Then you have used a leader/ender.  This are particularly helpful when chain piecing, and you have finished one row/section and you don't have any more to sew until you iron or cut more. You sew through a piece of material, get your next row/section ready and your ready to go again.  Well, that piece of material ended one row and started the next, so it was a leader/ender!  Now, instead of sewing through a scrap piece of material that you are just going to throw away, why not keep a stash of scraps squares or triangles next to your machine to use as leader/enders.  I have made several quilts this way.  The quilt in the picture above in one of those quilts.  I kept a stack of 2" squares next to my machine.  Anytime I needed a leader/ender I would grab two squares that I thought looked good together and sewed (sewn, if you prefer) them together.  When I was done with the section of blocks, I would cut of my scrap squares and set them aside.  When I had a huge stack of 2' scrap squares sewn together,  I then started grabbing two of them to use as leader/enders making them into four patches. Then the four patches were sewn to a larger block (3"), again as leader/enders.  Once I had the double four patches sewn together (all as leader/enders while sewing other projects together) it became a projects of it's own.  I arranged the the double four patch blocks on my design wall.  When I was happy with the layout, I started sewing the blocks together and started another leader/ender project…this time sewing ½ triangle squares together.  See picture below.  While I would love to take credit for this wonder idea, it belongs to Bonnie Hunter.  She has a book filled with leader/ender ideas and projects.  This is such a clever idea, thank you Bonnie!  Every busy quilter can benefit from including this idea into their sewing life…