Chair Makeover!

I had a very busy morning. I finally got off my butt and gave my dining room chair a makeover!

I bought these chairs when I boughy my first condo in 1998!  (Yes, I'm that old!)  This not the original upholstry.  It was an awful plaid before I changed it to this.  Unfortuanately, I don't have a photo to show you because I didn't have a digital camera back then....LOL!  :)

My kids have managed to messed these up pretty bad... 

Plus, I've been wanting to change these for awhile now.

So, 30 minutes and several staples later... 

Voila!

Much better!  It makes me smile whenever I look at it! 

1 down 5 more to go!

Ill do a quick tutorial in a couple weeks! :)

oxox,

Sunny

Experimenting...

I don't know what my problem is....  I cannot make a plain quilt back!  I just don't have it in me.  I really love experimenting with new designs when I make quilt backs.  If it turns out good, "Yippee!"  If it doesn't then, "Oh well, it's the back..."

So here is it! 

This is going to be part of the back for a String Quilt I've benn working on.  This experiment was a success.  I'm definitely going to make another one like this!  :)

Here's the almost finished front. 

She's a beauty, isn't she?!?!

I didn't do this alone.  It was a collaborative effort from all the lovely ladies of Seam Perfect Bee! 

Here was my inspiration for this quilt. 

Yes, Original Starburst!  It's Taylor's (my daughter's) favorite candy...

I can't wait to finish it! 

oxox,

Sunny

Embroidery 101

On Saturday, I got the chance to take an Embroidery class at Lauren's shop, Sew Modern with these lovely ladies! 

Just in case you don't recognize them, they are Cath & Kirsten aka Prints Charming!
Yes!  All the way from Australia!  :)

Check out all the loveliness they brought to inspire us. 
(There is some serious needlework going on over here!)

I don't know how to embroider.  I've always wanted to learn so I was very excited to get started!  :)

Class started and we got our choice of either one of these.

I went with this one because I always use white, and I wanted to try something different. 
Look!  They even provided a little booklet (like CliffNotes!)
Super Cute, huh?

I learned a bunch of new stitches:  blanket, daisy chains, couching and how to hide knots too! 

This is what I came up with at the end of class. 

YEAH,  RIGHT!

Ok! Ok!  This is one of theirs...

Before we knew it, class was over and it was time to say good bye to this dynamic duo.

If you ever have the opportunity to take one of these classes, I highly recommend it!

Kirsten, me & Cath

Kirsten & Cath, I loved meeting you and taking your wonderful class. 

I promise to keep practicing and make you proud. 

Please come back again.

LA Loves you!

Oxox,

Sunny

PS.  Thanks so much, Lauren for arranging such a great class!  :)

The Pillow Talk { Swap } - Round 6

3 posts in one month!!!  What?!?!  I know...  I'm really trying to be better about not neglecting you, Miss Blog! 

Anyway, I decided to participate in The Pillow Talk { Swap } - Round 6.  I've been waiting to participate since I joined the group in January.  There are so many talented folks in this swap.  So getting a pillow from any of these peeps is a real treat. 

It was fun stalking my partner!  I decided to keep the keep my color palette limited to grey, greens, blues & yellows. 

I found some real beauties in my scrap bin!
So here's what I came up with....
 I added a small Kona Coal border and I used some Black Authentic to bind.



I was going to machine quilt this, but my Amish alter ego took over.....  I hand quilted it!  :)

Here's the back....

More Kona Coal with a zipper in the back!  This was my first time putting a zipper on a pillow!  I'm so glad I didn't screw it up...  :)

I added a little label.  I hope my partner doesn't mind...

So that's it!  All done!  I enjoyed making this for you Partner! 

I hope it's a welcome new addition to your home. 

I will be sending this over at the end of the week.



Enjoy!!  :)

oxox,

Sunny



Los Angeles Modern Quilt Guild - 2nd Anniversary

I can't believe this guild had been around for 2 years now!  Latifah and Alissa just decided to gather a few quilters and start meeting up.  How cool is that!!!  There are now over 200 modern guilds all over the world.  That just blows my mind!

In celebrating the anniversary, we always have an annual swap.  Each participant has to bring in a bag of scraps and your partner can only use one print from their stash.  I participated last year and it was so fun that I decided to do it again this year.

I got Rhonda.  She eats lunch at her desk everyday so she asked for something that would show others that she's "at lunch". Her exact words were "something to show that I'm having lunch, so back off, YO! So, here's what I made for her.

A placemat, a mug rug and a hair pin for her daughter.

Here's the back of the placemat and mug rug.

Here's a closer look at the back of the placemat.  Rhonda really liked it!  :)

Here's what I got from Vanesa!  2 Circle of Geese Pillows! 

Thanks again, Vanesa!  They are a lovely addition to my home.

oxox,

Sunny

Kaffe Fassett in LA

In my opinion, you can't be a quilter and not know who Kaffe Fassett is. A few months ago, I was shopping at one of my favorite LQS's,  Momen+ and I saw this. 

I love color and have always been a fan of Kaffe Fassett's work.  He showed us much of his work (early and current) and his inspiration for his designs.  It was so interesting to find out that he hand stitches everything and hate to use a sewing machine.  He showed us pictures of his design studio and artwork.  I found his pictures to be full of color and so lively.  He is a wonderful artist, desginer and a bad ass knitter!

At the end of his talk, he signed my book.  I was truly inspired....

OXOX,

Sunny

PS, Lizzy House will be in LA in May!  I can't wait!!!