The Barter System . . .

"Wikipedia says :  bar·ter/ˈbärtər/

Noun: The action or system of exchanging goods or services without using money."

My good friend Phil does fabulous stained glass pieces.  So, we made a Barter - he'll make me a stained glass hanging, and I'll make his wife a quilt.  I think it was a great exchange . . . how about you? 

Here's the Stained Glass Rooster which I absolutely LUV!!  - hanging in my dining room window - 

Phil's Rooster in the Dining Room

.... and here's the quilt I "bartered" with.  It's a Chained Log Cabin - 90" X 90".   Hobbs 80/20 batting; Fil-tec Glide thread.

Chained Log Cabin "Barter " Quilt

 Last week I spent some time with Matt Sparrow (ManQuilter) ) at Sparrow Studioz  learning some freestyle quilting techniques.  I put my new skills to the test with this quilt, and although I've got quite a ways to go  to reach Matt's standard, I am very happy with it.

Chained Log Cabin

I just have to add the binding, and then will give it to Phil and Zoria.  It's their wedding anniversary today, so I'll try to have it completed for them this afternoon.   (Late note - I didn't get it done today, so they'll just have to wait!)

Chained Log Cabin - close up



Freestyle - flowers, leaves  and headbands



Hmmm , , , , flowers, leaves and headbands . . . what does that remind you of?

WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?????

The barter system is alive and well at the Little House - what have YOU got to barter with?? 

Feathers All Over

No, I'm not plucking a chicken - where would we get our eggs??

Amy's cute little pastel quilt just needed feathers - so, feathers it got!  I used Deloa's Feathers All Over instructions as a guide, and just went for it freehand. . . so cool to do!  Superior So Fine thread sets the feathers perfectly!  Have a look . . .



Pastel Squares - Feathers All Over



What's this . . . the back!  It's reversible!!

Pastel Squares - Feathers All Over back

Pastel Squares - back close up



Pastel Squares - back



 We just had a thunder storm roll through Water Valley, and then the sun came shining through the window - I couldn't resist . . . . priceless!

Now what am I going to do with the rest of the feathers?????



. . . . until next time from the "Little House" . . . .

Christmas is sooner than you think!

Here's a few photos of a customer quilt that I just finished and absolutely LUV!  (I wonder if she'd notice if I didn't give it back??)  It's a Christmas Stained Glass pattern.  I used Holly Berries Panto by Lorien Quilting in the centre squares, and a bead board type border and then threw in some holly leaves in the corners.  The Fil-tec Glide thread has a little bit of a sheen to it, so it looks very nice against the black border.

Christmas Stained Glass Quilt

Christmas Stained Glass Quilt

Corner Holly - close up

"Bead Board" border - close up

Christmas Stained Glass - close up

OK - it's confession time . . .

I don't really quilt in a "Little House" - it's more of an imaginary place.  We do have a little old house on our farm, and that's where I started quilting 10 years ago when we spent weekends here.  Since then, we have built another house on the same property and, while it's not huge, it's definitely not what you would call a "Little House".  The Lenni lounge is in the basement, and that's where I spend a lot of my time.  But the idea of Little House Creations started way back in that little house, and I have kept the name ever since.  So, if anyone was thinking that I have a cute little old house that I use as a studio, sorry - I don't.  Not in reality - but like I said, it's an imaginary space and I feel like I am there when quilting - does that make any sense at all??  Maybe one day the Little House will be converted to an actual working studio, but for now . . . it's all in my head!

and remember, only 159 shopping days til Christmas . . .

Where's Batman????

Here's a cute little customer quilt that I just pulled off Lenni the Long Arm.  It is for a young man, so I used a fairly simple panto - "Ebb and Flow" by Lorien Quilting.   If you look closely, you will find "Batman" in here somewhere . . . good luck!

Where's Batman????

It'll be easier if you click on the picture to make it larger!

Blue/White Stripe - and Batman quilt

Well, did you find him??? 















I just came back from 8 days in British Columbia, where my mom lives - it was beautiful out there, but I did miss Lenni!  It's haying season here in the Water Valley area, so all the farmers (including my DH) are out in the fields trying to get the hay cut and baled before the weather turns again!  We've had a good solid week of great weather, so that's perfect for haying!  We only get one cut - so we have to make it count!  Guess that's why they say "make hay while the sun shines" ????

In my next blog post, I'll have a little confession . . . it's about the Little House . . . . !