12.31.14

Last quilt of 2014.

Linked up to Let's Bee Social #53 over at

Sew Fresh Quilts.

Now in the shop.

12.30.14

Didn't think I would get this one finished today.  

But did.  

Will soon be in the shop.

These two photos show the quilt back on the Gammill longarm quilter to free motion quilt the star. This was after I cut off all the threads from the straight line quilting and squared up the quilt.  

Another day here in the Ozarks with the sun peaking thru for a short time this morning I still got out and hung the quilt on the line for photos this afternoon and they weren't too bad.  We need sun.

I used two different chambrays in this quilt.  A light weight poly/cotton chambray to frame/sash the squares.  A mig-weight cotton chambray used on the back. Both were thrifted pieces.

Straight line quilting was done everywhere but for the star.  That was quilted with a meandering free motion quilting, my favorite. Can you see the fmq star design in the photo above? A chambray blue thread was used for the quilting.

This was bound with pieced binding to pick up the patchwork from the front framed squares and to add interest to the large spaces of chambray on the back.

All that is left to do is to add the quilt label, wash and dry.

12.26.14

I do have a finished quilt top and a pieced quilt back I should have photographed for this link up with crazy mom quilts; but I have it loaded on the long arm quilter ready to quilt tomorrow.  Instead I will link up another quilt I finished this week and is in the shop.

12.24.14

linked up to Sew Fresh Quilts

take a look.

Will be working on another version of this pattern today.

12.23.14

"The Big One"

quilt is done

and in the shop.

I've not been getting good photos of my quilts indoors with all the gloomy weather we are having here in the Ozarks.  With tools in hand this morning I hung a laundry line higher than normal between two trees right outside my back deck so that I can hang my quilts and be able to take better photos to share. 

12.22.14

It's been busy around here.

New - - website

New - - Instagram

New - - quilts....

...all new quilts will be added to the website 

which will be primarily for quilts

and quilted items.

Before long an update for my blog 

to freshen it up a bit

to better match the website.

I will continue to have my Etsy shop open for non-quilted items, but have noticed a complete halt in sales.  ???.  Is Etsy getting too big for us small makers? Am I getting lost in the crowd? Or, is it just simply time to open up new horizons?  

What are your thoughts?

12.19.14

The Big One

This next project is based on a memory quilt, trophy quilt, man cave throw,etc.  The framed squares were finished earlier today and I still can't decide what sashing to use, real tree camo print, chambray, denim, etc.  Here are the blocks that I'm tweaking to determine what sashing to use. It took longer this week to cut up the thrifted plaid, flannel shirts and misc remnants and to dig thru my stash to finish out these blocks with more masculine plaids, flannels and of course real tree camo print.  I think the camo sashing is too busy but will spread out the squares with several sashing options when it's not 1:30am.  

I'm including these two choices in crazy mom quilts link to Finish up Friday projects. Let me know which sashing you like....thanks.

12.18.14

Done dragging my heels.  

I've had an Instagram account for some time that I did nothing with. Recently my niece and her family were visiting and I picked her brain on how I could get more exposure for my quilts. Since she is the demographic that would most likely purchase one of my quilts and is tech savvy she suggested I start using my Instagram as well as Pinterest.  Here goes, I will be going thru my quilt photos and adding them to Instagram.  I have updated my Instagram and Pinterest to reflect my new name, simpledreamquilts.  This will link to the new website simpledreamquilts.com that I plan to have up and running by year end.   Be sure to click on the links in the upper right.

Thanks for looking........Lisa

12.17.14

X + O quilt and pillow cover

linked up with Freshly Pieced

bolsters are from enhabiten

12.17.14

linked up to Sew Fresh Quilts for the Let's Bee Social

12.16.14

X + O pillow cover. 

...will soon be in the shop.

Linked up with Fresh Squeezed Fabrics, Show and Tell Tuesday and

Quilt Story.

12.12.14

I made sure to get this quilt DONE in order to include it in this weeks "finish up Friday link" with crazy mom quilts.

X + O

12.9.14

X + O 

now in the shop.

12.6.14

I wanted to add this, my very first full size quilt to Crazy Mom Quilts blog for her Finish Up Friday challenge.  The quilt top got finished late last night and with a busy morning and gloomy weather I've not been able to get good photos and missed the deadline to add this quilt to that challenge.  The colors are more vibrant than these photos show. 

X + O quilt 

 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

This quilt and pillow cover (see below) should be in the shop sometime next week. I've taken suggestions from friends and family to start writing patterns and have photographed the process in order to soon have a pattern also available for sale.

I look forward to quilting this on my Gammill longarm quilter.