Back in the Iraqi Saddle Again and a Contest!

Well girls (and you guys if you are reading) we are back to the year in Iraq - the year of 'Mom's going to bite off all her fingernails with worry ' time again...for those of you who don't know, my son, Sgt. W. Eric Rodman, is a soldier in the US Army. This is his third tour of duty over there...the first time was in 2003 when the war began - that's right, he saw the 'shock and awe' campaign take place...the second time was two years later and now he is back again in 2009...many people think they might know what the military families go through - you might empathize - but truthfully, it is all you think it might be and more - You anguish and worry and say many late night prayers to the Good Lord to send all his angels to your son (or daughter) each and every day so that they will come home with all his fingers and toes...Here is Eric and his gorgeous wifey, Nette..won't they make me the most beautiful grandchildren? If he could just stay home and focus on that - oh now that would make me a happy Momma! And no matter what, it is his wife who goes through the most pain during this time, although they live in Germany and love it - I know for her, it is just not the same when Eric is away even surrounded with all that beauty and Europe right at her front door...

So what do I do to comfort him and remind him I love him and am thinking of him while he is in harm's way? Well of course, I make him quilts! - for his unit and him and anybody else he asks me to make one for! Now, in the past I had ALOT of help because of my good buddies in Savannah, GA - but I am still kind of new to Fernandina Beach, FL and don't really know many quilters here - so I got to thinking about how I am going to make all these quilts this time... and how to make it fun and maybe get to know some more of you - and I got an idea! What we usually do is take their Platoon Emblem and incorporate it into their quilts - this time he has a REALLY cool one - and here it is...Isn't that so neat?


Well so now I am kinda of thinking of all of you out there and how you might want to help me out in designing a lap size quilt for his plattoon - I am thinking we will take the three best ideas and post them here for you to vote on and then whichever receives the most votes will win a great prize from Lollipops Designer Bindings website! Like a $100 gift certificate - how does that sound? so help me design it and then that will make this whole process a little less lonely for me and hopefully I get to meet more of you online - so come on girls, jump on in and give me your thoughts! I can't wait to see what you all come up with...and maybe a few of you might even want to help make them? if I supply all the fabric? let me know - many blessings and warmest stitches - Laurie M.

Doing Up Your Denim - Viking Sew Sunsational Jan 2009

There are some unique opportunities out there ladies to have special times of learning about our craft of sewing and embroidering and quilting and Viking's Sew Sunsational Event in Cocoa, Florida is just one of those experiences.

Each year, Viking Store Manager and Creator of the event, Peg Gowen and her Area Manager Priscilla Haga, put together a 'Sunsational' week of fabulous teachers, classes, shopping and of course, great food! I don't know how she does it, but Peg consistently delivers a return on your investment of a few hundred dollars for this week-long event that will change the way you use your sewing & embroidery machine forever! Headliners like Me & My Sister Barb and Mary were there along with sewing giant Linda McGehee - what a thrill to take classes with these women who are fun and inspirational and sew willing to share their tips and secrets to successful sewing and quilting...

This year I taught a special Dazzling Denim workshop, introducing women to the incredible new Majestic Hoop for the Viking Designer Diamond. This hoop enables you to complete the entire back of a denim jacket or vest ALL AT ONCE! Unfortunately, I left my camera in my bag upstairs but I am hoping the ladies will send me photos of their finished projects...I DO have photos of the samples I made for the event (and for other events throughout the year with AQS) - I tell you this was impressive to see all the different colors and ideas the women came up with the dress up their denim!



We used Anita Goodesign's Roses II CD - I created several designs in 4D Embroidery and then we worked with these designs to fit onto the backs of the jackets and vests the ladies brought with them. In addition, a few of the attendees wanted to try out another fabulous new design group for the Viking - the embroidery couching designs which use a special couching foot and Viking designed motifs. I created a beautiful design from the 'freebie' that comes with the Special Couching Kit and, using yarns that are made especially for this purpose, we embroideried couched a large design on the back of a jacket, again, all at once in the large Majestic Hoop - I LOVE that hoop!


Now of course, we also spend a considerable amount of time embellishing edges, cuffs and necklines with my Lollipops bias binding - I introduced a new way of using it - you gather or ruffle it (we used a ruffler foot). This is sewwwwwwwww easy to do and the results are impressive - and such an easy way to dress up your denim! You simply open up the bias and iron it so that the raw edges are now together - attach the ruffler, set it on 6 for a nice even ruffle and let 'r rip! see the pix of this method! it is fun and I just love the result! You can use it to create a flower (put a button in the middle), finish edges, tuck into hemlines, ruffle the edges a quilt - I mean there are LOTS of possibilites! We also embellished with buttons and crystals - oh they are so pretty but unfortunately do not come across well in
these pix. Here are some more pictures from another project...showing the gathered bias...







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So, just touching base - meant to tell this story LAST month but I guess I am a lousy blogger! the idea is so fun but still kind of new to me so I have to get used to doing it more regularly...


I hope you all are busy sewing, piecing, quilting, designing, having fun out there - please let me hear from you and what you are creating! that is the best part of my job....hearing from you!


Pray for our soldiers - they are all our sons and daughters!


Warmest Wishes,


Laurie