Quilting

One of the perks to quilting for others is getting to see the use of color, fabrics, themes, and seeing many Grandma quilts.

This quilt had was in shades of brown and the customer asked for "barbed wire" quilting pattern.

This customer has many quilts from grandmothers in her family.  When I received the quilt, it was already marked for quilting.  I just went with the originators design.  I love the results.

Busy Days

The last couple of days have been busy and I love to be busy.

Of course there  was Halloween. We gave up giving candy over 20 years ago as my daughter is a juvenile diabetic.  I know, diabetes is a genetic issue, but we felt, if she couldn't have candy, we were not going to give it to another child.  To utilize the time, I cut out 14 puzzle balls (from Jenny Beyer's - Puzzle Ball book) to hand out at a crazy quilt club.  These balls are really fun and work great for crazy quilting.  Also, if you are looking for gifts - these work great.  Give them to teachers, gift exchanges, ornaments..you get the idea.  They do not take a lot of time - in fact, I made one in 15 minutes.  (My camera is on the blink but, the link below shows one of the balls.)

One word of advice, do not drink while making these balls; remember they are a puzzle.
Puzzle Balls _ Jenny Beyer

Sunday - I attended the initial meeting of a crazy quilt club.  Our first meeting and we had 14 new members.  This is exciting.  There was a good mix of talent in the group, experienced, novice and newbies.  Can't wait to watch us grow.

Today - a friend and I spent walking through the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis.  This is a must see if you are ever visiting St. Louis.  They have a full range of gardens including:  English, Bavarian (not very good, as it seems the alpine vegetation does not like the wet hot St. Louis summers.), Japanese, Rose, Camelia & so on. 

Scrap Housekeeping

Scraps...Scraps...Scraps..everywhere I look there are scraps.

It is time to fix the problem.  It is Thursday and my calendar said it is time to organize the scraps.

Recently, at a Bonnie Hunter lecture, the national quilter suggested cutting strips in 1 1/2", 2", 2 1/2" and 3" segments.  Taking it one step further, the plan is to organize strips, triangles, rectangles, squares into blocks - 3.5", 4", 5",  or 6".  These blocks can then be sewn into 6", 9", or 12"  blocks.

Also, it is time to make strip sets.

With fabric $10-12 per yard, it must be - no waste, no gain.

Besides that, it feels good to have a plan.

Izzy's Saddle Bag

Last year, I took a Judy Niemeyer class (Stepping Stones) to refresh my skills in her paper piecing technique.  With no intention of making the quilt, I used my least favorite fabric on the project.

To my surprise, I loved the result.  I think it was the stark contrast in fabrics.

While I still did not want to make the quilt, I did want to do something with the block; but what?

As it happens, I had a book ("Carry Me" by Yuka Koshizen) with 20 boutique bag patterns.  In the book, I found the Sidecar Messenger Bag  and thought the block would work on this bag.  My granddaughter needed a shoulder bag for school.  I put 2 & 2 together and the block found a home.  It was necessary to add pockets for pens, notebook, glasses & whatever to make it work for Izzy

As you can see, it is a bold print, which works for a teenager.  Also, it worked for mom too.  In a group of kids, she could always find her daughter.

The bag is still working great.  This is a perfect bag to make for your quilting tools, rug hooking, knitting, diaper bag & so much more.

Local Quilt Show

Circle in the Square Quilt show is being held at the University City Public Library through this Friday.   It is a small show, but the non the less, the quilting is impressive.   

Here are my favorites:

Due to technical problems, this quilt is sideways.  Despite my efforts, it remained sideways.  A dear friend - Mary owns this quilt.  She turned 90 this year and decided to finish this quilt (one of her first quilts) to enter in her own show and in the CSQ show.  Her friends helped her complete this and several other UFO projects.   Way to go Mary!!!                                                                     

Isn't this cutie???????????

Clara's - I watched this quilt grow and though hard to see, it is magnificently pieced, appliqued, and quilted.

Finally - this is my quilt.  It is owned by a friend, who commissioned me to finish the quilt.  It was a gift to her brother and reminded her of their childhood visits to Minnesota.

Baby Quilt - Orange

I did it.  I used the fabric that was purchased on this week's road trip.  The fabric was orange and I simply had to have it.    After purchasing - the remorse hit.  This time, I was determined to use it and I did it.

Finally, an impulse buy turns into a quilt.  I hope you like it.  It is cheerful.

I was going to add a border, but decided to keep it simple.

Road Trip - Stash Collection

I am spending my morning browsing my treasures from yesterday's road trip.

The good thing is, I still love what I purchased.  Some of the stores had scrap bags and I purchased one for $.59  Albeit the bag consisted of 1 3/4" strips, but my guess is that I have close to 1/3 yard of them.  Not bad return on my investment.

I, also, added a small print for a baby quilt.

When I take a road trip, I usually buy fat quarters.  Before I leave, I decide what color, theme, era or etc I want to collect on the trip.  This time, I picked up several Asian, modern, and 30's collection.

Then I came across a muted orange floral fabric, that I simply had to have.  As soon as I arrived at the car, doubt crept over me.  What on earth am I going to do with that fabric?  As we were only half way through our list of shops, I focused on finding fabric to complement the impulse purchased item.  Seriously, I think I did pretty good.  Now if I can only come up with what to make.  Would a baby like this fabric, a little girl, or does it just have to go into a scrappy quilt?  If I make the scrappy quilt, I did not need to purchase the additional complimentary fabric.

The final purchases made were for Xmas and Crazy Quilting.  I think the crazy quilt items can be used

 for tree trunks, rocks, wooded area, etc.

 

October Road Trip

Just arrived home from a two day "Quilt Shopping"  road trip.  My friends, Gloria and Sharon, planned a trip across Missouri in search of as many quilt shops as possible.  We had a list of 21 shops.  By 5 pm, today, we had visited 6.  WE felt this was quite an accomplishment, as most of the shops were an hour or more apart.

Our first stop was in Mexico, MO - Homestead Hearth.
     This was a fabulous shop.  They had a Civil War and Primitive fabrics (something we found in most of the shops).  But, it also had a great line of modern and 30's fabrics.  The shop also, had wool, felt, and embroidery supplies.  A friendly staff, easy to maneuver, fully stocked, great books (even some in French), and patterns made this shop a  must on our return list.  The only down side to the shop - not many sale items.  The shop is approximately 1 1/2 out of St Louis - so it is easy to make in a day.

Our next stop Brookfield, MO - Huffmeiers Fine Pines.
      This store was packed.   Again, not many sale items, but lots of quilt samples to spark your creative juices and urge the need for fabric (is that ever the problem?).  WE bought several patterns of the samples and we spent the evening giddily discussing what we were going to do with them.  Definitely worth the trip.

Motoring across Missouri, our next stop was Missouri Star Quilt.  Sad to say, we arrived after 5 pm and had to postpone shopping until the next day.

We started the day in Cameron MO - Crossroads Quilting.
     We all loved this shop.  Lots of variety and their decorations were homey and welcoming.  This was a shop to definitely revisit.

At last we arrived at Missouri Star Quilt - Hamilton, MO
     This shop is spread out over 5 storefronts and looks like maybe even more space is being renovated for expansion.  Every possible fabric combination was there, however, you had to shop to find it.  What I truly missed in this shop, were fat quarters.  At the previous stores, I had purchased a fabric and I wanted to build a quilt.  To audition fabric, you had to carry bolts around the shop.  I don't know about you, but that got old fast.  Then, I wanted dots in the quilt, but those were in a shop in the next block.  Very inconvenient.  They did have lots and lots and  lots of precuts.

Our next shop was 1 1/2 hour south near KC - Quilters Station - Lees Summitt.
     Wow, what a shop.  If you can not find the color you need in this store - give it up.  They have absolutely everything you could ever want in fabric.  I would travel the 5 hours needed to shop here.  Loved it!!

We headed back to St. Louis and stopped at Appletree Quilting Center - Columbia
     Another great shop and very close to St. Louis - only 2 hours.  I bought 12 fat quarters to add to quilts in progress.  As a long arm quilter, I am not used to seeing quilting templates in stores.  They had several and I plan to order 2 different options.  This is a definite return.  The friendliest staff.

Home at last.  After a soak in a hot tub, I plan to put my feet up with a good book.
Tomorrow, will require lots of quilting.

PS.  If you come to Missouri, you will not suffer from QUILT SHOP WITHDRAWL!!
Just be sure to bring your swatches so you can collect the great pricing in these shops.

3/31/14 Post - follow up

In the 3/31/14 post, I reported an upcoming book by Jan Ochterbeck.
The book is now out on Amazon and through AQS.  I love supporting friends as they grow in their quilting endeavors.

Jan is an accomplished quilter and I was fortunate to be assigned quilting projects for her book.
She is a traditional and modern quilter.  Her patterns are in the book and additional patterns are available via her blog:  thecolorfulfabriholic.blogspot.com.






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Busy, Busy Day

This was one busy Sat.

It started with a list of tasks to do:  bank, Home Depot, post office, quilt shop, Cartridge World.

In the middle of the list came a church bazaar and delicious lunch with family.

The tasks are done.  The quilt shop fixed two bobbin winders..yeah!!!  As a long arm quilter, getting bobbins wound tight and ready for quilting is a big deal.  Recently,  the bobbin winder was giving some really sloppy bobbins.  With the bobbin issue solved, I am ready to get to quilt and this is good since I have 4 customer quilts to finish  Hopefully soon after, I can get to my own quilts.

Still to do, binding a customer's beautiful blue quilt.  Take a look..

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Book Review - Whitework Quilting

The University City Public Library (U City MO) has a great selection of quilt books.  Recently, I found Karen McTavish' book Whitework Quilting and have been devouring it.  The book has opened up a totally new option for my quilting journey.

The book details the techniques used to make a wholecloth or trapunto quilt.  This appealed to me because I have a matelasse bedcover on my bed.  Then I use quilts, folded in different ways, on top of the cover to add color and texture to the interior design.  My matelasse cover is white, so each quilt changes the color in the room.  Every week my room changes color.  I love it.  Different themed quilts also change the atmosphere in the room.

The book has triggered me to do a white wholecloth to replace my matelasse cover.
Now I am not exactly sure when I will start this project, as I have 5 client quilts to complete, and 16 of my own to quilt.  How do we get so far behind?  And I won't even mention my UFO stash.

My bed is a queen and if I make a cover with a 14" drop, the quilt will need to be 88 x 94.  I purchased a 108" high quality cotton bleached muslin as I am anxious to begin.  My first plan is to do a floral overall pattern.  Once that is complete, I will design a wholecloth.  I am setting a completion date of Nov 25 - oh - this year.

Be sure to watch for updates on my progress.

Share your books..as I am a book addict.


Darlene

Wanda's baby quilt

My friend, Wanda, makes the cutest baby quilts.  Here is one of her quilts.  They are simple, but just what every mother & grandmother would want for their baby.

This quilt had a flannel backing and when quilting, the thread wanted to break.   Of course, you have to figure the reason for the breakage.  Having just changed the needle, I thought this was the problem, but now I wonder if it is the flannel backing and the tension.  The quilt is almost done and so far, so good.

 

Little Miss Tuffet

Recently took a class on a "tuffet".  As you know, when you take a class, you only get a portion of the project done in your class and the majority needs to be completed outside of class.  This was true on this class as well with one exception.  The hard work was done by our instructors husband and good friend. (Hubby & friend cut the wood base, drilled holes for feet, and cut the foam.) The only thing the student had to do was sew 64 straight lines.  We were, also offered an opportunity to meet again to complete the tuffet.  I am so glad we did as I now have a completed project.

The instructor, Linda Lee Hodges, only accepts the best and helped us achieve the same.
There were 6 in the class and all have completed their projects.  Great job Linda (hubby & friend).
Linda is going to try to get us membership in the "tuffet" club.

I present my TUFFET - complete!!!

July - Retreat - 2015

I just spent 4 days at a quilt retreat - my first.  One does not know the results of such groupings.  As always, there are good points and some not so good, but all in all it was great fun spending all day and night sewing projects.  

As this was my first event, I did not bring all things needed.  Luckily, my table partner was great and gave me what I needed.  I will definitely be prepared for the next event, and yes I plan to go again in Oct and Jan.  In fact, I am planning the next set of projects.  It is a great time to get one's UFO's done and I have plenty of them to chose from.

If you haven't done a retreat - I suggest you find one and take the plunge.  Even if you do not know the other attendees, you will when the event is over.  Just go and have fun.

Retreat results

The last 4 days have been at a local quilt guild retreat.

The group consisted of 10 quilters and we all had a great time.  Only one thing could have made it better (cell phone etiquette).  Still I was able to complete 2 projects (one new and one over a year old).
Below are photos of the completed projects:
1st photo - is a quild sampler quilt
2nd photo- is a new lap quilt for Xmas that I found in the Gooseberry Patch Book #7.  Love the Red & White.
3rd photo - is a retreat project - tuffeted pin cushion.  This project took 4 hours but the results were great.