Design Wall Monday–February 27, 2012

I just got back from attending a 5 (well really 4) day retreat with Cindy Needham.  The entire time was spent on design and free-motion quilting.  I still have a long way to go but I feel so empowered and I’m no longer afraid to try different designs.  This is my sample as of a couple of days ago but will be hanging on my design wall, as soon as I unpack.

 

It’s a sampler made out of dupioni silk using a wool batting.  Check out my wavy line squares that I quilted in the nine-patch.  My plan is to quilt the heck out of it.  It should be fun. 

I have another commitment I have to work on today but I can hardly wait to get back to working on my sampler. 

To see what others have on their design walls, click on over to Judy’s Patchwork Times blog. 

Enjoy,

Can We or Can’t We?

Marilyn and I are hitting the road again.   This time we’re headed to Rancho Cordova (near Sacramento, CA) for a 5 day workshop with Cindy Needham to work on our free motion quilting skills.   The big question is, can we fit all our junk can’t live without possessions, in the car? 

Here’s my junk stuff.

And here’s  a picture of Marilyn’s stuff from her blog.

What do you think? Can we do it?  Stuff all that stuff in my car?  It will be really sad if I have to leave Marilyn home when we run out of room.  LOL!  Don’t worry, I’ll fit her in (although she may have to sit on some batting). 

Enjoy,

Design Wall Monday–February 20, 2012

Another “Easy Peasy Grommet Bag” in the making.

The black is the outside.  I bought it a few years ago at Mood while I was visiting New York.

Love the texture.  The floral is a laminated cotton that I picked up last week at Michael Levine’s in Los Angeles.

I have everything cut out, strap made and fusible on the back of the fabric.  Now all I have to do is find the time later today to make the bag.

To see what others have on their design wall, click on over to Judy’s Patchwork Times Blog. 

Enjoy,

Progress Report on my Free-Motion Quilting

I’m participating in SewCalGal’s free-motion quilting challenge.  Last month we started with Frances Moore’s leaf design.  I did pretty good with that one but this month we’re doing feathers with Diane Gardynski’s.  Oh my!  Feathers!  I know the answer to beautiful feathers is practice, and I have been, but they have been so bad I didn’t want to share.  This one is far from perfect but I do believe I’m getting better. 

So I’m going to continue to practice and I really need work on echo quilting but it’s getting better. 

Enjoy,

Hearts and Hands Quilt

Terri did a wonderful job quilting the Hearts and Hands quilt for our friend Sue.  As I mentioned yesterday, Sue is a dear friend and a member of my friendship group.  Our entire group worked on making blocks putting the quilt together.  After Terri quilted it, I finished it by adding the binding.  I decided to use the Faux Piping technique that you can read about here.  It’s a really slick, easy and fast way of adding the binding and best of all, it looks great. 

Here’s the finished quilt -

And a close-up of the quilting and binding -

Don’t you just love the back?  Instead of a label we’re each going to sign one of the houses on the back of the quilt.

The plan is to give Sue the quilt tomorrow night. 

Enjoy,

Design Wall Monday–February 13, 2012

Well this isn’t exactly on my design wall now, or for that matter my design floor, but it’s the only thing I’ve worked on lately. 

This hearts and hands quilt was made for a my friend Sue who’s husband recently pass away quite suddenly.  My friendship group came together to each make blocks and then we worked on it as a group to set the blocks and piece them together.  I then added the borders.  It no longer is on my floor but at my friend Teri’s house being quilted.  Hopefully we’ll have it finished and ready to be given to Sue this Wednesday night.  We’re hoping this will bring her a small amount of comfort.

To see what others are working on check out Judy’s Patchwork Times Blog. 

Enjoy,

Snippets and Threads

Thank you Jill for the nice email.

Hi Robin,

I just adore your cute Thread Catcher & have made one to take to a sewing class. Just thought you might like to know others appreciate the pattern you shared!

See attached photo.

Happy sewing,

Jill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you’d like to make one for yourself, the link is right over there --->, see it?  Over there on the right sidebar

Enjoy,