When that's finished, the folded end is quickly snipped open and the unit is folded in half again (right sides together) to be sewn again. Once 5 seams have been sewn, the top is ready.
Enjoy your day!
- SeeingStars
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Jelly Roll Racin'
Jelly Roll Race.
Have you heard about this? It's a hoot. Each quilter prepares for the
race by sewing a full jelly roll (2.5 inch strips by the width of
fabric) together end to end. That's 40 strips of ~40 inch long pieces,
or 1600 inches of fabric. The long joined strip is folded in half right sides together.
When the official shouts go, the participant starts sewing the folded unit. That first seam is about 800 inches long, LOL!
When that's finished, the folded end is quickly snipped open and the unit is folded in half again (right sides together) to be sewn again. Once 5 seams have been sewn, the top is ready.
My favorites are the 4 batik collections of fabrics above. But they're all terrific.
Some of those jellies were sewn end to end with a diagonal seam, while others used straight seams. Either works well in these quilt tops.
I didn't win the grand prize. Nor second. Nor third. Nor even forth place. Actually, once the time passed an hour, I didn't keep up with my time nor how many others beat me.
Everyone had a good time!
I think mine will become a Project Linus quilt.
It was fun to see them draped over chairs at our retreat. If you ever have the opportunity to join a group on a quilting retreat, I recommend it. Along with the friendships formed, there are experienced people who are glad to share their knowledge.
This Mary Englebreit fabric collection started off at 1.5 inches. It's a smaller quilt and so adorable.
Sue planned the placement of those strips, although she denies it. I like how they turned out.
Betty finished one, but didn't want to race. I enjoyed getting to know her! She's confident enough not to take herself too seriously. :)
Enjoy your day!
- SeeingStars
When that's finished, the folded end is quickly snipped open and the unit is folded in half again (right sides together) to be sewn again. Once 5 seams have been sewn, the top is ready.
Enjoy your day!
- SeeingStars
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Surprised by Love
At a quilting retreat this weekend, I was overwhelmed and completely surprised by an outpouring of love and good wishes. Two of us had experienced tornado damage. Karen's house was completely destroyed. Ours, if you've followed the blog, was uninhabitable for 5 months while repairs were made. Along with many of Karen's belongings, her Christmas decor was scattered across the state. She even described strings of lights which were found wrapped around trees.
So Quiltaholic, aka Thearica, from the HGTV Message Board forum for Quilting and Needlework rallied the others together and filled two huge, whopping baskets with amazing ornaments for Karen and me. These baskets were filled to the handles and wrapped in pretty plastic to keep them safe. The overflow were in an accompanying box. Some ladies crocheted their ornaments, some beaded, some made quilted ones and yo-yo ornaments... You get the idea. What an amazing and generous collection of gifts! We both spread out all the ornaments at the retreat to let everyone see the variety. It took 2 tables each to show them off.
It was such fun discovering each one unique and made with love. I took several snapshots of the spread and I hope you'll enjoy seeing them too.
These will bring joyful tears each year when I hang them on my tree in my studio. I'll keep them separate to remember this expression of love from my online friends.
Merry Christmas!
- SeeingStars
So Quiltaholic, aka Thearica, from the HGTV Message Board forum for Quilting and Needlework rallied the others together and filled two huge, whopping baskets with amazing ornaments for Karen and me. These baskets were filled to the handles and wrapped in pretty plastic to keep them safe. The overflow were in an accompanying box. Some ladies crocheted their ornaments, some beaded, some made quilted ones and yo-yo ornaments... You get the idea. What an amazing and generous collection of gifts! We both spread out all the ornaments at the retreat to let everyone see the variety. It took 2 tables each to show them off.
It was such fun discovering each one unique and made with love. I took several snapshots of the spread and I hope you'll enjoy seeing them too.
 |
| peeking into the box of goodies - from Kmouse |
Merry Christmas!
- SeeingStars
Thursday, November 17, 2011
On the Frame
 |
| Winter quilt ... 94 inches square |
I'm really excited about this quilt. A new quilter brought it to me after taking a beginner class. She did such a terrific job making the blocks and keeping everything square. As we talked about her quilt, the quilting threads (King Tut caravan), the batting, etc ... she mentioned that she loved the studio because she enjoys watching birds. She was standing in my favorite spot, where one can see the two feeders which are close to the house - one through a kitchen window and one near the corner of the studio. Both feeders were active with chickadees and tufted titmice.
It seemed that birds would be perfect for her quilt. I sketched out a few ideas and sent them to her via email and we both loved the same design.
 |
| Bird motif is still visible with the chalk pounce |
The bird was drawn on freezer paper and the center was cut out. Then the freezer paper was lightly ironed to the fabric to make it stick. Chalk was pounced so I could trace the edges of the bird. Another light touch of the iron and the chalk is gone.
 | ||
| Loose scrolls around the frames of the stars |
However, I didn't realize when I started just how time consuming it would be for me to SID around the 16 stars and the inner/outer borders. Yikes! I'll either have to get much faster or not do this on customer quilts. A day and a half later, I was able to roll the quilt back to the starting section and start working on the blocks and scrolls. Now I can see why allover designs are so popular!
No complaints though. As I stated, I'm learning as I start this business. It's really a fun journey and as long as the customer is pleased with her quilt, I'll be thrilled.
Today, I'm loading up my bags and taking a little road trip, heading south to Magnolia Park retreat. It will be my first quilting retreat. About 25 quilters will meet, talk, eat lots of goodies and work on whatever projects we hope to get competed. Most of these ladies are cyber friends whom I haven't met face to face yet. I'm excited to get to know them better and to put a face with a name.
However, one of these ladies, Thearica, quilted a top I made for a wounded soldier. It was an incredible quilt, not because of the piecing, but because of her amazing quilting. She put the words to the Lee Greenwood song, I'm proud to be an American ... in the borders. Each LeMoyne star was quilted with a spiraling firework popping. The overall effect was incredible. As I presented the quilt to a young soldier, he had tears in his eyes, overwhelmed by the gift. He couldn't wait to show his bride because he knew she'd love it too. Thearica and her husband dropped off the quilt on a trip to see family. She's about 10 hours away by car. You can find her blog and the wounded soldier quilt at Pigtales and Quilts
Well, I'm off to finish packing and put more air in the tires.
Enjoy your day!
- SeeingStars
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Life is Good!
I'd love to help those guys design their t-shirts. I think it's so much fun flipping through all the shirts in a store and finding which Life Is Good one I like the best.
Today, I don't have a photo to go with my post. If I did, I think it would be a new LIG design sporting a quilted bird with a whimsical tail feather. Hmmm. I doubt they would sell many of those!
Since the quilt shop classroom was booked, I invited 2 ladies to the studio for a machine quilting follow-on class. We tried a lot of new designs to stretch their skills and inspire them. "S" really likes to doodle and she's been making more art quilts lately. I think she'll add more quilting designs into her artwork. Her machine tried very hard to misbehave and discourage her, but once we calmed it down, we admired some beautiful stitches. "A" impressed me with how quickly she began quilting feathers! She also practiced making a wreath of holly leaves in preparation for quilting a beautiful top.
We all had fun chatting as we worked. The birds, squirrels, a bunny and a cat put on quite a show for us in the backyard. "A" told me several times that it's a wonder I can get anything done with so much activity going on outdoors. I did have to confess that I found my husband's bird book and now have it in the studio. When I see a new visitor on the feeder, I like to try to identify it. It's a welcome distraction!
I'd love to have visitors every day! It was so enjoyable to see them excited about their quilting skills. It was just the push I needed too. I'll be at my first quilting retreat from Thursday thru Sunday. Even though I'm horrible at packing - waaaaay to last minute to be thorough, I've already started. This is a huge change from my habit of forgetting my toothbrush and bathing suit to go to the beach. Eyeroll. Once should be enough to learn an important lesson. However, the enthusiasm from the class just spilled over into my preparations to be out of town. Suitcase of clothes is mostly packed and the projects, notions and machine are at least gathered into one spot.
My husband and kids are probably going to have a movie weekend in my absence. : )
Enjoy your day!
- SeeingStars
Today, I don't have a photo to go with my post. If I did, I think it would be a new LIG design sporting a quilted bird with a whimsical tail feather. Hmmm. I doubt they would sell many of those!
Since the quilt shop classroom was booked, I invited 2 ladies to the studio for a machine quilting follow-on class. We tried a lot of new designs to stretch their skills and inspire them. "S" really likes to doodle and she's been making more art quilts lately. I think she'll add more quilting designs into her artwork. Her machine tried very hard to misbehave and discourage her, but once we calmed it down, we admired some beautiful stitches. "A" impressed me with how quickly she began quilting feathers! She also practiced making a wreath of holly leaves in preparation for quilting a beautiful top.
We all had fun chatting as we worked. The birds, squirrels, a bunny and a cat put on quite a show for us in the backyard. "A" told me several times that it's a wonder I can get anything done with so much activity going on outdoors. I did have to confess that I found my husband's bird book and now have it in the studio. When I see a new visitor on the feeder, I like to try to identify it. It's a welcome distraction!
I'd love to have visitors every day! It was so enjoyable to see them excited about their quilting skills. It was just the push I needed too. I'll be at my first quilting retreat from Thursday thru Sunday. Even though I'm horrible at packing - waaaaay to last minute to be thorough, I've already started. This is a huge change from my habit of forgetting my toothbrush and bathing suit to go to the beach. Eyeroll. Once should be enough to learn an important lesson. However, the enthusiasm from the class just spilled over into my preparations to be out of town. Suitcase of clothes is mostly packed and the projects, notions and machine are at least gathered into one spot.
My husband and kids are probably going to have a movie weekend in my absence. : )
Enjoy your day!
- SeeingStars
Friday, November 11, 2011
Bound with Love
Well, they will be soon. These little ones are so fast to make! Imagine 4 quilts in a week! I'll get the binding stitched up by hand and send these on to the workworking elves so they can pair up a quilt with a cradle or bed.
One of my favorite passages is from Colossians 3, which encourages us to treat others with love because we are loved. It goes like this :
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved,clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
I think about love binding all these virtues as I hand sew my binding on my quilts. The binding covers those rough edges and loose threads. It unifies the quilt top, batting, backing and quilting threads to make a quilt complete. I need to remember how much I've been pardoned when I feel impatient with others so we can continue to enjoy the unity we've been given through Jesus. It's harder to do this with our own family, isn't it?
The Peter Rabbit stripes were pieced from leftover border fabric. I didn't do anything fancy since the fabric is so neat by itself. I thought the daylight would be good lighting, but everything is sort of greenish. There really are pinks in these fabrics too.
These leftover blocks are also from that same Peter Rabbit quilt. This was a grandbaby gift for our neighbors across the street from us. I'm glad the camera angle and (lack of) lighting allows you to see the quilting stitches. I like this texture.
I had a weird piece of batting - 100% cotton and I'm guessing I had pre-washed it years ago. It felt a little different, but still good quality. No gaps or clumps. I decided to try doubling up the batting to quilt this one. I like the overall texture very much, but sometimes the hopping foot didn't want to go to those seam intersections since the quilt sandwich was thicker than usual. Maybe the continuous curves wasn't a good selection for the quilting choice here.
These again are extra blocks from a baby quilt I made for a missionary family in Kazakhstan which our church was supporting. This family is now back in the states and I keep up with them by visiting with them Facebook.
Finally, this little quilt came from a jelly roll of batiks I purchased a couple of years ago. Since no one told me that you're allowed to use jelly rolls (usually a set of 40 strips, each 2.5 inches wide by the width of the fabric) without prewashing them, I made a huge mess of all those strips. The strings all tangled together when I tried to retrieve them from the washing machine and again from the dryer. I got disgusted and shoved them in the back of a plastic bin drawer. With a little steam and patience, these came together to make a cute string quilt - no foundation. I loved playing with the variegated threads and making up a different design for each strip. This one is my favorite, even though it doesn't show off any piecing.
I doodled some designs today for another customer quilt and sent them to her via email. It will be fun to get her ideas and get started on this one. She's eager to have it finished quickly so she can start using it soon - before Christmas.
I wanted to stop by the Veteran's memorial park this afternoon after dropping off our teens for a retreat. But ... the news crew was there filming. I didn't want to go there for a cameo in the local news, nor to be interviewed about my opinions of the new park. So, I'll stroll by there later this weekend when it's not in the limelight. Until then, I am thankful for those who were willing to sacrifice their own freedom to ensure we can all enjoy ours.
Enjoy your day!
- SeeingStars
One of my favorite passages is from Colossians 3, which encourages us to treat others with love because we are loved. It goes like this :
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved,clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
I think about love binding all these virtues as I hand sew my binding on my quilts. The binding covers those rough edges and loose threads. It unifies the quilt top, batting, backing and quilting threads to make a quilt complete. I need to remember how much I've been pardoned when I feel impatient with others so we can continue to enjoy the unity we've been given through Jesus. It's harder to do this with our own family, isn't it?
 |
| Doll Quilts |
 |
| No blocks, just showing off this cool fabric |
 | |||||
| Rail fences leftover from a Warm Wishes quilt |
I had a weird piece of batting - 100% cotton and I'm guessing I had pre-washed it years ago. It felt a little different, but still good quality. No gaps or clumps. I decided to try doubling up the batting to quilt this one. I like the overall texture very much, but sometimes the hopping foot didn't want to go to those seam intersections since the quilt sandwich was thicker than usual. Maybe the continuous curves wasn't a good selection for the quilting choice here.
These again are extra blocks from a baby quilt I made for a missionary family in Kazakhstan which our church was supporting. This family is now back in the states and I keep up with them by visiting with them Facebook.
Finally, this little quilt came from a jelly roll of batiks I purchased a couple of years ago. Since no one told me that you're allowed to use jelly rolls (usually a set of 40 strips, each 2.5 inches wide by the width of the fabric) without prewashing them, I made a huge mess of all those strips. The strings all tangled together when I tried to retrieve them from the washing machine and again from the dryer. I got disgusted and shoved them in the back of a plastic bin drawer. With a little steam and patience, these came together to make a cute string quilt - no foundation. I loved playing with the variegated threads and making up a different design for each strip. This one is my favorite, even though it doesn't show off any piecing.
 |
| You have my permission to NEVER pre-wash a jelly roll! |
I doodled some designs today for another customer quilt and sent them to her via email. It will be fun to get her ideas and get started on this one. She's eager to have it finished quickly so she can start using it soon - before Christmas.
I wanted to stop by the Veteran's memorial park this afternoon after dropping off our teens for a retreat. But ... the news crew was there filming. I didn't want to go there for a cameo in the local news, nor to be interviewed about my opinions of the new park. So, I'll stroll by there later this weekend when it's not in the limelight. Until then, I am thankful for those who were willing to sacrifice their own freedom to ensure we can all enjoy ours.
Enjoy your day!
- SeeingStars
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Santa's Village has expanded
Since Debbie has posted about some enthusiastic woodworkers who are making doll beds and doll cradles to help Santa this year, I realized that these guys have opened a southern workshop so they don't need to bundle up and travel to the North Pole. Debbie's purpose in telling her quilting friends about this effort was to request a little help in supplying a doll quilt for each bed and cradle.
Her blog entry can be found at Stitchin' Therapy.
I think it's terrific that she's received so many offers for doll quilts! If you'd like to help, she'll appreciate a few more, just leave a comment on her blog.
I had some leftover Peter Rabbit fabrics and rail fence blocks, so I made 2 small quilt tops with these. Then, I connected the backing to a few other pieces so I could quilt up 4 at a time. This sewing together several backs for several quilt tops is a first for me, but I think it should work well.
Here are 2 more tops, floating on the frame. I'll play with some quilting on them and send them from my southern workshop to Debbie's.
My studio is messy today and I just love it! I'll clean it up later, but for now, the scrap bins are out and fabric is piled up everywhere. I'm enjoying sewing, watching the birds devour the birdseed and listening to an audiobook.
Yes, there's another load of laundry to attend and I need to put in my 15 minutes to work/unpack in the attic, but that can happen just a little later today.
Enjoy your day!
- SeeingStars
Her blog entry can be found at Stitchin' Therapy.
I think it's terrific that she's received so many offers for doll quilts! If you'd like to help, she'll appreciate a few more, just leave a comment on her blog.
 |
| Peter Rabbit doll quilt tops |
 |
| Batik strip quilt top and a 9 Patch/Friendship Star made from orphan blocks |
My studio is messy today and I just love it! I'll clean it up later, but for now, the scrap bins are out and fabric is piled up everywhere. I'm enjoying sewing, watching the birds devour the birdseed and listening to an audiobook.
Yes, there's another load of laundry to attend and I need to put in my 15 minutes to work/unpack in the attic, but that can happen just a little later today.
Enjoy your day!
- SeeingStars
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Pumpkins ... On the Frame
 |
| Fall Table Runner for Patti |
Simple curves for the pumpkins and some great space for McTavishing in the light areas. Then I'll finish it off with some feathers in the brown border. This is a tablerunner that I'll gift to my sister-in-law at Thanksgiving. I think it will be finished this weekend, so I can load my next customer quilt on Monday.
I had so much fun in the Quilter's Combo classroom yesterday. We were making string quilts and were definitely talking up a storm! It's not a complicated quilt, so it talking and visiting were encouraged. I loved that even though our class was small, we had so many visitors coming and going that there was never a dull moment. Some Project Linus helpers stopped in to do a little hand work since they had a few minutes. What a fun community!
You can read about about my favorite quilt shop at Quilter's Combo article . How fun to see them in print! If those blocks on the design wall look familiar, you saw a recent post of the Grinch quilt a few days ago on my blog. I had the privilege of quilting this one. Her first quilt ever!
Our family is doing some much needed yard work today is this gorgeous Fall weather. I even talked one of the teens into helping me sand another table. Yes! I'm actually going to do it again. Another little paint project. (or two, or three) I hope it will seem easier with spray paint.
 |
| Table, Mirror and Flower pot before red spray paint |
Enjoy your day!
- SeeingStars
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Gilded
My second art quilt from this workbook is a gilded pear. The technique is to convert a photograph into simple shaded areas and fill each area with fabric. I didn't really like starting from the workbook's design, but I understand the reason behind it.
Now that it's finished and bound, I like it better. : )
I held it next to my squash quilt made a few days ago and realized, much to my surprise, that I'd remembered the specified dimensions wrong. This one is 9 by 14 instead of 9 by 12. Oh well! It's a good thing there aren't any quilt police stopping by any time soon.
I quilted a simple pattern of wavy line for the background and added lots of strange stitching to the pear. I think the quilting, along with the warm, bright colors forces the eye to concentrate on the pear.
Next, I'm off to use this technique from an original photograph. The biggest challenge will be to Keep It Simple, Sista! I'd love to jump off the cliff and try something extreme before I'm ready. For instance, a close up shot of my oldest grinning while wearing the band uniform and shako(hat). I love the photo and it would make a great quilt portrait. Quite a leap from fruits and veggies!
My customer picked up her Grinch quilt today and was delighted with the quilting. She's eager to get the binding on quickly and enjoy her first quilt. I was thrilled to see her reaction! So I have a day or so to get my pumpkin tablerunner quilted (I need the right thread) and then I'll start on another customer quilt.
Enjoy your day!
- SeeingStars
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)