Free Motion Quilting Journey

 Yesterday I quilted a baby quilt with FEATHERS--and they weren't too bad!  Getting the hang of FMQ has been my challenge over the years.  It really helps to PRACTICE, a lot.  And my Bernina Q20 makes the actual quilting a breeze--lots of table space to support the quilt, excellent tension with no fiddling, and stitches that are as regular as I please.  It's not the BEST quilting ever done, but it's quite an improvement for me so I am making progress on this journey.

The fabrics are mostly Raining Cats and Dogs by Free Spirit Fabric--perfect for this particular quilt:

Top, Before Quilting  38" x 46"

The feathers were totally free-form, no marking.  I did draw them on paper several times to get the rhythm and size I wanted.

For the border I did a free-form cable, a bit too free--form it seems now.  I used a Crayola Ultra-Clean Washable Marker to draw two lines in the border, one about 1/2" inside the outer edge, and one down the center of that space.  This gave me reference points to aim for as I quilted the borders.  In hindsight, I should have marked the four corners too since I "got lost" as I came into and out of the corners.  

Here is the finished quilt, after washing.  I love how a quilt gets that pucker-y look after washing and drying.  

Now, if I could just find the label I made 3 weeks ago and put in a "safe" place before my Studio Sale...

Let's Quilt!

Barbara

International Quilt Market Salt Lake City 2016

I am just back from Quilt Market in Salt Lake City and this is "recovery day". Not so much for me, as I fly to Austin, TX tomorrow to go to the Greater Victoria Quilt Guild to lecture and teach a 2 day workshop.  But I just had to share the fun of Quilt Market with you.  Here are photos, not all of which I took:

Betsy Chutchian's new line from MODA

Betsy's display

The Education Team at Carina Gardner's "booth"  This won the Creativity booth award

Some fabrics were soothing

Ben Darby, a guild member of mine, made a block included in this "block challenge" quilt

Ben's block is the hot air balloon 3rd row, 2nd from right--this is NOT Ben but Tim Holtz/Westminster Fibers

Many collections were bright and bold--Free Spirit fabrics

I love Edyta Sitar designs

Laura Heine's booth, a friend, Vicki Thomas, bought this kit to make for her home

Many people took photos standing in front of this RJR display wall

Sue Spargo, bright and colorful

Many vendors featured children's clothing--new moms = new sewers

Bright!

There are MANY images from Quilt Market on social media.  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.  #quiltmarket will bring you lots of viewing excitement. And there is an app for both IOS and Android, for Quilt Market, where many more photos have been posted.  Download to your device from the app store or our website:  Download from this page

We selected fabrics for our 2016 Festival garments that the Education Team gets to make and wear at our shows.  Here is one, "Eternal Sunshine" by Amy Butler for Free Spirit Fabrics:

More details to follow, Team!

We work hard at these shows and I missed several booths I wish I had gone to but we love our job and I so love seeing what is new and exciting in our wonderful, creative, flourishing industry.  Here we are on the last day, packing up the office:

Off to pack for my trip tomorrow--one suitcase full of quilts, one with clothes--which do you think I'll pack first?

Let's Quilt!

Barbara