Back At It

The 15" feathered star block I prepped for demonstrations in my recent two-day Feathered Star--Perfect Paper Piecing Workshop, is now a finished block:

I figure it took me about 6 hours to complete, from fabric selection to final seam.  That's why Marsha McCloskey calls feathered star blocks "Really Hard Blocks that Take a Long Time to Make"--that's truth in advertising.

This block is one of 16 I need for my Diamond Jubilee quilt, to celebrate my 60th birthday--which occurred 2 years ago.  Better get crackin'!  It is the fourth one done, and goes with these:

The gold one is hanging at the quilt shop as a sample so I don't have a photo of it completed, but it is.  Only 12 more to go.

I also caught up on Circa 2016..  We must be getting close to the end of this project:

All these little blocks will surround this middle:

And then there is Stella's Splendid Sampler, 61 of 100 blocks done.  So glad I am assembling this one as I go:

Today I will do some free-motion machine quilting as my regular machine has gone in for her annual cleaning.  Take care of your machine and it will take care of you.  I clean out any lint in the bobbin area and under the throat plate each time I change a bobbin.  And I add the recommended drop of oil each time I change two bobbins--to keep that straight, I simply wind 2 bobbins each time they are both empty so it is easy to tell if this is one bobbin or two.  If you don't know what kind of maintenance you should do on your machine, just Google it--there are videos for most every machine.  Preventative maintenance is very important too.

I'm off to Mississippi for a few days, for a guild show.  I look forward to seeing some familiar faces and meeting new friends.

Let's Quilt!

Barbara

Quilt Studio--Neat and Tidy

After cleaning up my Studio at the end of the "Pretend I'm Moving Sale", the Studio is neat and tidy.  Since I know this won't last long, I took photos to commemorate this miracle:

At the entrance, facing west

Cutting Surface, facing south

At the ironing station, facing toward the entrance door

The Bernina Q20, with one leaf in place

View from computer desk, facing south

Bernina 630 

I've already gotten things out to play--Splendid Sampler blocks today, a few Circa 2016 nine-patches, and a Feathered Star waiting for attention.  The closets are full but neat and organized, see photos of them here, here, and here. It is now easy to find what I'm looking for.

This weekend I taught a Feathered Star by Paper Piecing workshop, using Sue Garman's Washington Medallion pattern.  It was a process class, teaching the fundamentals of paper piecing this somewhat challenging block.  All 8 of the students were convinced that paper piecing this block was by far the best way for them to achieve the accuracy they wanted.  One student was able to complete her block:

Great job, Eileen!

The others got their center rows completed and the rest of the units ready to join at home:

Frieda's star "exploded"--this makes it easy to see the unit piecing order

I enjoyed the two days in class and am eager to get back to my own Diamond Jubilee quilt.  I prepped a new feathered star to demo in class so all the parts and fabrics are ready, I just need a couple hours to make the units and sew it all together.

This week I am judging a quilt show and presenting two trunk show presentations at the show so that is the first thing I have to do now--decide which quilts to take and gather them together.  Then I can sew--and use my wonderful space to its' fullest potential.  One of my students who came to my sale told me she was just excited to "see where the magic happens" and I  have to say, this IS my happy place.  I spend many  hours being creative here, music playing, singing and sewing.

Let's Quilt!

Barbara

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

SELL It, Don't STORE It

FOR ALL MY LOCAL FRIENDS:

The "Pretend I'm Moving Sale" has been going on since Sunday, see the first photos here.  Attendance has been good but, not to worry, there is still plenty left.  So, since I want to SELL it, not STORE it, prices have been reduced.

Cotton Yardage, $5.00 a yard OR 5 yards for $20
Batik Yardage, $6.00 a yard or 5 yards for $25

Books--I am surprised how little interest there has been in books.  They are now $6 each or 4 for $20.

Repeat Shopper Discount:  if you have been here at least once already this week, come back Friday-Sunday September 2-4, and receive an additional 10% off  your new purchases.

The Pricey Stuff--complete first collection Downton Abbey, Complete Vintage Made Modern collection, not visible a complete Dr. Seuss kit and pattern,  let's talk...

I hope to see you Friday and Saturday, 9-5, and Sunday Noon-5.

If there are great things left after Sunday, I'll add them to my ETSY shop.

Let's Quilt!

Barbara

Quilters and Color

Yesterday I had a small group of lady shoppers who were looking for fabric to make pillowcases for pediatric patients at a local hospital--a church project.  Patients range in age from very young to teens.

I made several suggestions, pulling 3 fabrics from the large yardage stacks for sale, and the woman who was clearly in charge turned them all down.  She said repeatedly "I am not a quilter" and "our church ladies wouldn't like that".  Ummm, I thought these were gifts for youngsters, not people somewhat older than me...

This morning I thought about this while doing my 39 minutes on the elliptical trainer.  When done I am a hot, sweaty mess so as I cooled down, I set a timer for 5 minutes and pulled as many sets of 3 fabrics as I could that would make good pillowcases, using only fabric for sale, not opening the closets.  In less than those 5 minutes I had these 8 sets:

Now pillowcases are easy because they only require 3 fabrics, the body, the cuff, and a small accent strip.  I am good at selecting fabric for quilts and I love doing it.  I believe I have gotten good at it because I have taught beginning quiltmakers for almost 30 years--our first class involves helping each student select at least 12 fabrics for the quilt they will make, from the thousands of bolts they see in the shop. My job is to help them find a palette they like, not one I necessarily want to take home.

Over the years I have found the two most difficult things for quiltmakers to learn is:

1. how to pick fabrics that will make a pleasing quilt

2. how to master the dreaded 1/4" seam allowance--I'll discuss that in a later blog post on Perfect Piecing

My nice church lady shopper yesterday was making the two biggest mistakes in selecting fabric:

1. Everything had to MATCH
2. Using the preferences of the maker over that of the recipient

Fabrics that MATCH perfectly in a quilt are, in my opinion, boring.  Fabrics simply have to  "coordinate" or, in layman's terms "go with", the basic "focus" or "theme" fabric, in this case, the body of the pillowcase.   That is why I don't make quilts with only one line of fabric from one designer--new quilters are somehow being taught this is the only "acceptable" way to select fabric.  I am out to change that idea.

Since these pillowcases are intended for children, it is much more important the fabrics appeal to younger people, not those somewhat older than me.  Keep the recipient's desires/preferences in mind when making a fabric gift for someone.  The most difficult commission quilts I've made have been when I didn't like the fabrics.  But it's not about me when I'm making a quilt for someone else, it's about them.

The ladies finally settled on a few pieces, when the one quilter in the group finally had a say in what was selected.  The one in charge was not so sure about those selections.  I, however, am sure they will make great pillowcases...

And these 8 sets?  They will sit out the rest of this week on the "Pillowcase" table and if they don't sell, I'll make pillowcases to donate--win, win!

My advice:  when you see a quilt in a magazine, at a show, online, that you REALLY like, study it to find out what it is that appeals to you most--the colors, the fabric styles, the pattern?  That will help you develop an eye for what YOU like (or the recipient) and you can go forth and make great quilts.

Let's Quilt!

Barbara

Peaceful Pond

It's a beautiful Sunday morning, the air is dry, there's a slight breeze and I'm all ready for the Sale!

Taking a few minutes to enjoy the serenity of it all at our pond:

Top Side

Under Side

Butterflies and Dragonflies love the pickerel rush

Top Side

Under Side

 May you have a peaceful Sunday.

Let's Quilt!

Barbara

Ready, Set, SALE!

My friend, Rhonda, came back this morning to help me get the "Pretend I'm Moving Sale" all set up. She was such a great help!  We spent 3.5 hours pricing and arranging everything and I am now officially "READY".

I told my husband we could have more than 100 people here tomorrow and he was shocked.  Several guilds have been invited and past students who I had email addresses for.

If you follow my blog, and are anywhere local, you don't want to miss this and PLEASE bring or invite a crafty friend--Rhonda assures me we priced to sell and there is something for everyone, beginner to experienced. And there are even special Longaberger baskets for sale.  I want to share so y'all come!

Sunday August 28, noon-5, Mon-Sat August 29-Sept 3, 9-5, and Sunday September 4, noon-5.  If you don't have my address I don't know you so just send me an email for the invite/address.

Let's Quilt!

Barbara