Tuesday, June 28, 2011

My latest art quilt

I am busy working away at my latest art quilt and wanted to show you the early stages of progress.   It is 3D of course, and here is one of the flowers that is to be part of the quilt.  It is the size of my hand.   Very big!


For the background, I am using a selection of my hand dyed fabrics.  The fabric on the left is one of the focal fabrics in my flowers.   I love how the colours  of my dyed fabrics all blend and match with the commercial fabric. 
I am doing my own version of strip piecing them together.  I will show you the background when I have a little more done on it.   
I am contemplating selling my hand dyed fabric on etsy and would love your feedback on this.   


Now to make some progress on that background before my kids are out of school for the summer.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Magnetic Calendar Tutorial

It's Friday and that means one of our awesome girls from Amanda's design team has posted a tutorial.
Candice created this great functional calendar for our viewing pleasure.

IMG_1667

This one would be so much fun for kids.   Go check it out here.

Now I must take a minute and tell you about Candice.  This girl is a real mover and shaker.   You simply must check out her etsy store.   No, she did not ask me to promote her, but you have to see her coffee bag totes, and now she has created patterns for them.   Is it just me, or is that not the most original idea ever?   If my non quilting friends are reading this, please skip over this next part.... I totally plan to make some for them.  I already have the pattern....sssshhhh.  


I think it is just the coolest thing ever, and nothing would be more durable.  If they hold 130 lbs of coffee beans, I am sure they can hold our girl stuff!   She currently doesn't have any in her etsy store as she has all her inventory at a local quilt shop for the weekend, but I know she would sell you one if you asked!  

I am busy in my studio making some very large 3D flowers.   I can't wait to show them to you.   I also had a brain wave for two future quilts, 3D of course, and need to get those designs on paper.

Chat later!

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Cross Quilt

It's done!   And might I say, it was fun.   Another original design by moi.   I used Amanda's funky fabric Sugar and Spice for this little quilt.

The border took the longest, 40 minutes for each side.   Yep, that is over 2 1/2 hours just on that little cross border.   But I really think it adds to the quilt, don't you?





I stippled in the large cross blocks, leaving the white cross free of quilting so it kind of pops out.  It is so hard to see white thread on white fabric.   The sashing is done in lines and where they intersect, it looks a bit like a checkerboard.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Quilting Arts Challenge

I just finished a top using my fun Sugar and Spice fabric.   My goal is to get it quilted before I show it to you.   And let me say, the borders took forever!   No just slapping strips on each coast, (well not this quilt anyway=)

Instead, I will show you my little art quilt I entered into the Quilting Arts challenge.  I didn't get picked, but I do like the quilt.    The theme was text.  It was only to be 8.5" x 11".
I did some piecing, fmq, sharpie pen, shiva, and wool roving.



Friday, June 17, 2011

Magnetic Board Tutorial

This tutorial is so amazing!   My friend Stephanie, put together the most amazing, non-sewing, kid friendly, functional, colourful magnetic board ever!   Check it out here.

1 Completed Project
I have read these instructions and they are so clear and precise.  I plan to do this with my kids this summer.  Stephanie had her daughter do one with her as well, it is that easy!

Go check it out and be sure to leave a comment.   If you do make one, buzz me a pic and I will post it.

Now I do have to tell you that at our year end guild dinner last night, I finally won Judge's Choice award for the President's Challenge.   Remember we had to make something nice out of some really ugly fabric?   I designed a miniature Dresden plate pattern and used that.   

  Off to get working on my next quilt of Sugar and Spice.   I am doing a border that is taking more time than the quilt top.  I can't wait to show you!

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Riley Blake Tutorial Done

The tutorial actually doesn't air on the Riley Blake blog till July 19th, but my kids will be off school then.  Summer is in full swing, the pool is wet, the sun is hot and my kids need some summer lovin'.

I got it done early.  And I do love it.  I chose Lola's Posies as my fabric collection to work with.  Click on the link and check out these fabrics!  Are they not just sooo much fun?  

I adore this collection by Lila Tueller.  She named this last line after her daughter Lola, how sweet is that?

I can't show you the finished quilt until it gets posted on the Riley Blake Cutting Corners site.  I think it is okay if I show you a little peak...shhh


I must also tell you that I spent part of the day assembling my design wall and I love it.   I even had blocks up on it.   I have almost got the top done for a newly designed quilt using Amanda's Sugar and Spice line.  This I am allowed to show you pictures of, but I don't have any loaded on my camera.   I thought of taking some while the blocks were on the design wall, but then I just got stitching and the borders went on,the blocks went together,  and before you know it, I was almost done the top.  I will try and show you a  peak tomorrow.  

Monday, June 13, 2011

Janome Horizon 7700

Do you see this beautiful machine?  
Remember I mentioned I made 2 purchases while I was away at the National Juried Show?   The Electric Quilt 7 software was one...... and this baby was the second!  The Janome Horizon 7700.

This is my first purchase of a brand new machine ever.   Yes, I really did go all out, top of the line, the big shebang.   My most recent machine was a Janome and was 14 years old.   It still works like a top, but boy was it a pain to get a quilt under it to do free motion quilting.   But I love Janome.  I know, everyone has their own preference, and that is great.  Mine just happens to be the big J.

I just finished putting my latest quilt for Riley Blake fabrics under it and quilting it.  There was so much room, it was ridiculous.   And this machine runs amazing.   Of course, I haven't gotten through the whole manual yet, nor tried out all the feet that come with it.   I wanted this machine for the space and free motion quilting and I am not disappointed, more like over the moon elated!

Horizon (3 of 6)

It has the 'start/stop' button instead of the foot pedal.  It has that too, along with a knee controller, but I like the start/stop button for now.   And it has the wonderful needle down/up position.  I get to pick how my needle will stop when I finish.  Trust me when I say, I have had many a loose stitch while free motion quilting because my old machine always had the needle come up.  
This baby even has a tie and cut the thread button!  Yep, that is pretty cool.  I won't be using that when I am doing my art quilts for show, but for just quilting up some quick ones, it is a great feature.


I also got the table that the machine sits into.  And that is very nice.  It is covered with a super slippery surface so my quilts glide on it.  I put my other big super slippery table behind it and things are working well.  
Picture borrowed from the web until we have better picture.

I think I better do up a post of my studio soon, so you can see just how I create.

One last thing, I am reading that everyone names their machines.   Anyone have a great name for me?  There might be a little surprise for whomever comes up with the best name!

Friday, June 10, 2011

Cup o' Tea

Hi Everyone!

Today is my day to post my tutorial featuring Amanda's new line of fabric 'Sugar and Spice'.

This fabric is so much fun and the line is so varied and unique.   Please go and check me out on The Quilted Fish.    
This is my original teacup and saucer.  I provide all the instructions and the templates.  Trust me when I tell you the template took a few tries before I got it just right.  

These are awesome little gifts.  And you can make them functional by using the teacup to keep your spare bobbins, or seam ripper in.  

I sent Amanda one for Salt Lake City Quilt Market and she loved it so much she kept it!   ( I did tell her that was okay=)

Okay, go check me out and let me know what you think, either there or here.


Monday, June 6, 2011

EQ7

I purposefully didn't tell you about 2 of my purchases while I was away on my little quilting trip.   I wanted to get them working first.  I am getting a handle on one of them, so thought I would share.

I purchased Electric Quilt 7 software!   In case you are one of the few who haven't heard of this fantastic software, I will tell you a bit about it.   EQ7 is a computer software program that allows you to design blocks and quilts on your computer.   It lets you scan in your fabric as well as your photos.  

EQ7 has 5000 blocks and 5000 fabric choices already loaded into the program.  It has solid colours too.

Here are a couple of my samples.  They are all from the log cabin pattern.  Which one do you like the best?





Very soon, I will show you my next purchase....it is just amazing.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Mug Rug Tutorial

It's that time again!  The design team for The Quilted Fish is doing their tutorials every Friday.   We are starting with Brooke... please go and check out the tute and how to make these cute mug rugs.
I am up next Friday and you will love what I am going to show you how to make!

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Hallowe'en in June

My friend Jana is having a Hallowe'en in June party over on her blog.   She finds that come October, with school, fall, and other stuff she doesn't have time to stitch up Hallowe'en projects.  That's why she decided to do it in June.

Jana is absolutely hilarious, and she is part of our design team for The Quilted Fish.


If you want to have some fun, join in.   I am definitely going to.