Author Archives: Lana

About Lana

I learned to sew at age 11 at my local Singer store. I was so intrigued by all of the supplies in my friend's sewing tote box I spotted while playing at her house that I rode my bicycle home and told my mom I wanted to take sewing lessons. I found my niche. I made most of my clothes through high school and even made room for my sewing machine (in cabinet) in my tiny college dorm room. I bought my first quilt book when in my early 20"s at the St. Louis arch gift shop. It was a book about the Cathedral Window and I was intrigued with how that was put together. I played around with it, but continued to sew garments for my kids while they were young. I got back into quilting when my son and daughter were in middle school, feeding my need for continued creativity. I took various classes locally, and eventually made my way to Syracuse, NY for Quilting by the Lake, and Carmel, CA for Empty Spools. It wasn't until I took Betty Cotton's Cotton Theory Class at Camp Cotton in Osseo, WI, in July, 2012, that I found what I was looking for. Everything just clicked for me and I felt like I now knew this "secret" that made everything so much easier and more fun and had to share it with other quilters. "Quilt first, then assemble" means no more getting down on my hands and knees on the living room floor and pinning the quilt back, batting and pieced quilt top together and then trying to get it through my machine's throat area or, worse, paying someone big bucks to do it for you. And no handwork. I'm in.

TWIST

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Time to TWIST – This Week in Studio Time ~

Renewed excitement in my studio this week.  Sorting my dozen or so finished quilt tops into those needing pieced backings and those needed front borders as well as pieced backings.  Getting ready to roll on that Handi Quilter Simply Sixteen!

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First up was this Ugly Duckling. Just not a fan of 30s fabric. Pieced this in a class to learn the “twosy-foursy” method of putting squares together. The striped border helped brighten it up immensely.

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I’ve practiced for a week. Time for the real thing. Take a deep breath and go for it!

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Meandering is a good pattern for this first quilt. Squeals of delight! SO fun!

Merry Christmas to Me!

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My wish for each individual is to live in harmony and be in good health.  Those are the big two for me.  Wouldn’t that be amazing if everyone had those two things?  So I remind myself to live in the moment, be mindful, and do what I can to control my good health.

 

Quilting, sewing, and creating make my heart happy.  Simply said, it is my thing.  Now that I’m retired, I get to spend even more time doing my thing.  I began sewing garments at age 12 and progressed to counted cross stitch, general crafting, and finally discovered quilting 15 years ago.  I just love playing with fabric!!  I have pieced many, many quilt tops and started many more (Hello, UFOs!).  I discovered and fell in love with Cotton Theory, which allowed me a way to finish my own quilts (quilt first, then assemble) using my domestic machine.  But I still have at least a dozen quilt tops sewn before I learned about Cotton Theory.  How am I going to finish those?  I just could not look forward to trying to wrestle them under my sewing machine needle.  I didn’t want to send them to a longarmer to finish; I want to do it myself.  I want to put my final signature on my work.

 

My new baby

My new baby

Enter the Handi Quilter Simply Sixteen (cue singing choir of angels!).  I first laid eyes on her at the Houston Quilt Show 2015 when she was introduced.  A smaller 6′ frame and certainly more affordable than the larger models.  I came very close to adopting her right then and there, but decided to give it some more thought.  Then a couple weeks ago, my LQS, Always in Stitches, dangled a sprig of mistletoe over her and I welcomed her with open arms.  Merry Christmas to me!

New Class added

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Beginning next week is a class featuring the Dancing Stars Cotton Theory quilt.

IMG_1971This is a beginner Cotton Theory quilt and uses both of the two main joining methods – the Highway and the One Way.  It’s 52″ x 52″ so it would make a nice baby quilt, lap, or throw.  If you live locally, and would like to join us, please email me (lanarussel@gmail.com) for current openings and project materials list. Classes are on the first Monday and Wednesday of every month in my home studio. I have room for 6 in each session.  Dates for this project are June 1 and 6, July 6 and 11, August 1 and 3, and September 7 and 12.  Mondays are 1:00 pm – 4 pm, Wednesdays are either 9:00 am – noon or 1:30 pm- 4:30 pm.  Cost is $10 per 3 hour session.  Pattern is $12.

This is an easy one to cut out; I was able to get all pieces cut out, labeled, sandwiched, and pressed in one day.  Lots of same sized pieces makes it super easy.  I’m ready to sew!

 If you come in June with all pieces cut and labeled, we can get right to the quilting because you piece and quilt at the same time!!  If you are unable to get it cut out before then, please bring a mat and rotary cutter, so you won’t have to wait for the cutting table.
Hope you can join us to learn this fun way to quilt!

Quilt of Valor

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After hearing a presentation about Quilts of Valor at our local Quit Guild, I signed up to be a presenter.  My first presentation was a triple one – to a father and his two sons.  I was very moved by the experience.  I knew I wanted to start making some of these quilts for donation.  But, the first one needed to be for my 95 year old father.  I found the idea for this quilt on the Accuquilt website.  I revised the Celebration Table Runner by adding three rows and continuing the flying geese as the border.  I also modified it to make it using the Cotton Theory method.

Dad's Quilt of Valor front

Dad’s Quilt of Valor front

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Dad’s Quilt of Valor back

And I was able to present it to him when I visited him in Florida in February.

Dad's Quilt of Valor

Dad’s Quilt of Valor

I’m so happy to be involved with this organization.  www.qovf.org

 

Hexies on the move

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My project of choice during road trips (and there have been many lately!) is English paper pieced hexies.  My bag is always full of a ready supply of precut card stock backings and precut hexie shapes from my scrap bag using my Accuquilt GO BIG.  I use my cutting/ironing board for stability on my lap, my Sewline Glue Stick, Superior Bottom Line thread, and my sewing snips.  Everything is small and portable and easy to keep by me in the front seat.

My mobile set up

My mobile set up

I love creating these little lovelies from pieces of scraps.

I really wish I could read in the car, but I am prone to car sickness, so that’s not an option for me. This suits me just fine.

Time for TWIST

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TWIST = This Week In Studio Time

Last week I was able to finish a Quilt of Valor for my father, who is 95 and served in WWII. It is based on an Accuquilt pattern, Celebration Table Runner.  I modified the pattern not only to make it quilt size, but also to construct it using the Cotton Theory method. Finished size is 60″ x 70.”

Dad's Quilt of Valor front

Dad’s Quilt of Valor front

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Dad’s Quilt of Valor back

I will be able to present it to him on Valentine’s Day.  Can’t wait!  He has NO idea!!

I upgraded from an Accuquilt Go to an Accuquilt GO Big recently and am loving it!  I am appreciating the speed and accuracy of the cuts.

Happy Sewing!

Lana

 

Bossa Nova Tutorial

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Interested in seeing a tutorial of just how a Cotton Theory Quilt is assembled, step by step?  Here we go…

Step One -cut and label front pieces according to the directions. This is Bossa Nova.

Step One -cut and label front pieces according to the directions. This is Bossa Nova.

Cut and label back pieces

Cut and label back pieces

Cut and label batting pieces. Hobbs 80/20 batting is recommended. Cotton Theory makes great use of batting scraps.

Cut and label batting pieces. Hobbs 80/20 batting is recommended. Cotton Theory makes great use of batting scraps.

Piece the blocks as usual

Piece the blocks as usual

Steam quilt sandwiches front and back. The poly in the 80/20 batting adheres to the cotton fiber in the quilt pieces reducing the need for pinning.

Steam quilt sandwiches front and back. The poly in the 80/20 batting adheres to the cotton fiber in the quilt pieces reducing the need for pinning. In this case the back piece is 3/4″ larger all the way around to allow for the 1″ seam allowance.

Quilt pieces as desired

Quilt pieces as desired

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All pieces quilted – crosshatching, outlined, straight line quilting using wobble stitch

 

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Sew pieces together using 1″ seam allowances

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For One Way finish, cut one side’s seam allowance to 1/4″

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Seam allowance trimmed to 1/4″

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Double fold 1″ seam allowance over the 1/4″ seam allowance and decorative stitch

 

Since the quilt is reversible, the label goes on the binding.

Since the quilt is reversible, the label goes on the binding.

The binding is sewn on to the back side first and then decorative stitched on the front. side.

The binding is sewn on to the back side first and then decorative stitched on the front. side.

 

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Completed Bossa Nova front. When you are finished, it’s already quilted!!

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Bossa Nova back

 

Hope this helps you understand the process a little better. Please don’t hesitate to comment and ask if you have any questions.

Take Care til next time,

Lana

TWIST again

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TWIST – This Week In Studio Time

Hello!  Super busy week, but managed a finish: my Bossa Nova cotton theory quilt.  I wanted to complete this so I could have a complete step by step tutorial ready for my Cotton Theory quilting presentation for the south side Indianapolis quilt guild Thursday.  I’ll post the same tutorial here in its entirety very soon, but next week is Houston!  YAY!  First time for me!  I look forward to reporting on that experience, too!  But, first things, first – my finished Bossa Nova…

Bossa Nova

Bossa Nova

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I loved meeting the ladies from the south side guild!!  What a fun group!  Super friendly!  My husband even commented that they were as friendly as Airstreamers!  We meet the nicest people camping and now that he is helping me set up for my presentations, he will see first hand how friendly quilters are.  We enjoyed meeting and talking with them so much that we both forgot to take pictures!  Next time…

Take Care,

Lana

Quilter in Residence!

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This summer the Indiana State Museum had a quilt exhibit entitled 19 Stars.  Here’s their description of the exhibit:

“Indiana is the 19th state to join the Union; the state flag depicts nineteen stars. In anticipation of the state’s Bicentennial, this exhibit presents 19 historic star-patterned quilts selected from the Indiana State Museum’s collection along with 19 contemporary star-themed quilts created by some of Indiana’s outstanding quilters.

Stars were favored patterns in the 19th and 20th centuries and appear in many variations. The historic quilts in this exhibit span a hundred and fifty years of Indiana quilt-making, from the 1830s to the 1980s. In contrast, most of the contemporary works were created specifically for this exhibit, and incorporate the star theme in any number of ways, from overt to illusory. The artists’ techniques vary widely, from traditional piecework and appliqué to improvisational collage, layering, or richly textural thread painting.”

The Quilt Guild of Indianapolis, of which I am a member, thought it would be nice to have some members sit outside the exhibit quilting and available to answer any questions visitors might have about quilting or our guild.  My friend, Bev, and I enjoyed this so much the first time we did this that we signed up for double duty.  Here I am working on a Cotton Theory Charity Quilt.

I really enjoyed the experience!

Take Care,

Lana

 

Spring Retreat Scheduled!!

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Cold weather is on its way and I’m already thinking Spring!  I need something to look forward to, and if you do, too, plan to join me at The Cornerstone Inn in Nashville, IN from Sunday, March 20 – Thursday, March 24.  Bring your sewing machine, knitting, crocheting, scrapbooking, books for reading and relaxing, and / or $$ for shopping.  It’s a beautiful area perfect for a getaway.  I have been dreaming of having a retreat here for a few years.  I have reserved the 5 Upper Rooms that share a living area and kitchen that is separate from our work area.  That allows you to bring your own food if you desire.  There will not be any shortage of food, however, as a hot breakfast with 2 or 3 entrees, fresh fruit, cheese, bagels, bread, pastries, coffee, hot tea, hot cocoa, etc, etc, etc is included along with with freshly made afternoon snacks put out at 4 pm and homemade desserts at 7 pm.  I have been here many times and it is so peaceful.  I only have 4 spaces left because of the reasonable price (half price weekly rate), so let me know if you are interested.  The nightly rate is $60 and a $50 deposit will hold your spot.

Check out the link above and plan to join me.  You won’t regret it!

Take Care,

Lana