Handi Quilter National Educator, Superior Threads Certified Educator
Author: 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.
A couple of weeks ago, Eleanor Burn’s sister, Pat Knoechel, spoke to our quilt guild. I was simply amazed at how similar their voice and manerisms are. It’s really uncanny. She is just as funny, too. They are not similar in appearance, however. I would never have guessed from just seeing her that they are sisters.
We enjoyed the many beautiful quilts she shared with us.
She graciously autographed patterns and books afterwards. A delightful presentation!
I joined the Turning Twenty Mystery Quilt Block of the Month last week and after I found out it was going to be stars, decided I would make this in red, white, and blue and donate it to Quilts of Valor. The mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor. The Quilt Guild of Indianapolis recently had a presentation by this organization that was quite moving. Very impressive! I volunteered to be a presenter after hearing about what they do. Anyway, here’s my progress:
I love the confetti background!
My neice just gave birth to a 9 lb 10 oz bouncing baby boy, so I’ve started this quilt for Caleb.I cut half square triangles with my Accuquilt Go – so easy and quick! On the design wall…That’s my weekly recap! Take care til next week!
Last weekend I spent a lovely time with my bestie since age 8, Cheryl. Every summer we meet up at The Cornerstone Inn, a B&B in Nashville, IN, bring our sewing machines, projects, and wine, and have a wonderful time catching up with each other! The Cornerstone Inn is not your typical Bed and Breakfast. The hot breakfasts are buffet style with several choices every morning. Delicious fresh fruit is always in abundance. Homemade goodies are available starting at 4 pm and desserts in the evening from 7:30 – 10:00 pm. With all this available we find we only need to eat a late lunch /early dinner out each day. They are so accommodating that they have let us peek in each room to see which ones work best for us to set up our machines and sew. And if the chapel isn’t being used the weekend we are there, they let us set up in there and give us the key! The chapel is about 15 x 20 with it’s own bathroom. Couldn’t ask for more.
I decided to spend some time sewing a couple projects for myself for a change:
Trapezoid Tote by Indygo Junction
Austrailian fabric for the Trapeziod Tote
Beatle Bag by Abbey Lane Quilts
Fabric selection from my stash for Beatle Bag
We spent A LOT of our weekend perusing the 430 classes being offered at the Houston Quilt Festival because that’s our next trip together!! We are SO excited! Cheryl is retiring at the end of August and I’ve just been retired for a year, so this is our retirement trip together. Neither of us has ever been so we want to make the most of it. We wanted to take some classes together, but not be tied to feeling like we had to do that because of our different interests. We registered on Wednesday, the first day registration was open, and are both thrilled with our choices. Can’t wait!
I did make good progress on my projects over the weekend. I finished the Trapezoid Tote and made headway on my Beatle Bag.
Trapezoid Tote
Happy inside!
Exterior of Beatle Bag so far
Interior of Beatle Bag so far
handle, pincushion, and binding
In order to finish the Beatle Bag, I need to find a 2″ metal ring for the front of the bag. I wish they would have included this with the pattern, as they did the plastic zippered compartments. I have had a terrible time trying to find one. I have been to JoAnns, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Menards, and my local quilt shops. One of the quilt shops had a dark wooden one, but I think this bag is begging for a silver one.
It was a fabulous week with much chatting, planning, and sewing!
Take Care til next week and thanks for following me!
Comfort quilt finished! I was able to complete Megan’s gift and present it to her before her third chemo treatment. My heart is in every stitch. I gave a lot of thought as I was piecing and quilting for just the right thing to say on the label.
Megan’s Label
The bits and pieces that represent life’s ebb and flow, ups and downs, joys and sorrows are on the front.
Tumbler Scrap Quilt
I echo quilted the tumbler shape after I stitched in the ditch. I decided to name the quilt, Lemonade for Megan because we all know what we are supposed to do when life gives us scraps.
The label side was made of a wide single paisley printed fabric in case she preferred it over the scrappy side.
This week I tried my first ITH bag. I’m happy with the way it turned out. I made it for a high school graduation gift for a former 6th grade student of mine, and what a sweetie she is! I can’t wait to give it to her. I challenged myself by making it with bulking denim, but there is a reason..
Denim Cross Body Bag
(pattern by Embroidery Garden)
Inside with credit card pockets and a key tab.
Two zippered pockets
I used denim from a slipcover for a big overstuffed chair I had in my classroom. I used one of the seams for the strap and key tab. The students used to love to take turns sitting in it and everyone got to sit in it on their birthday (or half birthday if their birthday was in the summer). I think she’ll remember it.
Denim slipcover complete with 2 of my former students being silly.
I’ll be making more of these bags, for sure. In the hoop projects kind of amaze me. So happy there are people out there who enjoy figuring these things out for us!
I’ve been working on a comfort quilt for a friend who is going through a tough time right now. Here’s what I have laid out right now.
scrappy tumbler quilt
I used my Accuquilt GO Tumbler Die for the first time on some of my stash. Love it! So fast and easy!
I’m needing a good quote, saying, or poem for the label. I’m thinking of something about life giving you scraps or a quilt giving comfort. If any of you have any I’d appreciate you leaving a comment here. Thanks so much!
I hope all mothers out there enjoyed the weekend as I did. I know some don’t care for the “Hallmark” Holidays, but I think they do make you pause and remember, which is their purpose.
My studio time last week was spent making these cute party favors on my embroidery machine.
Flamingo tealights!
I also began the HoopSisters Mystery Quilt. I am such a sucker for mystery quilts! Don’t know what it is, but it’s so hard to resist. I don’t know how many mystery quilt classes I’ve taken from Charlotte Angotti and I’ve loved every one of them! Anyway, I can only show you the fabric for this one as I’m sworn to double secret probation not to disclose until June 15 since it’s a mystery, so here’s my fabric selection.
What do snorkeling and quilting have to do with each other, you ask?
Take a look at these photos:
I see stippling. You? Art mimics nature.
I was fortunate enough to be snorkeling on the North Shore of Grand Cayman the week before last and took these shots with my underwater camera. Couldn’t help seeing the quilting patterns underwater.
I’ll leave you with another couple shots just for fun:
It was a slow week in my studio. I was unpacking from one vacation and getting packed for an upcoming weekend trip. I did have a good time playing with my fabric stash and auditioning fabrics for upcoming projects, though.
fabric stashfabric stash
I also sewed two of my newest patches on my Airstream sweatshirt. I collect jacket patches instead of bumper stickers when we visit places while Airstreaming. Getting ready for a new season of adventures and friendships!
Isn’t this gorgeous? Once I laid eyes on it, I couldn’t get it out of my head!
HoopSisters’ Sewn Seeds, 2015 EmbroidaBlock of the Month
The colors are vibrant and beautiful. I knew I had to make it. And in THOSE exact colors! Simply Stunning.
I had to wait a few months for the class to start at my LQS. I had never participated in anything like this before. While our instructor was giving us the lowdown, the practical side of me was coming to the realization that I would not be making this in those beautiful clear vibrant colors. After all, those are not the colors in my home. Where would I put it? How would I display it? What would the end use be? I wasn’t going to invest the time and just put it away in a closet or drawer somewhere. I decided I would make a bedspread for our King bed with this project, so that helped me decide on the earthy colors. Our homework the first month was to embroider 4 of one block and 16 of another. The king size requires the largest size square and each one has 4 hours of embroidery!! That’s 80 hours for the month and doesn’t include the time to remove the hoop from the machine and trim the applique. Hence, I’m a bit behind in my EmbroidaBlock of the Month! Here’s what I have so far.
Sewn Seeds Blocks 1 and 2 for Month 1Sewn Seeds, Block 2, Month 1
I do love it, but need to take breaks from it to work on other things. Enjoying the process.
