This lion is so detailed and colorful and uses foundation paper piecing, a skill that I had let become rusty. Verushka Zarate, of Pride and Joy Quilting, is the designer and teacher. She is an amazing individual! I’m so glad I decided to attend her session!
Empty Spools offers many 5 day sessions from February through May every year. Each 5 day session has 10 or 12 well known quilting instructors who come to teach a project using their specific skill. Each evening a 3 or 4 of them speak about their inspiration and quilting journey and also about the class they are teaching. There is also time for student show and tell. Many students live in California and are able to drive, but many others fly in and rent sewing machines. There is also a quilt shop set up in case you need to purchase fabric or supplies for your class – or for your stash.
Asilomar Conference Grounds are within the Aramark Park System and has simple, rustic sleeping rooms, but wonderful facilities, including classrooms, a dining hall, a cafe, and a large social hall, among many other amenities.
This is the lodging building I was assigned!Another view of the living areaAsilomar is right on the coast and such a beautiful place for artists to create.This is a quilt that the maker made as a fundraiser for a charity.
This was the first quilt shared as part of the students’ show and tell the first night. Here are some others…
This is a class Sandra Bruce is teaching next year.This is one of Melinda Bula’s class samples. I’ve always wanted to take her class.This is the progress I made on my Heart of a Lion in Verushka Zarate’s class. The youngest student in our class finished the entire lion! Verushka is on the left.One of the beautiful sunsets
Before I arrived at Asilomar this year, I thought it would probably be my last, but after this year, I’m not so sure. It’s such an inspirational experience…
The last week of April, I flew back to Indiana for a quilt retreat I began when I lived there. It was just wonderful visiting with golden friends!! I missed them so much! It highlighted the difficulties of moving across the country during a pandemic. Meeting people and making friends has been challenging here in Washington state due to masking and meetings being via ZOOM. SO being with friends I’ve known for several years was very comforting and enjoyable.
We (eleven friends) have been meeting annually in the same place for 7 years. Nashville, IN is a great locale for our retreat because we don’t have to drive anywhere once we move in. Many places to shop and eat within walking distance. Fabulous sharing and good times!!
Enjoy viewing some quilts that were completed or projects that were worked on during the 4 1/2 days together.
Cheryl’s quiltAnother of Chery’s quiltsChery’s blocksThe two Lindas. One quilts, the other knits.Elaine’s quilt – made from her late sister’s fabric collection for her sister’s sonsMy table runnerKathy’s embroidered shirtKathy’s machine embroidered tree skirt. Each panel of Kathy’s tree skirt is detailed and amazing!Denise’s quilt blocksThree Posh Santa’s – two of Bev’s, one of Lynn’sBev also worked on these blocks for a Christmas quiltCasey’s machine embroidery projectCasey’s machine embroidered blockMore of Casey’s beautiful blocksLore’s beautiful quilt for a special charity. She makes and quilts around 20 quilts for charity every year!!Lore’s work on this Christmas Tree quilt from Missouri Star QuiltsLynn’s baseball quilt for a nephewMy Strip Twist pieces for GE Designs’ Sew A LongThese are what the Strip Twist blocks look likeOur last breakfast. We failed to get a picture of everyone. A few had to leave early.Til next year, Cornerstone Inn!
This month Island Batik challenged each its 25 ambassadors to use a Studio 180 tool that they had received, but not used previously, to make a quilt or a runner with the surprise bundle of the Winter 22 collection each of us received. (Remember the wrapped fabric bundle I couldn’t show you in my unboxing video? ) It is revealed below.
The tools I received were the Wing Clipper Tool and the Quilters Magic Wand. You can find details and directions for how to use the Wing Clipper tool from Deb Tucker herself here and the Magic Wand here.
Studio 180 Wing ClipperStudio 180 Magic Wand
To use the Wing Clipper Tool, first position your block with the long edge of the center triangle at the top, as shown above. Line up the diagonal lines on the ruler with your seam. So, in the sample above, I moved the tool down so the diagonal lines on the tool matched up with the diagonal lines on my pieced rectangle block. Then trimmed the right side and top of the block.
Then turn the block upside down, line it up with the desired size of your block ( in this case, 2 1/2″ x 1 1/2″ and trim the right side and the top of the block.
This is the Quilter’s Magic Wand. It is used to mark the lines on either side of this tool to indicate sewing lines. I lined it up on the center line where I want to cut the block in two after sewing 1/4″on either side . I found this to be a helpful tool, because I can’t tell you how many times I have sewn right down the middle instead of 1/4″ on either side of the middle of the block.
I used the Magic Wand here to mark these sewing lines. I used a new Schmetz 80/ 12 microtex needle for piecing, supplied by Schmetz. Pieced with Aurifil 50 wt. thread.
And this is Sandalwood, my winter ’22 surprise bundle that was wrapped and tied with bows when I received my box of fabrics and supplies from Island Batik. It’s so beautiful, I had a hard time cutting into it! Sandalwood is shipping soon, so check these shops or ask your LQS.
A Quilter’s Place, Oakdale, CA
Cotton and Chocolate, Simi Valley, CA
Creative Union Fabric, Port Townsend, WA
Creekside Quilts, Gales Creek, OR
KIKI’s Quilt Shack, Fresno, CA
Ocean Wave Quilts, Eureka, CA
Quilt Passions, Mission Viejo, CA
Sew Smart Supply, Los Molinos, CA
Village Sewing Center, Santa Rosa, CA
Will n Beez, Salem, OR
This is the Star Shadows pattern from Studio 180 that was provided to me to make this challenge quilt. Once I decided this is what I wanted to make with the Sandalwood fabric and the Wing Clipper and Quilter’s Magic Wand tools I received, I reached out to Studio 180 and they graciously supplied it to me for this challenge.
This is Island Batik Yellow Amber I used for the back of my quilt and Island Batik solid grey was used for the star shadows. Did you know Island Batik has solids? We were provided with white, grey, and black solids and the grey was perfect for this.
Here is the quilt on my Handi Quilter Forte (now named Amara 24) longarm. I used Hobbs 80/20 batting provided by Hobbs.
Here is the digital quilting pattern I used to quilt it. It’s Mod Petals by Quiltable.
My finished Star Shadows quilt
Check out all the other Ambassadors to see how they handled the challenge:
Our challenge for April was to make a crazy quilt with the Aurifil thread provided by Aurifil and any Island Batik fabric provided previously.
The Aurifil thread I was gifted was a three pack collection named Rubber Tree. One spool was a light medium tan and two of them were variegated, one light and one darker.
The Island Batik fabric collection that I was gifted that would show off this thread collection the best was River Walk. And I love this collection, so I had no problem using it again for April.
I had some additional Aurifil threads in my stash that worked well in combination with the Rubber Tree collection, so here is the line up I used to create my crazy quilt.
This pattern came to mind as I thought about making a crazy quilt because I had made it previously. It uses machine embroidery and is fun to make.
I love making decisions about which thread color to use next and sitting back and watching my machine embroider it out for me.
The Aurifil variegated threads seemed to change colors in just the right place. I enjoyed using them.
Here is my finished crazy quilt wall hanging. I really love how it turned out.
I used Hobbs 80/20 batting and a new Schmetz needle for this project and appreciate these sponsors for providing these materials for me to use for these challenges.
Check out these Quilt shops for the Island Batik River Walk collection;
A and A Sewing
Bird in Hand Fabric
Boutique 4 Quilters
Creekside Quilts, OR
Portage Quilt House
Quilting by the Hearth
Sew Creative, OR
Stitch, CO
Check out the other Island Batik Ambassador’s blogs to see what they did for their April Island Batik / Aurifil Crazy Quilt Challenge.
Our March Challenge was our choice – choice of one of the fabric collections Island Batik provided and also choice of project. I needed a table runner for our new sofa table, so I browsed my patterns.
I have had this book for awhile, love the table runners in it, but have never made any. I decided on the one in the middle, second from the top. I love the movement in it.
Island Batik Stash Builders
Remember those rolls of fabric from my unboxing video? Each roll has 4 5″ wide strips by width of fabric. I had a nice assortment to choose from, so I choose some of my favs and began pairing them up in pleasing sets of 3. Then I cut 2″ strips.
I made 2″ wide strip sets from each group of 3, then cut them as directed in the instructions and laid out the triangles to make partial hexies which appear to overlap. I’m glad I caught those mistakes in my layout before they were sewn!
It’s loaded on my Handi Quilter Forte ready for quilting,
I sewed leftover 2″ strips for the backing.
I chose the digital design Malachite from Urban Elements.
And here it is on my sofa table. I love it!
Check out the other Island Batik Ambassador’s blogs to see what they did for their It’s All Up to You Challenge.
My favorite season is autumn and I love this pattern, It has been on my to do list for a few years. Motivation came in the form of a challenge; a Handi Quilter Educator Challenge. This year’s challenge was to make a black and white (grays allowed) quilt, plus one other color that can’t be more than 25% of the quilt.
Time is always a factor, and this quilt being only 36″ x 36″ was doable considering my traveling schedule between now and the due date. Easy decision. I finally get to make this quilt!
Pieces were cut and piecing together was begun in early October.
Two days later it was pieced. However, getting it quilted within the next 9 weeks between several teaching events, a quilt show, celebrating a birthday, Halloween, and Thanksgiving, would be tricky. But a busy schedule makes for efficient planning.
Now to decide how to quilt it. I knew I wanted to make “ghost pumpkins” on some of the background squares to mimic the colored pumpkins, so I played around with ideas for the background. Hay, so it looks like the pumpkins are laying in a patch? Pumpkin leaves with wisps of curls? Pebbles and swirls? I decided on the latter, so the small pebbles and swirls would make the “ghost pumpkins” pop. I added some leaves for interest as well. I also double batted with one layer of 80/20 and one layer of wool on top for the poof.
A phone call letting me know we had made it off the waiting list for a camping spot at Bend/Sisters Garden RV Resort led me to being able to make a bucket list trip to the show this year – always the second weekend in July. (As a side note, I would recommend this RV Resort. It was beautifully kept!)
My bestie and I (both from Indiana) have had our eye on this show for several years. Having moved to the PNW recently, it was easy for me to get there on short notice. Hopefully she and I can go together in the future.
Quilting classes are held in the high school Monday – Friday the week of the show. I didn’t take any of those on this trip. I did spot Tula Pink within arms length, however!! Also Jenny and Helen from Sew Kind of Wonderful!!
It was a gorgeous day and we arrived early, around 8 am, to watch the firemen hang quilts made by the employees of the Stitchin’ Post on the side of the quilt shop. I knew the show began at 9, so 8 turned out to be a good time to arrive to see the firemen hang the quilts.
Thank you men and women of the FD!
Volunteers hang the rest with wire and clothespins in front of all the businesses willing to take part. We began our trek through town after breakfast at Spoons, Spoons has a good breakfast with the standard coffee option. Sisters Coffee Company has a wonderful selection of special coffees as well as pastry with great outdoor and indoor seating. We had coffee there two other mornings.
Quits are hung by theme or color. I thought these were cute.
You may notice red ribbons on every quilt. Quilts are not judged, but everyone gets a red participation ribbon. A blue ribbon indicates the quilt is part of a special exhibit.
I didn’t take pictures of every quilt, just the ones that especially caught my eye. As usual, I noticed I tend to like color and contrast. I always try to give credit to the artist, also, but the type was so small and often the quilts were hung high enough that the tags were difficult, if not impossible to read. If you see yours here, please feel free to comment and introduce yourself!!
This one was hung on the side of Stitchin’ Post which indicates it was made by one of the employees of the shop.. Reminds me of the sea. These two were part of a bee themed exhibit.Another special exhibit with a water theme.
Simple yet effective layoutInteresting…These always amaze me!CalmingLOVE the border with the inset panel!Effective use of fabric for the buildingsEach dog has it’s own personality!Even the Sinclair station took part!Batiks are always a favorite.This one was 3D. The feathers were fluttering.I believe this was a wholecloth quilt and not pieced, but beautifully quilted.It’ll be here before you know it!Mod TV!! Reminds me of The Jetson’s!This begins an exhibit with the requirement of having ORANGE in the quiltI can’t count the number of times I’ve said I’m going to make a quilt from this perspective!End of the ORANGE quilt challenge.Cute!🙂Being an Aquarius, I’ll always be drawn to water…Their own special exhibit.
Hope you enjoyed my virtual quilt show and recommendations for your future visit to the show. I love that it’s not judged and just for the enjoyment of the art. No stress. Enjoy!
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After teaching longarm quilting all day, I grab a bite for dinner and head to my hotel room…to SEW! It’s how I relax. My trusty lightweight, dependable Singer Featherweight is my travel partner when I’m able to drive to my events. When I fly, my Kindle is my lightweight, dependable travel companion.
I’m more modern than traditional, so when it came to making a Double Wedding Ring quilt, I had to swerve. Sew Kind of Wonderful has a great pattern that fit the bill – Metro Rings.
I have a healthy stash, and I was able to find the perfect combo within it – Jelly Roll, background, binding, and backing. I’ve always thought scrappy binding was cute, and this would give me an opportunity to use the leftover strips from the Jelly Roll for that.
Loved my find in my stash!
Jelly Roll opened. Like what I see!
Metro Rings uses Jelly Roll strips and the Curve ruler to cut the pieces = less curved piecing.
Also used the sold lime green and solid navy from my stash for the triangle inset pieces.
Quiltable.com has a specific digital quilting design intended for Metro Rings! Score! Quilted on my Handi Quilter Forte with Pro-Stitcher and Superior Threads So Fine!
All finished except for the binding.
Enjoyed the ruler work on the triangle insets. Curved cross hatch!
I found a beautiful piece of fabric that was a perfect fit for my BFF’s kitchen and she had a big bday approaching. So my mind got busy creating. I loaded the backing, batting, and fabric on my HQ Infinity Longarm and quilted the entire piece. After unloading it from the longarm, I cut the pieces out of the quilted fabric the sizes that I wanted and bound them. I love how they turned out and she did too!
