I absolutely love the finished project, but I had the darndest time trying to locate a 2″ metal ring for the front of the bag. I ended up at the hardware store searching and searching. I ended up with a conduit locknut washer from the electrical department, but it works!! Crazy!
I also finished Caleb’s quilt this week. It enjoyed the process…
Cut with my Accuquilt
On the design wall
and then the finish this week. I made scrappy binding – one strip of each of the fabrics in the quilt and that was kinda fun to do! I hope he enjoys it so much as he grows up that it gets worn out. I love to think that the quilts I give will be enjoyed. Looking forward to beginning a new project next week. Stay tuned! Have a great week!
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!
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.
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.
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!
My newest feature – TWIST – This Week In Studio Time – a weekly peek inside my studio to see what I’ve been working on, debuts today. This week I finished (waiting for customer to finalize label info to finish label and add black binding) a wedding quilt I was commissioned to make for a friend’s family to give as a gift. The bride approved the printed fabrics, but has no idea about the quilt pattern. I adapted Jenny Doan’s, Shadow Quilt to Cotton Theory. I think she’ll love it. The fabric is Contempo Studios Paintbox Shadows. It’s modern, contemporary, and neutral enough to go with whatever other colors she chooses for her decor now and in the future.
Jenny Doan’s Illusion Quilt Pattern using Contempo Studios Paintbox Shadows fabric line
Next Friday may feature a project using my new serger! So excited to get it set up and make it a working part of my studio.
I have often wondered about Zentangle. Is it just doodling? Why are people coming up with another name for doodling? I just didnt’ get it. People I asked would reply, “What do you mean, you don’t get it?” I just didn’t understand what it was and what it was all about. So, when I saw a class offered at the Indiana Heritage Quilt Show in nearby Bloomington, IN, I decided to find out.
I signed up for two one day back to back classes with Certified Zentangle Teacher, Nysha Oren Nelson. Thursday’s class was an introduction to Zentangle. This was an enlightening experience for me and now I get it! Your brain can only think about one thing at a time (I always thought I was fabulous at multi-tasking!) and so concentrating on drawing particular Tangles for some amount of time is similar to a form of meditation and takes your mind off of everything else that’s going on up there. And there is a process and it’s NOT just doodling. And it does clear your mind for that amount of time.
Here are some of our class samples of the Tangle patterns we learned. We all followed the same directions and drew the same tangles, but they all came out differently.
Friday’s class was adapting the art of Zentangle to free motion quilting. Free motion quilting can be daunting for me. I can practice and get to the point that I feel comfortable doing it, but if I don’t practice regularly I have to start all over the next time. I did find the Zentangle patterns lend themselves will to FMQ and am excited about the possibilities. I believe warming up with drawing the Tangles will also translate into better FMQ. I can definitely see myself using this in the future.
Cotton Theory 102 is the second in the 5 part series of learning all aspects of the Cotton Theory method of quilting. Our project is the Button Back Runner.
Button-Back Runner frontButton-Back Runner back
You will learn
What the Cotton Theory method is all about
“Quilt First, then Assemble” allows you to make a truly reversible quilt while making only one project and when you’re finished, it’s already quilted!
The Wobble Quilting Stitch
The Joining Stitch
The Cotton Theory One Way and Highway procedures
How to stitch a label in the binding
The Magic Triangle method of attaching French-Fold binding
This class is scheduled for three consecutive Wednesday afternoons or evenings in April: April 15, 22, and 29. Class is from either 1 – 4 pm or 6 -9 pm. Cost of this class is $45 plus the pattern ($13) and materials. Once registered for the class, I will forward to you preparation and instructions for the first class. If you do not wish to embroider the center rectangle, there is a quilting option.
If you are an experienced quilter, you may begin with this class and skip Cotton Theory 101, however, either CT 101 or CT 102 is required to advance to CT 103.
Current beginning Cotton Theory classes, CT 101, are offered Feb. 9 and 23 from 10 – noon or 6 – 8 pm OR Feb. 10 and 17 from 10 – noon or 6 – 8 pm and is $35 which includes a pre cut kit for the 10″ x 10″ Candle Mat.
If interested, please email me at lanarussel@gmail.com.
Cotton Theory 101, Introduction to Cotton Theory, is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 9 and 23, mornings (10 am – noon) or evenings (6 pm – 8pm). This class consists of two 2 hour classes and is a good starting point for those either new to sewing or quilting or those having some experience. You will learn what Cotton Theory is all about and will be provided with a precut kit (choice of colors) for your convenience. Our project will be a 10″ x 10″ Candle Mat.
Candle Mat backsideCandle Mat front
Cost of this class is $35 (includes precut kit) plus the purchase of Cotton Theory Quilting 2, available on Amazon. Please email me @ lanarussel@gmail.com asap if interested. This class will fill up quickly.
Looking forward to beginning a new project next week. Stay tuned! Have a great week!
