gifts – Lana Russel

January 1, 2023December 21, 2022

Sunshine and Tulips for Bev

Kimberly by GE Designs

GE Designs released a new pattern in July, Kimberly, and offered a quilt a long. It required 2 layer cakes, so I selected these from my stash. They were identical, in 2 different colorways. I loved the ease of this pattern and enjoyed just sewing and not having to match up seams except for the blocks themselves. I did make sure the diagonal seams in all blocks were facing the same direction. I didn’t have a purpose in mind when beginning this quilt, but its purpose became clear as the next few months passed.

It was easy to take on my travels by car, along with my Singer Featherweight, while teaching closer to home. I was able to finish this top in one of those hotel rooms. It’s such a happy, lively quilt

I found this Tulip Bells digital quilt design by Quiltable.com and thought it would be a great pairing for this quilt, echoing the tulips in some of the blocks. I double batted, with Hobbs 80/20 on the bottom and a layer of wool batting on the top to provide the puffiness and warmth. By this time, it was clear who this quilt had been intended for all along.

One of my very best friends is bubbly, colorful, and lively. She laughs ALL the time – so much fun to be around! She dresses in vibrant, beautiful colors. She would love this quilt, right? Made for her.

Alas , into everyone’s life come some shadows. A difficult chapter in the book of life. Even the bubbly and lively. A difficult health diagnosis shook the ground she walked on. Of course she is tackling this with her natural positivity with all her besties rooting her on. This happy quilt was made for her. Enjoy, Bev!

August 4, 2021July 14, 2021

Have you thought about making placemats or a table runner on your longarm?

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!

placemats, table runner, and table topper

August 9, 2020July 1, 2020

TWIST

This Week in Studio Time –

Six fat quarters and you can have a quick baby quilt using the Yellow Brick Road quilt pattern. I added a border. I love the way this goes together. If you have a friend who is learning to quilt, this is a fantastic pattern for them, and it is so fun to put together that even experienced quilters will enjoy piecing this one! I come back to it again and again.

This week I also recovered a couple outdoor cushions. I’m happy with how they turned out.

I also made two of these quilt backing extenders. They are helpful when you are short on backing fabric so the machine carriage doesn’t run into the clamps. I took 2 fat quarters (one for each side), finished the long edges, and then folded it in half, right sides together, and stitched the end opposite the fold with a 1/4′ seam, and turned it right side out. Then I inserted a clean paint stick at the folded edge and marked the sides and the bottom of the paint stick. I stitched across the width and one side, inserted the paint stick, then stitched the other side to hold the paint stick in place. To use it, pin the end with the 1/4′ seam to your backing fabric, and use your clamps on the paint stick to stabilize your backing.

August 2, 2020July 24, 2020

Labrynth Walk Quilt

This has been on my list for quite awhile and I’m so happy I moved it to the top of my list. This was gifted to my grandson for his high school graduation. I was trying to think of a more masculine pattern to suggest to him. He liked the pattern and chose the colors. It went together so much easier than I thought. I hadn’t noticed that it’s really just two different blocks! If you’ve been considering making this one, I would encourage you to do so. I quilted this on my Handi Quilter Infinity using a design from Wasatch Quilting.

August 9, 2015August 6, 2015

Gift for China

My friends’ nephew went to China to teach English. While there he fell in love and got married. My friends visited China this summer to meet the new family members and wanted to take some gifts along for the newlyweds, Mom and Dad (in laws), and grandmothers. We decided placemats and table toppers would be easy to pack, so I used my PJ’s In the Hoop Holiday Hostess pattern and made these.

Reverse side of one of the Table Toppers

I love this pattern. It’s amazing how it all gets sewn together while in the hoop on your embroidery machine.

Here are the recipients in China:

Thanks, Kim and Eric, for giving me the opportunity to make these gifts for your new family members in China. I’m so happy you had a wonderful trip. It’s good to have you back home.

August 1, 2015August 1, 2015

TWIST Time!

TWIST ~ This Week In Studio Time

I finished my Beatle Bag from Abby Quilts –

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…

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!

Lana

July 24, 2015July 24, 2015

TWIST ~ This Week In Studio Time

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!

Lana

May 12, 2015

TWIST

TWIST ~ This Week In Studio Time

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.

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.

Hoopsisters 2015 Mystery Quilt fabric selection

Meet you back here at the end of this week..

April 19, 2015April 17, 2015

Wedding Quilt

When a friend asked me to make a quilt for her family to give as a wedding gift, my mind immediately went to a layer cake in my stash. I had been anxious to sew it up into something beautiful. Neutral, contemporary prints I could see most twenty somethings appreciating. I filtered through quilt patterns until I landed on Jenny Doan’s Illusion Quilt, larger pieces for the focus fabrics and easily adapted to Cotton Theory.

I’m happy with how it turned out and so is the family giving it as a gift. Couldn’t ask for more. Well… hope the bride and groom love it…

April 10, 2015

TWIST ~ This Week In Studio Time

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 — 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.