Category: quilting

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March Island Batik Ambassador 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.

Brenda Alburl ~ Songbird Designs
Renee Atkinson ~ Pink Tulip Quilting
Pamela Boatright ~ PamelaQuilts
Susan Deshensky ~ Lady Blue Quilts
Brittany Fisher ~ Bobbin with Brittany

Preeti Harris ~ Sew Preeti Quilts
Mania Hatziioannidi ~ Mania for quilts
Reed Johnson ~ Blue Bear Quilts
Victoria Johnson ~ Forever Quilting for You
Randi Jones ~ Randi’s Roost

Connie Kauffman ~ Kauffman Designs
Emily Leachman ~ The Darling Dogwood
Denise Looney ~ Quiltery – For The Love Of Geese
Leah Malasky ~ Quilted Delights
Maryellen McAuliffe ~ Mary Mack Made Mine

Anorina Morris ~ sameliasmum.com
Lisa Pickering ~ Lisa’s Quilting Passion
Sarah Pitcher ~ Pitcher’s Boutique
Claudia Porter ~ Create with Claudia
Lana Russel ~ Lana Quilts

Elita Sharpe ~ Busy Needle
Gail Sheppard ~ Quilting Gail
Sandra Starley ~ Textile Time Travels
Jennifer Thomas ~ Curlicue Creations
Suzy Webster ~ Websterquilt

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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!

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Mini Pumpkin Patch Quilt

Mini Pumpkins Pattern by Sew Kind of Wonderful

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.

Challenge accepted and completed on time.

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Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show

A Quilter’s Affair

July 9,2022

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 layout
Interesting…
These always amaze me!
Calming
LOVE the border with the inset panel!
Effective use of fabric for the buildings
Each 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 quilt
I 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!

Please subscribe if you’re so inclined so as not to miss any quilty goodness over here.

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Sewing when Traveling

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.

Sewing area set up in my hotel room.

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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.

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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.

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