Quilting a BIG quilt!

Trying to get two big quilts ready for my guild's September show...

may have taken on a bit much

 as I also have two smaller quilts and a table runner to quilt,

all of them to bind and make 

hanging sleeves and labels!

The show is not for two months ....

that's enough time...

Right???

Things were going along smoothly

quilting up my 2015 BOM "Snapshots" 

from the Fat Quarter shop...

Using utensils and a trusty blue wash out marker

worked on my boarder design using a walking foot.

Lots of stops and starts...

Lots of burying threads!!

But I'm happy with how it came out!

Machine quilting is always a challenge for me...

 my Janome 6600 makes it a bit easier!!

Next challenge is what to do with those

uneven and offset sashing!!

toying with a simple vine and leaf design...

Love and empty spool! 

Means I've been busy!

Even better when I have another one handy!!

Big OOPS!!

Totally forgot about the photo transfer picture on the back of the quilt!

When the blue water soluble marker disappeared and the area dried...

this is what greeted me :(

The photo from the back (which I forgot to treat)

decided to bleed thru to the front!!

YIKES!!!

Will have to come up with a creative fix for this!!!

My second big quilt is an appliqué and sashiko quilt 

from a Sylvia Pippen design

It has been basted (by a longer friend!)

with a double batt (wool on top of Request)

Now the challenge is to quilt out the design in my head!!

Cross your fingers!!

That's what under my needle for the next few weeks!

Till next time!

Have a great Quilty Day and enjoy the process!

            Janet

Marking a quilt

Woke this morning with creative juices flowing!

Finally hit upon an idea on how to quilt my 

applique / sashiko quilt!

This has stymied me for some time now…

but this morning things seemed to start to fall into place!

Since my quilting is done on a domestic Janome 6600

I like to mark my quilts before sandwiching.

Gives me a sense of direction on exactly 

where the quilting needs to go, and if it will fit!

Using simple tools the areas are marked

with a Clover fine White Marking Pen

(my favorite for marking dark fabric!)

Finally found a good use for this crazy looking tool!

The Quilter's Resource Measuring Gauge

helps me draw my Big circles!

It just a guide to ensure the design will fit

once the quilting begins I will most likely

use a walking foot 

and that will give  more accurate measurements

Found this awesome stencil in my travels,

and it is perfect for drawing the circles!

The Hole Thing by Creative Grids

the circles ranging from 1/4" to 3"

all on one sheet!!

LOVE IT!

Since I'm not that confident in my feathers

Fon's and Porter has created a fabulous tool the 

"Fine Feathers Templates"

the feathers ranging from 1" to 2.5"

along with a circle template.

LOVE IT!!

Love it when the tools make life a bit easier!

Here is the label I designed for the quilt

Might have to change the end date to 2016!

Not sure I'll finish the quilting before the end of the year!

It usually takes me a few months to quilt a quilt,

like to take my time, 

shoulders will only let me quilt for so long,

and major family obligations!

Huge Thank You to Sylvia Pippen who designed this 

spectacular quilt!

Can't wait to finish the marking phase

and Jump into QUILTING!!

Took a ride to a Quilt Shop

The day started out with a quick trip to have 

my car serviced for routine maintenance…

Perfect time to get in a little Sashiko stitching!

Making good progress on this block

It is a great take along project,

easy to handle without a lot of moving parts!

Fabric, thread and a needle!

Love it!

Then I decided to jump on the highway and zip

(45 minute zip!)

to Heart in Hands Quilt shop in Weymouth Ma

to pick up a Row by Row pattern and License plate

and a few other things!

Just loved Melody Miller's 2014 Cotton + Steel

mint green with flowers and gold dots!

Think it will make a lovely little zippy bag!

And Thimble Blossoms "Swoon Sixteen"!!

Haven't made "Swoon" yet …

but that's ok..

now I can make Both of them..

eventually!

Plus I picked up four 2.5" squares of

 "The Boat House" by Sweetwater

which will look perfect with

Basicgrey / Grunge by Moda

and a yummy steel grey fabric that I was 

able to get the last yard of!!

OH the glass Button!

She's just a beauty!

Thinking it will look smashing on a Bag flap!

Will have to hunt through my stash for the perfect fabric

to make a spiffy bag!

It was a great little zip trip to the quilt shop!

Surprise in the border and a new start ….

with the top of my Sashiko / Applique quilt done

(Sylvia Pippen design)

I struggled with what to do for the border…

really wanted something different.

decided on a Sashiko border!

 with and applique surprise every once in a while!

really like how it's turning out…

New project…

Using 2" pentagon paper piece papers

and fabrics from my stash of Bonnie and Camilla.

 This is what I've come up with so far - 

a 16" red polka dot background square,

blue/white hounds tooth fabric in the center,

sashing in a blue/grey fabric, 

cornerstones in a blue/white fabric

blue piping

and flowery border.

but it's still in the percolating stage!

It's starting to come together!

My Sashiko and Applique Quilt

is starting to come together!!

The center is done!

quilting ideas are running around in my head…

but next up borders … hmmm…what to do?

Maybe a sashiko border?!?….

we shall see what the new year brings!

Happy New Year to all!

Block #7 of the Sashiko and Applique Sampler

Block #7

Moth Orchid

Here they are on the design wall!

What a pretty Bunch!

just two more appliqué blocks and I can

start putting them all together!

Two more Sashiko and Appliqué blocks completed!

Anthurium

Plumeria

the Plumeria block was a challenge!

I did not like the way the pattern had me do the pieces

so I ripped it all out and designed my own

Plumeria flower … the challenge was

the petals overlapped

so my first flow center did not come out so hot

but with a little pressing and a few 

strategically place beads I think it will be ok!

Mini Shop Hop - so much fun!

Yesterday my Quilty Gal Pal Joan and I went on

our very own mini shop hop!

It was great to get out and see a few shops.

I've been in a little funk lately -  

nothing has been hitting me

until yesterday!

Boy did the Creative Juice Hammer hit me 

- thunk - 

The first shop Calico Cottage

is a very nice shop with a great selection of fabrics!

The first thing to hit me was 

the "Swoon" t-shirt - a MUST have!

a few EPP packets

 a great piece of yellow/orange fabric 

for an applique project that's in the works,

and "The Dress" pattern

 ~ thunk~

not that I have anyone getting married,

but for some reason I just fell in love with

this pattern and it's laser cut silvery fabric.

Having never worked with laser cut fusible fabric

this could be a really fun project!

Our next stop was 

Knit One Quilt Too
this little shop is jammed with fabric, notions,
yarns, embroidery floss, ribbons, buttons…
my head spins every time I go in ~
there is just SO much eye candy!
Really need to control myself in this shop!
They have my favorite - Japanese fabrics!!
Picked up a pre-print Sashiko table topper,
new Tulip Applique needles
a beautiful pattern for all of my Japanese fabrics,
and of course a FQ of Kaffee for my appliqué projects!

the last stop of the day was at

Just Quilts

a small shop packed with lots of Batiks,

novelty, panels and holiday fabrics.

Just had to add to my Batik stash!

more Sashiko threads

and my Favorite Best Press scent

Caribbean Beach!

I now like ironing!!!

It was a great day!
My Quilty Gal Pal Joan
picked up a few goodies herself!

I think the Creative Juice Hammer
hit her too!
Joan ~ can't wait to see your bag when it's done!

Summer is flying by …. but still time to do a few projects!

Time just flies by!

July was spent moving my daughter to grad school. 

Texas A&M - Corpus Christi 

offered her a nice grad assistant position!

The first few days were interesting … 

no furniture for the first few days! 

so we made the best of it and camped in 

her living room on blow up mattresses!!

Then all the Ikea furniture arrived - 

it only took two days to put together a 

bed, night stand, couch, TV stand and bureau!

this is what an Ikea couch looks like when it arrives!!

I did have lots of time between everything 

to get a few Sashiko squares done!

 Thirteen to be exact!

We also took a day to shop at two quilt stores in Corpus Christi. 

My daughters not a quilter but she was happy to go along for the ride - 

I think she wanted a break from assembling furniture!

The first shop was The Quilt Cottage

a very nice cozy shop with lots of samples to tease you!

I picked up a few things!

Then onto Heirloom Elegance

another nice shop with lots of fabrics!

I found these Robert Kaufman London Calling beauties 

there so scooped up 2 yards of each!

They will fit in nicely with my Liberty of London collection!

Now that I'm home I have a new project on the design wall…

my guild has a challenge for our Sept 2015 quilt show

"50 shades of …. Purple"!!

My inspiration was this photo from a sidewalk at Texas A&M:

here is the beginning all laid out on the design wall.

Purple Ombre hand dyed fabric from eQuilters        

Hope your summer is going Quilty well!

Happy Quilting, Janet :)

Busy Quilty Week … Attended two Quilt Shows and Gave another Sashiko Lecture!

Yes it's Spring … the time when the Quilt Shows are just about every weekend!

For a quilter it's like having to decide which candy store to go into!

The week started out with a Quilt show in Rhode Island -

The Narragansett Bay Quilt Guild always puts on a fabulous show!

Here are a few of my favorites … in no particular order!

Just LOVE Turtles - so this quilt "Calypso" by Judy Chase 

really made me Smile!

Had to laugh … her inspiration was Jacques Cousteau!

I have such fond memories of watching his sea adventures

on his show … way back! 

(pattern is "Follow Me" by Carol Morrissey)

"My Sanctuary" by Patti Finelli is from a McKenna Ryan pattern…

this came out so Lovely!

 "Red Compass Stars" by Mary Loftes is from a Jacquline de Jonge's pattern.

These quilts always blow my mind … 

all the paper piecing and intricate twists and turns…

sometimes ya just need to step back and take a breath!

"My Pennance" by Gloria Penta was amazing!

Love the colors!

It is from the Judy Niemeyer pattern "Glacier Star"

 The next two are from a special exhibit of Mini Quilts ….

these two were just outstanding...

And I even WON a basket!!! 

Yippee … 

always wanted to make one of these Bali Bags … 

now there is no reason not to!

Wednesday night I had the privilege of presenting

my interactive Sashiko Lecture/Demo

to the Nimble Thimble Quilt Guild

out of Reading Ma

Nice group of quilters!

Here are just a few snaps of some of the members

doing their Sashiko mug rugs!

 Yesterday Mom and I took in a very nice quilt show

by the Lindsey-Woolsey Quilt Guild out of Attleboro Ma.

My absolute favorite was this beautiful Baltimore Album style quilt

"Simply Baltimore" by Barbara Roberge

All hand appliquéd and hand quilted!

Just Stunning!

"Row by Row" by Suzanne Perez 

(pattern from Bee In My Bonnet)

just made me smile!

Have the book - will definitely put this on my

Quilt Bucket List!

"Criter Christmas" by Sharron MacMullen was another favorite!

So cute! She did needle turn appliqué for all of the critters and shapes

and it was beautifully quilted by Celine Spader.

There were so many more from each show 

that it's so hard to post them all.

Next weekend…

Quilt show and Chelmsford and 

moving my daughter out of college!

Better schedule in a bit of house cleaning…

hmm…. think I'd rather Quilt! 

A fall and some "Slow Sewing"

On Valentine's Day I was out playing with this cutie pie,

Bella

running around the yard - through the snow

when before I knew it …

found myself face first in the snow!

and in pain!

Of course Bella thought I was playing 

so she jumped on me!

OUCH!

Spent the last 3 days on the sofa with a pulled hamstring !!

Now I know why they lug the football players off the field with hamstring issues!

You just can not move.

Thank goodness the Olympics are on! 

and I've been able to do a little

"Slow Sewing" 

Love that they call handwork slow sewing now!!

This was what was accomplished while resting on the sofa…

A new Taupe Sashiko Applique table topper!

the original version was all sashiko

Love the addition of the appliquéd flower

Next step is to quilt it … once I can move off the sofa!

Inchie Quilt

Spent the week working on a cute little project

an "Inchie Quilt"

They are way too cute little quilt sandwiches

that can be made into all sorts of things!

Using the method featured in

"Inchie quilts" by Nadine Ruggles

and adding my own personal flare

I came up with this 16" Mini Quilt

  It features five "Inchie Quilts"

nestled into the center of folded flowers,

set into a nine patch

with Sashiko and beading,

and surrounded by a piped binding

The directions call for using 40 wt Rayon thread

of course I didn't have any
so went ahead and used 50 wt Aurifil,

which was okay but...
 the Rayon would have given a much
smoother edging on the Inchies.

Next time!!

It was a fun little project!