Summer Wrap up ... a little late!

My summer was spent:

sewing and sewing...

quilting and quilting and quilting and quilting...

and a little ride to New Hampshire 

to do a Quilty lecture and watch my hubby do a little gold panning!

a little stitching by the canal...

Oh and more quilting!

My Aunt Millie's Garden quilt is all put

together and the quilting took me all summer

a few hours a day

on my Janome 6600

and it was time to make the piped binding

out of this mess!

and using these tools

LOVED the Groovin Piping Trimming Tool

by Susan K Cleveland

If your going to make a piped binding it is a must have!

Here it is attached....

and then with the binding on....

here are a few pictures of my machine quilting

every block has a square with circles quilted on point 

and pebbles inside and squiggles outside 

hearts with loops quilted into the sashings

in the boarder I quilted feathers on bowing side of the vine

with pebbles and swirls on the other side

since I'm not a big machine quilter, this quilt took so much time

energy and effort ... and I'm happy with how it came out

It will look hanging in the entry way!

The second quilt I worked on this summer was

an applique bluebird that I just wasn't sure what to do with....

so it became a Polaroid snap shot with two "cheater" snap shots behind it.

Then the idea was to have the Polaroid pictures look like

they were thrown onto a table!

This is the results....

a little machine quilting of a few leaves

helped fill in the empty space around the bird

and wood grain quilting was done to make the

background look like a table.

Finished off with a knife edge binding,

first time I've ever tried this type of finishing technique!

In August I had the privilege of speaking at the

Belknap Mill Quilt Guild

at the Lake Opechee Inn and Spa

what a wonderful group of ladies.

The Inn was so relaxing - 

can not wait to go back and stay again!

Check out the sunset from our balcony...

just breath taking.

While in New Hampshire hubby went gold panning!

Something he has always wanted to do...

he's watch too many gold shows on the Discovery Channel!!

Worked on my stitching at the canal,

yup hubby was fishing,

he actually caught a few fish!

Here is a small one...

All in all the summer went by way too fast,

and I'm back to work...

Only 170 school days left until next summer vacation!

Quilter's Brain

I received this way too cute picture today ... 

It think it explains EVERYTHING!

Sewing Studio Linky Party

I found a linky party the other day about

Sewing Studio's and linked in,

but them a storm hit and knocked out my internet

so I'm just getting around to doing the actual blog!

So here goes ....

My sewing room (studio? that sounds so formal!)

is my sanctuary!

A place were I can go and get away from it all.

In the past, this 10 x 12 room which is in the back corner of my home,

has served as a den, play room, office, bedroom for nana and

now my sewing room!

 I have a habit of changing the room around frequently -

but this is it at the moment!

As a sewing room it works well ...

but it will be on the move again when this new

sewing table arrives in December!

Not sure how all the furniture will fit!

When you walk in the first thing you'll see

is pictures of my kids on the far wall

(3 month baby pictures and their graduation pictures -

they make me smile every time I walk walk in!)

Yes I have two sewing machines!

on the left is my Bernina 440 and on the right in my Jenome 6600

my printer is all set up on a rolling file cabinet

and my lap top sits right on top -

with the desk / chair right there it is easy to do any office type work.

I use the one swivel sewing chair between the two sewing machines -

very handy!

The other corner has a bookcase with my book collection!

I LOVE quilting books and actually refer to them frequently.

The top shelf is all machine quilting books,

second shelf has my modern quilting, bag making books,
and Japanese Quilting Magazines,

 third and fourth shelves have specialty quilting books,

and the binders hold patterns from magazines and internet,
the bottom shelf hold quilting DVD's and magazines.

behind my "Janome sewing table"

is stored plastic storage bins -

each with a project waiting to be completed!

The white set of drawers are from "Michaels"

and hold all sorts of quilting "do-dads"!

The closet is great - store LOTS of fabric!

The hangers neatly hold projects in various stages of completion!

On top of my fabric closet is my pull down design wall!

Love it ...

except occasionally I forget that there is a project there...
like this one!
Forgot all about it until I went to snap this pic!!!

When open, all the fabric is for the most part decided into sections:

Japanese Imports, American Asian style;

Amy butler and Kaffee Fassett,

and the rest are grouped by color and or collection.

It's sort of a messed up way of organizing it but it works for me!

You can also see my little tv on the wall next to the closet,

but my favorite way to quilt is...

while watching the "Quilt Show" with Alex and Ricky

on my iPad mini!

On the opposite corner from the door is my antique sewing machine

(given to me by a friend!)

and my Chadwicks Spool Cotton thread holder

which was passed down from my husbands grandfather,

he had it in his store in South Boston 

I just love it

Love opening the drawers and to see the array of colors,

this also make me smile!

Looks like candy!

on the wall by my fabric closet is my collection

of Aurifil threads, silks and other threads

my cutting table is from Joann's.

I like the fact that I can put down a leaf and make it smaller.

The large cutting mat when not in use

is stored behind the bookcase!

Today I have it set up for cutting and pressing binding for the Red Quilt!

So that's it! My little jam packed sanctuary!

Hope you enjoyed the tour!

Stay tuned for another tour in Dec when the new table comes in!!

Please head on over to the Studio Spotlight link 

and check out some fabulous sewing spaces!

Now it's time for the Borders!

Finally the blocks, sashings and corner stones

are all quilted!

Now it's time to move onto the borders!

Marking and quilting as I go...

around midnight last night

a thought popped into my head and woke me up....

One side of  the feather is quilted backwards!!!

Not really sure why this woke me up ... but it did!

So at 12:30 this morning I'm in my sewing room

"frog stitching" out feathers!

Rip-It ...Rip-It...Rip-It!!!

The swirls on the lower part are curing backwards!

Oops! 

I've decided to leave in the bottom feather....

it will be my dyslexic feather!

My dead line for the quilting is July 30th - 

Do-able.

Quilting the applique - 

Questionable.

 the Piping, binding and beading

Not going to happen!

At least not by July 30th, but hopefully by Sept 14th.

Have two more quilts that need quilting before

SCQG show judging on Sept 14th!

Silver City Quilt Guild's Fourth Show

is September 20th and 21st.

Check here for details.

In between hours of machine quilting I have been able to 

enjoy some time fishing with Hubby at the Canal.

He does the fishing,

I take the pictures and embroider!

For some
spending a summer quilting would not be fun....
for me ...
it's a slice of Heaven!

Thankful for a great machine Janome 6600 (thank you mom),
air conditioning, a pool that feels like a hot tub! and
a very understanding family!

Stitching in the New England heat wave!

Spent the heat wave at the canal watching my husband fish!

The sun was brutally hot, we only lasted an hour in the sun,

thankfully there was a bit of shade which made the

six hours of fishing

(2 bites, 1 snapped line, no dinner!)

a bit more enjoyable!

I was prepared! Brought along my latest

embroidery project

"Sun and Sea"

 by Sandi Bard Designs.

A very cute design of small children at the beach!

Using a variegated Sulky 12 wt thread #4014

it runs from a medium blue to  aqua 

very pretty and reminds me of the ocean!

To beat the heat at home

(thank you central air conditioning)

worked on outlining my applique,

it's a work in progress,

I've never done this before so

there is a bit of a learning curve going on!

Enjoying the process!

Happy 4th of July ... spent in the ditch!

Yup I'm in a ditch!

Stitching the ditch that is!

Finally at the stage where the machine quilting has started!

 Getting as close as I can!

 Love my Sharon Schamber's Halo.

Gives great control, no gloves and my shoulders

are not killing me!

Since my new Janome 6600 has a 9 inch bed I can 

fit the quilt thru with ease. My Bernina 440 only had a 7inch

bed which made quilting larger quilts a bit more, 

Difficult, Challenging, "Interesting"!

The Aunt Millie's Garden Quilt is 70 x 80 and fits thru nicely!

Very Happy!!

My LQS is having a retirement sale ... I'm so sad

It is so sad when a quilt shop closes ...

I have been a customer at Quilter's Stash for 11 years, 

worked on the floor with customers and taught classes

for 9 years... and now it's sad to say

but they are having a retirement sale.

Quilter's Stash has always been my favorite quilt shop,

the selection of fabric is wide a fresh,

the classes and teachers are fabulous,

and the classroom is the best around,

and I have meet some of the BEST Quilty Ladies there!

I'm just not sure what I'll do now (tearing up)

without my favorite LQS just 20 minutes away.

Sue is having a retirement sale starting on July 5th

where everything is 25% off.

Check here for shop details.

Let's help Sue retire with a bang, stock up on

things you will need ( notions, patterns, books, fabric).
There will be new inventory

coming in during the summer so check in often.

I will miss you Sue (and Barry!) Quilter's Stash
will be my favorite Quilty place forever.

Gammill Classic + LongArm For Sale

My girlfriend Diana is selling her long arm

~so thought I'd help her get the word out!

Diana is a fabulous quilter who has really

own grown her machine! She has her eyes set

on another more advanced machine.

Here is an example of her machine quilting work...

As you can see quilting is her business!

FOR SALE:

Gammill Classic +

Long Arm Quilting Machine

Details:

Very well maintained, stitch regulated, clean

comes with 12' table, dozens of pant graphs (paper patterns), 

extra parts, service manual, and a full day of instructions 

from an experienced, award winning machine quilter.

Price: 

$7500.00

as is - cash and carry - a must see!

Contact:

Institchesquilts@aol.com

if interested

The quilting design process...

After playing around with quilting designs,

this is what I've come up with.

Now onto basting (not my favorite phase)

 using the Sharon Schamber's method.

Tomorrow ... may the quilting begin!

A Morning with Alex Anderson

My friend Joan and I spent the morning with Alex Anderson!

This is the third time I have had the privilege

of hearing Alex speak.

SO Inspirational!

She asked everyone....

 do you quilt? 

or are you a quilter?

There is a difference!

A quilter enjoys the entire process,  start to finish!

(Ok I'm not a fan of basting my quilts, but I think I'm a Quilter!)

She talked about how quilters have a virtual tool belt,

and it's up to the quilter to fill the pockets with tools,

to expand their quilting knowledge, learn new methods, 

and recommended taking classes to open new doors.

(Even Alex take classes!)

Great Advice!

It was a fabulous way to spend a morning.

Aunt Millie's Garden appliqué ... DONE!

Another long term project ... done!

Can not believe it that I started this quilt

back in ....Ummm .... 2010? or was it 2009?

Anyway it's not when you start,
it's all about finishing,
and enjoying the process along the way.

This quilt did that for me,
Truly enjoyed every minute of this one.
Good thing, it did take forever!! (almost!)

dimensions 72 x 83

Really pleased with the combination of
Kaffe Fassett and Amy Butler fabrics on
the red batik.

I did change the corners from the original pattern.
Just didn't like how the pattern had the top and bottom
boarders running off the sides and not connecting with
the side boarders. But of course left that fix to the last minute
so it was a tiny challenge to come up with something!
But I think this works!

Now for the EXCITING part ...

deciding on a quilting design.
Planning on quilting this on my
Janome Memory Craft 6600!

This will be the first quilt that I have quilted
on my new Janome!

I am looking forward to that process too!
Visioning feathers, swirls and flowers!