Quiltmaker News

I know, it's hard to believe that I'm writing another blog post. Two days in a row...

I've been working on another quilt for Quiltmaker the past few days and these aren't my normal techniques. The applique, I'm fine with. I actually love to do this kind of fusible applique with my Janome. I use the Blind Hem stitch and set the width to 3.5-4 and the length to almost .5

Makes a nice faux buttonhole stitch, as my machine doesn't have a real buttonhole stitch.

This technique is new to me although I've seen my friend Angie do it at retreats. It's turning out nicely although takes quite a bit of time.

More Quiltmaker news:
Have you picked up the latest Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks issue?

 

Page 8 features a quilt that I assembled and quilted. I made some of these blocks at the Old Tippecanoe Quilt Guild retreat at Camp Tecumseh in September this year. 

I didn't go to bed Saturday night after 1:00am, I think. I was bound and determined to get this quilt put together.

 

I came home from the retreat, loaded it on Mabel and quilted a meandering feather design on everything except the white border, which had feathers too. I applied the binding and it was on the Fedex truck Tuesday headed for Colorado.

Would you like a copy?  I have a few extra copies of this magazine, so leave a comment on this post and If I get more comments than I have copies, I will draw some names Thursday, December 4th and I'll send you one.

Paper Piecing, Row-By-Row and Doll Clothes

Last Thursday I led a group of quilters in Frankfort at L&S Fish Sew-N-Vac in their first adventure in paper piecing. Paper piecing is one of those things that you either LOVE or HATE. Of the 6 that were there only one HATED it. So much so that she left after 15 minutes. Made me feel really bad :(

Here is my project, ready for quilting. I think I will buy a hanger from Ackfield Wire to display it. If you haven't checked out their quilt hangers, you should do it now. They have great products!

The other 5 quilters finished the top of their piece and had every intention of taking it home to finish the rest of it.  The block is Desert Lily by Caroline Reardon, Block #248 from Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Volume 3.

Last weekend I worked on Judy's Row-By-Row and I am happy with the result. We each picked a block to use and mine is a double square-in-a-square. The blocks are 8" and the sashing strips finish  just shy of 1.375. Here are all three of her rows so far and mine is on the left. She asked for the yellow to be used as a background.

And last but not least, a set of PJ's for Liz's American Girl doll, Julie. I intended to do these for her birthday but they got buried in the sewing room. I'll probably keep them for a while as she doesn't play with Julie as much as she does Lily. You may remember that Lily got some clothes for Christmas last year.

That's what has been keeping me busy lately, when I'm not quilting with Mabel.

Chain-Link Fence

At the end of 2012, I had the pleasure of sewing a quilt for the newest Quilts from Quiltmaker 100 Blocks issue.

I was very happy with the finished quilt and so proud to have my name in print, but sad that I had to send it back to them.

Here's the quilt:

And here are some close ups:

I think the blocks each had 52 pieces!

Here's the center and then a shot of the border fabric.

Catching Up On The Blog!

Janet reminded me today that it's been almost a week since I posted and I don't know where the time goes.

Since I was here last, I made 9 blocks for Quiltmaker's Block Party in Williamsburg, Virginia. Unfortunately, I won't be attending, but my blocks will be there. I was given the color palette, Americana and these are the fabrics I pulled from my stash:

I got to chose a block from one of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks issues. I chose  from the first issue. I have kept one and the other eight were mailed to Quiltmaker. After the blocks are exchanged, I will receive 8 different Americana blocks back.

I'm not sure why I didn't put mine up there also, but I didn't. Dan came into the sewing room as I was packaging them up. He said I needed some in-progress shots for the blog and he took these.
The bottom right photo was taken a while back at the beginning of my weight loss, that's me on the right. I have lost almost 30 pounds so far. When I saw the photos that Dan took, I knew I needed something to compare them to. Quite a difference, I'd say!

Another project for Quiltmaker is in the works and these are my very pretty Robert Kaufman 1930's prints:

They are all cut up and I started piecing this evening.

A Good Mail Day!

First, I received my Hands 2 Help package from my partner Cassey. I love the fabrics and will spend some time this weekend figuring out what pattern to make.



Second, I received this cute little pack of Moda fabrics, for sending in my "Just One Star" block. How cute are these and I certainly wasn't expecting anything form them.



Third, I got my copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks and all I can say is WOW, there are some stunning blocks in there.



I really need to finish quilting Barb's Turning Twenty quilt, but I want to play with my new stuff :(