Longarm Stitchin

This past Monday one of my students left this little beauty for me to quilt for her, to be given to her granddaughter as a birthday gift later this month.

It has been fun to stitch.   I find working around embroidery motifs a little puzzling.  Always try to not over power the embroidery with quilting.  

I chose to put flowers in the corner stones and leaves and swirls in the sashing.  Today all was going well and I was finishing up the little inside border.

It was being a little stubborn as I wanted it to be as straight as possible and it was a little puffy so I was trying to hold it down with my hand as I stitched.  My longarm apparently though it would lay better if it sewed my finger to the quilt.  I on the other hand did not share that idea.  I quickly removed my hand and said to my hubby that I might need a little assistance in the bathroom.  He followed to see blood and immediately started reaching for the band-aids.  Dear hubby is generally the one to need band-aids for his various cuts and scraps so he knew right where to find them.  

Being a quilter I naturally needed a quilted band-aid so he chose from this box for me.  "QuiltVent" technology has to be good doesn't it?

I know you are wondering about the quilt instead of  my finger.  But here is my finger anyway.  It sewed along the outside edge but you can't see the blood line in the photo.

 I am happy to report not one drop of blood got on the quilt and as you can see my border stitching didn't suffer either.  Frankly, I am a little surprised by that.

I can see right where it happened and perhaps you can also but I don't think it looks bad.

I finished the quilt holding my pinkie up as if I was drinking tea from a china cup, just in case.

My plan was to do some piecing on a quilt after this finish, but now I think I will curl up in my recliner and do a little hand embroidery on a project I have been wanting to start.  No more machines for me today.

Hope your journey today was without mishap.

2014 Reflections

As I look for my quilting accomplishments for the year I am a little perplexed at what I find.  I know I have done quite a bit of quilting through the year, but apparently not a lot to show for it.  I know my monthly goal setting plan has not been set to execution this past year so perhaps that is where my problem lies.

I did accomplish one piece that I feel is worthy of mention and that was my Challenge from my local quilt guild.  The coordinator placed a package of candy in a brown paper bag and we were to draw a bag and interpret our candy in a wall quilt approximately 24 inches in diameter.

The candy I drew was Snow Caps. To be quite honest I had not heard of Snow Caps before but fortunately it was not a difficult candy for me to execute into my Challenge.

Here is "On Top of Snow Cap Candy Mountain"...............

It is machine applique and the leaves on the trees are "Confetti Quilting" .  Confetti Quilting is a technique that I had been wanting to practice and this was the perfect opportunity for me to to do just that.

So as the new year begins I plan to be more structured to accomplish more for "me".
My wonderful hubby got me off on a great start with a wonderful kit as one of my Christmas gift.
But more about that in a future post.  I am off to get myself organized and decide what I intend to accomplish in the new year.

Happy New Year everyone.  May your journey is this fresh new year be a happy and productive one.

A Special Day

1. 

Today started out as a normal day of teaching my scheduled students.  Around noon I received a call from one of my students asking if she could drop by this afternoon and bring a friend also a student.  I said sure, excited for their visit.
One of these ladies writes poetry and stated when she came in that she had written me a poem,  She started to hand it to me and I asked her to read it to us and this is what she read:

“Sewing ‘N More”

Who is she? This lady of the day,

Her name is Sherry and I must say.

What a feeling of comfort she gives,

I know in her heart the Lord lives.

When you walk in the room she smiles,

Always confident after many miles.

The many talents of a true teacher,

Flows easily, you can always reach her.

Just give her a call, she is always there,

To answer each question I can fare.

No problem is too much for me to ask,

Whether something in the future or in the past.

If you need encouragement or whatever,

Just let her know, she’ll help you be better.

Expressing an inquiry or not.

Choice between alternatives at the top.

What is she? This lady of the day,

And when I say lady to always play.

She can work rings around the most,

Even though she will never boast.

From her background, she arose,

A great woman from her head to her toe.

Welcome in her home, door always open,

Such kind, sweet words are always spoken.

So many talents that can’t be hidden,

She has confidence and patience not forbidden.

If ask about a problem of sewing or life,

You can bet your bottom dollar she is right.

Where is she?  This lady of the day,

She is always there for you always.

Wherever she is she will always come,

Into her home to have some fun.

Her husband is equally great,

Whatever need you have for your sake?

Just call his name and he will be there,

Whether cutting, repairing, he is so fair.

You can wonder how some people meet,

And become the kind of couple you seek.

To be together and have no strife,

They hope to be together for the rest of their life.

                  By: Barbara Blubaugh

                  July 16, 2014

                                                 To my good friends, Sherry and Mike

This was so touching not a dry eye in the house, not even hubby who is also mentioned.  Sometimes I wonder if what I do makes a difference.  I think I received my answer.

Not only does Barbara do a nice job quilting but she is also a wonderful poet.  Just had to share.

Hope you had a touching moment in your journey today.

Row Along "Row 4"

The fourth row is the Friendship Star and similar to the Ribbon Star.  The completed row looks like this:

Half Square triangles and squares create the block for Row 4 of the Row Along,  If you need to refer to the HQT tutorial you can find it here.

The fabric requirements for Row 4 as as follows:

Color A  1 strip 4 7/8" x WOF      Subcut into 8  4 7/8" squares

Color B  1 strip 4 7/8" x WOF      Subcut into 8  4 7/8" squares

              2 strips 4 1/2 x WOF     Subcut into 16 4 1/2" squares

Color C  1 strip  4 1/2" x WOF     Subcut into 4  4 1/2" squares

For each individual block you will need:

Color A  2  4 7/8" squares

Color B  2   4 7/8" squares
              4   4 1/2" squares

Color C  1    4 1/2" square

Construct the HST's and arrange the squares in the following order:

Now construct into the row.

The last row will be posted next month with border requirements.....have a great month!

Happy Easter

I thought this piece was an excellent example to use in my Easter Greeting this year.

A student of mine shared with me that her sister had purchased a new embroidery machine and was wondering if I would show her some tips and projects, which included quilting of course and I said I would be happy to do it.

These motifs from Embroidery Library and a little piecing resulted in this breathtaking wall quilt.  It was a gift to her husband on his birthday and her first quilting project.  Didn't she do a magnificent job?

I provided the machine quilting and I will admit I was a bit intimidated by not only the lovely project, but also this being my first work around embroidery motifs.

Great Job Jan!

And Happy Easter to all as we celebrate our Risen Savior!

Row Along "Row 3"

It is time for another row of my Row Along, this is a Shoo Fly block and here is a photo of the completed row.

Once again HST's (half square triangles) along with squares creates the block.  And again if you need to a refresher on creating your HST's refer to the Row 1 post, you can find it here.

The fabric requirements for Row 3 are as follows:

Color A  1 strip   4 7/8" x WOF         subcut into  8   4 7/8" squares

Color B  1 strip  4 7/8" x WOF          subcut into  8   4 7/8" squares

             2 strips    4 1/2" x WOF       subcut into 16   4 1/2" squares

Color C  1 strip    4 1/2" x WOF        subcut into 4     4 1/2" squares

For each individual block you will need:

Color A  2   4 7/8" squares

Color B  2   4 7/8" squares
             4   4 1/2" squares

 Color C  1  4 1/2" square

After constructing your 4 HST's arrange the 9 squares in this order:

Sew the 4 blocks together like this:

and sew the 4 together to create Row 3.

Only 2 more rows to go.

Hope you are enjoying this Row Along journey.

Row Along "Row 2"

It is difficult to believe it's time for Row 2 of my Row Along, but once again I will start with a photo of the completed row.

This row continues the use of HST's (half square triangles).  Please refer to Row 1 for a refresher on making the HST's.  You can find the post here.

The name that EQ applies to this block is Ribbon Quilt.

The fabric requirements for Row 2 are as follows:

Color A    2 strips 4 7/8" x WOF                            subcut into 16    4 7/8" squares

Color B    2 strips 4 7/8" x WOF                            subcut into 16    4 7/8" squares

Color C    1 strip  4 1/2" x WOF                             subcut into  4     4 1/2 " squares
Note:  You should have enough leftover fabric from Row 1 of Color C to generate these 4 squares.  I suggest you check that out before cutting another strip.  

You will have 32 individual HST's to complete the row.

For each individual block you will need:

Color A    4     4 7/8" squares

Color B    4     4 7/8" squares

Color C    1     4 1/2" square

After constructing your HST's arrange them in this order:

The completed block will naturally look like this:

I suggest you wait until all rows are complete before sewing them together in case you would like to play with the arrangement of the rows.  

Hope your journey this last month has been a fun one.  See you March 20th with Row 3.