Cotton and Steel

Most of the people I quilt for are friends/customers I have had for some time.  I am a part time longarm quilter, so my calendar is usually pretty full.  I had the opportunity and pleasure to quilt for a new customer ... I met her so we could discuss thread color, pattern, etc and I was so excited when I saw her quilt.

The quilt is for her young son, and I am in love with the color combination ... That salmon and navy ... It sings to me!

I recommended a fairly close together stipple since it was going to get washed and loved a lot!  I am always impressed, especially by young quilters, who take on challenging patterns.  I love her color interpretation, and even after quilting for many years, this is a pattern I would be intimidated by!

I used Omni thread in a taupe color.  It blended well with the dark colors, but not too dark in the light fabrics.

What a lucky son she has to have such a talented momma!

Loved doing this happy happy quilt!

... A sneak peek at what I'm working on ...

September and back to school!

Have I said how happy I am that school is back in session ... There is such a peace that comes over me in the fall.  It is my favorite time of year and reminds me that routines are good, and a necessary part of life.  I have been busy ticking things off my to do list ... I'm currently working on my September stash class quilt ... Here's a sneak peek ...

I am loving these little stars ...

So cute!!  Stay tuned for more!  I am hard at work because it needs to be finished by Friday.

I quilted a huge quilt ... 108 x 108 ... 

I was really happy to get to the end ... It took me several days.  The customer wanted a basic pattern, so we decided on a traditional stipple.  This quilt is probably the best pieced quilt I have ever had the pleasure of quilting!!

Every seam matched, and all of her pieces had the seams pressed open!!  In the past I have never been a fan of opening seams ... but I have changed my mind!    What a pleasure it was to quilt over all those flat seams!

Look at some of these lovely blocks ...

I could just go on and on!!  I used Omni thread, and free motion quilting.

I could certainly learn some piecing techniques from my customer ... And she has only been quilting a few years!  I told her when she starts teaching. I'll be the first person to sign up!!!

Happy Labor Day

The end of summer ... That's always what Labor Day meant when I was a kid, and when our kids were little.  As much as I always dreaded the end of summer, there was a part of me that enjoyed getting back into the routine ... The routine of school and friends, and as a mom ... The routine of my kids being back in school and me being able to get something done!  Now that we are empty nesting, it was a nice day to spend together.  We walked the dogs in a beautiful area of downtown San Diego by the harbor, and got some home/yard work done. 

When I flipped my calendar to September in my sewing room, this is what greeted me!!  In San Diego we always look forward to the end of summer because the tourists go home and we get the beaches back to ourselves!  August is usually when our weather starts getting HOT and it goes through October ... We've got a scorching week ahead of us ... Don't you feel sorry for me??

I longarmed a quilt for a friend last week ... I won't even tell you how long I had it ...

Isn't it beautiful?  I was a little thrown by the light background color ... Cream, but with a lot of yellow in it.  Once I found a taupy-grey thread in my stash, then I was happy with the results!

I have played around with feathers before, but never on a customer quilt.  I decided sometimes you have to bite the bullet ... I did and I am really happy with the way it came out.

She really liked it too!!!  I wanted to keep the quilt ... But she wouldn't let me!  It is now finally back with it's owner and if I'm not mistaken, she already has the binding sewn on!!!

Now to sneak in a pic of my sweet g-daughter ... With her daddy ... Their first carousel ride together ... Their faces are priceless!!

I ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ these two!!