Hearts for a baby

At least I think this was a baby quilt ... Isn't it cute?

I don't normally do real detailed custom quilting, but I felt like this quilt really lent itself to something different.  I had a design I saw from Green Fairy Quilts that I wanted to try 

The design down the middle of the border ... It was really fun and I like the way it came out.  The only trick was I had to turn the quilt after I did most of it so I could get the side borders done.  It was a little time consuming, but better than rolling forward and back.

I love the spirals in the inner border

Just did a little loopy design in the outer border

Wavy lines through the hearts and a fun flower design in the half square triangle blocks.

She loved it!

It was all free motion and I didn't mark anything.  Omni thread in the top and bobbin in a creamy white.  What fun!  Thank you Judy for entrusting me with another beautiful quilt.

Stash Report - Week 33

Somehow I forgot to send this out last week.

Busy busy this week ... I finished up a strip quilt adding 1 yard worth of borders.

I also started and finished a quilt that I am teaching at the end of the month.  I am putting together a back for the strip quilt, but it's not done, so I will take that off of next week's stash report.

Used this Week: 14.25 yard
Used year to Date: 86 yards
Added this Week: 15 yards
Added Year to Date: 68.25 yards
Net Used for 2014: 17.75 yards

Oh poo . .  My net used really went down, but it should go back up next week.

Stash Report - Week 32

Here's my report for the week ... Been busy on a sample, so have used yardage.  Next week I'll have a bunch of yardage to add as I am going to start a new quilt and have no background fabric.  Also I need to buy border fabric for the quilt I'm working on now.

Used this Week: 4.5 yard
Used year to Date: 90.5 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 53.25 yards
Net Used for 2014: 37.25 yards

Now please remember we are supposed to be using whenever possible fabric from our stash.  But that does not mean that we can never buy fabric.  If you need it to finish a project, then buy it .  Most of what I am having to supplement with is yardage for borders and yardage for background.  I rarely buy yards of the same fabric, so most of what I have are smaller pieces.  No go forth and sew'

Some longarm quilting

I have been busy quilting through some technical difficulties.  There seem to be bad gremlins that live in my quilt studio ... When I'm not looking they love to mess with my longarm machine and cause problems.  I take great care of my machine ... Cleaning and oiling between bobbins as I am supposed to.  I have a dust cover and cover it when the machine is not in use ... But through all this, little problems still arise.  The first problem was I would have long stitches when quilting from right to left, only when I was trying to go in a fairly straight line, not during all over free motion quilting.  Upon further inspection, and a lot of frustration, I realized the wheels that ride on the back of the machine carriage that glides on the frame were not all hitting the frame ... One in particular was not making a good connection at all ... That messes with the stitch regulator, and it won't read correctly ... Now how do wheels all of a sudden stop connecting on the track properly ... Gremlins!  So I got out my tools and adjusted two wheels ... Now one of them is a little too low on the track so it is creating a little stiffness when I hit certain areas, but I'll take stiffness any day over long stitches that have to be ripped out!  

Then all of a sudden bobbin tension was not quite tight enough ... Kept tightening and tightening but still it didn't look great.  Decided to remove the bobbin washer that is supposed to help the bobbin spin more smoothly ... All of a sudden perfect tension ... I have been using a bobbin washer for 3 years ... Why doesn't it work now .... Gremlins!  I can't find a great imagine of what I think my gremlins look like .  But this is as close as I can imagine

Haha!  They're not bad little guys, just mischievous!

Once I got these snafus under control, I got this great quilt done ...

A beautiful sampler quilt Jayne made

Her piecing was so beautiful I didn't want to take away from it so I just did a loopy swirl

See the beautiful bobbin tension?

Please forgive this terrible picture , but it gives you an idea what I got to look at while I was quilting!  Used my favorite Omni bronco color thread in top and bobbin.  Now if only the gremlins will stay away so I can get some more quilting done!

Stash Report - Week 31

Used this Week: 6.25 yard
Used year to Date: 86 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 53.25 yards
Net Used for 2014: 32.75 yards

I had a busy sewing week ... Used the 2.75 yards I bought 2 weeks ago to finish the happy quilt I started in June

Didn't it come out great?  Can't wait to quilt it ... It was smaller than I wanted it to be so my friend gave me a piece of fabric that would work for a border.  It does ... I really would have preferred a blue, but remember in our mode of using what we have, that's what I did!

I also finished my quilt top from July ... My stash buster project ...

Well that's what all these strips made at least ... Haha! I can't find the picture I took earlier.  I have one more side border, but it was 3.5 yards to finish the top ... Woo hoo!  I will show a picture later.  I will say that I had used my Accuquilt to cut a bunch of 2 1/2" strips for this project.  When I was done I still had a bunch of strips left over. .. I probably threw away a yard's worth.  I just could not save them.  My strip bins are overflowing, and sometimes you just have to be ruthless and it is ok.

Stash Report - Week 30

Added fabric to finish the quilt I was working on last week.  Not much sewing getting done this week as I have been fighting with my longarm!

Used this Week: 0 yard
Used year to Date: 79.75 yards
Added this Week: 2.75 yards
Added Year to Date: 53.25 yards
Net Used for 2014: 26.50 yards

San Diego Quilt Show

Do you live in San Diego or are you planning on visiting for the SD quilt show the beginning of September?  I just saw the schedule of classes and am so excited that Judy Madsen of Green Fairy Quilts will be teaching!  She has two classes ... One on feathers and other beautiful elements, and the other class is on background fillers, borders, and deciding what quilting looks good in a particular area.  I am so excited!  I have never taken a longarm class from anyone besides just the basic classes I had from my dealer.  There is no one whose work I admire more than her's and I am so excited to meet her.  Can't wait to take the class ... I signed up for the borders and background class.  I may sign up for the other one too.  We have a fairly small quilt show as shows go, so to get a teacher of such caliber is exciting.  Now if only Innova would do a maintenance class!

A Block of the Month

One of my customers gave me a quilt a little while ago.  It is a block of the month from a couple of years ago and is a beautiful autumn quilt.  She added a lot of her own details to this quilt ... Extra embroidery and some beautiful threads.

When I quilt a quilt like this it takes extra time because you have to be really careful to not catch the decorative threading. It is also tricky if the stitcher doesn't pull the stitching very tight, and then it catches quite easily.

I was really careful, especially while echoing around the appliqué.

Didn't she do a beautiful job?  I had a great time custom quilting it and deciding how to make each block a little different.

I did the top and bottom borders and then quilted the entire quilt, leaving the side borders undone.  I took the entire quilt off the frame and pinned it on again so the side borders ran horizontally. It is much easier to quilt it that way with echoing the vines then trying to roll back and forth, if that makes sense.  I used Omni in the top and a magna glide prewound in the bobbin.

I think she is going to love hanging this quilt this fall.  What an honor to put my touch on such a beautiful quilt.

Stash Report - Week 29

Okay, I failed to mention when we passed the halfway part of the year ... Yikes ... Week 29 means there are only 23 more weeks left ... Too scary ... Slap me for even mentioning it!

Remember the fabric I bought and cut while I was in Va?  Well I put all the blocks together ...

So cute, huh?  This quilt makes me so happy that I have decided to use it in my bedroom.  I was going to give it to my daughter, but I love it.  All 16 blocks are together and I do have to buy some white tomorrow for the sashing and borders.  I know I am all about using what I have, but I have nothing for it ... It has to be the white and when I bought the fabric, I forgot to buy enough for sashing.

I quickly whipped up a back so I can be ready to quilt it as soon as I get the sashing put together.  I used up all the sizeable odds and ends from the project, and luckily had about 3 yards of a pretty blue/green batik that I had bought in Kauai a few years ago ... Thank goodness or I would have had to use a fabric I didn't really think coordinated for the back.

Doesn't look so great in this picture, but it will when it is opened fully ... At least you can see that batik.

Used this Week: 10 yard
Used year to Date: 79.75 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 50.5 yards
Net Used for 2014: 29.25 yards

Finally that used total is starting to look a little better.  I will have to add some to my stash for next week because of the finishing of the above quilt, but it should

all turn right around and be used.  Know I threw several stash reports at you in one day, but now my confessions are made and I am up to date!  How about you?

Stash Report - Week 28

I made a class sample which turned into a quilt for a Christmas present ... With top, back and binding (binding is sewn on and ready to hand see down!).  

Used this Week: 9.5 yard
Used year to Date: 69.75 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 50.5 yards
Net Used for 2014: 19.25 yards

Stash Report - Week 27

I forgot to add one store to my stash report while we were gone ... I don't even remember what state it was in ... Haha!  Four 1/4 yards ...

In keeping along with my gifting, I gifted a layer cake of fabric to a friend ... I knew she would love it.

Used this Week: 2.75 yard
Used year to Date: 60.25 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 50.5 yards
Net Used for 2014: 9.75 yards

Hello

Well I know I owe you several stash reports, but I am lacking a couple of pictures which has held me up there.  Promise to get those out soon.  

I have been back to the longarm machine as I need to get cranking on some of these quilts.  I taught a mystery jelly roll quilt on Saturday ... We had a lot of fun.  This is my sample ... It happens to be a Christmas present for my stepmom.  This is probably a first for me getting a Christmas present done long before Christmas.  I decided my family is getting quilts from me this year ... So that helped me get started early.

Kind of hard to see here, but this is the beginning of it while on the frame.

The quilt is on point and it's snowball blocks and nine patches.  Around the edges I left the corners off the snowball blocks ... Makes it a little interesting.

I did something a little different ... A swirl with a daisy . . . I think if I did it again I would have made the quilting a little bit tighter.  I used Omni thread in the top and a prewound Magna Glide in the bobbin.

The quilt measured 68 1/2 x 68 1/2; I wanted it to fit on my stepmom's bed, so I decided to add a top and bottom border out of the same fabric after the setting triangles were added ... I like it.  Happy to say that with my red binding that I added, I used a total of 9 1/2 yards of fabric out of my stash, so that makes me really happy!

Here is Kathy working on her mystery quilt ... I am so happy to have Kathy in my class!  She usually works so much that she hasn't had time for classes, but with the restructuring at the store, she has a little more free time now.  At least 5 people commented on how happy they were to see Kathy taking a class!

As you can see, we had 7 ladies working hard!  They had a pretty big quilt to make, so they were really keeping at it.  I provided lunch too, so it was nice to feed my students and keep their energy up!

Speaking of energy ... Look who is growing up ...

Isn't she just adorable?  Kylee and mommy were supposed to come visit a couple of weeks ago, but Kylee got 103 fever the morning they were supposed to leave ... So sad we all were!  So we are hoping  they can come back around Labor Day.  We sure miss them lots.

Stash Report - Week 26

Holly's Quilt Cabin, Centennial, Colorado, a  suburb of Denver.  Four years ago we went to visit my cousin and his wife who lived in this town and found this quilt store.  I couldn't remember the name, but I thought this was the one and I was right!  It is a great store and had loads of fabric ... I had fun chatting with the ladies and even my hubby came in and chit chatted ... I love quilt stores that make husbands feel special!  Very smart ... We always do that at the Country Loft too.  We appreciate them coming in.

7 fat quarters and this awesome 1/2 yard of a red diagonal check which will be used in a border, somewhere!  The charm pack is from last fall ... I got some of the fabric, but never got a charm pack and meant to.

Ok, this is where I lost it ... I was just getting ready to hand my credit card over and the lady asked me if I had seen the new line of Ghastlies.  Not something I have ever been interested in, but I know someone who would love it!  She is a special friend and feels like a daughter to me.  She went to school with my son and about a year ago I hired her to help with my mom ... Run errands, doctor appointments.  She had made my life so much easier!  I told her a couple years ago that I would make her a quilt when she graduated from college.  Well she has and we were supposed to go pick fabric out.  I think she will love this ... It is funky and fun and I also think the colors are very soothing.

It's cute, huh?  Gulp ... 5 1/3 yard = 8 1/3

I was excited to stop in Santa Fe because I love that town.  The quilt store I went to was Santa Fe Quilting and it was not in the historical section, so I missed seeing the city.  But this was our longest drive, 10 hours, ugh, so we wouldn't have had time to stop anyway.  This store was very cute and again like all the quilt stores I went to on our vacation, packed a load of fabric into a small space.  I had a great time and showed pretty good restraint ... I only bought 2 fat quarters and (4) 1/4 yards.  I was very tempted to buy a jelly roll of the Sphere fabric that I bought while I was In Virginia .... I really love the blue, aqua and yellow combination, but I decided I DID NOT need to spend another $43!  = 1 1/2 yds

Last stop was Quilter's Store Sedona.  I got a cute mini charm pack of Ducks in a Row by American Jane and (4) 1/4 yard cuts that go along with it.  I can see a super cute table topper.  I bought 1/2 yard of a cute sock monkey fabric and (3) 1/3 yd cuts ... I already have a cute pattern in mind for a quilt for Kylee.  And just to round it out .. 9 fat quarters!  Haha ... Total yardage at this store was 5 yards.  I also found a great patten from Moda called Dottie.  Looks like it goes along with a line of fabric, but I bought it because it uses all 2 1/2" strips and the pattern was only $1.  They also had a great pattern for a bag with pockets all along the outside, great to take to class, but I decided not to spend the money.  How fast can I sew so that when I publish this stash report on Monday I also show fabric used!  Haha ... I am writing this as I go so I don't lose track of the amount of fabric. = 5 yds

Now I am happy to counter some of this buying ... I sent 6 1/2 yards of fabric to one of my blogging friends, Amy.  She blogs at A Quilting Sheep.  I read in her blog that she loved Simplicity fabric by 3 Sisters.  I knew I had a lot of 3 Sisters that a friend had given me and I have had it for some time.  I was happy to send it Amy's way.  Then upon looking I realized it was a couple of different 3 Sisters lines, not Simplicity.  But Amy said she would like it, so off it went.  She thought she needed to do something for me, but I said no way ... I get to take this yardage off my stash report.  That is good enough!

Used this Week: 6.5 yards
Used year to Date: 57.5 yards
Added this Week: 11 1/3 yards
Added Year to Date: 49.5 yards
Net Used for 2014: 8 yards

Longarm progress

Here is more longarm quilting I did before I left.  The first quilt was a redo of quilting ... My customer had a quilt that had been quilted and she never liked the design nor the thread.  She ripped all the quilting out and gave the quilt to me.  The only thing I had to do was sew a top and bottom leader onto her quilt so I had something to pin onto my frame.

You'll see the fabric I used was an old Halloween print!  Haha ... I simply outlined the stars and just did a swirl over the entire quilt.  I could have sewn on side leaders, but I just chose to hold onto the side of the quilt to stabilize when I was along the very edge.

I think many longarm quilters would shy away from this project because the quilt has been previously sandwiched together.  I don't mind it at all ... In fact it cut out a step or two for me because I didn't have to pin the separated quilt top to the top leader.  The quilt rolled up great on my Innova.  I have done several quilts that have already been spray basted and just pinned them on and quilted as usual.  No problems with any puckering or gumming up my needle from the spray.

I used an Omni thread in top and bobbin.  

The next quilt I did was the one for my daughter's bed ... I think I finished piecing this in feb or March and decided it needed to get quilted and on her bed before it was time for her to leave again for school!  Since she had to move rooms, I'm trying to redo her room and make it super cute.  Here's what I have so far

You can see the quilt on her bed.  The only thing I have left to do is make her some pillow shams.  I ordered the fabric and it is waiting for me at home.

So excited to get it done!  Oh and the frame and headboard need to be painted as the lime green no longer goes.

Here's the quilt I quilted 

I love using a stipple ... It is such a simple pattern, doesn't interfere with a busy quilt, and i can crank it out quickly.  I used an Omni thread on top and a Magna Glide prewound in the bobbin.  Am really loving that combination.

And before I leave you, here is a picture from last night's thunder storm ... We were staying outside of Denver, and it was really quite fantastic.  Especially for us Southern California folk that don't see storms very often.

Stash Report - Week 25

A stash report with explanation!  Haha ... First stop on my fabric hop across country .. Superior Threads in St George, Utah

6 fat quarters and 1 charm pack, plus some needles for my longarm

Scrap apple Quilts, St George, Utah

2 mini charm packs (one I showed you the other day used in the hexies called Mixed Bag) ... The other one shown here is called Simply Style; plus 4 fat quarters

Sweet Lavender in Roy, Utah (near Provo)

Disclaimer:  we were chatting and the lady thought I wanted 1/3's of everything, so I got a little more than I wanted ... 1 2/3 yd plus 1/4 yd

Quilt Gallery in Kalispell, Montana near Glacier Nat Park

3 fat quarters

That was it for last week's report.  There will be more on next week's ... I did some major damage today ... Ouch!!!!!  Ha, ha

Here's the damage ...

Used this Week: 0 yards
Used year to Date: 51 yards
Added this Week: 6.25 yards
Added Year to Date: 38.25 yards
Net Used for 2014: 12.75 yards

Oh I am definitely going in the wrong direction but having so much fun doing it!  I have been hand sewing and will definitely get busy when I return so I can start changing the numbers around!

On another note, for those of you familiar with Superior Threads, I had originally gone to their store to see all their thread. I would say their thread is the best made and I love using it mostly in my longarm.  The warehouse where the threads, patterns and notions were was just gigantic but here is a picture to give you an idea

They just let you wander the aisles ... It was amazing!  My husband thought I had forgotten him ... You come in upstairs in the fabric area and then take the elevator down to the warehouse 

This was the start of my trip and I knew good things were coming!