As Promised--The Quilts

Scenes from HMQS

Click on the smaller photos below each quilt to read the tags. I haven't checked them all.

I hope they aren't too blurry. When you enlarge the tag photos you also get a better view of the quilting.

Nearly Insane--there was another one of these quilts in different colors, but I forgot to get the tag.

 Love these busy little blocks.

Made from Men's ties.

 So tiny and precise. I had my friend put her hand there to get the size perspective.

 Inspired by Italian Mosaics.

 This was so real looking. The tag explains the technique used.

 This one is all reverse applique. Wow!

 I thought this was just beautiful.

 Sure caught my attention from across the room.

 Remember this one from MQX? It won best of show here, too. Remember, it was quilted on a Bernina DSM. I can't fathom that.

 And they hung it so you could see the back of the quilt, too.

Just black fabric--the color is all thread.

 What a striking color combo.

That's enough. Just a quick post because I said I would.

Can you pick a favorite? I think I still prefer the Pine Burr from my previous post. : )

Until next time,

Janet O.

HMQS sightings

A little eye candy to start things off right! This was one of my favorite quilts at the show--very traditional. And there weren't as many of these as I would have liked to see.

I just returned last night from two days at the Home Machine Quilting Show in Salt Lake City. As amazing as all the quilts are (and we'll get to those later), what is really fun is seeing all the people. First there are the "big names" that teach the classes. They are the authors, designers and quilters extraordinaire. And they are real people, too!
My first class was with Karen McTavish. I had been taught McTavishing once in a FMQ class last year, but that was about all I knew about her. I was amazed at how traditional her approach is to machine quilting, and as somewhat of a traditionalist myself, I must admit that I loved it.

I must have been star-struck here. I look like a deer in the headlights. I guess that doesn't mean much to you if you've never lived around deer.
This class was about deciding how to quilt a top and I learned many good things that hopefully will help me get beyond the "thinking about it" stage and on to the "doing" part.


My next class was from Sally Terry. It was about fillers and meanders in "wiggle room." Again, there were many good ideas in this class, but I think I lean more toward Karen's style (though I love Sally's feather method). Sally was awarded the HMQS show Teacher of the Year award for 2012 at Thursday's awards assembly.

My last class was yesterday morning from...well, I'll let her tell you...

Her system of using stencils that just give you the register lines within which you create your design is very intriguing, and freeing! She is a delightful teacher and was very thoughtful of the cameraman assigned to her class. That impressed me.

Then there are the people that you have met through blogs and finally get to meet in person. Sandra, of Textile Time Travel  blog, had a booth for quilt appraising. I was able to drop in and visit. Look at that incredible vintage quilt behind us. What a study in fabrics.

Robin, of Solstice Studio blog recognized me from the recent post where I met up with Carla. As I walked by and heard my name I looked around for a familiar face and didn't see one. I knew Robin was coming to the show, but for some reason I had it in my mind that she wouldn't be there until Saturday, when I would be home. But as soon as I saw her I realized who it must me. She is such a fun gal. We had a good time visiting, along with her friends. Thanks, Ladies!

Finally, a most heartfelt thanks to DH for getting me there and back and to his cousins and my good friends, Cindy and Teresa, for hosting me while I was there.

I'll leave you with another lovely quilt and I'll try to squeeze in a post tonight showing some of the amazing quilts. Many of them have been in other shows that have been going on around the country, but I think there are some you haven't seen. There are some real showstoppers, but these traditional quilts are what warm my heart. : )

There were a few tagless quilts in the show, and unfortunately this happened to be one of them, so I don't know who did it. I love the extra something that this type of sashing can add to an already lovely quilt.

Until next time,

Janet O.

Random Happenings

Primitive Gatherings Picnic Quilt #2 now has a name and a home. "Picnic in Kansas" is named for the pattern name and the Kansas Troubles fabrics which make up the dark fabrics used. I hadn't told the full story of this project, because I didn't want a self-proclaimed blog lurker to figure out it was for her. DD#2, Aimee, and I had planned this as a gift for a friend of hers. We made it together, and this is our second joint effort at creating a quilt for a friend of hers. Aimee's youngest is the little guy I have mentioned who has Dravet Syndrome (scroll down the page a little to see my precious grandson, Ben Bryan), a severe seizure disorder. The women who have received the quilts we have joined forces to make have been so generous with their time and energy to help Aimee juggle the needs of her family with the special needs of little Ben. This quilt went to Katrina, shown below (on the left) with my daughter. Thanks for everything, Katrina. You are amazing.

After making the little star table runner for Aimee's birthday I realized how much I missed working with my CW fabrics. So I pulled this out for inspiration (sorry about the glare)...

grabbed my CW scrap basket, and created these 6" blocks...

I told myself I had to work strictly from what was in the basket (okay, I had to grab a few neutrals from my CW drawer) and I needed to make things scrappy. Jill Reid wrote a brochure about how to make your quilts have that vintage look and I tried to apply her principles as best I could within the confines of my scrap basket.

I finally had the opportunity Friday to meet up with a blog follower who lives about 3 hours away. Carla is a very kind, generous person. She is the one responsible for my receiving a copy of the recent Primitive Quilts and Projects that I couldn't find anywhere. I wish you had a blog, Carla, so others could get to know you. We met up at a LQS that is part of the "On the Trail" Shop Hop through parts of Utah, Idaho and Wyoming. So fun to finally meet this good friend. Hope we can do it again sometime.

 That is Carla on the right.

You know that I went overboard on a basket craze recently. As I was sorting through the leftover bits of my basket-making frenzy I realized that I had enough scrappy pieces left to create another 2" finished basket. I couldn't resist. This is what materialized (pun intended). It is about 3" square. Would you hang it on a Christmas tree or just on a wall somewhere?

Wednesday I head to the HMQS for those classes with Pam Clarke, Sally Terry and Karen McTavish that I mentioned recently. I am so excited. I have never done anything like this before. I'm expecting the vendor mall and quilt show to put me on system overload, but I can't wait! I hope I remember my camera so I can share some of my favorite things when I get back.

Until then,

Janet O.

Hanging up, catching up and keeping up--barely!

HANGING UP--"Flies in the Mustard" is in its new home. I know my name isn't quite as refined as the "Pink Lemonade" by which Lori's QAL was known, but I figured with the shoo-fly blocks in the mustardy color I used, it was appropriate.

A friend bound this for me (thanks, Brenda) and it has been finished for a while. We just couldn't connect up to let it change hands. I love this little quilt. Aren't Lori's doll quilt patterns wonderful? Speaking of which, I have tried without success to locate a copy of Primitive Quilts and Projects with her pattern in it. Can anyone tell me how to find one?

CATCHING UP-- Randy will be posting the next batch of blocks for the Barrister's Sow-Along on Wednesday. I've had the plaid ones finished from the last postings for a few days and I just got the Christmas blocks made for the ones I decided to duplicate (I chose not to make Birds in the Air in the holiday fabrics). Many of these fabrics are from the recent packages from blog friends who have sent their leftover holiday fabrics. So appreciated!

Here they are all together. So I am ready for the next group now, Randy. Bring 'em on!!

KEEPING UP--I'd better post my April Free Motion Quilt project from SewCalGal's challenge before it turns into a pumpkin. I have 28 minutes to get this posted and linked before the link closes. What does it say about me that for the Feb., March and April challenges I have been the very last person to link up before it closes? Why am I always working on this at the very last minute?

Don Linn taught us how to make our own stencils using tulle, an embroidery hoop, Sharpie marker, and a fabric marker. Really quite effective. I chose not to use the design he provided, but I did use his technique. Here is the stencil I made from a design I found online.

Then I traced it onto my fabric with a washable marker.

 This is what I got.

 And this was the final product. I learned a valuable lesson from this. I am not good at staying on the line. I slowed waaaay down and still struggled to keep a fluid motion. I had a bobbin thread issue at one point and just left it there. I had already made a practice effort and I knew I wasn't improving much. It is an excellent method for transferring designs, I just need a whole bunch more practice sticking to the line as I go. It is much easier to me to freehand a flowy design. But I'm glad to have learned this. I'm sure it will come in very handy as my skills at following the lines (hopefully) improve. 

One last thing--a couple of posts back someone asked about my new machine. I would love to reply, but you are a "no-reply" blogger. If it was you, please email me (email available on my profile page) from an email address to which I can reply, so that I can answer you.

That's all for now.

Until next time,
Janet O.