A mountain top experience!

A couple of weeks ago, my dear friend from Colorado Springs, my sister from  upstate NY, and I, took a few days off and spent some time together on top of about a 3,000 ft mountain near Winchester, VA. Of course, we had lots of fun, and thoroughly enjoyed our little reunion.  Very quiet, not many houses around - a great place for a personal retreat.

HOWEVER. getting to the little cabin was a big challenge. First, the path up the mountain had 9 turns off of the main highway to get there, and all of it significantly uphill. All of the roads were narrow 2 lane residential roads EXCEPT the road that took you to the top of the mountain. It was not only very steep, but it was only about 1.5 lanes, with 4 blind switch-backs. It looked more like a paved goat path than a road. Sorry, we didn't get any pictures of it - but we were all hanging on for dear life and praying like mad that we wouldn't meet another car!

Isolated! We were the only house on the road.

We were so intimidated by our ascent, that we stayed up there all the next day, and only came down the third day because we were running out of food. Thankfully, that trip down the mountain and up again after lunch wasn't quite as intimidating as the first time. We did meet a pickup when we were headed back up the road - not at a switch-back - and both vehicles had to hang off the road to get by each other.

I can't recommend the place for anyone with a weak heart.

News from the Studio

AQS Chattanooga Quilt Show

A friend and I went to the AQS quilt show in Chattanooga, TN in September. It wasn't as large a show as I had expected, but inspiring! So many amazing quilts. Here is one of my favorites. It won Best Hand Workmanship!

Of course, I always save time for all of the vendors. My favorite was my delightful APQS dealer, Sheridan Carter!  Sheridan Kay Quilting.

My very favorite quilt was in the "unusual" category: the duct tape quilt. Yes, it was all made out of duct tape, decorative plastic tape, and plastic stick-on applique!














 

Christmas Heart Song 

Since the last post, I've made 2 Christmas versions of the Heart Song quilt I showed you in the previous post. One is for sale at a local interior design store, and here is the other one. The guild will be doing the Christmas Heart Song wall-hanging in a workshop in November. Guess I'd better get busy on my handouts and demo stuff! I used the Trumpet Vine panto on this one.

Tips and Techniques

 

Press backing seams open

 Always press all backing seams open. I probably mentioned this in a previous post, but it is important for longarming. Vertical seams pile on top of each other as the backing is wound onto the rollers, causing the fabric between the piles to bag. Think unavoidable tucks. Another issue is that bulky seam "intersections" on the top might wind up aligning with bulky seams on the bottom. If a high speed needle tries to pierce lots of layers of seams and thread, serious damage to the machine or the quilt can happen. Not a happy thought.

Learning for the week

Stink bugs are annoying when you are on vacation - especially when you find them in the bed! Just ask my sister!

Have a wonderful week! Now, let's go quilt something!

How to enjoy perfectionism

Headed Home

Over the summer, I decided to take a more laid-back attitude about life. You know, not take things so seriously. As a perfectionist, I tend to be very critical of my own work, and it just got out of hand. Last year about this time, I finished a quilt top that I fell in love with. I wanted to custom quilt it, and of course, pressured myself to do a "perfect" job. (...And me without a computer on my machine.)

My DH, had some sage advice for me: "You need to demote this quilt." I took that to mean take it off of its pedestal, and think of it as just another quilt. I agreed!

Then I journeyed to my APQS dealer's studio a couple of hours away. She is a coach and counselor to me sometimes - I really appreciate her. Her comment to my situation was to "See perfectionism as a good thing. It mans you always want to improve, to try new things, to increase your skills." Well DUH! So I have relaxed about the quilt, and have removed all deadlines about it. Quilting has begun, but I have no goal about finishing it. I now enjoy the process of just moving forward with skill building and quilting it as I have time between jobs.

What a relief!!

News from the Studio

 

Heart Song

Heart Song

This is a commissioned quilt for a customer. She fell in love with the Headed Home quilt above, and wanted a smaller one as a wall hanging. Both quilts are made using a ruler designed for binding, a technique I saw online. I am working on a pattern for it, with the name Heart Song. I used that great Trumpet Vine pantograph.

Mystery Quilt

Finally, the mystery quilt from the guild's May workshop is finished! I love the colors! Great job Sue Jones. I used a giant swirl pantograph which goes well with the tropical turquoise colors.

Fat Quarter Auditioning

There is an iQuilt.com class called "If you can feather you can free-motion" taught by Bethanne Nemesh. She uses fat quarters gleaned from her stash for practice. Later, they make a great reference tool. 

General template on fat quarter

Doodling on newsprint

Quilting area on fat quarter

I'm using the fat quarters as a way to audition various quilting designs on the Headed Home quilt. I've marked each of the quilting areas, actual size, on a fat quarter. When I am ready to work on an area, I play with designs on some newsprint, then draw the area on a fat quarter or two and audition the designs I think will look best. Ok, so I'm a bit anal about the whole process. But, it suits me.

Learning for the Week

The new blood pressure medicine that doc prescribed improves regularity!



Have a wonderful week,
Now let's go quilt something!

Lost in Time

First, a bird update. Ms. Robin built a nest in the small Japanese maple in the front yard - and at eye level. It's located not too far from both the driveway and the side walk to the front door. She has two babies who are about ready to fledge. The nest is certainly crowded. Recently, we had a big wind storm and that little tree got whipped all over the place. As you can see, Ms. Robin, her kids, and her nest weathered the ordeal with flying colors.

Here is my lovely birthday flower. The DH fought his way through a jungle of day lilies and weeds to retrieve this delight for me. Ain't he sweet?

Now for the main story. Last weekend I got lost in time. It was Saturday, 7/16. The guild had just finished up a 3-day Quilter's Day Camp. 3 days of fun, hilarity, and sewing - so, of course, I was completely exhausted by the time I got home at 2:30 pm. I donned my pj's and made myself comfortable in front of the tv. Watched something on the DVR, then loaded a movie - Deja Vu, I think.

I watched it intently. When something loud and exciting was happening, I turned the volume down so I wouldn't disturb the DH. I get up really early, and he usually sleeps in. The movie was over around 5:30 or so, and I found myself profoundly confused about what day it was and what time of day it was. I knew the day camp was over, but I thought the it ended the previous day to the one I was in. I thought it was 5:30 Sunday morning.

But the tv, my watch, and my phone said it was Saturday July 16. What? I was so confused. I still thought it was morning, but knew it couldn't be Saturday morning, because the day camp was already over - and it was over on a Saturday. I even looked at the day and time on my computer, and brought up my Outlook calendar, which said it was Saturday. Finally, around 5:50, I believed my Outlook calendar and the time stamp on my computer and realized it was Saturday, 7/16, at 5:50 PM. I thought I had just lost it. If you are now so confused you don't know what I am talking about - you actually know what I am talking about. The DH said the same thing sometimes happens to him when he's really concentrating. I just wish it didn't take me 15 minutes to figure it out!

News From the Studio

 

Legend of the Spinning Top

I worked on the Sue Jones mystery quilt from the May guild workshop. Although I went to the workshop, I didn't work on my quilt. I just didn't want to lug my machine and all of the gear. As you can see, I don't have the borders on yet.

Snail Mail

Trumpet Vine

I started this quilt in the Spring of 2014, and got it put together except for the final border. It languished on the shelf for 2 full years! So, one day early in May, in a fit of productivity, I finished up the top, and got 'er quilted. I used the Trumpet Vine pantograph.

Learning for the Week

Time travel is very disorienting.


Have a delightful week! Not let's go quilt something!

Who's got shingles?

Last week, on the way home from the chiropractor, I had to do a double-take on this sign. What?! That's just way too much information. Who would announce such a thing with a big sign? I thought: "I didn't know there was a pharmacy in that building. And who did they get to make the sign, a dim-wit? Where's the word 'vaccine'?" What will they announce next, "We Have Leprosy" or, heaven forbid, "We Have Crabs"?

So, today, I went back and took a picture of the puzzling sign. Then I saw this one. That probably explains it, but maybe not. Perhaps leaving off the word "roofing" was the point. I'm thinking they get a kick watching people take pictures from the parking lot of the do-it-yourself car wash next door. I'm still laughing.

News From The Studio

Scrappy Hunter's Star

Remember that gorgeous jelly roll and layer cake I got from Craftsy a few posts ago? Well, I ran across a scrappy hunter's star quilt from the Hopeful Homemaker blog. She shares all of the instructions, if you want to make it. Go to Scrappy Hunter's Star.

I've cut all of the pieces for one to be made from fabric I received at last year's Old Town Guild Christmas party. And I've almost got the layer cake from Craftsy cut for another one. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Block Design Board

Have you seen these? They are called "block design boards". I haven't found them in the area, but are easy to make. These are by Lori Holt. When I laid out the first block of the Old Town Hunter's Star, I decided one of these would be wonderful to help me keep patches from falling off of the sewing desk or getting all stirred up. Super easy to make, too. Poster board, batting, glue gun, and you don't even have to put the little "binding" on. Cool.

Learning for the Week

I must be a slow learner. I had to call my DH on the intercom, and ask him what I have learned in the last couple of weeks. Of course, he was completely dumbfounded, which is very unusual for him. When he found his voice, he told me what he wanted to learn: "How do the stars and planets, etc. know that other celestial bodies are approaching so they can know how their orbits will be affected by the other bodies' gravity." As you can guess, my eyes rolled by in my head and I was completely dumbfounded.

Actually, it has only recently occurred to me, that it is okay for me to wear leggings and a big shirt, like everyone else does. Some of you may not be aware that leggings are far from new to the fashion world. Audrey Hepburn popularized skin-tight capris in the 50's. Some of you may remember wearing your boyfriend's "too-big-for-you" shirts and skinny pants back then, too.

Remember the stirrup pants from the 60's? And those shinny black leggings that Olivia Newton-John wore in Grease in the 70's? Then there were the Lycra leggings of the 80's, and the leather leggings of the 90's. Leggings were "in" in the 2000's, and they are still here now.

Wonder where I've been? 



Y'all have a great week! Now, let's go quilt something!

Fledgling Follies

Ah, the antics of Spring. The latest fledgling class has graduated. Mrs. Swallow, Mrs Cardinal, and Mrs. Robin have been kicking the kids out of the nest this week. It has been a treat watching the swallows testing their wings, practicing loop-de-loops, and zooming around the yard. The young robins have been trying to catch bugs - without much luck, and the dads have been keeping a watchful eye out for the kids who haven't yet mastered the art of flight. (Note: the pictures are complements of the DH, and don't necessarily go with the stories.)

One young swallow was shoved out of the bird house and just fluttered around winding up panting in the grass. Dad swooped down, flopped the kid around trying to get him to flutter, I guess. Dad even flapped his wings in instructional mode. Eventually the kid made his way back to the nest. Whew.

There is a window right by my sewing station in the studio. It looks out under the deck onto an expanding bed of wild strawberries. The DH leaves them there for the birds. One day last week, a robin hopped into the strawberry jungle, and stuffed his face with dead-ripe strawberries. If he pulled on one that wouldn't easily come off, he'd let it go and keep looking. When he found a cluster of ripe ones, they were down the hatch in a flash. I think there's a life lesson in the strawberry patch. Wonder what it is....

News From the Studio

Snail Mail

Trumpet Vine

This is a project inspired by a Jenny Doan quilt called You've Got Mail. I finished the top except for the last border, 2 years ago! I finally got it done.

Tips and Techniques 

Wish I'd invented that

For years, I have whined about, and tried many alternatives to the problem of keeping binding up off the floor while applying it to my quilt. I even emailed one of the notions companies begging them to invent a winder that doesn't use electricity.

FINALLY, some one did!! I saw it in the latest Keepsake Quilting catalogue: The Easy Binding Winder.  Check out the video demo. The winder is available on Amazon prime for the same price as everywhere else.

Learning for the Week

Sadly, my ex-father-in-law passed away yesterday. I was not close to him, at all, but I had a real grief reaction, deep enough to surprise me. After thinking about it,  2 reasons for my reaction came up.

First, I have a real compassion for the ex, here. He is now an orphan. With both parents gone, the stability, support, and unconditional love they had for him is no longer available. He is now going to have to look to the rest of his family and his wife for the support he needs. I know nothing about his relationships now, and pray that they are all there for him and his brother. If you are an orphan, as I am, remember to cultivate close friends, mend any broken family relationships, and love unconditionally.

Second, there is a loss of some of the continuity in my own life. My ex-FIL had been my FIL for over 30 years. No matter what the relationship was between us, he is no longer present in the framework of my life. We need that sense of continuity. Somehow, it gives us a framework, a container, and frame of reference, for our lives.


Ok, enough serious philosophical musings. Y'all enjoy the week!
Now, let's go quilt something.

Peep Eye Popeye

Don't you sometimes get annoyed when a quilting blogger rattles on about personal issues and illnesses? Me too. BUT, I'm happy to say that since my last post, I've had very successful cataract surgery in both eyes. I cannot say it was a piece of cake, though. I really stressed out with the first one - they didn't give me enough joy-juice. The second went much better - she gave me a double dose! And don't you love the fashion statement I make in my haute couture eye patch that I wear at night (thankfully for only a week after surgery)?

Update on the Birdhouse

Since my last post, I've had a few people ask about the birdhouse. The spunky Swallow Family has decided to move in. The Mrs. has finished with nest-building, and is now confined to the nest, hopefully keeping the eggs warm. The Mr. comes and goes and joins her inside, presumably after a trip to the bug-food store.  The DH has found no more wasps.  I checked online, and the reports are that Swallows win in a good wasp-fight. The old nests often include uneaten body parts of both wasps and bees!

News From the Studio

Rippling Star

Here's Jolene's finished Rippling Star. Wow, I love it on the bed! Only the green border is a stand-alone border. The rest of them are a printed border fabric! What a happy quilt. All of the quilting is free-motion.

Christmas Joy

My, my, my. Isn't this one beautiful? My dear friend Marian made this delightful curvy Log Cabin. It reminds me of home and family. We used the new Trumpet Vine pantograph (see below).

Sticks and Stones by Jenny Doan

Bolero

The DH and I visited with his cousin last September. He is a bachelor so his decor reflects his own tastes. the house
is a fabulous, well kept, big home filled with brown leather and not a lot of color. I just couldn't help myself. He needed some color in that beautiful home. So I made him a lap quilt / throw especially for his brown leather living room. . I used my go-to guy pantograph, Bolero.
  

New Pantos in the Studio 

I have 2 new pantographs to show you.

Hot Cocoa

Trumpet Vine.

Hot Cocoa is great for casual, fun quilts.Very versatile.

Trumpet Vine: This one has a sort of French flair to it. Lovely on classy quilts.

Tips and Techniques

 

Backing Preparation

1. Use the highest quality fabric you can afford. Inexpensive fabric, even if bought at a quilt store, is often weak, made with low quality threads, easy to tear, ravels badly, and often forms unsightly needle holes.

Not so fun fact about fabric: Believe it or not, the longarm needle will form unsightly holes in even high quality fabric - if it's a wide backing fabric, and it's some shade of RED. Really, I'm not kidding! Probably something to do with the red dyes...

2. Make the FINISHED backing at least 10" wider and 10" longer than the quilt top. Your longarmer needs room to load the backing onto the rollers, and have room on the sides for the clamps and for testing tension. Remember, seams, removing selvedges, and squaring will eat up fabric. You want the FINISHED backing to be 10" wider and longer than the top.

3. DON'T RIP the backing fabric, cut it. Ripping fabric never makes the pieces square. Fabric is almost always twisted on the bolt, so ripping it won't correct the already out of square grain. Wash the fabric (preferred but optional), press the fabric (always), get it hanging square, then cut it.

4. Remove ALL selvedges before piecing the backing.  Selvedges do not "give" and fabric does. You want all of the backing to have the same response to the tension it is under when loaded on the longarm.

5. Press ALL backing seams OPEN. This will be easy to do if you use 3/8" to 1/2" seams.

6. Think about seam DIRECTION. Seams that run perpendicular to the rollers pile on top of themselves as the backing is rolled onto the roller. This causes the backing not to advance evenly. Seams that are parallel to the rollers do not cause any issues, especially when pressed open.

7. SQUARE up the FINISHED backing. Always check for square when you have finished the backing. Have you ever seen this situation? You sew 2 backing pieces together and one of them winds up sticking out from the other, even though you cut them exactly the same length? That's because, without pinning, the presser foot of your sewing machine will "push" the top fabric toward you as the feed dogs are drawing the bottom fabric back. Solution: pin the seam all the way, and only remove the pins as you sew right up to them.



Y'all have a wonderful week! Now, go quilt something!

House for Rent

Our worm (and bug) rich back yard attracts a variety of birds who delight in nesting in our yard, or chowing down on their way to somewhere else. Last spring we bought a regulation birdhouse  and mounted it according to the instructions. The "For Rent" sign went up too late for bluebirds, so an entertaining couple, Mr. and Mrs. Swallow, signed the lease. They were very happy in our bird rental, and it was a hoot watching the babies grow up.

Well, this year, a couple of weeks ago, a delightful couple, Mr. & Mrs. Bluebird, were hanging around the place, obviously shopping for a new apartment. The handsome Mr. Bluebird stuck his head in a few times, but never went inside. The Mrs. seemed to really like it from the outside, so she began to gather nesting material. But before she could start building her nest, the Mr. gave her his famous "not-on-your-life" look. She dropped the nesting stuff, and they flew off. Curious.

This last week, both the Bluebirds and the Swallows hung around it, checking it out again, but as yet, we've had no takers. DH cleaned it out last fall, so we really didn't know why no one seems to want it. Doing some research, we discovered that in addition to removing the abandoned furnishings, we should have hosed it out. Guess what the DH discovered during the hose-down. A WASP's NEST! Yikes! No wonder the house has been rejected!  Now it is REALLY clean. Hopefully we're not too late.

News from the Studio

The Green Thing

Another quilt by Kay, the free spirit designer. She's making quilts for all of the grandkids. She says she has another dozen or so to go. Again, I used the Bolero panto.

 What Knots

This is Theresa's finished What Knots quilt, designed by Sue Jones. I love the rich colors. I used an allover leaf meander on this one.

Petals of Wisdom

Isn't this a darling quilt? Tricia machine appliqued the petals, and I love her color choices! The quilting pattern is a feathered hook.

Tips and Techniques

Quilt Top Preparation:

A well-constructed quilt top will make it easy for your longarmer to do her or his best work for you, and possibly save you money on your bill. One of the most important things you can do is to make sure every seam is secure. Partially open seams, seams that don't catch all of the fabric layers, and seams that un-sew themselves take time to fix at best, and at worse can cause damage to your quilt or to the longarm machine.

If a longarmer is working a pantograph from the back side of her machine, she cannot see the top at all. Even from the front of the machine, she may not notice an open seam before the machine runs into it. The result could be a torn quilt top, a broken needle, or major repairs to the machine.

It is really easy to avoid this problem forever:

1. First secure each seam start and stop as you go. Here are some options to pick from:
   a. Start and stop each seam with an extra-small stitch length that extends a few stitches inside the seam line.
   b. Start and stop each seam with a quick back-stitch.
   c. Use a smaller stitch length all the time. The smaller the stitch, the less likely for the seam to come apart on it's own. This approach is especially useful when chain-piecing.
2. Check seams as you piece. Inspect the seam as you are setting it with the iron, and pressing the seam to one side, or open.
3. Clip ravels rather than just pull on the threads. I've seen seam allowances ravel past the sewn seam. 

That's it. Make these precautions just a natural part of your piecing - and un-secured seams will be a thing of the past.


Have a wonderful week! Now let's go get new nose pads on my glasses and you go quilt something!