Oh, go soak your batting

I hope your summer is going well, and you are making time to have fun with the family, and, of course, Quilting! I’m now back in the studio after being in upstate NY with my sister, who had open-heart surgery in July. For those of you who have been praying for her – Thank you so much! She is making a remarkable recovery, indeed.

Of course, Jim and I are pigging out on all of the plums, peaches, and blueberries I brought home from the bro-in-law's orchard. Yum.

 

News from the Studio

 This week, I finished quilting a customer quilt and, today, I finished putting on the binding. Owner,  Connie, calls it “Turning 30”, and it is a gift for her lovely daughter. Isn’t it beautiful?

 

 

I call the quilting pattern “hooked feathers” and it is done free-motion (no pantograph). 

 

Tips & Techniques - "Washing" Batting

First, let me say NEVER really wash batting. Next, let me say I almost ALWAYS “wash” batting. Crazy, isn’t it? There seems to be a big debate about this in the quilting world, but the choice is pretty simple:

• DON'T "wash" batting if: The finished quilt will never be washed. Why bother?
• DON'T "wash" batting if: You want your quilt to look more homey or antique after its first washing. the batting will shrink a little when the quilt is washed, causing the fabric to wrinkle up just a little. 
• DO "wash" batting if: You want your quilt to look smoother after it is washed. "Pre-washing" batting will pre-shrink it before quilting. But remember, never really wash batting.

Okay – so how do you “wash” batting? It’s easy.

• SOAK the batting in plain, clear water (no soap) at the temperature that you plan to wash your quilt.
• Press down gently on the batting to be sure it all gets wet. Do NOT agitate! 

 

• Spin out the water. 
•  Dry in the dryer at the temperature you plan to use when you wash your quilt. The batting will come out of dryer de-fuzzed, fluffy, and crease-free. Don't forget to clean out the dryer filter!

Learning for the Week

BACK UP YOUR CRITICAL DATA!!! Yup, you guessed it. While in NY, I did something that caused my external hard drive to crash. It has been diagnosed with serious directory issues, and is at the computer hospital. They are attempting to recover as much of the data as they can. Since all of my critical data is on that drive, pray that all of it can be recovered! Of course, I’ve learned my lesson and am preparing serious backup procedures.

 

Nothing up my sleeve

For the last couple of weeks, I’ve just been heads-down, in my own world just puttering along with my own projects. And suddenly, life steps in and all the plans and projects mean something different. My sister, who lives 700 miles from me, will be having major surgery soon, and will need someone with her for a while. Of course, I want to be that person! Whatever plans I have at the moment, automatically become second priority. Just put a few things on hold, change some appointments and do what needs to be done. Family first.

News From the Studio

Mystery Quilts

That Mystery Quilt from the May workshop is finally done!Can hardly wait for our first guild meeting next month to see all of the quilts the other participants made. Sue Jones, the workshop leader selected these fabrics for me.

Here’s my customer’s version on the frame. Workshop leader, Sue Jones selected these fabrics for her. Gorgeous.

Quilt Sleeve

Most of the time I make a sleeve for my quilts out of left-over backing fabric. Here’s one I made recently for my Mystery Quilt, What Knots. Go to How to Make a Quilt Sleeve for instructions.

Torrent

New Panto in the Studio

Another new panto is in the studio. My customer made a Wizard of Oz themed quilt, and the panto is call Torrent! It just gives you the ominous feeling of that approaching tornado, doesn’t it?

Learning for the Week

A few days ago, I had occasion to drop in on a quilting friend, and we spent a good bit of time just enjoying each other’s company. It dawned on both of us, how easy it is to get so busy that we forget to nurture our friendships. So, this week, I had lunch with a new friend, and we sewed together and talked all afternoon. The next day, I had lunch with another friend. It’s been too long since we’ve spent time together. 

Who is it in your own life that you need to just spend time with? Which friend do you wish would ask you to lunch? Have you ever heard of a phone? Do you have her number? Just ask her to lunch. A long lunch. Nurture at least one friend this week. She needs you.

Now, go call your friend, then let’s go quilting!

 

Hippity Hop!

The NE TN Shop Hop wrapped up last Saturday. What a whirlwind! 12 shops participated, 2 local shops, and 10 road-trip shops. The road-trip shops ranged from Cosby TN very near the NC border, to Crossville TN, about half way between Knoxville and Nashville. Wow. A friend and I hit the road on Thursday last week, and spent 10 hours in the car. We managed to get to 8 of the 10 shops. I wanted to go again another day to the 2 that were west of Knoxville, but just didn't have the gumption!

News From the Studio

Amish Pinwheel

Amish Pinwheel

Got 'er quilted! The quilt was made from fabric exchanged at the Old Town Guild Christmas Party - 2014. Friend Sandy took it with her to guild meeting last week for show and tell (while I was recovering from the shop hop trip). Thanks, Sandy.

What Knots?

The Mystery Quilt Workshop quilt, What Knots is on the frame - swirls this time. I long for good light in my quilting area. It's in the plan for next year - maybe.

New Pantos

Three new pantographs are in the studio. I love them! Let me know which one you like best for your next quilt.
 

Burlesque

Smitten

Nouveau Feathers

Now, let's go quilting!

Embrace the Mystery

18 guild members participated. We used a large classroom in the church

It’s been a great week! Last Saturday, Sue Jones held a Mystery Quilt Workshop for my guild, Appalachian Heritage Quilters in Gray, TN! What a hoot. Look, if you are going to do a mystery quilt, for Pete’s sake, embrace the mystery. Sue gave us the option of selecting our own fabrics or letting her shop for them and do all of the cutting, too!! So, 12 out of the 19 who had signed up selected that option, and I was one of them. 

 

Sue always has a smile on!

  She gave us 9 clues – each one was a separate step in the process. It all came in a gift bag, with all of the pre-cut pieces wrapped in tissue paper, not to be opened until we were ready for the related clue. The day progressed with easy blocks. By mid-afternoon, rows were coming together and by the end of the day, a couple of people had their tops finished! The quilt is called What Knots. This is what mine looked like. Sue is a super-fun teacher, and everyone had a blast. If your guild wants to schedule her, Sue can be reached at 865-981-4547, email: srj23@charter.net.

Sue chose these fabrics for me.

News from the Studio

Do you subscribe to the Missouri Star Quilt Co. daily deal email? How about the MSQC youtube channel? You need to do both! Just go to www.missouriquiltco.com and sign up. Today’s tutorial was a quilt Jenny Doan calls Pinwheels on Point. So easy.

My friend from Colorado and I vacation together every year, and this quilt will be my project while we are on our little retreat later in the year. Just yesterday, I secured a wonderful little "cabin" near Pigeon Forge, TN, one of our favorite places to go. Oh, if you love cats, you must visit the Smoky Mountain Cat House there.

Enjoy your week! Now let's go quilting!