Showing posts with label Instagram. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Instagram. Show all posts

Friday, May 6, 2016

How Instagram Saved My Design



The Process Is the Prize


You may not believe the above statement, but I do. I find more joy in working out problems than finishing the project. That doesn't--or shouldn't occur if using a published pattern, so I choose to go the organic route, and create my own. 

This started as an experiment in improv block making, and merged with another design I'd made a few months back. It's dominated my design wall for weeks, and I pushed myself this week to finish all the improv blocks. When it came to the setting triangles at the sides, I decided more improv blocks would muddy it up. It was back to the stash to find a fabric that would work, and once again the Moda Grunge won with it's unique texture. There was just one problem.

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Lessons in Quilting with Perle Cotton & Advice from Jen Kingwell About It



All quilters make mistakes.
I make mistakes.
Therefore, I am a quilter.

Don't you love syllogisms? Or not. It's funny the things you think about when your hands are busy, and your mind is free to wander. 

I started out hand quilting in the 1980's, and looked forward to the evenings sitting with a quilt in my lap while we watched a tv together. My lap was soon overtaken by one baby after the next, and I didn't get back to hand quilting until a few years ago. But the draw of FMQ with a domestic led me to try that, and as most of you know, ultimately longarming, which I love. Knowing I can finish a quilt that afternoon is delightful, but there is a seductive pull toward having something available to slow stitch if you crave it.

Friday, June 26, 2015

Anna Marie Horner Mini Quilt Swap Finish


 Instagram has an allure all its own for quilters and quilter bloggers. There are quick fabric deals made daily. Want to re-vamp your stash? Grab a stack, snap a picture, and name your price. Someone may be looking for just that thing, and you might become friends in the meantime. There are posts by companies for new products and sales, but only if you follow them. Sometimes they'll have link ups and giveaways, too. Fun! People throw out pictures of whatever they're working on, and some are very inspiring projects. And, if you're interested in trying out a swap, it's heaven! There are oodles of mini quilt swaps, and Kate Basti does an amazing job of managing many of them. #katebasti #annamariehornerminiquiltswap

This was my first, and I signed up almost without hesitation because it was Anna Marie Horner fabric. I adore her prints! As you can see, I survived it, and got my mini mailed out this past Monday. My swap partner got her package already, so I feel safe posting my finish now.

The backing is one of the few fabric not in the Folk Song line, but still AMH. It's called "Innocent Crush."



My personal goal is to always push outside my comfort zone, so I did something I'd never done. I decided to add pearl cottons to this mini. Working with large eye embroidery needles, I actually quilted through the orange fabric and all the layers. It was hard work, but can be done. When I got to the corners, I lifted the fabric, and just stitched through the top layer. Easier, longer stitches, and it showed off the pink and salmon threads better. There are additional stitches and French knots in the main part of the mini, too.



The binding is the only semi-stripey fabric I had left, and I cut it so it showed some striping. I machine stitched it to the back, and turned it to the front. I kept with the spirit of hand quilting, and hand stitched it to to the front. I admit that I actually enjoyed finishing the binding this time. I wanted one last intimate look before I mailed it off.


I'm waiting on my package to arrive, and am excited to see what someone might make me. Whatever it is, I will be delighted. There are a lot of different skill levels involved in a swap, and you never know what you'll get. What you do know is that someone out there lovingly made a gift for you, hoping you'll appreciate it as much as the one you've sent. It teaches us to be gracious receivers as much as generous gifters.

Have a wonderful weekend, and don't forget to link up to the Pink Doxies Pet Project Show tomorrow. You may post as many links as you'd like as long as they are posts or links you've created in the past week.

Come on, Doxie girls.
Let's go sew.