Showing posts with label free motion quilting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label free motion quilting. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

One Day Closer to Another Finish


I started this lovely quilt just about a year ago.
I'd made several for other people, and decided
I wanted one just for me. Something a little
vintage-looking, feminine, sweet maybe.

I started it one day without a pattern, and soon
found myself in a pickle in how it was all
put together. I was pretty new at this yet.

Monday, March 9, 2015

Happy Baby Snapshots Finished



 Yes, it is March, 
and, Yes, we still have snow in Ohio.

Keep the faith! Spring is on it's way,
and this quilt is all ready for a new baby!

Monday, March 2, 2015

Starts, Stops, and Catch-ups: Floriography Quilt


Here's a sneak peek of the baby quilt done in Floriography.
I had to chase down binding fabric today, 
and it will be a finish by Friday.
The echoed flower was FUN to quilt,
and it went fast! I used a bright pink
Aurifil thread here, but it's blended well
with the pink gingham.

Friday, February 20, 2015

Falling Star Pillow Finish




Do you remember this Falling Star block I was 
working with a few weeks ago?
I thought it would make a quick practice piece for FMQ,
 and decided I should turn it into a mod pillow.
I inserted a covered zipper in the back to make it washable.
The black and white hatched fabric
is from JoAnn's, and teams nicely with everything.


Friday, January 23, 2015

GROW YOUR BLOG

This is me--Julie, and Minnie, one of the Doxie Girls.

Today is a very special blog post. 
I've joined with Grow Your Blog 2015 along with hundreds of other bloggers. 
Our host is Vicki at 2 Bags Full, and may I say thank you, first of all. 
There are some rules to abide by, so allow me to follow them to a "T",
and then we'll get on to our Linky Party and a Giveaway!

I'm Julie--a Modern Quilter.
I love modern fabric, intense pattern, and improvisational piecing.
I'm all about machine quilting, but occasionally quilt one by hand. 
I would pick a scrap quilt as my favorite 8 days of the week.

 I Dream in Color.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

My 'Katie Jump Rope'


This is my interpretation of the Katie Jump Rope pattern. When I first starting back into quilting a year ago, I saw this pattern on the FreeSpirit website, and loved the pattern done with the depression era prints. Most of the fabrics were unavailable then, and I wasn't fully vested in quilting yet. I searched through what stash I had on hand, and filled it out with inexpensive fat quarters from the local fabric and craft store. I bought an acrylic tumbler template from Missouri Quilt Co., and this top came together in just an afternoon. It was close enough to make me very excited.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

I'm All Done with Love



There was no rush yesterday. There was no drama. It was downright restful for a change.

Darling daughter and I had coffee with a friend at a real coffee shop--we do get out, and then shopped for something other than quilt fabric. There was no push to get downstairs to piece or quilt after lunch. A vacation day, you might say. Surreal. You see, my machine had to go in to be serviced, and I picked yesterday to do it. I'm hoping it doesn't need parts so I can pick it up tomorrow. I don't think I can handle another day like that for a while! Whew.


Sunday, September 14, 2014

Tricks Up My Sleeve and Background Music




Background filler seems like such a chore to me. It's not the really exciting looking stitching for me, but I realize it carries and highlights the icons here. It calms the blank space, and makes your focal points pop. I view it as background music. You know how silence can be uncomfortable, but put on a little low music and you notice the surroundings more. More here, though, I think it's because I'm struggling with the bulky size and a small machine throat--under 7" from needle to inside of machine. I'm a little sore from my arm to my leg actually. I promised I'd share some of my tricks I'd figured out mid-way. Honestly, some of you out there are probably doing this already, but it was an idea I woke up with.

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Big Time 'Wrassling' with the Love Quilt


From back left: Scott, Keith, David   Front row: Davie, me, unknown, and Peggy

"We were just 'wrassling' in the bedroom, and I don't know how insert sibling's name here got hurt! Honest!"

I grew up with 2 older brothers, David and Scott, and on occasion things got so ouchy at home that my mom would roll back the furniture, and let them have a go at each other. Even as the only girl, I thought it exhilarating to spar against my brothers. It was never dangerous stuff, just fun until you'd exhausted the tension. I recall my brother, David, years later coming home fresh out of Marine Corp.boot camp, showing me how to flip someone over your shoulder if they attacked you from behind. I must have been in Junior High School then, and all 6'4" of him got laid out on the grass in our front yard in one swift move. It was like felling a tree, and no one was more shocked than he was! 

Dave passed away a few years ago, but I can imagine him standing next to my sewing machine asking me if I"m "wrasslin'" that quilt. Yup, I sure am.

Friday, September 12, 2014

Auditions and Practice


I've spent hours thinking about how to quilt this project. The thread is pale enough that I don't think it will show much at all on the top, and it will also be hard to follow what I'm actually doing. The medium grey backing will show great detail. So, what to do?

I had a brainstorm yesterday while mowing. Quilt it from the backside, perhaps.

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

First Adventures in Free Motion Quilting-Splitting Hares




Yesterday was a hoot! I nearly completed my first quilt by machine quilting. What a time savings over hand quilting!

I started by marking the quilt top with the design I thought I would use. I used a quilting pencil, and it was a good thing because it changed half a dozen times. To remove, you just blot with a damp, cool cloth, but then you need to wait until it dries to re-mark it. I thought about a hair dryer, but heat will set some marking pencils and pens. I tried to pick easy designs, but not everything looked right. Finally, I was sure of the center block, and decided to just start quilting.