2012 Free Motion Quilting Challenge-September

Here is my challenge piece, still need to do the background filler quilting. I have plenty of ideas on what I want to do, the challenge will be picking just one!!! The fabric on the outer border is my quilt to the edge extensions, I baste it on the quilt to help make quilting to the very edge easier!!!!

So our teacher for this month was Paula Reid and she had us use a beautiful stencil on our quilts. I used two stencils, the center design is the one she had us use and the butterflies are from a stencil that I already had. I like stencils, they are very versatile. You can use the whole thing or just a part of it. In the photo below you can see what this quilt looked like with the blue marking ink. I ended up not using the flowers that were next to each butterfly and I decided to put feathers in the wings instead of the design that came with the stencil.

I drew out the design first on paper to make sure I liked it!!

Deciding on how large I wanted the quilt

Stitching with my Juki-I used YLI 100wt silk thread-my favorite machine quilting thread!!!

The back of the quilt!!

My stencils!!

I bought the stencil because I really like using them in my quilts!!

Yes, I have more than a few!!!

Thank you so SewCalGal for hosting this fun year long challenge, thank-you to The Stencil Company, they gave us 20% off on their stencils, so I did purchase more than just one!!! You can find them here, http://quiltingstencils.com/

Thank-you to our teacher, Paula Reid, for giving us a fabulous lesson and to all the members of this challenge. I am having so much fun reading everyone's posts and seeing their beautiful work. This is so very special!!!

Happy Quilting everyone, take care, and keep those needles sharp!!! Martha

AQS Modern Mystery Quilt-Part 2

I finally got Part 2 done of the Mystery Quilt!! I was beginning to worry that I would get way behind, but here it is, #30 inset semi-circles!!! Finished the last 9 this am.

Here's the link to Part 2, http://www.quiltviews.com/modern-mystery-quilt-part-2-of-6

I've never sewn inset circles so this was a great lesson on a new technique.

I copied the pattern onto freezer paper using my printer. I made three copies for both the background and the semi-circle. I was able to use those templates over and over again with no problem!!!

I am using the same fabrics as used for the rectangles in Part 1 with the addition of the background fabric which I chose to be a gray, I think it's called Suede Gray.

It took me awhile to start the sewing as it did intimidate me a bit, ridiculous really. Once I got going on it I learned how easy it really is!! Just have to take your time with it is all.

Fold the semi-circle in half and finger press, then fold in quarters and finger press

Do the same with the background as you did with the semi-circle

Start with pinning the centers

Next you will pin the beginning and the end

Match the finger pressed creases

Pinned right on the crease line!!

 All pinned and ready to sew. You just have to worry about one section at a time!!

I sewed with a scant 1/4 " seam

You will be easing in the fullness, do not stretch the fabric. It worked best for me to make sure the semi-circle on the bottom was flat on the sewing surface.

Notice that the circle underneath is flat

I then eased the background top fabric to the edge of the sem-circle

All sewn and no tucks sewn in!! Now it is time to clip the background fabric. The instructions are to press the seam open which is easier done with the fabric clipped.

Clipped and pressed

Done and looking good!!!

So far this has been educational and fun!! I have no idea what this quilt is going to look like except for the fact that it will be very bright!!! FUN

Happy Quilting everyone, take care, and keep those scissors sharp!!! Martha

AQS Modern Mystery Quilt

My chosen fabric for this challenge. I have been collecting some solids for awhile. Not a huge stash, but I like the way they are going together!!! This is going to be a very cool quilt!!!

Part 1 done!!! Yahoo!!!

I have never participated in a mystery quilt, but it sure sounds like fun!!! So this is part one of the six weeks of instructions. We got Part 2 yesterday and I hope to begin putting that together this weekend!!

This Modern Mystery Quilt is put on by the American Quilters Society and can be found here. http://www.quiltviews.com/modern-mystery-quilt-part-1

I heard about this Modern Mystery Quilt through a fun new site I joined called Connectedthreadz and you can find it here:  https://www.connectedthreadz.com/  . It is a quilting/fiber forum of some really wonderful, friendly women. I have enjoyed chatting with them for the last week or so and feel a part of their world already.

Several of the members are going to be doing this mystery quilt, so it will be fun to see what each of us come up with. One nice thing about the group is how helpful they are. If anyone is having any kind of issues, someone is there to help.  So if any of us need any help with this mystery we're putting together, I know there will be plenty of advice !!! :^)

My background fabric is in the wash right now, so tomorrow I may try and get a little of it cut and ready. However, my grandson is spending the night with us tonight and will be here all day tomorrow. So this may be put on hold until Saturday and Sunday. But that's OK with me!!

Take care everyone, Happy Quilting and keep those needles sharp!!! Martha

Doodling-Free Motion Quilting

Take advantage of the time you are given by practicing your free motion quilting skills by doodling.

Recently I was in an all day conference put on by the Institute for Brain Potential and presented by Dennis Marikis, Ph.D. The talk was on Toxic People. We sat in chairs with no tables all day long!!! I couldn't follow the speakers notes and doodle in my sketch pad with the limited space we had, so I quilt doodled on my hand-out while listening to his lecture!!! It was a really fabulous lecture and I learned a lot that will hopefully help me in the workplace. And best of all, I got some doodling done at the same time. A good day for sure!!!

The handouts were printed on both sides, so the doodling space was limited. So I decided to do my practice in miniature which was actually kind of fun, and here is what I ended up with!!!

My Nurse Manager and our Nurse Practitioner were there with me and they were knitting!!! Like I said, take advantage of the time you are given!!!

That was on Thursday. On Friday as I was running through the house playing with my grandson, he loves to play get me, which means you chase him,  and I stubbed my little toe on a dresser in the living room and broke it. I am currently sitting with my feet up. I did go in to urgent care to make sure I didn't break a bone in my foot. The break went all the way through on the diagonal of my right little toe. Dr said it was unstable, so I am not to catch it on anything, hate the thought of that. So I am wearing socks and my Birkenstocks which have a firm sole for support. I can hear my mother telling me to stop running through the house!! :^) Hmmmm, I also hate learning the hard way, but that just seems to be my style!!!

Happy Quilting, Enjoy the Day and don't run in the house!!! Martha

A sneak peak for September

So I have my little quilt marked for the September challenge. Now I am in a contemplative state: free motion design of some sort around, or use another stencil in the corner?  Hmmmmm... Time will reveal the decision. For now, I need to think on it!!!! More later......

Rest in peace Packer!!!

Packer was found today up river from her home. She had died, of what , I have not heard. Thank- you all for your hopes and prayers for finding her. A very sad day for her family indeed.  Martha

Transforming the family room: here I begin

I am planning on moving my sewing/quilting room to the family room. So all of this will be moved, the walls painted, shelves will be put up and chaos shall ensue!!! Seriously!!! This is going to be a job, but so rewarding when done.

The toys will go in the bedroom that is going to be freed up by the move. Cooper will now have his own bedroom when he is here with Nana and Papa!!

The book shelves and television will also be moved on out!!

The dead heads will be moved, one into the living room and the other to another corner of this room

Clutter everywhere!!! WOW!!

No more dart board once the "studio" is  started and done!!

The color is going also. I have chosen a color called sunbaked clay. I will post pictures once the paint is on the wall. I want a warm, comforting color to work in!!

I let Cooper, my 3 year old grandson, help me put the hole filler on the wall. He had a lot of fun doing that and I now have filler where there are no holes!!! But that is OK, I can easily wash this stuff off and he had a blast doing it!!!

Stay tuned for updates on the transformation!!!

Take care friends, Happy Quilting and enjoy the Day!!! Martha  (and GO DUCKS!!!)- it's game day :^)