Tag Archives: long arm quilting

Day 16: Flower Power

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This started out as a quilting design.  Since all my machine quilting is hand guided, I draw things out on paper before I “draw” it with my machine.  The large flowers are acting as applique shapes.  The smaller “stitches” are what we call background “fills”.  Since the goal is to stop and start as little as possible, ideally the designs need to be continuous line drawings.  So when I drew it, I tried not to lift up my pen from start to finish.  Sometimes I may need to backtrack a little over previously stitched lines, but not often.  Flower Power

Coloring the quilt design with watercolors really makes it come alive.  If I were to quilt this, I’d have to do it a little larger.  Quilting this densely  takes a lot of  practice, a lot of patience and a lot of time.  It’s only reserved for those very special quilts and is really a labor of love.

Watercolor on Arches 140 lb cold pressed paper,  7″ x 9″

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Cross Stitch Quilt

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I have quilted a few quilts for Maureen with cross-stitched blocks.  The blocks on this quilt were hand embroidered by Maureen’s mom.   You would think my hopping foot would get caught up in the cross-stitch or other embroidery, but actually it glides over it   quite easily.  Isn’t this a lovely quilt?

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In the blocks, I outlined in the cross-stitched flowers  which gave them great definition.  I also added a curl design in the sashing.

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For the borders, I did a free-hand scalloped design with flowers in the center.  In between the scallops I added a small  feather motif.

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It’s always fun to look at the back to see the quilting even better.

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I used my favorite washable wool batting, which will make for a lighter weight, warm,  comfy bed quilt.  

The Spring time colors of this quilt are so refreshing.   Makes me think that Winter just might really be over!

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Fabulous Quilt in Blue and Purple

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I recently quilted this wonderful quilt for Abby.  It’s a pattern by Judy Niemeyer and was mostly paper pieced (how else would you get those marvelous points!)  Abby did a fantastic job piecing this beauty.

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I did some  free motion “wavy” quilting on the background  and stitched around the pointy border to give it more definition.Image

The center circles seemed to speak “bubbles” to me, so that is what went into the turquoise “water”.  Don’t you just love those circular flying geese?!

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Again, one of the best things about being a Long Arm quilter is that I get to put my creative quilting juices to work without having to do the intricate piecing.  I love this quilt!  It truly IS fabulous!Image                                         It’s fun to look at the back too!

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Keep those quilts coming.  I’m having fun!

 

 

Vintage Valentine

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Between my daily paintings I have been quilting a gorgeous quilt pieced and appliqued by Georgia.  The pattern is by Verna Mosquera.  It’s 72″ square.

ImageGeorgia’s hand applique is exquisite!

ImageImageImageQuilting closeup:  I quilted the background with pebbles, swirls, hearts and a feather or two.ImageImageImageSorry the pictures are kind of dark.  But I’m sure you can tell that this is one BEAUTIFUL QUILT.  Way to go Georgia.  It was such a pleasure to quilt.

 

On Broadway

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I’m been working on a couple of interesting quilts lately.  At first glance, they appear to be T-shirt quilts.  But actually, they are made from jackets that actors and other participants receive for each Broadway show they are involved in.  They were pieced by Lois from PA.  The piecing and quilting are a little more challenging because the jackets were made out of wool or satin and are heavy.  But I think they came out great.  A wonderful memory.

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Some Fabulous Quilting

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Here are more pictures from the International Quilt Show in Chicago last week.  I’m always attracted to wonderful quilting.  Here are some great examples.  Enjoy!  (Sorry I failed to get the name of the quilters).

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Sampler Quilt

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So what I have been doing lately?  Quilting for customers.  This one is a sampler quilt by my good friend, Gale.   The first pic is of the front of the quilt which is essentially a two color sampler.  The other pics are of the back where the quilting really shows up.  I love to quilt sampler quilts (where all the blocks are different).  I get to come up with different designs for each block.

Today I’m spending time working on my own projects.  Our guild has a quilt show coming up and I need to have my things finished by the end of August.  I have several quilts I want to show.  Unfortunately, most of them are still in my head.  That’s because I’m still designing them!    It would be much too easy to follow a purchased pattern.  Will any of these (imaginary) quilts make it to the show?  It’s too soon to tell.

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Color and Value

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Quilting with solid fabrics are all the rage now.  This quilt top was pieced by Judi Y.  She did a beautiful job.  The pattern is by Annie Smith from her workshop on value.  If you haven’t realized it already, all nine blocks are the same pattern.  The only difference is the placement of the colors, but more importantly the light and dark values.  As they say “Value does all the work, but color gets the credit”.  Another plus to using solids rather than prints is that the quilting really shows!  I had so much fun with this quilt and even got to use variegated thread.  I wish this quilt could come and live at MY house!

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Bouquet

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It’s very gray and rainy here today.  A perfect day to stay home and quilt!  Here is more quilter “eye candy” to brighten up your day.   This cute wallhanging was pieced and appliqued by Kathy H.   I think the quilting turned a very nice quilt into something really special.Image  The background quilting really makes the wool applique pop.  What do you think?

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Quilted House

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Here is more of what I’ve been working on lately.  This small house wallhanging was designed by Edyta Sitar .  The piecing and applique was done by Kathy H.  I had a lot of fun with the quilting.Image

I even added a little “flower garden” at the bottom.

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Christmas Door

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IMG_1011My friend Kathy is way ahead of the game by having me finish this beautifully pieced and appliqued wallhanging well before the Christmas rush. It’s a gorgeous quilt and I had so much fun doing the quilting. Since it is a wallhanging,  I used 80 %cotton/20% poly batting. It will have a flatter appearance (good for a wallhanging) and it has a little weight. It’s also important that the quilting be evenly distributed throughout the quilt.   If I do heavy quilting in one area, I really need to do pretty heavy, close together quilting throughout. Otherwise it could hang a little wonky.

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Basket Quilt

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What’s on my machine lately?  Christine’s  beautiful basket quilt.  The best thing about being a quilt “finisher” is getting to “draw” and play around on quilts I didn’t have to piece!  I get to be creative with a wide variety of styles, colors and patterns.  As much as I like to design and paint, my machine quilting business is my “real” job.   Image

Here’s a close up on the quilting.  Christine wanted an all over design.  I included leaves & curls with gold thread.  All my quilting is “drawn” free hand without any patterns or the aid of a computer.  The border fabric has leaves and strawberries, so I added a strawberry to each basket.  Image

Here’s the whole quilt.  I love the colors.  Now it just needs the binding.  It has a finished size of  75″ x 75″.

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Daily Quilting

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Sorry, but I haven’t been doing a lot of painting lately, so my blog posts have been suffering.  I am working on something that I will post in the next couple of days.

In the mean time, I am doing some sort of quilting everyday and although I started this blog to show off my watercolor drawings, I hope you don’t mind if I let you see what  quilts I have in progress.

Yesterday, I spent several hours in quilting workshop with celebrated quilting teacher Gyleen Fitzgerald.  We learned a real fun way to use up scraps with her Trash to Treasures Pineapple quilt workshop.  I got a good start on several blocks and I hope posting my progress now will give me the incentive to keep working so that  I can show you a finished project soon.  Here is a sneak peak.  I’m using “happy” colors!

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I’ve also been doing some long arm quilting.  Here is a quilt top designed by Bonnie Hunter that I have been working on pieced by my friend, Kathy.   One of the best things about being a professional quilter is having the opportunity to quilt tops that I would never have time to piece.  This one has way too many small pieces, but it’s going to be a gorgeous quilt when it is finished!

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That’s all for today.  I will keep you “posted” on future progress.