Everyone Loves a Tote

Handmade gifts are special.

I really enjoyed making these tote bags.

They are quick, easy and pretty.

Want to make this tote?

Click here for videos.

Table Topper

Spinning Table Topper
Have seen or used the Kaleido-Ruler by Marti Michell?
She demonstrates how to use the ruler in a video series on YouTube.
The ruler makes eleven sizes of the kaleidoscope block.
My 15-inch block is pieced differently than the video series.
For the free motion quilting, I did not have a plan. I only wanted to changes things up a little bit.

Soft, Stable & Sale

 

Here is a peek at one of the Christmas gifts I’m working on.

My guild has a orphan block table where quilters can donate, swap, or pick up unwanted blocks. I picked several large blocks specifically for free motion practice.

Each block will be a table topper so I decided to use Soft & Stable by Annie instead of batting. Soft and Stable is a cotton scrim covered foam.

The quilting is done with a top stitch 90/14 needle, and trilobal polyester embroidery thread.

Don’t forget all Craftsy online classes are $19.99. This is the time to enroll in classes that are normally, $49 or $39. I enrolled in a sewing class, Creative Serging and a quilting class, Playing with Curves.

WIP - Retreating to Advance

It was exciting to be at the November quilting retreat at Williamsburg Christian Retreat Center again.Women from as far away as Alaska, Canada, and New York join in the fun.

Significant progress has been made on several projects. However, the most important is the quilt for my mom. She picked a pattern from "Still Stripping After Twenty-five years" by Eleanor Burns

The blocks, sashing and the first of three borders of the queen-sized quilt are pieced. You can watch a demo of the rulers used to make the star points here. The video demo shows how to use the same ruler to make a fish.

Blogger's Quilt Festival Entry

Blogger’s Quilt Festival ~ Fall 2013

The Festival has begun! There are so MANY amazing quilt entries. You will be inspired and challenged as you view quilts in 15 categories.

Blogger’s Quilt Festival Schedule:

October 25 – 31 – Linky’s Open & Nominate for Viewer’s Choice
November 1 – 7 – Vote for favorites in each of the categories
November 8 – Winners announced

This piece was entered in the Art quilt category. This was so much fun to make. The plan - incorporate the following techniques in one piece:

• Free Motion Quilting
• Decorative Stitching
• Yarn Couching

There is just as much free motion quilting as there is decorative machine quilting. This project was ideal for learning new free motion designs and experimenting with thread colors as texture.

Virginia Star Quilters Quilt Show

View some beautiful quilts from my guild's quilt show by click the link above.

The Winner is.....

Wow, I won a Baby Lock Grace sewing machine at the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo!
My sister wanted to know how I won. It would be nice to say it was for one of my quilts. But, I just completed an entry form for a prize drawing. I really like the machine’s name, Grace.

Grace is the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.