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.

Free Motion Quilting: Speed & Control

Did you know that free motion quilting and driving a car are similar?  Really?  Yes!  Just imagine that the car is a needle and you want to direct the curvy winding roads it takes. Read more by clicking the photo.

 

Page 23 Quilt Challenge

There is a first time for everything. This is the first time I am participating in a quilt challenge. My guild, VA Star Quilters, presented a challenge for the bi-annual quilt show. Click the photo to read more about my submission, Four Feathered Friends.

Free Motion Quilting with the Janome 7700

 

Free Motion Quilting

I am so pleased with my Janome New Home 7700. I exclusively use it for free motion quilting. There is a BIG learning curve for free motion quilting that includes thread and needle combinations, and matching machine rhythm to eye, hand and foot coordination, as well as batting choices. 

The 7700 arrived in February 2013 and we bonded almost immediately!  My free motion quilting has improved dramatically. I do admit,  that the arrival of  7700 came at right time in my request to learn free motion quilting. I had already made and recovered from rookie mistakes. Do not get me wrong, there is still so much I want and need to learn in free motion quilting. 

 

I have learned so much from quilters, Leah Day, and  Patsy Thompson when I first began learning free motion quilting a few years ago. Now, I am learning from Ann Petersen,  and Cindy Needham too!

Whether you are just getting started with free motion quilting or a veteran I would love to hear about your experiences with the process. Share a link in the comments to your blog post about your free motion quilting challenges and victories. I love the worldwide quilting community!  I am learning so much. Thank you!!!

Houston, we have a problem

The problem is that I miss my 16-year-old niece, Cynarra.  We just spent 7 days hanging out doing what girls do. We cooked, baked, sewed, watched Youtube videos on quilting and baking, watched two Will Smith movies, one Jane Austin movie and more. Click photo to see photos and read about Cynarra's first quilt shop visit, and long-arm quilting experience.