Big Rig Quilting

I've been blogged....

2012-01-31T16:59:00.002-05:00

Well, some people don't waste any time. I hardly had time to read my issue of The Fat Quarterly when I found out someone had already gone and tried out the block I created for the issue. Yes, I haven't even had time to toot my own horn (that will come in a few days - stay tuned for what the challenge was and how I came up with this block!) Here is my virtual version of the block. It used fabric from the Spin Fabric line by Windham.

In the meantime - have a look at Debby's blog to see what she did with this block I designed.

And --- check out The Fat Quarterly now! A pattern for a quilt featuring this block is featured in the article.

Tool Box Tuesday - Modern Quilting Designs - Book Review

2012-01-30T16:15:00.000-05:00

No matter if you are a longarm quilter or if you quilt on a domestic sewing machine this new book which features over 90 quilting designs would be a welcome addition to your library. I would call this book a “design library” book. It does not give advice on how to do longarm quilting or domestic machine quilting, but rather it provides a wealth of line drawn designs.

The book begins with a section entitled Design Inspiration. In this section Bethany shows us how she takes a photograph - it might be a fern, it could be some jewelry - and uses it as inspiration for quilting designs. Personally, I have been collecting photos for this purpose but have never moved to the next step - this section is giving me the needed nudge to pull out some pictures and see what I can come up with.

The remainder of the book is what I would call a design library. Each of the subsequent sections: The Essentials Freehand Background Fillers), Doodle Away (Continuous-Line Designs), Showstoppers (Unusual, Fancy Continuous-Line Designs), Nature’s Patterns (Feathers, Ferns, Vines and Leaves), and Dynamic Focal Points (Medallions and Borders) present a wealth of different ideas. It is refreshing to see how Bethany has taken some designs we may have seen in the past and added her own look to them. She also gives us many new designs that we can use and adapt in our own work. The final section, Mix It Up (Design Combinations), was a great surprise and a welcome one. Here she shows how she might combine some of the designs presented in this book in a single quilt. By that I mean - a central design for the body of the quilt, a different design for the small narrow inner border, and finally a design for the other border. I might not have thought of some of the combinations she presents - but guess what - they work!

This is a great book to have in your library and to pull off the shelf when you have “hit the wall” and don’t know what to do. I think it can help spark your own creative imagination as you seek to develop and let your own quilting style grow and evolve.

The book is 111 pages long and is available in paper or as an E-Book from C&T Publishing

Big Rig in Print - Fons & Porter Easy Quilts

2012-01-30T14:07:00.001-05:00

I have a quilt featured in the recent (Spring 2012) issue of Easy Quilts from Fons & Porter, entitled Card Tricks.

It features the fabric line Ascot from Windham Fabrics.

I designed the quilt using the EQ7 software. I think the "virtual quilt" presented a very accurate rendition of what the actual quilt would look.

Finished Quilt

EQ7 Design

Here are some pictures which show how it was quilted on my HQ 16 using Aurifil 40 wt thread. It features a great deal of ruler work and some free motion designs in the wide border.

In the narrow outer border I quilted a piano key design using the straight edge of the Mini-Scallop ruler from HQ.

The ruled lines were a great aid in ensuring even spacing of the piano keys

In the wider border I quilted a swirling pattern.

I was at a loss about what to quilt in the blocks and I had a nice chat with my friend Debby Brown and she suggested this pattern. I really like how it turned out.

This shot of the back of the quilt gives you an idea of the overall quilting.

Big Rig in Print - McCall's Quick Quilts Feb/Mar 2012

2012-01-24T18:17:00.002-05:00

The February/March issue of McCall's Quick Quilts features my quilt Chelsea Flower Garden.

It is made using a panel that Kaffe Fassett created. It is a great quick and easy quilt to put together - perfect for giving a hint of Spring to any bedroom.

McCall's also did a great job showing how I spliced the striped fabric together for the borders. To have the stripes run the way they do in the quilt you need to cut them the width of the fabric (WOF) - and to get a border strip long enough you need to join strips together to fit the length of the quilt. They have a great photo spread in the magazine to show how I did this, but they also created a "how-to" video that is on their website.

When I quilted this quilt, I could have done an easy edge-to-edge design, but I wanted to do something special for this quilt. Here are some pictures to show you what I did. I quilted this on my HQ 16 using Aurifil 50wt thread. The quilting was a combination of free form quilting and ruler work. While I quilted this on my longarm -you could easily accomplish the same look using your domestic sewing machine.

I quilted a wavy pointed design in both of the stripe borders. I was thinking of doing it with straight lines but the nature of the fabric suggested something a little looser.

In the panels I quilted a wavy grid. Kaffe's fabrics call for a more casual approach to the quilting. I felt that a standard grid would be a bit too formal for these fabrics.

In the Center Blocks I did some detailed free-form outline stitching around the floral fabric. I simply let the fabric tell me where to quilt. I added simple arcs which created melon shapes where the blocks connect.

In the corner star blocks I again followed the floral patterns in the center of the blocks and then quilted pebbles in the star points and quilted ovals that followed the print of the gold fabric. Stitching in the ditch around the white triangles help to make this part of the block "POP" and frame the center portion of the block.

I hope you consider making this quilt either in the this color-way or using one of the other color ways. A kit with the fabrics I used is available from McCall's Quilting. (What about the black panel with some of the darker hued Westminster-Rowan fabrics - to create a quilt with an Amish feel)

I hope that this might give you some idea of how you might quilt this quilt - or how to quilt other quilts that might use similar blocks or similar fabrics.

Tool Box Tuesday - Precision & Panache

2011-12-27T06:00:00.000-05:00

I recently had the opportunity to meet and talk with Susan Cleveland at Quilt Market in Houston this fall. She is a person whose love of quilting is infectious. Her new book Precision & Panache is a wonderful resource for quilters of all levels. (Note: All images in this blog post presented with the permission of Susan K. Cleveland)

When we were talking about this book she said she wrote it to answer all those questions she gets when she does workshops: “Susan, how do you do.....”

This book is a great compilation of techniques and insights into how to add some character to your quilts - how to give them a little pizzaz and make them stand-out from all the others.

For the newbie - there is great basic information on techniques that you can grow into. For the not-so-new quilter this book is a great refresher of techniques you learned early on (or never learned and should have) and new ideas to add interest to our quilts.

So what will you learn......

how to cut accurately
machine appliqué
adding piping
embellishing
stitching with heavy threads
binding
prairie points
and much more.......

Susan first provides a clear and concise explanation of the specific technique. The photographs included are great and leave no questions about what she intends. She then provides small projects that incorporate the various skills and techniques that she just presented. I love that - you can make something small to practice the technique and end up with a little something for yourself - or a nice little gift for someone. Then, if you like move onto a larger quilt to incorporate these techniques.

And - she provides directions on how to do these various techniques if you are left-handed!!!

Here are images of some of the projects and techniques that you will find in the book.

Get a few of your quilting friends together, everyone get a copy of the book and then work on some of the techniques and projects together. (IT IS NOT OK TO PHOTOCOPY AND SHARE) What fun it will be to see how each of you can add your own take on Susan's ideas.

Ask for the book at your local quilt shop. If you can't find it there - visit Susan's website and order it there.

One of my goals for 2012 is to try new techniques and find new ideas to inspire me in my quilt designs. I tried her recommendations for getting a perfect quarter-inch seam - and it works, not only do I get a perfect quarter-inch seam, but I don't' have problems with my fabric twisting to the right and getting less then perfect seam at the end of the stitching. I hope to try some of her projects - so stay tuned to see what I come up with!

Precision & Panache: fine workmanship, fabulous details, outstanding quilts.

Susan K Cleveland
© 2011 Pieces Be With You
$28.00

www.PiecesBeWithYou.com

Design Wall Monday -26 December 2011

2011-12-26T10:43:00.000-05:00

Well, there has been a little progress on my Red/Orange/Yellow winding ways - Christmas does have a way of putting a kink in my sewing schedule.

I am going to add one more row of blocks at the bottom. I am not sure what colors to put into the missing sections - also considering putting a different color into the center "circle" - what are your thoughts?

Head over to Judy's Blog to see what everyone else is doing!

Design Wall Monday - 19 December 2011

2011-12-19T08:32:00.000-05:00

I'm still working on my Winding Ways blocks/samples. Here is a close up of the center block from the sample I am making with Kaffe/Westminster fabrics. (yes I did fussy cut the stripes)

As I mentioned last week - I am using the Marti Michell templates to cut out the pieces. This pattern is addictive and the templates make the block go together with such ease.

Here is the top as it is now. The top two rows are sewn together, I have to finish sewing the middle and right block for the bottom row and then join them all together. I was going to leave it as a 9 block sample, but I like how this is looking so I am going to make a bigger top - possibly 5 blocks by 5, or ?????

So, since this one is growing I needed to work on a smaller sample. So I dove into my stash of orange, red, yellow and now am adding some green to it and trying out a different design.

And, yes I do have more than enough fabric, but does one ever have MORE THAN ENOUGH? I came across the new Paula Nadelstern Patternista fabric and couldn't resist. I think these would be great in a winding ways pattern.

Head over to Judy's blog to see what everyone else is doinghttp://www.patchworktimes.com/2011/12/19/design-wall-monday-december-19-2011/

Design Wall Monday - 12 December 2011

2011-12-12T11:03:00.000-05:00

Well, I am working on some samples for a Winding Ways class I am teaching at The City Quilter in February.

I am using the Marti Michell templates to cut out the pieces - these are a gem. Easy to cut out lots of the shapes in no time at all. So I have been slicin' and dicin'.

Who would have thought sewing the blocks is WAY easier than picking out the fabric. Here are two versions I am working on - not really happy with either - but at least it is a start.

The first is an Amish inspired design

The second is a Kaffe/Westminster inspired design.

When everything is sewn I think I will have a few samples that are well planned out and one that just uses all the rejected pieces - and you know what - I bet I will like the real scrappy one. (yes scrappy is usually best!)

Head over to Judy's Blog and see what everyone else is doing.

Big Rig in Print - January/February 2012 McCall's Quilting

2011-12-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

I am happy to report that my first quilt pattern has been published in the January/February 2012 McCall's Quilting Magazine. If you subscribe to the magazine you should have already received it, if you don't subscribe it should be at local newsstands and your local quilt shops!

The wall hanging quilt is called Amish Glow and can be found on pages 80-81 of the magazine. I used a pack of Blue Lagoon from Cherrywood Fabrics for the blues in this quilt, the other fabric (Black, Grey, Pink) are Kona Solids.

McCall's also offers an up-sized version for a lap quilt as a free web download.

Here are a few close-up shots of the quilt and the quilting from the front.

Here are some views of the quilting from the back.

I quilted this on my HQ 16. The circles were quilted using the Pro-Stitcher on my machine and the in-th-ditch and grid quilting was accomplished with ruler work.

Stop by your local quilt shop to pick up a copy. If you are in New York City or passing through, stop by The City Quilter and pick up your copy while supplies last (and see the quilt!)

Thanks again to everyone at McCall's for making this happen!

Lessons in Red and White - Part 1

2011-12-08T15:10:00.000-05:00

It has been 9 months since the Infinite Variety: Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts show hit NYC (March 25 - 30, 2011). It was an event not to be missed. I had the opportunity to visit the show 4 times over the 6 days the show ran. The first glimpse of the room on that opening day was like opening a lifetimes worth of birthday, Christmas, and graduation presents all at once.

View as the doors were opened for the start of the show.

I spent hours there looking at the quilts and the quilting that comprised the quilts. It made me reflect a bit on my quilting journey and were we are in quilting today.

What struck me was the bold power and bold simplicity of these two colors. It made the geometry of the block patterns stand - in an energizing way. It drew me back to the simplicity (and complexity) of the Amish quilts with their use of solid colors and simple block patterns.

Many of the fabrics we have to work with today are ablaze with color and pattern - big bold patterns, big bold colors. But at this show - it was only Solid Red (if there was a print it was a very small print) and Solid White (I think it is safe to say - no prints). A bold contrast in value, a great statement of simplicity and clean lines. So, I recently sat back to reflect on how this show is changing and has changed how I approach my quilting.

I am looking at how I can create quilts from single block patterns
I am looking at how I can create dynamic quilts from only two colors, or ranges of value in two colors. And yes - working in solids.
Re-thinking how I approach my quilting - re-discovering the simplicity and complexity of grid and straight line quilting.
Discovering a desire to take up hand quilting - to find a small project that I can carry with me and work on. Not so much to re-discover an art form - but to help me "slow down" in this fast paced world, and to learn to enjoy the process as well as the product.

Now a question for all of you that either were at the show or have seen pictures of the show - how has your thinking about quilting - what and how you quilt been influenced in any way because of the show?

To view more pictures from the Infinite Variety show - visit my Flickr Page.

Design Wall Monday - November 7, 2011

2011-11-07T09:59:00.000-05:00

I have been away for a bit - a little vacation then Market and Festival in Houston - so there is not much on my design wall. I need to finish ASAP a sample for a Drunkard Path class I am teaching at the City Quilter this coming December.

I am going to work on this more today and hopefully I can have a more finished quilt top to show you next Monday.

But I also have some distractions around - fabric I purchased at the Sample Spree at Market.

Here are some Japanese wovens and taupes, and a great embroidery project from Pinwheels

Here is Paula Nadelstern's new collection Patternista for Benartex

An finally I purchased the entire Fat Quarter collection of Mary's Blenders from Windham.

Stop over to Judy's Blog and see what everyone else is doing.

Design Wall Monday - October 10, 2011

2011-10-10T14:02:00.001-04:00

Well, not much on my design wall today - I was in Salt Lake City this past week at the Handi Quilter facilities. My HQ Story was one of the ones chosen for their 2011 ad campaign. So, learned lots of stuff, had lots of fun - and of course we did some shopping. Here is some fabric that I purchased at some quilt stores in the area.

We stopped at Elaine's Quilt Block one evening and did some shopping and then the next night we convinced the van driver from the hotel to drop us off at Quilter's Haven. Quilter's Haven was featured in the Quilt Sampler Issue last year and Elaine's is in this year's issue. If you are ever in the Salt Lake City Area - these are "must stop" destinations!

Now head over to Judy's blog to see what everyone else is doing.

Heading to Salt Lake

2011-10-04T06:00:00.000-04:00

Well, I am catching a plane and heading out to Handi Quilter in Salt Lake City today. I was chosen to be one of the lucky participants in the 2011 Handi Quilter My HQ Story - Click on this link to read it My HQ Story!

I am going for a 3 day retreat at the Handi Quilter facilities in Salt Lake City. I am flying out a day early to visit some of the historic sites in Salt Lake City and rest up a bit for 3 days of fun play at the Handi Quilter facilities. I can't wait!

We have to bring a quilt top along - part of our retreat will be getting ideas of how to decide what quilting design(s) to use. I am going to take Gameboard with me. This was my entry in the first Challenge of the 2010 McCall's Design Star Challenge.

Stay tuned for pictures and reports when I get back next week.

Design Wall Monday - October 3, 2011

2011-10-03T10:27:00.001-04:00

I am having fun playing around with some Kaffe & Friends Fabrics. I am working on a sample for a class that I am teaching in December at The City Quilter in NYC.

I am going to add another row so that the top will measure 60 x 60.

Pop over to Judy's Blog to see what everyone else is doing.

Design Wall Monday - Sept 26

2011-09-26T10:12:00.002-04:00

Not much on my design wall today - I have had family visiting and haven't been able to get to my machine or most of my fabric --- but because of this limitation I have discovered a new obsession. English Paper Piecing! Who knew these little hexagons could be so addictive and it is great to use up scraps of fabric - I am playing with 1 inch hexagons and they use a 2.5 inch square of fabric!

I have this one made out of some scraps of reproduction Baltimore Album fabric by Mary Koval for Windham Fabric. Not sure what I am going to do with this one and the others that are in progress. I don't know that I will make a whole quilt out of them, but might create a little wall hanging.

Any of you do English Paper Piecing? What do you do with all of your creations?

Stop over to Judy's Blog to see what everyone is doing.

Big Rig on the Road - Sew Inspired - Simsbury, CT

2011-08-24T08:43:00.000-04:00

Last month I had the opportunity to escape New York City for an overnight trip. We headed up to Simsbury, CT. While Ray was off teaching a day long harp seminar I was left to wander the quaint town of Simsbury, CT. Well I didn't wander very much because most of my time was spent in a wonderful quilt store - Sew Inspired.

The shop is tucked away in a group of shops in the Fiddler's Green at the corner of Hopmeadow and Wilcox Streets.

You step down a few stairs from the entrance to be welcomed by this great display outside of the store.

This great store is run by Viv and Sandy and a great group of other employees. These two women have a great sense of color and style. Their fabric selection is wonderful. They have over 4,000 blots of fabric - a great selection of Batiks! (Just one of the great things they do is put a tag on each new bolt of fabric so you can easily find all the new additions to the store)

In addition to the fabric they have a great selection of notions, patterns, and books.

They started out in a small store in the lower level, grew, moved to a larger space, and then later took back their original space and turned that into their classroom. (sorry didn't get a picture of this but it is really nice!) They offer some great classes! You can rent out the classroom space for your own use or even your quilt group. They also have the Studio AccuQuilt in the class room and after taking a training session you can rent time on the machine to slice and dice those pieces for your quilt in no time!

They are also a Handi Quilter dealer and offer great classes in quilting with top-notch teachers. Debby Brown was just there the weekend before I visited (DANG I missed her - she is a great teacher - look for her on an episode of Quilt It! The Longarm Quilting Show on QNN next season!)

So if you are passing through Conneticutt this is a place you must visit - Fall is coming - it would be a great trip to see the leaves and buy some fabric.

We stayed across the street at a wonderful inn The Simsbury 1820 House - it's great because you can walk to the store from the Inn (it's right across the street). But you will want to drive to the shop - you won't want to lug all your fabric purchases back across the street and up the hill - drive your car and you can easily take your fabric out to the car, dump them in the car, and then recharge by eating at one of the wonderful restaurants in Fiddler's Green! (and then most likely heading back to the shop to buy that one piece of fabric you know you really need and should have bought in the first round of buying!)

Design/Technique Class

2011-08-19T11:00:00.001-04:00

I will be teaching a combination design/curve piecing class at the City Quilter in New York City in September. I have taken the traditional Drunkard's Path block - added a few half-square triangles and created a new block that I call Infinite Possibilities. The pattern looks great in all fabrics and would create a fun scrap quilt.

The Drunkard's Path block provides endless possibilities for design and with the addition of these new elements it seems like the possibilities have increased. Here are some samples that I made (they are hanging at the shop).

This sample uses Asian inspired fabrics

30s Repros add a fun note to this one - it sort of reminds me of those adaptors I had to use in those old 45 records

This design reminds me of Art Deco fans

I call this one Millstone - stepping up the color/value placement helps to create a secondary design.

Here is the same pattern as with the 30 Repros - creating an entirely different look. What would happen if you switched out the lights for darks, and darks for lights - come and find out!

I call this one Waves - someone called it Falling Leaves - what would you call it?

I hope you might consider taking the class (here is a LINK to the class schedule- the class is on page 3). The class meets for two sessions, September 15th and 29th from either 12-2 or 6-8. We will be dealing with color/value placement and block arrangement as well as different techniques for curve piecing. I am using a commercially available template which makes cutting out the pieces a breeze. Spread the word to others who you think might be interested.

Not in NYC - I would be happy to come to your store/guild and teach the class - the sessions could be combined into a class that runs an afternoon or an entire day. Drop me a note at bigrigquilting@gmail.com for more details.

Thanks!

John

Design Wall Monday - Ascot - August 8, 2011

2011-08-08T07:47:00.005-04:00

I'm back! Sorry to have disappeared but vacations crept in and .... well you know.

Here is some fun shirting fabric from Windham Fabrics. It is from their new line Ascot which is shipping to stores NOW.

I created a pattern for them featuring this fabric that you can download for FREE from their website! Here is a shot of a sample that I made for them for spring market in Salt Lake City which shows a miniature version (it is hanging over the railing in the far right side of the picture)

The fabric is a lot of fun, there are images of chickens, cards, keys, horses and horseshoes, umbrellas, bees, and anchors - great graphics printed on dark blue, cream, black, and a wonderful rich rich red. (I have a weakness for Red - it's my "neutral" and Windham has some of the best reds on the market - especially in these shirting fabrics- if you love red fabric - you need to add these to your stash. By the way the blues are pretty good too!)

Here is the front page of the pattern which is called Bet Your Lucky Stars.

The finished quilt measures 58" x 71". You can easily upsize/dowsize the quilt by changing the number of blocks you use (finished blocks measure 12")

I am working on more pattern designs and would love to know what kind of patterns you are looking for.

And here is a page showing the fabrics used in the quilt.

If your local quilt shop doesn't carry the line - get them to get it in. If they aren't going to carry it - head on over to The Patchwork Co. - they should have it in stock soon and you can order it from them online. If they don't have it up on their site yet - just send an email or give them a call and ask if it is in stock. The staff there is very helpful and friendly.

Head over to the Windham Fabrics Website to see the fabric up-close and to download this FREE pattern, and browse a lot of other free patterns they have. Also, have a look at some of the other great fabrics - their well-know reproductions to their great contemporary fabrics - which will be hitting stores soon.

Head over to Judy's blog to see what everyone else is doing.

Big Rig on the Road - Kutztown Folk Festival

2011-07-20T06:00:00.002-04:00

Every July Kutztown, PA throws a big party called the Kutztown Folk Festival. It celebrates the heritage of the Pennsylvania countryside in this part of the state -namely that of the Pennsylvania Dutch. The festival begins the weekend before the 4th of July and ends the weekend after the 4th of July.

It is an event not to be missed for anyone who enjoys folk-art. It has the atmosphere of a country fair, wonderful crafts and folk-art artisans, some farm animals and of course ...... good food - how about an Oxtail Sandwich- YUM YUM , homemade ice cream - triple YUM , apple dumplings WITH vanilla ice cream - OH SO GOOD!

There is a large building that houses hand-made quilts (most of which were hand quilted). They are all for sale - those that are hanging around the room at the ceiling are auctioned on the last Saturday of the show.

In addition to the quilting demonstrations - there are many people exhibiting and demonstrating traditional crafts.

And if you are weary from walking around there are stages set-up around the festival where you can sit down, rest and enjoy some wonderful entertainment.

And if you get hungry - there is a wealth of homemade food to please your taste buds.

To see more shots from the festival visit my Flickr page.

The dates for 2012 are June 30th - July 8th. I plan on going back - I hope to see some of you there.

McCall's Design Star - What I Learned

2011-06-14T12:17:00.000-04:00

The mail arrived yesterday and a new/old friend returned - my quilt Polaris from the final round of the McCall's Design Star Contest came back home.

This quilt was made with Mary Koval's line of fabric Baltimore Album from Windham Fabrics.

With it were copies of the July/August issue of McCall's Quilting with an article about the 8 finalists.

It is hard to believe that it was just over 10 months ago when I began the journey of jumping into the first design contest that McCall's sponsored. I always joked that there should be a version of Project Runway just for quilters and this seemed to fit the bill. So I looked through some of the quilts I had made, picked one and sent it off. And it seems that before I knew it I was taking part in the first challenge and then time flew and I found it was the end of December and I was sending off my final entr.

So, what did I learn from taking part in this contest? Well....

"Nothing ventured, nothing gained" is a phrase that is often thrown around - and it's true. What is the worse that could have happened - I get cut in the first round, maybe my pride would be hurt a bit - but hey give it a shot.
Love your design wall - it is your friend.
When you think you hit the proverbial "brick wall" - walk away (yes even for a whole day - maybe two) - do something different. Take a break. Come back with a fresh eye - it's amazing what happens.
Don't limit yourself - be willing to think "outside the box". I just dumped all sorts of ideas/concepts onto a sheet of paper - no matter how crazy or absurd. My first choice for a challenge wasn't always what I ended up doing, but this list gave me options to come back to.
Time constraints can be a very good thing. We didn't have much time to play around - so it was come up with and idea and go for it. Sometimes I tend to "over think" things - here it was FOCUS - DECIDE - GO WITH IT.
Limits can help you be more creative than you think. Granted they can be very frustrating, but it can also lead to new creative ideas. When I received a package of 10 fat quarters for the second challenge and had to use 8 of the 10 - I said ....... (you can fill in the blank with your own sentiments).

So - how does this apply to you?

Don't be afraid to enter a contest or put a quilt in a show. The feedback from friends (old and new) and is a great thing.
Step outside your comfort zone. Try working in a new colorway or different fabric line. It's like trying something at a restaurant that you think you don't like. Sometimes you find out that - yes I really don't like it and other times it's - Why didn't I try this sooner! (Remember - "Nothing ventured ...)
When you hit that wall - that "quilters block" - do something to recharge yourself - It might not even be fabric/quilting related! Take a walk, go to a museum, or..... (in my book - chocolate and ice cream always help - combine the two - pure bliss - but I digress!)
Take a class exploring something which is "not you" - you might learn to like it - maybe love it, but you won't know if you don't try. I bet that you come away with some new idea/trick you can apply to your own work - and you might even meet a new quilting friend.
Challenge yourself - get some quilting friends together and challenge yourselves to create something - design your own challenge.

Happy Quilting!

Design Wall Monday

2011-05-23T06:00:00.003-04:00

I had the chance to take two days of classes with Kaffe Fassett last week that were organized by Sally Davis. The first day we worked on his Big Bang quilt pattern from his book Caravan of Quilts. The second day we worked on a pattern from his new book that is coming out in September.

Here are a few shots of my quilt based on the Big Bang pattern

Here is a picture of the quilt from the second day. The pattern, Sunlight in the Forest, will be in his new book that is coming out in September. This one still needs a lot of work - stay tuned for a revised version of this quilt

I enjoyed the two days with Kaffe - it was a wonderful opportunity to work with him and gain a greater understanding of the use of color, value, and contrast. If you ever have the chance to take a class with him - do it! It is worth it.

Stop over to Judy's Blog and see what everyone else is doing

Red and White Show: Red Cross Quilt

2011-05-05T10:25:00.000-04:00

Here is a little video from the Red and White show for all of you Redwork fans.

Red and White Video Part 3

2011-04-25T06:00:00.001-04:00

Here is the last of a three part video series that features the pictures I took at the Red and White Exhibition. Ray Pool edited my photos into 3 videos. They are accompanied by music from his CD The Crystal Spring

Red and White Video Part 2

2011-04-18T06:00:00.000-04:00

Here is the second of a three part video series that features the pictures I took at the Red and White Exhibition. Ray Pool edited my photos into 3 videos. They are accompanied by music from his CD The Crystal Spring

Red and White Video Part 1

2011-04-11T17:50:00.000-04:00

Here is the first of a three part video series that features the pictures I took at the Red and White Exhibition. Ray Pool edited my photos into 3 videos. They are accompanied by music from his CD The Crystal Spring

Windham Fabrics Give Away!

2011-04-04T10:46:00.000-04:00

Visit Windham Fabrics for their Spring Give Away - Click on this link and find out how!

Windham Fabric Spring Give Away

Infinite Variety: Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts

2011-03-31T16:12:00.002-04:00

Infinite Variety: Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts, a set on Flickr.

Infinite Variety: Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts

2011-03-31T16:00:00.000-04:00

From March 25 - 30th the American Folk Art Museum hosted an exhibition of 651 Red and White quilts from the collection of Joanna S. Rose. Her husband asked her what she wanted for her 80th birthday. She said she wanted to give New York City a free gift and wanted to see all of her quilts at once. So, this even was born.

It was an amazing event, many who attended compared it to the Cristo Gates in Central Park - it wasn't just a quilt show. It was an event - a happening. I do not know what the final count of visitors was but at the start of the last day it had been reported that around 15,000 people had been there to see the show.

Here are two ways for you to enjoy the show. The first is a short home-made video that was taken on the last day - it gives you an idea of the scope of the exhibition.

The second is to visit my Flickr page and browse through the pictures I took.

Enjoy!

Design Wall Monday - 28 March 2011

2011-03-28T13:36:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone - sorry to have fallen off the blog map for a little while.

I have been taking some time to recover and regroup after the McCall's Design Star Contest. And something that has been keeping me busy is that I have designed some patterns for Windham Fabrics. Here is the first one - The fabrics are from their new line Ascot. It''s a fun line head over to their web site to see all the cool patterns that are part of this line.

I am still working on a name - but here is the quilt designed in EQ7.

Head on over to Judy's Blog and see what everyone else is up to.

McCall's Design Star - the next generation!

2011-03-16T08:11:00.000-04:00

Guess what??????????

Yes - McCall's is at it again and now it is your turn! We all had fun creating designs in the contest last year and you all had a great time rooting us on and voting. Now it's your turn.

Check out the McCall's Site for more information on the 2011 McCall's Design Star Contest

By the way - they changed the schedule - you DON'T have to get your final quilt done by the end of the Christmas Holidays! (and there are some great sponsors and prizes this year!)

Can't wait to see your quilts in the contest.

You never know, so.....

2011-03-07T09:13:00.000-05:00

... you better do a good job!

One of my longarm mentors once mentioned that you never know when a quilt might show up in a show - so you better be happy with what you let out the door. And I recently found out that is SO true.

I quilted a quilt for a friend of mine, Sally Davis, this past fall. It was one of those calls you get - "I need two quilts done fast - they are samples for kits, can you do them? I said -"Sure." I juggled my schedule a bit, quilted the quilts, sent them off to Sally and they did their duty as samples for some kits. Much to my surprise when I went to the The Quilt Fest of New Jersey this past Thursday there was a special exhibition of quilts that have graced Kaffe Fasset's books and quilts that were inspired by his books. Lo, and behold I turned a corner - there was one of the quilts I did for Sally.

I quilted this on my HQ 16 using Aurifil Thread.

So, it's true - be happy with what you send out the door, and be equally happy when someone shares their work (and yours) with the quilting world!

McCall's Design Star - My prize box arrived

2011-02-09T18:01:00.003-05:00

A box arrived on Tuesday Morning from McCall's with some wonderful goodies for being a runner up in the McCall's Design Star Contest.

I received some fabric from Windham, Red Rooster, and Moda

A few more rulers from Olfa - love these frosted rulers. I received a frosted Olfa ruler in one of the earlier packages and love using it. I look forward to using these new ones.

A cutting mat and two rulers for cutting strips from June Tailor

And finally a Quilters Tote from June Tailor to carry all these wonderful things in!

Finally - two last pictures taken the night it was finished - they were both taken by Randy Duchaine. The first is one of me with my "halo".

The second is a picture of Ray Pool and me standing in front of the quilt - Ray helped put food in front of me at dinner time and kept pushing me forward during the long hauls in the challenge! (He is a mean seam presser - see all those log cabin blocks and the triangle blocks in the border - I was chain piecing those and he was slaving over a hot iron pressing the the blocks so I could add yet another row or triangle - he kept saying "Are we done for the night" - and I kept saying "Not yet!" - I think he was sorry he volunteered but I am glad he did!)

Thanks again to all of the industry sponsors who have been so generous with prize gifts and also thanks to all of you who have been so supportive of my work over the past 5 months! I look forward to sharing more with you in the months ahead.

Look for the July/August Issue of McCall's Quilting - they will have an article about the winner of the contest -and something about all of us runner-ups!

Happy Quilting

Design Wall Monday - 7 February 2011

2011-02-07T08:34:00.000-05:00

Well, I am still playing around with the blocks from last week. I put all of them up on the wall to see what I might come up with. I discovered I have some more of this fabric so I will make a some blocks to fill in the empty holes.

And - a special thanks to all of you who voted for me in the McCall's Design Star Contest. (Click on the link to see the winning quilt). I landed in a runner-up position. It was a great experience and I was happy to have shared it with all of you and to have had your support and encouragement. Look in the July/August issue of McCall's Quilting for an article about the winner and also an article about the runner ups.

Stop by Judy's Blog to see what everyone else is doing.

McCall's Design Star - And the winner is......

2011-02-04T10:48:00.000-05:00

The results are in for the McCall's Contest and I am a runner up. Congratulations to the winner, Kathleen Whiting from Heber, UT. Check out the McCall's site so that you can see her quilt.

You can still see all the quilts in the finals. After you go to the link above and see the winning entry scroll down and click on my picture it will take you to my bio page, and then click on the "Vote" button and it will take you to the page with the pic of my quilt. (if you like you can leave a final note here in the comment section - it won't appear immediately) In the upper left there is a tab that says "View Gallery" if you click on that you can see all the quilts from the final round. There is also a drop down box that allows you to look at the quilts from all the rounds of competition.

In the contest there is the one winner and the rest of us are in the runner-up category with no indication of 2nd, 3rd, etc. The winner will have a spread in the July/August Issue of the Magazine. They will also be featuring the other finalists in that issue - so look for the magazine starting in June on the news stands.

Also - CLICK HERE and go to a page on the McCall's site where you can register to win a prize package of goodies - with a lot of the same stuff I received along the way. You have until February 6th to enter.

And according to the McCall's Blog there will be a Design Star 2011 Contest - so get those design juices flowing - give it a try - it is worth all the effort!

Thanks again for all of your support.

John

Design Wall Monday - 31 January 2011

2011-01-31T09:49:00.002-05:00

Still trying to figure out what to do with my project from last week - so I decided to create another project to add to the UFO pile. I had some striped fabric - so I cut triangles and had fun putting them back together -

This is as far as I got - not sure how I am going to set them.

Not sure what I will call it.. It sort of makes me a bit dizzy - so...

Eye Test

Hangover

or?????

Head over to Judy's blog and see what everyone is up to.

And - only 3 days left to vote in the McCall's Design Star Contest Click and vote - I will let you know the results on Friday. And all y'all have to get your design engines geared up - the McCall's blog says they are going to do the contest again! Give it a try - there is a lot of great design work happening in this group - think about entering, you never know what might happen!

McCall's Design Star Update - the final week!

2011-01-30T17:51:00.000-05:00

Here is an update on the McCall's Design Star Contest.

Voting continues through next Wednesday, February 2, 2011. McCall's will be posting the notification of who won on their website on Friday- I will also post a note both here and on Facebook.

To celebrate the end of the contest McCall's will be holding a Quilt Design Star™ party on their website from February 4 through Sunday February 6, 2011. Make sure you check it out at www.McCallsQuilting.com . They will be holding a one-time celebration give-away that includes items similar to a prize package that I received. All of the finalists challenge pages will still be up so that you can leave comments, and continue to enjoy all of the quilts.

And lastly - the winning designer will be featured in McCall’s Quilting July/August 2011 issue.

So ---- keep the votes coming - get your friends to vote!

Design Wall Monday - 24 January

2011-01-24T08:30:00.001-05:00

I played around with my half-square triangles from last week. This is what they looked like last Monday.

After some shifting around they turned into this.

I am not sure if I am going to leave it as it is and turn it into a wall hanging, or add some borders and turn it into a throw.

Or... should I turn it on point, square it up and finish it this way.

Or, there might be other options, not sure yet what those might be.

Inquiring minds want to know - what would you do.

And head over to Judy's Blog to see what everyone else is doing.

And thank you for all of your support and encouragement in the McCall's Challenge - Voting continues through February 3 at 1am Mountain Time. Click on the link in the right margin to see the quilt and to vote

Design Muse Thursday - Border Ideas - Columbus Circle

2011-01-20T06:30:00.001-05:00

The subway stations in New York are adorned with wonderful mosaics. Border designs abound - here are some shots of the mosaics at the Columbus Circle Station. I hope they might spark an idea or two for your own work.

Toolbox Tuesday - Book Reviews - January 18

2011-01-18T11:20:00.000-05:00

I have to admit - that besides collecting fabric I am a sucker for books. I see a new quilt book that looks good, I buy it. Sometimes I realize that I haven't looked at some books for ages - but "you just never know when you might need it" and if you don't buy it now "it might not be there when you need it."

Two books from C&T Publishing that were extremely helpful in creating my quilt Polaris for the McCall's Design Star Competition were Drafting for the Creative Quilter (C&T 2010) and Borders, Bindings & Edges (C&T 2004) - both by Sally Collins.(Both are still available from C&T!)

These two books are, in my opinion, "MUST HAVES" on your quilting bookshelf. Yes, on first glance you might say - these look too technical, too complex, too precise - but there really is something for everyone. (If you are a Virgo you will LOVE these -I'm not -even with the shift in recent re- calculation in Zodiac Signs - and I still love them!)

In Drafting for the Creative Quilter (C&T 2010) Sally shows you how to analyze various blocks, how to re-size, how to design with blocks of different sizes, how to take a block and re-design it/adapt it/alter it, etc... the list goes on. On the broader level - this is a great book solely for design inspiration. It can help spark your creativity to think differently about your quilt designs and block designs. I don't know that I would have been able to draft the 8 point start block that I used in Polaris. Each of the star points is measures 11 inches from the center point out to the tip!

In addition to drafting blocks she has wonderful insights into color placement, scale, and other design elements that can be used in creating any quilt.

The second book Borders, Bindings & Edges (C&T 2004). In her thorough fashion - Sally deals with I think just about every border possibility that is possible - including how to put a 1/8th inch border on a quilt to make a section pop. (YES - 1/8th of an inch). I didn't put an 1/8th inch border in - but I did adapt her technique for putting in some 1/4 inch highlights. The white in both of these borders is1/4 inch and it really helps the central square-on-point pop.

If I didn't have then small white border the central medallion would loose it's impact. If I put a bigger border there the effect wouldn't be the same AND my border that squares up the quilt wouldn't fit! The information in this book helped me figure out how to, as Tim Gunn on Project Runway would say "Make it work"

She provides wonderful instructions on how to figure out what size spacing strips you need to include to make your borders fit, what to think about when deciding "how wide do I need to make that border - should it be 3 inches, 6 inches or ???). There are great ideas different border designs and on how to take those designs around the corner. Again - the technical person will love this book - but if you aren't the "precise piecer" - you will find loads of info that you can use. How to make borders fit, how to make bindings, how to caclcuate bindings, how to apply different finishes ....... the list goes on and on.

If you don't have these books in your library - get them - you won't be sorry!

Design Wall Monday - January 17

2011-01-17T14:27:00.000-05:00

I picked one of the charm packs from Moda that I received in one of the goodie bags from the McCall's Design Star Challenge. Since I am presently taking a design class where we are only using triangles - I thought I would see what I could do. I cut out some 5 inch squares in brown, drew a line on the diagonal and chain pieced all of these cut them apart and I now have 74 blocks. I am playing around to see what I can do - here is one attempt - not crzay about it.

Stop by Judy's Blog to see what everyone else is doing.

Design Muse Thursday - Border Designs-Met Museum

2011-01-13T10:21:00.001-05:00

Walking around New York City I encounter numerous different architectural details in the buildings, subway stations and museums. Many inspirational ideas for borders keep popping out. Here are some pictures I took on a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. I hope they might spark an idea or two for your own work.

McCall's Design Star - Quilting Polaris - Part 1

2011-01-12T09:56:00.002-05:00

I am going to do a series (3) blog posts and will share with you how I did some of the quilting in my quilt for the final round of the McCall's Design Challenge

I first stabilized the quilt with in-the-ditch quilting - this quilting was both functional (in stabilizing the quilt), and decorative (adding quilting design.)

For all of my in-the-ditch quilting I used Aurifil 50/2 thread. For the darker colored fabric I used Black (2692) and for the lighter colored fabrics I used Grey (2605).

For my batting I used one layer of Quilters Dream Cotton Select as the bottom layer (next to the backing) and on top of that I placed a layer of Hobbs Heirloom Washable Wool Batting. The combination of the two created nice depth and dimension.

This was quilted on a Handi Quilter 16 with a Pro-Stitcher. I did not use the Pro-Stitcher for the in-the-ditch quilting, but did use it for some other portions of the quilt.

I used the VersaTool by Handi Quilter to do all my in-the-ditch stitching.

I prefer this tool for in-the-ditch stitching. The indentations allowed me to have greater control in guiding my machine. Also- the length of the quilting space was ample - in fact a good check. When I needed to reposition the tool - it was time for me to reposition myself (physically move my body) so that I was aligned properly with the machine head and had proper control over the quilting.

I purchased my VersaTool through my Handi Quilter dealer The Quilt Basket. It is quarter inch thick and will work on all machines that require a template this thick.

First I made sure that I had my Ruler Base on the machine. This added a platform on which my VersaTool could rest. It gives support and stability.

The VersaTool has an indentation with quarter inch markings at both ends. I lined these etched marks up with my seam line,

Lined my hopping foot up with the corner

held the tool firmly (but not with a death grip!)

and stitched along the tool (SLOWLY!!)

When I came to the end I repositioned and continued to the corner seam.

I used my stitch regulator and had it set to 12 stitches/inch.

Next week (January 19) I will show you how I quilted the Lightning Bolt Border design. On January 26 I will have a post on how I used the Pro-Stitcher and digital designs in this quilt.

The fabric in the quilt is from the Baltimore Album Collection by Mary Koval for Windham Fabrics.

I hope you will vote for the quilt in the McCall's Design Star Contest. CLICK HERE TO VOTE.

Design Wall Monday - 10 January 2011

2011-01-10T11:34:00.000-05:00

Well, not much happening here - still coming up for air after the McCall's Contest. My plan this week is to see what I make with some of the freebies that I received as part of the contest. Here are some of the charm packs I received. I am going to see what I can do with these....

In the meantime stop by Judy's Blog and see what everyone else is doing.

OH - and don't forget to VOTE!

McCall's Design Star - Let the voting begin...

2011-01-06T23:25:00.001-05:00

Hello everyone - the voting has begun CLICK HERE to get some background about the quilt and to be able to vote - or click on the icon in the right side bar.

My quilt Polaris measures 72 x 72.

The fabric is the Baltimore Album Collection by Mary Koval for Windham Fabrics. I quilted it on a Handiquilter 16 using templates, freehand quilting, and computerized designs (Pro-Stitcher) I used Aurifil thread in the project. I used 50 weight to stitch in the ditch on the quilt, and 40 weight for the quilting designs.

Make sure you leave a comment in the comment box when you vote - you can vote every day! Please do!

Design Wall Monday - McCall's Design Star - 2 January

2011-01-03T13:14:00.000-05:00

Well, this is what my design wall looks like today.

EMPTY!

And I am glad it is - because it means that my quilt for the McCall's Design Star Challenge is finished! Here is a shot of the front of the quilt.

Here are a few shots of the back of the quilt.

The finished quilt measures 72 x 72. The fabric is the Baltimore Album Collection by Mary Koval for Windham Fabrics. I quilted it on a Handiquilter 16 using templates, freehand quilting, and computerized designs (Pro-Stitcher) I used Aurifil thread in the project. I used 50 weight to stitch in the ditch on the quilt, and 40 weight for the quilting designs.

And thanks to some friends - clockwise from 12 noon: Diane Rode Schneck, Susan C. Sato, Marilyn Gore Kappel, and last but not least - me! Sewing the binding on the quilt on Sunday Jan 2 ( yes I had to agree to have the football game[s] on in the background for one of the participants) No sound from the football game - just some good Ella Fitzgerald and the like playing on the CD player.

Stop by Judy's Blog to see what everyone else is up to.

AND voting begins this Friday January 7. Get ready to visit the McCall's site and vote for your favorite quilt (hopefully mine!)

McCall's Design Star - Race to the Finish - 30 December 2010

2010-12-30T14:56:00.001-05:00

Yes, it is getting down to the wire for my entry in the McCall's Design Star Challenge ! But the end is in sight. A special thanks to Fran and Murray at The Patchwork Co. in Windham, NY. for shipping out some more supplies to me on Christmas Eve. The fabric arrived on Monday (despite the blizzard in NYC!) and I have been busy sewing.

Here is the quilt top right now (it measures 66 x 66). The fabric is the Baltimore Album Collection by Mary Koval for Windham Fabrics

I have some log cabin borders that I am playing around with.

I am trying to decide on what shade of yellow/gold to use to make things pop a bit.

What does the schedule look like?

Finish the quilt today and get it on the Handiquilter - and stabilize it (quilt in the ditch). If I am not too tired I will do some quilting tonight.

Tomorrow - finish the quilting and sew the binding on the top side (hopefully before 2011 arrives!)

Saturday - I am having a binding party - Some friends are coming over - everyone will take a side of the quilt and stitch the binding down.

Sunday - Do any last minute fixes that might be needed and box it up.

Monday - Ship it overnight mail to McCall's in Colorado. Have a celebration dinner!

Tuesday - COLLAPSE.

Design Wall Monday -McCall's Design Star - 27 December 2010

2010-12-27T12:44:00.000-05:00

Well, I had to work all weekend playing Christmas Services at church, so not much sewing got done - and I ran out of some fabric for my entry in the McCall's Design Star Challenge . I am waiting (hoping the post office can get through the snow today in NYC) for the order I placed on Friday from The Patchwork Co. in Windham, NY.

I tried one color way for the next set of borders and didn't like it.

Then I tried this new color way and like the way it looks.

I am going to going to use the arrangement that is in the upper right top (blocks arranged/offset differently on the left side)

Today - I will finish this border and the triangle sections and (fingers crossed) start on the final border of log cabins. Tomorrow - it is a log cabin border day!

Head over to Judy's Blog to see what everyone else is doing.

McCall's Design Challenge - Race to the Finish 22 December

2010-12-22T20:10:00.000-05:00

Here is what has been accomplished today for my quilt in the McCall's Design Star Challenge.

I added a 1 inch border around the central medallion (.25 of white, .5 of gold, .25 of white) and then added the 2 borders of half circles.

The Aurifil Thread to quilt the quilt is here thanks to the everyone at Bigfork Bay Cotton Company and Follow that Thread.

OK - back to the rotary cutter and the sewing Machine!

McCall's Design Star - Race to the Finish - 21 December 2010

2010-12-21T08:37:00.001-05:00

My revised schedule for the McCall's Design Star Competition gives me 9 days to complete the entire quilt - can it be done??? Well, it has to be done - so YES! My goal is to ship it out no later than December 30th.

A recap of where I was yesterday morning. This is what the quilt looked like on the wall yesterday morning.

And I still had several applique blocks to complete.

Yesterday I finished the reverse applique blocks (Another check off the to-do-list!) I decided to partially stitch the rows together so that I could have a better sense of what they looked like. My original plan of having them square off the quilt didn't feel right - so I shifted gears and put them around the central medallion (after reverse appliqueing 50 blocks you can rest assured they would FIT somewhere!!!) And I think it works -

Here is a close up of the border - the two rows are not yet sewn together..

I am testing out some colors for some spacer borders to adjust for the difference between the central medallion and the border.

This morning I plan on attaching the spacer borders. I am also going to prep the four inner corner blocks so that I can turn the corner - I am going to use the same blue fabric with a gold circle in the center. I am still playing around with a few ideas of how to turn the corner on the outer/darker border. Here is a picture of the paper template positioned in place to give you an idea of how iI will turn the corner on the inner border.

The fabric for this quilt is the Baltimore Album Collection by Mary Koval for Windham Fabrics

I have to head off to the last rehearsals with the choirs before Christmas - so not a lot of sewing is going to get done today. I hope the spirit of Santa's Elves (that means all of you!) will be in my sewing room in spirit on Wednesday to help me push through so that I can finish this quilt. Goal: Finish the top by Dec 23rd! Wish me luck!

Some of you have asked about patterns for the quilts I have had in the competition. I am going to work on writing up the patterns after the first of the year - I will keep you posted about when/where they will be available.

In January I will give more background about Medallion Quilts - their history and development and resources that I found helpful in creating this quilt.

Design Wall Monday - McCall's Design Star- December 20

2010-12-20T10:26:00.000-05:00

OK - a few of you wrote to me to say that I was making you nervous about my finishing the quilt for the McCall's Design Star Challenge - so if you were nervous last week - hang onto your seats this week.

A few things happened to delay my progress - a few customer quilts that needed to be done, regular church music work ('tis the season!) and a moment when I said "I don't think that will really work, so I need to make it again." (yes, I made another central medallion - I now will have a matching pillow for my quilt with the cast off!)

I am behind, but the plan is revised.I canceled my out of town trip to visit family next week - they said - "We were wondering how I was going to get the quilt done and come and visit later". I called in reinforcements for some help - and I might do that again.

Here are two drawings of the quilt that are up on the wall and are a place that I go to scribble from time to time.

Here are some applique blocks that need to be stitched (getting this done as soon as I post this blog)

Here are some blocks that my friend Diane Rode Schneck stitched for me (THANK YOU!)

Here is a picture of my design wall as it looks this morning.

I remade the star medallion so that the fabrics in the split diamonds were angled in the same direction in all the points. Yes, fussy cutting. And I added a different background fabric to make the star pop out a bit more. Here is a close up of the paper pieced star point - stray threads are from another piece of fabric on the wall.

Now - today - finish the applique, sew the border around the star, and hopefully get the corner triangle blocks done!

Anyone in NYC next week - would you like to come by and take a side of the quilt and help me stitch the binding down.

Head over to Judy's Blog to see what everyone else is doing.

McCall's Design Star - Tuesday Update - December 14

2010-12-14T06:00:00.006-05:00

I am a little behind on my schedule - but have time built in for me to catch up. The hardest part (hopefully) is behind me. I finished the central medallion for the quilt.

Here is one of the first sketches of the central medallion.

Here is a final draft of the entire block - it measures 20 inches across. - the lines in the corner squares and triangles are ideas for quilting.

All of the diamond blocks were designed so they could be paper pieced. I photocopied one of the diamonds from the final draft and used it as my paper piecing pattern/template.

I used these fabrics for the star. But after I took this picture I swapped out the off-white for a red/white pattern. The fabric is the Baltimore Album Collection by Mary Koval for Windham Fabrics

Here are a few of the finished points

Here are all the individual points on various backgrounds

Here is the finished central medallion. I used the fabric in the upper right corner from the picture above. The other fabrics seemed a bit too dark and were too close in value to the star in the center of the quilt block.

I am going back and forth whether to leave it like this or set it on point. Playing around with ideas for the next border -maybe that will help me decide.

UPDATE - 10:30 AM - Dec 14

I am going to add a 2.5 inch border around this block so that the next pieced border will fit. And everyone hold your breath - for the next border I am crossing over into the world of Applique - Reverse Applique to be precise!

Blog Award - AQS Blog of the Week

2010-12-13T23:58:00.000-05:00

Thanks to all of my readers for visiting, commenting and encouraging me in my blogging.

I was notified at the end of last week that my blog had been chosen by the American Quilt Society as its choice for:

BLOG OF THE WEEK!

AQS is a wonderful organization - if you aren't a member - pop over to their web site and see all that they have to offer. Give yourself the gift of membership this Holiday Season if you are not already a member. (or leave a hint for someone else!!)

Monday Design Wall - McCall's Design Star- Center Medallion

2010-12-13T11:34:00.000-05:00

Well, as you can see I am a bit off schedule on my quilt for the McCall's Design Star Challenge. -

But hopefully I can catch up a bit today

As a recap - I am going to make a medallion quilt. Here is a sketch of what the center medallion will look like - the dark lines in the squares/setting triangles are ideas for quilting.

Here are the fabrics I am using for the star points. But after I took this picture I swapped out the off-white for a red/white pattern. The fabric is the Baltimore Album Collection by Mary Koval for Windham Fabrics

I am paper piecing them - and I have two done so far.

Back to sewing for me - but should pop over to Judy's Blog and see what everyone else is up to today.

McCall's Design Star - Hit the wall and bounce back

2010-12-10T18:33:00.000-05:00

Early today I wrote down my timeline for the McCall's Design Star final challenge - two pages long - but if I can keep up with it and not fall TOO far behind, I will be fine.

But all in all today was a bit of a frustrating day - I was having problems drafting my quilt accurately - so I sort of hit that creative wall with a big THUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I went to have lunch with a former co-worker and that was a good spirit lifter, then I headed over to the American Folk Art Museum's Branch at Lincoln Center to see the show of Superstars. It is an exhibit of Star Quilts and it is just wonderful. If you are in NYC - get there! If you are coming to NYC - it is a must see! If your answer to both of the previous questions was a "No, not in NYC, or not coming to NYC" - you need to change your plans and come to see this show (you don't necessarily need to move here). Here are a few shots of some of the quilts. This first quilt is in Blue and White - the Stars are made all from the same fabric.

This Yellow/Gold quilt is stunning and the quilting is well... you judge for yourself.

Here is one that I just love - it's a crazy quilt.

I had been pondering an eight pointed star for the center of my quilt - and seeing this confirmed my choice.

Heading to the museum was the best thing I did today - cleared my head of confusion and helped me focus on the task at hand! Now to draft the star and hopefully sew some (or all of it tonight). If I accomplish this I will have met my goal for today.

When you hit that design "THUD" - what do you do?

Christmas Came Early - Blog Give-Aways

2010-12-10T10:31:00.000-05:00

I have been lucky over the past few months to win a few blog give-aways! The first one is from the Gals at LizzieB Cre8ive. I won a set of Fat Eighths from a give-away on their blog I love what they sent and want more of it! Their blog is full of great ideas! Head on over and check them out.

The second give-away was an issue of the Holiday Edition of the Fat Quarterly.

I found out about this one by listening to Pat Solan. She has a Radio Show on Toginet. It featured John - a.k.a Quilt Dad. The Fat Quarterly is an electronic subscription that comes out - yep you guessed it Quarterly and costs $28.00. It is a great publication and features designers from the USA, United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia (maybe a few other places) I don't know of any other publication where you can get great ideas for quilts and projects from around the world. I have been able to pick up a few European Magazines here in NYC - but they are EXPENSIVE. This is a great value. Check them out - you can also buy a single issue for $8.00. Give it a shot and see if you like it. And don't forget to listen to Pat every Monday afternoon at 4pm (Eastern Time)!

McCall's Design Star - Update - Dec 8

2010-12-08T10:07:00.002-05:00

I said I would try and post something every Wednesday about the progress on my quilt for the Final Challenge in the McCall's Design Star Challenge. And here it is - it might not be much - but this is what I have for you today. The first part of the week was taken up with ordering more fabric for the quilt (hope it arrives today) and looking through my thread cards to pick out thread for quilting. Aurifil has some thread that matches the fabrics I am using from the "Baltimore Album" line by Mary Koval for Windham Fabrics - so that order is going in today.

I have decided that I am going to do a Medallion Style Quilt. Here is the rough draft that you have seen

Yesterday I took my rough sketch and turned it into a more accurate rendering so that I could draft the individual blocks to size. The numbers in the diagram refer to the fabric (Windham Catalog Numbers). I decided to use the numbers instead of saying Gold or Red - just because there are so many varieties of gold and red.

Here is a close up of what one of the borders might look like.

I have been throwing around different ideas for the Central Medallion. One thought was to do some Machine Applique - but time is tight and I might just go with a central block. I dug through my OLD projects and pulled out some of the blocks from my VERY FIRST QUILT (that is still unfinished!). These were hand-pieced - one of them might serve as inspiration for what might end up in the center of the quilt

And when I arrived home last evening I found a package of goodies from McCall's for making it into the finals - It included:

2 frosted rulers from Olfa! Thank you Olfa

A pretty box of Kaffe Fasset's new thread from Rowan (the box is almost as pretty as the thread!)

And a Design Roll from Westminster Fabrics.

Today I am going to work on finishing up the draft of the quilt - tomorrow - Rotary cutter will be fitted with a new blade, cutting mat will be pulled out and the first slice into the fabric will be made!

Design Wall Monday - McCall's Challenge 3 - The Finals!

2010-12-06T09:19:00.002-05:00

I have been working on my design for my McCall's Challenge this past week. My original quilt that I need to make my spin-off of was a log cabin quilt where the rows of the blocks were shifted. So, today my design wall is really my design book and a table with fabric.

So I need to re-invent this! What I am planning on doing is creating some sort of a Medallion Style quilt where the log cabins will be in the various borders - and they might show up elsewhere. This initial sketch has been re-worked and drawn over several times.

I was also playing with some border ideas - not sure which ones will make it into this quilt.

I took a trip to The Patchwork Co. in Windham, NY last Thursday to purchase fabric. (Click HERE to see a post about the trip and their great great store!) I wanted to go with some reproduction fabrics for this challenge. I had all of the Repros that Windham Fabric sells to choose from (yes this store carries them ALL!)

I finally settled on the Baltimore Album Collection by Mary Koval. Here is a luscious Fat Quarter Pack of all 39 fabrics in the line.

Here is the pack opened up.

Here is some of the yardage I purchased for the quilt - as you can see - if features my favorite neutral RED! I am going to order a bit more of some of the other colors in the line today.

Next Monday I will have some of the blocks sewn and up on the wall - if I don't I am in trouble.
My time line is this.

Finish Designing the quilt by 12/8
Cut and sew the quilt starting 12/9
Have the top sewn by 12/18
Quilt the quilt the week of 12/19
Take the quilt with me when I visit my family the week of 12/27 and sew the binding on
Mail the quilt to McCall's by December 30th - it needs to be there January 4 at the close of business.

YIKES - I might need to call in some of Santa's elves to help me sew.

Head over to Judy's Blog to see what everyone else is up to!

Quilty Pleasures: Sunday Stash Report

2010-12-05T10:02:00.001-05:00

Quilty Pleasures: Sunday Stash Report

Here is Debby Brown's take on our trip to The Patchwork Co. last Thursday.

McCall's Design Star - Big Rig on the Road

2010-12-04T14:15:00.004-05:00

This past Thursday I took a trip up the Hudson River to Windham, NY. My partner Ray and I took the train to New Hamburg, NY and my friend and longarm teacher Debby Brown picked us up and then we picked up Debby's good friend Kim and we hit the road to Windham, NY. Just outside of Windham we came across this great sight - quilts painted on the side of a barn. We took this as a good omen for the day!

Our destination in Windham was The Patchwork Co.

I went there because The Patchwork Co. specializes in reproduction fabrics. They have all of the repros from Windham Fabrics by Baum Textiles. I wanted to use repros for the Final Quilt in the McCall's Design Star Challenge

Here are a few shots of the bright spacious store.

Fran Goldstein (she runs the store with her husband Murray) was most helpful.

I hope you enjoy this video that Ray put together of my visit to the shop. The music is from Ray's CD "The Crystal Spring"

It took a while to figure out what fabric to buy - but I endured and I not only bought the fabric I need - but finalized the design in the process! It was amazing - the fabric line helped me refine what I could do with a very vague sketch! Yes - I am sprawled out on top of the fabric line I am using! I owe a special thank you to Debby and Kim who continued to carry bolts of Fabric to Fran so that she could cut what I needed (Rest assured - both Kim and Debby also pumped money into the local economy!)

Here is the fabric I am using - this is a Fat Quarter pack that has all 39 fabrics in the line.

Here is the yardage I purchased for the quilt - as you can see it is heavy on my favorite neutral - RED!

Can any of you figure out what the fabric line is? Answer will be revealed on my Monday Design Wall post!

McCall's Design Star Finals - The creative process begins

2010-12-01T10:20:00.001-05:00

So, where do I begin, well I have to start where the McCall's Design Star contest started - we come full circle. I must re-invent my original entry.

The rules are:

• must re-invent the project that you submitted for finalist selection. (Not the Challenge 1
quilt; your very first quilt entry.)

• must be INSPIRED by your original project, NOT re-do the project in different fabrics.

• must be at least 24˝ square. It may be larger. It may also be another shape than square
(e.g. rectangular, hexagonal, circular, etc.) as long as total surface is at least 576 square
inches (24” x 24” or larger).

• must have been started no earlier than November 29, 2010

• may be pieced, appliquéd, or mixed techniques (others can work on your quilt, including
sewing, quilting, and/or binding, but you must be the sole designer)

• should be quilted and bound

• Should convey who you are as a designer

• Must be in at McCall's (Golden, CO) by 5pm on January 4, 2011

Over the next several weeks I will be sharing with you the process and progress on the quilt. Here begins my journey - my thoughts and musings for the Final Challenge!

Some people have said to me - that this challenge is hard or rough - actually in some ways I am a bit relieved at the parameters that they gave us. It really has helped frame and limit what I might do - so thus helping me focus on a potential design. I admit, that as the voting was happening for Challenge # 2 I was thinking what I might do, if I made it to the finals, and was given a choice of what I could do. Needless to say I had a zillion different ideas that surfaced. Should I try and create a new block, create 2 new blocks that put together would form a new design, make something more traditional, create a sampler quilt, make something artsy, allow room for machine quilting, add embellishments or applique, square, rectangular, bed size, wall quilt, use a different color way than I normally might work with ....... (the list goes on!)

Needless to say the night I received the news that I would be a finalist I was very excited and also very confused about "what will I do" - yes - friends gave many helpful ideas (well, mostly helpful!) Also that night I tossed and turned quite a bit. When I got up yesterday morning I had a lot of ideas running through my head from my subconscious, semi-conscious nigh-time design session. I grabbed a cup of coffee, some pen and paper, and just started writing EVERYTHING down. Anything that popped into my head - no matter how insane or mundane - it went down on the page. I did something similar with Challenge # 2 and it came in quite handy when I "hit the wall" and didn't know where to turn. The paper also included doodles about possible formats for the quilt - some of these were ideas that had been running through my head during the voting when I was thinking "what if..." Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) I had two choir rehearsals to accompany yesterday so it didn't leave much room to put pencil to paper and design. It did give me some time to look through some of my quilt books to see if I could spur on my imagination - I looked at everything not just log cabin books. As I rode the bus to New Jersey I let everything sputter, and perk, and let ideas collide with each other in my head (no nuclear meltdown - at least yet!) I added more things to the list, added more doodles.

What does today bring? I have to finish a customer quilt (the Handi Quilter is loaded and ready to go!) - while I am doing that - my brain will be at work refining what I might do. Later today I will pull out some graph paper and doodle a bit more and then move to Electric Quilt 7 and start formatting a few different layouts for the quilt. These will just be very general - (will it be square, rectangular, borders, etc). Tomorrow I am going shopping for fabric. I have an idea of what I might use - I am leaning towards something a little different - it will not be the bright - primary colors of my Challenge 1 & 2 entries. This time of year brings out the folksy, homespun part of me! Will I have a final design before I buy the fabric - most likely no - I will make a rough estimate and buy extra - and if the fabric doesn't work for the design I finally do come up with - c'est dommage - my stash will have grown - can that be bad (well maybe if you saw home much room I don't have!)

Stop back again for periodic posts - I will try and post something every Wednesday - but there might be some posts in-between - just do a search in the topic listing for "McCalls Design Star" to make sure you don't miss any posts!

McCall's Design Contest - The Finals - Here I Come!

2010-11-29T22:00:00.000-05:00

I just received word that I have advanced to the finals in the McCall's Design Star Competition. Thanks to all of you who voted this past month and helped me to advance to the final round.

The month of December will be a long and busy month as I have to complete an entire quilt - not only the top. It has to be sewn, quilted and bound and in Colorado by 5 pm January 4. Anyone willing to drive me cross country while I finish up the binding? I can have help - I have to design it but others can help me sew and finish the quilt - and I just might enlist some friends in the NYC area.

What do I have to do? The rules are this:

I must re-invent the project that I submitted for the finalist selection process - click on this link to see the original entry- (Zig Zag Log Cabin). This new quilt must be inspired by my original project but it can't simply re-do the project in new fabrics. It must be at least 24 x 24 or if another shape at lease 576 square inches.

Stay tuned - I will try and keep you abreast of any developments as I move forward!

Design Wall Monday - November 29

2010-11-29T08:25:00.004-05:00

Well, unfortunately I don't have any quilting up on my wall today. I am trying to work on some Christmas gifts. I made some aprons for my sisters -they loved them as well as did other members of the family. So, I now have to make more! Here is the apron with the pocket sewn on. I have to turn the edges and add the neck strap and waist ties.

You say you can't see the pocket - they are fussy cut. Does this help?

Still can't - OK - now you should be able to see it.

The Fabric is "Ready for Action" (yes that is the name!) from Alexander Henry. I also have the Construction Worker fabric and Christmas Hunks to turn into aprons!

Thanks again to all who voted in the McCall's Design Star Contest - I will know by tomorrow evening if I move onto the finals. Also - you might want to head over to the McCall's site and cast your vote for a special 2011 Issue. The choices are 1) Quilting's Fresh New Faces (new designers and their quilt patterns) 2) Scrap Quilts 3) Vintage Quilts.

Head over to Judy's Blog to see what everyone else is doing.

McCall's Design Star - Thank You

2010-11-28T16:49:00.001-05:00

Voting in the McCall's Design Star Challenge #2 ends at midnight mountain time tonight (Sunday, November 28). Thanks to all of you who voted and left comments at the McCall's site - I truly appreciate all of your support and encouragement. I would also like to thank McCall's and their sponsors for the goodie bag that we received at the start of this challenge.

I received this wonderful McCall's Tote Bag - it is great for carrying things to and from quilting classes.

And in that bag I received the following:

A great quilt book from McCall's/That Patchwork Place along with a little post-it-note pad as well as some gift tags/book labels.

A wonderful set of Scissors from Famore Cutlery.

Some great charm square packs from Windham, (Anna Griffin/ Charlotte) Northcott (BeeZ/Tricia Cribbs), Moda (Woodland Bloom/Lila Tueller) and Timeless Treasures (Hampton Blues)

Some great new fabric (Quilters Tweed) from Robert Kaufman.

Some charm square packs from Andover, Marcus, and Red Rooster.

And some batting samples from Warm & Natural (I can't wait to try these out - I haven't used Warm & Natural before and I want to make something and see how these work on my Handiquilter). Also - the Insul-Bright came just in time - I needed more so that I can make some more potholders for Christmas.

'Tis the season to give thanks - so thanks again to all of you voted (you can still vote until midnight - just click the icon in the right side bar) and also a special thank you to McCall's and all of the sponsors.

McCalls Design Star- Challenge 2 - Inspirations

2010-11-24T09:24:00.000-05:00

When I started to work on my design for Challenge # 2 in the McCall's Design Star contest I had the idea of working with a single block for design purposes. I posted the process in an earlier post (CLICK HERE TO READ THAT POST). Since I have finished the quilt I have been looking around at my surroundings and discovered there were many things in my every day life that might have crept out of my subconscious and onto paper. I know that in the past I have thought about each of these "Gee, that would be a great idea for a quilt." But I can honestly say that I didn't have any of these images consciously in mind as I worked on the design - but look and see for yourself and tell me what you think!

Here is a mural that I pass by 2-3 times a week. It is in the Port Authority Bus Terminal in NYC

Here is a building that is about 6 blocks from my apartment - I pass by it several times a week

I have looked at these stained glass windows almost weekly for the past 4 years. They are in St. Paul the Apostle Church in NYC.

Here is what I see outside my kitchen window every day - several times a day.

Let this images meld in my brain and here is my Challenge 2 Quilt - what do you think.

Please consider casting a vote for this entry - and leave a comment in the comment box at the bottom of the voting page - voting continues through Sunday Midnight - November 28. Thanks.

Design Wall Monday - Christmas Piano Topper

2010-11-22T11:28:00.002-05:00

First of all - thanks to everyone's comments on my posting last week. I am mulling over the various suggestions and will be digging through my stash of hand dyed fabric to find some things to add to the mix and spice things up!

OK - I don't have a quilt to put up on my design wall this week but I am posting a Piano Topper that I started 3 or 4 years ago (after it being longer than one year unfinished - why even count!). But as far as I can tell - I most likely started this in 2007. For Christmas that year, all of the panels were outlined in the yellow button hole stitch (done by my partner while he was on a trip) but not all the images were attached. I pinned on various ornaments to fill in the empty panels. For Christmas 2008 & 2009 it pretty much looked like this.

It was inspired by a Fireplace Mantel Scarf by Jan Speed in the November/December 2006 Fons & Porter Love of Quilting. I took the general idea of the project and the shape of the various panels but added my different designs. The Santa (designed by Lyn Hosford) in the center is from the publication Wintergreen Threads by Need'l Love. The other designs are my own using free downloads, or cookie cutters, or my own drawings.

The botton to the right of Santa is for a sign - on one side it says "naughty" the other side says "nice" - you can see it in the full picture above - it got lost when this was packed away- so I need to make another one!

I thought these snow flakes would be cute - but then I started to embroider them onto the backing - what was I thinking?

For most of the button hole stitch I used No. 8 Presencia Thread.

For the pine branches on the ornament I used some hand dyed thread from Caron Thread (IT IS WONDERFUL!).

I plan on using the pine branch motif to embroider the panels to the top that sits on the piano. I hope that Christmas 2010 might finally see this finished.

Head on over to Judy's Blog to see what everyone else is doing.

John and Lotta - One Year Anniversary

2010-11-22T09:44:00.009-05:00

It's hard to believe that Lotta and I are celebrating our one year anniversary. A little over a year ago I could have never predicted this - my friends saw it coming but I didn't. (isn't that always the case) I thought it would be far off in the future - but as fate would have it - it always happens when you least expect it. One year ago Lotta came into my life and my life has never been the same. Who is Lotta? - My girlfriend? My wife? Well - her full name is Carlotta Stitches (Lotta Stitches for short) and she is my HQ 16 with Pro-Stitcher! (actually some might say she is my wife because we are basically joined-at-the-hip at this point!) You can read my HQ Story on their website.

Here is a shot of me taking Lotta for a drive on a customer quilt!

I had been looking at various longarm machines and had been planning on getting one around this time - this year - not last year. But a great opportunity arose and I purchased the machine from The Quilt Basket in Wappinger's Falls, NY. Alan Anderson brought the machine down and helped me set it up in my New York apartment. Have a look at a video that Ray Pool put together of Alan and I putting it together.

It has been a joy to have it and I have enjoyed playing with it. So what has happened in my life since Lotta arrived?

+ I finished several of my own quilts that had been languishing as lonely tops. I finally have a quilt on MY bed!

+ My friends have been very happy (and I made some new friends!) who gave me tops to "practice on" Translation - I had something to play around with and try out some all-over designs with the Pro-Stitcher and they got some tops done for free!

+ I went Salt Lake City and took a Handi Quilter Pro-Stitcher Retreat at their factory and training center. It was WONDERFUL. I am signed up to head back this August for training in the Quilt CAD Program for the Pro-Stitcher (can't wait!) Check out their wonderful list of training programs!

+ I was able to start up my longarm quilting business earlier than I had planned - those friends mentioned above are now helping me make a living (yes you can get friends to pay you to finish their quilts!) and they have sent friends of theirs to get quilts quilted.

+ I have been able to take advantage of the wonderful HQ training that Quilt Basket offers - it is taught by Debby Brown who is a wonderful teacher. If you can't travel to the Quilt Basket - take one of her classes at an event where she is teaching - she will be at the Providence MQX this April! (also check out Debby's website and blog- Quilty Pleasures)

+ I entered the McCall's Design Star contest and am a finalist. Getting the HQ has gotten quilting deeper under my skin and it is helping me work through my male mid-life crisis as I try to decide: "What do I really want to be when I grow up?" Answer - a quilter!

So, thanks to everyone who have help me make this a great year! And beware - if you let a Handi Quilter into your life - life won't be the same - it will only get better.

So, what does one get/give as a gift for a one year anniversary with a longarm? A spool of thread - no - too basic - life is too short - I think it is a set of the new Swag Templates that HQ just came out with is in order.

PS - maybe someone can come up with an anniversary list of what one gets for each year of your anniversary with their longarm. I don't have the time to do that - but maybe someone else does! Until someone does I will keep buying what I want (actually I think that is a better deal!)

Design Muse: Bricks

2010-11-18T10:32:00.000-05:00

Taking a walk on the Upper West Side of New York I came across some buildings that had some fun brick work as part of their facade. Enjoy the designs - I hope they inspire a design.

Take a look at what surrounds you! You just might be surprised by what you find.

Design Wall Monday - November 15

2010-11-15T09:36:00.001-05:00

Sorry to have been absent for a while - I was pulled away by another project. Now I am going through bins and finding some old friends that need attention. Here is one that I started in a design class were we were looking at only using squares. This one is based on an Amish Quilt. I was originally going to stay with only Red for the dark color - but I ran out (OPPS!) and I think it needs another color. Not sure which way to go - maybe something blue or purple. The original had all black squares.

Stop over to Judy's Blog to see what everyone else is doing!

McCall's Design Star - Challenge 2 - The Process

2010-11-11T11:56:00.002-05:00

So, where did I start with this challenge - well, I received the following set of fabrics from McCall's for the Design Star Challenge # 2 - they are 10 fat quarters from Robert Kaufman Fabrics.

We had to:

Use at least 8 of the 10 fabrics
They needed to comprise at least 50% of the finished quilt
The quilt needed to be at least 24"x 24" or 576 sq in if it was not a square form
The fabrics needed to be able to be identifiable in the photo we submitted

So - where to start. I was perplexed - How do I stick to the 50% rule, How to I maximize the use of the fabric supplied, How do I cut the fabric so I don't mess up and say something like ...... (you fill in that blank!)

I went to Barbara Brackman's wonderful resource Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns to look at one patch designs. I figured that I might be able to make the most of the fabric and also be able to keep track of "their" fabric and "my additions". I picked # 176A - Designers Choice (isn't that a great name!) and 176B The "L" Patch (a variation on Designers Choice). I pulled out my graph paper and started sketching

I then moved to EQ7 and drafted the quilt in various combinations of blocks and color ways.

I finally settled on the following design (after much angst! - just ask my friends!).

I decided to alternate the fat quarters supplied with Dupioni Silk.

Stop back tomorrow for look at how I decided to piece this together and work with the silk - but before you sign out of here - pop over to the McCall's site and vote for my quilt and add comment in the comment box!

McCall's Design Star - Challenge 2 - voting begins

2010-11-10T12:04:00.002-05:00

Let the voting begin - here is my entry in the McCall's Design Star Challenge # 2 - click on the link in the sidebar and vote for my quilt!

Cotton is alternated with Dupioni Silk

Stop back tomorrow and see how this design came together!

McCall's Design Star Contest

2010-10-06T07:56:00.003-04:00

I received an email last night that said I had advanced to Challenge 2 in the McCall's Design Star Challenge. I am waiting to hear what the actual challenge will entail - I will know by Friday at the latest - so stop back later this week and find out what I will be trying to do next!

A special thanks to everyone who voted for my quilt and left comments on the McCall's site and here on my blog. I appreciate all of your support and encouragement. This contest has been a wonderful experience.

I am a bit of a contest show "Junkie" - I do watch Project Runway, Dancing with the Stars, The Next Food Network Star, and..... On Dancing with the Stars - the contestants have a professional dance partner to teach them the dances, etc. Here is a question for you - if you were in a quilting contest and could have another quilter (Someone who is on the national scene or someone close to home) to be your assistant, muse, guide who would that be and why? Leave your answer below.

I've been blogged

2010-10-04T19:57:00.001-04:00

A great thing happened today - I've been blogged!!

Erin Russek at One Piece at a Time gave me a mention in her blog post. Erin and I are finalists in the McCall's Design Star Competition. Erin does some wonderful applique work - pop over to her blog and check out her wonderful work. I have resisted applique but seeing her patterns just might push me over the edge to give it a try!

Design Wall Monday - September 27

2010-09-27T09:05:00.002-04:00

Well, not much has changed on my wall since last week - I did manage to arrange all the blocks and get them sewn into rows. It's a cold rainy day here in New York City - so perfect for putting something good in the oven for dinner and sewing the top of this quilt.

NOTE: I have my setting triangles pinned to the top row - so that is what is hanging down - and guess what - I didn't measure correctly and cut a set of setting triangles that were just a smidge too small - YEAH - it's the start of a new quilt!!!!!

One week left in the voting for the McCall's Design Challenge - click the link to the right and cast your vote - leave a comment while you are at it!

And --- stop by Judy's Blog to see what everyone else is up to.

McCall's Design Star - Lost in New York

2010-09-22T08:25:00.005-04:00

There is a series of recordings out entitled Lost in Boston. These CDs contain songs that were cut from some very famous Broadway Shows while they were doing their out-of-town runs before coming to New York City. There are some great songs on these CDs, but they were cut because they just didn't fit the show.

With the McCall's Design Star Challenge 1 I had a design that just didn't fit the timetable - I liked it a lot but I decided that I just didn't have the time to find the right fabrics and sew the quilt top before the deadline. So, here is my contribution for a new series of quilt designs - Lost in New York.

Each of these designs is made up of two blocks - Steps to the Altar is # 394 in Maggie Malone's 5,500 Quilt Block Designs and Swamp Angel is #1632 b in Barbara Brackman's Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns.

Steps to the Altar


Swamp Angel

All of the following designs were made by using the above two blocks with the coloring/values as presented above. I alternated the blocks in a checkerboard fashion and by simply turning individual blocks these patterns were created. I did this with the use of the EQ 6 Program (My EQ 7 is scheduled to arrive today!!) The blocks are 9 inches square - the quilt would measure 90 x 90.

If I had the time to get appropriate fabrics and sew all 100 blocks I would have made this design.

Here it is presented in another color-way.

And - don't forget to vote for the quilt I did enter in the competition! Click on the icon in the right side bar to take you to the voting page. And after you vote - please take a moment and leave a brief comment at the bottom of the page! Thanks

Stop back next Wednesday and I will show you how the various components of my contest quilt went together - color placement deceives you - it might not be constructed as you think! See you next week.

Design Wall Monday - September 20

2010-09-20T07:09:00.000-04:00

From what I have been recently posting you just might think that all I do is work in bright colors - well - I unearthed the following project - these blocks have been made for a year - maybe two??? and I just never got around to putting them together - or I would pull them out and then the weather would warm up and I would think - too hot to work on a flannel quilt. Well, I am going to get this one done for my bed so I can use it this fall!

I am going to play around with the blocks a bit - I just took the stack and put them up as they came off the pile - I want to mix up the colors a bit - or maybe not - not sure yet. Need to have a few more cups of coffee and see what happens!

Stop by Judy's blog to see what every one else is doing.

(AND -- don't forget to click the link in the right sidebar and vote for my quilt in the McCall's challenge! THANKS!)

Design Muse Thursday - September 16

2010-09-16T09:22:00.000-04:00

After the riot of color (Don't forget to vote for my quilt!) that has been surrounding me these past few weeks - it's nice to tone things done a bit. Here are some shots of an installation by Doug and Mike Starn on the rooftop garden of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

It's called Big Bambu. Some neutral tones and straight lines after all those curves and color. Enjoy....

McCall's Design Star - The Voting Begins

2010-09-15T01:55:00.002-04:00

Here is my entry for the McCall's Quilting Next Design Star Contest.

I hope you will pop over to the McCall's Website and vote for my quilt in their Next Design Star Contest. You can vote once a day. So, I hope you will take time to vote every day - or if not every day as often as you can. (Voting continues through October 5)While you are there - take a look at some of the other entries.

The challenge was as follows:

1.) Construct a quilt top using 2 "traditional" blocks. Use of multiple sizes of the same block is allowed, but no more than 2 blocks.

2.) The quilt top (including borders) must be at least 24" square. It may be larger, but not smaller.

3.) Embellishment is allowed. Embroidery is considered embellishment.

4.) Continuous applique is allowed in the sashing and borders.

5.) Top may be pieced, appliqued, or mixed techniques.

The quilt started out with this initial sketch that I made on graph paper

I then went to the EQ (Electric Quilt Program) and drafted the quilt so that I could play around with it a bit. I took copies of the quilt with me and doodled and scribbled as I rode the Subways in NYC

I eventually came up with this design....

... and then revised it again.

I liked the look of it with the addition of the black arc replacing one of the colored arcs. I think the other quilt would be great and might give it a try (maybe in some '30s repros!) I had chosen these colors because they reflected a lot of material that I have in my stash. But one day I was in the City Quilter and I came across these Fat Quarter bundles of Mixmasters Fizz (Kaufman Fabrics) by Patrick Lose and I said - yes these are the fabrics to use! (After all - why use the material we already own when we can just but more which will work better in our project!)

Stop by next Wednesday to have a look at a few designs - totally different from this one - that were rejected for the contest. But - they just might end being made into a quilt one of these days!

Now - a question for you - what name would you give this quilt???? Post your title below in the comment section.

McCall's Design Star - Design Wall Monday - September 13

2010-09-13T08:22:00.001-04:00

Well, the quilt has to be finished today for the first McCall's Design Star Challenge (I have to have the picture in by midnight) and it is pretty much finished - here are a few shots of the quilt as it progressed.

In the end I went with Black and an Indigo form the Kona Solids - the Eggplant tended to gray down some of the colors.

Here are a few of the blocks (Sunrise, Sunset)

Here is how the blocks looked as they were being positioned for the final layout.

A close-up of some of the four-patch blocks

A close-up of the sewn top

A wide-shot of the top with all the blocks

BUT - this isn't the finished top - because it isn't finished yet!!! Really, it's true I still need to add a little something - stop back on Wednesday for the FINAL quilt top - and also a look at were I started with the design and how I got to the final result!

All of the colored fabrics are from the Fizz collection by Patrick Lose from Kaufman Fabrics -the solids are all Kona Solids (Robert Kaufman).

Stop by Judy's blog to see what everyone else is doing

And - mark your calendars voting begins on WEDNESDAY!!! September 15

McCall's Design Star -Design Wall Monday-Sept 6

2010-09-06T08:55:00.001-04:00

Some more progress was made on the quilt this past week for the McCall's Design Star Challenge - this week I HAVE TO decide where all the parts are actually going and sew it - it's due on Monday Night! I know none of you have ever had to burn the midnight oil to finish a project - I hope that's not the case here.

My two traditional blocks are the Four- Patch block and a block called Sunrise, Sunset (# 3729 in 5,550 Quilt Block Designs by Maggie Malone and # 3302 in Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns by Barbara Brackman).

Here is a picture of the Sunrise, Sunset block as I drafted it. The drafted pattern has several other options that I was playing around with and discarded because they didn't work or I realize I created a block that wasn't in one of the books! (Just a few other quilts I can make when I have some free time)

Here are all my templates cut out.

Some of my arcs all cut out and waiting for their trip to the design wall.

I am still playing around with the black and eggplant (Those were my favorites! I just might use both of them in the quilt - they could create an interesting secondary pattern - we shall see as things progress on the wall this week!)

Here are a few pictures of the Sunrise, Sunset block with some of the four patches.

Thanks to everyone for your words of encouragement - voting in the next round begins on September 16 so mark your calendars!!!

Stop by Judy's Blog to see what everyone else is doing.

And - a little give away possibility....Stop by Alyn Carlson's Blog and have a look around. Alyn designed my Big Rig Quilting Logo. She has some wonderful posts on her blog that are a great source for inspiration - it might be a poem to start off the week, or a reflection on a particular color, or - you just never know. She is having an upcoming show and is trying to build her follower list with a little art give away! - so if at least 3 of you decide to follow her blog (tell her Big Rig John sent you) I can get a little piece of art - and then if you can get 3 folks - YOU TOO can get one of her wonderful creations - the offer expires September 15! (By the way - she was a quilter in a former lifetime - she understands us!!!)

My HQ Story

2010-09-01T10:41:00.000-04:00

Stop by the Handiquilter web site and read the stories of happy owners of Handiquilter Machines. Read about the journey that many of us have taken into the world of longarm quilting - maybe you will be next! Here is a link to MY STORY and in the right side bar of that page are links to all the other stories submitted.

McCall's Design Wall Monday - August 30th

2010-08-30T08:20:00.004-04:00

I have been busy finalizing my design for the McCall's Design Star Challenge # 1. I have most of the smaller pieces cut out and a few sewn together - but am still undecided about what I will use for the background color in the quilt. As a reminder - here are the fabrics I am using for the quilt (Mixmasters-Fizz/Kaufman Fabrics by Patrick Lose)

I put up three different colors - Eggplant (Kona Solid), Black Print, Black (Kona Solid).

I decided the Black Print was a little too grey so that one got thrown out. So I added Midnight (Kona Solid) to the mix. Here is how some of the pieces look against the background fabrics.

Against the Black

Against the Eggplant

Against the Midnight

I am on the fence trying to decide between the Black and the Eggplant. I am going to live with them for today while I finish cutting out the individual parts. I have a few quilts to crank out on the longarm and then I will start sewing the top together tomorrow.

Here is a close-up of my mock-up of the quilt with a "thought for the day" - when I hit a brick wall I read this and then follow its advice.

So, yes, one of my traditional blocks is a four-patch - and as you can see the other involves a little curved piece - but the question remains - what does the other part(s?) of the block look like? Stop by next Monday for a little more of a reveal of what I am up to. And - mark your calendars - voting for Challenge #1 starts on September 16!

Stop by Judy's Blog and see what others are up to!