Sew-n-Sew Quilting

What's on the wall....

2012-01-30T20:52:00.000-08:00

This is coming along... slow but sure.

Maybe I'll get it closer to being done tomorrow...

Be sure to check out what everyone is working on over at Judy's

More hand work... Heart Desire

2012-01-22T10:33:00.000-08:00

I've started adding some leaves and berries... Can't wait to start on the next section :-)

Ice Storm....

2012-01-19T21:46:00.000-08:00

It decided to rain today one top of the 15" of snow that was already on the ground... but the rain turned to ice as soon as it hit!!!

I hope I have enough mulch around the base of my new lace leaf maple....

All my trees are covered in ice!!!

WIP Wednesday

2012-01-18T10:42:00.000-08:00

I was having a hard time deciding between a WIP (work in progress) Wednesday or a Wordless Wednesday... WIP won.

Since I've been working the 2 jobs and not having much time to quilt I decided I needed a hand project that is portable and can be worked on in front of the TV or during lunch time at work. I've been taking my sock loom with me and working on socks, but I needed a little change.

I use to applique quite a bit, but hadn't done much in several year. I should say that I haven't done any in about 5 years or so. At Quilt Harbor the Applique Society has started meeting the 3rd Monday of the month... this got me itching to stitch. There's something soothing about doing hand work. So anyway, I started the center block to Heart Desire.

I was able to get the center and most of the red stitched down the other day while our power was out. The hearts are the only thing that needs to be stitched which I will work on tonight.

I don't think I'm going to do the whole quilt that Esther designed. Just the center block... I want to keep it small to give me more of a chance to actually finish it. I plan on designing an applique border to go around it... right now just ideas floating around in my head.

More snow

2012-01-16T12:59:00.000-08:00

Just heard on the radio.... 2-7" snow thru 6 am Tues, 2-4 " on Tues and possible 5-9" on Wed with temp below freezing. Winter storm warning!!!

Snow is not normal for us here... Yes, we usually get snow every winter, but only an inch or two that only last a day or two...

Pix from yesterday...

He looks a like a Wookie... LOL

Snow....

2012-01-15T11:46:00.000-08:00

The view from my front door....

9 Hearts to Applique

2012-01-11T10:02:00.000-08:00

New class... Starting 1/18/12.... 9 Hearts to Applique.... either 10-1am or 2-5pm Where... Quilt Harbor, Aberdeen, WA

9 Hearts to Applique

In this beginning hand applique class we will learn the basics to make fabulous applique blocks. We will explore up to nine different techniques to prepare our hearts to be hand stitched and discuss when and where you would choose to use these different methods. For the grand finale we will learn how to draft an elegant applique border for out heart quilt.

This is a much larger version of the heart quilt...

This last pic is kind washed out... but it was too dark before and couldn't see the border.

On the Wall Monday 1-9-12

2012-01-09T20:16:00.000-08:00

Still working two jobs.... Still having hard time finding time to quilt.... but while working at Quilt Harbor I've gotten a little more done on my store sample. It's hard to get much done between customers, but that's just fine. That's what I'm there for.... to help others shop for fabric!!! LOVE

I really like the little 3" squares..... love all the movement in them!

If you have time check out what others have on there wall over at Judy's. So what's on your wall?

I got a new rooster yesterday....

2012-01-07T11:34:00.000-08:00

I saw him and had to have him!

He is a pie bird... now will I really put him in a pie? Maybe! They are suppose to prevent spillover and you know I over fill my pies!!!

Also... I got some blooms!

Quilting Doodles

2012-01-05T10:31:00.000-08:00

MQS 2012 Open Registration

2012-01-02T11:07:00.000-08:00

MQS 2012 Open Registration starts today.....

You can check out my complete class schedule here....

Santa is coming, Santa is coming!!!!

2011-12-23T11:41:00.000-08:00

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas!!!!

Christmas Cactus

2011-12-22T12:07:00.000-08:00

I love plants and flowers... I love working in the dirt and taking care of them... It's so gratifying when they bloom!!!

This time of year it's Christmas Cacti that really brighten things up and make me happy... and I have one that is just about ready to bloom!

Monday, On the Wall

2011-12-19T10:16:00.000-08:00

I think I"ve mentioned a few times that I'm working two job right now... One at the mall for a big corporate retailer and the other at the local quilt shop, Quilt Harbor, here in Aberdeen. With the holiday season and between both jobs I haven't had a full day off since Thanksgiving... No time to sew, no time to quilt :-(

BUT... and that's a big one, I've been working on a store sample while at Quilt Harbor! Love!

No pattern... just making it up as I go,

That Loopy Thang at MQS 2012

2011-12-18T12:51:00.000-08:00

Thursday, May 17, 2012 8:00am - 10:am

That Loopy Thang (class 413)

Quick custom designs for samplers and other quilts that stump your imagination. Bring your sketch books and follow along as Kim uses loops, swirls and continuous curves to design custom treatments for sampler blocks. You may boost your profit margin with this technique to quickly get those samplers done. Students are encouraged to bring unquilted tops for group discussion on design possibilities. This class if for all skill levels, but geared for beginners to intermediate.
Supply List: Pen for drawing and notes.

Check out my class schedule page for a complete list of classes....

Joan's Quilt

2011-12-14T14:55:00.000-08:00

My cyber friend, Joan, pictured a fabulous quilt on her blog.... You really need to go check it out... LOVE! Love everything about it! The colors, the pattern and that she used leaves inspired by my book Just Leaf It in her quilting...

Here's a sneak peek at the back of Joan's quilt.

To see the rest you must visit Joan....

PS... Joan quilts with her domestic machine!

More quilt pix....

2011-12-09T20:32:00.000-08:00

I'm trying something new to get my pictures to post.... got my fingers crossed!

Working, working,working

2011-12-08T09:02:00.000-08:00

Today is my 6th day in a row out of 10 without a day off.... and it's going to be a 12 hr day! Come one! Hurry up next Wednesday!!!!

Anyway... I just thought I's take a minute and share some pictures from a quilt I did back in October.

For some reason blogger isn't letting my add more than two pictures..... :-(

New socks...

2011-12-05T08:27:00.000-08:00

Another friend and coworker has been diagnosed with cancer.... breaks my heart each and every time I hear the C word in the same sentence with one of my friends names.

With this news comes more hours at my job at one of the large retailers in the mall... Between the mall and filling in at the quilt shop I'm working 55 hours this week. I'm having a hard time finding time to get into the studio to finish a quilt that's been on my frame.... maybe if I don't sleep. We could call it sleep quilting...

I do find a few minutes at lunch time to work on some socks.... With loom knitting socks are kinda mindless and it keeps my hands busy. I have to keep my hands busy when I sit down for a few minutes! If I don't... I fall asleep...

And.... among other things

2011-11-19T12:10:00.000-08:00

So you may of noticed a few days absence... the story continues.

While dealing with all the insurance stuff and finding a new car, one of the ladies that works at our local quilt shop, Quilt Harbor, has been diagnosed with breast cancer. It's something that really makes you wake up and take notice of the things that are really important. Anyway, I've been asked to work a few days a week while she is having treatment and recovering. So along with working my part time job at a major retailer at the mall I'm working 3 days a week at Quilt Harbor.

If you notice me absent for a few day here and there it means that I'm working, working, working, and hopefully finding time to quilt! This week I worked 3 days at the quilt shop and 2 at my other job... and one of my days off I had to stop by the quilt shop!

I can't believe it's Thanksgiving this week... which probably means I'll have to be at work at my other job at 4:00 in the morning, or even earlier. On a happier note... one of my Christmas Cactus decided to bloom for Thanksgiving :-)

A little bit more happenings...

2011-11-12T13:21:00.000-08:00

First of all... A great big Thank You to everyone that has commented on my last post! You are all wonderful!!! It's truly a gift to have you has my friends!!!

The amount that we settled with from the insurance company didn't even come close to the amount that we would need to replace my car. I know it's an older car... not quite a classic, but they only made a very limited number of them. We could get it fixed... but the punks who took it still have my keys. Yes, we can change the locks, but still... it's been violated.

The sentimental attachment to this car is that it was a surprise... a birthday present from Dan. Not going to tell you which birthday... ;-) But I had came home to find this car in my garage with balloons tied to it. That's pretty special considering that most birthdays I don't even get a card...

So after about a month of looking Dan finally found me a car that was in our price range... A 1998 Cadillac De Ville. Yep, a great big boat. Floatation devices are optional if you want to ride with me. Anyway, it's a little older than I wanted but is really, really nice with low mileage. I would of preferred something smaller, but we couldn't find anything as nice as this car in the same price range. Sorry... the weather has been to gloomy to get any good pix.

Here's another quilt that I've quilted recently...

Love the bright colors!!! I quilted it with what I call 'Butterfly wing meander'.

I've been a bad, bad bloger!!!

2011-11-11T11:52:00.000-08:00

I know, I know.... no excuses!

So much has happened in the last month or so that I don't know where to begin. So I guess I'll start at the beginning...

A couple days after my last post, my car was stolen!!! I work part time at the mall here in town for one of the large retailers. So anyway, my customer and piecer of the quilt shown in my last post was meeting me during my lunch to pick up here quilt. I walked out to my car with her and while I was getting her quilt out of my trunk I must of dropped my keys. When I realized I didn't have my key... we both looked all around my car and hers. I walked back in forth from the store several times looking for them. I finally decided I must of dropped them in my trunk and called Dan to bring me another set... When Dan got there... my car was gone!

Most normal people when they find a set of keys in a parking lot... they turn them in at the store. Not the punks who found mine. They took my car!

Ten days later the police found my car.... you would think this would make me happy... but they trashed it! The convertible top is ripped! The passenger side mirror is broke and hanging! There is just too much damage to list...

Now dealing with the insurance company was almost as bad as having tooth pulled, but we finally settled.

I just feel violated.... by the punks who took my car and by the insurance company! This whole experience just took the wind out of me.

Mean while I have gotten a few quilts done... :-)

And this quilt...

That's enough for now.... I'll share more of what I've been doing next time :-)

On the Machine Today... 9/12/11

2011-09-12T11:45:00.000-07:00

Every so often I get a quilt that just doesn't speak to me.... Just doesn't tell me how it wants to be quilted. When this happens I spend a lot of time doing the S&S or what longarm quilters refer to as Standing & Staring. After Standing & Staring for awhile there are a few of those quilts that just will not talk!

When a quilt is refusing to talk, a lot of times I just go for it... start stitching and see what happens. That is exactly what I'm doing today. Going for it. Making things up as I go along...

So far so good....

Classes...

2011-09-11T09:07:00.000-07:00

Just updated my class schedule. Check it out here

Had a wonderful weekend of classes at Harbor Quilts in beautiful Gig Harbor, WA. The weather was great and we had a spectacular view of Mt Rainier.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-09-07T15:02:00.000-07:00

Dragonfies...

2011-09-06T15:31:00.000-07:00

Just finished adding dragonflies to this quilt...

I used Deco-Bob 302 - Royal Blue and Hologram 8157 - Turquoise, both by WonderFil Threads
Love it!!!

After I quilt the first 2 dragonflies I ran out of bobbin thread... while I was winding my bobbin and looking out the window, a great big iridescent blue dragonfly went buzzing by!

Back to our regular quilting program...

2011-09-02T19:01:00.000-07:00

While I was on vacation last week and part of this week, even tho we didn't go anywhere special, I decided not to quilt. Cause I was on vacations! LOL Now I'm back to work and back to quilting... quilting lily pads, frogs and dragonflies...

Tomorrow morning I will do the background water fill and then add the dragonflies.

Oh yeah.... I had no idea that a picture of a pie would get so much attention! LOL!!! Someone ate the last piece of pie (not me)!!!! I better make another one! :-)

It's Blackberry Season

2011-08-30T13:52:00.000-07:00

Butter Flys

2011-08-28T12:40:00.000-07:00

These little butterflies are all over my butterfly bush.... It was hard to get them to pose!

Embracing the pink....

2011-08-24T10:39:00.000-07:00

Trying to embrace the pink... We like 1950's California Ranch style houses so when we were looking for house a few years back, every one that we looked at had a least one pink bathroom. The house we bought was built in 1958 with that one pink bathroom (the other one is yellow).

I decide to head back down to the thrift store the other day to see if that yellow swan was still there... and it was. I can't believe that nobody else would want this!

I decided it needed some pink flowers... there is only one place in town (wallyworld) that carries any kind of craft supplies unless I drive to Elma or Olympia. So, I went to Walmart to see what they might have. Surprise, surprise.... they had some pink flowers that are perfect!

Last summer I bought some towels at a discount store, they are beach towels, but perfect for my bathroom. These are what started my idea of changing this room... I had a black, grey and pink thing going on.

I'm liking this much better!

And yarn... we can't forget yarn. While at wallyworld I had to stop and look at yarn. I thought these would go perfect in here, but what should I make? A toilet seat cover! NOT (well maybe :-)

Delivered last week....

2011-08-22T12:56:00.000-07:00

I guess I haven't had much to report these last couple weeks... mmmm does this mean I've been busy or that I'm boring?

I did get the large Black, Red & White quilt delivered last week. Love the way it turned out!

The threads that I used are from Wonderfil .

The large spool is Master Quilter in Black. This is a 40wt, and has absolutely NO lint.... love that! The smaller spool is DecoBob in Dark Grey. I decided to use this thread for all the detail work that would show on the white fabric. My customer wanted black thread through out, but after some discussion we decided on the dark grey. I thought the DecoBob would be best because it is 80wt and very fine. I was afraid the 40wt black would be too over powering on stark white fabric... I used the black thread in the borders, black & red print, red & black print and the dark half of the log cabin blocks.

Even with using the dark grey thread in the center medallion... the stitching is hard to see in the black fabric, and really hard to get a good pic of!

You can see all the pix of this quilt in this album.

Also, to all those that comment on my blog, I always love to hear from you! If you don't hear back from me... it only means that I'm gone. Gone crazy!

I've been a bad blogger....

2011-08-15T12:23:00.000-07:00

Looks like I've been missing in action... Not much going on with quilting this last week, but look what I found for 60 cents at a thrift store!

I thought this would be perfect for my 1958 pink bathroom...

I saw a yellow ceramic swan planter that I may have to back for! Hope it's still there...

I really should get my circle quilt quilted to hand in here...

I just need to order the threads that I want to use.

On the Machine...

2011-08-02T23:05:00.000-07:00

I'm still working on Karla's quilt. With working part time and the time I took off to go Goldendale, this quilt is taking a little longer than I had hoped for. I have the next 2 days off so I'm hoping to get 'r done... :-)

And I spent a lot of time doing the S&S (Standing & Staring) trying to come up with exactly how I wanted to do the center and the border going around it...

No Socks on Saturday or Sunday....

2011-08-01T11:56:00.000-07:00

No sock news to report... Well, kinda sorta. Saturday when I started to turn the toe of the sock I was working on I dropped a loop off the loom. While trying to fix that one the next loop came off, then the next and so on and so forth! So I ended up unraveling the whole thing!!! Now to start over :-(

But, I finished my dishcloth that I was knitting with sticks....

I didn't follow a pattern... just went for it. Lot's of mistakes and who knows what happeneds but it done and cleans dirty dishes just fine!

Knitting with stick part 2 has been started....

This time I'm using a pattern.... so far so good!

Spinning Will

2011-07-28T10:48:00.000-07:00

Is dinner exciting at your house??? It's so exciting here that Will spins!!!

Wordless Wednesday, 7/27/11

2011-07-27T09:48:00.000-07:00

On the machine today....

2011-07-25T11:25:00.000-07:00

Decide to see how Heavy Metal worked in log cabin blocks...

It's hard to see black thread on black fabric... but you can see dark gray on white really good!

And of coarse Mr Will is helping in the studio...

Doesn't he look comfortable?

Socks on Saturday...

2011-07-23T10:59:00.000-07:00

I finished my 4th pair of socks.... love the color, but my toes still don't match! Neither do the stripes...

Everyone keeps telling me that knitting with sticks (um needles) is easy... hahahahaha This is my first attemped.

That first attempt is about 3" x 4".... and some how it got bigger at the end.

I decided if I was going to learn I should make something useful, so I started a dishcloth. There are a ton of mistakes and I lost the pattern for a row or two, but I'm not ripping it out! It's a dishcloth for cyring out loud!!

At least the colors are pretty.... and my sticks are purple!

Wordless Wendesday a day late

2011-07-21T15:31:00.000-07:00

ta done

2011-07-12T09:32:00.000-07:00

I was not able to let this rest for a day or two.... When I went into my quilting room yesterday and looked at my little quilt I made the decisions and started sewing.

I fused the light strip at the bottom then decided it needed the purple strip on the side, so that got fuse too.

Now I thought I was done.... but wait! Maybe a little bit more orange... mmmm

Yep! That's what it needs!!

Now how am I going to quilt it????

Some days...

2011-07-11T10:48:00.000-07:00

Some days you just have to create... yesterday that is just what I did!

I've had this book for about a year, and have read it, and reread it and read it again. The other day I was going through it again and just couldn't get the ideas out of my mind. So I went into my box of batiks and started pulling some fabrics out. I came across a panel that I forgot that I even had. Don't know where I got it even... It may have been a gift because it's not colors that I would normally choose. I even had a whole stack of fabrics to go with it....

So yesterday I decided to play... Did I follow the exercises in the book? NO! I just jumped into the deep end with both feet!

I really have never done improvisational piecing before. It was kind of freeing. Actually it was really freeing! I sewed and I cut and I sewed and I slashed and sewed back together again... If I added something and didn't like it, I put it somewhere else... The last strip on the left side or the light border was on the right. Did not like it at all so I took it off and am now auditioning it for the left. I think I like it. Just need to decide what to to at the top....

When I step back I see the straight seam attaching the bottom strip to the panel. It's really the only straight seam.... It's kinda sticky out to me... So what if I....

add a light strip diagonally? If I slash and sew it into the strip set I will still have a straight seam at the bottom, so I'm thinking of just fusing it on so it can extend into the panel... just like we see it here. I'm going to look at it for a day or two before I decide...

One more question.... does an art quilt or improv quilt have to have straight edges??? I think not!

Off the machine today....

2011-07-09T20:18:00.000-07:00

Did I tell you how much I love these colors???? If my customer decided not to pick this up for some reason... I would be OK with that. This quilt is simple, but I love it.... :-)

Batting: warm & natural
Thread: King Tut Harem

Today on the Machine

2011-07-08T21:33:00.000-07:00

I'm in total love with the colors of this quilt!!!

I think this quilt would look fabulous on my quest bed!!!

Simple leaf meander adds just the right texture....

Happy 4th of July

2011-07-04T07:49:00.001-07:00

Wishing everyone a happy and safe 4th of July!!!

Heavy Metal Border

2011-07-01T13:37:00.000-07:00

Remember the Heavy Metal diagram I drew last week? Well, here's a how to video.... hope you enjoy!

Swirl Ribbon Candy

2011-06-29T00:49:00.000-07:00

I took me most of the day and all evening to do a 4 minute video.... I wanted to name this design Ho Ho's because it reminded me of those snack cakes, but that sounds like a trademark controversy waiting to happen. Not at all what I want, so we're keeping with Swirl Ribbon Candy....

Done and delivered

2011-06-27T20:56:00.000-07:00

Since I broke my base for my machine and wasn't able to do some of the ruler work that I had planned for this quilt, it became a wonderful creative exercise and so much fun to do. Now that I look back on it... my broken base may have been a good thing. My mind is still spinning with all the new possibilities for these designs!

Here it is done....

Thread: King Tut 934 Nile Delta

Batting: Warm's Soft & Bright

A few more blocks done...

2011-06-23T09:06:00.000-07:00

I'm really close to being done with this quilt. It's been really fun coming up with a different design for each block, but that is also the most time consuming part... So far I've only had one block that had more than ONE stop and start! That's the fun in it for me... to see if I can do each block differently and continuously at the same time.

What I like most with these blocks is that they look way more complicated than they are...

This one took 2, yes 2... stops and starts... I just couldn't get the small half square triangles all going the direction that I wanted any other way!

And I just like this angle...

One more row of blocks to do, hopefully tonight after work, and then all that's left is finishing the borders.

Heavy Metal

2011-06-21T09:51:00.000-07:00

I thought I would share the stitching path for the border design that I came up with for this latest quilt. I'm calling it Heavy Metal.... Once drawn, to me, it looks like a rod iron design...

First your going to give your self some registration lines for design placement... I used my Chaco Liner from Clover.

2... start stitching the swirl design from left to right.

3.... stitch back to the beginning.

4... now stitch up and over from left to right.

5... stitch back to the beginning to complete the design.

There you have it... Heavy Metal!

Today on the machine....

2011-06-18T21:27:00.000-07:00

I could just cry... yep! Cry! I broke my base.... :-(

So... so much of what I had planned to do on this quilt I can't. The one good thing is I can still SID (stitch in the ditch) without my base. That's if I go really, really slow....

The second good thing about no base is..... I 'm making things up as I go! Where I would normally do piano keys... I came up with this!

I was going to cross hatch the sashing, but I really, really like this better!

And I'm just having too much fun with the blocks...

So in the mean time... I have a new base on the way, but for now I will just make things up as I go!

More Crystals

2011-06-17T21:40:00.000-07:00

I've added a few more crystals... Is there such a thing as too many?

These pix are from playing with my camera trying to get the crystal to show better....

That's about all I can do for now... waiting for my order of more crystals to get here. Thought they would be here today, nooooo! Hopefully they will show up on Monday!

Adding Crystals

2011-06-15T10:28:00.000-07:00

Remember my quilt I started last summer... Zenquilting ? Then I added color .... Well, a while back I bought some crystals and now I'm finally started to add them...

The crystals are a little hard to see in the pix....

The hardest part about adding crystals is deciding where to put them, but I'm really liking the way it's coming on. I thought I had bought plenty of crystals, but my little piles were starting to get very small!!! I ordered more yesterday... hope this will be enough!

I have something totally unusual planned for the edging... hope it comes out have as well as it is in my minds eye! :-)

KISS... off the machine

2011-06-13T12:19:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the time delay... I know I've probably have said this before, but my part time job that I've been working 30+ hours a week at really gets in the way of quilting. Somedays I just want to give my notice and quilt... but then what if I run out of quilts to quilt, or the amount of quilts coming in slows way down again? Then I'd be back to square one looking for work, and that doesn't sound any fun at all! So in the mean time, I quilt when I can! :-)

Finished my customers quilt yesterday and thought I'd share....

It's an overcast type of day here in the Pacific Northwest... so it was hard to get the lighting right for the pix. This was after I adjusted the brightness on my photo program. I may have got it too bright so the colors are a little off...

This one I didn't adjust the brightness... so it's a little darker.

Batting is Warm Soft & Bright, thread is King Tut on top and Bottom Line in the bobbin....

KISS (on the machine today)

2011-05-27T21:46:00.000-07:00

Keep It Simple Silly ( sutpid!)!!!! Keeping the quilting simple does not come easy to me... There! I said it! It can be a real chore, but when a customer ask for simple quilting, simple quilting is what they get.

I've done a leaf meander all around the focus blocks... and now working on doing an echo fill around the printed flower blocks...

Mean while I've finished my 3rd pair of socks on my sock loom....

Willie just had to be up in that chair! I tried several time to put him down, but he just jumped back up as I'd take the pic. Silly dog :-) This pair ended a little shorter than I like and that's after I added an extra 10 rows to the pattern, so note to self to remember to make the next ones longer. I really like the color of these!!! May have to do another pair with this same yarn...

Finished quilting

2011-05-16T19:24:00.000-07:00

I'm back from MQS... What a show with beautitul quilts, fabulous classes and great students!!

While working in the A-1 booth I was able to work on my Going Round in Circles quilt. My good friend Dusty Farrell decided he wanted to add some feathers to the background quilting...

Can you tell Dusty's feathers from mine???

I didn't get it completed at the show, but spent today doing just that..

Now I just need to get the binding on then this quilt will go to it's new home with WonderFil Threads. I used 12wt Spagetti for the circle designs and 100wt InvisiFil for the background feathers and fills.

It's done...

2011-05-07T16:41:00.000-07:00

It's done, it's done, it's done..... When my customer came to pick it up she says "you saved my disaster!" She was not thrilled with the top at all. Her daughter-in-law picked out all the fabrics so it wasn't to her taste... but she was happy with the end result and couldn't stop smiling!!!

There wasn't enough sun coming through the windows to get a decent picture.... We got Washington Coast rain today. Overcast, and wet air!

I'll be leaving tomorrow night for MQS and will be gone until the 17th, so you wont be hearing from me for a week or so... See you when I get back!

Borders..

2011-05-05T23:42:00.000-07:00

Do you ever get to the bottom border and can't remember what exaclty that you did on the top border? I mean how the center meets or the corners turn... I do! And on almost every quilt. I have write down everything and draw myself pictures, but the best tool is my camera. (That's if I remember to take pictures...)

So I get to the bottom border and I can't remember all the details, and I forgot to take pictures. I had to unroll the whole thing....

It's all in the details!

First thing in the morning I will be finishing the last borders.....

Almost done....

2011-05-03T22:59:00.000-07:00

I didn't get this done the other day like I wanted to. I was quilting and quilting and then the power went out! By the time we went and got some dinner and came home to the power being back on... I was too tired to quilt ;-( Some days it's really hard for me to find time to quilt. It's that 'other job' that takes all my time.

Anyway, this morning I found a few hours to quilt before I had to be at work. Thought it was a good time to do the horses. Yep, I said 'horses'!

I had decide to stitch right through the paper....

Then remembered why I this isn't my favorite method of quilting!

Getting all that paper out from under the stitches can be a big pain in the backside!

Time to get out the really, really pointy tweezers!

But in the end... it looks really good. After all that I had one of those light bulb moments... why didn't I trace the pic onto water soluble stabilizer??? How much easier would that have been? MUCH! Now to remember that for next time!

And this is just because Mr Will was helping me in the studio today...

On the machine....

2011-04-29T10:31:00.000-07:00

I'm really, really liking the way this quilt is coming along! I hope to have it done today, even if that means quilting this evening to get it finished....

Quilting BIG borders

2011-04-28T09:45:00.000-07:00

Sometimes an idea for a really big border is so totally obvious and other time it's not. When it's a busy print us longarm quilters don't like to put a lot of fancy stitching where it's not going to be seen, so something simple that adds texture is usually the best choice. One of my favorites is what we call 'Piano Key', which is simple straight lines evenly placed across the border.

The quilting will show better on the second big border on this quilt so I decided on a feather design...

I looked and looked for western designs for this quilt that I could do freehand. Something like a leather tooling design. Many of them add this feather shape so I practice drawing these feathers for about 4 weeks. I think I really like them....

SOCKS!!!

2011-04-25T18:30:00.000-07:00

I got my first pair of sock done! Love them, very comfy :-)

I did pretty go at getting the stripes to match.... until I got to the toe! LOL

I think I'm hooked on home made socks. Started on my second pair this time with a ribbed cuff.

Just Leaf It with Sherry

2011-04-19T10:24:00.000-07:00

I recieved an email from Sherry in BC with pix using design from Just Leaf It...

I think Sherry did a fabulous job!!! And all on her domestic machine :-)

Remember Holly Hobby? My Gramma made me a Holly Hobby doll that sat on my bed forever! I know I still have her packed away. She is one of my prized possessions and a favorite memory of Gramma!

Check it out!

2011-04-18T22:21:00.000-07:00

Karen posted pix of the stitching she did in the Fantasy Feather class last Friday on her blog. Check it out... her sample is fabulous!!!

Kim's class on Fantasy Feathers

2011-04-17T10:43:00.000-07:00

Megan took a short video while I was teaching on Friday.... We had the Best time over the 3 days of workshops!!! Can't wait to do it again :-)

Class time....

2011-04-13T10:37:00.000-07:00

Getting ready to head to Megan's for our 3 day workshop. I'm excited and nervous at the same time. Fantasy Feathers is a full class!!! Love this class... so much fun to teach and watch students realize that YES they can do this!!!

Tools and Templates class in one shy from being full.... so one students gets a machine to themselves. In this class we will also be learning how to create the spine for the above border, and lets not forget about how to turn the corner...

Megan has been getting calls asking when we are going to do this again... so watch for more information when we set some dates.

I'm going to leave you today with a bit of spring... We live in the woods and my dirt is not the greatest for growing things, but I love some of the wild flowers that start blooming this time of year. One of my favorites is Trillium that can be found in the undergrowth of the forest... this one is at the edge of one of the creeks that run through our property.

Tah Da....

2011-04-06T10:25:00.000-07:00

I bet you were thinking that I forgot about showing you the finish of this quilt..... There are some quilts that I just hate to see leave and posting the finish here is like finishing a really good book and you just know that you are going to miss the characters.... That's how I feel about this quilt.

The sunflower is one of the designs that I will be teaching in my Tools and Templates class.... so much fun to make!

Can't have sunflowers without leaves....

Usually when I see a pieced back I kinda cringe....(they can sag and bag in all the wrong places) but this one laid flat and smooth.

Threads used on this quilt are all from Superior.... Bottom Line in the bobbin, Brytes and King Tut on top. Customer supplied the batting, but I think it's Warm & White. The sunflowers were created using different size circle rulers from Gagdget Girls...

Classes are almost full!!!

2011-04-05T09:59:00.000-07:00

Classes are almost full for April 14th & 15th in Bellingham, WA!!!!! Just got this message from Megan..

Also, we have 1 opening for friday morning, Fantasy Feathers, and 2 openings for the template class.

The A1 maintenence class is full and there is 2 opening for the business class.

For more information contact Megan.....

bestquilter@gmail.com

Jelly Roll Quilt (or the 1600 quilt)

2011-04-02T10:35:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago Shannon over at pieceful kwilter shared this fast and fun quilt idea. It's called the 1600 Quilt or Jelly Roll races...

So I decided I had to make one, but I didn't use a Jelly Roll. At first I thought I would use scrap 2.5" strips that I already have, but once I started going through them I noticed I was pulling out a controlled color pallet. I went to another box of fabric and pull out a few more fabrics and cut more strips....

What took the longest was sewing all those strips together. Some of my strips were the full 40+" and some were cut from fat quaters. When I do it again I will either use all half strips or all full strips.... but I am really really happy with the way it turned out!

Before borders...

Now to find time to quilt it....

This should look really good in out Streamline trailer with it's Harvest Gold carpet and appliances, but it does look good in the master bedroom too.... we'll have to see where it will find it's home!

SOCKS

2011-03-30T08:35:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to learn to knit socks for quite some time, but just didn't know where to start. I know a few people here in town that would help me, but I have a time problem.... I always seem to be working on knitting day. I could buy a beginning book, but, well you know, those long stick thingies look itemitating to tackle on my own.

So a few weeks ago, my good friend Megan got a sock loom. I thought 'how cool!' So far she has made 2 pairs of socks... maybe 3 by now. Now I'm really, really wanting one!

The closest place for me to look for one is JoAnns, which is an hour away. I looked on line so thought I would have to break down and order one. Then last Friday when I came home from work the mail was on the counter with a package from Megan..... YEP, it's a sock loom!!!! She is the BEST!

I started my first sock, and had a hard time getting going. Ripped it out several time before I got the hang of it.

Then another friend on Facebook said she had ripped her out because she knew it could be better. Of coarse that put the notion in my head. I kept chanting... I will not rip, I will not rip! That didn't work!

Mean while I found directions on how to do a hemmed edge...... So I started over!

I'm liking this much better! I feel like I got the hang of it now too. My tention is much better and I really like the look of the hemmed edge....

Just what I needed.... another project! hahahaha

Almost done

2011-03-17T11:11:00.000-07:00

I'm almost done with this quilt and am starting to add the background fill....

Did I mention that I really, really like this quilt!

Longarm Class Anoucement....

2011-03-13T08:57:00.000-07:00

Classes held in Bellingham WA

Longarm classes April 14, 15 & 16, 2011

Hands on classes will have no more than 2 people per machine, Up to 8 people in each class.

Day 1 April 14, 2011

9:30-12:30 $45

A1 Maintenance class.

All you need to know to really keep your machine running the very best

1:30-4:30 $45

The nitty gritty of the business of Longarm quilting.

Day 2 Kim Stotsenberg April 15, 2011

9:30-12:30

Fantasy Feathers: For elegant to whimsical designs. $65

Not your traditional feathers. Once you have the basics of constructing these feathers we will explore using them in borders, blocks, and setting triangles. Kim will show you how to use stencils, templates and rulers for the foundation to quilting these designs into your quilts. We will explore using 2 different colors of thread for a more whimsical look.

1:30-4:30

Templates and rulers $65

If you have been intimidated on using all the different rulers and templates available to us, this is the hands on class for you.

Day 3 April 16, 2011

10 to 3, with a lunch break. $75

Compuquilter: Borders, corners, and blocks. Learn how morphing can work for you.

Learn how fabulous and easy these are to perfect. Demonstration.

For more information contact Megan Best at bestquilter@gmail.com

Fantasy Feathers....

On the machine today....

2011-03-09T10:59:00.000-08:00

I had to take my circle quilt off the machine so I could quilt this for a customer. It's for Susan G Komen fund raiser, so there is a deadline and I need to get it back to her....

I love the colors.... They just said "Sunflowers" to me!!!

Answers to a few questions...

2011-03-08T08:30:00.000-08:00

Yes Joan, 12 wt thread is thick. I think it may even be thicker than Jean Stitch (you know the gold thread that jeans are top stitched with?) I started out trying to use a size 20 needle, but kept getting skips... Me being too lazy to retime my machine, so I switched back to my normal 18. Worked great! I stitched really, really slow for most of my designs. This helped with accuracy.... with that thick of thread I knew every bobble would show!

Ethne.... yes you can achieve this. It just takes practice. You have to remember that I have 11 going on 12 years of practice. One thing I do everyday is draw.... Doodle.... and draw some more. I draw on every little piece of scrap paper that comes my way. This is what helps me learn new designs and to put them into my memory. When I first started machine quilting and someone would tell me to draw, I thought that was silly. I could way better than draw.... Now I draw every single day! I draw feathers everyday.... feathers don't come easy for me, but with drawing them I can stitch them with ease :-)

Thanks for all the nice comments!!!!

What I'm working on....

2011-03-07T11:25:00.000-08:00

At Innovations Machine Quilter's Confrence last September I was asked by Donna from WonderFil Threads to make a quilt using their Spagetti 12wt cotton thread. So last week this is what I came up with....

Will it go Round in Circles?

I still have quite a bit of the background quilting to do....

For the background fill I'm using InvisFil 100wt poly thread. I'm in total love with this thread! For how fine it is it runs like a dream in my A-1 Quilting Machine!!!! No breaks, no skipping.... makes me very happy!!!

Right now I have a customer's quilt that I need to get done, so I'm hoping to get back to 'Circles' later this week....

Ta Da... Stack-n-Whack Stars

2011-03-01T23:55:00.000-08:00

I'm really good at sharing pix of works in progress, but not so much of sharing them once they are finished. Not sure why that is... maybe because by that time I've started something new and can't wait to share it.

So anyhow, here's the finished Stach-n-Whack Star quilt..... I am really happy with the way it turned out, and will be meeting up with the owner this weekend. This is the first time that I've quilted for her, so I hope she's as happy with it as I am...

It's not often that we get such a sunny day.... In some ways it makes it harder to get good pix.

I really, really like the back on this one!

Mary has been drawing leaves!

2011-02-26T21:13:00.000-08:00

Check out Mary's blog and her drawing of leaves..... I love seeing how others take my ideas from Just Leaf It and make them their own!!! Mary has done a fabulous job of doing just that... thank you Mary for sharing your ideas.

Zenquilting

2011-02-24T09:34:00.000-08:00

It was just brought to my attention that I never shared pix of my Zenquilting quilt once it was colored....

ta daaa

I do not know why blogger flips some of my pix sideways.... drives m nuts!

Anyway... I still need to add crystals and finish the edges. I think I'm going to use a facing instead of binding then maybe some beads from the bottom. We're having a snow day, so maybe I can work on that!

Fabric Search

2011-02-23T10:21:00.000-08:00

Looks like I've been missing in action again... When my computer was down and out, I realized how much more I get done in a day when I'm not spending all my time on the internet. I do have to keep up on what everyone else is doing you know... Anyway, I've been trying to limit my computer use to once a day. It hasn't been easy, but I'm trying!

So anyway.... I am looking for this fabric. It's Marrakech Bazaar by Free Spirit.

Not sure how old it is or where I got it, but I love the colors! I've search all the fabric sight and have come up with nothing :-( If anyone has a half yard to spare I'd be happy to buy it from you. A yard would be better... but beggars can't be choosy! Just leave me a comment and I'll get back to you....

Major finger crossing going on here.....

Back on the machine...

2011-01-31T14:31:00.000-08:00

I had to take the large Stack-n-Whack star quilt off the machine.... I had a couple ladies come to my studio for a 2 day workshop. We had so much fun talking design and then putting it to use! I only hope that I didn't overload their brains with too much info at once. I tried to cram a lot of concepts into those 2 days :-)

Also while I've been silent, my computer crashed and burned. I was so afraid that I lost everything that hadn't been backed up on to a separate hard drive, but all was saved... wwwoooo hooooo!

So anyway, this is back on the machine. I love the way it's turning out!!!

My customer and I had chosen leaves for the quilting in the open areas, but not exactly how they were going to fit. It's kind of a odd shape, but one I out lined the stars it made it much more manageable.

Only have a few more rows to go....

More on my Soft & Bright review... after my last post I decide that Willie and I should give it the nap test. We snuggled up on the couch with my sampler quilt which kept us warm and cozy for a little afternoon snooze :-)

Batting update

2011-01-23T11:47:00.000-08:00

So I had a few questions on Soft & Bright and how it drapes. I've never really gave it much thought. I like it because it's stable with no stretch and has a nice loft, but it can seem a little stiff. Not so cozy like the other Warm battings that I use. So I decided to give it a wash test....

This is a sample for my Beginning Freehand class...
Before washing

After washing.....

Not a lot of difference.... There was some shrinking, but I'm not sure if this is batting or fabric. The fabrics were prewashed before making this sample so if they were going to shrink it should of been then. Still a little stiff, but softer than before.

In conclusion... I like the loft of Soft & Bright, but if I want my quilt to be soft and cuddly, I will stay with the Warm Bond or Blend.

LED light

2011-01-14T21:48:00.001-08:00

For any one looking for one of these lights, you have to call A-1 to order it.... 1-800-566-4276 It's well worth it!!!! :-)

On the machine part 3... lighting

2011-01-13T11:31:00.000-08:00

I talked to my customer last night and she is fine with contrasting thread on the back of her quilt.... yeah! I don't have to frog (remove stitching)!!! That makes me so happy, and now I can continue working on her quilt :-)

Seeing black thread on black fabric is extremely difficult. Some quilter have attached different types of extra lighting to their machines to get the light from a different angle. Side or back lighting will cast a shadow. Straight lighting (such as the lighting coming from the factory mounted light bar) is a direct light with little shadow. Creating a shadow with light is quite helpful for stitching white thread on white fabric. The shadow helps to see where you have been and where you are going. With black on black it's difficult to create a shadow with lighting.

In 2009 at MQS I got a small LED light from A-1 Quilting Machines. It's a small light with a magnet on the back....

I have this light attached right in front of my hopping foot....

This produces a bright concentrated light right on my work surface...

In this last picture the LED light is the only light on, which is how I quilt most often... Every once in awhile I will turn the light bar on for extra illumination. Since I have two large picture windows that let in lots of natural light, I rarely turn my overhead lights on. With this quilt I'm able to see the best with the LED and overhead lights on. It's not perfect, and I still may go blind, but I can somewhat see....

On the machine part 2...

2011-01-12T13:47:00.000-08:00

With the use of black thread also means black bobbin thread. If I use black thread on the front and light blue thread on the back we run the chance of getting light blue dots (better known as pokies) in the stitching that will show on the front. The same goes for the back, black dots of thread that show in the stitching on the back. No matter how balanced the thread tension is (in my experience) you get dots when the bobbin thread doesn't match the top thread...

Since my customer was concerned about high contrast of thread on the front, I'm having a horrible feeling that she may not like it on the back either.... I've e-mail her pix and some other options, such as a busy back that will hide the stitching. I personally like the high contrast on the back so the quilting really shows, but it's not my quilt. It's important to me that my customer is happy with the end result!

To answer a few questions from my previous post...
Favorite batting? I'm not really sure that I have one, but I do mainly use batting from the The Warm Co. The main reason I use their batting is that it's made here. It's only a 15 minute drive to their factory for me to pick it up... and that's a real plus for me. This means I don't have to pay shipping and I don't have to charge my customers any extra for batting. I think there is pluses and minuses with any batting that is available.

I like Warm & White.... pluses, it's really stable and there is no stretching. (which I find true for all their batting) Once quilted, your quilt is really warm and cozy! Minuses, it's really flat with not much loft. Hundred percent cotton shrinks. This can be good when you want an antique look... It can be pre-shrunk which makes it softer and loftier, but it's time consuming.

I have used Warm Blend & Warm Bond. I was hoping that one or the other would be more like Hobbs 80/20. They are both really nice battings but are still flat with not much loft. I like the Warm Bond because it is heat bonded and not needle punched, which means less bearding...

I just picked up a new roll of Soft & Bright, their 100% poly batting. This is my old stand by that I always go back to. Light weight with a nice loft, and very stable with no stretching or shrinking.

I do like Hobbs products, but I don't like the shipping cost....

Did I chalk the spine? Yes, I like to chalk the spine when ever possible so that it doesn't get too thready.

Since this post became so long winded.... I will talk about lighting tomorrow :-)

On the machine today....

2011-01-11T19:47:00.000-08:00

Quilting black on black.... I think I'll go blind!

Looks much better once the chalk is removed! :-)

I know a lot of you out there really like Quilter's Dream batting, but I find it quite stretchy and most difficult to work with.

Just look at how ruffly the edge is... and I was extremely careful while handling the batting not to stretch it. I smooth and pat doing everything I know to keep it flat, but it still stretches... Anyway, I only use it if a customer brings it. Not my favorite batting, but that's why it's nice that we have so many to choose from. What I like may not be your favorite to work with ;-)

Last quilt from 2010

2011-01-07T13:32:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season!!! I think I missed pretty much the whole season... I had the flu for over 3 weeks.... The last couple days have been the first time that I have felt human again :-) During that time I slept, then took a nap then went back to bed.... so needless to say I didn't post much!

I did get one last quilt done for a customer in time for Christmas. A redwork snowman quilt. We decided to do an allover edge to edge quilting treatment using a holly meander...

And one pic of Willie enjoying the snow we had....

Christmas Sampler

2010-12-18T13:06:00.000-08:00

I did this quilt in November and just realized that I never shared it here.... It's a Christmas Sampler pieced by one of my customers (sorry, don't know the name of the pattern). I really had a hard time coming up with something new for some of the blocks, so I did a lot of S&S... standing and staring! Anyway, I think it turned out nice.

Christmas doodle....

2010-12-15T23:20:00.000-08:00

Merry Christams to all....

Fan Letter

2010-12-11T14:30:00.000-08:00

Not long ago I received the following from Linda Rech who was in my Filigree Feather class that I taught for the first time this last September at Innovation 2010... I will be teaching a new twist on this class called Fantasy Feathers at MQS 2011 in May. Anyway, I was thrilled by Linda's email! She did a fabulous job making these Filigree Feathers her own!!!

If any of you out there have used designs learned in one of my classes or from my book 'Just Leaf It' and want to share your photos... please give me a shout! I'd be more than happy to share them here for you!!

Here's Linda's quilting... and e-mail.

Hi Kim—I was lucky to take your Filigree Feathers class at Innovations this year. I tell all my longarm buddies that this class was the best money I have spent at that show in seven years! I have used the feathers several times on customer quilts and it always gets a positive response. Attached is a close-up of a recent quilt. Thanks and I hope to take more classes from you. You were a great instructor. Enough schmoozingJ—have a great weekend!

Linda Rech-Olympia

Thank you Linda for sharing!

DUH.... ta da

2010-12-09T23:35:00.000-08:00

I just realized I never showed finish pix of the last customer quilt I posted about. So here it is done....

If your interested in learning to quilt these feathers, I will be teaching Fantasy Feathers at MQS 2011....

Poinsettias

2010-12-07T22:50:00.000-08:00

I drew this a couple weeks ago... Now I'm thinking this sketch could be this years Christmas card. What do ya think?

Need to take my sketch to the printers... I hope I still have time to get them in the mail by Christmas!

Red sky in the morning....

2010-11-23T08:26:00.000-08:00

Sailors take warning!

Willie thinks it's a good day to stay in bed...

And a peek at the back of this quilt. Feather meander using one of the feathers designs I teach in my Fantasy Feather class. The thread that you are seeing is Superior's Bottom Line #602 Gold in the bobbin.... King Tut #991 Sahara Shadows on top.

Still snowing!!!

2010-11-22T11:02:00.000-08:00

It's still snowing!!! After Dan got the truck stuck and almost went over the embankment on our driveway yesterday... he doesn't want to have a redo today! So it's a snow day here... unless anyone wants to come take me to work and back again.

I'm almost done with this quilt.... and really liking the way it's coming out!

SNOW

2010-11-21T22:33:00.000-08:00

Willies first snow.... He was having fun running and jumping around like a crazy dog!

On the frame today

2010-11-20T11:33:00.000-08:00

Feather meander using one of the feather designs I teach in my Fantasy Feather class....

Here's Willie

2010-11-03T19:53:00.000-07:00

We picked him up at 7:00 last night at SeaTac.... he's a 2 year old Australian Terrier that is coming to live with us! He is cuter than cute.. much cuter than the pic. (it's hard to get a good pic of a silly willy wiggle worm all by myself!)

Quiltdalla

2010-10-28T11:43:00.000-07:00

I've decide to call these designs Quiltdalla since I only use quilting design when I draw my Mandalla's....

This one got a little dark after I picked up the wrong pen!

A few new doodles

2010-10-23T16:18:00.000-07:00

The other night I was having a garden type mood... maybe because it's fall and rainy here.

Butterfly Kisses wins a BLUE....

2010-10-22T10:53:00.000-07:00

I just heard from my customer, Karen Carter, that her Butterfly Kisses Quilt won a blue ribbon at Westsound Quilters show!!!!

Go Giveaway...

2010-10-21T11:15:00.000-07:00

Sue Hauser at Alderwood Quilts is having a giveaway.... an Accu Quilt Go! How cool is that? I would tell all of you to go over and sign up for it... but I WANT IT!

Oh...OK, go put your name in the drawing... :-)

My first Mandala

2010-10-09T10:40:00.000-07:00

After reading Dream it then Create it blog by Jane I decided to try my hand at creating a Mandala....
This just may become a quilt ;-)