Designing by the Seat of My Pants

At quilt shows there's always that slow part of the day. Usually around 3pm...

Sometimes I'll put an orphan block on my quilt sandwich and play. I did this at one of the shows I was at in the last month. Don't ask which one... they start to run together after 3 in row! LOL!

I may have gotten carried away!

Ta Done

I do not know the name of this pattern... but I love it and now I want to make one!  LOL!!!

I've been quilting for this customer for close to 20 years. She always says... just make it pretty! LOL

Rainbow thread on top and Bottom Line in the bobbin. Batting is W&W. Feather Vine in the border with swirls in the small border. Heavy Metal in the Flying Geese, Feather Vine in the Pinwheels and swirls for the background.

I think it looks really good on my bed!

 

 You can see how I quilted the Feather Vine in the triangles in this post. 

 

I had to do my favorite Feather Vine border.... had to!!! LOL

 

 

And Heavy Metal in the flying geese! 

 You can watch how I quilt this Heavy Metal design here.

 

Heavy Metal Flying Geese

This is my favorite design to quilt in Flying Geese...

  

I did a short video the other day... this was before I figured out that I should move my handlebars to get a better view!  LOL!!!

 

You can purchase my Heavy Metal workbook here.

Heavy Metal Variation

Awhile back I decided to try adding an extra spike to my one of my Heavy Metal designs....  I like it!!!

 

My Heavy Metal workbook is once again available for purchase...

https://sewnsewquilting.blogspot.com/p/fantasy-feathers.html

Travel Day

Yesterday was a travel day. I decided to play tourist on my way home and made a few stops.  Heading down the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area... views of my youth! Maryhill Museum.

 

 The Columbia... looking down to Wishram and in the distance is Mt Hood.

  

Looking back up river towards the Deschutes River on the Oregon side.

 

At the next scenic pull out looking up river towards Lyle. There were a few wind surfers out there but you can't really see them in this pictures.

 

Looking down river... I don't know if you can see the gradual change in vegetation. The further west I go the more trees there are.

 

It was a windy bluster day that brings out the wind surfers!!!

 

My last stop was at Bonneville Dam... lots of water coming through there! 

 

I love that this part of the Columbia River is protected as a National Scenic Area. What this means is any new construction has to blend with the scenery. Also, there are no wind mills!!! When traveling east it's easy to tell when you are about to leave the protected area. There are wind mills as far as you can see.

TaDone... One Of My Own

I took a break and quilted on of my own quilts. This is a quilt I started several years ago.... I get everything done except the border and stop. I have no idea why I do this. Crazy!

The pattern is called Lightening Strikes Twice .It uses 5" charm squares to make the chevron design....

I decided it was time to get it out and finish it!

On the Machine

I'm hoping to get this seriously cute quilt done today....

Playing

Playing with new Heavy Metal designs....

New Heavy Metal Border

I've been playing with a new Heavy Metal border...  

This is not in my book Heavy Metal...  so I thought I would share here how I do this.  It's really quick and fun to do!

First thing you need is a few registration marks.  I use my 1 1/2" Design with Lines template to mark my border.  You could use the 2" template if you desire.

Second:   I stitch a swirl down the first registration line.  Then back up.

 Third:  Stitch across to the next registration line. (This will either be off the edge of the border or in the ditch depending on your border.)  Repeat quilting swirls down and up each registration line until your reach the end of your border.

Fourth:  Echo your swirl back to the beginning...

This finished the design...   Super simple!  Super fun!

Heavy Metal is addicting!

Heavy Metal is very addicting...  while I'm sitting here drawing a few new designs for my workbook, I keep seeing the "what if?" designs.  Which leads to more designs!!!  If I'm going to get this to the printers I need to stop now.  Put the pen down and step away for the paper!!

This brings me to the point of this post...  If you are taking my class, Heavy Metal, at MQX next week your hand out will have NEW designs!!!  (If you previously purchased the workbook, please bring it...  you will receive the updates in class.)

The updated edition of the Heavy Metal workbook will be available Tuesday night at the Ice Cream Social at a special price....

 4 new Flying Geese designs...

 

PDF  updates will be available online once I get back from Portland, but for now the page to order both Heavy Metal and Fantasy Feathers has been removed until then...

Heavy Metal

One of the drawings from my new handout for my Heavy Metal Quilting class....

Bet you're all going to be glad when I'm done with classes for awhile and am back to normal quilting...  lol

On the Machine

I hope to get this done today or tomorrow...  it will probably be tomorrow.

I'm really liking the way the blocks are turning out....

 

And I've decided I like the way the sashing looks without the pebbles...  I think it will be fine if I don't add them but keep them in the border.  (cause I'm not taking them out!)

 

I had way too much fun piecing the back with my leftovers!!!!  I believe there might be a little terrier dog under that there backing...  :-)

The quilting designs that I using on my quilt will be part of what I will be teaching in my Heavy Metal Quilting class...

 Heavy Metal Quilting

MQS 2013
Wednesday, May 15th

12:30pm to 2:30pm
With the look and feel of rod iron fencing Heavy Metal gets its name.  Don’t be fooled by the name, these designs are made using soft curves and spirals.  You will learn how to quilt the border treatment that started it all with a little bit of marking to divide up the space and turn the corners with ease.  Kim will explain the process of creating unique custom designs for many traditional and modern quilts.

 

 

On the machine today....

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?

Heavy Metal Border

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