Quilt Class

The first, and only, quilt class I took was at Queen Ann's Lace back in 2004.  There were four of us girls in the class, and we each made a lap quilt using the rail fence pattern.  I enjoyed my classmates and the class.

The faces have been removed to protect the innocent ;-))  Looking back at these pictures and thinking of the experience, I realize I really should take more quilting classes.  I need to expand my quilting abilities.....broaden my horizons....learn to think outside the box.....

This is the lap quilt that I made.  I named it AMERICA for my son Eric and the patriotic fabrics included.  Picking out the fabrics was the hardest part of this class.  No charm packs, jelly rolls, layer cakes or other coordinating fabric lines were allowed (maybe not even invented then)!!!

Here is Eric all snuggled up in his quilt.  Isn't he a cutie?  Of course, he's a teenager with a driver's license now, and the lap size doesn't fit any more.  I have since made him a bigger quilt.

Have an amazing day!!!

Sneak Peek

Tuesday I actually got quite a bit of quilting done.  It is only because I exercised self control and stayed away from the computer.  This is usually not a problem for me ... that is until I discovered Blogland which at the moment is having a quilt festival.

I finished the batiks quilt top I have been struggling with.  I even pieced the back.  A first for me.  I am only going to give you a sneak peak for now, because I am saving it for Sew and Tell Friday.

Since I accomplished more than expected yesterday, today I plan to spend a few hours making my way down the list of entries in the festival.  Have an amazing day!!  Love and Peace,

Balance

I am hoping to spend some time quilting today.  I have spent way too much time on my computer lately, but can you blame me with all these beautiful quilts to see??!!   I plan to visit EVERY entry in this fall's Blogger's Quilt Festival!!!  I do not know if it is possible, (anyone who has attempted whether successful or not please advise) but I'm going to try.  I am starting at the top and making my way down .... posting comments at every stop along the way.   I have noticed that my pace has slowed as my fingers get tired.  My typos have increased as well.

Since I haven't spent much time with my sewing machine, I will have to show you something I made a while back.  This was the first quilt I made for my daughter.  I made this four or five years ago from an Alex Anderson book, I believe.  You can't really tell from the picture, but basically it is made from only three different fabrics - a solid looking pink, a pink polka dot, and a paisley that has some pretty green running through.  Please bear with me this week as I am sure I will continue to go on and on about the quilt festival.   P. S.  Did you notice the changes in my blog format?  Still tweaking it, but what do you think?  Have an amazing day!!

Sensory Overload

Have you stopped by the Bloggers Quilt Festival?  If not, you definitely need to check it out.  Thank goodness it runs until the 16th.  I am methodically checking out every entry starting with #1, working my way down and leaving comments at every blog along the way.  I still have a long way to go.  I may not get much quilting accomplished this week, but I am seeing lots of eye candy and getting great ideas.  Check it out for yourself.  You'll see what I mean.  Click here or on the button in the sidebar.  Please leave a comment at all the places you visit.  I know I have enjoyed reading all the comments from the nice people who have stopped by to see mine.

Another reason I am enjoying the quilt festival is that it gives me a good excuse not to work on my batiks quilt.  This seemed like a quick quilt to make at the time, and that is what I need it to be.  It is taking me way longer than it should to finish, which is what I need to do so I can move on to other projects.  Have you ever felt that way about a quilt before?  I am feeling a little guilty about that fact right now.  I am thinking it has nothing to do with the quilt or the recipient, but the many ideas and new projects running around in my head.  Enjoy your day!!

Rene'

Off 'til Monday

Enjoying the View

I plan to take a break from posting this weekend so I can get some quilting done and to check out all the amazing quilts at  the Blogger's Quilt Festival .  If you have not already done so, I encourage you to head on over and feast your eyes on some beautiful work.  The last time I checked there were over 290 entries and counting.   Enjoy yourself and have an amazing weekend.  See you on Monday!!!

Rene'

Silver Anniversary/Courthouse Blues

I am so excited to participate in this year's Blogger's Quilt Festival hosted by Amy at Park City Girl .  Please click on the link shown in my sidebar to check out all the wonderful quilts submitted.  Below is my entry into the festival.

The quilt that I chose to share is the one I made last May for my husband to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary.  I adapted the pattern from Marti Michell's Lodge Look Courthouse Steps in her Log Cabin ABCs, but took the fabric color idea from Courthouse Blues in Jan Bode Smiley's Focus on Batiks.

This was my first attempt at any Log Cabin block, but Marti Michell's rulers made it seem easy.  My husband is an attorney, so the idea of making a Courthouse Steps pattern seemed appropriate.  I liked the color scheme shown in the Focus on Batiks book, so I went with that, hence the name Courthouse Blues.

To tie in the anniversary theme, I chose a silver fabric for the center of the blocks since silver represents 25 years (or so I was told).  Most log cabin blocks I have seen use red for the centers, but I took comfort in the fact that the beautiful quilt shown in the book had a creamy, yellow center.  If you look closely (but not TOO close), you will see the silver thread used for quilting - again, representing twenty-five years of marriage.

The back is pieced from the same fabric - a beautiful blue and green batik to complement the front.  This was before I discovered how cool piecing the back could be.  However, I do like the label.

I typed the label and printed it along with our wedding picture onto a photo fabric sheet.  Oh, to be so young again!!!!  I usually send my special quilts, especially one this large, to a longarm quilter, but I wanted to be able to say I had made the whole quilt myself.

I can't wait to check out all the quilts in this year's festival!!!  Thanks Amy for putting together this amazing event.  Everyone, enjoy!!!!

Rene'

Now What?

I really don't know what to do next.  I am nervous about the next step in this wildflower quilt.  I blogged previously about this being the first time I have tried this technique.  Since then, I quilted around the edges of the wildflowers with smoky monofilament thread to secure the pieces.

The next step is to "paint" the details of the quilt with thread.  This is what has me nervous.  I am afraid to mess up.  I'm not that confident in doing anything other than a straight stitch.  That is why I LOVE piecing way more than quilting.

So I spent quite some time with all the thread laid out on the top hoping for an epiphany.  None was forthcoming.  So......

I poured some crystal seed beads on the center hoping for inspiration.  Again, nothing.  I think I just need to start the process.  It is the fear of the unknown that is scaring me.  What I really need to do is what Belinda did here - practice on a test piece until I get the hang of it.  Maybe tomorrow.