tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19677978238129072332024-03-13T12:05:53.419-07:00She Likes QuiltsOne girl's journey as a longarm quilterShe Likes Skirtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03346304020333438386noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1967797823812907233.post-69501150892149550362012-02-17T16:16:00.000-08:002012-02-17T16:16:00.111-08:00The Making of a Studio<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This used to be my living room....</div>
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Here's my living room now...<br />
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Do you see any difference?<br />
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I bet if I hadn't said anything, you would never have noticed. :)She Likes Skirtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03346304020333438386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1967797823812907233.post-57590518615597377682012-01-30T23:26:00.000-08:002012-01-31T15:20:42.909-08:00Christmas In JanuaryLast summer my good friend Penny brought her sister over to my house...uhh...my studio...my studio/house...to check out the longarm. Melanie lives in Minnesota, and, like her sister, she's a talented quilter. I was delighted when she sent three quilts for me to finish. Melanie requested I use Quilters Dream Puff batting for one of the quilts. Hmmmm....I buy my batting from Quilters Dream, but I had never used Dream Puff. It sounded like a lot of fun, so I was glad to order some. <br />
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Let me tell you, it lives up to it's name.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qtnk0D48uF0/TyeKR5q3juI/AAAAAAAAAW8/uK6D4_UGmWw/s1600/100_2019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qtnk0D48uF0/TyeKR5q3juI/AAAAAAAAAW8/uK6D4_UGmWw/s320/100_2019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Whenever I see beautiful Christmas quilts like this, I always vow to make one, but I never do. </div>
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Think of how lovely this will look on Melanie's bed next holiday season!</div>
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It was festive working on this lovely quilt. I should have put on some Christmas music and fixed a cup of hot apple cider, especially since the weather outside was frightful. Like, -21 degrees.<br />
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Penny picked a design she knew Melanie would love. It's called Holly Rose. So pretty...<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c6WCmod8Acg/TyeNIAu8vDI/AAAAAAAAAYU/3VHo3DRC5uU/s1600/100_2025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c6WCmod8Acg/TyeNIAu8vDI/AAAAAAAAAYU/3VHo3DRC5uU/s320/100_2025.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
Here's the scoop on Quilters Dream Puff.<br />
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It's supposed to be 1 1/2 times warmer than down. It's breathable and washable and won't shrink. It sure felt good, really soft and dense. I liked it. <br />
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A lot.<br />
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Here's my normal poly/cotton batting on the left. Dream Puff on the right.<br />
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Such a lovely quilt! The pattern is Log Cabin Hidden Star.<br />
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So pretty. So puffy! And, considering I live in Alaska, I've been wondering where this batting has been all my life!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vUE8hD3ACQ8/TyeQ6hx0E3I/AAAAAAAAAZM/_jHiTp9-0LQ/s1600/100_2032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vUE8hD3ACQ8/TyeQ6hx0E3I/AAAAAAAAAZM/_jHiTp9-0LQ/s320/100_2032.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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The back is lovely. The red thread looks great on the sage green back.<br />
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You can really see the puff factor on the last row. <br />
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I enjoyed working with the Dream Puff batting; I ordered an extra piece to play with. I want to see how warm it really is. I don't think I'd combine this with a minky backing...I'm thinking that would be too hot. Flannel might be okay. <br />
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Sounds like I need to make another quilt so I have a reason to use the batting. <br />
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When the temp outside is -21, you just can't have too many quilts!<br />
Happy quilting!<br />
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</div>She Likes Skirtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03346304020333438386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1967797823812907233.post-59678284333361469522012-01-22T16:35:00.000-08:002012-01-22T22:51:01.690-08:00To Each Her OwnSo...<br />
I've decided to do a little something-something on this poor, neglected blog. There are a couple of reasons I've left it dormant for months. First, it's really hard to get good pictures without natural light. (Alaska is a little short on natural light in the winter.) Second, I've been a little busy. Okay, a lot busy.<br />
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And that's a good problem.<br />
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Waaaaay back in October I had the opportunity to go to the Machine Quilters Expo in Portland, Oregon. Man...talk about overload. It was inspiring to take classes from nationally known machine quilters. It was also a tad intimidating to see how much there is to learn. Fortunately the intimidation factor has turned into the motivation factor. <br />
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And that's a good thing.<br />
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One of the classes I took was taught by a very well known machine quilter who doesn't use a computer, she hand guides everything. Her work is stunning and very traditional. But she was so not what I was expecting! In a nutshell, she's a very personable, funny, likeable biker chick with amazing talent.<br />
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We were instructed to bring a quilt top to the class. I brought one I had recently finished and was really pleased with. At different times during the class she had us lay quilts on big tables so she could talk about our quilting options. When she called for "anything nontraditional" I threw mine on the table. She took one look at it and said, "Oh man! Who is making you quilt THAT?" <br />
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I think my lip may have quivered a bit.<br />
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I finally quilted the thing.<br />
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(Be sure to click on the pictures for a closer look.)<br />
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I had friends over to sew yesterday. Poor things, I tormented them by presenting every quilting option I had considered for my yucky quilt.<br />
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They were very patient. They may even have said they liked it.<br />
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I found most of these fabrics in Portland. I think they look like a biker chick should really like them, don't you? Kind of edgy.<br />
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I really like the pop of blue.<br />
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Swirls are wonderful....<br />
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...even on the back.<br />
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I have to admit, I really, really love this quilt. I think it's unusual, interesting and very fun.<br />
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And absolutely perfect for a Toyota chick. :)<br />
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<br />She Likes Skirtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03346304020333438386noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1967797823812907233.post-6288510535385435082011-09-26T21:34:00.000-07:002011-09-26T23:39:09.051-07:00T WordsYou know how some words evoke a specific emotion? All you have to do is hear them and they trigger a very real...often powerful...feeling from the past. Or maybe the present. <br />
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I honestly don't know how other long arm quilters feel about the word I'm about to share with you, but I can tell you it brings out the very worst in me.<br />
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Tension.<br />
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I'm not talking about the tension you feel when another driver cuts you off, or your boss calls you into his office. The meaning I'm referring to causes me to freak out, pace, obsess, write frantic emails, make frantic phone calls, lose sleep and sweat.<br />
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(I may be exaggerating a little. Or not...)<br />
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I'm talking about thread tension. <br />
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The quest for the perfect stitch. It's never ending.<br />
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My machine was skipping stitches and driving me nuts. I did everything I could think of to fix the tension...everything. EVERYTHING. Finally, my good friend Cindy came over to help me down from the wall I'd been climbing. <br />
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Guess what? It wasn't tension at all. My timing was off. <br />
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There we were, one experienced long arm quilter and one incredibly green one. I read the instruction book while she did surgery on the mechanics of my machine.<br />
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She's my hero. And I learned there are two T words that can make me crazy. And that it's really hard to fix the tension when there's nothing wrong with it.<br />
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I know what caused the problem and I'm here to tell you I won't be doing it again. <br />
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I've been quilting a lot, but not taking a lot of pictures. Sorry, my bad. I do have one, though...<br />
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Look at this amazing quilt! It's so fun. We decided to take a picture from a distance so you could see the overall design. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xcZ96NhDFLk/ToFFdEEP8mI/AAAAAAAAAT0/4IYyJlST5sM/s1600/100_1777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xcZ96NhDFLk/ToFFdEEP8mI/AAAAAAAAAT0/4IYyJlST5sM/s320/100_1777.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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My buddy Janet made this for a guy we both know and love. And let me tell you, he will love this quilt.<br />
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It doesn't just say his name, it shouts it.<br />
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Love the fabrics she collected...<br />
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Here's my favorite one.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OnInoldTGpY/ToFF3ZiYadI/AAAAAAAAAUE/RmJ-rPojL_Q/s1600/100_1781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OnInoldTGpY/ToFF3ZiYadI/AAAAAAAAAUE/RmJ-rPojL_Q/s320/100_1781.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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Janet picked white minky for the back of this quilt...and in honor of the sheep on the front, she decided to have me quilt sheep all over. <br />
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Little black sheep!! <br />
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You gotta love a quilter with a sense of humor....:)<br />
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Here's to making friends with T words...!<br />
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Kathy<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>She Likes Skirtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03346304020333438386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1967797823812907233.post-50307447720605750812011-09-09T16:16:00.000-07:002011-09-09T23:42:27.896-07:00The PositiveNo, I haven't disappeared.<br />
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Did you hear a strange noise coming from the general direction of my house last Saturday? That was my quilt machine computer crashing...or my heart sinking. Maybe both.<br />
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After spending two hours on the other side of a webcam, my brilliant and techy son-in-law declared my computer dead. <br />
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Let's observe a moment of silence for the dearly departed. And for the time I couldn't spend quilting this week. Ugh!<br />
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But, never fear, I have a new computer at home waiting to be installed TONIGHT. I'm so anxious to get back up and running!! Everything is going to be clean, crisp and fast with this new computer. It'll be GRAND.<br />
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I have so much planned...I will have many things to show you next week. But until then, I wanted to share this picture and an email I received.<br />
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Look at PJ and Karen! Their quilt had just won 2nd place at our local fair. I love the beautiful looks on their faces, they are so proud...and they should be! Here's the story PJ sent aong with the pic...<br />
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"The embroidery above the attic window represents prisms set into the windows of a 100 year old Toronto home. The mother of pearl button that makes the knob of the front door is from my great grandmother's button box and looks like the porcelain knobs I remember from visits to the farmhouse she owned. The eyelet lace for the curtains came out of a box of trims I inherited from my Nana. My mother bought the material for the quilt, Karen and I pieced it and you quilted it together. So 4 generations of the women in my family, my dearest friend and you contributed time, talents and treasures to its completion. It will celebrate my son and daughter-in-law's wedding for years to come."<br />
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Oh, my! <br />
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Broken computer or not, I am so glad to be a longarm quilter!She Likes Skirtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03346304020333438386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1967797823812907233.post-44986348594328306642011-09-01T23:30:00.000-07:002011-09-02T09:52:21.541-07:00One MoreI have one more splendid picture to share of the quilts I've made for my son and daughter-in-law. Maybe someday I can get my favorite photographer to head up to Portland and take pictures of all the quilts in my daughter and son-in-law's house.<br />
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Now THAT'S a collection.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1pt5VCQKSX8/TmBz4ylI_fI/AAAAAAAAATo/tb9XZ_1HsAE/s1600/wedding+quilt+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1pt5VCQKSX8/TmBz4ylI_fI/AAAAAAAAATo/tb9XZ_1HsAE/s400/wedding+quilt+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
This was my son and his lovely wife's wedding quilt. She picked out the pattern and told me the colors she liked, I chose the fabric. By the time I was finished, I was afraid it was a little too busy for their tastes. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MRewV4_An40/TmBzw-OTtlI/AAAAAAAAATk/-OSdkQX14OE/s1600/wedding+quilt+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MRewV4_An40/TmBzw-OTtlI/AAAAAAAAATk/-OSdkQX14OE/s400/wedding+quilt+1.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>Have you ever done that? Decided your not sure you really like a quilt by the time you get it done? <br />
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I liked it much better when I saw it in their apartment. A white duvet and black furniture really makes this quilt look great. <br />
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This was back before I began machine quilting; my friend Cindy quilted this for me. I love this design; I think this was the third time I had requested it. <br />
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It's simple and not too flowery.<br />
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Thinking back...I must have been in a rut!<br />
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I may need to add this to my arsenal of pantographs. I still really like it.<br />
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Hey, next up...I've got an interesting story to tell and a fun project to share.<br />
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Stay tuned!She Likes Skirtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03346304020333438386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1967797823812907233.post-2344623210739569192011-08-26T13:33:00.000-07:002011-08-26T13:33:27.424-07:00Graduation QuiltI had somebody ask me recently why in the world I would choose to use a solid color fabric in a quilt when there are zillions of beautiful printed fabrics available.<br />
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</div><div>Welllll.................<br />
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</div><div>I guess I'll let a picture answer that for me.</div><div><br />
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</div><div>My daughter-in-law likes things simple and clean. When I saw this pattern in a magazine, it had her name written all over it. The front was her college graduation present.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ahiv8MzUxak/Tlc25MJtHnI/AAAAAAAAATg/tWsZbsN3kv4/s1600/grad+quilt+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ahiv8MzUxak/Tlc25MJtHnI/AAAAAAAAATg/tWsZbsN3kv4/s400/grad+quilt+2.jpg" width="253" /></a></div><div><br />
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</div><div>See that glorious minky on the back? That was my son's college graduation present. </div><div><br />
</div><div>They have to share.</div><div><br />
</div><div>This was one of the first things I quilted on my machine...and I had help. It looks simple, but it really wasn't. It was kind of tricky placing the straight lines in strategic locations. The circles were fun. Way fun. I'm planning to make this baby again.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Thanks, again, Kim for the great pictures!<br />
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</div><div>Hey, things are smoking at my house! It's not a fire, it's productivity. :) </div><div><br />
</div><div>If you have a quilt ready, or almost ready, call soon! </div><div><br />
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</div></div>She Likes Skirtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03346304020333438386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1967797823812907233.post-74884645127888875162011-08-24T21:54:00.000-07:002011-08-25T08:39:26.070-07:00Back In The Groove<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I've been gone. I had to go south and get a kid fix. <br />
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My kids are fine, thanks. They are so much fun. <br />
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While I'm getting back into the groove of things, I thought I'd share some pictures of quilts I've made in the past. I made this for my daughter-in-law before she was an official member of our family. It may have been a subconscious bribe. Hey, it worked! Come to think of it, I made one for my son-in-law before he married my daughter, too. <br />
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I may be on to something.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PSu9TVfle_s/TlWT1CFHUII/AAAAAAAAATU/HdwOiVg-STg/s1600/TEESHA+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qaa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PSu9TVfle_s/TlWT1CFHUII/AAAAAAAAATU/HdwOiVg-STg/s400/TEESHA+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
You're welcome to borrow my idea. :)<br />
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This is the very simple BQ pattern by Maple Island Quilts. This was the first time I ever used Amy Butler fabrics....love them.<br />
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My daughter-in-law's mom (my 2nd sister-in-law!) took this lovely picture. More to come...and here's a link to her pictures in a former post.<br />
<a href="http://shelikesquilts.blogspot.com/2011/07/quilt-scraps.html">http://shelikesquilts.blogspot.com/2011/07/quilt-scraps.html</a><br />
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Happy quilting!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>She Likes Skirtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03346304020333438386noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1967797823812907233.post-57745577954651423482011-08-14T23:05:00.000-07:002011-08-15T11:09:08.532-07:00Fancy Stuff<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-byNZBSIlQk0/TkitRJgOObI/AAAAAAAAASU/0KXu4U0aOus/s1600/100_1745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-byNZBSIlQk0/TkitRJgOObI/AAAAAAAAASU/0KXu4U0aOus/s320/100_1745.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
I thought I'd show you what I've been up to today. <br />
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This is my first official attempt at custom quilting. Like, on a real quilt. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X_HOtWCLPaQ/TkitHWDLgsI/AAAAAAAAASQ/CrYWL7KonBw/s1600/100_1744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X_HOtWCLPaQ/TkitHWDLgsI/AAAAAAAAASQ/CrYWL7KonBw/s320/100_1744.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
This quilt has an interesting history. I made it about a hundred years ago for a graduating senior.<br />
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I know, right? <br />
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(I stitched all of the dresden plate pieces by hand.)<br />
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I'm not completely insane; the graduating senior didn't get this quilt. And the colors really didn't fit me, so I gave it to a good friend who loved these colors. She was planning to have it custom quilted.<br />
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And then life happened.<br />
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We've been through a lot over the last hundred years. I love and appreciate her even more now than I did back then.<br />
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I'm so glad this piece is still around for me to quilt. <br />
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And I'm so glad my friend is still around, too.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iCgA2AYoarc/TkiyR3ilKiI/AAAAAAAAAS0/pBaLKE1G1oA/s1600/100_1727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iCgA2AYoarc/TkiyR3ilKiI/AAAAAAAAAS0/pBaLKE1G1oA/s320/100_1727.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I think these dragonflies are adorable.<br />
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I like the way this looks. (Not sure what that icky yellow is, it's from my camera, not on the quilt.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fh1Kl_WzY5Y/Tki0llfTl6I/AAAAAAAAAS8/DbKgwRSBCrk/s1600/100_1737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fh1Kl_WzY5Y/Tki0llfTl6I/AAAAAAAAAS8/DbKgwRSBCrk/s320/100_1737.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Love this border...you can't see the one in the plum colored border, but it's pretty. <br />
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Trust me.<br />
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I like these motifs, too.<br />
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I'm half way done with this quilt, and I've decided what I'm going to charge for custom quilting. <br />
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Drum roll please...<br />
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Until I get faster at all of this uber fancy stuff, I will be charging $10,000.00 for custom quilting services.<br />
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Maybe more. :)<br />
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Happy Quilting!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>- Kathy<br />
<span id="goog_1695678588"></span><span id="goog_1695678589"></span>She Likes Skirtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03346304020333438386noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1967797823812907233.post-56556841721704478092011-08-10T15:43:00.000-07:002011-08-10T16:56:00.737-07:00Had To<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">There are several reasons I had to make this quilt. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">1. I love the fabric.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--cJiA0tH2f4/TkHE3LRmXxI/AAAAAAAAARU/xSwSZdItCco/s1600/Picture+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--cJiA0tH2f4/TkHE3LRmXxI/AAAAAAAAARU/xSwSZdItCco/s320/Picture+002.jpg" width="320" /></a> My kids are great sports about taking me to quilt shops when I visit them in Oregon. In May, my son and daughter-in-law took me out to lunch at The Wild Pear in downtown Salem. Then we walked around until we found this funky quilt shop called The Quilted Forest </div><br />
My son let me load him up with fabric bolts.<br />
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It was a very fun afternoon.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vvDhMtoPt7U/TkHKN7x2EjI/AAAAAAAAARY/Tm0v3Q0Y_94/s1600/Picture+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vvDhMtoPt7U/TkHKN7x2EjI/AAAAAAAAARY/Tm0v3Q0Y_94/s320/Picture+017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
When I buy fabric on the fly like that... you know, impulse buying...I just sort of guess what I might need. I always hope a pattern will find me later.<br />
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This one came in a magazine.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I love quilting magazines more than...more than....more than ice cream.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">And that's saying a lot.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kl5dlUE4wxA/TkK5TRGIpMI/AAAAAAAAAR4/HqGrgKyFrNM/s1600/Picture+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kl5dlUE4wxA/TkK5TRGIpMI/AAAAAAAAAR4/HqGrgKyFrNM/s320/Picture+008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>2. This thread.<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This thread is glorious. It looked so great with the quilt that I almost cried.</div><br />
Not really.<br />
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But it is stunning stuff, that thread.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-njkZdSUP1qM/TkHLyS8SUnI/AAAAAAAAARk/K-9ZzeAAjic/s1600/Picture+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-njkZdSUP1qM/TkHLyS8SUnI/AAAAAAAAARk/K-9ZzeAAjic/s320/Picture+011.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
The last reason I wanted to make this quilt is because I had a design on my quilt machine that was calling my name, and it was PERFECT for this quilt.<br />
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I need to say that again. It was PERFECT.<br />
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It really was.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wg19YaggzIw/TkHNjaxRnaI/AAAAAAAAARo/kWgXf-u9-_I/s1600/Picture+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wg19YaggzIw/TkHNjaxRnaI/AAAAAAAAARo/kWgXf-u9-_I/s320/Picture+006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Look how beautifully the thread and the flower and the fabric go together. (Click on the picture for a closer look.)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Will someone please say AMEN?!! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2E9kx7-em34/TkK_sCWw2oI/AAAAAAAAASI/crW67akaqYw/s1600/Picture+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2E9kx7-em34/TkK_sCWw2oI/AAAAAAAAASI/crW67akaqYw/s320/Picture+013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Here's more proof that the trio were meant for each other. <br />
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I did find a few of these fabrics locally. This lovely piece came from Robin Place Fabrics; so did the back. <br />
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The black and plum came from Kenai Fabrics.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-McxrYfaX7IA/TkHPgqYMThI/AAAAAAAAARw/R67x5MOYwL4/s1600/Picture+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-McxrYfaX7IA/TkHPgqYMThI/AAAAAAAAARw/R67x5MOYwL4/s320/Picture+016.jpg" unselectable="on" width="320" /></a><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I believe in spreading my money around. Unfortunately, I practice what I preach.</div><br />
A lot.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d2Ok5VgWZiM/TkHP3-8m6QI/AAAAAAAAAR0/UfntNG4TTaM/s1600/Picture+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d2Ok5VgWZiM/TkHP3-8m6QI/AAAAAAAAAR0/UfntNG4TTaM/s320/Picture+018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Love, love, love the bird. Love the elegant, Asian feel. Love the stripe.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Love.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gqpJChHjar4/TkK-9OzP_QI/AAAAAAAAASA/z-oG_UdnbGY/s1600/Picture+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gqpJChHjar4/TkK-9OzP_QI/AAAAAAAAASA/z-oG_UdnbGY/s320/Picture+019.jpg" width="240" /></a><img height="72" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-McxrYfaX7IA/TkHPgqYMThI/AAAAAAAAARw/R67x5MOYwL4/s320/Picture+016.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 522px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 1645px; visibility: hidden;" width="96" /> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Am I getting carried away with pictures? Sorry. I'm almost done. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Obb2FPiW8ck/TkK_AtT49aI/AAAAAAAAASE/304WNV3D7Sk/s1600/Picture+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Obb2FPiW8ck/TkK_AtT49aI/AAAAAAAAASE/304WNV3D7Sk/s320/Picture+022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So...here's the finished front. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">But...there's more! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-54sgrpQCjcE/TkLp9Or7JMI/AAAAAAAAASM/8ckaoR8w5Xc/s1600/100_1718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-54sgrpQCjcE/TkLp9Or7JMI/AAAAAAAAASM/8ckaoR8w5Xc/s320/100_1718.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Here's the finished back. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This is the first time I've put time into piecing the back of a quilt...and I love it!!!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I'm heading south to Oregon next week...I'm sure I'll find a few more reasons to make more quilts.<br />
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I just have to. :)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Happy quilting!!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">-Kathy</div>She Likes Skirtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03346304020333438386noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1967797823812907233.post-52678214476065913732011-08-08T12:28:00.000-07:002011-08-08T12:28:35.291-07:00The Way It IsI have often been asked if I sell my quilts, or how much I would charge to make a quilt. My answer is always the same; I don't sell my quilts and I've never made one for money. To me that would be like selling my emotions. I quilt as a way to express emotion. Even if I make a quilt without having a particular person in mind, when they come to mind, I give them the quilt. <br />
It's my way of saying, "You are important to me. I want to give a part of myself to you."<br />
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Too mushy? Sorry. It's just the way it is.<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Janet feels that way about quilting too. That's why she made this beautiful quilt...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c-dHFaUGaLU/TkAdLIcBKOI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/Z6w5ay2FlrU/s1600/Picture+040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c-dHFaUGaLU/TkAdLIcBKOI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/Z6w5ay2FlrU/s320/Picture+040.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Special friends were moving out of state. She wanted them to know they will be greatly missed...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OU9uegmKnXA/TkAdPc9eGMI/AAAAAAAAARA/_b2Ye45HgTU/s1600/Picture+042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OU9uegmKnXA/TkAdPc9eGMI/AAAAAAAAARA/_b2Ye45HgTU/s320/Picture+042.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">And they are greatly loved.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vHqsb7KP1tQ/TkAdU5Y_GDI/AAAAAAAAARI/W9R_EPxcBFk/s1600/Picture+044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vHqsb7KP1tQ/TkAdU5Y_GDI/AAAAAAAAARI/W9R_EPxcBFk/s320/Picture+044.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">She did a beautiful job on this quilt. Her piecing is amazing, especially since these plaids are very loosely woven and have a tendancy to be a tad squirrely. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uOghLT_OC7Q/TkAdWZp7UnI/AAAAAAAAARM/RJhXRCNM7Fo/s1600/Picture+047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" naa="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uOghLT_OC7Q/TkAdWZp7UnI/AAAAAAAAARM/RJhXRCNM7Fo/s320/Picture+047.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This quilting design is called Cottonseed. I liked the way it fit the vintage feel of the quilt.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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I hear the recipients loved their quilt, but that's no surprise. It was made with love.<br />
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And that's just the way it is.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>She Likes Skirtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03346304020333438386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1967797823812907233.post-58811505265325832452011-08-03T11:42:00.000-07:002011-08-04T16:39:12.353-07:00Happy ScrapsI had a couple of goals. I needed to make a baby blanket, but I wanted it to be fresh and light. <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sTNZf7HEh1k/TjmKn4MmhXI/AAAAAAAAAQg/wXHkjpqKE4o/s1600/Picture+027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sTNZf7HEh1k/TjmKn4MmhXI/AAAAAAAAAQg/wXHkjpqKE4o/s320/Picture+027.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a>And inexpensive.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>I had lots of bright, fun scraps hanging around, I just needed a plan. <br />
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I found a pattern I liked on a website I frequent. <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1G-kUCVJha8/TjmKt98EJcI/AAAAAAAAAQk/LhXQTADLr2I/s1600/Picture+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1G-kUCVJha8/TjmKt98EJcI/AAAAAAAAAQk/LhXQTADLr2I/s320/Picture+026.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">All I really had to buy for the top of the quilt is the neutral solids. It's amazing what you can accomplish when you're , ah....cash challenged.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div>The solid colored squares made a nice foundation for all the bright prints.<br />
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And the ladybugs. LOVE the lady bugs.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GWAyv0MYvo0/TjmMyuaM0CI/AAAAAAAAAQo/n15Qto7wurA/s1600/Picture+028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GWAyv0MYvo0/TjmMyuaM0CI/AAAAAAAAAQo/n15Qto7wurA/s320/Picture+028.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div>Doesn't it look like I planned for the ladybugs to land smack dab in the center of the square? <br />
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I didn't, they just migrated there on their own. It happened every other row.<br />
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Too fun!<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So are some of these fabrics....</div><br />
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They make me feel good.<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So....this backing is the reason I'm broke. </div><br />
It's called Snuggles, and it's by Moda Fabrics. It's expensive, but it's a lot less stretchy than your typical minky. And it's SOOOO soft. <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I've done a couple of quilts with minky, and they turned out fine. But I wanted this color and the ultra softness of Snuggles this time. </div><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2ertxB0srvY/TjmKbYXMn-I/AAAAAAAAAQc/mk1-rI62tnM/s1600/Picture+038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2ertxB0srvY/TjmKbYXMn-I/AAAAAAAAAQc/mk1-rI62tnM/s320/Picture+038.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a><br />
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It's beautiful. I think it was worth it.<br />
(Click on the pictures for a better view.)<br />
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The pattern is called Tiffany by Red Pepper Quilts. I found it here...<a href="http://pinkchalkfabrics.com/">pinkchalkfabrics.com</a><br />
The red Snuggles came from Robin Place Fabrics...<a href="http://robinplacefabrics.com/">robinplacefabrics.com</a><br />
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And the scraps? Well, they came from my stash, and it came from all over the place!<br />
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Happy quilting!<br />
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-KathyShe Likes Skirtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03346304020333438386noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1967797823812907233.post-82758665964125203982011-07-31T23:30:00.000-07:002011-07-31T23:30:36.517-07:00Quilt Group<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I've referred to my quilt group several times in previous posts, so I thought I'd take a minute and explain what I'm talking about.<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BlwrewkIWJg/TiYdxKmfbZI/AAAAAAAAAME/Ra0_5UHlE8A/s1600/63122_1558055948486_1147860447_31254315_6201132_n%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BlwrewkIWJg/TiYdxKmfbZI/AAAAAAAAAME/Ra0_5UHlE8A/s320/63122_1558055948486_1147860447_31254315_6201132_n%255B1%255D.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It may take more than a minute.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>My quilt group was started many years ago by a couple of women who love the Lord and love to quilt. It was a time to visit, a time to eat and a time to encourage each other in the journey that is quilting.<br />
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And the journey that is life. <br />
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Becky was one of the charter members of our group. She's as welcoming and kind as she looks in this picture.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e-g-CMKGARo/TiYbgVeoauI/AAAAAAAAAL0/9pjV9T9v6eM/s1600/154371_1558054708455_1147860447_31254310_1394063_n%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e-g-CMKGARo/TiYbgVeoauI/AAAAAAAAAL0/9pjV9T9v6eM/s320/154371_1558054708455_1147860447_31254310_1394063_n%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
There are twelve women in our group; we are partnered into six groups of two. We meet once a month, with the exception of July when it's just too busy to think, let alone quilt. We don't sew in December...we party instead! More about that later....<br />
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We used to meet in a church, sometimes we still do, but it's gotten more popular to host quilt group in our homes. It's pretty fun, you just need lots of extension cords. <br />
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As far as I know, we've never tripped a breaker.<br />
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We have a rotation going; each group of two is assigned a month. They plan the evening, including dinner. They call around and let everybody know where to be and what to bring. They put the dinner together and clean up; while they are doing that, everybody else is working on projects that those two women have brought.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Get it? It works pretty slick.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wYN71sLZ_9w/TidIQ6LEJyI/AAAAAAAAAMc/opb6hawuwdE/s1600/69755_1558055748481_1147860447_31254313_2482661_n%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wYN71sLZ_9w/TidIQ6LEJyI/AAAAAAAAAMc/opb6hawuwdE/s320/69755_1558055748481_1147860447_31254313_2482661_n%255B1%255D.jpg" t$="true" width="214" /></a>Our quilt group is self perpetuating. If someone leaves, we think of ladies who might like to join us. We put all the names in a hat, then choose one. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We are a sophisticated and democratic group of women.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Janet put my name in the hat. We've been friends since...well, since before three of our five collective children were born.<br />
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I love her. And I love her boots.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j4wmKiIKJso/TidHoRtlwtI/AAAAAAAAAMY/meAoShPV2gA/s1600/148264_1558055068464_1147860447_31254311_226797_n%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j4wmKiIKJso/TidHoRtlwtI/AAAAAAAAAMY/meAoShPV2gA/s320/148264_1558055068464_1147860447_31254311_226797_n%255B1%255D.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div>I put Penny's name in the hat.<br />
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Penny is who I call to help me lay out a random quilt. I love random, but I can't seem to do random. I also call Penny when I'm in a panic over a quilting job and need somebody to be rational.<br />
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Random and rational? It's a great combo, and it's Penny. I love her, too. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hobfgSbnNpY/TiYgYQlbuhI/AAAAAAAAAMI/swPfBEq4Jzo/s1600/65849_1558053708430_1147860447_31254303_7159583_n%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hobfgSbnNpY/TiYgYQlbuhI/AAAAAAAAAMI/swPfBEq4Jzo/s320/65849_1558053708430_1147860447_31254303_7159583_n%255B1%255D.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It's fun to get together each month, but the highlight of the year is definitely our Christmas party.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">You see, we pick names earlier in the year. So at the party, which always includes tons of fun and good food, we each get some type of quilt that was made especially for us.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2yb8CHiUg4Y/TiYcJZXCWYI/AAAAAAAAAMA/mOwq-spTHQM/s1600/72026_1558058748556_1147860447_31254327_7147842_n%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2yb8CHiUg4Y/TiYcJZXCWYI/AAAAAAAAAMA/mOwq-spTHQM/s320/72026_1558058748556_1147860447_31254327_7147842_n%255B1%255D.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I don't know what's more fun, opening my gift or watching the person I picked open hers.<br />
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I picked Becky's name last year. She loves red, and these birds picked her.<br />
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I had very little say in the matter.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AfOJpEdqq8U/TicWYm2TaYI/AAAAAAAAAMU/Qjr8L9ciwgg/s1600/154812_1558060308595_1147860447_31254334_555001_n%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AfOJpEdqq8U/TicWYm2TaYI/AAAAAAAAAMU/Qjr8L9ciwgg/s320/154812_1558060308595_1147860447_31254334_555001_n%255B1%255D.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Lavon made me this ultra tote bag. She said it was more work than a quilt, and I believe it. It has pockets and zippers...and is big enough for my laptop. Love it. Love her.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IW7aVrZH7ok/TicSpqnL21I/AAAAAAAAAMQ/JGkOV3bHYQU/s1600/155808_1558052988412_1147860447_31254301_1997978_n%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IW7aVrZH7ok/TicSpqnL21I/AAAAAAAAAMQ/JGkOV3bHYQU/s400/155808_1558052988412_1147860447_31254301_1997978_n%255B1%255D.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I've been in my quilt group for eight years....though it may be nine....or it may be seven, not sure. Lots of women have come and gone during that time and it's been a pleasure to get to know each one of them. Hopefully I'll be able to introduce you to the rest of them when I quilt their quilts. That's assuming they'll let me. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
There's a pretty good chance they will. I gave each of them a coupon for a discount on their first quilt. <br />
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If you've ever thought of starting a quilt group, I say go for it. It's a great way to stay motivated, learn new techniques and make life long friends.<br />
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And you know how you make tons of quilts, but never keep any? This is a sure fire way of knowing you'll get at least one quilt every year.<br />
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Made just for you.<br />
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-Kathy<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div>She Likes Skirtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03346304020333438386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1967797823812907233.post-60028986003246801322011-07-22T15:05:00.000-07:002011-07-22T15:22:38.030-07:00Custom BeginningsI've spent some time playing with my quilting machine lately.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I think it's been the beginning of a nice friendship between the two of us. We've been getting along great.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">You know how some friendships are, though. They ebb and flow. I'd really like to keep flowing.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yDec314VVbg/TinsixLhQnI/AAAAAAAAANw/FglWDfNu0IM/s1600/100_1531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yDec314VVbg/TinsixLhQnI/AAAAAAAAANw/FglWDfNu0IM/s1600/100_1531.JPG" t$="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This table runner has been hiding in a drawer for about two years. I'm sure there was a reason I made it, I just can't remember what it is. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Anyway, it was asking to be quilted. So, I had a little fun with it.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7b9r5rhtbd0/TinslCQ7bOI/AAAAAAAAAN0/D7HIaILtQsg/s1600/100_1532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7b9r5rhtbd0/TinslCQ7bOI/AAAAAAAAAN0/D7HIaILtQsg/s1600/100_1532.JPG" t$="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I used the 'Edge to Edge' method to do this square. Edge to Edge does the all over designs that are the most popular in the quilting world. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I've got a thing for dragonflies these days.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pifGdAYVvDQ/TinsnQhvkxI/AAAAAAAAAN4/ipLwyVnWt9w/s1600/100_1533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pifGdAYVvDQ/TinsnQhvkxI/AAAAAAAAAN4/ipLwyVnWt9w/s1600/100_1533.JPG" t$="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Here's a fun design. Everything I picked came out of a set of designs that went together. They were related. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">What I'm trying to say is they all match. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I'm twippingovermytung.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O_1Z-0Aw3XE/TinsvLMJCoI/AAAAAAAAAOA/l7fztKfREnU/s1600/100_1538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O_1Z-0Aw3XE/TinsvLMJCoI/AAAAAAAAAOA/l7fztKfREnU/s1600/100_1538.JPG" t$="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Fun vine. Excuse the fuzz.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YDRoE2y_fsY/Tinsap4lmaI/AAAAAAAAANs/uOP1MY_lALc/s1600/100_1540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YDRoE2y_fsY/Tinsap4lmaI/AAAAAAAAANs/uOP1MY_lALc/s1600/100_1540.JPG" t$="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Can you see the dragonfly in this corner? I quilted some butterflies too, but forgot to take their picture.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Bug favoritism. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Sorry.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W9097WXArRM/TinsrYgT1pI/AAAAAAAAAN8/J9TVIR-DMy0/s1600/100_1536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W9097WXArRM/TinsrYgT1pI/AAAAAAAAAN8/J9TVIR-DMy0/s1600/100_1536.JPG" t$="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This is a pretty cool feature; I can program a design to fit inside a square, then cut out the middle. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Clever, huh? My machine, not me.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Okay, I'm a little bit clever, too. Just a little.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This will make a nice wedding gift for one of the many couples I know getting married this summer. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yDec314VVbg/TinsixLhQnI/AAAAAAAAANw/FglWDfNu0IM/s1600/100_1531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yDec314VVbg/TinsixLhQnI/AAAAAAAAANw/FglWDfNu0IM/s1600/100_1531.JPG" t$="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It's going to take me a while to churn out enough gifts for everybody.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">But I'll get there.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">At least my quilting machine is more friend now than foe.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It's a pretty fun friend to have around. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Now, if it would just bring the popcorn some night, things would be golden between us.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>She Likes Skirtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03346304020333438386noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1967797823812907233.post-33142770651430809362011-07-20T11:35:00.000-07:002011-07-20T11:35:16.224-07:00Name The Beast ContestI've never been one to name inadament objects. I've never named a car...well, not intentionally. My old Windstar van earned a name, but I'm afraid it wasn't very nice. Appropriate, but not very nice.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LnH5jld1KQg/TfuPMXs8oII/AAAAAAAAAFs/dMv1ikLZ8JQ/s1600/seam+ripper.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; width: 125px;"><img border="0" height="400" i$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LnH5jld1KQg/TfuPMXs8oII/AAAAAAAAAFs/dMv1ikLZ8JQ/s400/seam+ripper.png" width="115" /></a>Several people have asked me what I call my quilting machine. Well, I've been calling it The Beast, but I'm not as intimidated by it any more. A new name is probably a good idea...for both of us.</div><br />
So today She Likes Quilts will begin a quilt machine naming contest. <br />
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Please respond with your suggestion by posting a comment at the bottom of this page. The winner will be chosen at the end of next week (ish). And check out the prize...it's a fancy, dancy seam ripper.<br />
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My friend Cindy, a longarm extraordinaire (and that's an understatement), suggested I get this fancy tool. I love it...and I can assure you I have spent a lot of time using it. We have a special connection.<br />
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I hope you never need a seam ripper. If you don't, I'd like to shake your hand. If you do, you'll like this one.<br />
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Thanks for your help!<br />
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-KathyShe Likes Skirtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03346304020333438386noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1967797823812907233.post-82156026863029529882011-07-17T00:13:00.000-07:002011-07-19T10:46:37.528-07:00Amazing BatiksEvery quilter has probably dreamed of making a huge quilt out of her (or his) batik scraps.<br />
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Wouldn't that be amazing?<br />
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Well, hold on to your hats and meet Amazing.<br />
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I know, right?<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lrwDySstg5I/TiJ9CQsSMOI/AAAAAAAAAKY/AdFQ9FXhQAk/s1600/100_1600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lrwDySstg5I/TiJ9CQsSMOI/AAAAAAAAAKY/AdFQ9FXhQAk/s400/100_1600.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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Let's just stare at it for a minute. <br />
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Lavon is my quilt group partner. She inspires me in so many ways. <br />
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She's not afraid of a difficult pattern. You should see the pineapple quilt she's working on; I'll have to warn you before I post a picture so you don't swoon. <br />
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This pattern isn't difficult, but it looks like it. It looks cool.<br />
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Lavon isn't afraid of building a big quilt. This is the second king I've quilted for her in the past few months. I still have one more to finish.<br />
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Soon.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-md47EA70ADI/TiJ85itMEaI/AAAAAAAAAKU/U8YXwsL3Oyc/s1600/100_1596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-md47EA70ADI/TiJ85itMEaI/AAAAAAAAAKU/U8YXwsL3Oyc/s320/100_1596.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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I've been thinking about it, and I've come up with a few reasons why Lavon is so successful making big, beautiful quilts.<br />
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1. She's patient. She isn't in a big rush, she bides her time.<br />
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2. She's diligent. She keeps working at it.<br />
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3. Well, let's face it. The girl is just plain good. <br />
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This batik is beautiful on the back. (I keep a mirror on my quilt machine table so I can see what's going on underneath it all.)<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ldPavAAqREg/TiJ9YAEbeMI/AAAAAAAAAKk/xuuS3i0TZGI/s1600/100_1612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ldPavAAqREg/TiJ9YAEbeMI/AAAAAAAAAKk/xuuS3i0TZGI/s320/100_1612.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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I've learned a little something about batiks in the last few months. They are so tightly woven; the needle can't glide between the fibers, it actually pokes a little hole in the fabric. This can be a problem when using batik as a backing, the needle can actually push batting through the little holes and make the back of your quilt kind of fuzzy. If you prewash your backing with fabric softener, it will loosen the fibers and it won't be a problem. <br />
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And your long arm quilter will love you.<br />
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Lavon prewashed her backing. She prewashed everything.<br />
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I'm glad I have these pictures. I'm going to have to give this back to Lavon someday; at least I'll have the pictures to drool over.<br />
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Do you have a lot of batik scraps?? <br />
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Me, too.<br />
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Race ya!<br />
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- KathyShe Likes Skirtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03346304020333438386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1967797823812907233.post-35429407566829834142011-07-14T20:20:00.000-07:002011-07-15T14:18:02.120-07:00Quilt ScrapsI just finished a couple of darling quilts for one of my co-workers. They were the first quilts with borders I've done that don't belong to me and I was nervous. Like, really nervous. I was so nervous I forgot to take pictures.<br />
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I've got to get over these nerves. I'm going to drive myself bonkers.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>In spite of my silly nerves, the quilts turned out great and I'm bummed that I don't have pictures to share. So, instead, I'll share these little guys...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5bwhVn3ehog/Th-qng8RP-I/AAAAAAAAAKA/OP4h_yb0sdk/s1600/little+purses+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5bwhVn3ehog/Th-qng8RP-I/AAAAAAAAAKA/OP4h_yb0sdk/s320/little+purses+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
These little purses are so handy...and pretty easy to make. <br />
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I sent a few down to my daughter-in-law's family and her mom took these wonderful pictures.<br />
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I love my daughter-in-law's mom. She's a kindred spirit. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S1czCF8QqW0/Th-qoVrWq6I/AAAAAAAAAKE/GqtwRsfkTsw/s1600/little+purses+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S1czCF8QqW0/Th-qoVrWq6I/AAAAAAAAAKE/GqtwRsfkTsw/s320/little+purses+4.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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She shares her daughter with me and she loves my son. <br />
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I'm thinking we should be related somehow. Like, she's my 2nd sister-in-law, kind of like a 2nd cousin.<br />
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I just made that up. And it works!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BEGM3ehDPVw/Th-qIGky8UI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/JC1MwlJj4IQ/s1600/little+purses+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BEGM3ehDPVw/Th-qIGky8UI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/JC1MwlJj4IQ/s320/little+purses+1.jpg" width="196" /></a><br />
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I use a charm as a zipper pull. They're my favorite part. <br />
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These little purses make great gifts by themselves, or you can stick a gift card in the pocket. The pattern is called Cash and Carry and it's from Atkinson Designs. <br />
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A great way to use all the scraps left over from your quilts!<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
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-Kathy<br />
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</div>She Likes Skirtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03346304020333438386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1967797823812907233.post-24802177105355125262011-07-09T12:39:00.000-07:002011-07-10T20:21:46.592-07:00Generations of LoveMy friend Sue called yesterday. Her grandmother's 80th birthday is coming up, and she had decided to make her a quilt. <br />
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Sue is in my quilt group. I've loved everything she's ever done, so I was excited to see what she was bringing me. <br />
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My excitement was warranted. <br />
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Sue and her parents put together this beautiful little quilt.<br />
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What a wonderful labor of love.<br />
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The name of every child, grandchild and great grandchild is on this quilt. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--Bx3UVBe1lw/ThikNBndyyI/AAAAAAAAAI8/N8Lb5AFg28c/s1600/100_1554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--Bx3UVBe1lw/ThikNBndyyI/AAAAAAAAAI8/N8Lb5AFg28c/s320/100_1554.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I went back and forth between quilting designs and thread color. I was tempted to use red thread, but I was afraid it would be too distracting in the letter blocks. I settled on light yellow, and I chose an open quilting design so things wouldn't get too busy.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6sw22augxA4/ThikYEQSqDI/AAAAAAAAAJA/IboMJLIULpc/s1600/100_1555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6sw22augxA4/ThikYEQSqDI/AAAAAAAAAJA/IboMJLIULpc/s320/100_1555.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
I learned a powerful lesson on this little quilt. <br />
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There's a reason you're supposed to save your work on the computer as you go. Right before the last row, my program let me know it had encountered an error and had to shut down.<br />
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Huh?<br />
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And it did.<br />
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Every time I open my computer it asks me if I want it to open the last project I was working on, so I figured it would be there waiting for me.<br />
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It wasn't. It was gone. <br />
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Thankfully it happened at the end of a row and I knew how to recreate the project. Whew. That was a close one, and not too painful. <br />
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I liked the way this flower landed in the bottom corner.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-elyn8tMxmis/Thiksq9dGUI/AAAAAAAAAJI/ERTC4Hpv9yk/s1600/100_1559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-elyn8tMxmis/Thiksq9dGUI/AAAAAAAAAJI/ERTC4Hpv9yk/s320/100_1559.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I've recently seen a fabric advertised that looks like Scrabble pieces. Each panel has x number of repeats of each letter. It was really cute, but I wondered how many panels you'd have to buy to get the letters you need for a specific crossword. <br />
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Sue's idea of stenciling is a great alternative to buying a bunch of letters you may never use.<br />
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The yellow is so pretty on the black backing.<br />
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Thanks for sharing your lovely quilt, Sue. I know your grandmother is not only going to love it, she'll feel the love it represents from every member of her family.<br />
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I do.<br />
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</div>She Likes Skirtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03346304020333438386noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1967797823812907233.post-64903849385366430372011-06-30T23:33:00.000-07:002011-07-05T08:19:31.445-07:00Being ChosenMy quilts choose people. They do.<br />
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Sometimes I'll be making a quilt for a specific person, and it chooses somebody else. It's good and bad when that happens. Good for the person the quilt picks, not so good for my bank account...I have to make another quilt that hopefully picks the person I have in mind. The really good part is that I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that the recipient of my quilt will really like what I've made. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j7bf_BxxnT4/Tgz5F0H03gI/AAAAAAAAAII/_hUVsMy-DUU/s1600/100_1521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j7bf_BxxnT4/Tgz5F0H03gI/AAAAAAAAAII/_hUVsMy-DUU/s320/100_1521.JPG" width="240" /></a>My quilts have a mind of their own, but they are always right.<br />
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A while back I posted pictures of a quilt I made for my step dad. The pattern was so easy and fun, I knew I wanted to make it again. (FYI...If you click on the pictures, you'll get a closer view.)<br />
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I bought these fabrics because they made me feel good. I love the green...and the words are positive and uplifting.<br />
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I decided to load this on the quilting machine sideways. That way I could center a row of the quilting design over each row of piecing.<br />
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I liked the way it looked, and I felt just a little bit smart. :)<br />
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This panto design is fun and funky...my daughter is here and she helped me pick it out. She loves this quilt...<br />
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I love the beautiful yellow/green thread on the black.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iwqIv59fTHI/Tgz5XcaodWI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/uoaaQlN4vf8/s1600/100_1523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iwqIv59fTHI/Tgz5XcaodWI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/uoaaQlN4vf8/s320/100_1523.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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The thread looked beautiful on the charcoal flannel backing. I'd like to say I knew it would look good...but it was a happy surprise.<br />
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For a little while I thought this quilt was picking my daughter...I really did. Then I pulled out another quilt top I had made; my daughter pointed out that this quilt needs to go in the same room as the other.<br />
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So guess what? <br />
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This fun and funky quilt actually picked me.<br />
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I love it when that happens.She Likes Skirtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03346304020333438386noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1967797823812907233.post-29177100525403516112011-06-26T21:55:00.001-07:002011-06-26T21:57:34.641-07:00Snowflakes in June<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I have a friend named Wendi.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I hope everybody has a friend like Wendi. I think she was just as excited about my quilt machine as I was. And every day (she's not just a friend, she's a coworker), she listens to my quilting play-by-play. And she has never told me, not once, to change the subject.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">She's an amazing friend.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I've been playing with Wendi's adorable winter-themed quilt. It sports happy colors, so it doesn't feel too much like winter.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">And that's a good thing on a rainy June weekend.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CBXGrVqulPo/Tgf4O_6V2wI/AAAAAAAAAHo/-HWCI0mvnIw/s1600/100_1502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CBXGrVqulPo/Tgf4O_6V2wI/AAAAAAAAAHo/-HWCI0mvnIw/s320/100_1502.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It needed a snowflake in every corner....</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K5Bs4xmaoR8/Tgf3NIMXHoI/AAAAAAAAAHU/UcIcarm9AVI/s1600/100_1491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K5Bs4xmaoR8/Tgf3NIMXHoI/AAAAAAAAAHU/UcIcarm9AVI/s320/100_1491.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">....so glad these snowflakes aren't real.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dlEs6z7AxRg/Tgf3m02evCI/AAAAAAAAAHc/7jLtKY1h63E/s1600/100_1493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dlEs6z7AxRg/Tgf3m02evCI/AAAAAAAAAHc/7jLtKY1h63E/s320/100_1493.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The blue border called for more snowflakes. These babies take a while to stitch out. Super fun, though.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I had a hard time deciding on thread color; I decided to go with cream since that was the only color in every fabric.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I wish I had had some fun red/blue/green variegated thread.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I. Want. More. Thread.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Soooo much fun playing with borders.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Much more fun than sewing straight lines free-hand.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Straight lines are my nemesis. I'm getting better, but not good enough to post a picture.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">No way.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I decided to switch to blue for the middle of the quilt. It liked it okay...but I can sure hear some variegated thread calling my name. Problem is, that stuff is really expensive. It's almost twice as much as solid thread.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Too bad it's so pretty.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Quilting Wendi's quilt was a nice way to spend the rainy part of my weekend. I hope the rest of the summer is sunny and warm and she's too busy playing outside to bind it. There will be plenty of time for that when the snowflakes are real. And then she can wrap up in this cozy quilt...and dream of summer.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Here's to warm days and plenty of sun!!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">-Kathy</div>She Likes Skirtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03346304020333438386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1967797823812907233.post-50133761686529634692011-06-22T21:26:00.000-07:002011-06-23T17:18:38.947-07:00LessonsMy goal when I started this blog was to take you with me on my journey to becoming a longarm quilter. A GOOD longarm quilter. In the spirit of staying true to that goal, I've got to be honest and tell you there have been times in the past couple of months when I've been really, really frustrated. <br />
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Like, really. There's so much to learn.<br />
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Sometimes being a perfectionist can be a huge curse. It's like living in a pressure cooker.<br />
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I have a talented and gracious friend who has been instructing me along my longarm journey. She gently pointed out what I already suspected; I've been pushing myself too hard and need to take some time to just get to know my machine and what it can do. I decided I'm not going to take any quilts for the next few week; instead I'll spend the time becoming more familiar with my longarm.<br />
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I'm releasing some pressure out of the pot. Whew. It feels better in here already. <br />
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After more instruction from my patient (!) friend, I went home and spent some time with this little quilt...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--ev9lqLa45g/TgImTwmrPWI/AAAAAAAAAHI/HCCE7wNNtDk/s1600/100_1486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--ev9lqLa45g/TgImTwmrPWI/AAAAAAAAAHI/HCCE7wNNtDk/s320/100_1486.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>It belongs to my quilt group partner; she said I could practice on it. (She's my favorite quilt group partner. She's also the only quilt group partner I've ever had, but that doesn't really matter.)<br />
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I learned a lot last night.<br />
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I learned it's going to take some practice before I can freehand a straight line. <br />
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I learned just because I'm a good stippler on my sewing machine doesn't mean I'm automatically a good stippler on the longarm. It will take a lot of practice.<br />
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I learned custom quilting is a lot of work.<br />
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But here's the most important thing I learned....(drum roll, please...)....<br />
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Custom quilting is a lot of fun.<br />
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I also figured out what my longarm needs is a person behind the wheel who knows how to drive.<br />
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I've got a couple of fun projects to practice on...I'll share pictures as I go.<br />
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Thanks for sticking with me on the journey...<br />
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- KathyShe Likes Skirtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03346304020333438386noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1967797823812907233.post-43383515603417046472011-06-16T22:18:00.000-07:002011-06-16T22:34:01.284-07:00Splashing AboutThis rainy day turned into a lovely evening. The sun has been streaming through my back windows and open door, reflecting off the table of my quilt machine. :) That's Mother Nature at her finest!<br />
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I had a baby quilt to do tonight. I've been feeling a little-under-the-weather; a baby quilt with happy little rubber ducks was just what the doctor ordered. Well, that and an antibiotic...<br />
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Mary Lou pieced this darling quilt. She requested the quilting have something to do with water...that gave me an excuse to go pantagraph shopping. <br />
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My motto used to be, "The quilter who dies with the most fabric wins," but I'm changing it...<br />
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"The longarm quilter with the most pantagraph designs wins." <br />
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I think I'll instruct my children to simply write, "She Wins," as my epitaph. That would explain the piles of fabric, patterns and thread I will be leaving behind for them to deal with.<br />
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I thought this bubble design was made for this quilt.<br />
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Mary Lou requested light blue thread, and it was perfect.<br />
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Doesn't this quilt just make you want to splash about? It does me.<br />
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(Thanks for letting me share your quilt, Mary Lou!)<br />
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There are so many adorable designs out there for children's quilts, I want them all. But I can only justify purchasing them if I have a good reason. So, will somebody PLEASE make a baby quilt that needs owls on it? There's a a cute little owl design calling my name....!<br />
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Enjoy the sunshine!<br />
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-KathyShe Likes Skirtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03346304020333438386noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1967797823812907233.post-50531980719264593832011-06-14T19:19:00.000-07:002011-06-14T19:19:20.016-07:00Batting My EyesI've never paid too much attention to quilt batting. After purchasing fabrics to piece my quilt top and estimating the cost of having it quilted, I typically figure I've invested enough and cheap out on batting and backing. <br />
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"Cheap out" means I buy whatever batting is on sale or I can use a coupon to purchase. <br />
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Last year I was hanging out with my son in his dorm room and I noticed his senior quilt. Granted, it had been living in a dorm room for three years, but it was limp and flatter than a pancake. Even though I had purchased nice flannel for the back, I could tell the batting hadn't held up well. And I knew why. <br />
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I had made seven senior quilts that year, so I know I put the cheapest batting possible in that quilt. And I was sorry I had. <br />
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Since I began longarm quilting I have had to pay attention to batting; it's right under my nose. It's been an interesting learning experience; I've realized that battings are not all created equal. There are huge differences. The nicer battings really make nicer quilts.<br />
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I understand the cost of our hobby...our obsession....I do. And I'm not saying you should never purchase the less expensive batting again. If that is your only option, by all means, use it!! What I am saying is to consider your project, is it something you want to last a while? Did you invest a lot of time and /or money on the top of your quilt? If it doesn't hold up well, can you live with that?<br />
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I'm going to be asking myself those questions from now on....without even batting an eye.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>She Likes Skirtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03346304020333438386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1967797823812907233.post-61441476714033622902011-06-10T14:52:00.000-07:002011-06-10T14:53:42.736-07:00Quilter's KidsMy 22 year old son lives in Oregon, and the other day he texted me about a bumper sticker he saw. It said, "A fat quarter is not a body part."<br />
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By the way, he knows exactly what stippling is. He buys me a new pair of stippling gloves every year for Christmas. <br />
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My girlfriend's sweet daughter just returned from nine months in Norway, Austria and Hungary; she popped in to see me yesterday. She was telling me how glad she is to be home, and I asked her what the biggest difference was between Norway and Alaska. She thought for a moment and said, "They don't have any quilts."<br />
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Quilter's kids. They get it, don't they?She Likes Skirtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03346304020333438386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1967797823812907233.post-41631239759036886812011-06-09T07:40:00.000-07:002011-06-09T12:07:28.255-07:00RedemptionI ran across some old pictures the other day and I starting thinking about the quilts I have made for my family. I decided to do a little inventory:<br />
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Brother - check<br />
Nephew - check<br />
Sister - check, check<br />
Son - check, check, check, <br />
Daughter-in-law - check, check, check<br />
Son-in-law - check<br />
Daughter - check, check, check, check, check, check, check, check.....etc. :) <br />
Mom - check, check, check<br />
Step Dad - ...................................???<br />
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No way. I'd never made a quilt for my mom's husband, my kid's grandpa...my step dad. It's inexcusable, that's what it is. The shame, the guilt, the angst...<br />
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He has a birthday coming up, so I decided to redeem myself. A lap size quilt is perfect and I chose a simple pattern, but it seems like it took forever to put the thing together.<br />
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I've been a little busy.<br />
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I used my masculine batik scraps, then found a nice white (ish) batik for the field. I like it!<br />
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I got it loaded on The Beast (more about that name in a later post) during my lunch hour.<br />
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Then I tried to decide on thread color. I was in a quandary.....<br />
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Yikes!<br />
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I finally settled on this brownish grey color. I was thinking it wouldn't be too...hmmm....bold? Yeah. Bold. Subtle seemed like a good idea.<br />
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Then I pondered quilting designs. Tools? That would be manly and fun. Bears? Moose? Fish?<br />
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I dun know.<br />
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I went with fly fishing. He loves to fish...and I thought the swirly-ness of the pattern would look nice on the rectangle-ness of the quilt.<br />
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I'm really, really happy with the result. I can hear Grandpa now, he'll say, "He'ey! This is the best darn quilt I have ever seen!" He's a very positive and appreciative fellow. I really do think he'll love it.<br />
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This pattern is from Quilt Sampler Magazine Spring/Summer 2011. It's called Pave The Way. I'm going to try it next in cream, green and black.<br />
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I'm thinking my sister might need another check after her name...!She Likes Skirtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03346304020333438386noreply@blogger.com1