Getting The Quilting Done

Hello Everyone,

The past few days, I have been working on completing the quilting on my Queen Size Feathered Star.  It is slow going, but is well worth the effort!  I am really liking how it is turning out.  

Yesterday, I was able to set in the very center star. I used a variegated poly thread.  One of the things I like best about it is the shimmer.  In fact throughout the entire quilt I am using various poly threads because of that reason.

You really can't see the sheen in the photos, but you can see the stitching and it is making my heart sing.

The feathers and flames work so well together, don't you think?  

Curly and loving it!  Cross your fingers, that I will get most of the rest done today.  But more realistically it will happen sometime over the weekend.

Stay tuned for more updates on the progress and the BIG reveal!!

Until Next Time...

Getting The Quilting Done

Finally Quilting the Top!!

Hello Everyone,

The past two days I have been working on making my quilt top a quilt!  This one you may remember seeing late summer when I finished the top.  I have been hankering to get it on the long arm since then! The time has come!!! Yippee!!

First I have to piece the backing.  This is a batik I chose from our shop.  I think it is just perfect for this quilt. You will see why in a minute.  You can find this fabric by clicking here.

See… didn't I tell you, it is gorgeous isn't it?  It has all the colors of the quilt top in the backing.  The other thing that I like about it is that it is a busy back.  I like a busy back for several reasons, they are pretty and have tons of interest, but they also help hide quilting stops and starts.

Here is some of the quilting that I am doing on this quilt.  I am using Superior Magnifico.  It is poly thread and has a bit of a sheen.  I like the outcome so far.

Love the feathers.  I will be switching out the thread colors throughout the quilt to match or blend in with the fabrics on the quilt top.

I also love the "fire" like quilting in the spikes.  I will be doing that on the opposite side in the colored spikes, but matching the threads.

Right now I am working on all the black areas.  This is a very large quilt and will take me quite a while.    Slow and steady, right.

Another area of feathers.  I think they really look great on the black solid areas, don't you?

Here is the front.  See what I mean about the backing.  Isn't it perfect!!??  Now to get back to work!

Oh wait… all this quilting and sewing has tuckered out the boy!!  

Facts about the quilt:

1.  Queen Feathered Star ~ Pattern and/or kit available here.

2.  Batik backing ~ available here.

3.  Yes, the design I am using to quilt it is digitized by Judy Niemeyer and can be purchased here.

4.  Since it is going to snow all weekend, guess what I will be doing??

Oh… don't forget to enter my fabric giveaway going on now by clicking here.

Until Next Time...

Finally Quilting the Top!!

The Quilting Has Commenced

Hello Everyone,

I love the feeling that I am approaching the completion of a quilt, don't you?  After being away for over a week, I am now quilting my Willow Bed Runner and it feels good.

It is on the long arm... 

I am quilting it with Superior's Magnifico thread.  I am really loving this thread.  

It comes in many different colors too.

Have any of you tried this thread?  Do you like it?  Which is your favorite color?

Tomorrow, I will work on this quilt more and hopefully finish the quilting and prepare the binding.  When I am done, I will update you with new pics. 

What quilty things are you doing?

Willow Bed Runner pattern can be found here.

Until Next Time...

The Quilting Has Commenced

Summer Solstice Quilting Close Ups

Hello Everyone,

Many of you may remember my Summer Solstice quilt... A.K.A "I Am Not Afraid of Color".  I finally was able to get it quilted!! I have attached the binding by machine and just need to turn it to the back and hand sew it down.  Then it will officially be complete!! 

But I couldn't wait to share the quilting with you.  Let's take a little tour...

Here is the entire quilt and you can see lots of feathers and tons of quilting.  I used variegated thread from Superior... their Rainbows and Lava.  I switched them to match the fabrics.  I love the sheen that they provide. 

In the NYB sections some loops and stitch in the ditch.

In the Lone Star areas some feathers.

The borders some feathers and beads.

Pardon some of the cat fur on the black batik area.  The cats obviously approve!!

An area with a small feather and more fur... LOL!

Lone Star feathers!

Flame like quilting in the NYB area.

The quilting on the backing fabric.  The backing fabric is a Philip Jacobs fabric and can be found here.

The quilt...  Details...

(click on any of the below to find the items)

Kaffe Fassett fabrics

2 Batik fabrics

Philip Jacobs fabrics (Primula Blue used for backing)

Judy Niemeyer Pattern Summer Solstice

Quilter's Dream Wool Batting

Superior Thread 

I will be teaching this class at ... Click here for the details.

Until Next Time...

Summer Solstice Quilting Close Ups

YAY!! I Am Quilting My Own Quilt!

Hello Everyone,

Remember a few blog posts ago, I said I wanted to start quilting my own quilts in 2013?  Well, I started yesterday.  After 12 years of customer quilts... I am now focusing on my own.  Believe me, I have a TON of unfinished quilt tops that need quilting.  A good guess would be around 30 tops or so.

The first top to grace the long arm is my Summer Solstice quilt.  This is the one that I am affectionately referring to as "I Am NOT Afraid of color".  It is a Judy Niemeyer pattern and all paper pieced.  

I will be teaching this class in April in Sturbridge, MA.  You can find out the details by clicking here for my schedule.

Some beads and feathers.  So far, I am using all variegated thread and loving it immensely.

The variegated thread that I am using in the green area is called Citrus Cooler, that is the color.

Since I am just starting this quilt, I haven't even rolled it yet, but hopefully it moves along pretty quickly.  I can't wait to finish it up.  

I am using Quilter's Dream Wool batting in this one for something a little different.

Until Next Time...

YAY!! I Am Quilting My Own Quilt!

Random Fun

Hello Everyone,

In my studio this weekend, I was also inspired by color too!  Here are some of the photos I took to share with you.

Just into the shop... lots of brand new African fabrics.  Some are already loaded into the online shop and I am working on getting the rest in as you are reading this.  You can find them here.

New Kaffe Fassett ribbons... just delicious... they can be found here.  Speaking of Kaffe...

I worked on my friend Justine's Kaffe quilt that she began working on eons ago and then had given to me eons ago... finally we both have it done!!

Don't you just love this quilt?  I was so glad it was done for her, that as soon as I had it off the machine, I got in the car and hand delivered it to her and she loved it.  Now she has to bind it... soon.  It is a biggie too  118" X 128".  Certainly will keep her warm!!

Until Next Time...

Random Fun

Quilting

Hello Everyone,

As many of you know, I am a long arm quilter.  I have been in business since 2000.  Since I am still away, I thought I might just share with you some quilting the I have done on a recent customer quilt.

Quilting can do many things for a quilt, enhance it, be the stand out on the quilt (decorative), or just be utilitarian (keep the quilt together and simple).

You can make it dense, loose, modern, traditional, really the sky is the limit!

On this quilt it was decorative, yet modern.

Dense, yet traditional with a modern twist.  So many options and it really depends on the quilt and your vision for the quilt.  In addition to those factors you should always consider thread choices too.  Do you want the quilting to be seen or recede back into the quilt?  

Your long arm quilter will be able to answer whatever questions that you might have.  But definitely communicate what your vision for your quilt is for the long arm quilter.  This way there is no misunderstanding.

How do you like your quilts quilted?

Until Next Time...

Quilting

Finally...My Statler is Here!!!!

First, I must apologize. I have not made a post in over a week, but I have been a very busy girl. My Gammill Statler Stitcher is here!!! So all of last week, I was training on the computer part. I have the longarm part down pat after doing it for 8 YEARS...Wow!! Here is a wonderful picture of my new machine, a wonderful sight to behold!

After playing a little bit, I did do a quilt on it and I have to say it came out pretty nice. It was a Chinese Coin quilt that I made up on my retreat just for the purpose of being the 1st to run on the Statler. Here it is.... and here is a picture of a close up as well.

I am really having fun with the machine. I was able to do a customer's quilt, a custom job after mine and it came out just lovely. I love the Statler's ability to resize a design without having to do it manually as I did before. Ahh, the freedom of it all!!

I can't wait to get more quilts done!! I have a few more customer's quilts to get out before Christmas and then during the holiday's I think that I will work on some of my own quilt tops that need to be quilted!! WooHoo! To think that those tops will become quilts!!

I also am officially a sales rep for Gammill, if I mentioned this before I am sorry, but I am excited. I have my first customer appointment on Monday. Yeah!! Wish me luck!!

By the way thanks, Julie, Brian, Holly, and Wayne...you are great!

Check back soon for some more pictures.

All my best, Jackie

PS. Don't forget to click on the pictures to enlarge them.

Finally...My Statler is Here!!!!

The Best Lamp Ever!!

Yes... I am so sorry I forgot to let all my fellow retreaters know what kind of light I use in my quilting studio. So I am putting a picture of the table lamp (the one I have) and the floor lamp. Also, if you click on the word light, that will bring you to a website that sells them. They are really terrific lights and do help with seeing those tiny things us quilters all need to see.

Anyway, Happy Sewing and shopping!!
Jackie

The Best Lamp Ever!!