Cats and Quilts

Hello Everyone,

A few nights ago I was binding my Stepping Stones quilt and it served as my cat magnet for the evening.  All of you quilters who own cats know what I mean right??

See what I mean... My little Watson was very contented while I sat and bound my quilt.  Plus he doesn't like to move while I am doing my work.

This is what it looked like before the arrival of Watson. 

Then we have my other little mischief maker... Mr. Pavi.  I had purchased this wonderful little cart, to bring to my classroom studio, from Ikea.  Of course it had to become cat approved.

He really liked the top level so much he just laid down.  The rest of the day he did try the other levels and really liked all.  He also enjoyed being rolled around... silly cat!

This was the scene last night while I did some computer work.  I guess you can tell I have some contented kitties and I am one big kitty lover

Until Next Time...

Cats and Quilts

A Private Class

Hello Everyone,

Have you ever taken a private quilting class?  If so, they are great.  Yesterday, I had the pleasure of teaching a private class in my studio.  Yes, I do teach private classes!!

This class was taught teaching the paper piecing technique for the quilt Stepping Stones.  The pattern can be found here.

Here is a close up of my quilt and the quilting.

The afternoon started with Cherie and I sorting her 2.5 inch strips of batiks.  We paired them up together in pleasing combinations of light and dark as well as contrasting.

Here is what the table looked like as we were pairing.

Here are all the pairs neatly lined up.  I just love these batiks, bright and bold.  She had purchased these strips from my shop.  They are Anthology Story Strips sold in boxes of 20 strips... no repeats!  You can find them here.

Oooops... what is this?  Cherie brought in a little show and tell!  She made a quilt that I had designed and published, called Raspberry Roll.  She made a few more rows to enlarge the quilt.  You can see my original here.  Great job, Cherie!!

Here are the blocks that Cherie completed yesterday! Aren't they wonderful??  She did a great job in class too!

Another close up of my quilt with all Kaffe Fassett fabrics.

Here is the completely quilted quilt! The binding has been applied to the front and I just have to turn it to the back and hand sew it down.  Love this quilt!

Oh, and if you are a Kaffe Fassett fan, I am having a 2 day sale February 23-24.... ALL Kaffe Fassett Collective yardage has been marked down to $8.25 per yard for 2 days only!!!  

Find yours here.

Until Next Time...

A Private Class

On The Long Arm

Hello Everyone,

It seems that I am making headway on my New Year's resolution to quilt my own tops!!  This excites me beyond belief!!

Yesterday, I had my Stepping Stones quilt on the long arm. I adore this quilt.  The pattern can be found here.

You must all know what it feels like to really adore a quilt that you have made, right?  This is one of those quilts.  I made it with all Kaffe Fassett fabrics from my shop.  Half of the blocks are the prints, and the other half are spots and dots.  Of course, I had to choose the brighter and bolder prints.  No pastels here.

Here is a close up of the quilting.  I am doing an edge to edge pattern of feathers.  Because there is so much going on with the prints here, I really just needed texture on this quilt.

The thread that I am using is a Superior Lava thread.  I love it because has a little sheen to it and really picks up all the colors in the fabrics.  

I think I will do the binding in the black batik that I used in the sashing.  That will frame it up nicely.  Stay tuned for more pics!

I am teaching this class on Friday in my studio, so it is actually nice that it is now quilted.  Click here to see my teaching schedule.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway going on here.

Until Next Time...

On The Long Arm

New Classes Added

Hello Everyone,

I have added two new classes to my schedule at my New Studio @ Whiting Mills!!

Come and take a paper piecing class with me.  Here are the classes that are scheduled for February.

Stepping Stones, a great beginner paper piecing class.  You can find out all the details and register for this class by clicking here.

This is the Cactus Flower Table Runner Class.  A great one day class where you will learn how to create this fantastic table runner.  Find out all the details and register by clicking here.

Until Next Time...

New Classes Added

My Computer Is Quilted...

Hello Everyone,

Well it is sort of quilted... A friend of mine had told me about this neat site called GelaSkins.  It is basically a site where you can either design your own or use their artwork and get "Skins" for your techie gear... cell phones, laptops, iPods, and tablets.

I decided to give it a try.  I uploaded a photo of my Stepping Stones quilt and...

Voila!! I have a "skin"!  Basically it is a 3M product, they are removable vinyl skins to protect your device without adding any bulk or weight.  But the best thing is they make it really pretty and very easily removable!

Doesn't it look cool?  I love it and now I have MY quilt on MY computer... there is definitely no denying this one belongs to me.  

If you want to give this a try, just click here to go to the site.

If you like the Stepping Stones quilt and would like the pattern, just click here.

If you make something for one of your devices, I would love to see what you make.

Until Next Time...

My Computer Is Quilted...

New Workshops Added

Hello Everyone,

If you were following my quilting retreat posts then you may have already seen the quilts that I am about to show.  But these quilts are special, because they are now part of my teaching portfolio!!

First up...

Stepping Stones.  This pattern is a Judy Niemeyer paper pieced pattern where you use 2.5 inch strips of your own or pre-cut jelly rolls.  I used a combo... I used 2 of Kaffe Fassett 2.5 inch Design Rolls and then chose some of his Aboriginal Dots and his Spots from the yardage in the shop.  The black sashing was an Artisan Batik that I chose from the shop as well.

This pattern is a great beginner pattern for paper piecing.

All of these were combined to created this gorgeous, stained glass look.  You can find all the fabrics here and here.  The pattern can be found here.

Next up...

Cactus Flower Table Runner.  This quilt really only took me about a day and a little to cut and create.  It was quick and easy with a terrific result.  I used all batiks and specifically kitted this color-way and it is available in the shop here and the stand alone pattern here.

If you want to learn curved piecing and making New York Beauties, this is a great one to start with as it is a smaller project.

Next up... 

Which Way is North?  This is also a Judy Niemeyer paper pieced pattern.  This one began as part of the Two's Company Bee.  I sent out to each of my bee members 4 foundation units and the background Kaffe Aboriginal Dot.  They just had to add their own red to the units.  You can see many of them in the photo.  I had to make many more for the border and the interior.  I used mainly Kaffe Fassett fabrics and Australian Aboriginals.  

The fabrics and the pattern can be found here, here, and here.

And I have a bit of an announcement...

I am on the faculty of the New England Quilt Festival (formerly known as MQX, Machine Quilter's Exposition East)!!

I will be teaching two Paper Piecing classes and also giving a lecture.  If you are going to attend and would like to take a class with me, registration opens on December 3.  Just click here to see who else is on the faculty!

Also, you can click here to see the other workshops that I offer and here to see my schedule (see if I am in your area).  If you would like me to come to your guild or shop, drop me a line, I would love to come!!

Until Next Time...

New Workshops Added