Tuesday, November 29, 2011

I Did It!!

Hello Everyone,

Many thanks to Shelly, I stepped a little bit out of my comfort zone and did some needle turn applique! It took me a while, (one month late) but I did the best that I could and think that it turned out pretty well.  Plus it is on its way to you, Shelly.


I used Kaffe Fassett fabrics and Australian Aboriginals.  


All the handwork was done on various airplane flights, so it definitely kept me from getting bored like I do on flights... kept me busy and entertained.


The only thing that I am not too happy with is the way the center meets up.  Shelly if you don't like it please feel free to rip them out and redo the center leaves.  I am sure you will do what is right for you and I totally will not be offended.  Extra leaves were sent along to you, just in case.

Oh, by the way, this block is part of the Two's Company Bee.

Don't forget to pick up the third block for the Blogger's BOM.  Find out the information here.

Until Next Time...

Share/Bookmark

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Come Take A Class With Me!

Hello Everyone,

Have you ever wanted to learn paper piecing?  Would you like to become fluent in curved piecing?  Have you been intrigued with Judy Niemeyer patterns and would like to learn HER techniques?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this is the class for you!!


You can learn all the above and more!  I will be teaching Judy Niemeyer's Total Eclipse Pattern in January on 3 Saturdays from 1-4!


If you live in Connecticut or nearby, I would love to see you there.  This is a class for an advanced beginner as there are only two paper pieced units in this quilt.


 They are fun and fast techniques to make this beautiful quilt.  So if you are interested, you can send me an e-mail for the details or you can click on this link and get the details and phone to register.

But hurry so you can get your supply list and pattern to start planning this quilt!

Until Next Time...

Share/Bookmark

Friday, November 25, 2011

Blogger's BOM Month 3!!

Hello Everyone,

I hope you are all enjoying the Blogger's BOM!  There are some very beautiful blocks that have been made and contributed to the Flickr group!  Go take a look by clicking here.

So you have seen and completed...


Month 2 designed by Vicki Welsh of Field Trips in Fiber.  If not, click here to get the instructions.


You have seen and completed Month 1 designed by Sherri McConnell of A Quilting Life.  If not, click here to the get the instructions.

Now it is time for Month 3!!


The designer this month is the a very good blogging friend and extremely talented Stephanie Dunphy of Loft Creations!  She has a fabulous block ready for you to piece.  

So click here to go and get her tutorial!  Then make sure that you add it to the Flickr Group when you are done, by clicking here.

 Also, if you have a blog don't forget to link up below, so we can all go to your blog and check out your gorgeous block!

I know you are all stuffed from Thanksgiving dinner and really need to get away from the kitchen, so go and rev up those sewing machines and have a blast!

Also, as a Black Friday special, there have been TONS of fabrics moved to the Clearance section of the shop!  YES, that includes ALL of the 1930s repros and more.  Just click here to take a peek.


Until Next Time...

Share/Bookmark

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Interview With Deb Hearn... Editor of Quilt Magazine

Hello Everyone,

This is the second in my quilt market series of interviews.  I had the pleasure to sit down and speak with Deb Hearn, Editor of Quilt Magazine.



I am sure you are familiar with this wonderful publication.  The above is the current issue and can be found in my shop here.  I have 3 quilts in this issue and they are all available as kits, just click here to see them.



Quilt Magazine also has two sister publications, Simple Quilts and Sewing.  The above is the current issue.  I also have one quilt in this magazine.  Simple Quilts can be found in my shop by clicking here.


Quilt Almanac is their other publication that is out once per year and they have one that is due out very soon!!

But I would like you to meet Deb Hearn.  She is a fantastic and talented lady.



Down to earth and easy to work with, but better yet she gives you a little glimpse into her quilty life and a "behind the scenes" look at the making of Quilt Magazine!! Fun!!



I am sure that you would like to hear what she has to say, right?  You can do so!  My Podcast Episode 30 is now up and ready for your listening pleasure.  You can click here to listen in directly from your computer or you can go to iTunes and download it for free by searching for Jackie's Quilting Chronicles.

Don't forget to check out Quilt Magazine's website for lots of little goodies, just click here for fun and tons of free patterns.  Also, you can find them on Facebook by clicking here.

Don't forget to come back here on Friday for the 3rd installment of the Blogger's Block of the Month!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Until Next Time...

Share/Bookmark

Monday, November 21, 2011

Easy Flying Geese Tutorial

Hello,

Lately, I have been making many flying geese and I thought that I would share with you the method that I use to make accurate flying geese.  

You can click on the images to supersize them to see more detail.

This tutorial will yield 4 - 3.5" X 6.5" unfinished flying geese.


1.  Cut 4 small squares, at 4" square.  These are the background.  
2.  Cut 1 large square, at 7.5" square.  This makes the geese.


Layer 2 small squares in the corners of the large square, right sides together.  Aligning the corners carefully.


Take your Magic Wand Tool (you can find it here) on the diagonal and then draw two lines on either side.  


It will look like the above.  Or you can draw one line down the center from corner to corner.


Pin the squares in place on either side of the lines.


Now sew directly on the line on one side.


Turn it around and then sew down the opposite side.


Your block will look like this.  You may want to press it now so it lays flat.


Then take a ruler and cut it directly down the middle between the stitching lines for a perfect 1/4" seam.


Press the small background squares open so that the seams are pressed towards the small squares.


Now take the remaining 2 small squares and place them in the lower corner of the geese fabric.  Right sides together.  Aligning the corners carefully.


Take your Magic Wand Tool (you can find it here) and place it on the diagonal into the corners of the small square.


Draw two lines on either side of the magic wand.


Pin the small square on either side of the lines.


Sew directly on the line on one side.


Turn block around and sew down the opposite side directly on the line.


It will now look like this, you may want to give it a press so it is laying flat.


Take your ruler and cut it on the diagonal between the 2 stitched lines.


Your pieces will look like the above.  Take all four pieces and press the background fabric open so that the seams are pressed towards the background fabric.


You now have four flying geese that are not quite complete.  They will need a tiny amount of trimming.


Take the Wing Clipper Tool (you can find it here) and align it with the correct dimensions and trim the right and top sides.


As you can see there is very little waste.


Now turn the geese unit a complete 1/2 turn and then align the ruler with the correct lines and dimensions and trim away the right and the top sides


You now have 4 very accurate 6.5 X 3.5 inch flying geese.  

The nice thing about trimming down instead of trying to get the correct dimensions on the first try is that you ALWAYS have the size that you need and it is accurate.  

The Wing Clipper Tool allows you to accurately cut flying geese from as small a 1/2" X 1" up to 5" X 10".  

You can find both the Magic Wand and Wing Clipper Tools in my shop along with some companion patterns as well.  Just click here.

I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial.  

Don't forget to return here on the 25th to get Block number 3 of the Blogger's Block of the Month!


Until Next Time...

Share/Bookmark

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Serengeti Serenade... The Story Behind The Quilt

Hello Everyone,

Many of you have seen this little preview of the quilt that I made on my recent retreat.  So I thought I would give you a little background.  



This is truly an African quilt from my heart.  Let's start from the beginning.  In January, 2005 my husband, my brother and three friends went to Tanzania to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro.  It was a dream of his and a once in a lifetime opportunity.


Here they are at the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro.  My husband is on the far right in the black.  My brother is holding the American flag.  He fulfilled a dream he had.  It was exciting and difficult all at the same time.



Here is their view from above the clouds.  Simply magnificent!  I admire him and everyone who went.



Following the week long summit adventure they went on a safari.  Another opportunity of a lifetime.  Of course, I had to share some wonderful kitty photos with you.


Don't you just love a mama and her cubs?


 How beautiful is this mama lion?

So what does this have to do with fabric and a quilt?  When my husband left he asked if there was anything that I would like him to bring back from his trip?  Of course I said fabric.


He brought these two pieces of fabric home for me.  About a total of 6 yards.  I was ecstatic! Then began my journey of collecting authentic African fabric for the next six years.  My intention was to collect enough fabric to make a quilt for my husband to commemorate his trip to Tanzania.

In the process, I fell in love with the fabric.  I always had a particular design in mind, but then my issue of McCall's Quilting Jan, 2011 came and this pattern captured my eye.



It is all done with 2.5 inch strips and in batiks, but I thought "WOW, wouldn't that look great in the African fabrics?"  Just perfect!

This became the year of the African Quilt!

When I went on retreat last week, the cutting and sewing began.



And the smiles got bigger.  Lots of love went into the making of this quilt from the first day that my husband brought me home those two lovely fabrics straight from Tanzania.

I used one of the fabrics, the yellow and black, for the four highlighted pieces in the borders.  I also used strips of both of the fabrics throughout the quilt.  The larger pieces that were left of the fabrics my husband gave to me, will become part of the backing.

Let me introduce you to Serengeti Serenade...


 I will be quilting this over the next few weeks and giving this to my husband for Christmas.  I hope that he loves it as much as I do and that will remind him of his trip to Africa.

I am so glad that my husband doesn't read my blog, so if you know him... shhhh!  Don't tell him about his gift... Thanks!


Until Next Time...


Share/Bookmark
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...