I know I already posted about my visit with the Golden Needles Quilt Guild in Conroe, TX, but there are a few quilt photos that I did not share that I really should. I tried to capture the quilting designs they used, I hope you can see it.
Lou Ann’s Summer Solstice – it won a ribbon at their show last year!Desert Sky by Valerie.Close-up of Valerie’s Desert Sky – I hope you can see the quilting.Valerie’s Bali Wedding Star – it was GORGEOUS!A close-up of some of Valerie’s Quilting
I also wanted to wish their Guild a Happy Birthday! They get to celebrate it twice because their efficient hospitality hostess panicked in August because she thought she forgot the cake and ordered it at the last minute, then after getting to guild meeting realized their Birthday month is September – so if you are looking for something sweet in September stop by they Golden Needles Quilt Guild for Birthday Cake! 27 years and going strong!
Happy Pre-Birthday Golden Needles!
Another idea from their guild I want to share is how they promote their upcoming workshops. Lou Ann you did a great job!
Hey – that’s me!
Prior to going to Conroe I hosted Niemeyer Wednesday at Pinwheels and Posies. (Due to my upcoming move we will not have one in September, October or November) Stay tuned for word on an event for December! So keep working on your projects we will be having a giant show and share!
Ann started this Celebration Tree Skirt in a class with me 2 years ago – and then put it away. She finished this wedge in bee and I have since seen a photo of the finished top! Congratulations Anne!Sharon’s Captain’s Wheel from the Retreat, she joined us at Bee to keep on sewing. And Sara’s done in all neutrals from her stash! Just read a report on the Quiltworx Support board that Sara is loving her quilt!Carolyn attended my workshop with the Bay Area Quilters Guild in June. She brought her finished top in to share. (She also worked on her Captains Wheel from class!)
I hope you are inspired! I am on my way to teach the Judy Niemeyer Wedding Ring Quilts – make it a great weekend and be inspiring to those around you!
I love my job! I am privileged to teach quilting classes primarily as a Certified Instructor for Judy Niemeyer Quilting. Here is a quick link to my schedule.
One of the most popular quilts I teach is the Bali Wedding Star quilt and Bed Runner. Last fall I had a very excited soon to be Mother of Bride in my class. Her beautiful daughters wedding would be in May 2014. Kim had chosen beautiful rich colors for her daughter’s quilt, most students use “bali pops”, Kim was able to cut strips from her stash, yes, I have stash envy again!
I was also asked to do the quilting for her. We set a due date for the quilt to be to me and Kim was off to the races. She knew how much she needed to accomplish each week to stay on target for our due date. Kim met the due date with time to spare, then the deadline was mine. I contacted my daughter-in-law to provide the binding service, her first scalloped binding, this did not worry me as her attention to quality and detail is top notch.
Here are a few photos of the quilting process…..
I like to add quilting in the arcs, but get bored with continuous line every time. On Pinterest I had seen quilting of solid arcs with flying geese, so I gave it a whirl and I like it!Another challenge for quilting are these melons with star points. Margaret Solomon Gunn had shared some photos with angular quilting in these melons and I really like it.I love when the back of the quilt comes to life – do you? Sew Fine Threads from Superior and Wool Batting from Pellon.A fun little star I like to doThe overall effect of quilting on one block
Then the quilt was to Kat for the binding – then more photos
What a beautiful quiltAhhhhh!And a very nice scalloped bindingFeathers Feathers and more Feathers.The back, color is off to show the quilting, the earlier photo with the light blue/green is closer to true color.Love love love
Then Then Then – I received a text from Kim, mother of the bride, and it had a quick photo from the bridal photography session. The wedding was this past weekend, Kim sent a link with permission to use the photographers photos from this shoot! I never would’ve imagined how seeing this photo would make me feel. To have been a part of this beautiful tribute from/for the mom and daughter on one of their most important days humbles me. Thank you Kim and Kristal!
At the end of July I had the wonderful opportunity to return home to Salt Lake City to teach some Judy Niemeyer classes. I had stopped by Elaine’s Quilt Block in December of 2012 (and purchased University of Utah fabric) and met the owner, Ione. She said she would be very interested in having me come teach. As I worked through my scheduled it just happened that I was flying through Salt Lake on my way Montana for a weeklong retreat with Judy Niemeyer. So – I just extended my stop over on the way home to include a few days teaching and then playing (more on the playing in an upcoming post; stay-tuned).
Day 1 we had a beginning paper piecing class and made Hoffman Crackers. Days 2-4 were Quilting Til We Wilted and when we start to wilt they would feed us – FABULOUS FOOD – and then Ione would make daily Starbuck’s runs so we could sew and sew and sew. Pattern for our Wilt was Bali Wedding Star and there are some beautiful ones in the making.
Just in case you missed out on the fun in July – it looks like I will be coming back in February 2014. If you have a Judy Niemeyer pattern you would like to make be sure to let the shop know as they are in the process of selecting which workshop(s) will be offered.
I hope you enjoy these photos from my workshops at Elaine’s Quilt Block
Beginning paper-piecing – Hoffman Crackers was the pattern of choice!Adding a gooseLove those swirling geeseMarilyn is using a common background and sashing her geeseNicole made hers out of a Moda Smores jelly roll – PS her quilt is ALL DONE – she added sashings and a piano key border!Bobbie made good use of the coloring page in the pattern – she has a plan and knows how to execute itBobbie’s quilt is going to be stunningThese beautiful strips are from Artisan Batiks – they are going to make beautiful arcsMy beautiful niece Nicole – she came to the beginning paper piecing class and stayed for the Quilt Til You WiltNicole is trimming her arcsMarilyn is being careful, has her klutz glove on and she is cutting all of those A/B arcsMarilyn made good use of a shaded fabric and the creative grid rulers designed by Judy Niemeyer – no piecing in her arcsAnn is using Hoffman Bali Pops for her arcs – aren’t they scrumptious?Gaye’s 2nd Bali Wedding Star is “Shades of Grey” with teal stars!Gaye’s has already made one of these quilts – isn’t it beautiful – Asian fabricsA little closer….A close-up of the star. I have seen her design for the quilting – it will be a SHOW STOPPER!Yippee! LuAnn made a melon!They are all working so hard!Strip piecing the arcsDiane really made lunch as pretty as it was yummy!Presentation Presentation PresentationOne of the 2 longarms at the shop made a great lunch buffetKale Salad – it was very goodAnother scrumptious saladAnd this strawberry shortcake had HOMEMADE whip cream!Sunrise over the mountains before I left to teach one morningYou can just barely see the mountain
As a longarm quilter I have the privilege of working on some really amazing quilts. Many times I was also the teacher for workshop to make the top. Earlier this year I had the pleasure of teaching Barbara from Pflugerville. She had signed up for a workshop I teach on the Bali Wedding Star (pattern by Judy Niemeyer) at Pinwheels and Posies. She had quite a drive so she and her mom decided to make it an adventure and headed out a day early so she could arrive at class bright and early the next day. While Barbara was in class her mom scouted out the local mall and just had a day to herself. Barbara had decided this was the quilt she would make for an upcoming wedding so she had a deadline, she also made her reservation to get on my quilting schedule even though we had just met and she had only seen a couple of examples of my quilting – what faith!
Barbara plugged along on her quilt, 106×106 and we met during the Kerrville Quilt Show over Memorial Weekend for her to hand over her quilt to be quilted. She received her quilt back this week and now I can share a few photos. (On facebook I had commented that I may never do continuous curve again as I had performed this design numerous times on her beautiful arcs!) I love the earthtone colors of the Hoffman Bali Pops she used in her arcs and I think her blue stars are outstanding in this quilt, they really get to shine!
Another shotLove the star, 2 different blues are used, the long center star points are a Hoffman 1895 which reads more solid, the melon star points have a printed design that lightens the fabric just a little adding motion.A little bit of quilting detail!An overall to let you get a feel for the colors in this beautiful quilt.
After working on one of these quilts I like to wind down with a quilt that has less intense quilting, I loaded this t-shirt quilt which had a couple of new items for me. First of all most of the t-shirt quilts I quilt have quilting fabric sashings or other designs along with the t-shirts, this one was sewn t-shirt to t-shirt. Next there was no stabilizer used on the back of the t-shirts, meaning if I was not careful I would have some stretching issues. It also had a flannel backing which can be stretchy and this quilt was also quite large, 96″x104″. I did have a couple of small tucks on the very outer edge that will disappear once the quilt is trimmed and bound. I enjoyed quilting this quilt that will go away to college in a few short weeks – the fun part for me was reading all of the various t-shirts, the places this young person has been and all of the various activities they have been a part of – what a wonderful childhood this young adult had, I know the future must also have great things in store for them as well. And I must confess if I ever do make a t-shirt quilt – I might just have to break all the rules and construct it just like this one – when I took it off the frame it was the softest, most cuddly quilt I think I have ever made and it will only get better with each washing!
Some really fun t-shirts – sashed with t-shirts!A close up!The cuddly flannel back!
And then because it was the weekend – I decided to do one of mine – this one will be heading to Salt Lake because I am teaching this class July 30, 31 and August 1st – we will be quilting until we are wilting at Elaine’s Quilt Block – call today to sign up!
Love that red star!Can you even see the quilting?Ah the back – now you can see some quilting!
