Glacier Star is another favorite pattern that I teach. I have made several of these in conjunction with Pinwheels and Posies Quilt Shop. This was the first “technique of the month” quilt designed by Judy Niemeyer Quilting aka Quiltworx. It continues to be a favorite among shops and students.
Pat and her friend Patty decided to take this multi-part class, then life got hectic and Pat was not able to get back to her quilt for sometime. She was so excited to finally have the top done and dropped it off with me to quilt it a few months ago. I finished while she was in Boston on vacation and we were both finally able to get together Monday!
So now I can share with you!
An overall of the quilt – the green on the edge of teal with the burgundy always make a pleasing quiltPat wanted her quilt a little bigger so she added an additional border.Pat brought her hubby with her to pick up her quilt – explaining that they would now be painting the bedroom to go better with the quilt!The snowflake with geese on the pond unitsPat’s center snowflakeThe pillow shamThe center of Pat’s pillow shamThe pillow sham
I don’t currently have this pattern on my schedule to teach – but I do have a retreat schedule to teach the 2015 Technique of the Month – Click HERE for more information.
I am pulling up some memories today to share with you on the blog.
In July 2011 my friend Peggy and I headed to Montana to get certified for the Judy Niemeyer, aka Quiltworx “Technique of the Month” designs. I had been teaching for Peggy at her shop, Pinwheels and Posies for a while. I was teaching Quiltworx patterns but was not able to teach the elusive “Glacier Star” because she was not a certified shop and/or I was not a certified instructor. So we decided to correct that and hopped on a plane!
Now when you live in SE Texas in the summer it really is a “chore” to have to go to Montana in the summer! Let’s see it is warm in the daytime, but not humid. And the nights are cool – in fact we slept with the windows open because our room did not have a/c. Yes – it was a tough gig – but we coped.
Here are a few memories I thought I would share today!
First of all where we stay is a beautiful house. It belongs to Judel, Judy’s daughter. Judel and her family move out of the house during the summer and turn it over to the very fortunate retreaters. Here are a few of the details that make her house a home!
I loved this frame. It hangs in the stairwell at the landing on the way to top floor.Even the rafters had special accentsI loved the front door!Our room while we were there – can you believe the quilts on our beds?
We were able to fit in a trip to Quiltworx HQ – it was a quonset hut and they used every available space. In 2014 they opened a fabulous new training facility and moved HQ at the same time.
Adding a front porch to the hut!
The sewing room is a converted garage area – with lots of light, design walls and when you fill it with happy stitchers it becomes a very happy place indeed!
Mary’s shoes! Aren’t they happy!On the outside looking in….
The sites from the home are AWESOME too!
Different kinds of flowers grow all around the retreat center.The sun is coming up…..And it’s up!SunsetIt was probably close to 3 am when we were heading to bed. Peggy said “look at that moon!” I of course had to grab my camera – then I had to grab Connie. We used her tripod and expertise but luckily we were using my camera so I have the photo! You can see the stars and reflections in the lake – Thanks Connie!
We did manage to get a little sewing done, I had a goal in mind and needed to sew!
The wee hours of the morning or late hours of the night – not sure which!
The goal…..
To have my Glacier Star quilt photographed in Glacier National ParkThat’s the shot! Yes I could’ve cropped Roger out – but this memory is more fun!
A few more photos from Glacier National Park
USA bear made the trip too!Connie taught me a lot about my camera and how to use it!I love nature!It was a drizzly day and we teased Peggy that she was trying to keep her hair dry!Awwwwww…..The hearty Canadian, Roger and the not so tough Texan, Peggy!Our fearless leader!
And as I have said before – all good things must come to an end……
As we arrived at the airport to fly home!And we have arrived back in SE Texas
As a workshop leader for quilting classes I so enjoy watching students learn new techniques and take on projects that they never thought possible. This last set of Oh My Judy Stars students were just amazing. They did their pre-class homework, then did their in between homework and they just really had a good time.
Here are a few photos from the group, not all the students were able to attend the final class, if they send me photos of their quilts I will share in the future.
Agnes chose Amazon Star for her pattern, this quilt is 104×104 and she added an additional border to make it approx 114×114 prior to quilting.
Agnes and her husband chose the fabrics together for this quilt, I think they make a GREAT team!
Because of the size of this quilt I had to take the photos in stages. This quilt has such fabulous visual impact!The paper-pieced borders, prior to Agnes adding an additional 5″ all the way around.
The quilt below is Mariner’s Compass. Pat will be making this quilt queen size, she will be adding 4 corners to this octagon to square it up to 60×60, then she adds 4 more corners to put it on point along with a fabulous paper-pieced border that will have a white background with chocolate accents. Pat’s center wasn’t laying quite as flat as I thought it should, I was able to show her how to “spin” her seams and now it is flat flat flat. She was over the moon thrilled with learning that new tip! Pat has already made Glacier Star and it is in my studio awaiting it’s turn for quilting – will you want to see photos of that one?
Pat’s Mariner’s Compass – white background with blacks, grey’s and browns. This quilt is so elegant and rich! Can’t wait to see it done!
Sara had purchased this kit from Pinwheels and Posies, she changed up the color placement in the Lone Star center and I just love how it turned out. After a few tense moments while working through her Y seams Sara is now very pleased with her quilt – AS SHE SHOULD BE!
Sara made Summer Solstice, we all LOVE how it turned out. Her fabric placement for that outer border is FABULOUS!Here is the original from the kit – Sara’s subtle changes, the inner border in the kit is orange, Sara’s is the dark blue – and see how her fabric placement in the border changes that entire outer border?
And here is Sandy’s Summer Solstice – don’t you love the tropical feel of her colors!
Thanks Sandy! She sent me this quick photo to add to the blog – Sandy was unable to make the last class. She had actually finished her quilt top prior to the 3rd class! And we had 4 classes!
My students were doing so well in our final class that they encouraged me to pull out my project and sew – here is my Fire Island Hosta. This quilt is going to be a lot of fun to teach, new techniques that will be used in several of the upcoming patterns from Judy Niemeyer Quilting. While it may look difficult at first glance – if you read the pattern and use all of the helpful registration points this quilt will go together quite easily.
Fire Island Hosta – watch my schedule (left side of the screen) for when I will be teaching this!
And below is a teaser – I am teaching at a retreat in August in Wimberley, TX. I will be teaching the Captain’s Wheel pattern. One of our retreat attendees as been busy with her pre-class homework, here is one of Sharon D’s “Compass Rose” blocks for her quilt. Linda L and Sharon J have also been busy, they have all their fabrics cut and they have each made at least 1 Compass Rose Unit. Do you want to make this quilt? I am teaching this class at Pinwheels and Posies in Dickinson, TX – class #1 is July 30 and the 2nd class is August 13.
Sharon D’s Captain’s Wheel – she is attending the retreat in August where I am teaching this quilt! She is on the ball for pre-class homework!
Which Judy Niemeyer Quilt do you want to make? What is stopping you?
Exciting news on the pattern front! Quiltworx aka Judy Niemeyer Quilting has just announced their newest Technique of the Month. These are released on a bi-annual basis. The pattern will be going through a rigorous testing process over the next few months and then the final results will be printed and ready for release January 2015.
RETREATS RETREATS RETREATS – I plan to teach the new Technique of the Month in shops as well as retreats – if you are interested in a retreat let me know.
The first technique of the month was Glacier Star (2011) and I was totally in love. I have taught this class numerous times as well as made several quilts in collaboration with Pinwheels and Posies.
Here are a few photos of Glacier Star –
My quilt top completed in Montana 2011Peggy’s GS – it was going to have extensions added – then the extensions did not look good with this center – so we made a new centerPeggy’s extensions with the new center – much better!And quilters love purple so Peggy and I made a purple versionLinda started with the kit from my quilt and added her spin and then Kim Norton from A Busy Bobbin worked some more magic with amazing quiltingCristyn did not want to piece the circling geese and she is a phenomenal quilter so here is what she did!Susie’s Glacier StarHolly’s Glacier Star!
Then there was Mariner’s Compass (2013)
My Mariner’s Compass – I LOVE LOVE LOVE this quilt! I told my daughter-in-law I wanted the color wheel and she helped pull fabrics and helped with the design of where the fabrics would go! My son married very well!I taught a couple of “quilt til you wilts” at the local quilt shop and this was Sari’s quilt.Shirley Started with this……And turned it in to this – fabulous!This is one from retreat in Montana in 2013 – I can’t remember who made the quilt – let me know and I will update the blog! UPDATE – This fabulous Mariner’s Compass belongs to Roger Kerr, owner along with his fabulous wife, Ardelle of Certified Shop – Quilting from the Heart.
And now …….. drum roll please………
Paradise in Blooms (2015)
Paradise in Blooms – Wall QuiltJust add extensions and you get thisAnd another color way!
Ahhhh – this beautiful “Glacier Star” (pattern by Judy Niemeyer) is done and will soon be on it’s way home!
Susie’s colors are just fabulous in this quilt. Susie always does such nice work, it is a true pleasure to quilt her quilts! To see the detail be sure to click on each photo to expand it.
Before quilting….stunning!The back of the quilt – there really is quilting in those larger areas, the thread is red so you can’t really see it here.The thread color palette.Close up of the center – small formal feathers in the center star.Expanded view of the center, showing the geese on the pond unitsThe feathered star units, new york beauty units and circling geese. (192 geese circling the perimeter)The overall quilt after quilting
Are you a quilt maker? What are you working on today?
I shared on my Facebook page “HollyDee Quilts” a quilt on my frame and promised photos of the finish. So here they are…
Maria made this Feathered Star in a workshop I taught last year. She wanted her star to float on the background and to have a “winter” look to it. Using mostly “Stonehenge” fabrics really helped us to pull of the look Maria was going for. The original pattern, by Quiltworx, ends at the first pieced border, Maria wanted her quilt a little larger, so she added 2 more borders and took it from 60″ x 60″ to 76″ x 76″
Maria’s Feathered Star -before quiltingQuilting of the feathers – be sure to click on this photo – it is very dark hereQuilting in the setting unitsQuilting on the back, love those square feathers in the outer dark blue borderTexture on the back
And here is what is coming up…….
And what is next on the frame? Susie’s Glacier Star!
I meant to share this on the previous post and forgot….
This was my mom’s and now it calls our house it’s home. We have lived in Houston for 17 years and it took about 14 years for us to find this plants happy spot. Just like my mom, this plant likes to be part of the action, resting in the corner of the kitchen, next to the window to watch the outdoors and next to the kitchen table to reside over meals. Yes it is a happy place!
Where is your happy place? Mine is where the action is!
Once a month I hostess a finishing class for students that are working on their Judy Niemeyer quilts. Some come to pick out fabric, some come to cut fabric, some come to sew. We all show up to be inspired! I have been teaching these classes for several years now and watching these quilts come together is always a treat!
So to inspire you I have chosen a few delights!
Rita’s Flowers for My Wedding Quilt – This will be for her Granddaughter.Pauline is working on Indian Summer – here are a few of her lights.Marilyn has been busy working on Mariner’s Compass – her first Judy quilt!And look – here is Cheryl’s Mariner’s Compass – she has her center completely doneBut she will be adding 4 Compass Rose units to elongate her quilt!Cheryl has already chosen the fabrics for her split log cabin!Shirley has had her center done for her Mariner’s Compass and is now working on her borders!But look what else Shirley has completed – this beautiful feathered star came home with me for quilting!And another feathered star – Janeane added the queen borders for Glacier Star to make this beautiful Feathered Star Quilt!And Janeane has also completed her Mariner’s Compass!Janeane’s time consumer has been this rendition of Flowers for My Wedding – a 50th wedding anniversary gift for her parents!Won’t appliqué look stunning in this wide open corners!
Be sure to check the calendar to see if I am coming to a guild or shop near you in 2014. I would love to come teach at your guild or shop!
