QUILTING DONE

Finally finished this project except for right side binding. Unfortunately you can't see the quilting as the thread color matches perfectly. I took someones advice and quilted loops. Its nice to be productive.

AMAZING NEWS

Yet another I can't believe it situation. I have just received an e mail from SewCalGal that I have been nominated for best teacher award that her site sponsors. The list of nominees is the Who's Who of quilting and I am among them! I am really excited and amazed. WOW.... I just had to share this with the people who really get it. My daughter said a quiet "That's nice" and my husband said congrats. But I can hear all the cheers from you guys who really get it. Thanks so much to whom ever nominated me. I am humbled.

RETREAT PREP WORK

 
The FMQ retreat is very soon so I'm in high gear to prepare. I have not done bump feathers on a roller coaster spine in quite some time. I'm a little rusty, but I love making them. My students will love the challenge.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST...BINDINGS

 I read a lot of blogs and look at a number of quilts. After all I am a confessed quilt junkie. Bindings seem to be an after thought when in reality the can make a real statement. It is another design opportunity. The last fabric choice for a project, although I have made a quilt based on the fabric I chose for the binding. Don't be afraid of making bias bindings when the fabric design will allow it. Bias is the longest lasting of the techniques and your corners miter like a dream. Look at antique quilts and you will see the aging process is significant on the bindings.There are lots of tools out to help make the process easier. I usually cut my width at 2 1/2 inches. The black and red shown is extra wide and finished at 2 1/2 .

LEAF IT TO ME

I have a friend who has moved to a senior apt. complex and she is not thrilled about it. Her birthday is Saturday and I thought a small wall piece might cheer her up. Fibermania is the queen of leaves and this is similar to one on her blog. I love her work, very bright and artistic. This is fused and although you cannot see it it is also heavily quilted. I fused a piece of Pellon Decor bond between the backing and batting to keep it flat and it was a dream to quilt thru. Have a great week!

LATE TO THE PARTY

Everyone on the Internet has been making mug rugs for quite some time. I am still mulling over the baby quilt so I thought I'd give it a try. It is a great way to use up odd fabric pieces and left over batting that I cannot throw away. Mine have appendages. That way I can identify them if the suddenly disappear into a crowd of rugs.

QUICK,QUICK I NEED A BABY QUILT

This is my just finished piecing project. It is a pattern from the book Allegro by Terry Atkinson whose designs are wonderful and directions are right on. So how will I quilt this? I don't want to distort the straight lines so I will definitely not do straight lines across the quilt. I would consider straight lines from top to bottom. This is fast and keeps the modern look. However, I like to soften the lines by quilting a curvy pattern and crossing the lines with the thread. Baby quilts are great for learning a motif , like feathers. Babies don't care how those feathers look, and I guarantee your feathers will improve by the end of the quilting. I could do flowers also. I do know I will change colors with each row. So I will let it "stew" for a few days and keep you posted on my final decision.