Third place in NQA!

I am excited that the raffle quilt for the Peace River Quilters Guild got a third place award at the National Quilting Association show in Columbus, Ohio. This is the quilt you see in my header on this blog. I quilted it for the guild. Sometimes it's nice to be recognized for my work, and I think this is a tip of the hat to Wazoo.
Now, I just have to get the Disconnected Piecers Guild raffle quilt in the works!! Stay tuned for that.

Big, Bold and Beautiful!

The quilts I have done in the last few days have been HUGE! Three big quilts in three days, not too bad. The aqua and tan quilt was made for a sister's 50th anniversary gift. Wow, that's quite a gift! My customer is off to Newfoundland to deliver it.
You may recognize the blue and tan stars quilt as Bonnie Hunter's My Blue Heaven. My customer took the class from Bonnie while she was here and made this scrappy, wonderful quilt. I finished it with scrappy blue binding and a nice label because my customer has neuropathy in her hands, making handwork difficult. My little gift to a great customer.
The zig-zag quilt was made by my friend, June, who loves to create with oriental prints. She must have had a scrap from every quilt she has ever made to get this variety in her king sized jewel. I quilted it with an edge to edge pattern of oriental clouds. It turned out really nice.
I also did a custom quilt this week that is all wool applique. The photos must be in Mr Wazoo's camera. I'll post them when I download his pictures.
Have fun quilting!

I only have this snap of the Newfoundland bound quilt. Mr Wazoo is pitiful at picture taking...

Bonnie Hunter's pattern, My Blue Heaven

It's a two block quilt. Makes a great statement in these scraps.

I quilted it with the Texas Fan pantograph

The back is cool, too!

This quilt is really big! Here it is from the back of the quilting table

June's marvelous oriental zig-zag

pretty prints and fluffy cloud quilting

Turned out stunning!

Great customer quilt makes for fun work

It's always a good day when I get to work on a beautiful and challenging quilt. This one was made by a friend for her husband, all hand embroidered! Picture type quilts are a challenge, because I have to make sure the quilt doesn't have 'baggy' spots where the pictures are, but not quilt over the picture while securing it down. What you may not realize about the longarm quilter is that we spend a long time staring at the quilt on the frame, waiting for the spark of inspiration to light the quilting fire. Sometimes, this can be a long stare! Fortunately, this quilt had a clear theme and it only took a few minutes to get the mojo going and start quilting. I did all the stitch-in-the-ditch and sashing while contemplating the pictures, so it was an easy transition to them on the second day of quilting. I am pleased with the result.
Today, I'm back at the machine, staring, ditch stitching and waiting for the spark! I do love my job!

The back is a hoot to look at!

Back in the swing of things

Beard is GONE!! I like this smiling face much better.

We have been very busy around here, getting quilts done and out the door. One day blurs into another until a whole week has gone by without a blog entry.
The quilt I was hurrying to finish for a class sample turned out to be quite a bugger to make! I am currently using it in the evening when the air conditioning gets a bit cool on my feet. I even tried to make a small quilt using the same technique, but it was also a challenge. The education committee decided to have me teach a different quilt altogether, so I didn't have to hurry at all. Oh well, I got two quilts out of the exercise!
Here are a few of the pretty quilts that were finished this week.
To all the veterans, thank you. My daughter is an Iraq war vet and I am so grateful to have her home safe and sound. Have a wonderful day with your families and take a day to remember why we can enjoy the freedom to do so in our great nation.

Here's the finished quilt...at the ready for cold feet.

This is the 'simpler' version. 

Isn't this the cutest kid quilt?!

It is called Mom and Me. My customer did a fabulous job!

This is a bed runner. They're all the rage right now.

Close up of the quilting

More detail

Time to prepare for classes!

It's been a great week here and we have gotten loads of work done. I have two classes coming up and have to get my samples ready, so in the odd hours, I have been sewing up a storm. The first class is for beginners in my evening guild, so the quilt is very simple, but pretty. I'm calling it 'One Dozen Donuts'. I am making the second quilt, for a project class at my day guild in July. I have decided to make my sample from my stash of Liberty of London. Today I made the 9 patches, and when I get time, I will finish the blocks and get the setting started. I hope to have it finished by Friday to take to guild. Aren't the fabrics nice!? I hope you like the pictures.

Customer quilt I did earlier this week

Detail

More detail

Another customer quilt finished yesterday

some detail

My Wisconsin quilt, all finished

the pieced back

One Dozen Donuts

48 Liberty 9 patches

the stack ready for the next step

Three quilt finishes!

I did finish the project quilt for the last retreat, a baby quilt for a friend in Wisconsin, as well as the quilt my Mom started in 1944 for my older brother. It is needle turn applique and hand quilted. Then I soaked it to get the yellow-brown age out of it. I can't wait until July to show it to her in person!

The kit baby quilt my Mom started all those years ago.

Baby quilt for a friend

Project quilt for the May retreat, 'Dottie' from Moda Bakeshop

May 2014 retreat in Sebring, Florida was a blast!

We just got home from another fun time in Sebring, and I am already back at work on customer quilts. Our friend, Donna, had a nasty fall and cut her knee quite badly, so I hope everyone will keep her in their thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery.
We had a fun time sewing, chatting and snacking in the Kenilworth Lodge, and here is the slide show to prove it! Enjoy!

Free photo slideshow personalized with Smilebox

My sister's quilt, and what's up today

Sometimes, I have the honor of quilting for my sister who lives in Texas. She makes really wonderful, colorful quilts that are fun to look at while I quilt. The added bonus is that they are always square and flat!! If only I were as precise as she is...
I have done a quilt like the peacock one before, so I decided to do this one a little differently. The quilted part is rolled up, but I will post a photo of it when I finish quilting it.
Ta for now!

My sister's king sized Irish chain quilt

Pantograph, Splat

Lovely turquoise backing

Peacock and pinwheel quilt in progress