Curve-tastic Quilting!

In May, I will be teaching another class at Maplewood Quilts using my own technique developed in the Turtle Tracks Quilt.  In preparing for this class, I made a sample for the shop to display and I am very pleased with how it came out.  Inside, I am jumping up and down since this quilt (eventually) will me all MINE.  How many of us who craft can honestly say you have sewn something for yourself and not given it away?

Tammie, the shop owner, wants to keep the quilt on display and take it to the different shows she will be vending at to drum up interest for the class and possibly another one this fall depending upon demand.  How cool is that?!

Here are some photos of the quilt and one in progress shot.  I did not get any really good shots as it needed to get out the door as soon as it was done.  In fact, the binding is merely basted on – not properly sewn at all!  I only had about 1 week to get it done.  I am amazed it even got as far as it did!

 

Turtle Tracks Are Ready!

For those of you who have read my posts in the past, you know all about the baby quilt or wall hanging I am working on – Turtle Tracks.  It was finished about 3 weeks ago but due to a massive fall/November craft show schedule, never made it to the website for sale.

Well, here it is!

There are only 4 of this quilt.  One is in the Art on Main gallery in Bristol, Vermont, so I only have 3 on hand right now.  Each one is totally unique since the multi-colored strips are each randomly pieced and the quilting on each one is unique.  On all of my quilts, I use only free-motion quilting.  For those who are wondering what free-motion quilting is – you know how you can doodle on a pad of paper with a pencil?  I do the same thing with my sewing machine.  There is no set pattern, magic button, or pre-programmed stitch that I use.  It is just me and the quilt and what I “doodle”.  It’s fun!

So check out Turtle Tracks.  I love it and really like the design to it.  This style is very different from anything else I have done and it was a ton of fun exploring.   Enjoy!

 

Turtle Tracks Is On Its Way!

Finally the 4 Turtle Tracks quilts are quilted!!!  I am so excited to share some photos of the quilts.  I know that I have been pretty silent on this for a few days – well, you will now see why!

After fabric foundation piecing the 3 panels of random width batiks, I used the Piec-lique method by Sharon Schamber to make the turtle panels (I saw someone at quilt camp doing this and it was so cool!).  The idea was to convey the feeling of water and movement, so I made templates and basted each turtle panel to the 3 batik panels.  You can see them here on my design wall.

After the quilt was basted together, I moved it over to my sewing machine and topstitched the turtle panels to the batiks.  Then I had to trim away the excess batiks on the back to reduce the bulk.  Let’s just say, cutting this in your lap is a really, Really, REALLY bad idea!  I had to take out one of the turtle panels and totally redo it.  Argh!

 When all 4 quilts were top stitched, I needed to start the quilting.  I set up the quilts going horizontally on my frame because I wanted to do a long, curving quilting across the top.  I didn’t want to have to stop and start like I would have needed to do if I had laid it out vertically.  Here you can see it set up on my machine.  I know, I know, it is only a short arm.  Maybe someday I can afford the long-arm of my dreams and the house to put it in.  *sigh*

Now they are ready for binding. Anyone have any suggestions as to what color I should use? I am leaning toward the darker turquoise, but am not sure…

 

Turtles Are Made (Not Born)

fun Fun FUN!!!   

I love the colors of my new quilt that I am designing.  I was in New England Quilt Supply, just outside of Boston, when I found this great batik by Hoffman.  It has lime green turtles all over it with blue, purple, and green accents.  So I have picked out 8 co-ordinating batiks to go with it that I am randomly piecing together in a strip/crazy quilt pattern.  I don’t want to give away the final result, but I am really excited to see how it will come out. 

 To get the look I want for the strips, I am fabric foundation piecing them together.  Each baby quilt will have 3 of these panels that will be about 6-8 inches wide with 4 panels of the turtle batik.  The whole quilt will be really random, with no two exactly alike.  Like all of my quilts, I am making a limited number – only 4 of this quilt.  Typically I make between 2 and 4 quilts of any one design so that I have enough to offer on-line, at the galleries and at craft shows I vend at.