Machine Quilting: Batik Hunter Star

Once again, I'm going to say how much I love my Nana. Not only does she make the best Chocolate Chip Cookies (which I was sent home with last week just in time for my latest Moda Bake Shop recipe), but she makes awesome quilts and she lets me quilt them for her!

Now going back to the cookies - I had all intentions of making my own, but they're just not the same. I had to go to Nana's house to drop off this quilt I'm showing you and she just happened to have made a big batch (is there any other kind) of her Chocolate Chip Cookies and sent me home with a small bag. I had one, just ONE and I left the rest for Ben and I to split (key word there is 'split'). Ben got home later that night and had dinner and had the bag of cookies sitting there too. He asked me if I wanted one and I said no, and then he proceeded to eat the REST OF THE BAG!!! Granted there were only a few in the bag, but dang! I was hoping for more than one.

Alright, back on topic. So a couple weeks ago I showed you all the first Rapid Fire Hunter Star quilt Nana made using Christmas fabrics (click here to see it again). This is the first one she actually made in class with all of those wonderful batik fabrics.

 This quilt is a nice size, about 44" square I believe. Plus that backing fabric is a wonderful wide backing, it's actually the same one I used on Leafy Greens (love that fabric!).

 I recently discovered this swirly style of quilting from Angela Walters new book. As soon as I saw it I knew Nana would love it, but I wanted to do something different in the stars so I did some line dancing with loops in the middle. It wasn't what I had planned initially, but I love how it turned out!

 I used the same principle as I did on her other Hunter Star quilt and carried the quilting for the stars into the border. I used my white Sewline marking pen to draw in the other half of the star and then treated that area of the border as if it were a completed star. You can kinda see it in the picture above, but the next picture shows it much better.

Small touches like this are so much fun for me to showcase the artfulness of the quilts. I am an artist at heart and this is where I get to "run wild". Don't get me wrong, I love quilting all types of quilts and I understand not every quilt needs or deserves custom quilting depending on what it's intended purpose is for.

But one of my most favorite and scariest moments that I encounter is when I get told to do whatever I think would be best... At first I shudder (just a tiny bit) until I understand who the quilt is being made for and what purpose it's going to be used (wall hanging, wedding gift, quilt for a 13 year old's bed, etc.). I'll quilt a wedding gift a bit differently than I would for a 6 year old. But then my mind turns on into overdrive and I think about the designs I could do almost too much until I come up with the "perfect design". This not only is a great end result for those of you making and receiving the quilts, but it also helps push my creative abilities and designs further and further.

I do have those designs I fall back on again and again. I always will. And if you ask most long arm quilters they tend to find themselves in design trends where you quilt a ton of flower designs for a bit and then a bunch of swirls and then it just continues. But the exciting part is trying something new, finding a new design, and getting an end result that inspires even more creativity.

This is definitely one reason why I love my job! Thanks again Nana! You're the best!

Finally ready!

It's been insane around here with work, winter approaching, Christmas around the corner (yikes), and the occasional cold. I feel like this pattern in particular has been like running a marathon to get it out. But alas, it's ready and will be at Cottonpicker's this afternoon, will be shipping elsewhere today as well.

Leafy Greens is one of my favorite quilts (I know I probably say that with all of my quilts, but...). With each quilt I either make or design I try a new technique, or use new fabrics, or something to expand my abilities or experiences. This was my first all batik quilt. Did I ever mention how much I love batiks and didn't know it until I made this beauty?

They have a different feel than normal printed cotton, the fact that on most of them there is not a "right" or "wrong" side helps (especially when you sew late at night and are a little tired!), I just love them.

If you haven't worked with them yet, I strongly urge you to try out some batiks in the near future. The manufacturers have outdone themselves lately and the patterns and colors available are unlike previous lines. It's absolutely incredible what they can come up with.

So, I hope you like this pattern and if you can't find it at your local quilt shop, please ask them to order it for you! It never hurts to ask! If not, you can find a list of quilt shops on the "Where to Buy" page that would be more than happy to send it to you.

Well, let me know what you think of this latest pattern and don't forget to check the Moda Bake Shop for the latest "recipe" there. My latest creation for Moda will be posted on the 20th of November. It's going to be crazy around here between relatives coming home for a visit and Turkey Day/CarbFest 2010 right around the corner. I will try to stop in and say hi, but if we don't chat as often you will know I'm not ignoring you! Take care and until next time...

A walk in the park...

Most people have local parks in their neighborhoods. In Thompson, Ohio (just about 10 miles from where I currently live) I grew up with the Thompson Ledges. Throughout the years the park didn't change but for those of us growing up with it, as our age changed, our opinion about the park changed.

When we were little and first introduced to the park, it was just like being in the woods (as most of Thompson is either farms or wooded areas). Oh, and yes I was standing on the edge of the rock at the bottom of the picture, most of what you see is a good 40 feet down or so.

When we got a little older it was a scary place with lots of jagged rocks and older kids scaring us with stories of trolls or goblins or something to that effect.

Then while in High School (which is right across the street) many "walking field trips" were taken here for science or art or to escape the classroom for a bit. Then it was interesting and curiosity peaked at this time. Attempts to make our way through tight ravines to get to remote areas of the park only acceptable if you travel through one of these tight spaces like this one:

Yesterday was the first time in years I had a chance to go back and walk around, just me and the crazy chipmunks and squirrels and the trees. The moss that covers everything is amazing in itself. At times it's so cushy you feel like you're walking on marshmallows.

There's a spot where you can see for miles - literally. If the sun is out and visibility is endless there is a church in Pennsylvania that you can see the steeple from this spot. (The church is probably close to 50 miles away or so) This picture does not do it justice, the visibility was good, but not enough sun to see the steeple.

So why have I been talking about this for so long now? I had a slight ulterior motive to go to the park yesterday. I have been patiently waiting to do a photo shoot for the latest quilt, but it's been raining here for what seems like eons now. It did rain yesterday sporadically, but while I was on my walk, it didn't rain but everything still kept it's wet appearance. It was chilly and the air was still damp it's going to take awhile for things to dry out, but it was the perfect opportunity for a few minutes outside. This quilt was just begging for an outdoor photo shoot, and the timing is perfect. The leaves are just starting to change color, maybe in another week or so another walk through the park will be on the schedule.  Here's a sneak peek of what I accomplished yesterday:

I enjoyed it so much that I stopped at another park along my travels home  from work that I had been meaning to visit. (more on that later) Once I had spent a couple hours outside in the cool and damp fall air, I came home and made a pot of homemade broccoli cheese soup to warm my bones. To top that off I finished my book and relaxed. Not a bad day considering it was a cold, rainy, Monday of all days...

Happy Giddy Bliss

Alright, this is going to be short and sweet. For starters Bliss has arrived at Cottonpickers and I love it all so, I want to bring more home with me! So my lovely friend Gayle was equally ecstatic that it finally came in that she coined the new phrase "Happy Giddy Bliss". Needless to say she was feeling Happy Giddy Bliss and wasn't leaving until she had some Happy Giddy Bliss in her hot little hands. She makes me giggle and I just love her to pieces.

Duncan with the crazy scraggly hair was just getting out of control and before the cool weather really came to Madison, we got him his annual Fall buzz cut and doesn't he look just so adorable?!

The longer his hair gets, the darker it is. His undercoat is really a tan and blackish grey brindle that I think looks handsome on him and is only noticeable for a short time after his buzz cut.

And I couldn't help but attempt to get a picture of Paco in his little nest on the couch. He is such a wiggle worm though, this was the best picture I could get. And with his big ol' buggy eyes I can't hardly get a picture without the horrible red eye thing. Love this little guy too. He's turning white in spots and my Hubbin and I now jokingly call him our little silver haired fox.

I'm still working on the monster quilt, it's coming along nicely, but in the mean time he is a snippet into what I was working on last week. I love batiks and this one has been a ton of fun to work with. Also, it's the first time I had used a wide batik backing on a quilt and it's so perfect to go with the top, it's almost like they were meant to go together.

They're calling for lots of wind and storms tomorrow, I'm praying the power does not go out, I've got way too much to get done. Wish me luck and I'll keep you updated!