I have some really fun and exciting news to share today...

This quilt is featured in the Sept/Oct 2015 issue of Machine Quilting Unlimited!

That noise you hear, don't mind it - that is just me squealing in delight. Here's the scoop - the vintage Curved Nine Patch quilt top was purchased on eBay, and I quilted it with my HQ Pro-Stitcher for the Vintage Turned Modern column. 

Pick up a magazine for more details. 

Consider yourself warned - picture galore ahead.

Star Struck!

Last week, Angela Walters was in the Handi Quilter's studio filming for QNN tv. I had the honor of meeting her and somehow convinced her to sign a few things for me. She's one of my quilting idols - I think her approach and attitude towards quilting is phenomenal and so inspirational, especially to non-professionals like myself.

Before she began, I suggested she warm up and make sure the pen worked (wink, wink) on my whiteboard in my office (like I hadn't already tested the pen before she came in!).

Then I had her sign my trusty Fusion first (just in case she ran out of time or patience ;)

And it turned out amazing!

Then I had her sign two books she authored that I owned copies of...and as if that wasn't enough, she gave me her one and only hard copy - her advance copy!! - of her new book Shape by Shape (due out in September)!! 

And by the way quilty peeps, this book is fantastic! Pre-order now! Each section has a typical pieced shape, and there are a bunch of different ways to quilt it with detailed instructions on how to quilt the design. Angela breaks it down and they are easy enough for even me to follow! I love the hexagon section so much - it inspired me to work on finishing up a hexagon quilt. 

That's her signing...

She's just as nice and genuine and down to earth as you might expect. I can't wait to see her again. 

Happy Quilting!

Tilted Spools

This quilt is called Tilted Spills designed by Cyndi Walker from her book Pretty Patchwork Quilts: Traditional Patterns with Applique Accents. It is such a fun pattern - looks like stars at first glance, but then you realize it is a fun take on the classic spool block.

I used up a bunch of my low volume scraps for the background and a bunch of my favorite bright scraps for the spools. The original pattern did not have a border, but I felt it was a wee bit too small and wanted it bigger, so I added the turquoise pearl bracelets.

I quilted Orange Peels all over the quilt...I think it turned out beautifully! And yes I used my Handi Quilter Pro-Stitcher for this one =)

Close-up of the quilting:

I also went ahead and used the pearl bracelets on the back (and I will use it for the binding - when I get around to that =)

Quilting Progress - Finishing Quilts!

I have been loving my HandiQuilter Fusion machine. I am also super lucky to have the Pro-Stitcher for it, which is the computerized quilting for the HandiQuilter quilting machines. Although I love the process of and results from free motion quilting, sometimes it's nice to sit back and let the machine do all the work...and frankly, sometimes all a quilt really needs is a good all-over pattern.

According to Instagram, both of these quilt tops were finished a year ago (heavy sigh), but alas they are quilted!

First up, my Houndstooth Quilt. Simple navy and white solids.

Close-up of the quilting...the pattern is called Turbulence by Apricot Moon. I thought it added the perfect touch of movement and curve to the straight lines of the houndstooth.

I found this Alexander Henry print called Sloane and instantly new this had to be the backing. I think it adds the perfect contrast and complement to the front.

And my St. Louis 16-Patch Quilt. I used a variety of Anna Maria Horner and Art Gallery prints - and there is even a token Tula Pink print in there.

I found this great all over digital pattern for the quilting - it has some leaves, flowers, and a swirl. Thought it was the perfect pattern for this quilt top. Here are some closeups.

 Now my to-bind stack of quilts is growing! I'm thinking a binding/movie/netflix weekend may be in order.

Loving My Handi Quilter Pro-Stitcher

My mom gave me this gorgeous quilt top to quilt. It is going to be a gift for my aunt. She didn't have anything specific in mind, so I used this quilt top to get to know my Handi Quilter Pro-Stitcher.

Here is a closeup of the quilting:

My mom was a bit short on backing fabric, so she used some leftovers from the borders. I think the end product is even better than if she had had enough of her original backing planned fabric. I love pieced backings! 

Giggles Quilt

It's been quite awhile since my last blog. Several reasons. One, my husband commandered my laptop so I have been without computer access for quite some time. Two, I have not had as much time to quilt as usual.

But, I have been working on this quilt for my girlfriend. She's having a baby girl and I wanted to make something special for her to match the baby's room. She was using these fun apricot and pink colors. I was lucky enough to have a charm pack from Riley Blake's line Summer Song. I was even luckier to find one of my local quilt stores, Cottonwood Fabrics, had a few bolts of this line left in their clearance section.

I was hoping to applique the baby girl's name, but they are not sharing the name they have chosen, so I improvised. When I think of my children as they were babies (or are babies as the case may be), I love their giggles the most. Such joy to hear a baby giggle! A great milestone and one I felt worth documenting.

Here is the finished quilt...

I've been doing so many gifts recently, which I love to do, but I was getting bored and wanted a challenge, so I took on flying geese. This is my first attempt, and I am really proud of how they turned out.

I was also really happy with how the applique turned out. The yo-yo for the dot on the i is also my first yo-yo. The quilting was also the first time I had done some small, filler quilting on my new-to-me HandiQuilter 16. I'm starting to get more comfortable with it and I can't wait to keep trying more and more!

Here is my friend, Valerie, after opening her quilt.

Another Finished Quilt!

This is SOOO exciting! I am actually finishing projects...of course, these ones have due dates - much like the mommys these are going to. Having a deadline always helps.

This morning I am taking this quilt to my girlfriend's baby shower. She is having a little girl. She is doing the room in a dark purple/plum-ish type color and I thought these fabrics would go well.

Here you can see the quilting a little bit better. This is the third quilt I have quilted using the HandiQuilter 16. I did a simple freehand loop and flower all over the quilt. I'm still getting comfortable with the machine.

You can see there is an assortment of prints in this quilt. I believe I picked up this custom charm pack from Quilts Etc. awhile back. There are some Moda It's a Hoot, which is one of my favorite Moda lines in quite awhile.

I picked up the border and backing fabric from Thimbles and Threads - a quilt store I just recently discovered that is right in my backyard! Who knew!? I'm so glad I found it. Cathy and Janet are so wonderfully helpful and nice.

Back to the fabric. The mommy-to-be is a hip, modern mommy so I thought this simple plum-brownish with simple flowers would be perfect for her and tie into the crib collection she purchased.

Here it is all ready to go!

Apricot Birdies

Although I have been starting a lot of projects recently, I have been working on finishing some as well. I started this quilt knowing it would be the first one on my new (to me) quilting machine - the Handi Quilter 16. I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out, so I didn't want to spend a ton of time on the piecing of the quilt.

But sure enough, it turned out pretty cute after all, and the quilting is not so bad either.

I really loved these buttons I found and put them on the flowers.

For the quilting, I did a simple loop and flower. Unfortunately, I used a thread that blended in so well you can barely see the quilting on these pictures. Here is the best photo I could come up with.

The quilting turned out much better than I had anticipated - at least for my first try. I was quite pleased. And I just loved the backing fabric too...