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Machine Quilting Class (218)

So a few weeks ago, I had the priviledge of taking a machine quilting class by award winning Ana Buzzalino – it was truly amazing. I do some machine quilting but I’m no expert and sometimes I feel like my work could be better. How do you feel about your machine quilting?

This class was all about fillers – what to do with those small spaces that will actually accentuate your design not over power it or distract from it. Remember, we spend a tonne of time piecing or embroidering our projects or putting our tops together we want the quilting to be part of it – compliment it not look separate from it, right?

Well Ana was an awesome teacher! My machine however gave me a run for my money (yet again I might add) but after the thread broke 1000 times and I changed the needle about 4 times it finally worked – new thread and new needle…aaaah I was on a mission and here’s my sample…what do you think?

I was pretty impressed by my work (as a beginner) and I’m super glad I took the course.

Here’s some other gals’ work to hopefully inspire you…we were all novice machine quilters and we all learnt so much it truly made us more confident in our machine quilting abilities.

So if you’re one of the many people out there who make beautiful tops and take them to a long-armer to quilt them…maybe take a step out of your comfort zone and try a class – you might be surprised about how amazing it is and how well you can do.

Our class was an all day power packed full of information class. 9-4 and by 2pm I didn’t want to learn anything else I wanted and was eager to master what Ana had already taught us but there again Ana gave us confidence to learn more and then more:)

I LOVE it!!

Thanks Ana..

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Baby Quilt for Zachary, Pin Cushions, Tig (entry 44)

Finally I can show you guys what I’ve been working so much on…you’ve seen the colour of the fabrics but how about a slight recap. These were just miscellaneous fabrics in my stash. Once I saw these colours I absolutely fell in love with them mind you, I’m really into lime green and brown these days.

After pulling many books out of my over flowing shelf and spending the good part of a sunny afternoon thumbing through them I found a few that I liked parts of but not the entire quilt for him. I always like to make quilts and projects unique. So after consulting 🙂 with my DH we came up with a ‘Kite’ theme…I searched the internet looking for a cute design and found nothing, can you believe that?

I’m working on my own pattern now and I will eventually kit this and it will be available in our store.

On the weekend, when I revealed it at the Baby Shower for Zach, Diane loved it amongst all of the other gals present. I will have the back completed today and I’ll baste it at our ‘Quilt til You Wilt’ day tomorrow and then I’ll start on the machine quilting.

Without further adieu here’s ‘Kites for Kids’ quilt by Valerie.

I’ve made two more Friendship bags and practiced my machine quilting for when I start Zach’s quilt.

Circles…I even wrote my name

 

Squares, which I thought turned out rather interesting.

I shouldn’t reveal who these bags are for or the colours as these will be for friends, family or my guild exchanges (let’s just keep all of you guessing, shall we). These arn’t quite done yet, but close and boy they will brighten up any dining room table, sewing machine table and to take fabric shopping 🙂

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I’m still working on my tuffets aka pin cushions.

I started making some mini ones, what do you think?

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Here’s Tig sitting by my machine, just hanging out. She’s such a little cutie!!

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I’m working on gifts for my nephews and nieces (nephews are cut out, nieces: have the stuff need to get it cut out for tomorrow), Aunts, MIL, Step-Mom, Mom, Dad, FIL, Sisters, SIL, Nanie (DH’s Grandma) and more people that should be on the list but not sure what to do for them yet.

As I sit here and write, I’m looking out my studio window and there is big, white crisp flakes of snow falling, finally the Christmas season is upon us and now I can start decorating my house for the holidays.

Until next time, have a great creative weekend everyone, Valerie

 

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Freebie 15, Block 11, Upcoming Challenges, Aprons (entry 17)

I absolutely loved this block – it is so cheery and fun!!

I was a bit worried by the amount of pieces we had to piece together but in the end, step by step, it worked out awesome.

Here’s my pile of pieces after I cut them following instructions…

Here’s my finished block – I love it!!

Valerie

 

Now that September is upon us…all of the Guilds have started back up again and I belong to 2: Lakeside Quilters (my home town Guild in Chestermere, AB) & Flying Needles which is out in Millarville, AB. 

Lakeside Quilters I’m working on some of their projects – mystery quilt (this is when you get cutting instructions, amounts/values of fabrics and block instructions but you don’t know what the final quilt will be), Raffle Quilt project of some sort as we do this one every year.

Flying Needles Quilt Group I’m working on quite a few things – maybe over extended myself just a little 😉

Mystery Quilt – which I don’t know what it is this year as in the past I have helped with them, Jan B has redesigned this one and will be sending the instructions to me to lead

This is a mystery that we did a few years back – I embellished with the bias vine around the outside border and leaves but you get the idea.

 

Pizza Box Challenge: this is when you come up with the first block or the “theme” of the quilt you want add .5m of fabric and pass it onto the next person. There is usually about 9 blocks completed at the end that are yours, then you come up with the finished quilt. Here’s a pic of mine from several years ago.

9 blocks in total, the block I started with is the top left

This was my very first time with free motion quilting, here’s the close up – I’m pretty proud of my first time;)

Here’s the back I strip pieced it to use up the rest of the fabric. I also have this one for sale on Etsy if you are interested.

Apron Challenge: I made this one apron a while back and it’s hanging in my kitchen but I’m going to go hog-wild with this new challenge – not sure yet what I’m going to do but I love how big aprons are now – don’t you?

 

Here’s the one that is hanging in my kitchen.

 

My mom loves to make aprons and I know she is making a whole bunch more when we go on our retreat Oct 2nd to Rustlers Lodge, Sundre, Alberta. but here’s a bit of a preview of some of her other aprons..


Left to Right: SIL Colleen M, MIL Sandy M and me. Arn’t these the cutest aprons!! Thanks Mum!!

More to come…Valerie