September Finishes

Finish #2013-15
"Christmas Friends"
Made from quilt blocks won in the Walla Walla Valley Quilt Guild's block lotto from December 2012 Five blocks are actually mine (one made after the win). Set with four different pine cone fabrics and a thin border of wood grain with metallic accent ....all found in my stash. I then purchased the outer border and fussy cut to keep the poinsettia's closer to the center of the quilt and the darker edges to the outside. Love how the vertical sides almost look like a black scallop. Quilted with 80/20 batting, a beautiful red wideback and a pantograph called Holly Berries. Quilted this on an Innova 18" machine....trying to help a friend to learn her new machine and working out some of the tension issues. This was shown at the Walla Wall Valley Quilt Festival, Sept 27-29, 2013.



Finish #2013-16
INMQ 2013 Challenge, and I'm naming it "Dreamland"--this will be at the WSQ-Spokane show, October 18-20. If you get a chance to go...hope you'll check out all of our various versions. Taking inspiration from the Sharon Schamber class presented in 2012, I designed the symmetrical wholecloth with a 1/8th section on vellum, then traced key elements on a lightbox onto the fabric with a purple 'evaporating' marking pen and mirrored it 7 more times. Only thread work is allowed and it must be symmetrical. Because the challenge provided the batik that had hints of pink/purple/blue in it, I chose to work with various threads with a pink tint in the center moving to purple and ultimately on the outer edges, blue. Mostly using Wonderfil threads including their metalic, hologram and 100 weight (fills). The feathers are Signature variegated 'pansy patch'. A bit of blue metallic Madiera and YLI silver was also used. Used a new batting provided by the Warm Co. at Spring Market called "Warm and Plush". It is 100% cotton. Thanks to Warm Co. for providing me with this sample. Keep up with me on this blog, as I'll be doing a giveaway of this batting, courtesy of Warm Co. soon. This was my first legitimate wholecloth and most pre-designed quilting work I've ever done. Learned a lot though!

 

I almost like the backside better!

So...for personal goals...that's what I've got to show for my month.

My business goals...
1. Writing my latest Country Register Article  --done. This article will be coming out in the latest Country Register that you can find around the country. Title: "Collective and solo effort quilts, how can they be fairly evaluated?"
2. Publishing my first class schedule. -- done. Sent to my email list (sign-up here if you didn't get it and would like to), a few spots left for the Technique of the Month series. New classes will be announced each month.
3. Quilting 15+ client quilts. -- QUILTED CQ234 - CQ242 ...maybe another one today, but we'll go with this for now. Not as many as my goal indicated, but that's what it is.
4. Another commission to get going on that is due in October. -- no visuals until late in October...so just know I did get the center blocks cut out (almost every block is a unique fabric)
4. Hosting my first local class! a Fall Table Runner with a beginner and an intermediate option.
Here is the morning group during the class....(taught 9/24). The evening students were split and so I was teaching both simultaneously and customizing one as we went.

Thanks for stopping by ....great to feel accomplished for the month with so much going on!

I'm off to AQS-Des Moines to see "Rosie"! If you'll be there...contact me so we can meet (Oct. 3 or 4).

Rosie the Riveter poster image can be purchased at spoonflower.com or from me as a 1 yard cotton fabric panel with multiple sized images, including shipping for $25.

Can't close this post without some exciting news....two clients of mine got ribbons at the WWValley Quilt Festival this weekend (I quilted them), and I got one of my own. I'll do an entire post later about the show.

Have a great week!