HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!

I just spent the last 3 days working on 'Love' quilts for the Devine Quilt Guild. The 'Love ' quilt co-ordinator brought me 10 tops that had been donated by members. Some had the backings and some had the batting and some had the binding all ready to go.I put each one on Olivia's frame and one by one we quilted all 10 of them. I didn't use anything fancy as far as design work. Most were done in a meander type of pantograph. Using a pantograph is actually easier for me than trying to figure which direction free handed. This was fun, fun, fun. I never had the first thread break or tension problem. I used Quilters Dream cotton and Warm and Natural battings. Threads used were Sew Fine in the top and Fil-Tec's magna-glides in the bobbins.

Create a digital greeting card

Matt Sparrow just posted that there are 27,440 stitches on the Magna Glide M bobbins. If that is true, then, Olivia and I took 164,640 stitches in the 10 quilts we worked on.That boils down to 16,464 average stitches per quilt. Getting tired just thinking about that. No, really, it was a blast.

To top that off, members of the Guild volunteered to bind all of these quilts. So, I had visitors yesterday and today in the studio picking up their quilts to bind. We hope to have all of them finished by our first meeting of the year which will be next Monday.

This has made for a great New Year's Eve.

Well, it's time to send everyone information on Quilt Camp for February 2013. I will be in touch with each person over the next week. The first 2 clues for the mystery will be included with all the other 'stuff' I send out. It is time to 'gear up' for Quilt Camp and that is always fun. It gives us something to look forward to during the gray days of January and February. It's a busy time, but, I love it.

Several quilts in the 'que' for the next few weeks. Some pantographs (thank goodness) and several custom's that will stretch my creativity. I look forward to all of them.

This week starts my third year of retirement. I did just renew my Dental Hygiene License for the next 3 years, just in case I need it. Once you have one of these, you really don't want to turn it loose. Besides, my license number is soooooooooooooo low it really is almost a collectors item. I have enjoyed the past 2 years. I really feel as though I have done the right thing. I love my quilting and the people that I meet. I have scheduled several high profile events to attend during 2013 and really look forward to that type of continuing education to mix in with the Dental Hygiene con't ed. My TMJ problems have stopped and my Blood Pressure is much lower. I LOVE MY JOB AND MY BOSS AND MY STUDIO!!!!

Hope you have a blessed New Year and in the words of Pat Sloan:
"LET'S GO SEW!!!!"

Fabric Requirements for Quilt Camp Mystery

This post is for those who are attending 'Think Spring 2013' Quilt Camp. So sorry, there will be no other information posted on this topic. Pictures of the finished tops will be posted after 'Think Spring 2013'.


Koi Garden Mystery Quilt    60” x 80”                                      updated 12/13/12
This 60” x 80” quilt will frame a single piece of fabric, which it uses as a medallion center.
Koi Garden Fabric Requirements
Fabric 1: Panel or “to die for” large scale fabric:  .75 yards to 1.25 yards. Read on:  This will be cut to 20.5 inches wide by 40.5 inches long and be the center of the quilt.  Most “panels” that are 2/3 yds or 24” can be trimmed to this size.  Large scale prints (pref. 24” repeat) will usually need to be fussy cut lengthwise to find the best section of the print to use.  Think large Asian prints, large florals, large animal repeats (peacocks, jungle, wolves, eagles, sea life, etc.).
Fabric 2:  small scale fabric, medium to dark color, pulled from Fabric 1, to frame it:  .25 yards
Fabric 3/light:  light background, color pulled from Fabric 1, or compatible.  3.5 yards
Fabric 4:  medium to dark, small scale color pulled from Fabric 1, or compatible:  .5 yards
Fabric 5:  medium to dark, small scale color pulled from Fabric 1, or compatible:  .5 yards
Fabric 6:  medium to dark, small scale color pulled from Fabric 1, or compatible: .5 yards
Fabric 7:  medium to dark, small scale color pulled from Fabric 1, or compatible: .5 yards
Note:  If you are having trouble pulling 4 colors for fabrics 4-7, you can use 2 fabrics, doubling the amounts:                                                   that is, Fabric 4/5:  1 yard   and   Fabric 6/7:   1 yard
Fabric Swatches:

Fabric 1 Fabric 2 Fabric 3



Fabric 4 Fabric 5 Fabric 6 Fabric 7



Batting: Twin
Backing: 5 yards
Binding: 2/3 yard (8 strips cut 2.5”)

Gallon bags (6),  labeled as:
□  Blocks A/B/C       □  Block D □ Blocks E/F        □  Excess fabric
□  Medallion      □  Borders  

Fabrics that were chosen by the 'testers':

OK. now, everyone go shopping at your Local Quilt Shop!!! They need the business!!!

Workin' on Christmas Presents

I have caught up on customer Christmas quilts, so for today, I  am working on one of my own. It is a jelly roll quilt that is for a young lady that does not read my blog. She made her Daddy paint her room hot pink, and he did it. I love jelly roll tops. They can be so much fun and I love how they turn out. There is no pressure to design with these.

I am quilting it in 'hot pink'. The pantograph that I am using is this one:

It looks great on this quilt.

I have also finished quilting one for special Grandson. He doesn't read my blog either:

I quilted his using this pantograph:

I quilted it in Red, White, Blue Thread...........Looks wonderful.

Ok, that's it for me. Now, back to play time.I have a special event coming up on Wednesday, so, need to get some of these things done.

Still have 2 sewing spaces available for Spring Quilt Camp..............just sayin'.

Have a great week,