SEWING IN THE SUMMER 2016 REGISTRATION IS OPEN

Just a note to let you know that there are no available single motel rooms available. However, I have several single cottage rooms available and double motel and cottage room available. 

Sewing in the Summer 2016

Gravatt Camp and Conference Center

Aiken, S. C.

Wednesday, August 10 – Sunday, August 14, 2016

This is a UFO event. You work on your own projects and just have a relaxing good time. 
All meals are provided by the fantastic Gravatt kitchen!  No dishes to wash!!! 
Walking paths all over the camp so that you can get your daily exercise. Walk by the lake and just lose yourself in your surroundings.
Nothing is structured or mandatory.

The only scheduled activities are meals and massages.

Your fee includes:
Neat and clean lodging in either Cole Lodge or our quaint cottages.
The rooms in Cole Lodge sleep 2 and have their own bathrooms.
The cottage rooms have 2 adjoining rooms, each sleeping 2, with a shared bathroom.
Meals starting with dinner on Wednesday night (Thursday night-for three day campers) and ending with lunch on Sunday.

A 6 foot table all to yourself as your work area

Ironing surfaces furnished by One Loose Thread
Raised cutting surfaces
Snack Area

Massage available
Lots of Laughter
Of course, a few surprises will be thrown into the mix. 

Any Questions should be directed to:

One Loose Thread Quilting, 630 Planters Drive, Columbia, S. C. 29209

630p@bellsouth.net

P. S. Also mark your calendars for

Fall Fun: Tuesday, Nov.8 – Friday, Nov. 11, 2016

What's been going on with everyone? I know, I haven't written a blog post is months. I'm sorry about that, but, I really have been just a little busy while having a ton of fun.

Spring Quilt Camp was wonderful. I believe that everyone had fun and I know most people accomplished many goals.

Olivia and Penelope have been working hard in the studio with client quilts and I have been posting those to the 'customer quilt' page here on the blog. I also post most of the inprogress pictures on Facebook for all to watch and see.

So, let me go through my calendar and see just what I have been up to:
January:  Our longarm group started another year. We are learning so much from each other and enjoy our meeting.
At the end of January we loaded up the 'Quilt Mobile' and headed to Richmond for the Gammill Longarm Conference. That was 3or 4 days filling our heads with all kinds of longarm information. Not just Statler, but other interesting classes for the longarmer.
February: Of course that's ONE LOOSE THREAD'S QUILT CAMP. We hosted 36 fabulous 'Frayed Knots' for 4 days and 3 nights of sewing fun. I always come home with sore ribs from laughing so hard. Then on February 29th I was off to Charleston, SC
March: I had the prevlidge of assisting in the judging rooms for Cobblestone Quilt Guilds semi-annual quilt show. (Yes, I am a longtime member, but I am not usually in a position to participate. This was very special to me to be able to do this.) Watching and listening as each quilt was presented and the judge awarded the ribbons. Then I helped hang the quilts, which I understand were blown over by a slight draft, after I left the building. The show was fantastic and I was allowed to 'white glove' for several hours on Saturday. I could have stayed much longer. Imagine being in a position to answer questions and educate the public about quilts and quilting. The artistry of the quilt. So much fun.

As the month passed Devine guild hosted Karla Alexander for a weekend with a lecture and a workshop, so as President of that guild, I was where I could spend time with Karla and really enjoyed meeting her.

Later in the month Karla was the featured speaker for Quilters of South Carolina's Spring meeting. While at that meeting I presented QSC with a quilt that I had pieced and quilted for them to use as a fund raiser for their scholarship program.

This is the quilt that I presented to them. It is a Judy Neimeyer pattern called Vintage Compass. I did piece it and free hand quilted it just for this purpose. This is a picture of it hanging in the Cobblestone Quilt Show. Notice it does not hold a ribbon. sigh.

Now, on to April:
DID I TELL YOU I WON 2ND PLACE AT MQX!!??
It's true. The quilt that I entered was one that Sally King allowed me to quilt for her. She and a group of friends stitched this as a Round Robin. It was beautiful before I started quilting it.

Our Longarm Group met again this month, my machines have been running almost every day. I am currently getting ready for May Mester 2016. That will be in just 2 weeks. I'm trying to make sure all of my client's quilts are caught up and then I need to organize and cut my project for that weekend. I love that I can organize an event such as this, but, still be the student from 9 to 5 in classes. It will be fun and I hope to share some pictures with you here on the blog.

OK, enough for now. Just so that you will know, registration for Sewin' in the Summer 2016 starts this weekend and all of the information will be posted right here before Monday. Promise.

Have a good weekend,

Judy Niemeyer retreat as led by CI Karen Conley

Registration is closed for this Event

May Mester #5

Thursday, May 12, 2016 – Sunday, May 15, 2016

Camp Gravatt Conference Center

Aiken, S. C.

4 days and 3 nights of quilting fun with the Frayed Knots of One Loose Thread.

Karen Conley, Certified Judy Niemeyer Instructor

Class will begin after dinner on Thursday night with 2 hours of formal instruction. We will continue with 6 hours on Friday and 6 hours on Saturday. Class instruction will conclude on Sunday morning with 2 hours of ‘wrap up’ between breakfast and lunch. That’s 16 hours of professional instruction!! Where else would you find that except at a One Loose Thread event!! In between class times it will be ‘free time’ for working on your class project, a ufo, or reading or walking around the beautiful retreat site or just taking naps, as you choose.

Lodging will be provided on site. You may choose from a quaint cottage room that shares a bathroom with the room next door or a lodge room with 2 double beds and its own bathroom. I have set aside just a few single rooms for this event and they will be first come first served. All other rooms will be doubles. If you can’t find a roommate, I will be glad to try to pair you with someone that will be compatible for you. With very few exceptions, all rooms are on the ground level.

All meals, beginning with dinner on Thursday and finishing with lunch on Sunday, are included in your registration fee and will be prepared and served by the fantastic kitchen staff at Gravatt. If you have special diets or food restrictions, please note that on your registration forms so that we can address those. I promise that you won’t go hungry during your stay with us.

Yes, we do have a special rate for day students!! See the registration form for additional information or email

One Loose Thread

630p@bellsouth.net

All classroom space will be close to lodging and the dining hall. I usually tell everyone the longest distance to the dinner table is 100 yards. Classroom space is on the ground level, so no steps to climb.

Class Information:

Karen Conley, Certified Instructor for Judy Neimeyer, is returning for her 4th weekend with the Frayed Knots. She will be formally teaching ‘Desert Sky for any first-timers. However, others are welcome to bring Judy Niemeyer “WORKS IN PROGRESS”. Also, any quilter with previous JN experience may work on a TOM (Technique of the Month) pattern during the retreat. She is willing to offer Glacier Star, Mariner’s Compass or Paradise in Bloom patterns. For those participants, patterns can be ordered from Karen. I have special information on ordering from Karen if that is what you would like to do. Please note that she needs at least 6 weeks notice on any patterns.

Patterns are not included in the posted fees.

This is the way that Karen describes the retreat class:

“Judy currently has three Technique of the Month patterns:

    Glacier Star

    Mariner’s Compass

    Paradise in Bloom

Each pattern contains six different Judy techniques.

Traditionally we taught the class as a six month series -

    each month was a new technique.

The CI’s are now teaching them in long retreat situations.

Students with prior JN experience often are already familiar with some of the techniques – e.g. New York Beauty from the first retreat in 2013 and feather borders in the Hosta.

All three TOM’s have an optional expansion pattern which will make queen-size quilts.

These are the patterns that can only be sold by the Certified Shops or in a TOM class by the Certified Instructors.”

So, for those of us with Judy Niemeyer experience WE CAN WORK ON JUST ABOUT ANYTHING!!!!! This is pretty much what we have been working towards the last few years. I really expect to see some big quilts out of this retreat. We will have plenty of room and if necessary we will use part of Cole Lodge for cutting larger pieces of fabrics or setting up some special design walls. That’s how we can get additional exercise, taking our units to Cole to hang on design walls…

So many choices………………I can’t wait!!! How do I decide?

Register early to reserve your 'place at the table'.

                                                 

                       

The 'Tale of the Fire Island Hosta' as told by One Loose Thread

These posts are about this quilt:

This quilt top was started by Mary during a One Loose Thread MayMester at Bishop Gravatt Conference Center in May 2015. The whole weekend was taught by one of the most amazing Certified Judy Neimeyer instructors I have ever had the pleasure of working with, Karen Conley. Mary did not think that she could do this quilt, but, her friend Lorah convinced her that this weekend was just the thing for them to do.

So, fast forward to August of 2015 and this is the top that Mary brought to Summer Quilt Camp to hand over to me to quilt. Lorah has also convinced her to enter this into competition once it has been completed. Talk about adding some pressure to the occasion, but, I am up to the task and really looking forward to working on this piece.

December 17, 2015- It's loading day for Mary's Hosta. She had not pieced the backing, so, I did that and then squared up the back. As I am loading it on the frame, I am already talking with the quilt. This feels so good. The backing is going on so smoothly and so square. This is a really good start.
     I am planning to use 2 layers of batting on this, but, I don't want it to be stiff because Mary will eventually use it on a bed. So, I wanted to use Quilters Dream Cotton Request, but I did not have the right size, so I  will use a Quilters Dream Cotton Select that will lend a little more stability and then Quilters Dream Wool on the top for wonderful definition of the quilting. I'll be using Superior and Glide threads which I love. Then I will be stitching on my Gammill Classic Plus machine and her name is Olivia.
     Now, back to work. I will spend the next few hours/day or so, basting this all together. That way, once I start the actual quilting process, everything will be nice and stable and I can roll the sandwich back and forth as needed.
     The basting is half complete, but, I have to stop for the night. I'll finish up the basting tomorrow.

That's it for today. I'll add to this posting as I go and then, once finished, I'll post all at one time.
     Let's go do some basting.

December 20, 2015
     I was able to get back to the basting tonight. I did finish and trimmed the batting out of the way. It really looks good. Everything is nice and straight and flat and it is ready to stitch. I have to be out of the Studio tomorrow, but, I really hope to at least start on this late tomorrow.

Have a good evening.

December 23, 2015
The cornbread for dressing is in the oven. All the client Christmas quilts are complete and delivered. I only have 2 quilts left to wrap, so what better way to spend my day than doing some stitch in the ditch. I have decided to go ahead and ditch the entire quilt before I actually start any other work on it. You know, get the tedious stuff out of the way first. So, I'm off to do this. See ya later:

I am using one of my favorite tools from Jamie Wallen at Quilters Apothecary.com , the Mystical Mini without the cut out. Love this tool.

OK I ditch quilted for more than 6 hours today and I "only" have 4 leaves left to ditch. Time to call it a day.

Nite all.





December 24, 2015
Ok, I have spent an additional 2+ hours this morning on ditching and I have completed all of that. The ditch quilting I compare to outlining before coloring in an area. It is slow and tedious but necessary for a quilt that is going to 'show'. I am not really very good with ditch quilting, because I get in a hurry............I need to work on that.

I'm going to stop on this project until after Christmas and then will start doing the 'fill-in' with beautiful threads. I pretty much know what I want to stitch, so this should go a little faster.

Want to see how it's looking? Here are 2 pictures of the back. Now, I can take all of the basting threads out of the middle of the quilt. I'll leave the ones in the background just for good measure right now. I certainly don't want any pleats or tucks to show up in that area later.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE!!!!!

December 29, 2015

So, spent some time today working on the leaves with the open spaces. Decided to do 'bat-wing' feathers on at least one side of the leaf. Not so sure I will do the same on the other side of the leaf.

Also needed to pick threads for the green parts of the leaves.
I pulled all of these:

I ended up using these:

This was the day that I worked on the blue side of the leaf. This picture was taken after I had done the other side of the leaf. Ice blue color thread on the blue and Yellow-green on the other side of the leaf. Just spent about 2 hours on this today. Time to work on the guilds charity quilts.

December 29,2015 - January 4, 2016

18 charity quilts quilted for Devine Quilters.............my job is done, so now, back to the business of One Loose Thread Quilting.

January 5, 2016

Four hours spent on the Hosta today. Almost finished with all of the leaves. Hope to finish the leaves tomorrow. Should only take about 3 or 4 hours. I will also need to do something in the large vein of the leaves.

Then I will be ready to do the 'feathers' around all of the leaves. I have stitched in the white areas so, I will be working in the dark turquoise.

After that...........................the background. I am still not real sure how I want to handle that. I have alot of ideas moving around in my mind, but, I haven't settled on anything yet. Whatever, I decide, will have to work with the border too.

That's it for today. It's 'Bull Bat' Time.

January 6, 2015

The leaves are complete.  Only spent 3 hours on this quilt today. I still have the triangles around the leaves to do, however, I have started working on the background. I am starting that with lines...........genius right? Yep. I do have a plan and I really hope this is going to work, but, it starts with diagonal lines across each quadrant. I hope this works out, because, it's different.

Time to call it a day: 8:30 PM. I'm going to my chair and have some time with my 'dog blanket' and the television. Have a good evening.

January 11, 2016

Now, where was I? I have completed the interior of the quilt and had also completed one whole border. Then I checked out the back of the quilt............Nope, that border stitching was not going to cut it. I started out with the border looking like this:

Then I added some stitching below the 'Bat Wings'.

I spent about 8 hours or so, removing this stitching. Lesson learned, again, to always watch the tension. This thread combination had given me not trouble at all until now.



So, I took out all of that and went to bed in hopes that the 'Quilt Fairy' would bring me a new design in my dreams. I had seen a really nice design done by a longarmer friend on a Hosta several months ago. I did not want to duplicate it, but, I did want to use some parts of  the idea. So, off to dream land I went.

I was up early this morning and at my machine by 10:00. I knew what I wanted to do, so I started plotting out the plan.

Funny how you just know something is right. I should have listened to this quilt a week ago. That certainly would have saved me a lot of time. So, the last border is in process. I have completed the top border:

The quilt is now singing. I have rolled the quilt to the bottom and work there tomorrow. Things have, again, started moving along.Thank goodness for that. I had gotten rather depressed at what I was doing. NOT ANY MORE!!!

Well, right now, Clemson is behind in the National Championship. Sure hope the game will turn around. Sure would like for them to win this game. That's it for now.

GO TIGERS!!



January 13, 2016

Customize your own photo slideshow

LOOKING FOR SPRING 2016 QUILT CAMP

Looking for Spring 2016

Gravatt Conference Center, Aiken, S. C. 

Thursday, February 18 – Sunday, February 21, 2016

This is a UFO event. You work on your own projects and just have a relaxing good time. 
All meals are provided by the fantastic Gravatt kitchen!  No dishes to wash!!! 
Walking paths all over the camp so that you can get your daily exercise. Walk by the lake and just lose yourself in your surroundings.
Nothing is structured except meal times.
Your fee includes
Neat and clean lodging in either Cole Lodge or Our quaint cottages.
The rooms in Cole Lodge sleep 2 and have their own bathrooms.
The cottage rooms have 2 adjoining rooms, each sleeping 2, with a shared bathroom.
All meals starting with dinner on Thursday night and ending with lunch on Sunday.

Optional Mystery Quilt designed by our own Judy Carroll

A 6 foot table all to yourself as your work area
Ironing surfaces furnished by One Loose Thread
Raised cutting surfaces
Snack Area

Massage available
Lots of Laughter
Of course, a few surprises will be thrown into the mix. 
Any Questions should be directed to:

One Loose Thread Quilting, 630 Planters Drive, Columbia, S. C. 29209

Attention: Joyce Greer

630p@bellsouth.net

P. S. Also mark your calendars for

May Mester #4-Karen Conley returns with:

Several choices for patterns to work with or work with your JN UFO’s

You can also work with Karen on any other Judy Neimeyer patterns.

May 12 – 15, 2016

A Quilt Journey

This is the custom quilting that I have been doing over the last month. I did take time out to attend a Statler conference in Atlanta and to conduct Quilt Camp. The quilting is hand guided by me and stitched on Olivia, my Gammill Classic Plus machine. Hope you enjoy seeing these pictures.

This slideshow personalized with Smilebox

Now, back to my regularly scheduled programming. 

Have a great day,

The Rain Came

I haven't really posted much, other than quilting and camp information, over the last few months. I use to sit here and write out cute little posts that made people laugh and made me feel good. This maybe depressing to some, if so, I'm sorry, but right now I really am a little down myself.

You see, I live in Columbia, South Carolina and have lived here all of my life. I have spent the last few days watching my hometown sink under the pressure of so much rain that the systems of lakes could not hold all of the water. In South Carolina we have dealt with Hugo, one of many monster hurricanes. We have dealt with earthquakes, even though that was many,many years ago. Almost every winter we have crippling ice storms. Now, much of the state is dealing with what has been called a 1000 year flood. I think this is probably the worst of what has come before. We really could prepare for the other disasters, we knew what to expect. Flood water is another thing entirely. You really cannot prepare for this. You really cannot imagine the extent of devastation until you live it. You might say, don't build around water, but, that is not necessarily the answer. My home is miles away from a body of water. If it had not been for some work by the Corp of Engineers and Richland county we would have been under at least 6 feet of water.

This is the canal where we have an area of water intake for the city. 

This is a complex that my husband worked on several years ago in Sumter

This is the Lowe's in the area that the Quilted Pearl USED to be.

This was an area that was totally flooded in the Forest acres area.

This is an area on Bluff Rd. that is the entrance to I-77
Just a few miles from my home

This is the back water of Lake Murray Dam when they opened the spill way gates to dump water into the Saluda River.

As this played out over the weekend, I watched areas of this city that I use to play in be destroyed. I watched business flooded out. Some were our hangouts as teenagers, some were brand new and had only been in business for a few months. I have watched TV anchors 'loose it' on air due to what we see and how we feel. The first responders in South Carolina are to really be commended for the jobs they have done. Especially dealing with the 'stupid' that can't seem to understand that a barricade is in that street for a reason. They have seen the worst of this. The media has been fabulous. They have kept us up dated and have tried very hard to make sure that the information given was correct and up to date.

The people of South Carolina .........what can I say about them..............not enough adjectives to tell you just how amazing they are. You need what? They have it there so quickly, you just wouldn't believe how they did it. I have to say too that social media has made a tremendous difference in how all of this is being handled. You need it, you got it.

My entire family has been so blessed in that we have no issues with the flood damage. For awhile Dick and I did not have water. We are still under a boil water advisory. My daughter-in-law's work area has probably sustained some flood damage. My son's employers have had some flood damage. My daughter is fine and was back to work this morning. My sisters and their families are all dry and in good shape. Pat's husband works for AT&T and is helping with recovery. Her daughter works with our local food bank and they are doing a remarkable job.  We have been so blessed.

I have been trying to spend time in my studio working on some quilts, but, my heart is just not in it. I will be spending the next day or so just trying to 'get my head straight'. (My Daddy would be so proud of me using that phrase) You don't have to have gotten wet for this stuff not to effect your thought process. One of the things that I will do tomorrow is to turn off the TV and not watch any of the news. I have an appointment for a hair cut, so will try to get that done. Would love to 'go to lunch', but with a boil water advisory, I don't really trust the restaurants with the necessary sanitary practices.

Lost my train of thought.

My Grandchildren are out of school again tomorrow. Pretty soon we will try to all get together because we need too. This will pass. We will survive. The 'one day at a time' is the mantra right now. We welcome your prayers.

If you would like to offer your help, I would appreciate your contributions to Harvest Hope Food Bank.........because I know exactly where that money goes. You can do that on line at http://www.harvesthope.org/columbia . My sister's daughter works there so I know that your dollars will be well spent and will go directly to relief at this time and in the future.

Thanks for letting me vent. Sometime you just need to do that.