The Quilt Skipper

quilting makes me skip for joy

Jenny K Lyon

Quilting makes me skip for joy

Travel Ahead!

My posts may be short in the next two weeks. I’ll be traveling to Tucson for a 4-day stint and dang, my son lives there! So I will take an extra day to pinch his cheeks and otherwise embarrass him. That’s my job. I have a two day turnaround and I’m out to Cleveland for a taping on……Quilting Arts TV! It seems that everyone else I know has been on QATV so I’m thrilled to have the opportunity. I really do love to tell the world about free motion quilting.

Yes, I’ll be spending some time with Susan Brubaker Knapp as we record 3 episodes for the 2000 series of Quilting Arts TV. I know you’ll be shocked that I will be talking about….free motion quilting! I have never taped before so this is entirely new to me. The good news is that they will keep me from going on the set with, say, seeds in my teeth and, they will do my make up. I hear it’s a pretty fun experience and I’m sure I will have a blast! More details to come.

And I got to be a student this week! I was excited to be able to take Angelina McKenna’s very popular class at Meissner Sewing on how to make the Sew-Together Bag. I love that bag and my students always have them, done in the cutest fabrics too. I know you’ve seen this bag and you probably have several yourself.


Angelina showed off one of her previous creations. She did the quilting and embroidery in the hoop. Isn’t this cool?

I will tell you that when I am the student, it does not surprise me if I am inept in some way. And boy was I true to form! Right off the bat, first stitch, there was a problem-wrong stitch plate. My machine’s feet dogs were heaving up the plate because it was the wrong one! I use my BERNINA 153 as my class machine and I’m always teaching fmq. I never realized it was the wrong plate because my feed dogs are usually down. One stitch with the feed dogs up and it was obvious there was a problem, sigh.

Well I did follow the Supply List and brought what was on it plus a few extra BERNINA feet–because I could. I really love how I can go from free motion quilting to edgestitching, to walking foot, piecing foot and change stitch plates without a screw driver! So I was flipping feet back and forth the whole time. It’s nice to edgestitch with the proper foot giving me that even, straight line.

And there was another problem-I didn’t bring a zipper foot. As Angelina asked “You mean you came to a class where you know you’ve got to put in 4 zippers and you didn’t bring a zipper foot?” Um, yeah, that would be me. But that’s okay-I’m there to learn and have fun. And besides, it reminds me what it’s like to be a student again. An inept student.

I’m thinking I’m only an hour or so away from completing the bag. I hope to finish before I go to Tucson. But there is also a quilt to be finished before I leave for Tucson…

So it will be a busy but FUN two weeks for me! Did I tell you I get to go to Tucson and play with a bunch of fun quilters AND see my son? Did I tell you that I’m taping on QATV? Squeeeeee! I do love to teach and travel.

I’ll be linking to Nina-Marie’s Off the Wall Friday.

Comments

  2. Congrats on getting to tape for QATV. And your excitement shines through. Your fm work is awesome, and I’m sure you will come across great. Just be sure to bring the right throat plate and feet!

    • Thank you Marjorie. Tucson truly is one of my favorite all time places to visit. I can’t find QATV locally either but you can purchase seasons on DVD, which I’ve done.

  6. Jenny, you will have a fabulous time with Susan and the team. Be sure to give her my love and have a great time- I can’t wait to see your segments!!!

  7. Yeah Jenny! I will be watching for your visit on Quilting Art. I love the show, watch it all the time. Congratulations on all your teaching and creating achievements.

    • Thank you Carol! You’re lucky-we don’t get it here on our cable-Direct TV. It won’t be til the fall or spring I think. I’ll know more closer to the date.

  8. Jenny,
    You are remarkable.
    I am so inspired by your talent, enthusiasm and ability to keep moving forward.
    You once told me, if it was a contest, I would win most improved art quilting.
    You my dear are a winner in all aspects.
    Never stop learning.
    Your Quilting Buddy,
    Sharon

    • Wow Sharon, I’m humbled. Thank you! And you WOULD win most improved!! Thank you for such kind words. Hugs.

  9. Hey Jenny – did you know I only live about an hour from Cleveland? So excited to see your shows! Hey if you get a chance make sure you stop and see the Cleveland Art Museum – its great!!

    • No I didn’t Nina-Marie! We must meet someday. I’m flying in the night before, taping and flying out in the wee hours of the 16th so it won’t be this trip. Someday we must!!

    • THank you Regina-it’s my first time on TV so we’ll see how fun I am! Really though, I am just going to have fun with it.

  12. So glad to hear that another teacher is also rather inept when taking classes! I always feel that I am the slowest one in there – I chalk it up to being a teacher myself, and always distracted by being aware of all the other students, but I think maybe I’m just slow with ADD… have a ball at the taping! Know you will be totally FABULOUS!!!