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For a quilter, getting a new sewing machine is like starting a new relationship. There’s the initial infatuation, a time of adjustment and then hopefully, a long period of mutual satisfaction. I’m not overstating this am I??! . . I am breaking in my new Straight Stitch Only (SSO) machine, a Baby Lock “Jane” , as I work a queen-sized quilt that will eventually be donated to the Sutter Breast Cancer Quilt Auction. I rarely do bed quilts so this is a little out of my league. My quilting is really off in some areas on this quilt and I really…
A lot has happened since my last post: I’ve been to the Studio Art Quilt Associates Conference (SAQA) in Denver, visited my Mom and Sister there also, and attended the annual Jazz Festival in Old Sacramento. I’ve got a ton of links in this post so be sure to check them out. Now, where do I start? SAQA CONFERENCE IN DENVER I am positively vibrating STILL over the SAQA conference in Denver! There was so much to learn, so many awesome artists to meet, so much art in Denver. For some inexplicable reason I did not take many photos while…
I have been playing with sheers for the last few days-this is something I have wanted to try for a long time. I cut out bits and pieces of various sheer fabrics and lay them upon a plain sheer backing. A layer of netting over that secures them in place. Then I place a top sheer over that and quilt away. It’s great fun! Uh, do you think this qualifies as a “quilt”? I’m going to do some traveling over the next few weeks so my posts may be sporadic for a time. I do expect to come back excited and inspired.…
I’m working on a summer wardrobe and I’m thrilled to have actually finished this dress. I used Vogue 8232. It’s from the Very Easy Very Vogue line which is my favorite place to find a pattern-I like the “easy” part, grin. I chose a tweed-patterned linen that I purchased from Tayo’s, ahem, a “few” years ago, lined it with Bemberg rayon and underlined with silk organza. TheBemberg makes it feels wonderful on, smooth and cool, perfect for our unforgiving Sacramento summers. I have underlined linen before and I love how it controls the linen, allowing a bit of “patina” while keeping it from…
This may be the last of the spring shows in my area (sniffle)-the Pine Tree Quilt Guild Show in Grass Valley. It was a delightful show with a good mix of traditional, contemporary and art quilts as well as some great fiber art. If you click on the pictures you’ll get a better view of each quilt. I confess-I tried to record the names and makers of each quilt but I blew it! At any rate, let me take you on a tour of what caught my eye. Silk always attracts me, so of course I loved this quilt with its vibrant use of color.…
I’ve been looking to buy a new machine for awhile-one that would better handle the larger quilts that I do. After looking at what was currently available, I chose a Baby Lock Jane. It’s a straight-stitch-only machine with way more room in the harp to accommodate larger work and a motor that is almost twice as fast as standard machines. .. I really did not understand why people were buying these machines until I looked into it. Here’s the math: my Bernina’s harp area measures 7.5″ wide by 4″ high. The Baby Lock is 8.5″ wide by 6″ wide. That doesn’t seem like a lot…
I’ve taken two great classes in the last week and my head is spinning. After each class I was so excited I felt like I was vibrating! x I took a fabric dyeing class from Linda Waddle at The Tin Thimble in Loomis. The shop is located inside an old fruit shed, a funky location which has attracted a variety of artsy shops, a great cafe and an art gallery. The Tin Thimble is a fun shop with a variety of vintage and contemporary fabrics, vintage linens, lace, buttons and trims, and hand dyed wool and roving. The proprietor’s grandson was there that day and…
It’s Quilt Show Season in northern California and I’ve been able to attend two great shows over the last 2 weeks that leave me inspired. One thing I love about going to quilt shows is that you see quilts outside of your genre-there is much inspiration and instruction to be gained from going outside of your normal comfort zone. This quilt received Best of Show from the Foothill Quilters Guild in Auburn. It’s one of my favorite shows because they have such a great balance between artsy, traditional, innovative and wearables. This quilt was just spectacular in person-its maker is Sue…
I have had a busy few weeks with both my boys here, teaching and lots of guild work. But I was able to finish this Burda jumper which actually fits! It’s Burda #8072 and it’s a pretty easy pattern to sew up. Most remarkably, this jumper needed very little alteration. In fact the only alteration I needed to do was move the shoulders forward, something I know I need to do on every pattern. A side note here-the link for the Burda pattern is to SewingPatternReview.com. I subscribe to it (free) and think it’s a must for garment sewers. It’s a…
As the “Special Events Chair” for my 230 member American Sewing Guild chapter, I have the privilege of bringing in a speaker once a year or so. This time I wanted to bring in someone who could make both quilters and garment sewers happy. I made a great choice in bringing in Rachel Clark. We loooved her and everybody was thrilled. Rachel is such a kick-she’s funny, creative, talented, experienced and just a delight to be around. Someone made the comment that she was such fun to look at; her style and clothes were so eclectic and vibrant. We had…