Quilters Unlimited - Fabulous at Forty - Quilt Show

Over 500 quilts, a visual feast! 70 + vendors what a treat.
Quilters Unlimited - Fabulous at Forty - Quilt Show
Dulles Expo and Conference Center , Chantilly VA
Plus four great teachers, Jan Krentz, Brenda Henning and Rita Verroca, plus me!

Jan

Rita's class

Brenda

A New Purse

I just love polka dots!A friend gave me this great purse.

What a perfect canvas for embellishing!

The flower was sitting on my work bench wating to be sewing on something else.

Quilt Show

New Year's Eve                22½" X 22½"

Embroidery has been one of my favorite methods of expression. This piece combines several enjoyable techniques; machine quilting, machine piecing, hand embroidering and embellishment.The quilt feels all dressed-up and needs someplace to go, hence the name "New Year's Eve".

Ladies of the Lake Quilt Guild

A quick 2 hour drive down I-5  to Longview WA is the Ladies of the Lake Quilt Guild.

The Guild provides an opportunity for quilters to enjoy fellowship and to exchange ideas and techniques for quilting. They provide information about sources of supplies, patterns, fabric, equipment, publications, and quilt shows.

Great show and tell

No surprise to anyone I decided I needed a restroom about the time I drove by Shipwreck Beads and just had to stop.

My thread fix

Saturday I visited the International Quilt Market (*Trade show only - Not open to the general public) held this Spring in Portland OR. A fast trip down and back in one day wore me out, but gives me the opportunity to visit with friends I don't get to see too often. Thread is always high on my list of things I need to check out. Aren't these colors luscious! WonderFil™ Specialty Threads
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The Keeper of the Plains

The Keeper of the Plains is a sculpture by Kiowa-Comanche artist Blackbear Bosin. It stands at the confluence of the Arkansas and Little Arkansas rivers in Wichita, Kansas. Surrounding the base of the statue are multiple displays which describe the local tribes that used to inhabit this area.

Machine Quilters Showcase

A Pocket Full of Paisleys by Lorilynn King

I just happened to be in Wichita in time to see the Machine Quilters Showcase (MQS). Great quilts and a quick trip through the Merchant Mall to visit Bob Percell (Superior Threads) my favorite thread guy for some new needles.
SUPERIOR Titanium-coated Topstitch #100/16. Guaranteed to last 5-8 times longer than regular needles. Recommended for 30 wt. and heavier threads.

Wichita's Prairie Quilt Guild

I've neen visiting the guild here in Kansas for a couple of days. Great people, big guild made lots of new friends.

We made Eye Candy Quilts!

Yellow brick road... in Kansas! Loved it.

Susan was an amazing hostess! She was thrilled to have a finished project done in class.

Crazy Baby

Here is the finished quilt!

The Stitching

I decided to keep it simple. I started the stitching with the edge of the walking foot to the edge of the strip. I like this stitching. Then I noticed how it pushes the seams forward even though I pressed all the seams open. So I'm adding more lines.

To mark  the border, I used my favorite chalkmarker.

Here's what happens when I get bored...the lines change direction and note that the thread is now blue!

The Fun Part: Choosing the quilting design

Keeping in mind this is a baby quilt, I would like to finish it soon, I'll look for a simple design. To audition different designs, a piece of Duralar or Plexi-glass and a Vis-a-Vis water soluble pen I'll draw different options.

Straight or curvy lines flowing with the design,  a possibility.

 Straight or curvy lines on the diagonal, like the idea, but too much marking for me on this project.

Straight lines in both directions, let's wait and see how the lines in one direction look.

What thread to choose? I like red, red it will be!

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Opening Day of Boating Season

It's sunny and warm in Seattle, a rare event for early May. So I took the day off from my latest beading project to attend Open Day of boating season. No I don't boat, but any excuse to get out in the sunshine works for me!

Opening Day, the official opening of Seattle's boating season includes a celebration of many kinds of water activities. Festivities will include a morning of crew races, a sailboat race, and of course, the grand Opening Day boat parade.

How to Build a Better Back

I like to piece the backs of my quilts.I dig around in my pile of 'back' fabrics to find something that kinda matches, usually about the same value. A group of pieces that might be large enough.

I usually choose fabrics that I bought in my past and am no longer interested in putting on the fronts of quilts .(I'll use the two on the left last, they don't seam to go with the rest.)

It is easier for me to build the back, on the wall, right over the front. No small backs for me.

Oops, the bottom piece would look better if it was turned over.

Perfect!

All I need to do is sew the pieces together and I'm ready to baste and quilt it!