Thread Tales From A Scrappy Quilter

Yes, I have been trying to teach myself how to use the custom quilting features of my Innova Mach 3 Auto Pilot computer system!   I'm jumping out of order and showing this one that uses some set in blocks and borders.   This is an adorable guild quilt for donation somewhere.   The fabrics used were so cute and PINK!   I love pink.       These were a actually X and O block with hearts, except on these busy fabrics they really did not read that way.   I used a flaming heart border and a modified block  for the cornerstones.   This was my first real quilt using set in blocks and a border.  No ditching, only computer guided designs.   I think it turned out really cute.     As usual, so many times we  deal with situations that make the task harder on these charity quilts!   Barely squeezed it in there on that backing.  Normally I l...

I had the pleasure of quilting another of Sally Coble's applique masterpieces.   This one is a Sue Daley pattern called "Lancaster".  The clamshells are needle turn but they are long strips, not individual little clams which you might think would be the case.   Sally does impeccable handwork, her quilts are so exciting to work on!     My acrylic sheets.   I plan most quilts this way.   I don't transfer the markings, I refer to them for design.   I have 3 so that lets me keep certain elements by my side.  I can mark what ruler, how much spacing I used, etc.   I can't work without them for auditioning designs to scale.   The next problem is that the markers are thicker and of course bolder than thread.  You are really never sure what you have until you start stitching.   This client does not want blue markers used, so it is a challenge to get registration lines and sp...

It was an exciting weekend for us in Memphis!  My husband reached a personal goal of attaining the rank of Colonel that he has been striving for over 18 years.  Given that only 1% of the Officers in the military ever achieve this rank, the odds were not in our favor!  With only a few more years before mandatory retirement age and the fact that very few Public Health Officers ever make it to Colonel, we were almost ready to concede that it wasn't going to happen.  BUT, the Stars were aligned for Bob to be in the right place, at the right time, with the right prerequisites, and gain a Commander assignment that was a Full Bird Colonel position. Last March we went through a Change of Command ceremony where my husband became the Commander of the 164th Medical Group, 164th Airlift Wing, Memphis Air National Guard Base, TN.  Associated with this command is the rank of Colonel.   In 2015 Bob had been through a grueling last...

Lindsay at The Cottage Mama recently blogged again about one of her quilts done in her fabric line "Dainty Darling" that I quilted.   Riley Blake is offering a free pattern for this and she included a link back to me!   These were completed for Market here in Houston this past fall.       Information about her blog can be found HERE .     Check out the link for the free pattern for the Darling Tulip quilt HERE .  These were so much fun to work on!   Pink and feminine, I don't get many requests and pink just happens to be a favorite of mine.   Having 4 boys, not a color that has been used much in my life though!

Kathryn Zimmerman has been busy again creating this feathered star appliqued piece that she had custom quilted by me.  It is back in her hands again getting blinged up a little.  I look forward to seeing the completed project.       Do note that this piece did arrive with rouched trim and flowers, stuffed flower centers and some beading already on the top.   These embellishments to make it difficult to quilt.   Note the placement of the ruler over one stuffed center.  Very difficult to press hard enough on the ruler to get a flat edge anywhere on this top.  Pressing that hard with my shoulder injury creates  problems for me for the next 6 months when it gets aggravated and I have no breaks in my quilting schedule to heal.  Or the potential to hit the ruler with my needle breaking it and messing up my timing.   Shortly after this was quilted, a friend was at an applique class a...

Kathryn finished her top at our retreat last summer and has waited patiently for her time slot for some playful light custom quilting.   These bright colors made my job so much fun!  This is another Judy Niemeyer Quiltworx paper pieced pattern.    Kathryn's daughter helped her choose the fabrics.  I love it! I've lost my space to hang these large quilts for photos. I do like the view from the stairwell though of that quilt on the frame!     I was so sad to see that I did not make a blog post from our August retreat but I did search on my facebook account and found a photo of Kathryn with her finished quilt top. Thanks Kathryn!   I hope you enjoy many years of looking at this one your bed.