Pro-Stitcher!

I cannot believe I have let it go so long without posting.  In my defense, the Studio has been really, really busy these last 2 months and for that I am thankful.

The newest *news* is that I have added a Pro-Stitcher to the studio's Avante! My goal was to get computerized by the end of this year and I made it. :)

The Box  :)

All the *stuff* in the box. 

New carriage on the frame, replacing the regular Avante carriage.

The computer holder screwed on and the cables and coils organized.  Not sure what goes where but everything turns on so I guess all is good.  ;)

Ta Da!!!  Screen is doing what it is supposed to and the manual is open so now I have to dive in and learn this thing.  :)

Baby Nines

I love this little quilt.  Now...I usually don't do multiples of many quilt projects as there are just SO many quilts out there to do and learn from.  But I had made one of these for my daughter a few years ago and loved it so much that I made another top.  And just finished quilting it.  Another UFO bites the dust!  :o)








And, as usual, when I custom quilt I quilted it to death...just don't know when to stop.  And that is why I usually do pantograph quilting for customers.  ;)  But with each of my quilts, I try to use a technique that I want to perfect.  And with this one I did Terry Twists in the tiny nine patches.  And...I used Quilters Dream Orient batting for the first time.  I LOVE THIS BATTING!!!  It is a combination of silk, bamboo, tencel and cotton and is just plain yummy...quilted and unquilted!

Because I have over quilted the little quilt (sigh), I thought it might not be very cuddly.  But once I washed and dried it...oh my...this quilt is soft and cuddly, with beautiful drape, and it shrivelled up just perfectly.

I have contacted the designer of the pattern, Connie Lancaster, and she is willing to wholesale this pattern to me so we will now carry the patterns!  The Baby Nines as well as the Whooters quilts that I have hanging on the Studio walls always get lots of attention and at least once a week someone asks me if I carried the patterns.  Now I do.  :)

Here is an adaptation of the Whooters quilt that I have hanging outside my studio door.  I had made the *real* Whooters wallhanging for my grandson's nursery (and also made him a crib quilt from it!) and I am getting the urge to make the true wallhanging, again, for the studio wall.  I think I see a hand or machine applique class wanting to happen....  ;)

You can see the wallhanging here:
Quinn's Whooters Quilt Wallhanging

Four Patch Posy with Scalloped Binding

My first scalloped binding on a quilt.  I LOVE scallops but I have to say it was a bit of a *challenge*.  But worth it.  :) The blocks for this quilt were started maybe 4 or 5 years ago and since I am on a mission to get some UFO's done this year, this one was pulled out one weekend and the top put together.  I LOVE the fabric.  It reminded me of the fabric used in furniture covers back in the 40's or 50's and I seem to remember covers similar to this fabric in one of my grandmother's living rooms.  Anyhow, it *spoke* to me.  :)  The backing is the same as the border and is really pretty.

I used Darlene Zimmerman's Easy Scallop Tool for the scallops and it made it totally effortless to mark the scallops.

I did not cut out the scallops until I was finished quilting.  Then I sewed along the markings (sort of like stay stitching) and trimmed and applied the binding.  I used my regular double french fold type but perhaps should have used a single fold.  But it sewed on just fine and it turned over very well for the handsewing.  I am really pleased with this quilt!

I used Dream Cotton Select batting (love it!), So Fine thread (my favorite #516 Gondola Gold - I use this color so often!) top and bottom and the Rhapsody panto.

And....it's quilted!

I really love this little quilt.  :)  I used King Tut Mummy's Dearest thread on the top and pink So Fine in the bobbin and Patricia Ritter's Flowers & Fronds panto.... 80/20 batting...and have bound it with the leftover backing fabric.  Sweet and simple. 

And done.  ;)

Anything Goes!

I had scraps left over from this quilt:
http://bobbinsnthreads.blogspot.com/2011/06/whats-finished-this-week.html

 Now...one of my renters came in with a wonderful strippy, random quilt top and told me how she did it.  It was made from 2-1/2 strips from a Jelly Roll and you sew them short end to short end until you have a strip MILES long.  Then you take the two ends, right sides together, and sew the long edges together.  Then you clip them apart at the end (there is a loop), place the two strips together again (2 sets of 2) and, again, sew the long edges together...cut the loop at the end...etc...

I had to try it.  I cut the leftover scraps from my quilt into 2-1/2 strips, varying lengths, using my Accuquilt Go cutter...took very little time!  Then I started sewing.  And sewing.  And sewing...

And *anything went*.  I didn't match anything.  I didn't care what ended up where.  And my quilt top measures 64" x 66"!  I will find a nice bright border, or maybe a thin one and then a wider one.  Maybe I will applique some flowers and leaves on it (again, cut with my Accuquilt Go!).  The sewing took about 3 hours and that was it!

I still haven't pressed it or squared it up but will do so this weekend.
Stay tuned.  :)

Okay...it's been awhile.... ;)

But we have had the most GLORIOUS summer here in Laramie! Last month, we went back home to Canada to visit family and had a lovely visit with The Most Beautiful Child In The World and his mommy and daddy. Then it was back home to the Studio and work, work, work. :) The quilting is coming in regularly and I have been busy smocking and ordering threads, etc. We are carrying the full line of Glide mini cones, now. Glide is a 40wt trilobal polyester that is wonderful for machine embroidery but I also use it for machine quilting! It adds an amazing sheen to the quilting, it is strong and soft and a pleasure to use. I often use the gold colors instead of metallic threads!






And, along with the Glide threads, I stocked up on Superior So Fine and King Tut cones.  We carry the first 50 of both the cones and the spools and have about half of the next 50 now too!

And I have been busy smocking!  This is the finished Baptismal set that was specially ordered for a darling baby girl.  I enjoyed every minute of this project.  It is a full length smocked bishop, with a full slip (with lace!) underneath and a sweet little bonnet.  I love doing Baptismal outfits.  :)

And...The Most Beautiful Child in The World *needed* a Spiderman Quilt....

Quinn is so funny.  I called him *sweetheart* and *Quinny* and *honey*, of course.  And each time, he informed me that he was *Superman* or *Iron Man* or whatever *man* he was that day, according to the t-shirt he was wearing.

I could eat that kid up!  :)

And...a little smocked dress...and some BIG bags...

 Love this little yellow dot bishop.  It is a Size 2 with multi colored smocking around the neck and hot pink neck and puffed sleeve bindings.  It is made of quilting cotton and just goes to show you that adorable smocking does not have to be fussy or frilly but actually bright and durable!

And...some BIG bags!  They have 3-1/2 yards of fabric in them and are perfect for large knitting or quilting projects or to tote around just about anything!