MACHINE STITCHING HAND HOLDING

Five of the six Fiber Junkie members met at Patsy Thompson's home for a very special day. Patsy is a machine quilter/stitcher extraordinaire who took a turn leading our group's monthly demo. Aren't we lucky!!! Thanks Patsy......

Here she is sharing her vast knowledge of threads....Carol Sloan to her left, and Judy Simmons, in the green, are frantically taking notes! You can see some of Patsy's work on her design wall.

Patsy is a well prepared and patient instructor. She has a full time job which prevents her from doing much teaching......but YOU can learn from her excellent DVD's, available on her website, along with a generous amount of free mini lessons. The products I'm referring to in this post are referenced there and available via mail order.

She prepared various samples for us to practice the skills she demonstrated which consisted of working with heavier weight threads in the needle, working with invisible threads, hyper-quilting, and free-motion quilting. Unfortunately, I don't have a lot to show for my efforts since my machine tension WOULD NOT cooperate. I wasted too much time trying to fix it before giving up and moving to one of her Pfaff's to get some 'machine time'.

Patsy is at her machine showing us some tricks........look at her thread collection....it's everywhere. It's Patsy's medium and like all good quilters.....her stash is important.

These foam trays are a great way to organize bobbins......she has them filled in every color and fiber content.

Patsy sprays her Plexiglas extension 'arm' with silicone to help the project slide more easily as she free-motion stitches.

Two other helpful products available on Patsy's website is the Bendable Light which can be attached to your machine to pinpoint light just where you need it and Machiners Gloves. These lightweight gloves are so much more comfortable then any other brand I've seen.....if you free-motion.....you must get on her site and order a pair!

PROUD INSTRUCTOR!!

I need to brag about the accomplishments of my students in my workshop "What Goes Around", (where they learn to make a bead embellished wool felt scissors sheath).

Most had either very little or no beading experience at all and they jumped right in with great enthusiasm. After learning the basics, they added their own touches, making me a proud teacher!

I can't help sharing this photo of Carolyn.....who was still smiling at the end of the class......and......
here's her nearly completed project!!!

I'll be teaching this workshop in June at the Vermont Quilt Festival.......it's a class where the techniques look more difficult then they are.....consider joining the fun if you are attending the show.

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY

After my workshop yesterday, I was treated to a pot luck dinner hosted by some of the Capital Quilters board members.

Spring has gone right into summer....the flowering bushes in front of our host's home are gorgeous.

Our hostess......Roberta......in the background of this lovely appetizer spread provided by Darlene.

And....picture perfect roasted chicken......

by our host Rick......

Enjoy these quilts made by Roberta........who admits to be a great workshop taker but not that much of a finisher. Now that she's retired......all that will change.....

She had us in stitches when she shared that this one was finished because it was a gift to her Mom.....who has passed away.....so she has it back. The beige fabric used to be blue...that's how old it is!

Come on Roberta.......this one needs to be finished.......

So does this........I challenge you to finish before my next trip here!

BYE, BYE

As my reduced travel teaching schedule slowly kicks in, it's become apparent that the time has also come to reduce my inventory of quilt samples too. Some have even found new homes with you.......the faithful readers. (Click on Quilts for Sale or Beaded Wool Quilts for Sale on right side bar if you are a collector and might be interested too.)

I said bye, bye to two more after last evening's lecture at the Capital Quilter's Guild in Raleigh, NC........

Meadow Flowers 2

SOLD

Take Life With A Grain of Salt

SOLD

You know how it is.....we all invest so much time and emotion creating our work.....so letting go is difficult. I've always made my quilts for MYSELF.....not to sell. However, now I'm experiencing a pleasant sense of calm, knowing some of my work is finding good new homes, rather than being stored away in our guest room!

For you night owls

If you too are having a difficult time getting to sleep tonight and are perhaps wasting timeon the computer.......take a stroll through these beauties, breath deeply, and settle in for some comforting dreams....pretend you are wrapped in these quilts.

I received permission to post the show and tell quilts I saw at the Capital Quilters meeting here in Raleigh, NC, which was held right after my lecture....

Enjoy.....

The group was really swift so I couldn't match up and names with quilts...except this one.....which was made by Kathy Stein.....Capital Quilt Guild's Program chairperson!

nite, nite....more news tomorrow

HITTING THE QUILTING HIGHWAY

Tomorrow night I'll be presenting my lecture "Let It Shine" for Capital Quilters, in Raleigh, NC.

If you are in the area, visit their website for detailed information about time, location and to sign up for one of the few spots left in the Friday and Saturday workshops.

'Goddess of Quilting", was made to teach on my Greek Isle Quilting Cruise. It was designed by myself and Sharee Dawn Roberts, who taught the thread work techniques. The methods I taught were the various beading highlights.

Friday's workshop for Capital Quilters is Beading Pizzazz.....students will learn both decorative and dimensional stitches, such as the daisy stitched beads located on the belt and pillar, and the trim at the top of the quilt.

We'll also explore many of the techniques that enhance the buttons used in 'Meadow Flowers'.

And......learn to make a bead netting....which in this quilt was used to trap a fish charm....but of course it has lots of other uses.

On Saturday students will make a small scissors sheath, decorated and constructed with beads. The main technique is an even-count peyote stitch which is used to attach and decorate flat mirror and other flat stones.

Here the mirrors were incorporated into this butterfly design.

Detail

And finally.......I've used the technique on small woolfelt zippered pouches.

Both workshops provide indepth study into beading on fiber. No worries about having to go out and find the right supplies......both are kit classes. If you haven't been beading, you won't believe the fun you've been missing!

PTA OUTING

Our monthly PTA meeting (a small fiber group) was typical of for group.....we love to meet to browse galleries/shops and then 'do lunch'....which usually means a restaurant for lunch and then a coffee shop for dessert. Hummmm, is this why I have to do a 'forced calorie burning march' every morning?

We visited Sanctuary Of Stuff in Weaverville, NC. Their other store location is in Asheville. The shop carries work by local artists, gifts and home decor. And this 2 story shop had some of everything.....

Like North Carolina handmade soaps.

And hand knitted socks and hats......we reduced their inventory quite a lot!

I'd never seen this item before......a coaster for stemware. Of course none of the PTA members would have a need for one?!?!

Artwork covering all mediums can be found here. Get inspired yourself.....go visit a gallery, a museum, or exhibit somewhere.

COOL NEW BOOK CONCEPT

The 'perfect child' and 'perfect DIL' are such thoughtful gift givers....I recently had a birthday and was wowed again by them.

Kelly found this terrific book for me, published by Chronicle Books.

Repro Depot Pattern Book by Djerba Goldfinger.

It contains a CD of 225 vintage inspired textile designs.

Besides this overview of the patterns, the book contains full size pages of each design and several projects ideas. The concept is to print them on paper, but I'm going to try fabric as well. I also look forward to altering the patterns using Photoshop....

Thanks for the fun kids!

Wendy asked if I was familar with Spoonflower.....a company that custom prints YOUR fabric designs.....yes, I blogged about it some time ago..... Here's their link.