My Quilting Studio - New Lights! Stella Lighting

I tagged along in November 2018 with a few "Quilty Friends" to my very first attendance at International Quilt Festival in Houston, Texas.  We had the very best time exploring the vendors at the show, we took a lot of photos!, and we admired the many beautiful quilts in the quilt show.  I have to admit the floral quilts were my favorites of course......Some of my favorite photos are shared on my personal Instagram page.
My most favorite purchase from the vendors is my new Stella TWO LED Task Light.  I purchased the white one because I knew it would look just perfect on my sewing table.  I love the features on this table top lamp with touch pad controls, 10-step dimming, and a weighted base that keeps the lamp steady even though the arm flexes in nearly any direction to direct the light anywhere I need it. The LED lights are the brightest, yet they produce very little heat. 
I just love my Stella, and I know you would love to have one in your sewing space too!

  

stellalighting.com 

Autumn Quilt Show Memories

Autumn season is finally here.  The second of my favorite seasons, of course Spring is my first favorite.  The leaves are changing colors, cooler temperatures, lots of pumpkins and Fall Festivals.  Some of my favorite colors, orange and sunflower yellow are in bloom everywhere.  
During October as part of the Landmark Park Fall Farm Harvest Day, (Dothan, Alabama) there is a quilt show held in the Activity Barn.  Several years ago, I used the pattern, Sheep In the Meadow, by Kay Whitt - Serendipity Gifts, to create an embellished sweatshirt jacket.  The jacket was entered in the Clothing Category at the Landmark Park Quilt Show.  I was honored to be given a first place blue ribbon from the Quilt Show Judge.

Sewing Room

Today is Black Friday 2017, and I am home in my jammies and fuzzy slippers enjoying my coffee and shopping via my computer online.  Looking at coffee makers, quilting patterns, (I just ordered a few); and quilt ladders.  I have asked my sweet hubby for a quilt ladder to place in my sewing room as a Christmas gift this year.   We will see what he comes up with, old or new, painted or rough cut lumber, maybe vintage....he is pretty crafty in construction, he may even make me one!
I wanted to share with you a few photos of the sewing room in progress.  I will be adding blinds on the windows, and a rack on the wall between the two windows for displaying quilts.

 Happy Thanksgiving weekend! Enjoy time with family, and shopping too!

New Shop Sample for TJ's Fabrics in Troy, Alabama

( photo taken inside my new sewing  room)

The photos shown above are the new shop sample that I just created for TJ's Fabrics located in Troy, Alabama.  My pattern to make the Sewing Machine Mat is  used with some of the newest fabrics in the shop.  I really like the ric-rack and the colored buttons for accents.

tjsfabrics.com

Mystery Class

I recently taught a Friday night "Mystery" quilt class at Quilted Creations Quilt Shop, located in Headland, Alabama.  A mystery quilt is so much fun because you have no clue what you are making until you get started.  The pre-class instructions told everyone to bring various strips of fabrics, in various widths and colors.  Just place them in a paper bag and come to class!
The strips of fabric were sewn onto background fabric, each block was nine inches finished.  When completed, the blocks make a wonderful star quilt.  The completed quilt with borders measures 46 x 46 inches, just the right size for a lap quilt or baby quilt.

This is Betty peeking out from behind!  She used Robyn Pandolph fabrics.

This is Becky peeking out from behind!  

She used brightly colored fabrics, and machine embroidery to create a wonderful baby quilt.

It is Summer and the Living is Easy, and the Quilting is easy too!

     It is Summer and the Living is easy, and the Quilting is easy too!  This table runner is simple and easy to make.  You can "flip" it over, it is reversible, and enjoy the fabrics on both sides.   This table runner is perfect to be created from those beautiful fabrics or large scale print fabrics that you just do not want to cut into smaller pieces. 

Materials needed:
1/2 yard of two gorgeous, fun, Summer fabrics
1/4 yard binding fabric
Aurifil thread for stitching and machine quilting
15 1/2" x 45" (WOF) piece of batting
Spray baste product

Finished size of runner will be 15 x 42 inches.  (WOF = width of fabric)

•One half yard x WOF fabric pieces•  The two half yard pieces of fabric each need to be cut to size 

15 1/2" x WOF.  (If the original half yard of fabric was cut correctly from your favorite quilt shop, this should leave you a 2 1/2" strip cut from the fabric.  This strip can now go into your stash, as it will not be used in this project). Sandwich/layer together the bottom fabric right side down, batting in the middle, then top side fabric right side up.   Following the directions of the spray baste product, spray baste lightly all layers together.  Using a walking foot, machine quilt on the diagonal every 2 1/2", making a cross-hatch design.  The quilting lines can be marked before quilting using a removable pen, or with quilters (painters) tape.  I like to use the painters tape.
If using tape, just quilt right along beside the tape and then remove the tape. Move the tape to the next row of quilting and repeat.  When the quilting is complete, trim the project to size, 
15" x 42".  Cut the binding fabric into four  2" strips.  Join the strips with diagonal seams to make a continuous binding strip.  With the wrong sides of the binding fabric strip inside, fold the strip in half lengthwise and press with your iron. Machine stitch binding to your "favorite" top side of the table runner fabric, then finish the binding by hand stitching to the back side of the runner. This project can easily be completed by a "confident beginner" during a Summer afternoon. 

Fabrics used are designed by BariJ. for Art Gallery Fabrics.

Sharing More T-Shirt Quilts

     Working full time at my day job certainly keeps me busy, but I love to create T-shirt quilts for friends when I have time. I was asked to create these two quilts as Christmas gifts this past year.  The first one is made entirely from the child's machine embroidery created shirts. He is now four years old. The quilt was a gift from the grandmother to the mom.  This was the first time I attempted to create a quilt from shirts this small in size, but it turned out wonderful! It will be a wonderful family heirloom that the mom and grandmother will always treasure.

This quilt was created and given from the mom to her son as a Christmas gift. Grunge fabrics by Basic Grey, Moda fabrics, were used in the sashing and backing for this quilt.  It was machine quilted with a great geometric pattern. Just wonderful for a quilt for a guy. They both loved the design.