Quick and Easy Flying Geese Units

I had seen this method of constructing Flying Geese units on various blogs in the past, but it looked way too complicated for me, so I never bothered to give it a try.  However, the directions for a quilt I'm currently working on didn't allow for any other methods, so I had to put on my "big-girl panties" and proceed with this technique.

Wow!!

It works!

And, it's super easy and and quick, and it yields perfectly stitched Flying Geese units with no waste!

Below are step-by-step photos:

Voila, four perfectly-stitched Flying Geese units!

Now I have all kinds of Flying Geese quilts I want to make, including this one!

*Note:  Click here for the link to the directions to make your own"Fast Flying Geese".

Also, Omnigrid makes a set of three 1/2" wide  x 4", 6" and 12" rulers that work great for marking the double stitching lines.  Clear here for the link.

Another Quilt Top for Ronda

I finished stitching this quilt top just in time to take it out for a photo shoot at the college on a beautiful summer evening.  There is something so magical about the lighting at this time of day....

Thanks again, Ronda, it's always a pleasure stitching for you!

T-Shirt Quilt #2 for Jessica

 Jessica discovered a few more of her mother's T-shirts that she wanted turned into another quilt.

There were just enough to make a small throw!  I also incorporated scraps from the infinity scarves we had made to fill in the empty spaces. 

Jessica had me incorporate business cards from her mom's previous businesses into labels for the back of the quilt; I simply scanned them and printed them onto fabric with my inkjet printer as before.  

I usually machine tack my T-shirt quilts with the button stitch on my Bernina, but this time I decided to try a large stipple.  I can't decide which look I prefer, but it's actually quicker to machine quilt a large stipple than it is to do the tacking stitch!  If you do the tacking stitch, you have to clip each and every thread tail which can be tedious and time consuming, especially if you use an invisible thread.  (Trust me, I know!)

Love this backing fabric I found at Good's....  It's has a vintage feel, but the colors are bright and clear enough for the primary colors of T-shirts .  

Fortunately there was enough left over to add into my stash.  :)

And, a polka dot binding in a pretty shade of blue ties everything together!

Scrappy Trip Around the World - The First 25

I had to take this finished Scrappy Trip Around the World quilt top outside for a photo shoot this evening to fall back in love with it.  It is incredibly ugly up close - just UGLY!!  In fact, I seriously contemplated throwing in the towel because I just couldn't stand working with such nasty fabrics.  But, I pressed on, and I'm so glad I did!

This quilt contains scraps from my first 25 years of quilting, as well as fabrics from the cardigan sweatshirts I made to sell back in the 80's (remember them - they were all the rage!!), so this represents about 30 years of my fabric journey.  There are a number of lovely fabrics included in this quilt, but the uglies are what shout the loudest and insist on taking center stage.

But, when you look at it from a distance (natural lighting certainly helps!!), those ugly fabrics come together to make a lovely design!

That applies to our lives too, doesn't it!  All the ugly experiences and not-so-nice happenings can come together and create a lovely life too, if we're willing to take the time to stand back and take another look....

It's hard to explain, but I felt such a need to use these ugly fabrics in one more quilt before moving on.  They represented so many things -  all the sewing projects I worked on before learning to quilt.  That first sampler quilt class I took 25 years ago with Terri Good.  All those quilts I stitched in my early years.  My first apartment in Columbia with plenty of space in the kitchen for sewing space.  My reliable Kenmore sewing machine I bought right after I graduated from college.  Shopping for fabric with my friend Denise.  And on and on the memories go.  

   

Now that I have this quilt to document my quilting journey, I went through my stash and got rid of all my ugly fabrics, anything I'm no longer in love with, and the fabrics that no longer "spark joy".  Many of them were too ugly to pass on to friends or members of my quilt guild, so I simply took them to my local thrift shop where they will be given a second life.

It's been so meaningful to hit this 25-year milestone, as well as reflect on where my next 25 years of quilting might take me....  I'm looking forward to working with scraps i love!

:)

I'm hoping to finish up this ugly duckling in time for the big Etown fair, but I'm not sure the judges will see its beauty....  

In Memory of a Mother, Part II

Ever since learning about Binding Love Scarves, I knew an upcycled scarf would be the perfect way to memorialize a loved one using their clothing.  

I had stitched a T-shirt quilt for Jessica out of her mom's T-shirts earlier in the year, but she also had an assortment of clothing in prints that Jessica clearly remembered.  These articles of clothing weren't appropriate for a T-shirt quilt, but they were perfect for this project.

To make the scarves, I cut the fabric into varying lengths that were 9" wide, then stitched them together until I had 2 lengths of pieced fabric that were 60" long.  Then, I placed the lengths of fabric right sides together, stitched along both side seams, turned it inside out, and stitched the ends closed.

(Note: the Binding Love Scarves are closer to 52", but I chose to make these a bit longer.)

I knew the scarves needed to have a label after seeing the labels on the Binding Love Scarves.  

To make the scarf labels, I simply scanned the remembrance card that was distributed at her funeral, then printed it onto Kona cotton, just like I did for the t-shirt quilt.

  Click here for the details.

I trimmed the labels with a rotary cutter using a pinking blade, and then topstitched it onto the fabric.

How special to be able to incorporate the very same shirt that Jessica's mom was wearing in this photograph!

I love that you can use a wide assortment of fabric in this project, and that every scarf will be unique.

What better way to remember a loved one than to wrap their clothing around your neck!

Hugs to you, Jessica!

Trunk Show at The Old Country Store!

Today was so surreal - I'm not sure I can even begin to capture all the emotions I'm feeling.  

(Even though this post is dated 4-29-16 for chronological purposes, I am only now writing this post on January 22, 2017!!!)

I am still so overwhelmed with the way God prepares, inspires, orchestrates, and opens doors.  And blown away by all He did to make this day happen.  I couldn't have made it happen.  I've been struggling with chronic health issues in recent years, and in no way whatsoever could I have physically or mentally made any of this happen.  But God did.... And so beautifully, wildly, kindly and generously....

~

First, He gave me the opportunity to attend the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show back in 2014.  It was there that I had the chance to hear Jean Wells speak and then view her quilts outdoors in the most beautiful setting you could ever imagine, in chronological order.  It indeed was a very pivotal part of my journey.

~

He then gave me the inspiration to hang my entire quilt collection on my cousin's family barn last summer, as well as giving my cousin John the willing heart and body to make sure that it happened.

~  

As a result of that venture, He didn't lead me to just any quilt shop, but to The Old Country Store where owners Dean & Jan Mast and a whole team of wonderful staff embraced me and allowed me to run with the idea that there was value for an unknown local woman to showcase her personal quilt collection.

~

He purposely prompted me to hang on almost every single quilt that I've stitched in the past 25 years, even numbering them right from the start in 1996, so that I would have them to display at this trunk show as well as ones to come.  

~

And, He directed me to quit my full-time job three years ago so that I would have more time to take care of my health and devote even more time to quilting.

I wasn't feeling well at all today, but God showed up in powerful ways.  (Sometimes I'm convinced that God is more fully glorified on the days that I am less.)  He gave me the words and energy to get through the day.  And it was such a gift - it was amazing to be able to share my quilt collection with two sold-out seatings of 40 guests each.  The attendees were so eager to view my quilts and hear what I had to say about them, as well as hearing my passion for quilting.  Several aunts, an uncle and a cousin traveled a distance to be there.  A number of friends I hadn't seen in ages made the effort to come.  Several friends brought their mothers as an early Mothers' Day outing.  Some newer friends were present as well.  A number of people who really aren't that into quilting came because they know how much it means to me.  And a whole host of loyal customers of The Old Country Store came because of its reputation for outstanding events.

Here's a few pictures to capture the essence of the day:

The day before, I loaded up 40 plus quilts, my quilt hoop on a stand, a special chair, my Featherweight, and a whole host of other quilt-related items to display around the room.  My dear friend Lori met me at the store and helped haul all my things up to the second floor event space in the misty spring rain.

  

We viewed my quilts collection in chronological order, including some antique and vintage family quilts.

I never cease to be fascinated by the evolution of a quilter's skills and style!!

Staff members and friends were so kind in holding and folding,

and then arranging the quilts around the room so guests could get a closer look:

My cousin loaned me his Broken Star quilt for the day - the one I had made for him back in 1996, back when I was foolish enough to part with my quilts.  :)  I still miss it!!

It meant the world to me that a variety of friends came from near and far, some surprising me with their presence.

And that they then cheerfully folded up my quilts and loaded them back in the car for me.

:)

I continue to be filled with gratitude and in awe....