Virtual Retreat 2016

[genevacarroll]

You have all been busy making lovely and handsome quilts! I've been puttering and finishing up some smaller projects. I did finish the 90"x96" duvet cover. It turned out very nice.

I was at my small quilt group yesterday and was showing them the rows I have finished. They were asking me about TQS and all my friends. I was telling them about how much fun we have talking about quilting and lots of other stuff. I told them that I learn a lot form you all. Like, "the other day my friends from the other side of the pond were talking about tits and ball cocks". They all gasped with delight and humor. We had a nice discussion of what tits and ball cocks are to you as opposed to what they mean here. Thanks for the chuckles my friends!

Heather your sons are so handsome! That is a wonderful program for them to participate in. It teaches them real life civics.

Have a great day!

Geneva

[twiglet]

Fun catching up on quilts pics and families :cheer:

[twiglet]

Geneva, it goes both ways, I well remember the first time I heard about Pulled Pork here, and it got me ahead of fashion , as it is now very fashionable over here with the foodies.

Just for the record, the radiator in our bedroom is fixed and painting is going forward in the lounge. Izzy is having great fun helping with that B)

[Scoopie]

Hmmmmm Geneva, I must have missed one of those conversations. I'll have to look it up, so I can chuckle too!

Annis, I recognize that quilt! Mine is still a UFO stuck on the forth month. Never again will I redesign an appliqué flower to have 6 pointed tips, times 24, just for that forth row.

Heather, I was going to comment on how the younger son was taller than the older, and I see someone beat me to it! You must be so proud of them. So many kids now-a-days walk around with dazed looks, spending all of their time on their iPhones.

Joyce, it's looking good! Can't wait to see it quilted. Boy, we sure don't want to let loose of our favorite machines, for any length of time, huh!?

I've been working for a couple of weeks on my Hoffman Challenge quilt. I'm using my Accucutter Go! And cutting hundreds of circles out if Alex's new iron in stabilizer for appliqué. And, then gluing the fabric around each one. Here is a peek......



They are not sewn, just laying there while I sculpt and mold my design. But, I am taking a break from it and doing a quick aspen picture for the latest LQS license plate contest. I'm REALLY trying tp learn to buzz right through a small project, and not overthink it!

Dawn

[ajclapp]

Heather, it was a slow and tedious process pivoting around the flowers. Lots of hours spent quilting so far and hardly anything shows from the front as it was mostly ditch and outline quilting. I'm designing the quilting templates now and hope they are doable with my walking foot. Thankfully it has a setting for slow speed, about 1 stitch per second. That means only 60 stitches in a minute not counting the time you stop to pivot or reposition, or hide the thread ends, so it's going to take a long time. Most of the decorative quilting will be continuous lines around the borders so there won't be as many thread ends. I will be printing some of the templates on clear full-sheet labels, cutting them out, sticking them to the fabric, and sewing around the edges. I hope that works anyway. I've never done it with something this small before. Similar to using freezer paper except you don't have to iron them in place. I will also be using vellum paper for some of the templates as I can't seem to find my yellow quilting paper and I don't want to draw directly on the fabric as I don't plan to wash the quilt. And I couldn't find my Fill'er Up Quilting Designs book either so bought a different one for ideas.

I just got my AQ magazine and was admiring all of the fancy quilting on the show quilts. Maybe someday, but probably not. I just don't have time or the desire to practice everyday with free motion so am settling for my walking foot when I'm not using the computer on my longarm.

Beautiful fabric, Dawn, and lots of circles! You should finish your UFO. You don't have to add all of the borders to have a finished quilt.

[she-quilts]

I just got my AQ magazine and was admiring all of the fancy quilting on the show quilts. Maybe someday, but probably not. I just don't have time or the desire to practice everyday with free motion so am settling for my walking foot when I'm not using the computer on my longarm.

I love the beautiful quilting and would love to do that much and enter shows. But it seems like they put in so much quilting that the quilt is only for the show and not for use. Do you think they are stiff with so much quilting in a huge quilt? IDK... but I love to do micro-quilting ... just haven't on a big quilt really. Tho I'm not making any promises on how much quilting I'm going to put on my swoon quilt. LOL!!

This is just a question I've had floating in my head a few years.

[she-quilts]

Dawn - Like your circles for the Hoffman Challenge!
Barb

[she-quilts]

Annis and Geneva - You've both recently mentioned AQ magazine do you like it?
Barb

[ajclapp]

Barb, yes I like AQ. It has interesting articles in addition to quilt patterns and show winners.

Joyce, I agree the show quilts look like they would be stiff. I haven't done any micro-quilting on a large quilt and this is my first time for doing that much quilting on a miniature quilt. It would be a little stiff to sleep under but this one will just hang on a wall.

[ajclapp]

Dawn, that is going to be gorgeous!!

Annis, I love what you did. Best of luck as you keep working and finish it up!

I managed some progress today, despite being a bit tired. Came up to do some more tonight and was reminded why I don't usually sew when tired: started on the second set of blocks and found I was missing pieces. Weird. Made the replacements. Sewed some blocks. Realized that the missing pieces have been used in set one, which shouldn't have had them (wrong colors). This being for the infinity sign on son's graduation quilt, and the colors are very precise on that part (but are very close to each other).....tomorrow shall be spent unsewing a bit and correcting the errors before proceeding. Oops. I'll get things sorted better first, too.....

[lorra]

Heather, you have some very handsome men in your family. Yes, I could tell your oldest was trying to suppress a smile, but I could catch the twinkle in his eyes.

Joyce, I love your Swoon quilt. I would quilt it lightly so it is usable. I have felt some show quilts and they are stiff, especially if they have lots of embellishments on them. I have a small wall hanging that I quilted heavily and it is very stiff.

Dawn, love your circles. At first glance it reminded me of a peacock tail.

Monday, I sewed all day, but not a quilt. I need to make my 4 year old GD a fancy dress for the Father/Daughter dance in March. I used less expensive material and made her a dress for church or other special days. I wanted to check out the fit of the pattern. It is really cute. I need her to try it on so I can hem it. It sure seems strange making that giant 5/8 inch seam after all those scant 1/4 inch seams!!!
Today I need to hem a pair of jeans for DH's sister, then it is back to quilting. I am finally going to get the binding on my Colorful Rhapsody. I got the kit from Ricky several years ago. That is on my UFO challenge from All People Quilt for February. I moved the things I did not get finished on my 2015 list to the 2016. Maybe this year I can keep up.

[lorra]

Lorra, I hope your GD doesn't have a growing spurt before March :unsure: , still at least you have nice big seams for letting out if necessary :silly: And leave yourself nice big hems! I've found it tends to be length that goes first.

[she-quilts]

AQ magazine do you like it?
Barb

I like the AQ magazine. I also go to one of their shows (IA) and see the quilts. In the last 2 years, I've gotten tired of the magazine that mainly shows the winning quilts at all their shows. When the winners are about the same each show, it gets to be many repeats. Once I get to the show nearer me, I feel like I've seen them already!

The first issue for this year seems they are taking a turn on the format of the magazine and it won't just show the show winners each time. I'm hoping for good improvements. I keep my membership for the show discount, it is worth the membership to save on the show pass.

Having said that.... I'm way behind on reading my quilt magazines!!

[she-quilts]

Your fabrics are just so beautiful!! I love the accuquilt circle templates. Eager to see your quilt when you can show us!!

[genevacarroll]

Dawn I love your circles! Can't wait to see what you do with them.

Annis, that's a lot of quilting! Looking good.

Heather, I rarely if ever sew at night. It seems I lose part of my thinking cap when I do. hmy:

I do like the AQS magazine. But I agree that the issues that show the winning quilts can be repetitive. I like being a member of AQS also. You can get some good discounts on fabrics and books. I wish there was a show near me!

I didn't sew yesterday. Instead I took a walk with this little guy and walked the floor with his brother. Some days are just harder than others. The little guy had a tummy ache I think. But big brother was a happy camper!





Today will be no sewing either. I will spend the day with my mom. :kiss:

geneva