Blogger's Quilt Festival - Art Quilt Entry

I have been so busy with life and machine quilting lately that I am sort of last minute putting a quilt in the Blogger's Quilt Festival!  I haven't finished a ton of quilts this year (amazingly!) because I've been quilting for others...but I did get on an art quilt bent for a while there and made this incredibly meaningful airbrushed Susan Shie inspired art quilt.

This quilt has been so meaningful to me as it truly marked a turning point in my quilting philosophy.  Yes, I have a quilting philosophy!  LOL  My life is creatively driven so each endeavor I take on is monumental!  :)

I created this quilt with just a piece of bleached white muslin, and I first drew on it freehand with fabric markers.  Nothing fancy, just a Micron Pigma pen and this no-brand black Fabric marker from Jo Ann Fabrics.

This was the new to me fun experiment (that has me obsessed too) - AIRBRUSH!  I used Dye-na-Flow paints to airbrush in the color on my quilt.

Then no quilt is truly a quilt without the quilting.  This was quilted on my little domestic sewing machine.

The bloggers quilt festival is an awesome way for quilters to connect and share - I do hope you'll check it out!  ;)

A Peek at Monica's Quilt and Happenings Here at Home

Wheew it's been a busy weekend!  I'll tell you more about it but first, let me share a peek at Monica's quilt, currently on the frame...

I'm moving along pretty swiftly so I anticipate having this finished today or tomorrow...and she has sent me a second that I'll be working on for the remainder of the week.

It's been quite an eventful weekend however - more going on than I can even get into here!  My blogging pal Doreen from Treadlemusic happened to be in the area on Sunday (well she and her Husband drove out special just to meet up!) and we had a nice visit!  My Mom tagged along with me making it extra special as she knows I love to blog and I often talk about some of the interesting people I've communicated with or come into connection with through blogging.  Doreen and her Husband Tom were no exception, with a great story to tell of their travels (you'll have to look forward to that on her blog!) and the people they've met along the way.  We could have stayed and chatted all day but I did have three little girls at home anxiously awaiting trick or treat!

Here's a photo (below) of me, my Mom in the middle, and Doreen to the right...of course I was talking...not unusual for me!!!!  :)  It was a fun visit and it was really wonderful to put a face to the name as we have been chatting for around a year now.  Doreen has been one of the great cheerleaders supporting me along the way here as I embark on a machine quilting career.  Words are powerful and that support means more than you can know!  :)

In other news, shortly after returning from trick or treating that night we discovered our water heater had gone...not fun!!!  So  pretty much all day yesterday was taken up by running errands and getting that new water heater put in.  My Husband is no less than a super hero as the VERY next day he had someone here and getting the job done.  Amazing!

What an eventful and hectic weekend...it was fun and a little scary too - but now on to the quilts!  :)

Sharon's Quilt Finished! :)

Yay!  I just finished quilting up Sharon's quilt...I'm off to trim it and send it back home.  :)

I used Sigma thread on this quilt - which I find to be a lot like Isacord although Sigma tends to come off the spool too fast for my machine.  I use a thread net...but still I get looping on the bottom which is a real pain because then I have to go back afterwards and tuck those babies back into the quilt.  I had a very nice woman approach me at a local meeting recently asking about some looping on the underside of her quilt that she had just had long armed by another quilter...I didn't think to suggest to her it might be the thread!  There are a number of things that can cause looping when free motion quilting or long arm quilting...lint is another possibility and also burrs.  I know in this case it was the thread because it is a recurring issue I have with Sigma that I don't really have with any other thread.  Glide does require a gentler touch - but it is my favorite thread by far.  :)

I do love look of this thread though - especially with fancy intricate quilting...the shininess just looks like pearl to me...it's elegant!  :)  LOL

Tonight I will start loading up Monica's quilt...she sent me two beauties to work on.  I am excited to get going too because they are going to be just lovely.  :)  Also hoping to start squeezing in some work on my dahlia quilt.  Deadlines are fast approaching and I've been so busy I haven't touched it!  Eek!  :)

Sharon's Quilt Progress Photos!

I feel like I'm back!  After a really rough week I've been slowly making a dent in the stack of quilts I have waiting here to be quilted...and this one is making me drool.  I just love how this is turning out!  I was a little stumped when Sharon first sent it over...but once I started playing on it, I really got into a groove and it's looking so beautiful!  :)

I adore how it is turning out!  Tomorrow will be a marathon quilting day - I plan to load up on coffee in the morning and then the Husband will be taking the kids for me for a little while...yay!  Quilt-A-Thon 2013!!  :)  I figure I'll let him spoil me for working so hard with some peanut butter pie with my dinner!!!  ;)  Lol  I truly do have a good Hubby though, seriously.  :)  He taped a little bit of me quilting tonight as an experiment if anyone is interested in that kind of thing...

Be warned...the video is embedded and I have received a snarky comment or two in the past from someone who couldn't see it well..I do apologize for that but I think it has something to do with my blogger template and I don't have much control over it...if you have any issues and really want to see better just hop on over to my YouTube Channel and click on the full screen option.  ;)

More Pictures of Laura's Quilt and an Update

Good morning!  :)  I wanted to share a few more pictures of Laura's quilt because it really is a sweet quilt...and with all the craziness that has been going on here I didn't get to share more than a few in progress photos.  Here is the finished quilt...

Laura makes really sweet and beautiful quilts so it is always a pleasure to quilt them for her.  Thank you Laura!  :)

An update on family - my Grandmother passed away on Saturday.  We sort of knew it was coming but you never know if these things will drag out for months or even years.  I'm grateful that it was quick and I don't think she was aware of what was happening...sometimes that can be a blessing.  I wanted to thank those of you who sent me emails and messages sending your prayers and thoughts out to our family.  It is so kind and meaningful that you would take some time out of your own busy life to think of us - so thank you.  :)

This week I'm working on Sharon's quilt and a charity quilt for a lady at my guild.  ;)  I will share pictures soon!  :)

Laura's Quilt

I finished Laura's quilt last evening...it is such a sweet quilt!  I will take better pictures later on today - those of you who follow me on Facebook know that my Grandmother hasn't been feeling well and went into the hospital a few days ago.  I'm headed over to see her this evening so I'm putting a few of my regular chores on hold...but things aren't looking good at the moment for her so I don't want to miss the opportunity just in case it is the last.  :(

Anyhow, staying positive, Laura is one of my very first customers who's sent several quilts to me and is just wonderful to quilt for.  I'm so lucky to have a really awesome bunch of ladies who send quilts my way...

You know about me and feathers...cannot get enough!

I really like how this turned out and I think Laura will be pleased.  Next up is a charity quilt I'm sneaking in on my off days and then Sharon's gorgeous quilt!  Wait until you see it...you traditional gals are going to drool!  ;)

JoAnne's Quilt is Finished! :)

Finally finished JoAnne's beautiful quilt - this was a TON of stitch in the ditch!  Oh my!!!  I think it looks great though and really makes those dresdens POP!  :)

It's been busy like I cannot even describe here at our house.  The kids are busy with school and fall activities and I have my hands full with quilts and the house.  Last weekend we took the kids to a local pumpkin patch...it was so much fun!  I absolutely love this time of year...the leaves are changing and the pumpkins are out...it is just the best.  :)

I hope you all are having a great fall!  I'm ready to put the Christmas tree up!!!  :)

Twist to the 60's Blog Hop with Batik's

Ok.  I admit.  I kind of wandered off from the 60's into I have no idea where.  My original idea was the 60's...the Beatles...the whole Eastern Philosophy Movement...Hare Krishna's and then I just went off into space!!  So here is my Twist to the 60's Quilt (...um...that didn't get quilted...lol) that doesn't feel very 60's!!!

Epic failure on my end!!!  But there are some really amazing creations to be seen...check them out!

Grandmama's Stories

What About Rheema?

Pumpkin Patch Quilter  (You Are HERE!)  :)

Kathy's Quilts

Stitching by the Beach

As always thank you to Madam Samm from Sew We Quilt for putting these hops together!  Thank you Mary from I Piece-2 Mary, our gracious hostess!