(Disclaimer: LONG update ahead. I recommend pouring yourself a cup of tea or something cold to drink and pulling up a comfy chair because you won’t want to miss any of this post!)
There’s a lot to share so I thought I’d highlight a few of those things in this post. Around the same time that my Mom passed away a few weeks ago, my fun little quilt and feature technique called The Paris Stitch Project, for Janome, was released. I felt badly I wasn’t able to promote it at the time it hit social media as much as I had hoped. But there’s no reason why I can’t share it now.
Dave LaValley, John Ryan of Janome, and me!
I’ve had the good fortune to work with the incomparable Dave LaValley, owner of Bittersweet Fabrics, in his Janome and Elna classrooms at several venues through the years. Dave is a terrific guy and a top Diamond dealer for Janome. It was because of Dave that I’ve had the good fortune to sew on a Memory Craft 15000 and Horizon 8900 for over a year. I decided to have some fun with the myriad of stitches on the 15000 and instead of creating the usual “stitch library” (a stitch-out of sample stitches), I created textured background squares using 50wt. cotton thread in colors that blended beautifully with the background fabrics I chose.
The Paris Stitch Project
I had such fun stitching out a variety of decorative stitches — and even signed my name in thread in the pink heart block!
I began by choosing fabrics from my stash. I’ve been collecting Paris and Eiffel Tower themed fabrics for years!
I stitched many different decorative stitches in diagonal lines on the background fabrics.
It was fun to use the script alphabets to add some words, too!
I machine appliqued the hearts in place using contrasting black thread and a buttonhole stitch.
I love using my glove grips by Marcia Baraldi to do the machine quilting! These are the only machine quilting aids I’ve found that allow your fingertips to “feel” the fabric as you move it beneath the needle. I’ve had great success with my machine quilting using them.
To order your own machine quilting gloves by Marcia Baraldi, click here.
To see the entire step-by-step photo tutorial which includes dozens of my photos and instructions for making your own version of the Paris Stitch Project, click here.
For the downloadable instructions for the Paris Stitch Project, click here.
MQX
Last week I taught four full days of sold out classes at the fabulous MQX East show in Manchester, NH. What a great time seeing many old friends, previous students who came back to take another class from me, and of course new friends and students as well. I’m afraid I didn’t get to see many of the quilts hanging in the show because of my teaching schedule but I enjoyed the experience immensely! Enjoy some of the photos I snapped throughout the week…..
As with any traveling to teach, the “schlepping” is my least favorite part. But the experience made it all worth it.
Major score! Kudos to the MQX show organizers, Mary Schilke and Janet-Lee Santeusanio, for the all-time cutest faculty tote bags ever!
It was such fun hanging out with Judi Madsen, of Green Fairy Quilts and her sister, Amy. Judi was awarded Machine Quilting Teacher of the Year by MQX!
Modern T’s Class — these ladies did a great job making their blocks!
One of my CRAFTSY students, Laura Sexton, brought her 2015 BOM to share……
Laura did an outstanding job!
And sweet Caroline Bell brought her completed Modern T’s quilt to show and share! I loved having her and her Mom in class again!
I taught a brand new class, Amazing Dresden Applique, and the students cut out all the pieces for their quilts using the Accuquilt GO! cutters in class!
Having the students use the Accuquilt GO! cutters and dies in class was such fun.
The students loved the ease, accuracy and how fast they were able to cut all their pieces!
Alex Veronelli of Aurifil Threads even stopped by my classroom to host a giveaway of thread. This truly made the day of one lucky student!
Check out the gorgeous, customized Dresden blocks! These five gals all came to class together.
On the last day, we got a little silly and Mr. Kim posted a sign for all the show-going folks to see as they walked past the classroom on their way to the show floor.
Congratulations to Birgit Schuller — I awarded my Faculty ribbon for her spectacular quilt, Discontinued Pretties!
TAQG Rally Day
I’m over-the-moon-thrilled about this special, souvenir pin created with my logo in honor of Rally Day 2016!
While I was at MQX last week, a good friend sent me this photo of the Dallas Quilt Guild’s 2016 Rally Day pin; the event will be July 9th. This is going to be an awesome event — and I can hardly wait to spend over a week visiting the different chapters of the Dallas Quilt Guild to teach classes and present lectures. If you’re a member or would like more information, simply click here. And honestly, how cool is this pin?
Boundless Solids
I’ve been drooling over the fabulous line of solid fabrics that CRAFTSY just launched. Golly gumdrops, they are scrumptious! These fabrics are high quality and have a fabulous “hand” that is soft and drapes beautifully. Yet they are also crisp so piecing is perfectly precise. You simply must try them. They are available in both yardage and Precut bundles, so what’s not to love? I would like to invite you to use my special “link” and give them a try. I’ve already ordered three bundles myself…….
…..a fat quarter bundle of modern brights……
…..a pack of 10″ squares of elegant “Soft and Subtle” solids……
…and a 2 1/2″ strip bundle of Contemporary colors.
There are so many combinations from which to choose. Take a look at these lovelies:
I’ll be stalking the postman this week until he delivers my box of goodies!
So, which fabrics are calling your name? Click here.
Vintage is oh-so “in.”
Let me introduce you to my dear, sweet cousin, Denise. (Our mothers were sisters.) I don’t have a lot of extended family and relatives but oh, how I treasure our friendship! She is sweet and funny, wife and mother of two, and she has a little business on Etsy called SmallTownVintageShop. Click here (if you’re an Etsy member) or consider joining Etsy and visit her shop. She has the prettiest costume jewelry around and she both buys and sells vintage jewelry. If you’d like to get in touch with her directly, leave a comment or email me. I’ll put you in touch with her directly.
Last week I was perusing her shop and I picked up these cutie-patooties and she sent them to me already! Check out this vintage, modernist kitty pin and the adorable sterling silver scatter pins of a knife, fork and spoon! (The knife is about 2″ long.) Ooh……I just love them!
A small spring break…..
Somewhere in March we managed to get away for a few days to enjoy the cabin for spring break. Don’t even get me started on the minor repairs that turned into major renovations but we managed to enjoy the beautiful weather up in the mountains.
I snapped this photo out the window of the plane as we crossed the Rocky mountains.
Although the air was nippy, we did spend a little time relaxing on the deck.
What a lovely surprise to find the apple trees on the side of our cabin in bloom.
The blossoms were so soft and pretty.
Especially against the brilliant, blue sky.
Quite by accident we found this hidden “gem” of the mountainside Arrowhead.
How cool is this landmark? The origin or creators are not known.
Thank you so much for reading this post while I shared all the happenings in the past few weeks. Hope you enjoyed the break — I appreciate you stopping by the blog!
Loved catching up on your many travels! Say HI to my friends.
Thank you. You are a genuine pleasure.
What a great post! Thanks for lots of lovely photos and quilting inspiration.
What a FANTASTIC time we had and a great friend as well. Thank you Kim and see you at the Vermont Quilt Festival in June.
Enjoyed catching up. I hope to see you in Dallas in July ????
Love, love love your blogs!!