Learning to Change

Change is the end result of all true learning. Change involves three things: First, a dissatisfaction with self -- a felt void or need; 
second, a decision to change to fill the void or need; and 
third, a conscious dedication to the process of growth and change -- the willful act of making the change, doing something. 

Leo Buscaglia

I took some time in March to step back and look at how things were going in my life.  I know I haven't been blogging much but the time away gave me a chance to think about what I want from blogging, quilting and other areas in my life too.  I was surprised that my blog continued to get a number of hits even when I was absent.  Thank you, my readers, for the support!  I am approaching the 100,000 hits number and would have probably been there already if I had posted a little more in the last couple of months.  I will be having a drawing for my readers when I get there.  It will probably happen in June but could be in May.

I have not been idle.  I have been working in the studio and will share more about that later.

I don't intend to stop blogging, I just want to make sure I am doing it for reasons that are important to me.  I have always enjoyed sharing my skills by teaching quilting and the blog is a great way to do that.  I want to get more tutorials and tips posted but that does take a chunk of time.  I have one of those big, ending in '0', birthdays coming later in the year.  Those always make you do a little navel gazing about the important things in life and how time is so fleeting.  I'm trying to get a little smarter about how I spend mine. 

So what have I been doing?

Last month I took a few classes at the Sewing Expo.  I once again took a class from Dustin Farrell.  I have taken a number of his classes and this one was a repeat but I enjoyed it anyway.  Here is some of his work.

Dustin Farrell's thread work

Dustin's quilting

Dustin's Spiro Quilting and Feathers

More Spiro Quilting

I'm hoping to play with the Spiro Quilting soon.  I couldn't get in that class but I bought the DVD and tools.

I also took several classes with Gina Perks.  She was a delightful teacher!  She is a very talented quilter and has written a book.  She also is a very good photographer and pastry chef.  She has a blog that shows a little of her talents HERE.

Gina Perks

Gina is holding the class sample of applique done on the longarm.  That was a really fun class and I will have to share my version of it later.  I still have a little more to do on it but it was a great class with a number of techniques in it.  

One of the things I did make progress on during March was my NewFO from February.  I had shared my dissatisfaction with the jelly rolls when I was cutting them in this post.  I did get the blocks sewn now I need to find some time at the design wall.

Nothing complicated about these blocks for sure.  Just two seams.  You can't get much faster than that!  Here is the link for the Falling Charms pattern.

I did manage to find a few new black and white prints at the show also.  I will be using some of these in my Soul Searching quilt blocks soon.  I have this month's made but will have to get a picture made to share.

That's a little of what I've been up to.  There is more to share but I'll save that for another day.  I have a quilt calling me from the longarm ;-)

Learning from the Best

One of the greatest and simplest tools for learning more and growing is doing more.

 John Roger

I really like to take classes on longarm quilting.  Even though I started stand-up quilting about 14 years ago I feel like I haven't even scratched to surface on free motion quilting. Now that I finally have a machine that is easier to work with I am making some progress. 

I do feel proficient at pantograph quilting but I still need to learn more on the free motion side of the machine. 

In the last few years I have taken a number of classes with some well known longarm quilters.  Last week I took several classes with these 3 great teachers at the Georgia Quilt Show.

Dustin Farrell, Lisa Sipes and Pam Clarke were my instructors.  
I'd taken classes with Dustin and Pam before and wanted to take more.

I actually remembered to get pictures of them to share.  Here's a few with my mug in them to prove I actually was there.  ;-)

I thought I'd show a little bit of their work too.  I'm not nearly as good as they are but I might share a few shots of mine sometime soon.

Dusty does great curls,butterflies and so many other ideas with feathers.

His quilt shop link.  I love his books and tools.  If you haven't seen this video take a look.

Lisa is know for her precision work.  It is unbelievable.

Her website. Visit her gallery for some great eye candy.

Pam started longarm quilting in the 1980's and can do it all!

Her website. She has a lot of quilts pictured there and all her products too.

I didn't just take classes at the show. I also managed to get in a little shopping.  I'll be showing you some of my new treasures soon.

By the way, the Winner for the EQ7 drawing hasn't contacted me yet.  If I don't hear from her soon I will be drawing for another winner.  I'll be announcing the Winners for the Fall Blog Hop tomorrow.

Winter's Report

Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.

Robert Louis Stevenson

First Daffodil 1/6/2012

Spring has already flown in and I haven't posted any progress so here is what I have been working on for the last few months:


January - The year started with spring flowers, earliest I can remember. I started off the year pretty good, after not feeling well for the first 2 weeks of January I did manage to get the pieced backing made and then quilted my UFO #5. Still need to bind it.

Fall Leaf Flannel 4 Patch Before Quilting

I also made 2 pillowcases for my new side sleeper pillow. I had to draft the pattern and put in zippers since the pillow is J shaped.

February - I made a flannel design wall and hung up a Fons & Porter one so now I have TWO! I had to take down the Winner's Bouquet Blocks from the old vinyl tablecloth design wall to hang the new one so they got sewn together after living on the wall for months.

Winner's Bouquet Blocks on Old Design Wall

I'd had a construction zone panel that I've wanted to get quilted for my grandson for a year or so. I was tempted to just serge the edges and give it to him but I decided to quilt it since he had asked when he would get a quilt.  I bordered it with several fat quarters of vehicle prints and made a backing from several flannel fat quarters of more vehicles.  Still need to get the binding on it.

I seem to have a bad habit of making a top and not adding the borders so I'm trying to get the borders added to a few tops.  I added the final border to a 30's prints Bargello top, I had at first decided not to put a border on this one but changed my mind.  I made a Christmas print one at the same time that I will not border because I can't find one I like.


March - I added the borders to the Out of the Bag quilt I made a couple of years ago. I matched the prints to hide the seams and will post a tutorial on how I did it.

I went to the Original Sewing Expo and took 3 longarm classes with Pam Clarke and one on Paintsticks with Laura Murray. Nothing like escaping everything for a few days of quilting fun!  Inspired by this getaway I succumbed to temptation and started not one but two new quilts:  A safari themed quilt using the Flip Flop Block template and the Shadow Block Pattern by Kathie Alyce http://www.waterfallquilts.com/patterns.htm It has gone together fairly quickly. The other one is a batik rectangles and I'm really enjoying playing with some of those special batiks I've been saving for a while.

Another quilt I've been working on is a circles quilt.  I started the circles when I taught a class on how to make them about six years ago, still not sure how they are going to go together but there are a lot more than just two now. I'll add pictures of these soon.

I've also made progress on ironing fabrics and ripping up magazines and filing away ideas and projects in my inspiration notebooks. This is part of my ongoing effort to establish order where chaos now exists in my studio. It usually just results in more project added to the 'want make list' and more fabrics that I really want to play with stack.  LOL