I’ve got an article in the upcoming issue of Professional Quilter magazine called Developing Your Blog as a Marketing Tool. I love blogging. I get to write daily posts that let readers know a little about me and my work and connect with people not only in my own community, but across the [...]
Posts from ‘June, 2008’
Art on the Screened Porch
Art in the garden is such a poetic idea. One of my favorite events used to be Barnsley Garden’s Quilts in the Garden, but since they renovated and become large I don’t think they hold the event anymore. I’ve longed to go to Sisters out in Oregon someday, but I decided to hold [...]
Beyond Quilter’s Weight Cotton
Beth at Sew Mama Sew! has an interesting interview with Westminster Fabrics about their decision to offer home decorator-weight cotton fabric. Their response is pure marketing spin, and while not necessarily untrue, here’s the real reason they’re offering home dec fabric:
They make more money.
Which requires more yardage: a quilt, or window treatments? [...]
Surf’s Up at VBS
So what does an artist do to her generic VBS t-shirt? She adds her personal touch, of course. I painted the flowers and surfboard during a family painting session on Sunday. My older son painted a sample surfboard craft for Arts & Crafts while my younger painted his own shirt.
This is VBS [...]
I’m On Mary Lou’s Blogroll!
I feel like I’ve arrived. Mary Lou Weidman has added me to her blogroll. Wow. I’m so honored. Mary Lou is one of my all-time favorite quilters, not only for her courageous use of bold colors, but also for her gracious and optimistic attitude.
I have all of Mary Lou’s books, and [...]
The Ultimate Stitch Sampler
This is the ultimate stitch sampler. First, let me make clear this is not my quilt. I took this photograph over 10 years ago at a local quilt show when photography was not nearly as far along as it is now. This isn’t a great photo, but it will serve the purpose [...]
Practice Specialty Stitches on Your Project Fabric
Once you’ve created your general mini-stitch samplers, you should be well-prepared for any type of quilting you want to do with your machine. I still, however, create a small sampler before I quilt on a project. I need to see how those stitches will look on the fabric I’m using.
My generic mini-stitch samplers [...]
Experiment with Threads and Stitch Settings
If you’ve created your first set of mini-stitch samplers, then I recommend you create a sampler experimenting with specialty threads and changing your stitch settings. I like using the thicker machine quilting threads from YLI and Superior, so I experimented with regular straight and zig-zag stitches to see the difference the threads would make.
Then [...]
Create Mini-Stitch Samplers
Being an instructor, I dutifully took the free classes offered when I bought my sewing machine years ago. Those classes didn’t even scratch the surface of what my machine could do. It came with a manual, but it didn’t really go in-depth either. I was determined to make the most of my [...]
How Many Specialty Stitches Does Your Machine Offer?
Quilters have fabulous sewing machines that offer more stitches than we’ll ever really use. Let’s face it: most quilters use the straight stitch, zig-zag, feather stitch, buttonhole stitch, and maybe one or two others. But the remaining stitches are lonely, waiting to be remembered and at least acknowledged.
So do it. You [...]
Getting to Know You
What if I told you I could instantly make you a better machine quilter with just one simple technique? And you wouldn’t have to invest in any expensive tools, DVDs, or books. Just use what you have.
Interested?
Here it is:
Get to know your machine better. Spend some time with it. I can always tell the quilters [...]
Star Student in My Piecemakers Class
Meet Maizy. She was so well-behaved in class. Her owner, Dolle, brought her to join us after lunch, and she was such a dear. Not even one bark.
We had so much fun at the Piecemakers’ Machine Quilting class in Cumming, Ga. We had hand-quilters, brand new quilters, and machine quilters who [...]
Who Decides the Next “Hot” Color?
Ever wonder who are those trendsetters who declare what the new “hot” colors will be for the upcoming season? I found out when I attended a workshop with Michael Miller fabrics at spring Quilt Market. Turns out fashion colors start in Paris on the runway, then slowly trickle down into the marketplace and [...]
