Amy's Creative Side Blogger's Quilt Festival 2012 Entry

My entry for the Blogger's Quilt Festival 2012
sponsored by "Amy's Creative Side"
Categories:  Bed Quilt and Machine-quilted Quilt
Pieced by:  Mary Ann @ RocknQuilts
Machine-quilted by:  Mary Ann @ RocknQuilts
Size 63"x68"
This is my very first completed quilt.
Pattern by Eleanor Burns
Special technique:  Quilt-as-You-Go, as shown below:

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SewCalGal 2012 FMQ Challenge Bonus #3 Diane Loomis

I am so very pleased with how this turned out.  Thank you to SewCalGal for hosting the 2012 FMQ Challenge and to Diane Loomis, who so graciously provided every single step to ensure near perfection.  What a fantastic teacher!  Never before have I been able to create such a beautiful piece - if I never make anything nicer in my entire life, I'll be satisfied.  :-)

Steps to Success:

1.  Purchased Hari Walner's book "Exploring Machine Trapunto:  New Dimensions" upon Diane Loomis' recommendation:

2.  Used a Frixion pen for the first time - the ability for fine detail was very important here for the sometimes tiny feathers:

3.  Used a light box to trace onto the fabric with my new Frixion pen 

4.  Read Hari Walner's informative book and along with Diane's instructions, also followed Hari's:

5.  Utilized "Vanish Extra" wash-away thread in the top, but used Guettermann cotton thread in the bobbin:

6.  Set my tension to 2.2 for the fine wash-away thread:

7.  Used a small scissors very carefully to clear away the excess wool batting:

8.  Switched to Guettermann embroidery thread in top and cotton bobbin thread once I prepared the quilt sandwich:

9.  And here 'she' is!

This time, I quilted very slowly...much more so than I ever had before.  

Do you like it?

Keep working on your goal - it took me two full years of summers and weekends to get this far!  

Best Wishes,

SewCalGal Oct. 2012 FMQ Challenge

I'm in LOVE!  With my new Pfaff creative performance AND Guettermann thread!!  They love each other and I love them :-)  **sigh**  (of relief!)  Both Guettermann 100% polyester (5.2 tension setting) and their 100% Viscose embroidery threads (2.4 tension setting) work beautifully for quilting with this machine when using an 80/12 topstitching needle.  You can move any direction you desire!

I received excellent thread/tension/needle information from Machine Quilting Made Easy!, written by Maurine Noble for That Patchwork Place.  Tammy belongs to the FMQ Challenge and also participates in SewCalGal's 2012 FMQ Challenge as well.  Her advice about this book has been most helpful - thank you, Tammy!

Here are my results (note:  the 30w Superior is the green and I did have tension issues with it - operator error, I'm sure, but still, it's awfully nice to put in the thread my machine likes and sail away without any tension problems!)

My batting sample from Harriet Hargrave

I would definitely recommend using this batting - it will shrink after washing, leaving a lovely 'used' look to your quilt, but it is delightful to fmq!

It's Sunday morning, so I'm going to indulge in both eye candy and chocolate candy!  Off to blissville...happy quilting!!!

All the Best,

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Quilt Fest Preparations

November 2-4, 2012 

Quilt Fest

is coming soon!

In preparation for the four classes I'm taking, I'm readying the following...

1.  Quilter's Tote Bag

(I picked out burgundy material for the tote bag and created a gold-tone binding for it to match the organizer made a month ago.)

Thankfully, there was enough of this print left even a month later - whew! - so that I could quilt it to make a coordinating wallet, too!  I'll be all ready for quilt shows now :-)

2.  Mystery Quilt Class

"Chip Off the Old Block" by Debbie Caffrey

Debbie's Creative Moments, Inc.

www.debbiescreativemoments.com 

The object of choosing the fabrics was to strive for CONTRAST...I hope I did that here:

Border fabric:

3. Tannenbaum Tree Skirt

37" diameter

Aardvark Quilts AQ841

http://www.aardvarkquilts.com/patterns.php

4.  Layer 'em Up!

This class will use six 10" squares to learn the techniques from the following three books from 

Sharyn Craig...

http://www.sharyncraig.com/id10.html

Sharyn has been gracious enough to share her techniques on youtube for us, too!

and...

last but NOT least!

I've been preparing for the SewCalGal October FMQ Challenge.

This month, I have decided to do the alternate October tutorial from Diane Loomis

http://www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com/2012/10/2012-free-motion-quilting-challenge_15.html

My dear blogland friends, 

I sincerely hope you are all enjoying fair weather and happy times in your sewing room!

Are you also preparing for a quilting festival in your area?

All the Best,

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