MORE pictures from the Ricky Tims Seminar

I just want to tell you in advance my camera …. needs to be thrown out.  First I forgot to take the program off MACRO, so all my first set of pictures are fuzzy.  I was able to re-shoot lots of pictures but they will still need editing.  When the seminar was done I reset the entire camera to factory default.  I had been afraid to do that earlier because I was afraid to mess up the settings worse then what they were.  The settings  were fixable in an editing program.  The only thing I have trouble with is out of focus shots ( that was why had I had to reset the factory settings) but the focus settings had been messed with and I no longer knew how to fix the setting.  I think this will work.  WORD TO THE WISE NEVER LET A 5 YEAR OLD USE YOUR GOOD CAMERA…. give him an old one. 

I will be posting more pictures after I edit them.  the main edit will be re size to a size this blog will accept.  So enjoy.

WHOLE CLOTH PHOTO QUILT

This photo was printed from a 60 inch printer on to fabric on freezer paper. Ricky then FMQ accentuating the photographs. He used shadowing to maintain the integrity of the shapes. Everyone stopped to admire this wall quilt.

ONE SEAM FLYING GEESE

Ricky said he made this 3d- ONE SEAM FLYING GEESE QUILT. HE taught this technique on the quilt show. I have made some of these quilts for kids, but I used larger flying geese units and novelty prints. Kids love putting little toys / treats in the pockets. It is a fun quilt. If somebody wants I will post the directions to the quilt I make using this technique. I have directions to multiple size geese and a rectangular block. LET ME KNOW IF YOU want me to post the directions.

Ricky’s newest pattern

RHAPSODY, center medallion

THIS is a LIBBY LEHMAN QUILT

Ricky and his father made this RHAPSODY QUILT Ricky’s dad made the lone star quilt and Ricky finished it with the applique and innovative setting. This is what happens if you let your imagination run wild and you push your boundaries.

KALEIDOSCOPE

BLUE KALEIDOSCOPE

Ricky demonstrated the technique used to make a KALEIDOSCOPE QUILT. This is my daughters and grandson’s favorite pattern. I made a kaleidoscope wall hanging which now hangs in my grandson’s room. (See LOGO) He threw a fit when I tried to take it down from the wall to take to the seminar to have Ricky sign the back of my quilt. He can be so BRATTY!

This is another caveman piecing technique quilt that has applique. The caveman piecing makes a great background for applique.

Shantel Tulip a caveman piecing technique shown during the seminar. He also has a DVD that teaches this technique is greater detail for people like me who have no memory and need constant reminding/ prompting on how to do a technique.

LADY RAGS (AKA NONNIE) with RICKY TIMS

Happy QUILTING
NONNIE

http://nonniequiltingdreams.wordpress.com/ Nonnie’s Blog

http://nonniesquiltingdreams.podbean.com/ Nonnie’s Quilting Dream Podcast
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Links for Nonnie’s Quilting Dreams

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @NONNIE_P ….. @NONNIE_P

email me at: nonniequiltingdreams@gmail.com
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Pat Holly came to our guild

http://aqsshows.com/AQSPaducah/

http://aqsshows.com/AQSPaducah/contests/2013-aqs-quiltweek-paducah-winners/

Pat Holly came to our guild for the March meeting.  I have already posted pictures from that night in an earlier blog.  What I did not include at the time was pictures of her newest quilt as she was taking it to PADUCAH for the big quilt show.  While at the guild she talked about her earlier works.  At the time she gave me permission to post a picture on this blog of her quilts including the her newest quilt.  So here they are.  Just think this little quilt is less than 18 inches by 18 inches.   Pat explained one of the characteristics of a miniature quilt is that it is proportional in scale.  They should look like a large quilt when photographed.   Pat won the Benartex Best Miniature Award for the quilt she called, Tiny Tigers 2.  TINY TIGERS one is a gift for her daughter.  Pat says she now makes two quilts at the same time as it is easier and allows her to experiment with the projects.  Here are the pictures of Pat’s winning quilt.

TINY TIGER 2 BY PAT HOLLY

Pat Holly’s Miniature Quilt TINY TIGER 2

UPDATE: APRIL 26, 2013
HERE is a video of Pat Holly at Paducha on YOU Tube. Be sure to sign up to the YOU Tube Channel.  AQS has been posting new video interviews every day of Quilt Show.

Pat Holly at Paducha: Interview by AQS

ENJOY
Happy Quilting
Nonnie
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http://nonniequiltingdreams.wordpress.com/ Nonnie’s Blog

http://nonniesquiltingdreams.podbean.com/ Nonnie’s Quilting Dream Podcast
@
Links for Nonnie’s Quilting Dreams

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @NONNIE_P ….. @NONNIE_P

email me at: nonniequiltingdreams@gmail.com

It is 3am so why am I awake????

It is 3 am (est) so why am I awake.  My darling grandson  had a night mare and woke up screaming.  He is now sleeping the sleep of the unconscious but I am wide awake and can not go back to sleep.. BUMMER!! So I decided to journal my FMQ adventures because this is basically what this blog is about. This little baby quilt will go live in Arizona with my nephew, his wife and their expected daughter. If I want to remember the lessons I learn in this quilt I have to record them here because I will probably never see the quilt once it is gone.

I was able to get some short quilting sessions in this week.  Each night after I came home and got some dinner on the table I was able to FMQ one of the small sheep borders.  Each session was about a hour before getting ready for bed.  I do not do my best quilting this late at night, but I have to do the quilting when I have some free time.  I find working in small time frames get the work done; but it does have some draw backs.   In this quilt I plan each border to have a slightly different motif, but if I wanted them all to be the same I would have some problems maintaining the same pattern in each border working the patterns on separate nights.  Since I did a new pattern every night I did not have to worry about consistency.

I wish I had placed a second layer of batting behind the little sheep as they would have looked very cute as a trupunto, but I opted not to do that. Each border has a slightly different FMQ motif in the background. Sewing in such a small scale was harder than I anticipated.     My hands tended to cramp a little as I worked so I had to shake them out to loosen my grip.  I had not noticed this problem when I worked on larger scale motifs.  Small scale FMQ is more forgiving if you break pattern… I dare anyone to find my mistakes.  The thin blending thread I chose to use makes it very hard to see errors.

On my last night I made a major mistake in my FMQ resulting in me spending part of my time picking out the stitches.  I now plan to pin my extra backing so I DO NOT sew it into my FMQ again.  I have done this before… YOU WOULD THINK I WOULD LEARN FROM THE FIRST TIME.

I will be journalling more as I finish each of the borders.  I am thinking a different motif in each section.  I hope you do not find it to boring but I want to write down what I have learned so I do not forget in the future.  I have been scouting out various motifs on FMQ BLOGS mostly Leah Day and Angela Walters and of course PINTEREST.  What would I do without PINTEREST?  I can mimic FMQ patterns but I am not to the point that I can design my own… I need all the inspiration I can get.

So sleep is finally coming to me.  Here is my first set of small border pictures.  Tomorrow I plan to do the larger borders.  I have no idea at this time what patterns I will do.

 

Swirls and Curls

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Swirls marked with CRAYOLA WASHABLE MARKERS

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TINY BUBBLES

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RICKY DOODLES

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BIG BOO BOO– sewed the side to the FMQ motifs…dumb

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HAPPY QUILTING
NONNIE
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http://nonniequiltingdreams.wordpress.com/ Nonnie’s Blog

http://nonniesquiltingdreams.podbean.com/ Nonnie’s Quilting Dream Podcast
@
Links for Nonnie’s Quilting Dreams

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @NONNIE_P ….. @NONNIE_P

email me at: nonniequiltingdreams@gmail.com
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Free motion quilting : session TWO

MIDDLE PANEL

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This is from my second session of FMQ on this sheep quilt. I used a french curve for the top panel and made gentle swoops. I was trying to mark them consistently but when I sewed them I strayed from the path. I only did one single pass using 40 wt King Tut thread. I was trying to mimic background hills.
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Bottom half of the quilt panel …

I originally tried to use a vertical flame pattern similar the horizontal flame pattern in the section above. I ended up picking out all the FMQ stitches. Thank goodness, there was less than a quarter of the section quilted. I then marked new lines in a curved grid pattern. I was having trouble following the lines without back tracking. As again I was using the 40wt King Tut thread,the back tracking showed, I kept getting bobbles and funky miss-stitches when I moved my hands. This would not win any prizes in a quilt show; but works great on a baby quilt. I find over quilting covers up a lot of mistakes and it looks like it was intentional. I do not think it would have looked so funky in the first place if I had used a thin thread such as bottom line, a 60 to 100 weight thread.
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Off I go for another FMQ session. I need to plan out what I am going to do in the multiple borders. One thing I know is I will only be using thin thread for the rest of the quilt. I am thinking of doing some of the motifs and patterns I learned through ANGELA WALTERS Craftsy classes and books. I will be posting them in the future.

Happy Quilting,
Nonnie

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http://nonniequiltingdreams.wordpress.com/ Nonnie’s Blog

http://nonniesquiltingdreams.podbean.com/ Nonnie’s Quilting Dream Podcast

Links for Nonnie’s Quilting Dreams

email me at: nonniequiltingdreams@gmail.com

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An evening with PAT HOLLY …..

GALLERY OF QUILTS for Pat Holly and Sue Nickles

PAT HOLLY was guest speaker at our March quilt guild meeting. She brought many of her quilts and talked about her journey from a newbie quilter to award winner. The guild members were able to get and up close and personal look at the quilts. I asked Pat if I could post pictures of her quilts on my blog and PAT said yes. I also should let you know that she showed her newest quilt that will be debuting in Paducah, Kentucky this spring, but I will post pictures after that time.

applique challenge

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Amish style quilt- early

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This is one of Pat’s earliest quilts. At the time she was doing everything by hand including the quilting.
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hand quilted – early quilt

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PAT specializes in miniature quilts. She uses fused applique techniques in most of her quilts. She also started using stitched background using the decorative stitches on her domestic machines. She does FREE MOTION QUILTING on her miniature quilts, but her sister Sue Nickles does most of the FMQ on the big quilts.
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Australian art challenge

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I hope I will be posting more pictures in the future… so stay tuned.
Happy Quilting,
Nonnie

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http://nonniequiltingdreams.wordpress.com/ Nonnie’s Blog

http://nonniesquiltingdreams.podbean.com/ Nonnie’s Quilting Dream Podcast

Links for Nonnie’s Quilting Dreams

email me at: nonniequiltingdreams@gmail.com

 

Finished thread basting

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I spent the day thread basting my quilt. It took about 8 hours but it would have been faster if I did not have to cook two meals, keep the grandson out of the pins and machines. I also had my neighbor drop by for a visit but since she is a quilter that was okay we just gossiped.

You will note my thread basting is kind of close together…. two reasons… I only had a short needle and I stopped paying attention to spacing cause I was talking too much. Sharon Schamber’s YOU TUBE videos show spacing about 3 inches apart, but she uses different needles. I could only find my embroidery needles so my spacing is much closer together. As she has stated if you have applique elements in your project you can space closer together.

I also realized I should not have basted over my seam lines. I am taking CINDY NEEDHAM’s Craftsy class Design It, Quilt It: Free-Form Techniques. She said you have to stitch in the ditch EVERY STINKING SEAM! That same sentiment has been stated by RICKY TIMS in his DVDs, so I guess I will ANCHOR EVERY STINKING SEAM with stitch in the ditch.

The last picture I posted is of the back. I had done some thread painting instead of a label as I got kind of lazy I did not want to applique or piece a label into the back. I also think the label should be applied before quilting. I used a free form thread painting technique. My only regret, besides my sloppy handwriting, is that I did not use a good stabilizer. I used an iron pellon instead of my wash away stabilizer and it did not do a good job stabilizing. Live and learn.

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http://nonniequiltingdreams.wordpress.com/ Nonnie’s Blog

http://nonniesquiltingdreams.podbean.com/ Nonnie’s Quilting Dream Podcast

Links for Nonnie’s Quilting Dreams

email me at: nonniequiltingdreams@gmail.com

LAYERING my quilt sandwich ala SHARON SCHAMBER

Link to Sharon Schamber’s You tube videos

Hand Basting using boards

Several years ago when I started getting interested in FREE MOTION QUILTING I watched all the YOU TUBE videos I could find. I found several by Sharon Schambers. I started using her method because I did not like putting my quilt sandwich on a bed or the floor. I could use my sewing table for most quilts and it was the perfect height. For really large quilts I go to the guild or a local sewing group and use their big tables. I figure if this method works for Sharon Schambers it will be good enough for me. I like not having to strain my back so I will keep using this method. I posted my links so you can see her video. YOU will notice I use a separate trim board for each layer. I think Sharon used only one set, but I found this the easiest method and all my layers come out nice, flat and well aligned.

My current baby quilt is now loaded and I will be hand basting it this weekend so I can start the free motion quilting. I use DMC embroidery cotton or a fine pearl cotton, usually in white. I have also heard of using WASHABLE THREAD for the basting the quilt and not removing the thread but I think that is a waste of expensive thread. Once I have the quilt top basted together I can free motion quilt and remove the thread as I go. I find that this type of basting keep the layers together and there are no puckers on the back of the quilt.

I will post updates of the quilt as I go along.
Happy QUILTING,

Nonnie

 

 

Sewing on Codeine

Mistakes in math

Here are my flying geese. I am making a baby quilt with my blocks. The first time I calculated the number of geese I would need I underestimated by half. I had to make more geese. I have had a severe cold and been taking codeine cough syrup, so my math skills took a total decline. I also sewed several flying geese backwards, putting the background geese on the bottom instead of the top. I had to rip it, rip it, rip it. Because of the size of the scraps I am using I cut each patch individually. I used Bonnie’s method of cutting my patches using the angle rulers. This time it went easier since I have figured out how to piece the patches easier.

My recommendation do not sew on strong medication.

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Over View of panel – FMQ

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Over view of FMQ Panel… Now for the borders….

LEFT HALF

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Panel’s left in detail….

Right half of panel

RIGHT half of my panel, in detail. I am getting closer to the end. I hope to have it done by New Years when we go see the family.

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http://nonniequiltingdreams.wordpress.com/ Nonnie’s Blog

http://nonniesquiltingdreams.podbean.com/ Nonnie’s Quilting Dream Podcast

Pod cast link for Nonnie’s Quilting Dreams

JOIN me at GOOD READS

email me at: nonniequiltingdreams@gmail.com

Nonnie’s Flicker Pictures

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Products I use and love

I am going to start reviewing some of the products I have bought and used over the years. I will probably throw in a few rants along the way too.

TRANSDOODLE  TRANSFER PAPERS

transdoodle transfer paper from mysty fuse company

http://www.mistyfuse.com/

Recommended by Patsy Thompson in her DVDs about FREE MOTION QUILTING,  Machine applique  ( Vines and Leaves 2)   I have been playing with some machine applique and like the ability to mark the quilt and wash out the markings.  This  method is similar to marking your dress fabric with marking papers but the markings are temporary.

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Ricky Stable Stuff and  Wash away Applique (fusible)  Freezer paper

http://applewd.com/supplies/WashAway.html

BETH FERRIER WASH AWAY APPLIQUE FREEZER PAPER… great for other techniques too.

http://www.rickytims.com/online-store?page=shop.browse&category_id=26

RICKY TIMs STABLE STUFF …. used for paper piecing, bobbin work and marking a quilt.

I often use these items interchangeably.  The Wash-Away is fusible but Ricky’s product is not it is also less expensive.  I like using them in paper piecing projects along with the applique.  I hate tearing paper out and this stuff can get left in the block/ quilt.   When you wash your quilt it softens and disappears… leaving at most a fine pellon like fabric behind.  I have also used these products in bobbin work.  And when I made a christening quilt I used them with wash away thread to mark the quilt for free motion quilting.   All of the lessons on how to do these techniques came from Ricky Tims’ Grand Finale DVD and THE QUILT SHOW.  I have all of those DVDs.  I like the show because I learn so much and love to play with the new and interesting techniques.

http://www.thequiltshow.com
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Roxanne marking pencils with Clover pencil sharpener

curved tip snips for FMQ

Roxanne Chalk base Pencils and Clover Sharpener

I was introduced to this product during a FMQ class with Sue Nickels.

http://www.sue-nickels.com/index.php

http://www.sue-nickels.com/store.php?cat=4

Both products have been shown to be very useful.   The pencils are a silver but I think they come in other colors.  They are
chalk base and allow you to mark quilts through stencils or free hand.  Once again a wash away product.   I find since I am doing more free motion quilting and small experimental projects I use these pencils more and more. The sharpener makes a nice point and works better then all the other sharpeners I have use. My biggest problems is to keep the sharpener to myself. The family tends to “borrow” them.

I also liked the Eazy Cut snippers I bought from Sue Nickles.  I found them very handy when FMQ as we used the pull up the bobbin thread then stitch tiny and begin your motifs.  I would then cut off the tails of the threads.  The tips are curved so they are less likely to snip your fabric.  They are easy to use.

 
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Superior THREAD HOLDER

https://www.superiorthreads.com/shop

https://www.superiorthreads.com/shop/

Metal Stand

This is the one I have but it no longer has the metal pin that holds the thread in place.  It kept falling out until one day it was lost.

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https://www.superiorthreads.com/shop/product/superior-thread-holder

Plastic thread holder I want

THIS is the one I plan to buy….

LETS FACE IT … I am a sewing notion junky I buy them all and try them out.  Good for you cause you can just take advantage of my experimentation and buy the things I recommend.   I will also let you know what I actually hate and found the product did not live up to the hype.  Maybe I can save your money for you.

Happy Quilting,

Nonnie

PS ONCE again I am fighting with the formatting for my blog. That is why you get the funky little ****** !

ON-going Diary Post of my NONNIE’S one quilter sewing weekend.

DECEMBER 8 AT 0900

I have a gift to finish for my niece. The FMQ baby quilt that I have been blogging about the last couple of posts. I also plan to work on my BRAVE WORLD BLOCKS for Bonnie Hunter’s EASY STREET MYSTERY QUILT.   NO pictures YET… but I plan to post HERE as I go along.  I have not even rolled out of bed.

See ya later,  Nonnie

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December 8, 2012 at 1030

I saw my sewing machine but that is about it.  I got the bright idea of going into the basement to pull out fabric from my stash.   I started to panic when I could not find the box of YELLOWs and GOLDs I planned to use for my colors.  I started going thru stash and scrap  boxes looking for the yellows and gold that may have been missed filed.  After all I need just small squares.  I swear I should have my head examined when I look at the gluttony that is in my stash.  An hour into cleaning / searching the basement I found my box of yellows and gold.  I then pulled out all the small pieces.  I made a new rule for myself:

ONLY FABRICS THAT HAVE BEEN CUT INTO CAN BE USED PROJECT.   THE RATIONAL IS THAT  I HAVE HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF CUTTING INTO A FABRIC I WAS GOING TO USE IN A PROJECT AND THEN DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TO FINISH SAID PROJECT AND HAD TO IMPROVISED.  FABRIC ALREADY CUT INTO SHOULD BE FAIR GAME.  I HAVE TONS OF FAT QUARTERS THAT HAVE HUNKS TAKEN OUT OF THEM, SO THEY ARE FAIR GAME FOR THIS PROJECT.                               .

I had to stop searching the basement when my four year old grandson came down and wanted to “HELP.”  I told him I was finished and then we went up the stairs.  The basement is where we stash the Christmas presents.  That kid is too smart and would figure things out.   Last year he asked us,  ” WHY DOES SANTA USE THE SAME WRAPPING PAPER AS HIS MOM DID.”  We lied and said we sent Santa our extra rolls of Christmas wrap so he could use them on presents.  Santa takes donations of money and supplies.  That is why we help him out by buy gifts for TOYS FOR TOTS.  Works for us.

Back to sewing….. I am now in the process of making sure the fabric I select has been pre shunk and is ready for cutting.   I have a rather unique preshrinking method that someday I might tell you about.  Still no pictures.

See ya later,  NONNIE

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DECEMBER 8, 2013 at 1300 ( okay 1pm)

Disaster struck in the form of a 4 year old little boy and a paint brush.  My grandson was painting with water colors and got them all over my quilt when he spilled the brush rinse all over the floor.  I tried spraying the quilt with cold water but that did not work very well to get it out.  The quilt is currently soaking in cold water and I will spin it dry when I have  rested a bit.  I had to clean the floor after I put my quilt to soak.  My poor grandson was so upset.

On the sewing front….. I spent the morning FMQ on the border.  I am practicing making sharp points… not doing so good… need a lot more practice.  The border on my panel has a irregular check gingham border so I used matching thread and quilted it trying to maintain sharp points when I turned direction…. STILL need more practice.  I did not have enough of one spool of thread but I had several nearly perfect half spool of thread so that is what I used.  I changed thread every ten inches so that if a person used a magnifying glass to check out the thread colors it will look like an ARTISTIC decision instead of a MAKE DO WITH WHAT YOU HAVE decision.   I will get back to the quilt after it air drys… probably over night.

All is not lost that means when I get back to work later this afternoon I will be working on the BRAVE WORLD BLOCKS for Bonnie Hunter’s Easy Street Mystery quilt.  I have decided to make 20 of the blocks since I am just a making a baby size quilt.  Bonnie said all we need is 64 blocks for a big quilt; making just 20-25 will be more than enough for a baby size quilt.

This is the front of the quilt, I am not sure if you can see the asymmetrical grid FMQ I was able to accomplish. I did not make any regular pattern, it was more what ever I felt like at the moment. And yes I crossed over lines. I do not know who ever made it a rule you can not quilt over a line; I think it may be from hand quilting tradition. I did get some puckers on the back but that was the results of poor pinning not crossing over stitch lines. I am thinking I will try spray basting next quilt, using 505. I have avoided spray basting due to DD’s allergies but if I do it when she is not home it should be okay. I always do a first wash and blocking before I give a gift.

In a previous post I talked about using CRAYOLA WASHABLE CRAYONS for marking my quilts. I used it a leaf section here, I then sprayed with water just to make sure it will wash out without problems. I did not want to recommend something and then not have it work for me or someone else. On the back in the next picture you will see some residue from the CRAYOLA WASHABLE CRAYONS but I just checked and those marks are also washed away.

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Well this is all for right now. I am have errands to run but plan to come back and work on my BONNIE HUNTER EASY STREET MYSTERY QUILT; STEP 3… the BRAVE WORLD BLOCKS.

HAPPY QUILTING, NONNIE

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I got smart… I printed out the instructions to PART THREE.  So much easier to read in print then on the computer… plus I can take notes on the paper.  Back again later… have some cutting to do.

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December 8, 2012 at 2100 (9:00 pm / EST)

I cut out my patches for the BRAVE WORLD blocks.  I have laid out several of the blocks (see the picture.) I have more;  I am having trouble trying to decide what shades of green and yellows to use.  I find that the greens range from blue green, green and yellow green.  I have limited number of light greens and light yellows.   I am thinking the yellow green blocks look best with most of the duller yellows and gold; but the bright, true yellows look better with the blue greens.  I also find I do not care for blue greens and yellow greens put side by side …. they clash in my mind.

When shopping for fabrics I find a lot of mediums but have trouble finding really light fabrics.  I have better luck with darks but even those are found less often than medium tones.    Yes, this is a scrappy quilt but I believe in controlled scrappy.  I have seen too many UGLY QUILTS in my time to make an ugly quilt.  Besides, I find it fun to make ARTISTIC DECISIONS VISUALLY.

Currently, I plan to sew my blocks together tomorrow.  Too tired tonight and I have a HOT DATE with a four year old.

BRAVE WORLD blocks

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Well good night and I will post again tomorrow.
Nonnie

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SLOW going on my FMQ

IT has been really slow going with the FMQ I have only been able to work on it an additional hour or two. I hope to get time to work on it tomorrow. Right now I am editing another podcast. I have finished the CRAFTSY class BEYOND BASIC FREE MOTION QUILTING with Ann Petersen. I learned a lot from Ann’s class and applied what I learned to this project.

Close up of MACHINE tacking method.

IN these close up pictures you can see a MACHINE TACKING METHOD. Quilters have hand tacked quilt tops for ages. I did similar technique, but using machine. The batting says that the quilting can be 10 inches apart. I did some thread painting or free style embroidery which tacked the quilt top. I think it added details to the top but maintained the lightness and puffiness I wanted in the baby quilt. I opted not to do continuous line quilting as I felt the quilt was getting over quilted. I feel the free style tacking added to the design of the quilt panel by adding cute details. I still have half of the quilt to FMQ, and then add borders to get it to the needed size….. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

CLOSE UP of the FMQ details

and then……

Captain America went trick or treating in the rain, sleet and snow… nothing will keep him away from his CANDY.

Captain AMERICA came to trick or treat… but it was so cold he had to have winter coats and hats on….. He changed his mind endlessly all day Halloween cause he could not make up his mind which SUPER HERO he wanted to be… Iron man, Superman, Bat Man ( never Robin) or Flash. He put on all the costumes and kept changing all day long. My hubby took the pictures as he walked them around the neighborhood this year. I stayed home where it was nice and warm.

Happy QUILTING,

NONNIE

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http://nonniequiltingdreams.wordpress.com/ Nonnie’s Blog

http://nonniesquiltingdreams.podbean.com/ Nonnie’s Quilting Dream Podcast

Pod cast link for Nonnie’s Quilting Dreams

JOIN me at GOOD READS

email me at: nonniequiltingdreams@gmail.com

Nonnie’s Flicker Pictures

Episode 40 Show Notes…. Return from MISSING IN ACTION

PATSY THOMPSON’s BLOG AND DVDs (Ohio)
PATSY THOMPSON, FMQ QUILT TEACHER EXTRAORDINAIRE **** http://www.patsythompsondesigns.com

LENORE CRAWFORD, Quilt Artist (from Mid- Michigan)
LENORE CRAWFORD, QUILT ARTIST …. http://www.lenorecrawford.com

LENORE CRAWFORD’s BLOG …. http://www.lenorecrawford.blogspot.com

DAVISON (MI) EVENING STARS BLOG / GUILD

Here are the links to the quilters I talked about in my podcast. Check them out if you get the chance. I also include a link to my guild, if you are in the Mid Mi area stop by. See the picture on the previous posts.

 

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http://nonniequiltingdreams.wordpress.com/ ….. Nonnie’s WORD PRESS Blog

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Nonnie’s Flicker Pictures
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Nonnie

FMQ a simple panel

A girlfriend of mine started to hand quilt a simple Autumn fabric.  After an hour or sew of stitching she decided that she did not like it and stopped.  She recently asked ( CONNED) me into finishing the project since she learned I had just learned how to free motion quilt.  So here are my pictures.  I plan to do a critique of my quilting after the pictures are posted……………

The panel is pinned on a bedroom door but it is crooked. I also noted there is a problem with the borders not laying flat. I do think once the dowels are in the place it will look better. I am not sure why the quilt does not lay flat as it was squared up. I think it might be the way the the binding was applied. I tried a new technique and I do not think I was successful.

 

 

 

This is a picture of the top of the panel. I did some thread painting on the top border using techniques taught by PATSY THOMPSON. I have all of her DVDs and took a class from here a couple of weeks ago. I learned a lot from her, but that is a future blog and podcast.

 

 

This is the center panel of the quilt. It is actually where I started quilting. To me it seems backwards to me to start at the center of quilt when you are just learning how to quilt, because that is where MY worse quilting is.

 

 

 

 

I repeated the thread painting motif that is on the top of the quilt. Initially I actually FMQed the motif in black thread on the black border. I later quilted over that FMQ in green and orange thread which actually showed up. I did this because I knew I needed some quilting on the border but I did not feel confident in my quilting. After I did the initial black quilting I decided I was being a coward and requilted using colored thread you can see. It actually came out pretty good and I will be doing more of it in the future.

 

 

I will be posting more information about my workshop with PATSY THOMPSON in the future. SO STAY TUNED.

HAPPY QUILTING,

NONNIE

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Pod cast link for Nonnie’s Quilting Dreams

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Nonnie’s Flicker Pictures

Looking at the Quilting… looking for inspiration

UPDATE APRIL 17, 2012: WORD PRESS site must be undergoing some kind of maintenance, as it will no longer load pictures. I am moving my blogging and pictures to POD BEAN FOR NOW. How long this will continue I do not know. Frankly, Pod–bean has become so much easier to use…. I just might stay there. I will be posting new announcements of POD CASTS here… but sadly no pictures.

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Nonnie

MORE PICTURES WILL BE COMING WHEN WORDPRESS AND MY COMPUTER STOP FIGHTING…..

Quilt by Ruth McCormick

ART QUILTS, THREAD PAINTING and FREE MOTION QUILTING DETAILS

http://nonniesquiltingdreams.podbean.com/ Nonnie’s Quilting Dream Podcast

YOU can find more pictures on my Podcast blog since I ran out of room here!  I am also adding my TWO CENTS about what I think about some of the pieces.  AS you know I have an opinion about just about everything.

These pictures were viewed at THE OAKLAND COUNTY GUILD QUILT SHOW. This group of pictures detail the thread paining, embellishments of a series of art quilts. Several of these quilts are from a challenge using MASTER ARTISTS as inspiration for the pieces. (Georgia O Keefe, Van Gogh, Frankenhaler, Klimpt, Hokusair, and Hunderwasser.) These quilts will be going to exhibits in Europe as part of an exchange.

This portrait used surface embroidery to add texture and highlights to the surface.  I think the big stitches were used in lieu of  quilting as I do not see any free motion quilting on the piece.  I would think if a piece was quilted the embellishing embroidery would have to be added after the quilting was completed otherwise the FMQ would interfere with the embroidery.   I am not sure if that is the way it is done,,, but it would probably be the way I would do it.  I do not think I would bring the stitches to the back of the quilt but travel through the batting from section to section.  

This style of FMQ was called angles by Patsy Thompson on her DVD.  She talked about how the sharp angles added energy and edginess to a piece.  I think the jagged zig zag angles and the sharp flame like FMQ on this piece added contrast to the softer circles and spirals of the applique motifs.

I know this was one of several quilts made after the style of Georgia O Keefe.   The free motion quilting (FMQ) adds details to the flower petals.  Thread and fiber was used to embellish the centers of the flowers.   The FMQ in the background maintained the vertical movement of the stalks and leaves of the flowers on the left side of the piece.  The quilter mimicked the background fabric with circular flowing patterns.

What can be prettier than a lily in full bloom and this lily was skillfully executed.  The in person viewing shows that this is a fused raw edge layering of colors form the bloom.  Variegated threads was used to accentuate the petals and leaves.  I like the upward movement of the FMQ when it mimics the flower growth.  

It is difficult to see in this post  but when seen in person or  in the original photo where I could zoom in I could see the raw edge applique used in this piece.   The FMQ follows the movement of the fused applique pieces adding texture by heavily quilting some areas of the quilt and leaving some area softer expanded with the batting. 

I think this was one of my favorites of the pieces… but then I am a sucker for POPPIES.  This quilt has a lot of visual impact and I do not know if it can be seen in his picture but each petal seemed to be of a different but closely related values the darker in the back of the flower.  I am assuming the fabric  was  hand dyed  and the gradation and use of the fabric was effective in creating depth.   FMQ mimics the veins and details of the petals and leaves.  I  liked the scattered  “pick” stitches in the background using  variegated threads to quilt the background it provided interesting texture.  

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My grandson loved this piece when he saw it on the computer while I was resizing the pictures I took at the quilt show.  He called it LOLLIPOPS.  I have a feeling I will be trying to do my own rendition of this piece, in the future.   I feel the quilter successfully combined free motion quilting which mimicked the over all pattern of the quilt and embroidery embellishment that adds to the texture of the piece.  

 

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pt 1 FREE MOTION FINISH baby quilt

I finished the free motion quilting on my daughter’s baby quilt. I am in the process of sewing on the binding. First think I should say is that I should have taken better notes while quilting and this blog post would not be such a mis-match of random comments. Several things happened while I was FMQ but I can not remember the specifics. I hope to do better next time. I am not including the overall picture of the quilt on this post as I plan to post a part 2 to this blog tomorrow.

DETAILS: In the sky I used a pastel blender thread that matched the background but also had areas of blue, pink and yellow. For the green border I used a wonky swirl pattern because I learned when I practiced without marking my swirls were wonky… so I went with that. I used black thread to follow the pattern of the black and white zebra print. If I wondered into the white area with the black thread it looked planned, even if it was a mistake. I had tried the white thread to quilt the white striped but it looked horrible if I wondered onto the black stripes.

Nonnie

top of quilt details

Things that go wrong when you FREE MOTION QUILT:

Always check the thread path when you thread your machine. My thread would break several times while quilting. I finally figured out the thread was getting caught on the lip of the spool causing excessive tension to the point of breaking the thread. Once or twice the spool would jump off the thread stand and get hung up in the top part of the holder. Threads should be free flowing so check your spools for any crevces where the thread can break. I use thread I have even if it is older as long as the color is what I need. I do not have trouble with the thread fraying or breaking as much as I have trouble with the spools. I get around this often by loading a bobbin with the thread and using it on the verticle spool pin.

bottom half of the quilt

TENSION MISHAPS / COMMON SENSE SHOULD RULE, BUT IT DOESN’T:

I have been reading, studying and viewing the DVDs of all the best FREE MOTION QUILTERS around. But some of their tips did not work. I finally called the shop where I bought my machine and got their recommendations. My best advise is KNOW YOUR MACHINE. READ your manual, take the classes at the shop where you bought your machine. Not possible check out the blogs of quilters who use your machine and do work you admire, ask questions. Most quilters will try and answer your quilters. There are a lot of forums or yahoo groups with people who use your machine and they will usually help you. I followed the advise of my quilt shop and Sue Nickles who also used my machine in her project and my FMQ IMPROVED!! When I had taken Sue’s class I had written notes in the fly leaf of her book and I dug it out and reviewed it.

MY ADVISE IS KNOW YOUR MACHINE AND PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.

border details

TENSION AND THREADS:

When I started my FMQ adventure, I put 60/wt 3 ply thread that is very fine but very strong. Regardless of how I adjusted the tension the bobbin thread would come to the top and ladder or make bumps. I had wanted the bobbin thread to match and blend with the backing fabric but that looked horrible on the front of the quilt. Every bobbin stitch could be seen as little bumps or pin dots. Matching the threads to the top worked much better. There may be a way to accomplish what I wanted to do but I do not know what it was. I plan to review all my DVDs again befor I do my next FMQ project.

MASTERING THE MOTION OF YOUR QUILITNG MACHINE:

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE… I tried each of the different motifs before I put them on the quilt. I improved only after practicing. My motifs are still kind of WONKY, but by the end they all looked better.

SUPER SLIDER HELPED! I have a super slider that allows the quilt to move easily on the surface. I always concentrated on the small area under the needle. I made sure my quilt would allow movement and would not get hung up. If there was tension from the weight of the quilt I noticed my motifs looked worse.

Finger Cots or Gloves helped me move the quilt easily with just light pressure. I found I liked the gloves better as my rings kept sliding around when I wore the finger cots. I have never taken my rings off so I either have to tape my rings or wear the gloves. I had not problems with my hands getting hot so I ended up wearing my gloves. YOU HAVE TO FIND WHAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU.

I had a blast learning and doing FMQ and plan to continue on this adventure. I am already planning my next project. I do think I OVER-QUILTED this baby quilt and in the future I plan to avoid doing that< especially for baby quilts.

FYI: I plan to podcast as soon as I get my voice back. I started an episode but now have a rip roaring cold and lost my voice. I may just post short episodes as I have several topics I want to discuss but they do not go well together. We will see.

HAPPY QUILTING,

NONNIE

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LEARNING TO FREE MOTION QUILT

Although I have been studying and doing a few small pieces of free motion quilting over the years, I was never very serious about FMQ. It would be something I was playing with. I still will take my really big quilts to a long armer, why wouldn’t I when I have several talented nationally known long armers in my quilt. ( Links to be provided) This year I want to really work at FMQ on my own as I feel that it is a talent I want to learn and will need to know. I will retire someday and will not be able to afford to have the quilts done by a long armer. I also like to make baby quilts and those are small enough for me to do.

I have been studying Leah Day’s BLOG and her current FREE MOTION QUILT ALONG. She discusses quilting on real quilts. I do not plan to go into detail on what I have learned on this post; but I will address it in the future. Today I am just posting the pictures of what I have accomplished so far. Frankly, it is too late at night to go into any detail.

The quilt my daughter made for me to FMQ

Main Panel FMQ

top of the quilt

bottom of the quilr

I will be back over the weekend after classes to update this post … so check back again.

Nonnie

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FREE MOTION QUILTING : PRACTICE PIECE

PRACTICE FOR FREE MOTION QUILTING

I have been trying to get some actually quilting instead of being a fake/ wanna be quilter. My daughter and I pinned some practice pieces to use for me to practice my FREE MOTION QUILTING. My daughter made this quilt from a panel, this is the first time she got her quarter inch seam allowance correct. The panel lies flat. She has design a cute little quilt picking out the fabrics on her own. I am very proud of it; but now she wants me to free motion quilt it. And now I AM AFRAID, I have only played with FMQ before, WHAT IF I AM NOT UP TO THE TASK. WHAT IF I RUIN this little quilt?

My DD says just go for it… do what you can, the baby won’t know or care. What advice could you give me to FMQ this project?

Happy Quilting,

Nonnie

http://nonniequiltingdreams.wordpress.com/ Nonnie’s Blog

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Pod cast link for Nonnie’s Quilting Dreams

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Quilting Dot-to-dot Patterns for Today’s Machine Quilter by Cheryl Barnes

Quilting Dot-to-dot Patterns for Today’s Machine Quilter by Cheryl Barnes
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

2006

Quilting Dot-to-dot Patterns for Today’s Machine Quilter
by Cheryl Barnes

This books gives a big overview of beginning free-motion quilting. The motifs range from beginner to more elegant, traditional to contemporary. There is a good selection that will help build your skills. I recommend this book to all free motion quilters.

Nonnie,

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View all my reviews

Review of Leah Day’s FREE MOTION QUILTING DVDs…..

Review of Leah Day’s DVD
Wednesday, November 30, 2011

I treated myself to an early Christmas present and bought the DVD comb from Leah Day on Black Friday. I got the BASICS FOR BEGINNERS and BEGINNER FREE MOTION QUILTING FILLER DESIGNS. I have been following her on line on her blog and YOU TUBE video posts. I enjoy her presentation and the information she presents. Leah goes into depth with her instructions of FMQ, bringing up some considerations I had not thought of before. I enjoyed the ways she discusses her thought process on how she tackles FMQ for a big quilt or a whole cloth. i loved her discussion on strategy, I have not seen or heard the same from some of the other FMQ DVDs I have looked at. Leah shows how to load a larger size quilt, I loved her squoosed phraseology. I have been following along with her instructions with the idea of improving my FMQ. I am making a series of fancy “pot holders” while I practice my lessons. I am practicing what SHE preaches… so wish me luck.

I loved Leah’s presentation of FREE MOTION QUILTING my only complaint was the sound quality. I watched the DVDs with my neighbor who wears hearing aides and she had trouble hearing the DVD because of the sound quality. I think Leah records with her husband in her basement studio so they pick up sound distortion. . We picked up some “echo” during PARTS of the recording. It was not terrible and was tolerable for me. During the times she was actually showing the quilting, her sound and voice was understandable and easy to hear for both of us.

We mastered the “echo” problem by using a MY ZONE HEAD SET for my friend, she could adjust the sound and hear better but we could not watch the DVD together so she borrows it .

I am enjoying the DVDs which are very like her YOU tube videos. I would recommend the series to beginner FM quilters. I think Leah’s DVDs has a lot to offer. I was impressed that this was a HOME PRODUCTION that was made by Leah and her husband.

Nonnie

LEAH DAY’S BLOG AND FREE MOTION QUILTING PROJECT

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