The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 31,000 times in 2014. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 11 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.
I am testing out a new to me feature on WordPress … the reblog… I think this is a perfect page to try it on….
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Great for beginners. This class goes in depth in how to FMQ and how to get started. This class teaches many of the motifs found on the internet. She discusses how to prepare your fabric, your batting and putting this quilt as you go quilt together. She also discusses trouble shooting problems that a new quilter may have when she FMQ.
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….. June 2013 ( a birthday gift to myself.)
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These classes reviews many of the motifs on her YOU Tube channel but into depth and with variations for many of the motifs. These classes are great for persons who have done FMQ and want to learn different motifs to get away from just meandering. The motifs can be used on traditional or modern quilts. Once you have learned the motifs they can be applied to as an all over design or block by block. I find the motifs very versatile.
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THE REVIEW:
I recently realized I have talked about various Craftsy classes I have been taking in my podcast, but I have never written about them in my blog. Occasionally I would mention the class I was talking about in show notes but often as not there were no show notes. I always mean to write show notes but life gets in the way and I never get around to it once the podcast is posted. To rectify this I am going to write about the classes I have taken.
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I first ran into LEAH DAY on the internet / YOU tube. I had been trying to learn about FMQ (free motion quilting. ) I put free motion quilting in to the search engine and Leah’s videos popped up. I was mesmerized. I started reading her blog and followed her in the now defunct Google Reader. When she signed up for being an instructor on Craftsy it was a natural class to take. Her classes are very much like her YOU tube channel but goes into greater depth. I had purchased LEAH’s first two DVDs from her web page, but I noticed she has not continued producing DVDs. All in all I found Leah’s classes to be enjoyable. She is a good teacher and went into depth on how to trouble shoot your FMQ if you develop problems. I always find that interesting as I do tend to have problems with my stitches. …. Less often now that I have been working on my FMQ for two years…. But when I started boy did I get myself into trouble.
http://www.leahday.com
http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.com
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https://www.leahday.com/shop
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WHOOPS …. I lied she has a DVD I do not own and am getting soon … maybe for Christmas. I tend to buy myself presents cause then I get what I want and dear hubby gets kisses without having to go shopping… HE LOVES IT. Leah has a lot of products that help with FMQ, like the Supreme Slider, pin mores, etc.
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http://www.leahday.com/shop/product/free-motion-quilting-flames-feathers-dvd
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I recommend Leah’s classes, the SAMPLER class for rank beginners who have never done any FMQ before. The FMQ filler classes are more for someone who wishes to learn motifs and FMQ beyond meandering. I felt these classes was money well spent. I have reviewed them often. I also follow Leah on her blog and YOU TUBE channel.
Regardless of what instructor or FMQ classes a person takes they need to realize they have to practice, practice, practice before they get good. If you do not practice and do FMQ consistently your skills will never progress.
HAPPY QUILTING,
NONNIE
https://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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Angela teaches a variety of popular motifs and how to use those motifs in the negative / backgrounds of quilt tops. She stresses the importance of practicing and sketching the patterns to improve muscle memory. Many of the motifs were new to me when I first took the class but now they are my go to motifs when I get stuck in a project.
Angela teaches how to do traditional feathers applying them to MODERN QUILTS.
Angela shows how to evaluate a block and design a quilting motif that will highlight and enhance the patchwork. She has broken down block designs to their simplest elements so that you enhance your entire quilt.
This class is an enhancement of her earlier MACHINE QUILTING in NEGATIVE SPACES. She shows variations of motifs from the original class.
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I am going to BLAME my Craftsy obsession on Angela Walters. I recently went through my ORDER HISTORY on Craftsy and reviewed all the classes I have signed up for. I have purchased thirty eight quilting classes since September 2012. I got one free class at the time for joining up and testing the platform. I later signed up for every free class they had listed. It was not till Christmas time 2012 when I signed up and watched Angela Walter’s Machine Quilting Negative Spaces that I went nuts with signing up for every FMQ class available on Craftsy.
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I already had a large collection of DVDs about Free Motion Quilting (FMQ) but Angela’s class broke down how to learn the motifs and patterns that actually resonated with me. Angela teaches you to sketch the pattern on paper or dry erase board until you built up your muscle memory. The motif that Angela teaches is demonstrated on a long arm, but can easily be translated to being sewn on a domestic machine. In later classes Angela demonstrates and teaches her motifs and techniques on a domestic machine.
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Prior to Angela the FMQ motifs I learned were feathers and traditional motifs in nature. The long armer’s I took my quilts to only did pantographs or custom quilting in traditional styles. Angel’s motifs were more MODERN in styling. Her motifs the same as used in traditional quilts were applied in a totally fresh and innovated way. What was more important to me I could learn and apply her styling and do them on my domestic machine. Angela also tackled the area of quilt top that terrifies most quilters the “negative” space. Those open areas need to be quilted to not only keep the quilt sandwich together but the negative space area actually focuses, highlights and show cases the FMQ.
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In each of Angel’s classes I learned various techniques and motifs that I have since applied to my own quilting project. My confidence in my FMQ and willingness to try new motifs and techniques has grown. I will not say I am a wonderful perfect FREE MOTION QUILTER as a matter of fact much of my motifs tend to be a little wonky in nature, but I will say I learned to be adventuresome with Angela. I have found her easy teaching style to be inspiring.
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I have since taken all of the other classes by Angela and have found I learned something from each one of them. I did find Machine Quilting Small Changes Big Variety Class to be somewhat repeative and too similar to the first class, NEGATIVE SPACES. That said, I have always felt I got my money’s worth from the classes. I will say that DOT TO DOT is my second favorite class. Here she demonstrates using a domestic machine. The motif she shows teach how to highlight and show case patchwork blocks. This is something I have always had trouble with as I had always quilted panels in a thread painting style. Recently I have made a series of pieced baby quilts but was at a loss as to how to quilt the blocks to show them off to their best advantage. The DOT TO DOT class really helped me go through the process of analyzing the blocks then designing a motif to highlight the piecing. I do find when I get stuck on a project, I fall back on ANGELA’s classes to find inspiration. These are one of the few classes I repeat on a regular basis.
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As I have stated before I prefer DVDs to the CRAFTSY platform, but I would purchase Angela’s classes in a DVD format despite owning the classes on Craftsy. Since Craftsy -like platforms have become such big business in the on line craft learning, I have noted there are less and less DVDs available for purchase. Even the independent DVD producers who use to develop a DVD series are no longer producing as many. In the future I will review the DVDs I have purchased so that if you can find them you can decide if you wish to purchase them.
https://nonniequiltingdreams.wordpress.com/2014/09/12/book-review-shape-by-shape-by-angela-walters/
ANGELA WALTERS’ book SHAPE BY SHAPE
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https://nonniequiltingdreams.wordpress.com/2014/06/18/my-birthday-present-to-myself-one-of-many/
Karen McTavish’s books and DVDs
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https://nonniequiltingdreams.wordpress.com/2014/06/10/general-reviews-of-magazines-sorry-ranting-again/
GENERAL REVIEWS OF MAGAZINES
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https://nonniequiltingdreams.wordpress.com/2014/06/09/vintage-quilt-revival-22-modern-quilts-from-classic-blocks/
VINTAGE QUILTING : 22 QUILTS FROM CLASSIC BLOCKS
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https://nonniequiltingdreams.wordpress.com/2014/06/09/block-party-a-modern-quilting-bee/
MODERN QUILTING BEE
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CRAFTSY CLASS : CREATIVE QUILTING WITH A WALKING FOOT by Jacquie Gering
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https://nonniequiltingdreams.wordpress.com/2014/04/11/quilting-with-a-modern-slant-by-rachel-may/
QUILTING WITH A MODERN SLANT
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https://nonniequiltingdreams.wordpress.com/2014/03/23/accentuate-the-negative-my-new-fmq-book/
ACCENTUATE THE NEGATIVE
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https://nonniequiltingdreams.wordpress.com/2014/03/05/book-review-the-modern-applique-workbook-by-jenifer-dick/
MODERN APPLIQUE WORKBOOK BY JENIFER DICK
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GEE I thought I did a lot more reviews of CRAFTSY CLASSES, DVDs and books then what I have listed here. I think many of my reviews are in my podcast. So in the future I will be reviewing more….. especially the Craftsy Classes.
I will be adding more quick links to this post as I find them in my blog .. so check back to this post.
HAPPY QUILTING,
NONNIE
https://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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.LINK TO : http://www.quiltingismytherapy.com/2014/06/13/quilt-dress-back/ ANGELA WALTER’s BLOG
This is the blog post where I fond the motif inspiration.
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Angela Walters has been posting some examples of a cute leaf motif on her blog. I really like it and as you know I love LEAF motifs of any kind. So I tried to sew my own version of this motif. I was not comfortable doing unmarked FMQ so I marked the leaves using Roxanne chalk pencils. I had drawn out the motif over and over again on scrap paper to build my muscle memory of the pattern and to help me learn how to stitch out the motif. After working it for several days on paper I then tried to stitch it out. I had also stitched the pattern out in order practice the motif. I stitched it out nicely in practice. I am sorry to say my attempt on the quilt left a lot to be desired. I am seriously considering ripping it out and trying again.
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THIS post is a lost post that never got published…. Should have been a long time ago… better late than never.
http://www.craftsy.com/classes/quilting/new
http://www.craftsy.com/classes/quilting
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This class is the most recent FREE MOTION QUILTING (FMQ) class offered on CRAFTSY. I am enrolled in 18 of the classes offered. I think the only class I have not signed up for is PATSY THOMPSON’s class because I own every one of her DVDs. I plan to review many of the classes and DVDs in the future as I think they will be helpful to my fellow quilters. ( BTW I will be using the abbreviation FMQ for FREE MOTION QUILTING throughout my blogs… basically I am a lazy typist.)
I enjoyed Ms Cameli’s class. I will say that this class is not for a rank beginner. She does not review how to get ready for FMQ. She does not show you to bring your bobbin thread to the top, or how to get your quilt top ready for quilting. She feels you had learned how to do the basics in the other Craftsy classes. She jumps right into doing her different motifs and doing FMQ on a domestic machine. If you have never done FMQ before then you need to take one of the other beginner classes. I recommend CINDY NEEDHAM DESIGN IT QUILT IT , LEAH DAY SAMPLER , Angela Walters ( she uses a long arm for several of her classes) and ANN PETERSON BEYOND BASIC MACHINE QUILTING. (Patsy Thompson’s and PAULA REID’s DVDs.) These ladies detail getting started and what you need to learn in the beginning of your FMQ adventures. I am sure there are several other instructors that detail basics of FMQ but these ladies are the first instructors I took classes from and I feel I learned the most from them. I will be reviewing their classes in the future.
As for Ms Cameli’s teaching style. I thought she was well organized and well spoken. Instruction was given clearly and was easy to understand. She uses a table with a drawing capability to show how her motifs are designed. She then demonstrates how to sew the design on a domestic machine. I liked the close up of her demonstration. Craftsy camera people seemed to have finally learned to focus on the work being done on the machine, giving the viewer a better visual of the quilting. ( In the past they were frequently far away from the machine and it was difficult to see what was being done. They also did a lot of cut a-ways to the instructor speaking rather then showing work being done. I am glad they have been improving the filming of the shows.)
Ms Cameli’s classes concentrated on showing you how to FMQ a number of motifs and designs. Several of her demonstrations were on larger quilt projects ( throw size or larger.) It was helpful to see how she wrestled with her quilt project especially when she demonstrates several all over motifs/ patterns. I liked how she showed ways of moving from one area of the quilt to another without breaking thread. Ms Cameli’s motifs are modern in style but can be applied to traditional quilts. Some of the motifs were taught in other classes I have taken. She has a different slant style to the FMQ so even though the motifs were similar her application was different. Her quilting motifs is less dense more open then what I have used in other classes. Many of them were suitable for all over quilting. I loved how she applied her motifs in her sampler projects. I was not disappointed with the motifs she demonstrated I thought they were different enough that the class added to my quilting skills. For each motif she show several variations that made the original motif look different.
Each class was 20 to 30 minutes duration. She has group the motifs into similar styles and techniques used to do the FMQ…. Individualized one block motifs, top to bottom FMQ, all over designs. All in all, this was a worth while class which I enjoyed taking and can see I will be able to apply what I learn in the future.
Lessons:
1. Nestled designs
2. Beads on a string
3. Emerging designs
4. Echoing designs
5. Climbing designs
6. Branching designs
7. Follow along designs
Ms Cameli is also an author and her first book FIRST STEPS TO FREE MOTION QUILTING lives in my library. She has a second book being released in a couple of months. In the first book she goes thru all the information you need to get started in FMQ. This is pretty much the information she did not cover in this class. She has sketches of a lot of motifs, the actual FMQ of many of these motifs are shown in close ups of projects in the book. She has included several modern projects where you can apply what you have learned. I liked several of her quilt projects especially the QUILT AS YOU GO QUILT where each block has different FMQ. On GOODREADS I would rate this book 3.5 to 4 stars/ 5. I would have liked more coordination of the FMQ sketches/ drawings and the photographs of the motif. There were a lot of photos and illustrations but the sketches were in another part of the book. It took me a while to find the sketch and cross reference it to the projects. I would also have liked to have seen more close ups of the FMQ.
Nonnie
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HAPPY QUILTING,
NONNIE
https://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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I am planning to review all of the CRAFTSY CLASSES I have taken so I need to disclose why I have a problem with the Craftsy platform. I also have a large collection of DVDs I will be reviewing them too. I am posting this disclosure as a separate blog post as it colors all of my reviews.
I had spent the last two years concentrating on learning how to (FMQ) FREE MOTION QUILT. I am currently FMQ several quilt tops and it takes me a really long time to get anything done. I am posting the reviews of these classes and DVDs as I feel they will be helpful to others.
Let us be real…. Since I take so long to complete projects if I do not post these reviews there will never be any new blog post …. How boring is that… I enjoy my connection to those that read my blog and listen to my rare podcasts.
DISCLOSURE:
I think I have purchased every FREE MOTION QUILTING CLASS available on Craftsy; if not every class then almost every class, including the long arm quilting classes. I do not even have a long arm. That said, I will tell you up front I do not like the CRAFTSY platform because of my internet situation. I have restricted bandwidth (10 GB per month, but unlimited from MN to 0500) and have restricted access to the classes. I have to pay extra if I exceed my restrictions. I have to get on the platform only on the weekends after MN. THIS IS VERY INCONVENIENT. YES, the classes are supposed to be available forever and you can view them whenever but I honestly prefer DVDS. Using Craftsy requires extra expense as you have to pay for internet in order to view it. As I am of retirement age I do not feel it is fiscally responsible to pay for extra bandwidth. I have better use for my discretionary spending… ie quilt fabric.
Reasons why:
GOOGLE CHROME CAST MEDIA STREAMER
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/google-chromecast-hdmi-streaming-media-player/9071056.p?id=1219013308425&skuId=9071056
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HAPPY QUILTING,
NONNIE
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https://nonniequiltingdreams.wordpress.com/ Nonnie’s Blog
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http://nonniesquiltingdreams.podbean.com/ Nonnie’s Quilting Dream Podcast
Links for Nonnie’s Quilting Dreams
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FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @NONNIE_P ….. @NONNIE_P
email me at: nonniequiltingdreams@gmail.com
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Nonnie's Quilting Dreams 