Selvage Quilt

I am currently quilting a selvage quilt I pieced and put together awhile ago in this post.  It is now half done and I will show you tomorrow how I am quilting it.  I freely admit to picking comfortable quiltingdesigns so that I finish it fast.  I need to finish it, bind it, and get it to the quilt store to be a class sample.

Of course, I need another class sample, so I started a new quilt.  I am making a red zinger- a cool quilt pattern I first learned about from Karen Griska, who has written a wonderful book about selvage quilts titled, “Quilts From the Selvage Edge.”  On her blog is a great tutorial for creating the red zinger selvage quilt- which looks like this:

(Photo by Karen Griska.  Visit her Blog at the link above.)

I will take a picture of  how far along I am on my red zinger tomorrow.  It will look different from the quilt, above, when I am done.

That’s all from today!  Happy Quilting!

Tulip Quilt

Here’s a baby quilt that I recently finished for Barb’s daughter and granddaughter.  It will hang on the wall, so I could have some fun and quilt it very pretty instead of merely functional.  It will also be in a local show next month, so I wanted to quilt it special for her.

Here is the block design:

The work shown above is freehanded, no computer here, so it is not perfect.  I am ok with that, I strive for texture and pattern when I quilt.  Any imperfections give it character, right?  LOL

I did use a stencil on the border, a favorite one by Barbara Chainey.  I added some freehand work around it to create more interest and to match the density of the quilting so it would hang nicely.  Barbara is a wonderful quilter, teacher, and designer; I am a fan of her stencil designs!

Anyway, I met with Barb today and she was so sweet to bring me a bag of fresh lemons and an orange from her trees.  She also gave me a plant, I will do my best to water the plant and not kill it.  LOL

Been busy quilting and piecing, too.  Plus my online class starts tomorrow, however, I prepared ahead of time, so I am all set!

Next up on my table is a quilt for me- a class sample with selvages for my selvage quilt class.  What are you up to this week?

Beaded Bracelet and Freeform Scarf

I am in a beady sort of mood today, so I created this using peyote stitch bead weaving technique:

The swarovski crystal in the center will also be beaded, then added as a focal point.

I am also working on a new crochet scarf, this one is going to be a gift:

The cool color palette is soothing, isn’t it?  Here is a close-up:

In case you are interested, I do have a tutorial for how to freeform crochet my way.

Also been doing a little quilting each day, too.  I love creating and making things, I hope it shows.  I want to end the new year with a creative frenzy!

Btw, I am getting a very strong desire to take a lampwork making class.  I love the idea of making my own beads to use in my work.    I will try to withstand the pull….  Hugs, Carla

Chunky Quilted Squares

I was messaging back and forth with Harriet, who I met by chance earlier this year when a boat I was on passed her sailboat while motoring in the Intercoastal Waterway.  We both blogged about the chance encounter and my post is here.  Harriet is getting ready to sail down to the Bahamas in a day or so.

Anyway, Harriet asked if I knew of any quilt projects where you don’t need a sewing machine since space is limited on a sailboat.  I remembered this fun project I learned from the talented Teesha Moore while at her fiber art retreat a few years ago.

For lack of a better word, I call this project, “Chunky Quilted Squares.”  You make a series of quilted squares, then put them together to make a quilt, a purse, a wall hanging, coasters, table runner, the ideas are endless.

The basic, simple directions are below, and I sized it to letter size so you may easily print it out.

Happy Creating!!  As with all my Free Tutorials, please credit me if you use one , or link to a free tutorial on your site.  I would also love to see what you create, so send me pics!

Have fun!  Carla

Sashing Ideas for Quilting

It has been awhile since I shared some quilting ideas with you all.  I decided I haven’t shared my favorite sashing designs for those small  sashing or border spaces:

I first started using these about 5 years ago when I started quilting.  Obviously, I didn’t invent the swirl, but the swirl  just kept evolving into different variations over the years.

Let me show you some of these I used on a quilt:

Basic swirl:

Note: I also like my flower design too.  The added detail in the center really adds to the flower design, don’t you think?

I this next one, I’ve used a swirl & single feather combo in 2 sizes:

The oak leaf one is here in the lowest white border- sans swirl:

In the Egyptian Quilt, I embellished on the whole swirl combo for a cool look by adding berries and a extra leaf:

You have to look close in the black sashing section.

It is my hope that this post helps other quilters.  Experiment and come up with your own designs to share with others, too.  Share the love, so to speak.

If you enjoy this post, please leave me a comment.  I would love to hear from you!  I also have a sizable FREE Tutorial Page filled with lots of creative stuff.  Just follow the link in the sentence above.

Regards, Carla

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th to you all!  Hope you all are having a fun day bar-b-que-ing!

On a non-holiday specific topic, I wanted to give a big shout out to Fulvia, who kindly helped me solve my sewing machine problem.

This hint is for all you Janome 6500 users who may be frustrated by a shifting bobbin case- which then stops the machine cold when the needle goes thru the plastic bobbin case.  Not good.

Fulvia sent me a link to Melody’s blog where she illustrated a fix.  In the spirit of helping someone else, I will show you how to fix the problem:

Here is a picture of the exposed Janome 6500 bobbin case, with the red dots all lined up nicely.   Notice the location of the screw- which adjusts the metal spring so that the bobbin case does not shift counter clockwise and jam your machine:

Don’t be afraid… just simply adust it into place by turning the screw.  Nothing will happen, trust me!  Just tighten it enough to acheive the goal of keeping the bobbin case from shifting pass the spring.   That is all you need to do.

Viola!  It solved my problem!  Thank you to Fulvia!!

Happy day to you all!

Tropical Poppy Class Opening

Remember this quilt?

I am teaching this class tomorrow, on Saturday, June 27th, 2009 at High Sierra Quilters, my local quilt store.  This class was full, but 2 people needed to drop out when I changed the date  (due to my extended trip).    That means I now have 2 openings if you want to join in the fun.  Just call the store and Doug or Chris will sign you up over the phone.

The name of the quilt class is “Carla’s Therapy Quilt.”   One day, many years ago, I decided to take the day off  from machine quilting and quickly throw together a quilt.  So I grabbed a large scale fabric and slashed away.  I pieced it back together with sashing, added a cool border, then put it away for about 4 years.  Last year I finally quilted and finished it off.

This quilt could be pieced in less than a day.  It was very therapuetic, hence the name of the class.

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I’m off to the studio to work on Nancy’s quilt now.   Hugs, Carla

Selvage and Quilted Canvas

Hello to anyone new to my blog today from Karen’s Selvage Blog site!   Karen is showcasing my selvage chicken I made a while ago:

Yesterday, I was working on a new Selvage project.  It is not done, I ran out of wrapped cording, so I need to wrap some more, then stitch it together.  Here is my Selvage work-in-progress:

Today, I am working on a beaded project- a dimensional peyote stitch.  Before I go, I wanted to show you an older project, now quilted.

I painted this huge canvas earlier this year.  This is quilted for texture, and will eventually be made into a purse.  The first image is a close-up with good lighting, the second is a larger image of the canvas.

Double Wedding Ring Quilt finished

Had a quick quilt to do for a friend that lives on the east coast.  Only problem was that is wasn’t all that fast.  It was one of those quilts that grow as you work on it.

and here’s the back:

As always, I like to credit the designer if I use one of their stencils in my work.  The center of the DWR is a lovely stencil by Helen Squire. Anyhow, I am glad to move on now to my next project- a baby quilt for my sister to give to a friend.

Beaded Project:

I wanted to show you my next beaded project- this will be a bead embroidered fish when I’m done, totally covered in beads.  To begin, you need to make a fish plushie in the proper size and stuff it:

I started to use a wonderful free frilly fish pattern by blog visitor, Beena, then decided to adapt it and make a trout shape instead.   Be sure to take note of this wonderful free pattern by Beena, downloadable on her blog here.  While you are there, be sure to look around and see her wonderful pictoral quilts and designs!

Selvage Chicken

It is only fitting to post a picture of my selvage chicken:

I like my selvage chicken, it has character.

Speaking of selvages, I received a call today from Doug, the quilt store owner, male quilter, and custom tear drop trailer maker extraordinaire!  Doug does a drop dead Bill Clinton inpersonation and he has a funny sense of humor. So when I answered the phone, he used his Bill Clinton voice to ask for a donation to the Bill Clinton Presidential Library so they could put in “old Spice” cologne and “other” dispenser machines in the library bathrooms.   I could not make this up, I promise you!!    Doug is one funny guy!!

But I digress…. the reason Doug called was to tell me he had saved me a huge TON of selvages!!!  Woo-hoo!!!  Now I can work on my next project.

Life is good!  Hugs, Carla