Machine Quilting Fun

Here are a couple of things that I have machine quilted on my longarm machine recently. This first picture is of a border that I did on a customer's quilt. She had a very simple southwest star design in the center, and then this fabulous feather border print. She wanted the feathers to be outlined so that they really popped out. Took forever, but worth the effort I think!




This next piece is something that I did for myself. Remember those 1 yard hand dyed gradations from a couple of months ago? Well, I wanted to actually USE one, so I made a quilted tote bag. This is the front and the inside lining is the white part, which is actually not seen in the finished bag, but shows off the quilting design a little bit better. Did I remember to take a picture of the finished tote? Of course not--and now it is hanging at the Bernina store since they are selling my hand dyeds. So....I'll have to wait until I get it back or make another one. But I was pleased with the finished tote, and it was very gratifying to have made the whole thing from start to finish.

Paper Fabric Bookmarks

I have been working on making several sheets of paper fabric to turn into bookmarks for a swap that I am participating in on the Mixed Media Art Friends group. This is my first swap in months--since I have been otherwise distracted recently--so it felt good to get my hands dirty again! Kelli Perkins has been doing a workshop through the group based on her wonderful Stitch Alchemy book, and is also hosting the swap.

Art Quilt Workshop

These are the first two quilt samples that I made for a class that I will be teaching beginning in February at Ann Silva's Bernina Sewing Center in Albuquerque. We are working our way through the Art Quilt Workbook by Jane Davila and Elin Waterston. Each month, we will be focusing on a different aspect of creating an original art quilt. My quilts are all going to be 9 x 12 inches with the theme of "flowers and leaves". The theme is up to each individual student, but by selecting a theme, it makes for a cohesive body of work, and a way to focus in on an idea. The sign ups have been good so far, and I am really looking forward to teaching this class, and seeing what my students come up with!