Archive for November, 2009

Our Block Party continues and I started a second set today – these with brown centers.

Join the Block Party!

Sue requested I talk about how I decide what to quilt on a particular top and while I’m certainly no authority, I’ll share a little of my process.

My quilts tend to be scrappy as do most of the donated tops I get in so I’m usually looking for texture because the designs aren’t going to show up all that well. I’m also looking for quick because of all the donation quilting I do.

I tend to use a thread that somewhat blends rather than standing out and I use more solid than variegated thread.

For very scrappy tops like the string quilts and the recent Orange Crush, I like designs that give really consistent texture – Freehand Baptist Fans, Swirls, Dwirling from the Pajama Quilter DVD, and other pantographs like the clamshells. I’ve found that an allover freehand pattern tends to just get lost AND it can be hard to see my previous quilting lines too.

Freehand Baptist Fans

For scrappy quilts that have more background to them I try to use an allover freehand pattern — leaves are one of my favorites or a pantograph that has motifs that will show up well in the quilt.

Freehand flowers

Feather Me Pantograph

Grids are fun – I don’t have as much opportunity to quilt them but on tops like the HeartStrings Happy Blocks or my Boxed Squares, they’re quick and easy and keep the quilts soft and cuddly too.

Freehand Grid

I do very little custom quilting mainly because my tops don’t call for it and due to the volume of donation tops I have here, the goal is to quilt them nicely but quickly. So pretty much the only time you’ll find me doing any custom quilting is on a top pieced by my Mom or my Aunt and not that often on those.

One of my new quilting books by Nan Moore has an interesting concept of continuous block designs that are quilted edge to edge and I’ve been thinking about how that might work for me but haven’t tried it yet.

I also have a few tops here that are pieced squares and I’m thinking that I’ll do some type of continuous curve or line dancing quilting on them.

Line Dancing

And a back AND batting pieced, quilts trimmed, and even a couple finished quilts have been washed so far today.

This top was pieced by Barbara in FL and quilted with a pantograph called Steam by Norma Sharp. I quilted this one horizontally but it’s one that looks good when you load the quilt lenthwise too with the steam going vertically. I might just do that on a Chinese Coins top I have ready for quilting.

Have you noticed that I’ve been sorting through my pantographs lately?? Steam, Improved Clamshells, Leap Frog, and Double Rose Vine haven’t been used in quite a while.

You have  probably also noticed that I rarely do an overall meander (which would be quicker) on these donation quilts but like to do something a little more special while still keeping them from taking too long to quilt.  So I usually choose an overall freehand design or a pantograph that isn’t to dense or complex.

Keith called and he’s going to be free for dinner tonight so I’m going to walk down to join him. He’s at an in town sales meeting and has been staying at the hotel with the other participants.

Remember this top from Helen? (This was a Bonnie Hunter pattern– Orange Crush)

I quilted it today with the pantograph Improved Clamshell by Kathie James and while this one takes a while to quilt, I thought the texture would be just perfect for this scrappy top.

It’s one of two I want to donate next month to Habitat for Humanity.

On Wednesday, I was running around getting my quilts ready for my talk and getting Chesty to the Vet and didn’t have time to work on quilts to honor soldiers and veterans. Today however, I finished labeling, washing, and packing 6 quilts that will go to Fort Hood, the family of a soldier killed in Afghanistan, and to Alycia for her Quilt of Valor project.

I’m happy to have a way to show my appreciation for those that serve and to honor my father-in-law and my Dad who were both veterans.

Every now and then it’s fun to go to Wordle and see what I’m writing about.

Even after spending most the afternoon at the University with Chesty, I did manage to get quilts labeled and organized for mailing, mailing labels printed, a couple quilts washed, and even one quilted but now I’m ready for bed!

Pieced by Cheryl and quilted with the Leap Frog Pantograph by Norma Sharp.

Chesty was seen at the University today and they’re going to try lithotripsy but are unsure if they’ll be able to get the stones so he may end up with surgery. He’ll have to have anesthesia regardless of which procedure they do but I’m still hoping for no incision.  Of course, I almost choked when they told me how expensive it was going to be….but what can you do? The treatment isn’t optional and besides, we love the little ball of fluff !

Unfortunately, they can’t do the procedure until next Monday (the 23rd) so I’m hoping he doesn’t have any problems before then.

Thanks for all the comments wishing him well.

Last night Sheree took 4 more quilts for binding and brought these 4 back that she and Cindy bound for me. The first two were sent to me by San (Gypsy Quilter) and are intended as Quilts of Valor.

The Happy Block quilt was pieced by Ann (sent to me by Liz)

And finally, this was pieced by Sue and her group in CA.

What a huge help Sheree and Cindy have been with the binding and makes me wonder why I resisted having help for so long — probably  because binding has always been my time to sit and admire a quilt and think about the person who would receive it and the warmth and comfort it will provide.  I won’t send them all away for binding but for now I’m really appreciate of the help.

I had a great time last night speaking at the guild meeting. I’m always nervous but I love having the opportunity to talk about HeartStrings. The first photo is of Dee (who invited me to speak), Sheree, and me holding a HeartStrings quilt.

And in this one you can see all the quilts lined up. I’m not used to speaking with a microphone but Dee lowered it for me so it was a little easier.

Got to run Chesty to the University now – cross your fingers!