you ain't seen nothin' yet

You haven't already forgotten the snippets of this quilt from yesterday's post, have you? Here it is in its entirety! Well...nearly, anyway.



Fabulous quilt, don't you agree? It was pieced by Mary H...longarm machine quilted by me...and was then given to her daughter as a graduation present.

I just love Mary's mix of batiks and prints...and some blocks with photos and some with four patches. Oh...and don't you just love that every single photo is framed with solid black fabric? Very rich, in my opinion!

Mary had seen my work in my sister's quilt store in Jamestown. And she loved my hand-guided, template-followed Swirls! So...that is what we both agreed upon for this special quilt.

I stopped and started the Swirls design at every photo on the quilt...and then later stitched in the ditch around all of them. Yes...still hand-guiding my longarm machine! Lots of starting and stopping...but the effect is quite lovely, don't you think...and well-worth the efforts! (Go ahead and click on the photo if you'd like to see a closer view.)



This season of graduations always brings a joyful tear (or two) to my eyes. Such promise. Lots of challenges. So much to look forward to! Life is just beginning....

knot so fast

This little guy? He rests on the top of my longarm quilt machine...every minute of every day.



Isn't my turtle pincushion adorable! He was a gift from a dear blogging friend -- click here and visit Linda's blog -- that lives thousands of miles away from me.

My turtle usually holds a couple of pins...and he always holds my very well- and often-used hand sewing needles. He keeps them nice and sharp so they're handy for me at a moment's notice.

Why would a longarm machine quilter need hand sewing needles? Well...I am one of the few -- or so I've been told -- that, when stopping and starting my stitching with my longarm, knot and bury my thread and then snip the tail at the quilt's surface.

Other longarmer quilters? They would do, what I call, a stutter start and stop. They would stitch very small stitches for just a very short distance, back and forth. This would create a knot-of-sorts...and then the quilter would snip the thread close to the surface of the quilt.

The outcome is very similar...yet very different. And being knotty is what I've always done and am most comfortable with...so that's exactly how I'll continue.

The picture below shows my tails. Of thread, that is. One thread tail would be a start...and the other would be the stop. I will knot the tails together...thread my hand sewing needle...and then run my needle through the layer of batting...come up through the quilt top again...and snip!



Just like the picture below shows, prior to snipping....



So just think...how many times do I knot my thread tails in any given quilt?

NOT counting!!!

is there a pot of gold?

If you've got yourself a small handful of extra time...please, please do read this poem. Although simple and perhaps childish to some...I think that we all have felt the very same feeling that this little child, mid-way through the poem, is feeling. And then we see the light.

Do you remember me giving you just a teaser of a peak...back in this post, this past April? Turns out...I can show you the finished product!

Ta-da....



Well...finished...by my definition: Top pieced, finished. Not quilting and binding attached and labeled, finished. (Play along and nod your head in agreement with me, would you please?)

The reason that I had to -- or thought I should, at least -- keep it secret from you for awhile? Well...I was submitting this little paper pieced project as a teaching proposal at a local quilt show in this great state of North Dakota. (Just how many prepositions can you use in one sentence?!) I just received an e-mail notification that I was not accepted.

And I am totally at peace with that. I'm not discouraged at all. That's just the way these things go. There will be other rain storms (which I happen to love)...and sunshine...and rain clouds.

And there will be more rainbows!

cross my heart

Most often...my clients will ask me to machine quilt their quilt however I would do it if it were my own. And so, I do.

And many times...my clients are very familiar with the freehand designs that I like to use...and they'll suggest one of them. And so, I will oblige.

And then there are occasions...that a client will have an idea of their own. Now I may or may not be capable of stitching onto fabric just exactly what they've envisioned. But I often try.



This particular quilt was to be backed with Minky fabric. Have you felt that stuff? It is so snuggly soft. And drapey. It's like a stuffed animal...all flattened out into a blanket version.

Wait a minute. That doesn't really paint the kind of picture that I intended. But you know what I mean, don't you?

Anyway...I certainly don't mind working with Minky. But a longarm quilter does have to treat Minky a little bit differently than an ordinary cotton fabric or flannel. It's funny stuff. It wants to stretch and move and wiggle and pucker the entire time it's being quilted upon.

I have found that I'm much more satisfied with my work if I stitch a design that is fairly sparse. Large loops. Large meander. Large flowers. Oh...and simple seems to be better for me too.

My client suggested something with crosses for the machine quilting. Now honestly. I've never done crosses in my stitching designs. I've never even thought about doing crosses.

But all that I thought about after she delivered this quilt? Crosses. That night...what did I dream about? Crosses.



Do you see the wavy crosses? I thought they turned out kind of youthful...artsy...and fun. Which totally fits the recipient of this quilt!

So...I'm certainly crossing my fingers that I'm not the only one thinking that. ;-)

good day sunshine

Sometimes one can say more just by saying nothing at all.

Happy day to you!

do you like leftovers?

They are rarely wasted in our house. I am a big fan of reheating a meal. For one thing...it means that I have to actually cook one less time during the course of a day. A time-saver. That, my friends, is a good thing! And often...the dish tastes superb the second time around. Sometimes even better than the first!

Like my lasagna, for instance. The first time around? It is really just a teaser. My family all knows that we have to consume just enough the first night...so that we can devour the real stuff the second night...when all of the ingredients have enjoyed the others' company. Mmmm...tasty!

Other times...the leftovers get totally made over. For example, my beef roast. The second time around? It may just get shredded up...mixed up with some new friends (like tomatoes and peppers and cheese and saucy, spiced up gravy)...and live a zesty, southwest-style life...wrapped up in a soft tortilla and baked until lightly toasted.

(Mmm...I love those! Oh...and I can't forget the dollop of sour cream on top. But. I've just recently learned that they are definitely NOT a favorite of either of my daughters. Drat. Now I'll have to scour new ways on how to makeover my beef roast.)

But enough about food. This little thing is an entirely different type of leftover.



It really wasn't created with leftover ingredients, per se. I miscounted for the main course...and thus, had four-too-many blocks...that may have just gone by the wayside. Been forgotten. Or worse yet, thrown away.

But...since there was just too much work invested in those four little blocks...I figured to myself "why not stitch them up together and see what becomes of them!"

What do you think? Miniature quilt? Coaster? Pincushion?

Hmm. Maybe I should flip through some recipes and see what whets my fiber appetite.

dating again

Back when I used to work at our local quilt store -- and even now, still...when I get the great opportunity of being called upon by my sister to work in her quilt store -- I just loved when a quilter walked through those quilt store doors with a look of bewilderment on her face.

Oh, no. No no no. It's not that I relished in seeing someone struggle or feel insecure or anything like that. I just loved when they needed and asked for guidance. I felt needed. I had purpose. I could slice and dice fabric alongside the best of them...but I loved helping someone spend their hard-earned money. (Please don't hate me. It's a gift.)

Seriously though. When you think about it...there are a ton of things to wrap your mind around in a quilt store, don't you agree? Pattern. Price. Size. Color. Technique. Degree of difficulty. Tools needed. Time....

The list is long. But when they would ponder about purchasing fabric especially, I often would tell them something like this: "It is really rather simple: If you like it, you deserve it. If you love it, then you really shouldn't live without it. And if it is classic, then it will never go bad or spoil on you whether you use it now or 10 years from now."

Or...I would make it rather short and...blunt. "Just buy it before it's gone!"



Well...my fabric collection is (living) proof that good stuff never goes bad. You did notice the dates on those fabric selvedges in the photo above, didn't you? 1998. 2000. Wow.

As a longarm machine quilter...my main concern is always for my clients. I strive to do for them the best work that I possibly can. And I also want them to receive their quilts back from me in a timely manner...ready to bind and ready to use for themselves or give away to whomever they please. Thus, my own projects often have to wait until the very last minute.

For example...the project that I just stitched my very last hand stitch into. (Yes...I will share some photos with you...but first I'm going to make you wait.) I've been wanting to create a lap-sized quilt for a very special young lady that is graduating high school in a few days. Quite awhile back when I asked her what her favorite colors were, she said "...probably sounds kind of morbid...but black and red."

Little did she know she was talking to a red lover herself! I happen to feel that red and black are very sophisticated. And I thoroughly enjoyed choosing and laundering and pressing and cutting and stitching with every single red fabric and every single black and white fabric that went into this quilt!

(Blacks and whites. Whites and blacks. Oh my goodness! I want to do a black and white quilt for myself now!)

But for this young lady's quilt...I have new reds and matured reds and red reds and brown reds and cherry reds and batik reds and reds with a bit of purple and some with a bit of white.... Oh my, but this was a fun project!



Speaking of reds. And fun. One of my favorite quilters to listen to and watch is Mary Ellen Hopkins. What a ball of fire that woman is! I cannot seem to remember if I read an article of hers or perhaps saw her on a quilting television program...but I will always remember the endearing words that she shared: "Reds clash well."

Now that is a pick up line!

no knead to rush a good thing

There are some things in life that just cannot have *rush* stamped on them. Like...a fine wine or cheese...a quiet drive in the country...a baby's arrival...a good read.... And a crusty-on-the-outside-chewy-on-the-inside bread.

Although there is no kneading required for this bread...that I found when Googling "no knead bread recipe"...there is a bit of patience involved. But rest assured...it is so worth the wait!!! Mmm...how to explain, how to explain.

Sorry...but all that comes to mind is YUM-O!

No Knead Bread Recipe.



The white stuff on the crust? That's just flour. And believe me...when you read the recipe and it states "well floured towel" or something to that affair...listen and do! With my second bread, I skimped on the flour...and I paid the price. But no matter...it was still delightful. Was. Past tense.

The only thing that needs to be rushed about this bread is to make up another batch!

square root

I sometimes have the priviledge of speaking directly in person -- either face to face or by telephone -- with my clients. Other times though...I enjoy chatting with them, day or night, via this wonderful technological invention that we call "the net." Great stuff, isn't it!

I recently had the opportunity to speak on the phone with the piecer of this quilt, Bonnie N. We chatted and talked as if we'd known each other for years instead of moments. That's one of the fantastic things about quilters. No matter if we're seasoned pros or beginning novices...young or matured...we've got that common thread: Quilting.



Through our visit, I learned that this was Bonnie's very first quilt! What a way to start a growing love of quilting, don't you agree! She did a fabulous job. I have no doubt that we can expect many great things from Bonnie.

She said that she was leaving the machine quilting choices up to me. Because we were just conversing on the phone...I hadn't yet seen the quilt. But Bonnie did explain that her quilt was "just a bunch of squares." So modest, wasn't she! In my eyes, this quilt is so much more than squares!

I did make mention then, to my swirly Freehand Fancy Feathers. I could hear the interest and enthusiasm in her voice as I explained them. I sincerely felt that the soft flow of the Freehand Fancy Feathers would play nicely with the squareness of the...ummm...squares.



Lovely, yes?

farm country

North Dakota is known for its agriculture. We have grain farms...dairy farms...potato farms...cattle farms...hobby farms. All kinds of farms.




But becoming quite popular on the North Dakota plains is another kind of farm. We call these "wind farms."

Here. Read a little about the subject for yourself.



I love the state I'm in.

engaging the border

When I create my own contemporary quilts...or snap some positively amateur photos...I often like to do what I call "engage the border." Interesting to me is when the subject or subjects extend out into the border or border area. It's a very simple concept...yet it tickles my fancy.

But this past Saturday...I physically did some "engaging of a border" of a different definition. I traveled into Manitoba Canada! (We're continental neighbors you know, North Dakota and Manitoba.) And what a fantastic journey and day it was!

Joyce -- of J's Quilting Blog fame -- and I have been blogging back and forth for what we think to be about 4 years or so. And for the past 3 months, we had been casually making plans for this past weekend. It was a artistically rich and smart weekend to travel to her neck of the woods. Or plains, rather?

Why so smart? Well...take a look at the next photo...of Joyce and her husband Marcel's property. Blue skies...fresh, clean springtime air...moderate temperatures...and hardly a bug or speck of pollen yet in sight!



And artistically rich...because Joyce and Marcel were -- and still are -- showing their own private collections at the Morden Art Centre in Morden, Manitoba! Joyce is showing her art quilts...and Marcel, his raku pottery. If you pay Joyce and her blog a visit, you'll find out more. (She mentioned their art show a couple of times back in some April blog posts, just in case you missed out.)

My day began though, at the Winkler, Manitoba Curling Rink! How about that!

No...surpisingly enough...I did not learn to play a new sport. But I did meet up with Joyce and some of her family...and I took in a newly organized art show that the surrounding community is engaging in. What a wealth of talent!

Here is a photo that a friend of Joyce's was kind enough to take for us. Joyce is standing next to one of her art quilts displayed...and that's yours truly in the crocheted sweater. (Thank you, but no...I didn't crochet it. A girl's got to go shopping and purchase clothes from a store once in awhile, don't you agree?)



Oooh...and did you notice that artsy bag between Joyce and myself? That's Joyce's. She loves creating bags! And each one is just as fabulous as the next. (She's got quite the collection...and its growing rapidly!)

Marcel -- Joyce's husband and retired art teacher -- creates amazing raku pottery. That is what you're viewing in the following photo. Perhaps you'd like to visit Marcel and see more raku for yourself.



Isn't that shadow play on the wall of the gallery just oh-so cool?

And...as if two art shows weren't enough for this North Dakota girl...Joyce took me to the Barn Swallow Quilt Show in Morden, Manitoba. This show had well over 200 entries! It was a truly fantastic showing of quilting talent!

And look! There is my good friend Joyce once again...standing near her Kaleidescope quilt. I have to say...seeing Joyce's work in-the-fiber left me awe struck! There is just something about getting up close and personal with a quilt, isn't there!



And did you notice? I think Joyce practices a good amount of "engaging the border" with her quilts as well!

training camp

"A woman's work is never done."

You've heard that before, haven't you? And it is quite true for the most part, don't you agree? But what would we do if it was? Done, I mean. That's a puzzling thought, isn't it?



I have to believe that the same is true for freehand longarm quilters...women and men, alike.

First, I must tell you that I am sharing this with you...with a smile on my face and a giggle deep down within. Always remember: Any question is worth asking. (Even if the one answering gives you a little chuckle as she replies.)

Yours truly has been busy as usual...machine quilting nearly every day away. And that's just the way I like it. What else would I do, I ask you?

I recently delivered this little quilt, amongst others, back to my sister's quilt store. It is a store sample now...all bound and pretty.

You've heard me mention my sister's store, haven't you? It is the Comforts of Home in Jamestown, North Dakota. Stop by for a visit. There is lots of earth-moving activity going on there.

Anyway...one of the frequent guests/educators/designers of COH (Comforts of Home) was visiting at the same time that I was. And she was running her hands over this little number that you see pictured. (I love that, by the way! Love love love that.) She kindly asked "...so do you have a program that you use for this?"

Of course I politely chuckled at her statement and answered back, "O-oh no...this is all me...every single stitch."

Sometimes a little blood, sweat, and tears thrown in. And much jubilation as well, I must say. More of the latter, thanks to the grace of God. And my Dad and Mom.

*insert giggle* And here I thought that my sister had her girls trained to recognize freehand work. ;-)

Thank heavens. My work shall continue....