I've Been Practicing

Today, I am dedicating to Lady Chamberlain.  I am taking a break because I was pretty intense for 2 hours and need to give myself a break.

First, let me back up a bit.  The machine's name is "Quilt Chamberlain" but it sounds too masculine.  I'm really into Downton Abbey and love the whole lord and lady deal so she is "Lady Quilt Chamberlain", or just Lady Chamberlain.

I practiced my stippling on "The Quilt From Hell".  It was one of those "simple" quilts that I screwed up on every step!  I just wanted it done!  So I decided I'd practice on it and time how long it would take to do it from putting it on the frame to taking it off.  It's 64" square and I used some flannel plaid (what was I thinking when I bought it?  I do think it was on sale)

QFH in the frame

Close up of stippling

Q

And I finished in basically 2 hours  10 minutes!

QFH done!  All that's left is the binding!  I'll do that when I get my sewing machine set up.

 My friend, Ann, gave me a few of her quilts to practice on.  The first one was a small former  mystery quilt she had fallen out of love with.  I practiced my pantographs on it.

Yesterday, I figured out cross hatching.  I have a cross-hatch bar and after wrangling around a bit I "got it"!

 This program is driving me NUTS!  I just tried to move some text and it deleted a picture and turned my font blue and started underling!  I can't turn it off so please bear with me!  Okay-got it back to black but can't stop the underling.

Today I started back on the FMQP doing freehand straight lines.  I drew the star and did okay staying on the line.  I'll need to get a ruler to do the straight line.

The next thing I needed to work on (according to Leah Day) is outlining.  I cut a piece of a large patterned fabric and sewed it on my practice piece.

I then practiced going around all the motifs.  It was slow but not as difficult as I thought it would be.  The difficult part was trying to see through the hopping foot.  I need to see what other types of feet that are available.  I then echoed around the motifs.

I did try to pebble but, again, it was difficult to see where I was going with the foot I had on the machine.

Exciting development!  Yesterday, I had a quilting friend that I had not seen for a while call me to ask me for the name of a quilter to do a simple quilt for her granddaughter.  I told her what was going on with me and she said it would be perfect!  She just wanted large stippling done.  I CAN DO THAT!  She came over today to deliver the quilt, we picked out some thread and I told her I would get it to her in the next two weeks!  I had loaded 5 yards of fabric to practice on before her call so I'm going to practice, practice, practice then do the quilt!  It should take me under 3 hours!

Back to the Lady!

Happy Stitching!

First 3 Quilts from Lady Chamberlain!

So I can't find my camera at the moment but want t show my first 3 quilts done on my Longarm.

I stippled on the first one and found it pretty easy.

The second one I did was the Kaffe windmill. I used a pantograph and it went pretty well.

The last one was the Christmas Log Cabin. I used another pantograph and it went okay but I definitely have to work on circular pattern!

I think I'm going to get back on the Free Motion Quilt Project. And Saturday I'll set up my sewing area upstairs!

Happy Stitching!

Promised Pictures

Here are some pictures from inside the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum.  Pictures were allowed but without a flash.  I also forgot my camera so had to take them on my iPhone.  Without the flash, it was hard to get a non-blurry picture.  I'm posting the best of the pictures.  Some just did not turn out well.  I hope you get the idea.

The quilts displayed were all crazy quilts.  Most of them were antique, made with silks, velvets and satins.  The embroidery was wonderful.  It's amazing to think they were mostly made by hand. 

This is the front of a two-sided quilt.

  

 

The back was just as stunning in all satins and silks.

A close-up of the back shows it was machine quilted!

The next quilt was heavily embroidered.  It also had tartan plaids.

Beautiful embroidered peacock feathers.

This is another beautifully embroidered quilt. 

Close-up if embroidered star

Embroidered 60 degree star

This is a modern quilt.  I wish he picture of the whole quilt came out.  It had beautifully embroidered trees.  The quilting was also incredible.

This is a close-up of some of the embroidery!  Lots of little surprises like the dragonfly all over the quilt.  The bow is attached by the beads.

This is a modern quilt made by Silvia Einstein, who was in the class (as a student) I took last year in Asilomar.  She is such a sweet, creative woman.  I was so excited to see one of her quilts on display!

This was made from pennants.  What a cool idea!  I used to collect these.  Who knows where they are now.

This quilt is quite stunning in person.  All different shades of red velvet strips.

 I'm sorry more of the pictures didn't turn out better.  It was a lovely exhibit and well worth the trip up to Golden from Denver.  I'll be sure to check what is on display the next time I'm in Denver.

Wanted to Post from Denver...

Have you ever had one of those days? Well, I had just a partial one. I spent a delightful day with my daughter in Golden, Colorado, even dragging her to The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum. With all good intentions, I had my daughter take my picture with the intention of posting it but my phone would not recognize my password. It's taken me 3 days to get things straightened out so I'll try to post it now.

I Think One of My Posts is in Cyber Space!

I know I posted pictures of my new baby-Quilt Chamberlain!  But since it's not here, I post her baby pictures now!

Jeff-the technician from Innova-arrived at about 2pm on Sunday, the 23rd.  Joe and I helped him unload the truck and bring all the parts downstairs.  With our help, he said we probably saved him an hour.  I tried to stay out of his hair but couldn't help but check on him rather regularly!

All 4 girls were home, along with 2 boyfriends and 2 dogs and my dad.  Poor guy had 9 people and 2 dogs supervising!  He was such a trooper!  I did make sure he had enough coffee and water and kept him well fed!  In addition, we had Christmas Carolers come in and serenade us!  10 hours later, our newest baby was assembled!

Jeff gave me some basic instructions and I was very glad I had taken the new owners class a few weeks ago.  I'm still muddling through with the Pantovision, but slowing becoming more accustomed to it.  I am looking forward to more formal instruction with it.

I have a big learning curve with getting proficient with the machine.  My curves and circles have a lot to be desired, but I will practice until it looks good.  I decided I will do as many online classes that I can.  I started with Leah Day's Free Motion Quilt Along.  I have started with the stippling.

I had previously signed up for Craftsy's Machine Quilting Negative Space class with Angela Walters.  It's pretty good.  I was hoping it was more long arm instruction, but I do think I'll get a lot out of it.  Below are my practice pieces.

Swirls

Boxes

Circles and Swirls

Parenthesis with lines and pebbles

I also practiced my feathers.  Still not as rounded as I'd like but I'm sure it will come with practice.

I have been looking for a beginner longarm class online that gives hints on how to do things and drills to practice.  I have found one called "Skillbuilding for Free Motion Quilting" which is part of the online quilt channel QNN show, "Quilt It-the Longarm Quilting Show"  It's somewhat what I was looking for.  You need to order some pre-marked fabric to practice on.  Not sure if I'm going to do that or just practice on my own.  It's a bit sappy-sweet but I'll muscle through because I really want to get on track. 

I'm thinking Leah Day's Free Motion Quilt Along might be the best bet.  I'll let you know!

Happy Stitching!

Log Cabin Stars Top Done! Finally!

Well, it's not my favorite but the top is done as far as I'm concerned!  The picture downloaded sideways, but then again, this whole quilt has given me fits!  I took a class at Asilomar from Flavin Glover called Log Cabin Diamonds. I think I was expecting more from the class and, as my friend Ricki said, I was underclassed.  I had been at one of Jinny Beyer's seminars where we studied the log cabin block and it's variations and I was hoping for more of the same.  Didn't happen.  But I wanted to finish the quilt top.  So I plugged away, on and off, for almost 2 years.  I had A LOT of blocks that I made but didn't use.  So I'm going to use them on the back!  

So I started fooling around with one of the complete stars and built with some of the partially done diamond blocks.

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Then I pulled some of the tonal gradated blocks and really liked the result!  Maybe even more than the front!  It's looking like a double sided quilt!












To make it even I need add a 4 inch border around all the sides.












This will help keep me distracted (like Christmas isn't distracting enough) until the new Baby arrives!  The wrapping is done so I can get back to quilting!  Or should I say "piecing".  I'l be quilting once the machine arrives and is set up.  I was told last week that it should arrive this week!  It's Tuesday and I'm beside myself waiting for the call!

Happy Stitching!

Crazy Busy!

So things have been a bit wild!  Reader's Digest version:  Went to Houston.  Test drove Innova, Gammill, APQS and Nolting.  I went with the Innova.  Why?  The Innova and the Gammill were so close but it came down to Pantovision, dealer location and 24/7 tech support.

The past few weeks have been cleaning out the Lair.  I was back and forth as to put it in the basement or turn my living room into my studio.  I love my living room but I think the noise level if anyone else was in the house would be annoying.

I also have been to my new owner's class!  I won't have the machine for a few more weeks (probably when my girls all arrive home) but I feel like I can get a good start.  I've also been watching YouTube videos.  Can you tell I'm raring to go?

In addition, I got my Jaipur Star quilt back from the quilter.  She had it for a year!  I'm really happy with it now.  It has 4 appliques in the corners (I just looked at the picture that I took before I sent it to the quilter and realized when I ironed the appliques on the horse and the peacock changed places).  Anyway, I am embellishing the appliques. I have the horse done...  Of course, the pictures I just took and downloaded to the computer have not shown up yet.

Pictures to follow.

Happy Stitching!