Virtual Retreat 2017

[Terry K.]

Wahoo Dawn!! Congratulations on your Road to California entires! I'm enjoying what people are planning to do and what people are doing! I'm making progress on my quilting and will post a photo when it is completed!

[Terry K.]

Okay, friends, help me out here....this is a shot of where I'm at in the process on the quilt for a friend/customer. This was auditioning the final border, she gave her go-ahead on that, so I'll sew it on today and start quilting ASAP. She doesn't want to meet and discuss the quilting, but asked for "simple, elegant, modern; no knots/strings" (I think she means no cables/traditional motifs) (or she means cut my threads, LOL!!!).





Quilting ideas??? Remembering that I am on a regular, basic home machine (but can do walking foot or FMQ if it's not too hard). Straight lines spring to mind with the mention of "modern, simple" but not sure that's all that elegant....and with the sharp lines of the piecing, not sure curves of some sort wouldn't be better. Help me think??? Especially for the borders, or, if she wants simple/elegant/modern would that include treating the whole quilt as one piece and not doing a special border treatment??

Ack. (I hate borders. I tried to talk her into enlarging the quilt by adding extra blocks, but she wanted borders.)

The quilt is for a guest bed in her house in Mexico, so also needs to reflect that, I think. Or, at least not be too floral, etc, to clash with where it's going to live.

[Terry K.]

Okay, friends, help me out here....this is a shot of where I'm at in the process on the quilt for a friend/customer. This was auditioning the final border, she gave her go-ahead on that, so I'll sew it on today and start quilting ASAP. She doesn't want to meet and discuss the quilting, but asked for "simple, elegant, modern; no knots/strings" (I think she means no cables/traditional motifs) (or she means cut my threads, LOL!!!).





Quilting ideas??? Remembering that I am on a regular, basic home machine (but can do walking foot or FMQ if it's not too hard). Straight lines spring to mind with the mention of "modern, simple" but not sure that's all that elegant....and with the sharp lines of the piecing, not sure curves of some sort wouldn't be better. Help me think??? Especially for the borders, or, if she wants simple/elegant/modern would that include treating the whole quilt as one piece and not doing a special border treatment??

Ack. (I hate borders. I tried to talk her into enlarging the quilt by adding extra blocks, but she wanted borders.)

The quilt is for a guest bed in her house in Mexico, so also needs to reflect that, I think. Or, at least not be too floral, etc, to clash with where it's going to live.

[Dawn S.]

Thank you everyone! I can't wait until next Tuesday, to see a list if the winners, and to also read the judges comments on my two quilts. I also paid to have my Jester quilt appraised. (2nd place - Hoffman Challenge 2015). I've never had one of my quilts appraised before.

Here's what I see when I open the door on my deck. And, it has snowed more since I took this picture. Guess I need to do some shoveling!




Dawn

[Dawn S.]

Thank you everyone! I can't wait until next Tuesday, to see a list if the winners, and to also read the judges comments on my two quilts. I also paid to have my Jester quilt appraised. (2nd place - Hoffman Challenge 2015). I've never had one of my quilts appraised before.

Here's what I see when I open the door on my deck. And, it has snowed more since I took this picture. Guess I need to do some shoveling!




Dawn

[Eileen K.]

I just received an email that a member with the screen name of ditlyn is asking for someone to send her all the PDFs for the 2015 BOM. Am I correct in assuming that once the 12 month period ends, TQS passes the copyright back to the designer? Are we allowed to share like this?

[Eileen K.]

Sorry for the double post! Yesterday's trick didn't work so well today, LOL!

Also, photo is sideways...not sure why?? And it's not really that wrinkly, I just didn't really smooth it out before snapping the photo. I'll press again before basting/quilting.

Dawn, you are smart to get your Jester quilt appraised! I have one friend who has had some of hers appraised (and the appraiser seems to make a difference, so if you get a low appraisal, maybe consider a 2nd opinion). I'm curious about some of mine, but being as none of them are in shows, etc., it doesn't seem much worth the expense. Although I guess for insurance purposes I know I should....maybe next year at Houston I'll take some for appraisals.

All that snow.....hope you're able to keep warm despite that! Yikes!

[Geneva C.]

Hi Heather,

Your quilt is beautiful! I love the colors. In answer to your quilting question I will show you what I did on a similar "traditional but not traditional quilt." This is my couch quilt that I made from a kit from Craftsy on a year end sale. It was really cheap! I made the borders a bit different. I wanted some wavy lines like you to soften the straight pieced lines.




I also quilt on my Bernina 730 with a 7 1/2" harp space. I used a neutral thread and started sewing waving lines across the quilt from side to side. (No knot tying)! I quilted one half, then turned it around and quilted the other side. When I first start this type of quilting I get all in my head and think "Oh now, is this too wavy, or not wavy enough?" After a line or two it becomes more fun and I just move along and end up thinking about something else and enjoy the process. The good news is no one knows those first couple of lines are the tense ones! I went back with a burgundy thread and dropped in a little color. I think it turned out really nice. You could do this in quadrants on the quilt, lengthwise, width wise or diagonal.








Good luck! I'm sure whatever you do will be fabulous.

All this snow is really hard. Here in the south of Eastern Washington we get maybe 2-3 inches of snow a year and not all at once. We had a big snow before Christmas, which never melted, just turned to ice, then since New Years it has snowed most every day. We have this strange Bermuda Triangle situation on our driveway that accumulates feet of snow and drifts. Our neighbors have dug us out 4 times now as our car gets stuck going out the driveway. Our neighbor spent 2 1/2 hours clearing the latest snow Monday and Monday night more snow and winds and the driveway is impassable, again. Luckily my husband took our car over to our neighbors house and parked it, so we can walk over to get out. My mom needs me to take care of her and when we can't get out of our house it's not a good thing. (Though being stuck inside sewing isn't a bad thing!) So we are moving to a hotel for a few days. Hopefully next week the rain will come and at least allow us to be able to drive on our driveway. Here are some pictures of Monday's work. It's about 4 feet deep again in the road with the 6foot deep piles on the side. Ugh! Tri Cities hasn't seen this much snow in over 30 years.







I've been getting a lot done on my Color and Passion quilt. But I won't be able to sew now that we are leaving for awhile. It'll probably be good to rest my shoulders and arms!

I would like to say how saddened I am at the loss of Sue Garman. She was a remarkable woman. A lot of us lounge lizards "met" during the making of the 2009 BOM and have remained buds on this forum since. I treasure each of you and the gift Sue Garman gave us. May she rest in peace.

Take care, geneva

[Geneva C.]

Geneva, thank you!! That helps a lot!

I had taken the quilt top with me to my LQS (with the final border on) to ask her advice, and had thought of an idea on the way/before I went --- and before I saw your photo, Geneva! --- but I thought "hmm, maybe simple, nice gentle wavy lines going through the quilt, treat the borders like part of the quilt, except skip the one green border and do straight lines following the border with a sort of Greek Key to turn the corner..."

Seeing you suggest the same treatment really encourages me (and the LQS owner said the same) that this is a good, solid plan. She also suggested a "bone" thread which is a bit reflective so blends nicely with all the colors, and I'm going to try it. The fabric has very subtle wavy lines throughout, so that was my inspiration (plus then I can use my walking foot and just gently wave it), and the back has the Greek Key sort of design, so that was that thought, just to dress up turning the corner on the green border. Feels good to have a plan and hear that experienced quilters would suggest the same thing for this quilt

Your snow is simply horrifying to me, all of you; I'm freezing if we drop below 60 F outside, LOL! I hope the time in the hotel helps/isn't too long before you need back in your home, and that you get good sewing time again soon!

[Dawn S.]

Thank you Heather, for the suggestion of a second opinion on a quilt appraisal. I will keep that in mind. I'm anxiously awaiting this coming Tuesday, for judges comments on my two quilts, but it will be a couple of weeks or so before the appraisal arrives.

Meanwhile, I read the list of other quilts/quilters in my two categories. My gosh, it is like reading the Who's Who in art quilts. Fiber artists who have inspired me actually have quilts in there being judged against mine. I knew I was in there playing with the big girls, but the reality of reading their names along side mine was surreal!

Okay, Geneva, you win the prize for inconvenience! What a mess you have there! We really have had a lot of snow, but since we live in a complex, the driveways get plowed. But, like you, there is this 3' mound left from the edge of the plow blade. Right at my sidewalk, in front of my stairs up to our condo. So, I shovel that. And, put salt on it, and have finally added a small heater to the first two stairs. This year is different from others, that's for sure. I blame it on a bigger, more professional plow. He just doesn't have the room to take the care to leave me an opening. I hope you are back home now. We are supposed to get above freezing sometime next week. So then we will have slush!!

Dawn

[Eileen K.]

Even though most people hate snow, I really want a honking big snowstorm! :woohoo: We need it so the orchards can have a good growing season.

Dawn, I am pulling for you! Don't be intimidated by those "stars" in your category; you are as good as they are. Everyone has to start somewhere; they started where you are.

[E.M. T.]

Hi everyone ! Poppin' up outa the snow here! We are many inches deep here in Idaho this season.
Beautiful and terrible all together ! 12 + inches in the last 24 hrs here in west central lower elevations.
So much trouble for most folks.
Wondering about Geneva over in tri- city area...hearing it is not pleasant over that way.
Time to huddle up sew some. Here's a thing I'm working on...just basted. Then a little snow
picture.






Backyard and front window view

[E.M. T.]

Well...A little more snow pic than I planned on and the sewing one went missing !! Try again! Just basted.

[Eileen K.]

Marilyn,
That quilt is gorgeous! Is it wool?

[E.M. T.]

Yes..wool applique on cotton. Two separate designs from Primitive Gatherings , both older. I added a bit
of extra embroidery...may add a bit more yet...some seem a little sparse.