Quilting is in the air

Hand quilted Holly Leaf quilt for auction.

There's nothing like blustery, 30- and 40-degree temperatures to get you in the mood for quilts and quilting. I spent most of the day yesterday at the Open House and Charity Quilt Auction at Pins and Needles Quilt Shop demonstrating free-motion quilting. Here (left) is one of the top bid-drawers, a hand-quilted holly leaf bed quilt—very graphic with all solid fabrics and a contemporary red and yellow-green color palette.

I understand the bidding process is still going—due to late night news clips on Channels 3 and 12—so go to the Facebook page and email a bid before it's too late. Proceeds benefit the Salvation Army Angel Tree and Make a Wish. Also among the quilts in the auction was a vintage Dresden Plate quilt top.

Antique quilt top and hand-quilted bed quilt are items in the Charity Quilt Auction.

There were lots of door prizes and special holiday sales on fabric. Quilting classes for 2014 are scheduled and there was a discount for early registrations.

Patterns for the Honeybell tote bag (left top) and quilt are available.
The Kaleidoscope runner is an upcoming class. 

The shop was decked in holiday finery and hot and cold refreshments were served. 

The handmade tree ornaments caused such a buzz, that the shop is taking orders for them.

Holiday decorations made by the shop owner and staff.

My demonstration table was right next to the cookies. (Oh well, someone had to be in that space, right?!)

Hot and cold refreshments were served.

And, the piping hot wassail hit the spot!

Quilting at sunset

Free-motion quilting at sunset.

One of the beautiful aspects of quilting—the actual stitching through the three layers of the quilt sandwich—is the dimension it creates. The quilting transforms a two-dimensional quilt top into a three-dimensional bas relief fabric sculpture.

I recently completed the custom free-motion quilting on this quilt for Stacy at Pins and Needles Quilt Shop. This picture was taken as the sun was streaming through my studio windows about an hour prior to sundown—or before the sun disappeared behind one of Chattanooga's mountain ridges. The low angle lighting highlights the dimension and texture created by the quilting stitches.

I'll be at the Pins and Needles Open House and Charity Quilt Auction this Saturday, November 23, doing a demonstration of free-motion quilting. I hear there will be door prizes, a retreat give-away, refreshments, demonstrations and a 10% discount on all sales at the Open House. Stop in, say hello and make a bid on one (or three or five!) of the auction quilts. The proceeds will benefit the Salvation Army Angel Tree Program.

Oh, and Stacy will have this quilt on display, too. Be sure to ask her what part her husband played in the creation of this quilt. Here are a few close-ups.

Free-motion quilting: feathers and curly vines.

One of the blocks from this 6-month BOM (block of the month) project.

Inner and outer border (detail).

Center of the quilt.

Quilting stats: 
Three colors of Aurifil 50 wt. cotton (top threads); Bottom Line 60 wt. poly (bobbin); 5 bobbins. Quilt top: 66" x 66" (before quilting).

The Visual Language of Quilting presentation

What a great turn out at the Crazy Quilters quilt guild meeting today! Nearly 30 members were in attendance for my presentation, "The Visual Language of Quilting" and free-motion quilting demonstration.

My quilt angels, Sharon and Vicky, assisted with my trunk show.
Here there are with my quilt, "Break free. Take flight."

In the presentation, I discussed the various roles the quilting plays and how it contributes to the telling of the quilt's story. The quilt above, "Break Free. Take Flight," is a good illustration of the quilting (a bird cage from which the bird has escaped) taking a leading role in the composition. Below, "Sedona Desert Rose," has a more traditional flavor in style, fabric and color choices and the quilting motifs follow suit.

Here is Vicky modeling my hand dyed quilted vest with origami roses. Her pretty salmon colored blouse is the perfect complement.

Along with the trunk show, the Crazy Quilters guild asked for a demonstration on free-motion quilting. During the demo, we had a great discussion about threads, thread weight and fiber content, needles, and machine tension.

I use Machingers quilting gloves when I free-motion quilt.

I brought an example of machine trapunto along for the trunk show. I'm developing a class on this technique and hope to be offering it soon.

Machine trapunto.

The members of this guild are prolific quilters. Nearly everyone had one or more quilts for their meeting Show and Tell. I was particularly impressed with their charity quilt contributions. There were at least 12 to 15 quilts turned in for Project Linus and several mini quilts for a neonatal unit of a local hospital. See a slide show here.

Thank you, Crazy Quilters, for the invitation to speak at your guild. And to Karen and Linda for taking the photos. I spent a delightful morning with a warm and talented group of quilters.

Crazy Quilters quilt guild—July meeting.