My quilting space

I've always loved quilts, and yet never owned a sewing machine. This past winter, thanks to the inspiration from several local quilting guilds, I've taken up quilting/sewing and have become totally addicted!

I bought a sewing machine and spent a lot of hours at it this winter. I put together two quilt tops this winter, as well as made several quilted purses and a table runner. I'm learning all kinds of techniques (including applique which I love), but still have a lot more to learn.

I created a sewing area in our lower level, and am using our hot tub as my cutting station. I'm also using an antique wooden ironing board, that works better than my newer one as it has 4 stable legs. And my sewing table is from my Dad's workshop, and it's 8 feet long and works great for piecing quilt squares and borders together. Here is a few pictures of my sewing area and the two quilt tops I made from Batik fabric (now I'll have to wait until November before the gal can quilt them for me): http://s154.photobucket.com/albums/s249/kaseylib/Sewing%20area%20and%20quilts/?action=view&current=91123ed6.pbw

Next, I'd like to make a personalized quilt of our surroundings here in northern Wisconsin, and have fallen in love with some of the detailed nature designs done by quilter McKenna Ryan: http://www.pineneedles.com/SuperStore/SuperStore-Assortment.asp?AssortmentID=1 I have a lot of ideas and will probably have to narrow them down or my quilt will be big enough for two king sized beds...not to mention it will take me 10+ years to complete!

I'd love to see some of your quilting projects, so please share your photos!

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The more you read, the more you know.
The more you know, the smarter you grow.
The smarter you grow, the stronger your voice when speaking your mind or making a choice.

The Texas Wildflowers quilt came totally out of my imagination, no pattern I made it up as I went along.
The Walk thru the Northwoods quilt was not an overall pattern, I did use patterns for the various blocks tho.
The floral one on the organish background was made from floral patterns in one of Gerry Kimmel-Carrs older books, just put together 'my way' Mr. Green

I never made a quilt using a purchased pattern except for the quilt tops I made for a local Quilt Shop for their samples and a quilt designer in Kansas but those weren't mine to keep.
I had dozens of books with blocks of all themes and sizes and drove myself crazy during the quilt planning process Wink

I know machine quilting is all the thing now, but I suggest that you make a small project...pillow top or wall hanging...and hand quilt it. I did machine quilt several lap quilts simply because it was quicker but until I injured my needle pushing finger quilting that historical society quilt, I hand quilted everything. It's very relaxing to do while watching TV and very satisfying when you get one completed.
All of those quilts in my blog were hand quilted. The Texas Wildflowers was appliqued and quilted with silk thread, the black background is stipple quilted...all rows are 1/4" apart.

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To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with Spring ----
George Santayana