I just got home with my 2 quilts which were finished by a gal who does this for a living...she has her long-arm sewing machine set up on the second floor of her old farmhouse. She did a beautiful job of quilting, adding detailed butterflies and/or dragonflies throughout. These are the first 2 quilts that I've ever made (I've never even sewed before doing these 2 projects), and I'm inspired to do much more thanks to the inspiration from our area quilters! I would love to see some of the projects done by our GS quilters. http://s154.photobucket.com/albums/s249/kaseylib/quilting projects/?action=view¤t=7e9c7c35.pbw :-D
Very good job Kasey, those are gorgeous. I love the look Batiks give a quilt. Some of my quilts are in my blog http://www.gardenstew.com/blog/c285-5-m ... -side.html The other 200+ were photographed before the days of digital but I do need to scan them onto the computer and save them. I'll post photos of some of them later this winter.
Thanks Droopy and Toni. Toni...I love all the storage in your quilting space and like your twist on the log cabin quilt, adding cabins and evergreens! Looks like you've been sewing for a long time, all looks wonderful. Glendann...I never sewed a stitch in my life until being inspired by our local quilters here. They gave me some tips and lots of confidence, so I went and bought my first sewing machine. I love the design process involved in quilting, but am still learning the basics of sewing and quilting. I should really take a class before attempting new projects so that I learn the "right" way to do things.
That Log Cabin wall hanging was a combination of a couple of patterns from Gerry Kimmel-Carr/Linda Brannock's book Pioneer Spirit. That large flower garden hanging is a combination of ideas from Quilting for Gardeners by Linda Brannock. I don't copy patterns in detail, I take a little from this one and a bit from that one and put it together in my own way. Those photos of my craft room were taken after I had gotten rid of 3/4ths of the fabric I had collected over the years. I'll dig out the photos of my original quilting room, fabric was everywhere and I was always needing more shelves attached to the walls. I was never much of a 'class taker' The first and only class I signed up for at a local quilt shop, the shop owner told me the first rule of attending a quilting class is to never try to tell the teacher how you would do it, you are there to learn from an expert. Now, I tend to figure out the easiest and/or best way for me and having a teacher tell me her way is the right way and sometimes the only right way just rankled my nerves. But then I had been sewing for 30 years before I even started making quilts. I was obsessed with watching quilting shows on PBS and buying books with helpful tips and tricks of the trade tho. Eleanor Burns is one of the best to learn from when it comes to getting exact squares, triangles, etc all from sewing strips together then cutting them into sections. Georgia Bonesteel is a good one for general all round quilting ideas and info. Fons and Porter are really interesting and helpful too. These three all have websites, some PBS stations still air their programs or you can get their books or videos.
Thanks for the tips Toni. I too am not one for following patterns. I'm much more of a "visual" learner. I've done a few wall hangings/table runners since these two quilts, and I also combined or created my own patterns and appliques. I really appreciate your links, especially Eleanor Burns Quilt in a Day...great video clips on piecing/cutting different blocks, lots of time-saving techniques. The more I learn, the more I know that I need to learn to become efficient at this!!! So much to learn...
Kasey those are gorgeous! I know a lot of hard work went into making the quilt. I don't know which one is my favorite. I do love bright colors, so it's a tie!
I'm so impressed by the beautiful quilts you've made. :-D I hope you'll continue to make more as those first two are fantastic!! Well done you.
Those are very lovely quilts, KL. I have never seen any that looked like that. I especially liked one of them....but I don't know how to describe which one. hahahaha. Never mind--they are both colourful and attractive. I like colour.
Thanks to all for the encouragement! I've been working on a wall hanging now, all applique. Lots of detail, and it's driving me bonkers!!! I'm not following a pattern (although many of the individual blocks are from patterns). I wanted to incorporate things that made it mine, and made of list of things I wanted to include...dragonflies, dogs, critters from our area like eagles and hummingbirds... Then I started making the blocks. The hard part came in when it came time to piece it together and make it all fit, and I just finished that today. It still needs to be quilted and the binding attached. This is truly an addiction, and not a cheap one at that...kind of like gardening :-D Here's a photo: Our home - wall hanging ( photo / image / picture from kaseylib's Garden ) :-D
I like your idea for all your favorite things in the wall hanging and your quilts tuned out beautiful...love all the colors. Good job.
