My New Power Tool

As I’ve mentioned before,  I now work for Handi Quilter doing marketing communications. I found out once I joined the company that they loan used Handi Quilter longarm quilting machines to employees. After four years of employment, it is theirs to keep.

I knew there was a waiting list. (I put my name on the waiting list my first week of employment!)

One has to be employed  for three months before getting a machine. (My three months of employment was up at the end of December.)

The employee is required to purchase the frame/table for it. (A used frame became available for me to purchase in January.)

And it is dependent  on a used machine being available. (Who knew how long that would be??)

Well, surprise … surprise … surprise!

On Friday I got an e-mail  message saying that my machine was available! Yippee! So I now have an HQ18 Avanté, which I’ll set  up on an 8-foot frame. (I could set my frame up as 12 feet, but I don’t have a lot of space and most of my quilts are narrower than that.) If I ever decided to quilt for others (and that’s a big IF, not a when), I could make it 12 feet.

So now I’ve got to get the frame set up so I can set up the machine. Of course my sights also are set on adding the HQ Pro-Stitcher which provides computerized, robotic quilting of digitized designs.

Have a great day!

 

Utah's Beehive

I recently found out that my Deseret quilt, which prominently features a beehive medallion, will be part of an upcoming exhibit called "Utah's Beehive".

The exhibit is being put on by the Utah Cultural Celebration Center in West Valley City from March 7 through May 2.

They are revisiting an exhibit from 1980 called "The Grand Beehive" which was in the Salt Lake Arts Center. The recreation of the exhibit will feature many items from the original show, but will also feature modern interpretations of the beehive, by contemporary artists.

I submitted a photo of my quilt via e-mail and literally within minutes found out that they want to include it in the show.

Since I've collected all kinds of beehive-related things for about 20 years, I'm sure I'll love the exhibit. Now I just need to get a sleeve sewn onto the back of the quilt! Have a great day!
 

The Countdown Begins

Three months from today my book with Martingale / That Patchwork Place will be available.

And today was the next milestone in the journey.

You can now find out more about the book and see nine of the quilts. Just go to the Martingale website by clicking the book cover image. (Or click here.)

Martingale describes my book this way:

Discover clever, beginner-friendly strategies for showcasing the abundance of fabrics available today--as well as the fabrics in your stash.

• Choose from nine quilt patterns that are each shown in three different colorways: "coordinated scrappy," "planned scrappy," and "make-do scrappy"
• Learn tips, tricks, and techniques including paper piecing, appliqué, alternatives for making half-square triangles, strip piecing, chain piecing, and more
• Create patchwork quilts that use fat eighths, fat quarters, and yardage, as well as precut strips and squares

It has been a fabulous journey thus far.  I'll be going to spring quilt market in Portland with Handi Quilter and will be helping to launch my book with Martingale. Lots to do before then -- but relishing every moment.

Have a great day.

Snow Quilts

I did a blog post about these amazing quilts in the snow on the Handi Quilter blog the other day, but I wanted to show them here too since they are so amazing.

Simon Beck creates these amazing images by walking on a snow-topped frozen lake near a ski resort in France. Each amazing "quilt" takes about ten hours to create. Enjoy!

Have a great day!

 

Winterfest 2013

I'm finally getting caught up following the Winterfest retreat a week ago.

I was able to teach my Days of '47 quilt at the retreat.

I had a small class -- only six people. But it was a fun group.

Here are some of their blocks.

I was able to take a couple classes from Paula Barnes of Red Crinoline Quilts (formerly Bonnie Blue Quilts).

I am naturally drawn to the style of quilts she makes -- as well as her fabric choices. Yes, I like traditional, old-fashioned, scrappy quilts.

Paula also did a trunk show on Friday evening. Here are just a couple of the quilts she featured.

Alas, the Winterfest organizers have indicated that this was the last year they are doing the retreat. Hopefully someone will choose to take on the responsibility of carrying on the event. If I hadn't gone back to work, I would have considered it. But can't do that and work full time too. Have a great day!