Beautiful Morning in San Antonio, Texas…

 

What a beautiful morning in San Antonio, Texas! The temperature is about 75 and the sun is just above our tree line. My neighbors free range chickens are in my yard, and the roosters are crowing like crazy. I love that they come to my yard for all our bugs and to talk to me. A perfect morning to hang out in the quilting studio/garage with “Lovely Lou.” Still working on setting triangles, outlining the motif on the fabric-who knew it would take this long to do these beautiful flowers? If I were getting paid by the hour on this quilt, I could be debt free by now! However, I am quilting just for the love of quilting and this particular one for my sweet daughter, Amanda.  I seem to be rather slow, but loving every minute of the fun project.

Waiting on photos from all my family and friends! I am in the process of photographing all my old quilts so that I can share the lineage from which I come. Quilters in that day had to be resourceful—no modern conveniences like FMQ, rotary blades, Magic Genie Bobbin Washers, Machingers’ gloves or Supreme Sliders. By the way, the Bobbin Washers, gloves and Supreme Sliders are available from Day Style Designs Quilt Shop. I happily buy those products from Leah Day in return for the wealth of information that she shares on her blog, The Free Motion Quilting Project.

Amanda and Mia   

Photo by Sam Roberts Photography

What a fun way to quilt…and a question for Leah???

Free motion quilting has become an exceptional pleasure in my life. I absolutely love it! Leah Day is destined  to be (if not already) one of the greatest quilting teachers ever to be born! She is such a natural, down to earth individual who keeps budget in the forefront for quilters. She stresses that you don’t need the newest, greatest, latest long arm machine or notions to be a quilter.

By studying The Free Motion Project and much practicing on scraps first, I have had the confidence to complete a feather wreath in each of the 24 blocks on “Lovely Lou.” The stitching is not perfect, or course. Nor will it ever be, but I am seeing improvement. My plan for Lou is to better define the spine in each wreath, retrace each feather and then echo each wreath.  I have started with a simple echo. Then, I plan to use several of Leah's filler designs in each block, sashing, and border.

The setting triangles are still to be quilted and the picture at the left is my drawing of a half wreath with pebbling as a filler. My question for Leah and anyone else who cares to comment:  Will such a heavily quilted design be appropriate for the setting triangles? Would another lighter design fit better? Am I overdoing the feather thing? The quilt top is pictured above, obviously before any quilting has been completed.
Help! How should I, a real newbie, quilt this thing?  Perhaps, in the setting triangles, simple echoes around the motifs in the fabric? Larger scale pebbling around the motifs?

Stencil Stitching...

Quilting by stencil is rather restricting and somewhat boring. However, according to many well known quilters, it is helping to reinforce my muscle memory for the shape of these feathers. I've completed 14 out of 24 wreaths, and I am ready to get these finished so that I can enjoy the freeform designs that I have learned from Leah Day on The Free Motion Quilting Project. For several months now I have been following Leah's excellent teaching.

Leah, I spent the last couple of years in my education career evaluating teachers. You have a remarkable gift which you are kind enough to share with the wide internet audience. Your relaxed style is conducive to learning a hands on skill. You have created a unique atmosphere that make your followers feel fearless and capable, resulting in confidence to try something new.  Your instructions are clear and easy to follow; your demonstrations, priceless! Evidence of a strong teacher is the ability to say the same thing several different ways so that everyone in the audience has an extended opportunity to understand what you mean. Not only do you say it in a variety of ways, you show it with fabulous videos, you write about it with great wit. And then, you are willing to answer all of the many questions sent your way. You do all of that exceptionally well!