Labeling Your Quilt

It was wonderful walking outside on a springy warm day with my husband and Merlin, but some days are rather still cold and rainy or even snowy, so meanwhile, I've continued piecing or quilting some 'in progress' projects.  The meetings on zoom with the International Association Quilters is my newest attend to stay in touch with quilters, not only local but abroad. Quilters are genuinely friendly and fun to be around.  Even if the zoom meeting are interesting, it's certainly not the same as in person-meeting and I've really missed the annual quilter's retreat.  Ah, the good old days!

LABELING YOUR QUILT

Going through my recent quilts, I must admitted that I haven't sewn any labels on at least on six  quilts. When I made a label, I wrote down the bare information with a permanent fabric marker. I also embroidered my logo on the label.  

For more information how to label your quilt, check out this webpage: How to Label Your Quilt

                                                        I should labelled those ones too!

Free-Motion Challenge

  Star Cube Quilt:  I sandwiched my quilt, using the living room floor, because my tables are still in storage. It's all quilted but I'm waiting for a nice sunny day to take a picture of the finish quilt.

Last week I practiced a few new design free-motion quilting by Angela Walters. Quilting with rulers has became very popular and made quilting a notch-a -bit-fun and practiced those new design on the Star Cube.

Angela Walters' Rulers

One of my latest extravagant purchase are: Quilting Rulers!  

Before I purchased the rulers I asked myself a few questions:

•  What are the pros and cons of investing on quilter's rulers
  
• Searched which rulers would work best for my needs and sewing machine
  
• Can I have free access to tutorials that will goes along with those rulers
• Will I even use the rulers or  was this just another tool that will be left on my shelves. 
• Reflected many months on it  and also watched different quilters with their own ruler products
  

 My end decision to purchase Angela Walter's quilting rulers came with a blitz of joy and satisfaction when the Amazon box arrived at my door. My poor husband has to put up with my 'energic-happy-moments- I love him for it. He endures it all! 

 Now it time to put those new tools to the test on my own sewing machine. If you want to know more about Angela Walters, she has a Free-Motion Challenge Quilt Along that used those rulers. So far I've already practice with the Slime rule on the Star Cube. 

You can learn from Angela Walter at Quilting Is My Therapy

Let's have fun with quilting, let's go Quilt! 

God bless your week;)

 

Forgiven

The dream of designing my own pattern that reflected my Christian's faith came into fruition yesterday, when I finished sewing the binding on the wall quilt.  My pictures are not great and I wished my sweet friend Laura could have done so for me, that is, if she lived closer to us.  But I shall be content to share what I have with you.

I learned so much through this process of design a pattern and I've still so much to learn.  I've already scribbled another idea on paper for my next one.

 

What I learn:

1.Keep it simple

This process didn't happened over night, I educated myself in pattern making through wonderful quilters, either in person when you can or on Youtube. I did not take classes or when to a drawing school, I just simply used what talents God's gifted me and went from there.

2. Keep it Small

At first, I wanted to go BIG with my design. Like a large wall quilt or bedspread and also imagined all kind of wonderful borders and quilting fillers. I was thing BIG. But I needed to keep it simple and small for my first attempt, because I would spend alot of time figuring  things our on my own.

3.Keep it Going

Through the entire process of designing and drawing this project, I had to figure HOW this quilt was going to be sewn together and HOW the proportions of the woman,  the cross, and the landscape will all fit in accords with each other. No matter how little I knew of the "Do" and "Don't" of designing,  I kept at it until I was satisfied with the overall design. Each steps helped me to build up confidence as a designer. Wow, that sound weird to admit that to myself, but it's true (laugh).

4.Share!

The best things I've done is to ask other quilters for their options on certain part of my design.  I've also asked my family for their options and help on this project. I couldn't have done it without my daughter willingness to let me take a picture of her for the portion of the body.

5. Don't Fret to Long over Details

I had a hair problem! Sound funny but so true.

                                                                 Grey & White Hair

At first I love that idea of a silver and grey fabric but it didn't work as it blended to much with the background. Also the white fabric I choose for the skin was see-through, not good enough to cover the background.( Oh the face wasn't on yet )

                                                          Blue Hair

This is my original idea and loved the blue hair as it made the woman stand out of the background. Also changed the sleeve of her body and used the silver fabric for skin. It worked!

 

                                                      Brown Hair

If you noticed the brown hair also is blending with the background, but it was at my husband request that I caved in. After all it will hand in on our walls. But next time, I definitely will still with blue hair *smile*. 

Fillers & Quilting

                                               Swirls and wavy lines

                                                    Woodgrain for the Cross and echo lines for the land. 

A big thanks to Leah Day for her podcast #122 How to Design your Own Goddess" It did helped me greatly to accomplish this quilt. 

 

And all the quilters at the Leah's Quilting Friends Club for their support. 

Now let's go quilt!

              Psalm 23                         

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
    He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
    He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.