Friday, September 28, 2007

Quilting Conversations

Eavesdrop on a telephone conversation with Ricky Tims october 16th 2007 and look for Alex Anderson in December!

8) Eavesdrop on a Telephone Conversation – October 16 – Ricky Tims
Ricky Tims successfully blends two diverse passions into one very unique and interesting career. Thousands who have heard his music affirm his skills as a pianist, composer, and producer. His success as a quilter is equally significant. Eavesdrop on a Telephone Conversation with quilter and musician Ricky Tims - October 16

He is known in the international world of quilting as an enthusiastic and encouraging teacher, an award-winning quilter, and a talented and spellbinding speaker.

His quilts have been displayed worldwide, and are highly regarded as excellent examples of contemporary quilts with traditional appeal.

He is currently the co-host of The Quilt Show, an internet-based show for quilters that also features Alex Anderson, C&T Publishing author and former host of HGTV's Simply Quilts

We look forward to hearing Ricky on October 16, when he will share his inspiration for creating interesting and fun contemporary quilts. He will also be talking about his latest – Rhapsody Quilts.


Eavesdrop on a Telephone Conversation

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

My Sewing Room








Thought I would show you how I get to my sewing room so here's some photos of where I quilt.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Pinwheel quilt

Well I have been busy trying to make some Quilts for the Quilts for Kids the fabric was donated by a leading fabric manufacturer and then they cut everything into kits, I got two kits to see what it was like, you just mail the postage for sending you the kits, I was at first a little timid because the fabric was more like decorator fabric and quite thicker than what I'm used to quilting with and colors , not exactly matching but in less than 3 hours I had one top done, (it's only crib size) so tomorrow i will take some photos and let everyone see what they are like, it's alot of fun. It's a pinwheel quilt using 6 inch blocks so fairly easy and fast.

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Quilting Day!

Well, finally got to quilt with my sister in law on Friday and I was so excited because she has a new bernina with the BSR, I couldn't wait to try it out. I can't tell you how dissapointing it was, first just getting the attachment on the machine and the right settings took three of us, and the BSR is supposed to regulate the stitches and they are supposed to be even no matter if you move your hands too fast or too slow , NOT! It took the same amount of effort and control as if you didn't have the BSR, needless to say we switched over to the walking foot and quilted away! I honestly felt dissapointed that the BSR was not all it's cracked up to be, but we had so much fun and got one quilt almost entirely done by 3:00 in the afternoon and Natalie was just so happy!

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Simply Quilts

Wow, Simply quilts is back! I had really missed that show and even though it's re runs of shows I have seen already , I never get bored watching them again! Today's show was about the hidden block quilts- using two blocks and wow the number of combinations you could make many many quilts and each would still be different from the other, simply fascinating! I think at one point they said you could make 450 quilts using 10 different two block combinations, Endless possibilities! The Book was called "Hidden Block Quilts" by lerlene Nevali.

Sunday, September 16, 2007

My first quilt

I remember my first quilt I ever made like it was yesterday. I bought a dresden plate kit from Hearthside quilts in the summer of 1979, I did not own a sewing machine at the time nor did I even have a clue on how to make a quilt, I just knew I had to make one. I was doing fairly well at it and I stored all the pieces and fabric in the window seat box under my bedroom window in the corner. Little did I know that our hot water heating pipe also ran thru that window seat! As luck would have it one day I came into the bedroom and I noticed steam and lots of it coming from the window seat, I opened it and it was filled to the top with water! and all my pieces were floating in this very hot water, Well, that should have been enough to make anybody quit and throw everything away, not me! I hung every piece on the clothesline to dry and even though they shrunk like hell I made that quilt! I still have it , of course it's wonky and not quilted very well and I didn't know what binding a quilt was at that time so the back was just folded over to the front . But it is my inspiration for days when I am frustrated with my quilting projects and I remember the determination that got me to where I am today! Love every stitch!

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Ready for quilting


Here's a quilt I am working on, It's ready to quilt and actually by the time this photo is here the quilt is in the frame, this was my local quilt shop's Block of the month quilt for 2006, however It is not exactly like the others, I redesigned it for some reason I just didn't like the shop's intended layout so I did it my way, so to speak. Reminder: September is National Sewing Month!

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

My favortie time of year

This is the time of year I look forward to the most, cool nites, leaves start changing, time to do fall cleaning, but this is the time of year I do most of my quilting, for some reason I get more inspired this time of year than any other, and Halloween is coming!!

So Proud of myself

Well, I am almost finished my swap blocks which are due the 30th of this month and got my fabric listed on ebay, I decided to dress up my listings with using a pretty sewing template , so I bought the template for $2.69 and really didn't have a clue on what to do with it once the seller downloaded to me, but she really helped with insructions and I felt a little dumb after I realized how simple it was! but I got it to work and felt really good that I was able to fiqure out everything, but I 'll tell you what happened to the days when you just sat down with a needle and thread and didn't have all this computer stuff to fiqure out? I find myself constantly trying to keep up, thank God my sewing machine likes me cause I swear sometimes my computer has a hidden agenda to aggravate me all day long ! Love every stitch, T.

Sunday, September 9, 2007

Quilts For Kids Foundation

If there is one thing I am very passionate about in my life it's this--There is a wonderful organazation that brings quilts to sick and needy children, they have 50 plus chapters in 29 US States and the carribbean. Quilts for kids accepts monetary donations, postage donations ( always in need of postage) as well as gifts of quilt blocks, quilt tops (which
you can buy the kits for tops for the cost of postage ) the quilts once finished are gifted to the sick and abused children . Visit the Quilts for Kids Foundation website at http://www.quiltsforkids.org/
You can also join the Yahoo group Quilted with love and find many ways to participate in helping to make quilts for kids. Visit today and see how you can make a difference!

Click here to join Quilted_With_Love
Click to join Quilted_With_Love

Saturday, September 8, 2007

Quilting fabric

I always use 100% cotton fabric for quilting and I always prewash my fabric. I find that I mostly use Moda Fabrics. I like using Kona Cotton for my backings, and I use number 12 betweens needles and YLI thread for hand quilting and machine piecing. I find alot of great Moda fabrics and great deals on Click here for your favorite eBay items

First post

I love to hand quilt! I have been quilting for over 28 years and i am amazed to see so many quilters out there!