There's No Place Like Home!

   Here it is---one of the posts that I have been waiting to write and share! I am soooooo excited to share this!!!! I had to wait to give it back to the owner before I posted anything on it. I am so excited to share this quilt that one of my customers pieced-Rochelle. It is a pattern from Bonnie Hunter. It is the scrappy house quilt. It is beautiful in every way--- and I have to say-Rochelle, you did an awesome job on this quilt top!!! This is Rochelle's first scrappy quilt. I remember when she was starting it and she was trying to let go and not control the color combinations of each house. When you are starting to be scrappy, there really is a switch in your brain that has to be flipped, because we as quilters are so used to being in control and being specific on what goes where. I think quilting scrappy really helps to allow your creative juices to flow. Rochelle and I spoke about this a few times. I had suggested to throw the material scraps in a bag and just reach in and grab. What ever you have in your hand, then use it no matter what. I am not sure if she used that suggestion, but for me, it does help.

   I was given this quilt top a couple of months ago. I was so thrilled to receive it. I love this quilt.So many different scraps of fabric, so many colors. It is so darn cute! There is something about the house block that I love.  And of course, with me loving Bonnie Hunter and this is her pattern---well, it is a match made in heaven!!!! I myself. have a House Quilt on my "To Do List". Rochelle worked diligently on this quilt top. She put in a great deal of time and effort. Slowly the top grew. It was such a delight to visit her in the shop and see how her house blocks were coming along. If memory serves me right, she had other ladies come to the shop and sew house blocks for their own quilts. I would love to see their quilt tops. I bet they had so much fun getting together, sharing fabric and ideas and watching each others houses grow into beautiful neighborhoods!

   Well, when I was given this quilt top- I was told these sweet 5 words: "Do what ever you want". As a quilter, as a longarmer, I can not tell you what that does to your whole complete body to hear that from a customer. It is like all the neurons,atoms and protons are firing off in your body at once. Like a virtual Forth of July going off in your head. My mind started going in a million directions at once on all of the possibilities---not to mention if I wanted to use matching thread or contrasting thread. Oh decisions, decisions, decisions....! I can not tell you how many times I would lay the top out and look at it. I would get my doodle pad out and start drawing designs. I bought several shades of various colors of Glide thread to start off with. There were so many thoughts floating through my head, I think it would immobilize me, because I would catch myself standing in my studio just starring off- stuck in my own little world of creativity. This happened more then I want to admit.

   When I read what Rochelle had appliqued on the top: "There's No Place Like Home". It set me off into a sort of a Wizard of Oz type of thinking. I was sort of thinking of all those houses in Munchkin Land--the brick pathways, the flowers, the trees, the house trimmings. With that in mind, I knew I wanted real type of flowers, and then not so real type. I wanted pathways, I wanted a sun in the lighter colors, and none in the dark-as if it was night. I wanted smoke coming out of the chimneys. I decided on using matching and slightly contrasting color of threads. I was thinking of various custom quilting designs I could use in the sashings and boarders. I recently purchased my robotic system for my Long Arm- so I knew I wanted to incorporate that also. So.......... with all of those thoughts and ideas running crazy in my head....I started with all the stitch in the ditch in the sashings and boarders first. I then used the computer to do some block stitches in 3 of the boarders and in all of the corner stone blocks. In the sashings, I used matching thread and did a variation of a ribbon candy stitch. I did a "lacy" type of stitch surrounding the appliqued letters to help make them pop. I then did my free motion style of feathering around the whole boarder of the quilt. After all of that--the top was pretty much sewn to the backing, so I felt confident to move the top back and forth on the frame so that I can start in on the house blocks.

   I can't say that by stitching the house blocks was were all the fun began---because truthfully, I was having fun from the start. I loved combining my computer program with my free motion. Awesome!!! But, I can honestly say, that my creative mind was really "running full speed ahead" while doing the blocks. Out came my doodle book and all my different colored of threads and away I went. It took me awhile to do it all. I did not rush, I enjoyed the whole process. It took me almost 2 months to do this quilt---but and I mean BUT----I had two big holidays in the middle of all this and kids coming and going from College. Trying to balance all of this was a bit tricky.

    I remember the feeling of completing the last block. I couldn't believe it was done. I stood in awe just looking at the whole top---moving it forward and backward on the frame. I stopped counting bobbins after the 15th one. To me, the quilt is beautiful. With the scrappy piecing from Rochelle, and the custom quilting on the top---this is a truly one of a kind quilt. It is special. It is unique. Oh--I want one! Here are some pictures that I took. I wish I was a much better photographer because these pictures don't do the quilt justice. These pictures were all taken with the quilt unbound. I can hardly wait to see it with the binding on it.

Here it is... all of it's scrappy goodness!!!

This is the top of the quilt with all of the appliqued letters. Can you see the lacy stitching I did around the letters?

Love the teddy bear in the window. Great fussy cut job Rochelle!

This house has a whimsical inspired landscaping

Outside capstone block with matching thread. Design is from my computer.

These stitches are from my computer also. I put them in the middle of the outside boarders with the free motion feathering to the right and left of it

Some of my free motion feather stitch on outside boarder

More feathering. I love to do feathers.

More whimsical block stitching. It is very difficult to see the design in the grey blocks. I used  matching thread. Those designs are from the computer also.

Northern Lights

As I am flipping through my pictures, I came across a few lovely shots of a customer quilt that I had done earlier this year. I love this quilt- it was so much fun to play with. Did I say play with??? I sure did! I love to free motion quilt with my long arm. I receive a variety of types of quilts from my customers. They are all beautiful. What I have not had the joy of working a lot on, are the "Modern" style quilts. You know the ones----they are made of mostly solid colors. The designs on them may vary, but there is always wide open spaces on them. Some people call this "negative space". I like the term wide open better. It just seems so much more positive. Sewing is positive, quilting is positive-so why shouldn't the words to describe it be positive???

A few months back, I received a quilt top from a customer of mine. I knew about this top for awhile and couldn't wait to get my hands on it. It is very modern in it's look. It is made up of different colors with a sort of zig zag'ish block style. At first glance, it reminded me of a rainbow. She told me the pattern was called " Northern Lights". It really is a neat pattern. When I brought it home into my studio and hung it up on my design board, I just stood there and stared at it. All sorts of cool ideas and designs were floating in and out of my little head. I also was thinking of various thread choices and colors. So many ideas--it was over whelming trying to narrow it all down and pick a few. I have to admit, it took me awhile to really do just that--narrow it down and finally make a pick. Aaaahhhhh, choices, choices and more choices.

Well, I finally did choose. I decided to use matching threads for each color and to do a different design for each color. I ordered the color of threads that I did not have and started to draw on blank sheets of paper what I wanted to sew. That took a couple of days. Enough time to allow the thread to arrive. It only took a couple of days. I quickly loaded it up on the frame and started the process. Oh how much fun it was. I was having so much fun just stitching away. I was in my own little world, my own little zone. I can't even tell you what the weather was doing outside. I lost all track of time, and just sewed and sewed  and sewed. I really had so much fun quilting this top, that it is sinful.
When I finally finished- I remember feeling like the cat who ate the mouse. I felt stuffed and satiated in a quilty sort of way. I called Rochelle and let her know. I could not wait to give it to her.

Here are some of the pictures. I was so exited to do this top and give it back, that in my excitement-----I forgot to take pictures. I actually took these with my cell phone after I showed her the quilt. I am not a good photographer--so the pictures do not do it justice.

This is the whole quilt top. As you can see, there is still extra batting and backing attached. I never  cut it off. I let the owner do it when they are ready to bind it. Taking scissors to some one's quilt scares me to the bones.

This is a design that I totally created. I love the movement it creates

This is one of my favorite designs on the quilt.

 I love how I was able to sew lines and combine them with other flowing designs to create neat looks. Modern quilts are fun to quilt. They really do allow for your creative side to shine through

Love stitching out feathers. Who doesn't love feathers???

My own version of an Oak leaf

I know that the pattern is called Northern Lights--but for me, I call it Northern Candy.  I felt like a child in a candy store the whole time I worked on this top. Thanks Rochelle!!!!

Debbie has big ones..........!

Ha-  I just had to laugh at myself when I came up with this post title. Just a little bit of nutty humor to start the day. No this is not a trashy post---yes, it has to do with quilting. My friend, "Quilter Debbie" is the person on spot today. She is a marvelous quilter--she can look at a picture of a quilt and come up with a pattern with a snap of a finger. She is very talented and may I mention---has nutty humor also. Well- She recently made this quilt top at our retreat in October. It is of her own design. It is a gift---so no names mentioned on who it is for. She asked me to quilt it with an all over meander stitch. The interesting thing about her request is that she did not want to have any batting in it. I was like: Hhhmmmmm- OK, let's give it a try. I have never tried this before. She wants it to be as a cover  on the bed for the warm months. We picked out "light olive" thread from Glide. I loaded it up on my Long arm frame. I had to smile and stand back and look at it. This is the first huge quilt that I have put on my newly extended frame. I would not have been able to quilt this if it were not for my new extension. I am so thankful that I was blessed with this purchase. When I had it all loaded and ready to quilt---I just stood there looking at it and smiling. That is when this title came into my head: Debbie has big ones......., hahahaha- so true. To know Debbie is to know this statement. She makes huge quilts!!! They are beautiful, but they are huge. Truth be known, her and her quilts were taken into consideration when I was thinking of getting the extension. Well, I am glad I did buy it, because it was useful with this quilt.

Debbie being silly at a past Quilt retreat at Halloween time. Love it!

Her big beautiful quilt. See how it stretches from one end of the frame to the other!

This quilt took me a couple of hours to do from start to finish. It was fun and it went by quick.  I used 5 bobbins on it. I am pleased with the out come of it. It does make me think of making some light weight quilts for my family for the warmer months. Not only does Debbie have big ones--- she had get ideas! Thanks Quilter Debbie!

Just a close up of the stitching on the back. I am so amazed how nice it looks without any batting in between.

Quilter's Creative Touch-Quilt motion

Is it Friday yet??? This feels like such a crazy week. I feel like I have had a full 5 days worth already. I think it is a great indication that I need to slow down and relax- sort of enjoy the process. I woke up with a feeling of great relief and that a weight has been taken off of my shoulders. I had not realized how much I have been worrying about the robotics for the longarm. By nature---computers and electronic devices and me do not get along. I have shaped a few strong cords in my relations with them recently--but it is an adventure to say the least. Yesterday, I was thinking that I would work on some of my WIP -you know, that stack of stuff in your sewing room that gets taller by the day,,,,,, at least mine is. I have been wanting to attach the robotics since I brought it home last Friday.  It is from the Grace Company and they are out in Utah. I am very pro America and I wish that much more "things" were made from beginning to end here in the USA. With that being said----I have had a few hiccups along the way of putting together and attaching my much desired robotics. After a series of phone calls back and forth from the company and addendum's of the instructions sent to me via email---I decided to sit down, spread out all the parts and pieces and get to putting this on. My husband is traveling for business right now-but with me being a stubborn Sicilian, I thought to myself "Oh I can do this by myself", ha--- how silly is that! I sat there for hours trying to figure everything out. Oh how I wished the directions and diagrams were accurate and easy to see. Parts were missing and  there were unidentified screws and bolts.  I was rescued at dinner time by a dear friend (Colleen) to come have dinner at her home. What a blessing and a relief to get away from what was happening in my studio. I wanted to stay and visit much longer but I was blessed with another friend (Bonnie) who was sending her husband over to help me with the robotics. I can not thank my friends enough!!! I am truly blessed. Well- Rob came over and he quickly jumped to the task of helping. Between the two of us---we finished a couple of hours later. He even helped me load it back up on the frame and return the poles in place.What a guy!!!!!! I sent my husband a text and told him of my happy success and then went directly to bed........ sleep came fast.  When I woke this morning I was anxious to get into the studio and fire this baby up and see that it was working----- and it did!!! I want to play with it today and see what I can learn. I am sure I have some fabric and batting laying around that I can load up and try. With fingers crossed--wish me luck---- I am jumping in feet first!!!!!

The view of the new tablet mounted on the head of the machine. This is the opening window of it.

A slightly larger view. I was hoping to be able to show the tracks on the table top that will control the movement but it all blends in together.

Can you guess........?????

Ok---a bit of drama and suspense here- can not help myself. I am very happy with this latest purchase for my long arm. If you haven't guess by now-I will tell you. I was just blessed with the purchase of Quilters Creative Touch/ Quilt Motion! Yes--you read this correctly--- I am upgrading the longarm and adding to the service my business can offer to not only my customers but for my own personal quilts.This is very exciting. I will be able to download all sorts of patterns and designs. I will be able to continue my free motion quilting. I am looking forward to combining both types of quilting for the highest and best outcome. I feel like the possibilities are endless. I am slowing installing software on my lap top and on my new tablet I needed to buy for the program. I have to print off the manual and start looking into taking lessons from Babylock and of course---Creekside Quilting. There is much to learn, but I am ready to do it. I keep opening up the box and looking at all the pieces. I need to get my tool side out  and ready so I can attach all of this to the machine and the frame. I am keeping my fingers crossed and hopeful that this will go on easily and smoothly. The sooner I get this all attached, the sooner I can start playing around with it and learning. My plan is to buy some fabric and backing-throw it on the frame and start pushing buttons and experimenting. I am so amazed on how much Creator has blessed me with my Long Arm business. All within a month and a half, I have been able to purchase the extension table, the lights, and now the robotics. This is so wonderful and over whelming all at once. When I was first retired and thinking of  the things that I wanted to buy and upgrade with--I never imagined that I would receive these all within the first year. Wow oh wow--amazing! I mentioned this to a friend of mine and she said: " It is all coming together". And she is right. During the past couple of months, with the help of family and friends- I was able to make my brochure and new business cards and also--work long and hard to get my blog/website up and going. There has been much done and I know that it is not done yet---but that is OK. Bring it on---I am ready. Thank you Creator- I appreciate it all and I am so thankful.

My new upgrade/goodie for the LongArm. Quilters Creative Touch

Fall leaves and Quilting with Gratitude.

 I don't know if it is just my way at looking at life or if other quilters share this view. For me, I think Fall is the number one season in my mind to quilt. It inspires me, the colors lift my emotions, the air is so crisp that it clears my mind, the temperature is cool enough where I am not dying from heat and humidity, need I say more. It truly is a wonderful season. I spent yesterday quilting my friends first of many quilts for her granddaughter. It was so nice to have the honor to quilt some one's first quilt! When she gave it to me to do- she said:" I trust you- do what ever you want". I was so touched by her statement. That is huge to me- to be trusted  by someone with their creation.To be chosen to work on their quilt over other Longarmers out there.

my main side of the driveway is totally covered in these beautiful leaves!

/the back of my house- I get to view this every time I open my door

the other side of my driveway under the canopy of these old majestic trees.

 To be believed in by a fellow quilter- that means so much to me. I have had this very statement said to me a couple of times. It is so humbling to hear it. It touches my heart and my soul. I really would not be here doing what I am doing if it were not for the love and support of my family, friends and customers. What a wonderful thing it is when you have people believing in you and trusting you. One of the greatest gifts you can give someone. Love, To me, this is a form of Love. I do not have pictures to show of her quilt. She is a private person with her creations right now. I will honor that. Today, I am in a very warm and fuzzy place in my heart and soul. I am filled with gratitude and peace. I am thankful for the day and all that has been placed into my lap and my family's lap- Thank you Creator. I plan on going outside and enjoying the beauty of it. I would like to participate in an Elenore Burns seminar on the net, and I would like to load up another quilt on the long arm. Sounds like a perfect plan, sounds like a perfect day. Enjoy yourself' today, and on the words of Jamie Wallen- Be good to one another!

Luminess Lights

Lights! I have lights!!! I am so happy and thrilled with my new lighting system. I have been struggling with poor lighting in my sewing studio for years. I have a huge studio with over 20 feet high ceilings. I have 4 large 8ft long sky lights in my room, but still the lighting is poor. I have used floor standing Ott lights, reading lamps, all kinds of things......but it never did the job that I needed. Well one day recently I walked into Creekside Quilt shop in Arcade. There before me-straddling a smaller version of my long arm was a vision of loveliness to me. It was a  free standing lighting system. I could not believe how much light was coming from it. I was in awe. I spoke with Sandy about it. I went home later and spoke with my husband about this. Two weeks later, I called them and told them to order me the 10 feet lights with the 2 foot extension. I have a 12 foot frame now.  I could not wait for it to come in. With it being fall, the days are getting shorter. I find that around 3:30, the natural lighting in the room is starting to decline. It makes it very difficult to continue to sew on the longarm. As luck would have it, I was taking a class at Creekside this past Saturday. What a lovely day we had. I was told before I arrived that my lights were in. Oh man-----I just could not wait to get them! I called my handy friend to see if she could help me set it up. It was not difficult and the directions were easy to follow. My husband came home in time to help us move it over the Longarm into position. Wow oh wow is all I can say- the moment I turned the light switch on, I knew my lighting issues were solved!!!! These lights are called "Luminess", a free standing light station made by the Grace Company. I would easily recommend them to anyone. It does come in varying sizes to accommodate everyone's needs. Well, I am off to go sew. I can guarantee you that I will be sewing all day and into the night! Oh happy happy me!

love my new lighting system!!!

Jane's Quilt

Oh so happy, or should I say "sew" happy!!! I am so excited to be able to finally talk about this quilt and post pictures of it. I have been working on this particular quilt for a customer for longer then I want to admit. As you can see, it is a fairly large quilt and it has many different accessories on it. You usually don't find this on quilts today. I was told that she made this quilt over several years ago. She made it in a class at a quilt shop. She finished it and had plans on hand quilting this herself. Well........life is life. The quilt found it's way into a closet all these years. I met Jane through our Guild. We are members of the Northern Chautauqua Quilting Companions Guild. She has seen some of the goodies I have shown during show and tell, along with some of the quilts I have done for the Guild or other members. She approached me at a  meeting and told me about her quilt. Of course I was interested! I received it a few weeks later. Wow oh wow!!! I could not believe my eyes. It is unique, beautiful, special, and one of a kind. You can clearly see that she poured much love and effort into the construction of this quilt top. There is decorative stitching, ribbons, buttons, lace, applique, and doilies all sewn on it. She had already had some batting attached to the back- a trapunto effect.  When I spoke with her about this, she told me to take my time, that she was not in a hurry. I looked at this quilt top many mornings and evenings planning on my approach for stitching. She wanted loft-but also she gave me freedom to do what ever I was guided to do. My first rule of thumb is to always have the stitching compliment the quilt top first, then let the stitching be seen. The top has such a ribbon/lacy/Victorian feel to it. I had so many ideas go through my head. I wanted to stick with the older feel to it with the stitching. I decided on a meander for most of the back ground because it felt good and it also preserved the loft in it. Any other filler background was too dense and it was distracting. In the large green areas I put in curling/scrolling feathers. Difficult to see due to my poor photography skills. I have to admit, I worked on this quilt top for weeks. It was very slow going. A great deal of stitch in the ditch, ruler work, and free motion. I used Glide thread: Christmas Pine and Cool Grey. They are lovely. I will be seeing her at our meeting tonight, so I plan on giving it to her then. I am so excited- I can't wait for her to see it!

Jane's Quilt

The Center medallion

some of the stitching

some of her sewn on accessories

some of the stitching. Hard to see in the green because of the matching thread

Here you can see some of the custom quilting

Of course- one of my favorite blocks

I love the back of the quilt-it really highlights the stitching!

Longarm shopping at Creekside Quilting- new goodies

I did not think that this day would get here. But--It did! I have been in contact with Creekside Quilting in Arcade NY for a couple of months in regards to my longarm. In case you did not know this- I love this Quilt shop. They are so friendly and so helpful, no matter if I come in or call them on the phone. Rain or shine---they are wonderful to deal with. Well.....I have had my longarm for sometime now. When I bought it, it came delivered with a 10 foot frame. Most people would say-"Wow! That is so big!"  To be truthful, it is. What I have realized is that many quilters are making really BIG quilts. This I have come to find out soon after I bought my lovely Crown Jewell. With that being said- I have been thinking long and hard about getting an extension for my frame and make it 12 feet long. I think that would help out a great deal, because then I will be able to do a quilt top that is up to 120 inches wide. That would meet the needs of many customers. I was excited the day I called the shop and said to Cheryl---"This is the day- please order my extension and new leader cloths!" Friendly as always----she responded "Sure!" As the days went by waiting to hear if it arrived yet--I thought about it often. I thought about attaching it and loading up a big quilt with ease. The best way to wait for something is to keep busy-so I did. Then-I come home the other day to a message on my phone: " Nadine, this is Creekside, It's here!" Oh joy- oh joy. I could not wait to jump in the car and drive up. I grabbed a friend of mine who is a fellow quilter and away we went. The day was warm and sunny. But with me being inpatient, the universe was having fun with me. We were stuck behind s-l-o-w drivers, large semi's going up hill, and of course, I can't get this vision out of my head...... a truck filled with Port a Potties. Finally the hour drive ended and we reached our destination. With a hop in my step I entered the building and was instantly at ease. There in front of me were my packages. At that time, Sandy (the owner) and Cheryl (trusty longarm advisor) came around the corner and greeted me. Oh so nice of them. I couldn't wait to load it up in the car-but-of course, to me I feel like I am in a candy store. I did what any other all American quilter would do- I shopped. Love it! The whole way home I was on cloud nine. As it is- I currently have a customer quilt on the frame, so attaching the extension will have to wait until I am finished.Thank you Creekside for all of your help-you have made me a happy woman. Now, I need to get busy on that quilt top.

The sign that always catches my eye

Ahhhh- Creekside Quilting- I have arrived!

There you are my pretty- I have been waiting for you to come.