In the Baltimore Area? Join us for Jacquie Gering's Trunk Show sponsored by the Baltimore Modern Quilt Guild! Jacquie Gering Lecture/Trunk Show Quilting Modern: Honoring Tradition Monday, October 21, 6:30 - 7:30 PM, Seminole Sampler, Catonsville Cost: $5 for members, $10 for nonmembers Jacquie shares her journey from being a maker, to becoming a quilter, and now a modern quilter, designer and author. Jacquie tells about her Mennonite roots, how her family inspires and influences her work, and shows through her quilts how she has developed her unique voice in modern quilting. Learn what makes a quilt modern from one of the leaders of the modern quilting movement. Payment can be submitted through paypal: baltimoremqg@gmail.com. Please note that we are unable to offer refunds for this workshop. However, we will make available a waiting list and you can transfer your class purchase to someone else. A little about Jacquie Gering The co-author of Quilting Modern: Techniques and Projects for Improvisational Quilts (Interweave, 2012), Jacquie is a contributing designer and author for Stitch, Modern Patchwork, Quilter's World and Quilter's Quarterly. Her quilts have been featured in other national and international publications. Jacquie is a leader in the modern quilting movement, serving on the Board of Directors of the National Modern Quilt Guild. She teaches and talks quilting across the country and shares her designs and quilting knowledge on her popular blog, Tallgrass Prairie Studio. Questions? E-mail: baltimoremqg@gmail.com.

A fun little diversion

I just finished a cute little project for my granddaughter. My daughter in law says that baby towels aren't absorbent enough or big enough so.... I made these two machine embroidered appliqué towels. They are so fun and my DIL loves them. They use a bath towel, half a hand towel (cut in half lengthwise), and a wash cloth. Always fun to change things up from time to time!

Week of finishes

So many times I start a project only to get distracted by another project, a class sample, a customer quilt that needs quilting, but not this week. I made great progress on my UFOs. Such a feeling of accomplishment. As I look at these projects it is just crazy that I didn't just finish some at the time. One just needed a label... done.

The question is how long will it take me to get it mailed off to it's recipients... not the point, the project is done. Then, there is the class sample that never got quilted... done.

Or the magazine that has sat in my living room opened to the pattern of a quilt I want to make. I keep looking at it and putting it on the top of the pile so that I don't forget it... Done!

Now don't think that my UFOs are all done now. There is a nice big bin under my cutting table with projects that need my attention and a pile of them in my fabric closet. But that is not the point. I take my victories, big or small, when I can get them. ;o) I hope you all had a productive week and if not, there is a new week around the corner. Have a great weekend! Check out the other Link a Finish Friday Blogs.

Adding Dimension to a quilt

I recently co-taught a class with my friend Lisa. We both fell in love with Shabby Fabrics "Blessings of Summer" pattern. It is a great Block of the Month. As we started to review the pattern we noticed that one block had dimension but none of the other blocks. Well that was it, we took each block and tried to see where we could add texture and dimension to the block. It was so much fun! I am going to post tutorials here on what we did. Now remember, we taught this as a block of the month class and it was great to see how creative folks could get. I think the first block everyone did EXACTLY what we did. But then they caught the bug too. It doesn't matter what machine you have, or how many decorative stitches, you can do it! I am going to start with one of the filler blocks, Pinwheels.

Now many of you may have done dimensional pinwheels but here are instructions if you haven't Cut 4 - 2 1/2"squares background fabric Cut 4 - 2 1/2" squares pinwheel fabric

Now take your pinwheel fabric and fold in half from point to point.

Now fold in half again.

Place the pinwheel folded pieces on your background fabric as shown below.

Sew left top square to bottom left square and top right to bottom right.

Sew right and left side together and you will have a completed block! To reduce bulk in the center of the block, pick a few stitches out of the seam allowance at the center where all squares come together.

You can then fold one seam allowance up and one down dramatically reducing the bulk. You will know this is done correctly of the back forms a small pinwheel in the seam allowances.

Here is the finished block.

Of course I added beads to the center of the pinwheels to add a little bling to the quilt. Stop back soon as next time we will talk about how we made our Sailboat block.

And the winner is....

Lots of followers and comments on my first giveaway.thank you all for participating and making this giveaway such a great success. And the winner is...... Jacklynn Very cute fabric! Thanks for the give away! Please contact me via email with your address and I will send out your fat quarter bundle. I have been posting very infrequently on this blog but am working more diligently at it now. Working on many new projects. So watch for more great projects to come. I have been working with hexagons lately and working on a new design with those so keep an eye out for photos and progress on that project and many others. For Mothers Day we came to visit my mom and while here she pulled out two quilt projects that she started but hadn't finished. Both are coming home with me to complete. One, is a mystery from many years ago and the other is a project she saw in my favorite quilt shop near her house. I worked a little bit on the mystery quilt yesterday and got some of the blocks together. She has all but the last of the directions so this really will be a mystery as to what it turns out to be. I have some ideas I am thinking about. Will post pictures as soon as I get a little more together. Have a great week! And please feel free to share...What are you working on this week?

Giveaway time

Here is my very first giveaway. Become a follower or leave a comment and be entered to win a Fat quarter bundle by Maywood Studios called Warm at Heart. This bundle contains 16 fat quarters from this line. http://www.sewmamasew.com/blog2/march2013/GiveawayDayMay6.jpg Check here for more giveaways. http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/2013/05/giveaway-day-is-may-6/

One done

Well the week is almost over and I have finished the quilt top. Will load it on the longarm when I get home. Hoping to squeeze in one more UFO before the week is over.

UFO week progress

Well, I am away for a weeks vacation with my husband. He was not even surprised as I put the sewing machine and a few projects in the car. What a good sport. It is my hope to finish a few projects this week that have been crying out to be completed. This is the first project I am working on. Such a fun scrap quilt. Need to use up some of my scraps and this is a great quilt to put the fun, bright prints in. What are you working on this week?

Newest quilt

I love the fabrics and how fast and easy this quilt went together. Fat quarter friendly.

Baby Quilt

Mickey and Minnie Quilt for our new Grandbaby