Downton Abbey Quilt - Custom Machine Quilting by Natalia Bonner + A Bonus Video

Hey quilty friends! I hope your summer is off to a great start! I guess with my kids getting older and more involved in activities around the community I just feel like summer is going to be crazy. But I love it! However, it's really eaten into my blogging time and I just haven't been able to update things here as often as I'd like to. I'm going to try and make an effort at sharing a little more frequently, because I do love this blog, and the community of friends I've made because of it.

I recently custom machine quilted this beautiful Downton Abbey quilt for Carol. I love the quilt. When Carol sent this quilt to me she asked me to hide a little message in it, I'm not sure if I even captured it in the quilting but there is a hidden message quilted into the quilting. :)

Sew Sampler Box - May 2016

On Monday I found this yummy Sew Sampler box in my mailbox. Let me just tell you, I've honestly always been a bit skeptical about these subscription type boxes. I've always wondered if they're actually worth the money, this Sew Sampler box is the first box I've ever actually received and I'm totally sold on it! I love the anticipation, the excitement and I love the fabulous surprises that are inside.

Modern Building Blocks Quilt - Custom Machine Quilting by Natalia Bonner

Jan made this gorgeous version of the popular Moda Modern Building Blocks Quilt. I love this quilt. 

I was honored two years ago to custom machine quilt the original version of this quilt. When I machine quilted that version for my friends over at Moda Fabrics they asked me to keep the quilt crisp and modern, the didn't want any curves, just straight line quilting. I've had fun machine quilting a few versions since then and I've loved making each one of them unique.

Dream Big - Custom Machine Quilting by Natalia Bonner

Over the weekend I spent some time custom machine quilting this gorgeous Dream Big quilt. Let me just tell you, I had so much fun machine quilting this quilt. There is enough negative space and solid colored fabrics that it was pretty much like candy to me. 

How to: Mini Lemon Cheesecakes - Sometimes I Cook!

Hey friends! I've never claimed to be great at cooking or baking, but, this week I volunteered to make treats for my local modern quilt guild, Red Rock Modern Quilt Guild, so I had to make some treats.

I modified this recipe from one of my mom, Kathleen Whiting's recipes and I love how it turned out. Actually I loved them so much I thought that it would be fun to share the recipe here with you!

Be Brave - Custom Machine Quilting by Natalia Bonner

My local quilt shop, Quilted Works is featured in the Spring/Summer 2016 issue of Quilt Sampler as one of the top quilt shops! With this great honor for them comes a new quilt design, and I was able to custom machine quilt their new quilt for them, "Be Brave".

I had so much fun custom machine quilting the original version, and then they made a second version, which was even more fun to custom machine quilt.

Paper Pieced Star Quilt - Custom Machine Quilting by Natalia Bonner

Jean Ann pieced this beautiful quilt for her grand-son as a graduation gift. I'm thinking this is a pretty awesome gift!

Jean Ann sent it to me and asked me to custom machine quilt it for her. Jean Ann pretty much gave me permission to quilt it however I thought would be best.

Mixing it Up - Custom Machine Quilting by Natalia Bonner

Cheryl made this darling Mixing It Up quilt and sent it to me for some custom machine quilting. I love this quilt and knew that it needed some fun quilting to really make those mixers and spatulas come to life.

Housetop Quilt - Custom Machine Quilting by Natalia Bonner

My friend Tina Lewis designed and made this beautiful Housetop quilt for Modern Patchwork magazine.

10 Things You Should Know Before Having a Quilt Machine Quilted on a Long-Arm Machine

I've thought about writing this blog post for years, actually I've typed up the whole thing several times and then deleted it. I didn't want to come across as a know-it-all, or at all offensive. However after being asked the same questions over and over I've decided that it's okay to write these thoughts, actually, I think that most will find it very helpful.

Before I became a long-arm quilter there were a lot of things I didn't know about the process, by writing this post today I hope that I can help anyone out there that is interested in having their quilts machine quilted by a long-arm quilter. 

Quiltcon 2017

The full event catalog with all of the workshops, lectures and other events will be made available by June 1st, with registration opening for members in late June and the general public July 1st.

I can't wait!

So - You Like Quilts - But - You Don't Like to Sew?

If you like quilts, but don't have the time, or maybe if you don't even like to sew, or if you just want a fast finish Pattern Jam might be the perfect option for you!

The brilliant team over at Pattern Jam have come up with the most fabulous idea, you log into their website, pick a pattern, place your fabrics, online, and then they digitally print your quilt top on fabric for you! How cool is that!

Sew Sampler with Fat Quarter Shop

The team over at Fat Quarter Shop have designed this darling Sew Sampler monthly subscription box. Aren't we all crushing on subscription boxes right now? I am!

When I first heard about the box I knew that I had to sign up, it's only $.99 to sign up and then $24.95 per month after that!

Beehive Quilt - Custom Machine Quilting by Natalia Bonner

Quilted Works, one of my local quilt shops has got another adorable new quilt pattern and kit. I custom machine quilted this fun quilt for them and loved quilting it.

Modern Gray Quilt - Custom Machine Quilting by Natalia Bonner

Toby made this beautiful modern gray quilt. When Toby sent me this gorgeous quilt for some custom machine quilting I knew that the machine quilting needed to be very crisp and clean. This quilt just screamed straight lines to me.

Rah Rah Rally Quilt - Version #3 - Custom Machine Quilting by Natalia Bonner

Over the last couple of weeks I've shared some darling Rah Rah Rally Quilts that I've custom machine quilted for Kathy. I recently finished custom machine quilting the last of three and I think it turned out pretty cute!

Wanna Build a Snowman Quilt - Custom Machine Quilting by Natalia Bonner

The ladies at my local quilt shop, Quilted Works, are always coming up with something fun and creative! This "Wanna Build a Snowman" quilt is one of their recent patterns, and what's so cool about this quilt is all of the applique pieces are laser cut, so they're perfect and it makes putting the quilt together super fast!

Rah, Rah Rally Quilt -Version #2 - Custom Machine Quilting by Natalia Bonner

Last week I shared one of Kathy's beautiful Rah, Rah Rally quilts, she actually made three of them almost all exactly the same. Kathy sent them to me for some custom machine quilting. Because all three quilts are from the same pattern and the same fabrics I decided to machine quilt each of them similar, but not exactly the same. I seem to get bored quilting the same quilt the exact same, so changing things up a bit adds more interest, and makes each quilt a little bit more unique!

Boy Quilt - Custom Machine Quilting by Natalia Bonner

I recently finished custom machine quilting this fun quilt for Paula. I've shared several of her quilts for her grand-kids here before and today I've got another one. Paula lets her grand-kids pick a pattern and the fabrics and then she has been busy making each one of them a quilt. I know I say this every time I share her quilts, but I just love this! These quilts will be treasures forever!

Custom Machine Quilting by Natalia Bonner

Wow! I really didn't mean to take a ten day break from blogging. I really haven't fallen off the earth, actually I've been crazy busy machine quilting and because of that blogging had to fall a ways down the priority list.

Thank you for sticking with me and following along when my crazy little life just catches up to me. :)

No, worries, I've been busy and got a lot of quilts to share with you, starting with this beautiful quilt made by Cherie!