12.27.2012

Christmas Finishes

Just before Christmas I finished quilting a few quilts for Lisa. One was a Christmas gift for her husband and the other was a wedding gift for her daughter. 
I really love the pattern and how it looks in different color ways.
I machine quilted both quilts with all over patterns, they turned out really nice.
If you happen to know the name of this pattern I'd love to know. It's such a cute quilt!

12.26.2012

Cabin Fever Quilt Retreat!

My sweet friend Emily, from Crazy Old Ladies is hosting a quilt retreat in just a couple months! Emily is so much fun I'm sure this retreat is bound to be a ball!!!!

I'm so flattered that Emily has asked me to come and share a little trunk-show, I'll have all the quilts from my new book, Beginner's Guide to Free-Motion Quilting, and some from some of the other books that I have quilts published in. I can't wait!

You can read more about this fun retreat over on Emily's blog or just sign up here!
Can't wait to see you in February!

Contact me today if you'd like me to share a trunk show at your quilt guild or retreat.

12.20.2012

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas 2012 from my little family to yours!
I am so happy that I get to spend the next few days taking a "break" from my normal routine. Spending time creating memories with the most important people in the world, my family.

Thank you all for supporting me in my quilting journey over the past year, and years. I truly appreciate every sweet comment, every visit and all of your lovely emails.

THANK YOU!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

12.19.2012

Christmas Quilt

;
Maryann pieced two darling Radio Way quilts for her grand-daughters. I love how bright and cheery they are!
I custom machine quilted them for her, each block has a fun Christmas related motif. Snowflakes, Christmas Trees and Reindeer.
I really love how they turned out!

Hope you're all ready for Christmas, I just need to finish up a couple gifts of my own and then I'll be ready! YAY!

Pattern for this quilt is Radio Way by Julie of Jaybird Quilts. Pattern is available at Fat Quarter Shop.

Merry Christmas!

12.18.2012

Fekkai Holiday Promotion

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Before his products are market to the public, Frederic and his staff personally test every formula in his world-renowned Frederic Fekkai Salon to ensure the highest quality performance. 
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Promotion code: HEADBAND


12.17.2012

Denim Quilt

Jenny pieced this darling denim quilt for one of her boys for Christmas. She pieced it using our Simply Denim tutorial.
I think it's cute that she included a couple of pockets in there!
I machine quilted it for her, I quilted an all over swirly pattern, leaving the pockets unquilted. I think it turned out pretty cute!
I love her monogram!
So cute!

12.14.2012

"Round and Round" Beginner's Guide to Free-Motion Quilting

Round and Round is another one of the fun patterns in my new book, Beginner's Guide to Free-Motion Quilting. The original version of this quilt is made from green, blue and white fabrics, it's very masculine, so when Kathleen and I remade this version we had to go with something totally opposite!

Round and Round
71"x77"
This easy-to-make quilt is made with one repeating appliqued block. When placed in two different orientations, the blocks almost magically form circle patterns.

In the book the quilt is machine quilted with pebbles and large swirls. When I machine quilted this bright version I wanted it to be totally different so each color has it's own quilting motif. It turned out so fun and happy!

Unsigned copies are also available @ Fat Quarter Shop or on Amazon.

12.13.2012

Re-usable Grocery (or quilt) Bags!

I'm so excited today to share my new Re-usable Grocery (or quilt) bags!
These have been a few months in the making and I am so happy that I finally have them. They are so prefect for hauling around quilts! I have been on the lookout for a great bag to carry quilts from place to place and finally have the perfect bag!
It's like an early Christmas gift for me!
The bags are pretty big, shown here with two throw size quilts, look how nicely they fit! YAY!
Shown here with one queen size quilt. I love it!

I have these fun bags for sale here.

Have a great day!

12.12.2012

Machine Quilting Chevrons

Donna pieced this beautiful version of Swoon! So pretty isn't it!
Donna sent it to me for machine quilting, we decided to quilt Chevrons all over, like I did on this quilt.
I really love how it turned out!
Thanks for letting me quilt your beautiful quilt Donna!

Swoon pattern is available at Fat Quarter Shop.

12.11.2012

Bright & Cheery!

;
Heidi and her sisters pieced this darling bight and cheery quilt!
I love the modern bright and happy look! 
I machine quilted this fun all over pattern, it's a fun mix of paisleys and flowers! 

12.09.2012

Skittles {a moda bake shop tutorial}

I'm totally crushing on Vanessa's new fabric, Simply Color, it's just...perfect!
When I first saw that wonderful ombre fabric I knew I HAD to make something from it.
So, I grabbed a charm pack and a few yards of fabric and viola, I created Skittles!
I {heart} applique so much, so a little ombre fabric, a couple yards of coordinating fabric add a little applique....bliss!
And, of course I had a lot of fun machine quilting this lovely quilt.
LOTS and LOTS of pebbles! I love the look they took on with the circle applique.
Hop on over to Moda Bake Shop today to see the complete tutorial! :)

12.07.2012

Christmas Quilt

Heidi pieced this darling Christmas quilt. It's a great quilt that really shows off those vintage postcard fabrics.
I custom machine quilted it for her. I tried to keep it pretty traditional.
Thanks for letting me machine quilt your fun quilt Heidi!

12.05.2012

Christmas Quilt ~ In the works...

Kathleen and I have spent our Saturdays and occasional afternoons over the last couple of months working on this Christmas quilt.
It's only about half-way done, but I'm loving it so much so far!
I really hope to have it completed by Christmas, but that's less than 3 weeks away! I better get crackin!

Fat Quarter Shop is selling this quilt pattern as a block of the month. They are using a little different fabrics than me, but it's still just as cute!

12.04.2012

School Spirit Quilt

Jen has made several quilts for her kids in the local high school colors. This time she decided to make one for herself!
I machine quilted this one for her. I kinda went crazy and totally played on all of the polka-dot fabrics that she had used, so I machine quilted pebbles. :)
She wanted me to quilt her name somewhere in the quilt, so I picked out three little blocks and quilted her name in. I think it turned out pretty dang cute! 

Here and here are a few other school spirit quilts that I've machine quilted.

12.03.2012

Designing Quilts

Earlier this year we traveled to Idaho for a trunk show. It was a fun time and fun to spend some time with family. While we were there I helped my aunt design a quilt. She had this beautiful layer cake and wanted to create something from it.
This is what we designed, it's actually just one block, although it appears to be a couple, I love quilts like that!
Ilene pieced it and I machine quilted a beautiful all over feather pattern. I really love how it turned out. It'll look beautiful in her home.

12.02.2012

Jingle the Husky Pup Interactive Storybook

I mentioned last week that we've been trying to include a lot of books into our home this Christmas season. Yesterday my mother-in-law gave my kids an early Christmas present. 

Jingle the Husky Pup and a couple of Interactive Storybooks.
I actually remember seeing these last year and didn't think much of them. When we came home last night and opened it my kids were in awe! They never both sit still to listen to a story, I think we've read the books about 10 times each already. This little pup and story totally drew them in and they love it!


**this is NOT a sponsored ad.

11.30.2012

"Twisted Up" Beginner's Guide to Free-Motion Quilting

I'm super excited to share "Twisted Up" today! "Twisted Up" is another pattern that is featured in my book, Beginner's Guide to Free-Motion Quilting. This quilt was originally made in purple and green, so we thought it would be fun to see it in totally different colors. 

Thanks so much to my aunt Ilene Peterson for piecing this version of "Twisted Up".

"Twisted Up"
80"x80"
Two tone-on-tone prints and a plain white background play up this quilt's bold design. It would be great made with any two prints and a contrasting solid. Simple piecing with strips creates the illusion of interlinked frames. 
In the book, Beginner's Guide to Free-Motion Quilting the quilt features machine quilting patterns, "Clams" and "Swirls". 
This black and red version I decided to machine quilt an all over pattern, I thought it would be fun to share that not all quilts need to be custom machine quilted. 


Unsigned copies are also available @ Fat Quarter Shop or on Amazon.

11.29.2012

Christmas Roundup!

Christmas machine quilting chaos is in full swing around here. This time of year I get to spend many long hours here at the studio, I really am grateful that I have such fantastic customers and friends that are patient with me this time of year!
Since so many of the quilts that I've been machine quilting are Christmas gifts I can't share them all on here, so I thought it'd be fun to have a little Christmas project roundup!

Most of the patterns that I share below are free tutorials that Kathleen and I have created over the past few years.

I honestly didn't realize how many Christmas quilts I have.... maybe I've got a problem, considering I'm in the process of making another one! :)
I just love them!
Hope you find these inspiring!

Have a great day!



11.28.2012

Hawaiian Quilt

I spent a couple days last week machine quilting this beautiful Hawaiian quilt.
I machine quilted like a traditional Hawaiian quilt, lots and lots of echoing.
I love Hawaiian quilts, if I was patient enough to do all of that hand applique, I'd totally make myself one! :)

This one is Norma's quilt. It's been in the works for several years and now it just needs a binding and will officially be done! YAY!

Thanks Norma for letting me machine quilt your beautiful Hawaiian quilt!