LLQA stands for Land of Lincoln Quilters Association. It is a statewide organization that meets in various locations throughout Illinois. Yesterday the meeting was in Lincoln. I was the guest speaker. It was a new experience for me - a good experience. What could be better than spending time in the company of quilters talking about quilts?
It was fun getting out the quilts made over the past 11 years and deciding which ones I would take along. (It has not been as much fun putting them away!) Even though I knew it would be the case, I was surprised to see how much my skill level had changed. I think all quilters should assess their own quilting growth from time to time in order to appreciate their own accomplishments.
I took 28 quilts of various sizes, including the first quilt I made in August of 1998. I wasn't able to take any of the Marula Designs quilts because they were all at the Rosemont IQA show.
Today I am working on the exact design for the Bird Haven applique blocks.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
A New Quilting Year
I am a member of Hands All Around Quilt Guild in Bloomington, IL. Our annual quilt show was April 4-5. Every year as the date for the quilt show approaches, I find myself scrambling to finish quilts I optimistically entered. This year was no exception!
In March of 2008 I had taken a machine applique class from Sue Nickels. I started a 16" block in that class and finished it sometime that spring. I decided to add a border to it. Pretty soon there were two borders, then three. It grew into an 85x85 medallion quilt with both pieced and appliqued blocks. I named it Touch of Class because the center block was started in a class and because it had a classic sort of look. I started quilting it on my Bernina in January of 2009 and finished it about 2 weeks before the show. It turned out quite nice.
Then I quickly quilted the Bush Tea sample for the Marula Imports booth. This was also needed for our quilt show. There was no time to do the pattern. That can come later.
Now the show is over. This is the time of year that I think about what I'd like to accomplish in the next twelve months. Right now I am quilting a Paducah Nine-Patch top that I made several years ago. It's from one of the Nickel Quilt books. I am doing traditional straight line quilting with the walking foot. It is completely relaxing and does not take much concentration, which leaves me free to think about projects for the coming year.
The first thing I plan to start will be an approximately 45x45 wall quilt with nine 9" applique blocks. I am going to use two different blocks and alternate their placement, separating them with sashing. One of those blocks has a bird on it. I will call the quilt Bird Haven, which is the name of the greenhouse and conservatory at Pilcher Park in Joliet. It was built in the early 1900s and is an Italian Renaissance design. It was designed by the Lord and Burnham Company. My mother liked to visit the greenhouse. When she passed away in 2005, I had her name put on a brick in a walkway and also had it etched into a glass pane in the greenhouse. I have thought for a long time that I want to make a Bird Haven quilt too. The time has come! I came across the fabric for the border just recently. It is an interesting print with green, gold, red, orange, brown - great fall colors. I think I want the birds to be robins. The fabric is collected. (I am good at that part.) I will start it next week...I think.
This coming year I also want to make an old fashioned applique quilt. I have been looking at Rose of Sharon blocks. There are many variations. I am designing one of my own. The quilt will be red and green with some touches of gold. I want to leave areas for fancy quilting too.
I also want to develop the patterns for Bush Tea and Baby Elephant Walk, two recent Marula samples.
It's going to be another busy year!
In March of 2008 I had taken a machine applique class from Sue Nickels. I started a 16" block in that class and finished it sometime that spring. I decided to add a border to it. Pretty soon there were two borders, then three. It grew into an 85x85 medallion quilt with both pieced and appliqued blocks. I named it Touch of Class because the center block was started in a class and because it had a classic sort of look. I started quilting it on my Bernina in January of 2009 and finished it about 2 weeks before the show. It turned out quite nice.
Then I quickly quilted the Bush Tea sample for the Marula Imports booth. This was also needed for our quilt show. There was no time to do the pattern. That can come later.
Now the show is over. This is the time of year that I think about what I'd like to accomplish in the next twelve months. Right now I am quilting a Paducah Nine-Patch top that I made several years ago. It's from one of the Nickel Quilt books. I am doing traditional straight line quilting with the walking foot. It is completely relaxing and does not take much concentration, which leaves me free to think about projects for the coming year.
The first thing I plan to start will be an approximately 45x45 wall quilt with nine 9" applique blocks. I am going to use two different blocks and alternate their placement, separating them with sashing. One of those blocks has a bird on it. I will call the quilt Bird Haven, which is the name of the greenhouse and conservatory at Pilcher Park in Joliet. It was built in the early 1900s and is an Italian Renaissance design. It was designed by the Lord and Burnham Company. My mother liked to visit the greenhouse. When she passed away in 2005, I had her name put on a brick in a walkway and also had it etched into a glass pane in the greenhouse. I have thought for a long time that I want to make a Bird Haven quilt too. The time has come! I came across the fabric for the border just recently. It is an interesting print with green, gold, red, orange, brown - great fall colors. I think I want the birds to be robins. The fabric is collected. (I am good at that part.) I will start it next week...I think.
This coming year I also want to make an old fashioned applique quilt. I have been looking at Rose of Sharon blocks. There are many variations. I am designing one of my own. The quilt will be red and green with some touches of gold. I want to leave areas for fancy quilting too.
I also want to develop the patterns for Bush Tea and Baby Elephant Walk, two recent Marula samples.
It's going to be another busy year!
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