UFOs

I've been following Leah Day's Free Motion Quilting Project for some time now and I recently became interested in her UFO Sunday blog (she blogs every day, by the way).

Her Sunday blog has motivated me to work on my machine quilting practice quilt sampler and also got me thinking about all my projects in progress.  Actually, they are ALL UFOs (unfinished objects).  They are all sitting there looking at me saying "work on me today!" 

The idea of devoting Sundays to this is great.  To me, Sunday has always been kind of an off day.  Growing up in a very religious household, Sunday was to be observed as a day of rest with no work being done.  That meant no use of the sewing machine although hand work was OK.  I loved to sew even back then of course, and that meant an entire day banned from sewing!  Sometimes on Sundays even now I find myself not wanting to do anything constructive.  I think I may have turned the corner now!

I completed the applique and block settings for Pots of Flower Power (above) and now I'm planning the border design. Below is a mock-up from EQ7 which helps me with size and color ideas.  I plan to add lots of appliqued leaves along the vines and also corner motifs.

Speaking of wasting time:  I am going to use my blog today to vent a little (I normally make a point not to do that.)  I am now locked out of Tumblr and my website - my computer actually freezes.  I spent HOURS yesterday trying to add a page of my patterns only to fail time and again, even though I have easily done it in the past.  There is obviously something in my OS interfering with Tumblr.  OK - ya!  What?  I'm going to have to get some pro help here. Tumblr's "help" has been no help.

All that precious designing and sewing time!  I do love blogging, and I've been told I'm fairly computer literate for someone my age (ahem), but man, what a waste of time messing with these techie issues.   

On that note, I will simply post this blog to good old Blogger and be on my way.  Looking forward to Sunday!

Pacific International Quilt Fest

Flower Power will be traveling again, this time to Santa Clara, CA to the Pacific International Quilt Fest, October 11 - 14.  I branched away from my usual favorite shows, entered this show and was accepted.  Here's hoping one of the judges is of my vintage (aging hippie) and is taken just by the title alone!

I thought I'd share the process I go through to enter a major quilt show, step-by-step:

- Choosing which shows to enter is the first step.  I make quilts for me, number one, and then I find shows I think are a good fit for my quilts.  I have my favorite shows, which I enter every year.  (see AWARDS on my web site)

- An entry form with required fee needs to be completed and mailed by the specified deadline.  Some shows require digital images of the quilt on a disc; some just photos.  Getting a good photo is the hardest part for me.  A bad photo can disqualify an entry immediately. 

- Once my quilt is juried into the show, I will receive a notification letter with delivery instructions and dates. Each show has it's own criteria.

- I keep track of dates on my calendar, and keep a file folder for each show.  I need to be sure I don't enter the same quilt in two different shows at the same time!

- Next, I need a proper box and clear plastic bag to pack and ship my quilt, again following specific instructions for each show.  I always use UPS or FedEx, with tracking numbers.  I never disclose on the outside of the box "quilt" - and I am never asked what I am shiping, nor am I asked the value amount.  I use a pack and ship store, but always package up my quilt myself.  Return instructions and shipping fees are also included.

- Each of my show quilts has been professionally appraised and I carry a rider on my home owner's insurance for each quilt.  Loss or damage in shipping is covered, so I do not purchase extra insurance. However, the same is NOT covered while a quilt is on display at a show.  The show itself has liability coverage and I enclose a copy of the quilt appraisal when entering so that it's insured for the proper amount.  I would surely miss my quilt if anything happened to it;  cash itself couldn't replace it! 

- I look forward to receiving my quilt back with the judges' comments (and maybe a ribbon) and I keep big binders with all the info from each show, for each quilt.

- That's it!  It is fun to enter shows.  I love the idea that thousands of quilters (and non quilters) can see my work.  Every quilt I make is made to be "show quality" whether I intend to show it or not.  That goal has helped me improve my skills and makes the act of creating a quilt very enjoyable for me.   Although some day, I just want to whip together a fun quilt.  I wonder if I can do it?? 

Fun with Flower Power

I'm working on a 4 block wallhanging using my Flower Power designs.  For this project, I created  flower pots as a base for the appliqued motifs instead of the pieced baskets found in the original quilt.  This smaller version is fun to stitch up, and I have a nice wall all picked out here at home for it to be displayed. 

The new Quilter's Newsletter arrived in my mailbox today.  As you may know, my quilt Flower Power is being featured as a series quilt in 7 issues; currently on #4. One of the blocks featured in this issue happens to be the same one I'm stitching!  I do love this quilt and love hearing from quilters who are making it.

ALSO:  if you followed my blog at this site in the past, I hope that you continue to follow me at my new website:  janezillmer.com.  I have been unable to blog on Tumblr recently - problems with text - so I'm back to using blogger, for now.  Funny, I kind of feel at home here.

Back to my machine! 

A Step Back

 

My very first quilt, untitled, which I made when I was in high school.

This quilt was hand quilted by my mom and presented back to me as a surprise in 1972.

Why am I posting photos of my first quilt?  Hardly a materpiece, but I have kept it all these years and always loved it. Every story must have a beginning, and this quilt would mark the beginning of my quilting life story. 

Speaking of stories, I've been thinking lately about why and how I blog.  I started blogging about 2 years ago.  Others were blogging so why not try it?  It was fun and seemed to validate my work.  I had no real goals in mind, but since I started blogging, I have written patterns, been published in Quilter's Newsletter and also have written a book of my quilt designs (to be published by The American Quilter's Society in 2013. 

Looking back at my blog archives, they do tell my story and are a diary of my quilting life. 

My blog is still mainly about my work and I have not entered the world of reblogging.  I do have a Pinterest account and boards full of neat stuff that all belongs to someone else.  It makes me wonder:  have I been paging through Pinterest posts and Tumblr blogs, looking for ideas rather than letting my ideas occur naturally, like they always have?  Are all these images crowding out my own creative thoughts?  Should I be gathering and storing my own inspirations in my head and sketching them on paper? 

My first quilt was not made from a pattern - I simply cut squares from whatever fabric remnants I could find and arranged and stitched them in a geometric design.  Now I know that it really is reminiscent of  the traditional pattern: "Trip Around the World" - and maybe I had seen it somewhere and it stuck in my head.  In other words, we are always "reblogging" the work and ideas of someone else.  Nothing is truly, completely original.

So, I'll continue to write my blog, share my personal stories and ideas and progress.  I hope you are inspired by what you see and create something!  And we'll see what we shall see.

Look Forward!

 



http://janezillmer.com/post/31464547800/look-forward

To mark it, to mark it...

http://janezillmer.com/post/31335129515/to-mark-it-to-mark-it-a-blog-about-marking

Mystery Flower

http://janezillmer.com/post/31055699702/mystery-flower

We have a top!

I can't tell you how long it took me to design and finish these borders, but at long last, here they are!  This is the finished top of "Carla Rose, Katy Marie" and it's off to my machine quilter, Lisa Arndt who confesses to feeling creative these days.  She'll perform her quilting magic as always. 

Lisa's hubby, Joshua Arndt  is working on my new blog/web page, Facebook page and more.  It will all be unveiled in a couple of weeks.  What a talented couple! 

Quilts juried into Paducah, KY 2012 show

I Love the Nightlife (above) and Woods and Wildflowers (below) will be going to the The American Quilter's Society show in Paducah, KY held April 25 - 28.  I'll be attending too of course;  never miss it.  It's also a week of fun at my sister's home in Cape Girardeau, MO where I stay.  Just plain exciting!!!

I've been working like crazy designing borders for Carla Rose/Katy Marie and went through many options.  I think I've settled on a design and will finish soon.  Here is the quilt without borders.  Leo approves.

To recognize National Quilting Day sponsored by The National Quilting Association, I arranged a really nice quilting display at our wonderful local library.  I have to admit, it was really fun to do;  other than crawling around on scaffolding to hang quilts, that is.  Included in the display are the Essence of Self quilts made by the applique group at Your Arts Program.  Photo below. 

And now, it's back to the border.

Winter is really flying by - no I mean that! Temperatures have been very mild (for northern Wisconsin) and there is just enough snow for outdoor fun.  Of course, winter is not over yet....

What am I working on?  All of the pattern drawings and diagrams for my book (88 pages of them) are being proofed by one of my quilting friends.  All the text has already been proofed by my sis Ellen, and I've made all those changes and corrections.  And I've been changing and editing as I think of things.  It's always on my mind as I'm working on projects.

American Quilters Society, my publisher, will need to have all of my quilts for photography while they are working on my book.  So, I'll be left quilt less!  I need to replenish my inventory, like right away!

A few projects I'm working on:

"Carla Rose and Katy Marie" (one block shown here)

"Blue Camellia" (small portion shown here - it is pin basted and ready to machine quilt)

"Dresden Basket"  (class project  for beginning machine applique - also pin basted and ready to quilt)

On the runway waiting to take off - One of the blocks is a wool pillow which I hand appliqued.  I took a photo, imported it to my Electric Quilt program, added borders and here's a look, albeit a bit distorted, I just love it.

"Birds of Happiness"  Finished priority Alzheimer's project quilt and part of our applique group project:

And finally, I am planning to do a quilt display at the Mercer Public Library for the entire month of March to celebrate National Quilting Day which is March 17.  This day is sponsored by The National Quilting Association. 

Flower Power

I haven't seen this quilt, my original design and one of my favorites, for some time, but it was just returned to me. Quilter's Newsletter has held it hostage while creating a pattern to present as a series quilt in their magazine, starting with the April/May 2012 issue.  If you don't subscribe, it would be a good time to do so.  You'll get the entire pattern for this quilt.

Back to the shore

What's the next best thing to an actual trip to the beach?  Designing a quilt inspired by the beach of course!  I had blogged about ideas for a shore bird quilt last year after a visit to Mexico Beach, Florida, but got a little side tracked, um.... writing a book.  While the book is not finished, I need to keep moving so to speak.

Using my gazing ball for color inspiration, these are some of the fabrics I've pulled out to work with.  What will the quilt pattern and applique be?  Not sure yet, but I'm playing with the traditional "Lady of the Lake" quilt block as a base.  There will be shore birds and flora, and whatever else develops from there.

And, I decided I will have to make a full quilt from my "Moon Glow" block.  I love it!  My sister informed me there is a vintage button line named Moonglow.  She is correct and they are beautiful. 

Go for the quilt

What do you think?  Moon Glow expanded into a large wall hanging.  I love it!  Thanks to Electric Quilt and a few clicks, this is what it would look like. 

Moon Glow

Here's my supervisor Leo checking out today's project. 

Most of the text for my book is finished and I'm working up a few small projects using applique design elements from some of my larger quilt patterns. I want quilters to know that applique is doable by anyone at any level.  An applique pattern can be altered a little and come out looking completely different and the size of an applique design can be adapted to fit almost any project.

Remember Camellia?  This is a smaller quilt but it includes a lot of applique and it looks like, well, Camellias. 

I took Camellia's center flower motif, two of the outer leaves, enlarged the design and just started playing with it.  The applique stitching, which adds a lot of dimension, has not been done yet.  It looks a bit different, doesn't it?

I read in the January 12th Wall Street Journal:  "Astronomers said Wednesday that each of the 100 billion stars in the Milky Way probably has at least one companion planet..." and that "planets are as common in the cosmos as grains of sand on the beach."  "One can point at almost any random star and say there are planets orbiting that star." 

I feel pretty tiny on this earth to begin with. Every time the moon is visible at night, I have to stop and stare at it.  And a clear night sky filled with stars is another sight to behold.  I never noticed this beauty living in the city. 

I honestly had no thought in mind, other than color, when I started arranging this block.  I knew I wanted to have it look completely different than my original Camellia, so I used the grey/black/white color scheme.  Adding the bright green was fun.  But as I moved pieces around, those stars in the Milky Way and those billions of planets were in the back of my mind I guess, and this is what developed. 

It will finish as a pillow maybe.  Now, if I appliqued 9 of these blocks and joined them to make a quilt with a neat border....  but then, I'm trying to create SMALL projects. 

Finished!

Lily takes a snooze perched on the back of our couch.  She looks like she doesn't have a care in the world.  Or she maybe needs a rest after finishing a big project. 

No, that was ME who just finished Bittersweet Too! The machine quilting and binding are done.  I always do enjoy adding the binding; I guess it's a time to bond with that quilt I just made as I sit and do the hand stitching. 

I really feel like I've accomplished something by completing the machine quilting. It was not exactly a breeze.  But I  really taught myself a lot and by the time I was almost finished, I actually began to like my stitches, tension, and quilting design.

I always add a label to the back of my finished quilt, printed on inkjet fabric with a few appliques just to spice it up.  The sleeve and label are also stitched by hand.

By the way, the Gingher rotary cutter I raved about (and still do) is VERY sharp.  Just beware.   I'm just not used to such a sharp cutter! 

Wool and Winter

We're in the middle of a winter snow storm and it is welcome and beautiful.  Yes, that's me out on the lake in front of our home.

What is it about winter and wool?  I have always loved wool - wool sweaters, socks, blankets and of course working with wool fiber.  There is nothing like the feel and look of hand dyed wool felt and I dye my own wool for applique. 

While the recent holidays took time away from working on my book and doing applique, I didn't let it go completely;  I can accomplish a lot in short time periods. 

I started my 9" x 12" little quilt for the Alzheimer's Quilt Project and have most of the hand applique finished.  I will add embellishments and an appliqued leaf border maybe, but I haven't decided on that yet.  It's nice to have a small project to work on.

When I first started doing wool applique, I used DMC Perle Cotton to hand stitch my appliques.  Now I use  DMC Broder Medicis. It's wonderful to work with.   DMC had discontinued making this thread, but a substitute is now available.

 This is a traditional blanket stitch, but you can also just do an overcast stitch when working on wool felt as the edges will not fray.  I have also stitched wool applique by machine.

A pillow I designed and appliqued using hand dyed wool and medici wool thread.

With Christmas shopping, baking and general fun taking up a lot of my time lately, I had put aside my machine quilting project.  This photo is the before shot of "Bittersweet Too" taken before I started quilting it.  I blogged a few weeks ago about the difficulties I was having with tension, needle size and the wool batting.  

I think it's a good idea to step away from something that is frustrating you or is just not fun (unless you have a serious deadline breathing down your neck).  It's also necessary to have your sewing machine cleaned and serviced regularly (I do have this done, but it was overdue).  I combined my machine service visit with a fun Christmas lunch and shopping with a good friend.  

Al, who does my machine servicing, said you really should not mess with your bobbin tension (I confessed that I had REALLY messed with it).  This is controversial and I know you can do it with care.  But he did say, just adjust the top tension if needed.  

So, I was ready to give this machine quilting mystery a shot again.  I started with a warm-up to check my tension.  What actually worked for me was to increase the top tension.   I had immediate success and somehow, it all just felt better.  I'm now doing free motion background quilting as shown here:

The results are not too bad!  3 more of these background sections to finish, then on to the borders.  

I have also changed my opinion about wool batting.  While I'd still say it's not exactly what a beginner might want to use, it really is wonderful to work with.  It is so light and just feels great.  It does have more loft and you must be aware of this and plan you quilting accordingly.  But, I do believe I'll choose it again.  Yes, I will continue to machine quilt - my smaller projects at least.  

Our applique group which meets the first Wednesday of every month at Your Arts Program, Manitowish Waters will participate in the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative.  We are each completing a quilt for the "Priority: Alzheimer's Quilt" project.  Read more:

The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative™ (www.AlzQuilts.org) is a national, grassroots charity whose mission is to raise awareness and fund research. The AAQI auctions and sells donated quilts, and sponsors a nationally touring exhibit of quilts about Alzheimer's. The AAQI has raised more than $679,000 since January 2006.

Ami Simms of Flint, Michigan is the founder and executive director of the AAQI, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operated entirely by volunteers. She is a quilter. Her mother had Alzheimer's.

The AAQI currently sponsors two major programs:

Alzheimer's Illustrated: From Heartbreak to Hope
The first is a nationwide traveling quilt exhibit called "Alzheimer's Illustrated: From Heartbreak to Hope." It features 182 "Name Quilts" six inches wide and seven feet tall, containing the names of more than 10,000 individuals who have or had Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia. Hanging among the Name Quilts are 53 small format art quilts (9" x 12") that each interpret Alzheimer's in some way. The exhibit will tour the United States for 5 years.

Priority: Alzheimer's Quilts
The second is the "Priority: Alzheimer's Quilts" project, so named for the urgent need for research dollars and the hope that quilters across the country would make participation in this project a priority. These small quilts fit inside flat rate cardboard priority mailers from the USPS, which the group uses to ship quilts to winning bidders after monthly online auctions.

There are an estimated 5.4 million Americans with Alzheimer's disease. We believe we can make a difference, one quilt at a time.

Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative*
1200 Creekwood Trail
Burton, MI 48509

http://www.alzquilts.org/aboutus.html#ixzz1gRpnUgVx

Each quilt will measure no larger than 9" x 12".  Our group theme is "birds" and most of us will design our own quilts.  Any method of applique can be used.  We have not set a deadline and are encouraging more quilters to join in.  

For my quilt, I decided to hand applique folk art birds in wool felt on a cotton background.  This is just the beginning as I plan to embellish and add borders etc.  You'll note some of my own hand-dyed wools in the photo.  I haven't done any wool applique for some time, so I'm excited to work on this project.  

 

The Fun of Applique

Recently,  Your Arts Program in Manitowish Waters, where we hold our applique group meetings, created and donated a Christmas tree for the Festival of Trees, an annual fund raiser for the library.  The trees are bid on and sold.  All of the ornaments for this tree were hand made.  I made the one above, using one of my applique designs from my quilt “Woods and Wildflowers”.  

Here is the center block of that quilt featuring this little bird which I just love - it could be a chickadee....

Or maybe a cardinal. Here, I used my design again to create this little bag for a Christmas gift for someone who loves cardinals.

So, you can see how much fun applique can be. A favorite design motif can be used in many different projects. 

I Love the Nightlife

"I Love the Nightlife" is finished and  ready for the world.  Lisa Arndt did a fantastic job completing the long arm quilting. I'm writing and editing the pattern which will be included in my book. Take a closer look at all the detail. 

Thanksgiving is over and it was a wonderful holiday, but cooking and getting ready to travel took me away from my quilting for a bit.  And now it's back to work.


Just a note:  Flower Power will be featured as a series quilt in Quilter's Newsletter starting with the April/May 2012.  Initially, it was supposed to start with the current issue, but there was a delay.  

I recently purchased a new Gingher cutting mat and rotary cutter.  My old equipment was in sore need of updating - why do we put off buying some of the most basic necessities?  I have had the large Gingher scissors, the pinking shears and the embroider scissors for many years and they are wonderful.  These new tools are just the best!  What a difference.  And I just love the neat silver box the cutter arrived in.