Sunday, June 3, 2012

It's official: I am a quilter!

Get ready for some extreme silliness. Yesterday I finally declared myself A Quilter!



I really shouldn't put myself out here like this, exposing all my foibles for the world to see. But learning to use my long arm quilting machine has been a Work In Progress. I have been playing with it, and practicing with it, and figuring out tensions issues and balance issues, and then practicing some more. I have an almost queen-sized practice piece that sat on my machine for a month!

But yesterday was D-Day. Determination Day.  Just lay aside my fears and just DO it!

I had already done several free-style projects, with swirls and loops and leaves (that looked like hearts) and a few feathers. I'd always back myself into some corner and have to get real creative on how to quilt myself out of it. At least it has been a good exercise in keeping my brain refreshed and young, you know, trying new things and forcing myself to think differently.


Oops, I digress.  But the point is, yesterday I loaded up a lap quilt I'd made and quilted it with a pantograph. And you know what? It actually looks like a real quilt. I AM SO EXCITED!
I still have to bind it, but I just wanted to share my joy with you. I have my first paying customer to quilt for this week - three quilts! I'm on my way.

Barb

Linking up with  Quilting by the River, Sew Modern Monday and Quilt Story!

16 comments:

  1. Looks great! Congrats on reaching such a nifty goal.

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  2. Your quilt looks gorgeous! Congratulations on getting over yourself! WHOOP WHOOP! :))

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  3. Your quilt looks wonderful! You did great! Congratulations!!

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  4. It looks fabulous!! I am doing the happy dance for you!!! And it is wonderful that you have "paying" customers. I have always wanted to get a long arm but I don't have the room for one. Have fun!! :)

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  5. Awesome! Beautiful job Barb!

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  6. Looks wonderful and congrats on becoming a "real" quilter LOL! Thanks for sharing.
    Quilting at the River Linky Party Tuesday

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  7. It's a very pretty quilt and you've done a great job on the quilting. Congratulations!

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  8. Congratulations! I've been in your shoes many a time and am just learning to stop doubting and get on with it!! Be very proud of yourself!

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  9. You are a brave and tenacious sole! Well done for sticking at it and I hope you have loads of fun with it. I used to give my quilts to a lady in the North of England..send it to her with a note.. "have fun do anything you like on it".... she'd freak out for a day or two and then I'd get back something amazing. So play play play! you never know where this will end :-)
    My blog: http://sylviesdesigns.blogspot.co.nz/2012/06/christmas-in-june.html

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  10. Yep you are indeed a quilter!! That quilt looks fabulous. Pantographs are so hard for me to do, it's been almost 6 months and mine are starting to look ok, not nearly as good as yours. Love it. Keep up the good work Ms Quilter :)

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  11. It looks great. Can I send you all my tops to quilt. I just cannot do it.

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  12. Good job! Way to go... it looks great! I just bought some of those fabrics. I love what you did with them.

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  13. Thank you for sharing this link with me for ideas for my Good Fortune quilt! It's gorgeous! And you're such a smarty with the long arm business!

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  14. I love this quilt. So simple and beautiful. You do wonderful work.

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  15. I especially love you sharing your d-day declaration with us!! THANK YOU for that! Kinda cool to see how far you've come in your quilting this past two years!

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