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!

Free Motion Quilting Is Not For the Faint of Heart

One of my many goals this year is to learn how to Free Motion Quilt on my domestic sewing machine.  And fortunately, SewCalGal has put together the most excellent year-long tutorial.  I've been practicing on leaves, which still leave a lot to be desired, but it's 100% better than my straight-line quilting that I have always done in the past.

Here's my first sample:

The good thing is, it can only get better from here!  And it's quite fun actually tackling my fear of FMQ and just do it!

It's not too late - you, too, can jump on board and start to hone your FMQ skills. Just click on the 2012 Free Motion Challenge logo on the right, or click here!

Bearing Down For The Storm

Such a crazy winter this has been! We live in a ski resort area and we essentially have no snow in the valley. Very odd, considering it's the third week of January.

But this week the weather forecasters are predicting a foot or two of snow, and we are all rejoicing. But, the snow didn't come last night. Maybe today?  I didn't think I'd ever 'wish' for tons of snow, but we are this year. A winter without snow shoveling is just plain weird.

Maybe by speaking out this way the Snow Gods will unleash their fury and dump on us today. Maybe....

In the mean time, but an excellent time to QUILT!

Passions Passed Down Through Generations

Welcome to Mountain Quiltworks! My love of quilting has been directly influenced by my grandmother. She was of the era where the idea of machine-piecing quilts never even occurred to her. Every stitch was lovingly, meticulously, and with skill and preciseness, put in place to create some truly outstanding quilts. She made her five grandchildren quilts that were first hand-embroidered in each block and then pieced together and quilted on a wooden, home-made quilting frame that we'd set up in our living room. I can still see her sitting at the frame, stitching away, inch by inch.

She tried to teach me to sew, but as a teenager, I wasn't into it. Too many other things to do, I suppose. So when my children were young, I began to learn to sew by making baby clothes, and then toddler clothes. Fatal attempts at making myself clothes proved to be a waste of good fabric. But I still want to sew. How could I channel that love into something that I would enjoy?

Then one year while on vacation, I stepped into a 'quilt' shop. Instantly I fell in love with the colors, designs, textures, not to mention the endless possibilities of turning those wonderful fabrics into things of beauty. Now fabric designers are obliging us with a constant stream of the most amazing prints to work with. What's not to love about picking out patterns, colors and designs, cutting, touching, sewing, piecing, quilting, and then stepping back to see your new creation? A new passion was born!

So marks the progression of my love of all things pieced and quilted. Come with me to enjoy the journey.