Monday, April 28, 2014

Should I?

Go and get this?
It is a Singer Red Eye with a Bentwood case.
I used to never think I'd want one but I've found myself looking at the listings over the past year or so.
It obviously isn't in perfect condition but it still looks pretty good and according to the ad, it works (which I will check myself of course.)
The price is a steal from what I can tell. I certainly don't need it at all but it is pretty, isn't it?
What would you do if you were me?

Saturday, April 26, 2014

MQX East - the 4th and final day

The schedule only contained one class on Saturday. It was Kim Stotenberg's Heavy Metal Quilting. I didn't take many photos in this class but I think you can get an idea of what it was about.
You can see the quilting pretty well in the yellow areas. Doesn't it look like wrought iron? That was the focus of this class.
Here are a few shots of the demo sample that she did.


I actually did remember to have someone snap a photo of me with the instructor this time.
And here are the last few photos of the quilts that I'm sharing with you. 
I took this photo for my friend Barb of Cat Patches.
Veggie Cats, Winner of a Faculty Ribbon from Kimberly Einmo, pieced and quilted by Linda Bauman.
Four Seasons Whole Earth Festival, pieced and quilted by Susan Bowker.

And then there is the biggest winner of all - Best of Show. This stunning quilt is called Magnificent Mosaics and was pieced and appliques by Karen Kay Buckley and quilted by Renae Haddadin.

Can you believe that this is the back of the quilt?
Well that is all folks. So long MQX East...until next year.


MQX East - More of Day 3

I'm guessing that you haven't tired of seeing all of these gorgeous quilts yet, are you? I know that I could look at them for hours and hours myself.
Enjoy!

Georgia On My Mind, pieced and quilted by Diane Evans.

Stars on Mars, 1st Place Ribbon Custom Heirloom Show category, pieced by Gail Stepanek, quilted by Jan Hutchinson.

Rainbow Nouveau, 2nd Place Ribbon Custom Heirloom Show category, pieced and quilted by Margaret Solomon Gunn.

Dragon Clan, pieced and quilted by Allison Wilbur.
Butterfly Heaven, pieced and quilted by Krista Ellis.

Autumn Winds, pieced and quilted by Michelle Plourde.
Spinning Wheel, 3rd Place Ribbon Winner in the Computerized Quilting category, pieced and quilted by Nicholas Williams.

A Horse is a Horse, Or Course, Oh Course, pieced by Jan Doland, quilted by Page Johnson.

Springtime in the Geisha's Garden, 1st Place Winner in the Wallhanging Large category, pieced and quilted by Margaret Solomon Gunn.

Pelican Parade, 3rd Place Ribbon int he Wallhanging Large category, pieced and quilted by Joanne Baeth.

Saffron Splendor, 2nd Place Ribbon in the Wallhanging Large category, pieced and quilted by Pat Holly.

Here are the 4 of us at dinner that night at the fabulous Repeat. I highly recommend it. From left to right - Me, Sue, Liz and Mandy.
Note to self: next year take/have taken more pictures of the people I meet and hang out with.

Thursday, April 24, 2014

MQX East - Day 3

Day 3 at MQX East required that I was up bright and early day again, which was no an issue since I'm normally up pretty early anyway. My 1st class of the day was a demo class with Kim Stotsenberg. This one was called Fantasy Feathers.
I know there are so many ways to do feathers and this class was great for showing me so many of the options and how to accomplish them. I'm sure newbies like me are nervous about doing them the "right way" but I was so very happy to learn that there are so many other great ways to do them that look fantastic. Here are some photos of Kim's class sample.
I enjoyed her teaching style and again this is an instructor that really helped me to visualize how I can do this myself. Unfortunately for her she wrestled with the demo machine throughout the entire class, but she kept her cool and persevered on. All of the students really felt bad for her, having to deal with this machine.
Here you can see some of the examples of the designs that she taught us. Kim uses rulers to help mark the placement of some of the feather's spines. The 3/4 circles on the right side of the top you can see completed on the sample in the next photo.
This is another class samples showcasing these designs.
After a one hour break, I was back in Kim's classroom for her Just Leaf It class. The basic concept was the same but knowing that some quilts just do not lend themselves to feathers, I wanted to learn this option too. Plus being a newbie, I need all the ideas that I can get. Here is the class sample.
I love the free flowing meander of the leaves and the swirls. She stressed that part of her process is to do what looks and feels right at the moment, adding or not as the quilt and the design dictates, and not being boxed in by specific "musts" in a quilting design.
Learning how to do a wreath or a triangle with the leaf shape was great.
The quilting fairy was shining down on me again that day as I was lucky again and won her demo sample. As you can see I have plenty of room left over to practice the designs.

I can do this. I know that I can.
After class I headed off to the show to view and photograph more of the gorgeous quilts and to visit the vendors. Enjoy the quilty eye candy.
A Splendid Display, 2nd Place Ribbon in the Solo Artist category, pieced and quilted by Cindy Seitz-Krug.
Tink's Choice, 3rd Place Ribbon in the Solo Artist category, pieced and quilted by Laura Trenbeath.
Black Tie Gala, Honorable Mention Ribbon in the Solo Artist category, pieced and quilted by Judy Woodworth.
This is the back of this quilt.
Broken Dreams, Winner of the Surface Design Award, pieced and quilted by Theresa Fetch.
This quilting leaves me speechless.
Aunt Millie's Red Hot Garden, Winner of a Faculty Ribbon from Kimberlee Diamond, pieced by Mary Shotwell and quilted by Debbi Treusch.
Earth & Twig, pieced and quilted by Kelley Cunningham.

Of course, I have even more photos of fabulous quilts to share so check back for part 2 of day 3 at MQX East.