Sampler quilt

I did a custom treatment on this sampler quilt.  Each block was quilted differently- using alot of straight line and echo quilting.  It was fun to quilt each block differently & challenging to think of what would work to complement each block.

New pattern- Garden Path

This batik quilt was quilted using a new all-over pattern I designed called Garden Path....

 A view of the whole quilt... made using strips of batik fabrics:

Binding services

Do you hate to do the binding, and wish your quilt was completely finished when you got it back from long-arming?  I can do that!  I offer binding services- you provide the yardage, and I will make & apply the binding on your quilt.
There are two options for this:  I can sew the binding to the front of the quilt by machine, and you can do the hand-stitching to the back.  Add up all the sides of your quilt & multiply by .05 to get the price.  For example, a 72 x 90 quilt would be $16.20 for front-only binding.
Or, I can do a complete binding, for .075/running inch.  So, a 72 x 90 quilt would be $24.30 for a complete binding.  Your quilt would be completely finished with this option.
Just bring the yardage along with your quilt, and I will do the rest.  If you aren't sure how much fabric you will need, I can help you with that.
Add up all the sides of your quilt and divide by 40.  Round up to the next number and multiply by 2.5.  This will give you the amount needed for your binding.  In the 72 x 90 quilt example, 72 + 72 + 90 + 90= 324.  324 divided by 40 = 8.1, round up to 9.  Then take 9 times 2.5, and get 22.5.  This is how much fabric you'd need to buy to send along for me to make your binding.  It would be best to add a few extra inches to that number, in case the cut edges are not straight, just for insurance.

Bird quilt custom treatment

This quilt has such pretty bird blocks in it. The customer requested custom treatment on this quilt.

Star banner pattern

This fun black & bright quilt was quilter using the "star banner" pattern. I used a variegated thread to match the bright fabrics in the quilt top.

Customer quilts

Here is a cute fire engine quilt that I quilted lately... I added some grid quilting behind the fire trucks to give some texture to the solid fabric.

Reserving a time spot for your quilt

Everyone must be busy piecing quilts this winter!  My January schedule has filled up.  So, if you are in the process of working on a quilt and are thinking of having me work on it, please give me a call or e-mail to get on the schedule for February.  In the past I have been able to  have your quilt back in 2-3 weeks, but my turn-around time is a bit longer right now.  With my schedule filling up, I want to make sure you can get a spot reserved & get your quilt back for any deadlines you may have.  So, just be aware that if you wait until your quilt top is finished to give me a call, you may not be able to get your quilt back as fast as you'd like.
Thanks for your understanding!

Current schedule

My December schedule has filled up, but if you want to reserve a spot in January, let me know.  I want to make sure I get all the quilts I have scheduled for December done in time for them if they are going to be given at Christmas.  

2012 will soon be coming to a close- I would like to thank you for trusting me with your quilts this past year.  I am grateful that I am able to keep working from home so I can be flexible around my kids' schedules.  The past few months I have been working around junior high basketball, piano lessons, and church activities- I am in a very busy stage of life right now.  I apologize if I have been hard to find home some times if you are calling to set up an appointment.  It's been fun to work on all your beautiful quilts this past year.  It is so interesting to see all the variety of quilts- each one is so unique and creative.  I wish you and your family a blessed Christmas season. 

New patterns available

There are a few new patterns available for you to pick for your quilts that need all-over patterns.

Thread wall

The sun was shining in the other day, and I took a picture of the thread rack.  I thought you might enjoy seeing it with all the colors available for your quilts.  When I order new cones of thread, it's like opening a box of chocolates when they arrive.  All those fun colors!

recent projects

I haven't been keeping my blog very up to date, have I?  I've been having some trouble logging in & also posting pictures, so I've been puting off trying to get things to work.  Hopefully today it will go well.  

Here's a new pattern called "Modern Squares" (copyright Konda Luckau).  I used it on this t-shirt quilt, and am happy with the results.  I think it will be a good option for teen quilts, or one needing something geometric.

Also designed, pieced, and quilted this Vikings quilt.  I've been saving the Vikings shirts that the boys have grown out of, and decided to put them together into a quilt.  It's a throw size, about 50x60.  I don't like buying or following patterns, and so I designed this myself, to fit with the shirts that I had.  The picture below shows the quilt before I added the gold binding around the edges.  This is going to the Boyden Fire & Rescue auction on Saturday night, so if you are looking for a gift for the guy in your life, you can bid on it at the silent auction.  It has a purple fleece backing & cotton batting.

new pattern

A new pattern available: called "In the Moment" designed by Anne Bright.  This is a fun pattern that looks a bit like blowing wind, or swirling bubbles.

it was a busy summer

I've had a busy summer, taxi-ing the kids around to activities, gardening, and just enjoying the short Iowa summer months.  Any day over 80* is a good one in my book, and we did have alot of good days here this summer.  I was doing some of this:

Now, the kids are back to school, and I've been at a more regular schedule in the quilt studio.  I did quilt during the summer, but only limited hours.  I must have not taken many pictures that I can find, but here a few things I worked on.  A couple very cute embroidered quilts:

And a very bright, fun dinosaur quilt- quilted with the Triangles pattern with bright, variegated thread:

Directions for an Ohio Star block

Looking for a fast way to piece a fun Ohio Star block?  Here's a link to a blog named LoveLaughQuilt.  Easy & fast- I think I might try it out!  Cut out some squares & get started- no triangles to piece.

Love Laugh Quilt: Starry quilt: a collection

Kingbird Avenue is open again

Wanted to let you know that Kingbird Avenue is open again....  They had been re-surfacing the road & fro a while we had to drive around lots of road-closed signs.  Everything but the middle line is finished.   That should make it easier for those of you coming this way to drop off & pick up quilts.

Circle Play pattern

This one is quilted with pattern called "Circle Play".  It's a fun pattern with circles of all sizes.  It goes great with the black & white prints in this quilt.

August Rain pattern

Quite often I use simple/geometric patterns on t-shirt quilts.  The piecer requested "August Rain" on this one, and I really think it enhances the quilt.  I used a light gray thread here, and Quilter's Dream cotton batting.

Freehand custom

 This quilt has some pretty applique on it.  I usually do all-over patterns for this quilter, but I couldn't see quilting over the applique on this one.  Instead, I did some freehand patterns in the background to fill in the white areas.  She & I were both happy with how it turned out.

Blacktop resurfacing

Kingbird Avenue- the blacktop just 1/4 mile from us is in the process of being re-surfaced.  So, if you are coming to drop off a quilt, you may find some road closed signs.  Right now they are just puting up stakes on the side of the road & you may be able to go around the road closed signs & get through.  It depends on what part of the road they are working on during the day.  I don't think the actual resurfacing will start for another week or two.  I'll keep you posted on when it's open again. 
Sorry for the inconvenience!