Vertical Quilting Curve

I came across the article “The Quintessential Quilting Roomâ€? at the OrlandoSentinal.com. Maybe I am just being a little jealous but how many people actually have this kind of space to devote to a whole sewing room. The article actually said that “Don’t pick the tiniest room in the house as your sewing space. The room should be a minimum of 20-by-16 feet with a ceiling at least 9 or 10 feet.â€? It also said that you should have a table 60â€? x 84â€? and it should not be against a wall which explains why the room should be so big.

After moving from a house that didn’t have a room this size I didn’t get one in my condo either. In fact I took over the dining room, ½ the bedroom, a corner of the living room and even the garage. I have only known only one person who got her dream sewing room when her new house was built and it was even bigger than what is suggested here and had every piece of equipment you could dream of except for a long arm machine.

Although, I am very impressed that a newspaper saw fit to publish an article about quilting at all, I feel they were only aiming at large home owners who have unlimited retirement funds to set up their perfect space and overall the article wasn’t very helpful. You can find more helpful information online at various quilting and sewing sites. One website I found has a group of pictures of several different sewing rooms. I would love to have a room of my own and am all for bringing back the sewing room to homes as mentioned in an earlier posting.

So, are you lucky enough to have a whole entire room that fits the dimensions of the article or do you make do using various organizational strategies to make the most of your space?

quilting, sewing room, sewing space

Okay, I know it seems a little early to be discussing the holidays and it seems retailers try to get you to start the shopping season a little earlier every year but quilters and other crafters always seem to start (or need to start) early to get everything done. In fact, I bet October is actually late for some people.

Every year I try to do at least one big handmade gift for someone. Luckily both mine and my husband’s family have a great appreciation for handcrafted gifts. Last year I made matching denim aprons for my brother-in-law and his wife who both love to cook and entertain. Past gifts have included a crossed-canoes quilt using mostly plaid fabrics, a very heavy flannel and denim rag quilt, and a bird watching wall-hanging. There have been several years when time is rare and the gifts are smaller. I’ve made crochet dishcloths, quilted potholders, scarves, cross-stitched bookmarks and quickie fleece blankets.

In fact, some of my fleece blankets have been the most well received. All it takes is a great print that reflects the personality of the receiver or something they like. One year I found an extremely beautiful panel of a Navy ship and used my serger to add a simple finished edging to make a throw for my brother-in-law who is in his 20th year with the Navy. It was the hit of the year and it took me less than 1/2 hour to complete. Doing easy projects like fleece also frees up time to do my own projects or get more gifts made.

This year is one of those “I really don’t have time” years. So, I’m seeking quick and easy projects. Yes, I know that Christmas is only two very short months away but I have to do at least one big project that was actually due this month. I’m trying to make a 50th wedding anniversary quilt for my in-laws. It should have been done for this month but with all the illnesses running around the house I’ve barely had time for laundry and chasing germs away. This memory quilt is at the top of my list. My other handcrafted projects probably will not be quilt-related except for maybe a tote bag or two. Though, there are a few easy projects in the “easy quilts” magazine I just picked up.

How about you? Are you in high gear to make gifts for the upcoming holiday season? If so, what? I love to hear what people like to make to give away and what the recipients think, or, do you care what they think? Many of my recipients don’t really “need” anything but I love to believe it’s the thought that really does count and I’m most thoughtful when I’m making something.

quilting, quilts, handcrafted gifts, Easy Quilts, Christmas, gift giving, handmade

August and September have been very trying months for me and my family. My husband has been sick. It all started with chest pains back several months ago which finally ended up in a diagnosis of faulty gallbladder that had to be removed last month. Then last week he came down with a mysterious virus and had to be tested for meningitis. Those tests came back negative so then the only medical advice they gave was to stay home and rest. It has been over a week now and there is minor improvement in his symptoms. Today he didn’t have as much fever and went all day without taking medication until bedtime. Tomorrow is a doctor’s visit. I’m sure they will still just say “get plenty of rest and lots of fluids”.

So besides working full-time, taking care of our daughter and making sure there is clean towels in the house I’ve been playing nurse maid which left me little time for the attention Vertical Quilting Curve takes. It also makes me cranky when I can’t do my favorite things. I did manage a little this weekend plus I got to leave the house to go the Renegade Craft Fair which I will share more of tomorrow.

For all you regulars out there I apologize for my absence and hopefully this week will be a full and fun week with lots of good health to go around for everyone.

It was an excellent show. I was very impressed with the local efforts of the quilt guild. There were a great many tremendous quilts on display. I left a little overwhelmed but quite inspired. As you can see in the accompanying photos the show was not just on the floor but in the rafters so to speak. It was held in the Prairie Stone Fitness Center gymnasium and many of the quilts were hung from the upper railing of the walking tracked that is raised above the gym floor. I think this touch made it feel even bigger and better.

Besides the quilts themselves there were many activities going on. The guild members had two booths set up. One was books and magazines they donated for sale. Magazines were going for just 50 cents and yes I did adopt a few. Who wasn’t doing this at these prices? Some members were also selling handmade items from everything to full sized quilts to bookmarks. I picked up a bookmark. A few members were also demonstrating different techniques. I saw redwork embroidery, needle punch and machine piecing demos.

Other activities included merchants row, quilt appraising and a quilt turning. I wrote about quilt turning in this previous post but actually attending one was the best part of the show outside all of the beautiful quilts in the show. Seeing these antique quilts being turned down on an antique bed in person and having their stories told was very entertaining and informative. The oldest quilt was circa 1860. Amazing! I’ve posted a photo here of the start of the bed turning. There were two grandmothers flower garden quilts that I will have to write more on later. One of the more interesting quilts was one made from corset scraps brought home by a girl who worked in a corset factory in the late 1800’s and pieced into a quilt. It was actually quite lovely and looked as if made from fine dress scraps.

Overall the show was time well spent and has given me quite a few ideas for projects that I already have planned and those that have popped into my head because of the show. It has also given me some ideas to share with you.

quilting, quilts, quilt show, quilt turning

I found this today and thought “Cool, a quilt tour in the gardens.” Well, Quilt Garden Tour to Attract Visitors isn’t quite a quilt show in gardens like I was thinking. It is actually gardens laid out in quilt patterns. The concept was born out of the Amish quilt heritage in the area and the love of gardens.

The tour will be held in Elkhart County, Indiana next year. I have family near there and I hope to make it over to see if you can really see the quilt patterns in the gardens. It is amazing how quilting seems to be popping up everywhere these days. From art gallery shows to barns in the countryside you can find something quilt related almost anywhere you go.

href=”http://www.econogics.com/busys/wnquilt.htm”>quilted panels for the windows that you put up once the sun is no longer beaming through the windows. They have backed them in unobtrusive, plain fabrics so that the neighbors won’t complain but you can put whatever design you want on the front.

Now that Labor Day is over that means winter is just around the corner which means it is time to get the house winterized and what a great way to do it by making quilted insulated window coverings. I already cover my daughter’s bedroom windows with colorful fleece. Our bedrooms are on the north side of the house and her room seems to always be the coldest followed by mine. I may just have to piece together a few of these with her favorite fabrics I haven’t done anything with yet. I also have batting that is used for potholders that would probably keep the heat in the house better. It would also be a great way to use up those odds and ends or test blocks especially if you are not concerned about the design.

quilting, quilts, gardening, Amish

Of course you probably already know that covering up with a quilt can keep you warm. Did you also know it can keep your house warmer, too. I found this site, Econogics, that does consulting to help business be more environmentally friendly. One of their pages discusses quilted panels for the windows that you put up once the sun is no longer beaming through the windows. They have backed them in unobtrusive, plain fabrics so that the neighbors won’t complain but you can put whatever design you want on the front.

Now that Labor Day is over that means winter is just around the corner which means it is time to get the house winterized and what a great way to do it by making quilted insulated window coverings. I already cover my daughter’s bedroom windows with colorful fleece. Our bedrooms are on the north side of the house and her room seems to always be the coldest followed by mine. I may just have to piece together a few of these with her favorite fabrics I haven’t done anything with yet. I also have batting that is used for potholders that would probably keep the heat in the house better. It would also be a great way to use up those odds and ends or test blocks especially if you are not concerned about the design.

quilting, quilts, environment, insulated window covering, saving energy

Congratulations to IamSusie! You’ve won my copy of The Runaway Quilt in my first ever giveaway.

I know you are going to enjoy this book and I will be in contact with you soon.

BTW, IamSusie has a great little blog about crafts, family and collections. She loves Japanese craft books and has several items made from them shown on her blog. She does embroidery and quilting as well.

P.S. Okay, you all, I only had one comment, so giving away my book was very easy for me this time. I will be going through my quilt books soon and finding something there to give away. I want you to make it harder on me so that I actually have to find a great random way to choose a winner. BUT, if I only have one comment I will always give it away, no matter what.

quilting, contest, book giveaway

The other day I gave you a sneak peek of something I was working on for Craft Critique. I am happy to report that my finished item and article is published. As you can see in the picture it is a purse. The product that made the purse is called PURSuE Your Art. It was made for the scrapbooking and stamping industry but took it as a fiber challenge. I made my own fabric from fibers using Sulky Solvy. You can read the entire article about how I did it here.

quilting, quilt art, fiber art, PURSuE Your Art

I love to see what other bloggers/writers are putting on the web out there about quilts as an art form especially when they have just discovered them. MadSilence writes in his post “A crazy patchwork quilt of craft and art” about a recent visit to Vermont’s Shelburne Museum where he discovered a showing of contemporary Vermont quilts.

He is very thorough in his evaluation of the exhibit and seems to be quite impressed. I am impressed by his research of the history of the contemporary quilt and attention to the artists statements. It is fun to read and follow the links in the story.

quilting, quilt art, Shelburne Museum, quilts

Ok, I can’t tell you exactly what I’m working on yet but I had to let you see some of the fabric I made using Sulky Solvy for a project and article I’m writing for Craft Critique. The full article should be up Thursday. I will announce it then. But until then here are a couple of photos.

quilting, quilt art, Sulky Solvy