Hippy Birday

Hippy Birday was painted by my good friend Traci Suzanne Marvel. She gave it to Toni Whitney for Toni's Birthday. I thought it was such an outstanding painting for so many reasons that I decided to recreate it in wool felt, with her permission of course.

I used Lana Wool Thread from Aurifil for the stitching. What a great thread. I wasn't surprised to see how much I loved it since Aurifil makes such wonderful cotton thread.

I'm still working on our Hippy Birds eye because it isn't quite right. I'm also in the process of making 3 more blocks to make into a table runner, pillow, and wall quilt.

I love working with the wool so much and Traci has so much folk art I want to make into felt designs. I wonder what's next?

Whoopsy Daisy by The Quilted Fish

Whoopsy Daisy by The Quilted Fish is one of the tops I finished at the cabin retreat this last weekend. This picture is taken off their website and mine will be quilted by Jan Barnett.

My Granddaughter Mackenzie wanted a black and white quilt so I thought this would be perfect for her. I even copied most of the fabrics because I loved it exactly as it is pictured.

To finish off the edges of the daisies I used a blanket stitch on my machine since the petals were fused with Pellon Fusible Web.

I can't wait to give this to her for Christmas.

Lion Quilt Pattern Serengeti by Toni Whitney for Bigfork Bay Cotton Co

I know I have posted the lion Serengeti before but I finished another one last night and I must say it still amazes me every time I finish one. Toni Whitney produces outstanding designs time after time.

The kits and patterns are available at Bigfork Bay Cotton Co. For every kit there is a coordinating thread pack available of Aurifil Thread.

I do have to say that Bigfork Bay Cotton Company patterns are so well done. The layout sheets are all full size and the pattern pieces are already reversed for fusible applique. One of the things that makes me so proud of Bigfork Bay Cotton Company is that they calculate the actual cost of their patterns. They don't just pull a number out of the air, and in this economy that means a lot.

My favorite fusible web is Wonder Under by Pellon. I make over 100 quilts a year and I expect everything to be perfect, hence the name Excessive Compulsive...anyway, when using Wonder Under I never have a problem with my needle going through 6 layers of fabric. With other brands it can be extremely frustrating quilting through as much as two layers. OK, so enough of my plugging. Honestly though, I could promote 4 things all day and feel confident that I am being 100% honest about my opinions and those 4 things are, Bigfork Bay Cotton Company kits and patterns Aurifil thread, which is the best ever made, Pellon Wonder Under, and Bear Threads Pressing Sheets, all of which are available at Bigfork Bay Cotton Co.

Amur Tiger by Toni Whitney for Bigfork Bay Cotton Company

Amur is a new tiger quilt pattern, designed by the famous Toni Whitney, for Bigfork Bay Cotton Co. I must say that as amazing it is in the photo it is even more outstanding in real life. It literally takes my breath away.

I suggest buying the kit from Bigfork Bay Cotton Co. simply because the fabric choices by the artist are so perfect that I can't imagine changing any of them. The fabric is from Batik Textiles, the fusible web is Pellon Fusible Web, and the thread used is Aurifil of course. Bigfork Bay Cotton Co is also a Distributor for Aurifil Thread so you can call them to order wholesale if you are a business. Remember longarmers, you are a business! If you have your Tax ID, use it.

Anything Aurifil, you can get at Bigfork Bay Cotton Co. Tell them Sylvia sent you!

Jan Barnett at Handi Quilter Retreat

Handi Quilter owners were invited to write their Handi Quilter Stories to try to win a free trip to Salt Lake City for a Handi Quilter Retreat.

This is the reception the winners got from the employees at Handi Quilter Headquarters. The winners had no idea what was going to happen when they walked in the door. What a great surprise this must have been.Jan Barnett, the woman who machine quilts my bigger quilts, was one of the winners.
Here she is along with the other winners. Jan is the one on the far right.

Jan is working on the HQ Sixteen while Cheryl Duncan, HQ Studio Educator, watches.
I wonder what wonderful new technique she is learning now?

As you can see, Jan is having a great time. Jan works so hard on their farm and still finds the time to quilt for others. She recently bought the HQ Fusion after many years of service from her HQ Sixteen. Her work is outstanding and I can't think of anyone who deserves this trip more. Congratulations Jan!

New Free Motion Designs Every Day!

365 Days of Free Motion Quilting Designs by Leah Day is one of the most outstanding Blogs on the Internet for Quilters! Leah Day is a beautiful young woman who has given herself the challenge of creating a new free motion filler design every single day for one year! She tells you her design inspiration and as if that wasn't enough...she shows a video of how to make the design.

Leah gives views the opportunity to ask questions like, "what causes skipped stitches?". She gives amazing tips and discusses tools that make a huge difference in making the quilting process so much easier.

Her website Day Style Designs Online also has great information and the products she uses not to mention a Gallery of her quilts.

I have been quilting for over 30 years and machine quited for most of that and I am learning so much from this talented young lady. All machine quilters, Beginners to Advanced, can learn from Leah Day. We will certainly be seeing a lot of her in the future.

Spirit New Eagle Quilt Pattern by Toni Whitney for Bigfork Bay Cotton Company

Spirit is the new quilt pattern designed by Toni Whitney for Bigfork Bay Cotton Company. As outstanding as it looks in a photo it is breathtaking after it is quilted and seen in real life.

This quilt went together a lot faster than I thought it would. With the help of the Applique Pressing Sheet from Bear Threads it is a breeze ironing all the pattern pieces together. The patterns from Bigfork Bay Cotton Company all come with actual size layout sheets. I place the layout sheet on a surface suitable for ironing, place the pressing sheet on top of it. Pin to the pressing surface so it doesn't slip and with a Clover Iron I start laying and gently ironing the pieces in place. After the design is ironed together it just peels right off of the pressing sheet and is easily placed on the background of the quilt. It is like paint by number with fabric.

Once the top is completed I pick out the colors of Aurifil Thread I want to use and free motion quilt around each piece of fabric to secure. Quilting adds that special dimension to the quilt.